I was listening to Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon the other day, and marveling at her ability to tell such full, rich stories interspersed with moments of pain as well as moments of humor. I came to a line that beckoned me to pause, rewind, and listen again. Pilate – a character who has become…
Author: Querida
The Slap Heard Around the World
**This post contains references to physical violence and may be triggering to some readers. Take care should you decide to continue reading.** By now, you have no doubt seen or heard about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars. It was a moment that was truly shocking – unlike anything I’ve ever seen…
Out of the Wilderness
The Easter season always reminds me of frilly dresses and ruffled socks and memorized speeches recited on Easter morning. From Ash Wednesday somberly beckoning me to remember from whence we came, clear through to Resurrection Sunday’s triumphant declaration of victory over death, Easter brings with it a unique combination of holy contemplation and bittersweet joy….
Introducing: Matriarch
Last spring, I met my parents, great-aunt, and a cousin in Wortham, Texas, where my maternal grandmother and her siblings were raised. I did not know that by the end of 2021, my great-aunt, her sister, would perish – and that this trip would be her final trip back home. So when I recently found…
Episode 112: Faith and Mental Health with Kimberly Galindo
On today’s episode of Something True: An Honest podcast, I sit down for a candid conversation with my friend Kimberly Galindo. Kimberly and I met twenty years ago, when we were both students at the same university. Since that time, Kimberly has gone on to pursue multiple degrees and certifications as well as open her…
Episode 111: How does that work? with Andrew Duncalfe
On today’s episode, I’m sitting down for a candid conversation with my honey. You’ll get to be a fly on the wall as we discuss our relationship, his upbringing, and what he thinks of my activism. Andrew was born in England and still holds a UK passport, but has spent most of his life an…
Legitimate Political Discourse: A Photo Essay
Unbound: Prathia Hall
This post is part of a year long series. If you enjoy and learn from my writing, please contribute to support my full-time writing work via Patreon or Venmo. You can also purchase merch from TeeSpring or Bonfire, the proceeds from which enable me to continue this work. As I sat watching Henry Louis Gates,…
For the love of Us
For several days, I left a tab open in my browser. The link was to a New York Post article from several years ago. In it, the now-deceased Cheslie Kryst was positively gushing over the beauty of her National Costume ahead of the Miss Universe pageant. I kept avoiding reading about Chryst’s joy and looking…
Peace by Piece THEE Book
This weekend was long, strange, and very emotional for me. As a newly published author, who had partnered with a friend to embark on a new professional adventure for the both of us, I found myself in a position of feeling forced to separate my work from my friend and publisher. I’m a muddle of…
