Keep up with the Joel Gay Creative Fellows, Jet Toomer, Jesus Rodriguez, and Elspeth Michaels.
The June selection for The Audacious Book Club is Trust by Hernan Diaz. We will be in conversation with Hernan on June 28th (rescheduled because of a travel conflict I had). Register now! The July selection for The Audacious Book Club is Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. That registration is open, too.
I am reading submissions to The Audacity’s Emerging Writer Series. Read the guidelines and submit your best writing. Submissions will be open until I have 24 essays.
Don’t Forget: Why Design Matters by Debbie Millman.
If you’re looking for a nice notebook, check out my new Draft Writing Journal from Baron Fig. It’s pretty swank if I do say so myself. (The first printing is sold out but more are on the way.)
I was on a podcast, “The Argument” with Jay Kaspian Kang and we discussed who can write about what and matters of cultural appropriation.
I had some thoughts about the Top Gun: Maverick reboot.
For Newsweek, I interviewed Megan Rapinoe.
As your work friend, I have advice for a woman who wants to quit her job after parental leave, someone who believes in meritocracy, and more!
I got a new job. In the fall, I will be an endowed professor at Rutgers. (I’m not leaving L.A.)
We knew this was coming, but in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Here is a Southern guide to abortion rights in this new (familiar) reality. In a matter of hours, several states already started banning abortion including Missouri, Kentucky, Louisiana, and South Dakota. A piece on the final hours in a Texas clinic. Rebecca Traister writes about the necessity of hope in this very dark time. How abortion clinics are preparing for a post-Roe reality (and they've been preparing for some time now). A requiem for the Supreme Court.
Doug Ducey @DougDucey
I am proud that Arizona has been ranked the most pro-life state in the country. Here, we will continue to cherish life and protect it in every way possible. 2/2
It was a busy week for the court. They also struck down New York’s gun carrying restrictions.
At Roxane Gay Books and Grove Atlantic, we are looking for a new fellow who will work with us and learn about the inner workings of publishing.
The Phoenix Mercury have met with State Department officials to advocate for Brittney Griner’s release from Russian custody.
Monique and Netflix have “amicably” settled her discrimination lawsuit. Speaking of Netflix, more layoffs.
A great conversation with author Megha Majumdar wherein she shares some valuable advice for writers upon publication of their first book.
These are some charming wedding vows.
A treasure trove of screenplays of amazing Black movies.
Stop eating at your desk! Take a lunch.
RIP Internet Explorer.
A Black family in Los Angeles is getting their land back.
Some rich people built tree houses (?) in their NYC apartment(s).
Alexa, getting creepier.
I own many OXO products so I enjoyed this piece about their rise to popularity and ubiquity in our homes.
On the disappearing queer spaces of the Harlem Renaissance.
It’s kind of incredible how long Maury Povich was on air and now, he is retiring. Someone else will have to take up the mantle of determining who is or is not the father. Pretty sure he single-handedly propped up the DNA testing industry for decades.
A grudge is a grudge.
Folks are rediscovering Kate Bush who is not new to many of us.
Brad Pitt on the cover of GQ.
A thoroughly researched, excellent piece about attempts to diversify the book industry over the years and the people who are currently leading that charge.
There was a call scheduled between Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle on their anniversary. It would have been the first time they spoke since Griner was arrested and imprisoned in Russia. Griner called a dozen times or so, but no one at the embassy picked up the phone. It’s just all so appalling.
Fascinating how many supposed tech builders really want to just destroy things.
There is more information about what really happened in Uvalde. There is no bottom to this story.
Climate change but make it sort of historically interesting.
Work drama at the Washington Post. Maybe they should reach out to Work Friend!
Some white men in Sanford, FL, where Trayvon Martin was murdered, did a racism because a young black man was driving in their neighborhood. And here is a map of sundown towns. Yes. In 2022.
Being on a cruise ship in March 2022 as the world shut down was a special kind of hell.
Mary Gaitskill has some things to say.
White parents worked to force a Black teacher out of her school and then followed her to her next job. This is happening all over as white people do everything they can to remake the world as a better place than it actually is or ever has been.
On white women writing Asian women.
How cheerleading became a sport.
Without comment, I offer this essay on bimbo feminism.
A conversation with Megan Theeeeeee Stallion who has a lot to say.
July 29th. Beyoncé. Renaissance. MyBeyoncé savings account is READY!
Herschel Walker has some extra children sprinkled about.
Elephants never forget.
The 2022 Tony winners. Congrats especially to A Strange Loop and MJ.
You can’t buy talent even if you can buy a museum’s space to showcase your unremarkable art.
Lizzo was criticized for using an ableist word in her new song so she re-recorded it and apologized and I respect it.
I appreciated what Jessica Valenti had to say about the benefits of consequences.
Eric Kim’s ten essential recipes.
James Patterson, patron saint of white men, who are facing so much oppression.
Mary Gaitskill. What a piece ❤️
We knew it was coming...but the decision of the SCOTUS slammed me when I heard it as I was driving back home from taking a woman to her first post-partum checkup after giving birth to her first "very much wanted" child at thirty-one. Can't make this shit up. That same woman had an abortion ten years prior for personal reasons I don't care to discuss here, which is the point!! She knew what she wanted, and she had every right to make that decision for HERSELF then.
Every woman with money who wants an abortion WILL have one, as it had always been. However, this decision disproportionally affects my community. Pro-lifers claim they want to save lives, most will gladly pull the switch on the electric chair to take a life. The hypocrisy of it all!!
To say that I'm angry is the biggest goddamn understatement of this century. To be fighting for women's rights in 2022 is soooo tiring. But we can't afford to rest. They will go after every other human's rights. We take a breath even if it's our last and we keep fighting.