Op-eds, columns and personal essays.

Trayvon Martin, Emmett Till, & Men with Guns-MainPhoto

Trayvon Martin, Emmett Till, & Men with Guns

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What happens when a man gets a gun in his hand? Does it conjure up a lust for violence, for death, even? Even a toy gun for a child’s game of ‘Cops and Robbers’ signifies power, a chance to shoot the bad guy on the playground. But is…
FOX-Social Media Ablaze Upon Zimmerman's Acquital-MainPhoto

Social Media Ablaze Upon Zimmerman's Acquital

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The minute jurors revealed their decision that George Zimmerman was not guilty on all charges in the killing of Trayvon Martin, a firestorm of comments and criticism spread on social media. People from all walks of life, including celebrities,…
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How I Fought Back Against Carjacking

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It was a balmy Chicago summer night in 1998. My 12-year-old sister and I were headed to my boyfriend’s grandparents house with a platter of freshly grilled steaks. I had a nice car—a Jaguar XJ6c—which I was quite proud of. We were in…
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Overcoming Social Anxiety Through Social Media

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I read often that social media is killing relationships and genuine social interactions. I disagree. For me, social media has opened doors to a whole new world of friendships with like-minded people. You see, I used to suffer from social anxiety,…
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Putting Down Our Phones for National Cell Phone Courtesy Month

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As a freelance writer and work at home mami, I’ve got to have my phone handy most of the time. I have deadlines that can pop up at any second and requests for content that, should they go unanswered, could quickly pay someone else’s mortgage…
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The History in Her Skin: My Mother

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My mother’s nails are split, broken. They snag my skin as I help her out of the shower. In the evening, I begin filing them with an emery board. She offers each finger except the one that hasn’t grown a nail since she was a baby crawling…
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Why I Said No to Free Botox

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As much as aging is not something anyone looks forward to, it’s an inevitable process we have to either suffer through or learn to accept. At a young age, we seem to be convinced that wrinkled, older people belong to a different species…
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After DOMA, Love Lessons from My Gay Friends

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I dislike labeling people, especially regarding their sexual orientation. I don’t introduce people by saying: “This is my gay friend, Jay,” the same way I don’t say: “This is my straight friend Mary,” or “This is my sex-toy-loving,…

A Latino Fourth of July

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I experienced my first Fourth of July in 1976 in Los Angeles, California. I was almost of 12 years old and visiting with my father and sister, and I had no real clue about the holiday or that it was the bicentennial. And while I knew that…