"For many Black people 'the advancement of the self, the liberation of the self, is a meaningless concept outside the context of one's community.'" #GhostsInTheSchoolyard #EveLEwing

"It's it fair for those charges with allocating resources to levy that accusation (that a school is underresourced) against those who are supposed to receive them?" #EveLEwing #GhostsInTheSchoolyard

"America has always put forward a public veneer of loving immigrants and their role in this country, but in reality, the underside of immigration, the hidden hatred and internalized oppression and silence, has made our relationship with the notion of being a nation of immigrants much more embattled; a permanent secret war of words and hatred against itself." #NationOfImmigrants #AmericanParadox #Immigration

More than ever, the past few years have exposed the racist policies and rhetoric that so many preach. The #AudreLorde statement is a reminder that we must embrace differences and continue striving to be antiracist. #Antiracism

"Racist ideas make people of color think less of themselves, which makes them more vulnerable to racist ideas. Racist ideas make White people think more of themselves, which further attracts them to racist ideas." #ThisIsAmerica #HowToBeAnAntiracist #IbramXKendi

"I loved and hated my father for living on his own terms in a world that usually denies Black people their own terms. It was the sort of defiance that could have gotten him lynched by a mob in a different time and place-or lynched by men in badges today." #IbramXKendi #HowToBeAnAntiracism #CyclesOfRacism #RacismReinvented

FINALLY got around to reading this classic. A quick read that offers us a glimpse into the life of the #DeepSouth in Alabama. A reminder of how much has not changed at its core. #TomRobinson #DueProcess #RacismInTheUSA #TKAM

"As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat Black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it-whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash." #DontBeATrashWhiteMan #TKAM #HarperLee

An amazing read about Alicia's path to find their identify and in the process: their self-worth, tribe, and purpose. Even more amazing if you are also asking yourself the same questions. #SelfWorth #Identity #YourTrueSelf

"The path to self-discovery is not a straight line. It's a zigzag. We move in and out of awareness: one step forward, three steps to the left, a baby step back, another leap forward. A lightbulb moment might shine brightly one day, but then flicker the next." #AliciaKeys #SelfDiscovery #FindingYourPurpose

"Death is a gift meant to wake up the living, to nudge us towards a life of purpose and intention." #AliciaKeys #MoreMyself #TheMeaningOfLife

"It's hard to pinpoint the precise moment when we internalize other's assessments; it's usually not just a single experience but rather a series of moments that bruise the spirit and lead us to distrust ourselves and those around us." -Alicia Keys #MoreMyself #AliciaKeys #ComingOfAge #ChildhoodTrauma

"I'm a person in process, from the me I once was to the me I am now. I'm also a breathing set of contradictions... I've been a builder of inner walls and a burier of feelings." #AliciaKeys #MoreMyself #Emotions

Definitely worth the read and a perfect way to capture history through a novel! Throughout the book, you see the brilliance of #Ta-NehisiCoates and the powerful storytelling about the resistance, struggle, and survival of slaves in the South. #TheUnderground #UndergroundRailroad

"There is always a part of us that does not want to win, wants to stay down in the low and familiar." #Complacency #Aspirations #Freedom #Migration #TheWaterDancer

"My part has been to tell the story of the slave. The story of the master never wanted for narrators." #FrederickDouglass

"... that there can be no 'for sale' sign, no price tag on principles, hymn dignity, and freedom..." #MuhammadAli

A perfect way to end 2019. Powered through this book w/ many emotions - laughter, anger, tears - as we learn about South Africa through the life of #TrevorNoah. I MUST read for sure. 😭 #apartheid #UnconditionalLove #BornACrime

"The hood made me realize that crime succeeds b/c crime does the one thing that the government doesn't: crime cares. Crime is grassroots. Crime looks for the young kids who need support & a lifting hand. Crime offers internship programs & summer jobs & opportunities for advancement. Crime here involved in the community. Crime doesn't discriminate." #Crime #FailedGovernments

Life, having regrets, facing rejection, and having curiosity. #growth #maturity

"We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine, and, depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited." #EducationMatter #ResourcesMatter #HigherEd #Dreams

"Apartheid was perfect racism...They went to Australia. They went to the Netherlands. They went to America. They saw what worked, what didn't." #BornACrime #Afrikaners #PoliceState

Beautiful gift idea for young children. #Sulwe #LupitaNyongo #SelfLove

"Real beauty comes from your mind and your heart. It begins with how you see yourself, not how others see you."

"If you want to, and you don‘t, then that‘s on you." #RobertPeace #LifeChoices

A beautiful book that told a complicated story of a young man who was taken from this Earth way too early. Robert Peace was an embodiment of the layered and multi-faceted complexities that surface of growing up in the inner-city: family, poverty, education, potential, loss, and failed government policies. A must read! #RestInPowerRobPeace

An amazing snapshot into a violent summer in Chicago. The story focuses on the summer of 2013, but strattles in the past and post. It intersects the poverty, lack of affordable housing, sustainable employment and divestment that #Chicago has taken the past few decades.

"People have a capacity to keep going even when their world has been shattered. We all long for connection, for affirmation that our lives matter."

A mandatory read for anyone that is looking to read about a story of self/coming of age/first generation immigrant experience. #Chicago #HigherEd #Mexican #immigration

Brilliant book about a grave injustice that seems to be overlooked and forgotten in this country. Required read for anyone that believes in justice and believes in the value of fighting for change, redemption, & hope.

"We have a choice we can embrace our humanness which means embracing our broken nature's & the compassion that remains our best hope for healing or we can deny our broken this forswear compassion & as a result in our own humanity."

It was an amazing book that helped me learn about the complex origin story of Pakistan while reading about Malala. Through this book, I was able to express anger, pride, and tears. I am left with the realization that regardless of our struggle, we can all do more to make push ourselves and help make the world a better place.

"One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world." #IAmMalala #EducationIsTheWay #EducationForAll

A personal testimony of the damage that a deportation causes - trauma, financial and emotional strains, career sacrifices - while equipping with the resiliency, growth, hope, and fight for a better today/tomorrow.

"The more I learned about the world, the more complicated I realized it was. The way different cultures and people intersected and diverged was like an endlessly layered riddle."