Lauren
Favorite writer - Toni Morrison/Gwendolyn Brooks
Favorite sex scene - The sex scene between Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem in Jamón Jamón.
Hidden talent - I can make a three-leaf clover with my tongue.
Posts By: Lauren Senwo
Fighting for Liberation in the Midst of Oppression
I have been told that just because I don’t see results immediately doesn’t mean I should be quick to give up; that the results will come someday, and when that day comes, I will be thankful for my perseverance. I’ve held this belief with me in most things I do, and I’ve found it to be somewhat favorable in terms of my career, relationships, and self. Of course, I know when I’m at my limit and when it’s time for me to let go; but for the most part, this saying has helped me push through some of my darkest hours and allows me to maintain a glimpse of hope. With this being said, it is becoming increasingly harder to maintain this hope as it pertains to activism and the… Read more »
#GirlsSupportingGirls Does Nothing for Black, Indigenous, Women of Color
In this new age of feminism, I am consistently introduced to new buzzwords and “movements” that give the illusion of productivity and combating issues in our community; but in reality, do nothing to exonerate existing systems of oppression, nor prioritizes the voices of those who are repeatedly silenced. This is how I feel about the “girls supporting girls” movement. At first, I genuinely thought it was cute; seeing women hyping each other up on social media and in real life was a refreshing contrast to the previous upholding of patriarchal values that continued to keep us in competition for the male gaze. But of course, like always, white women (all offense intended). The movement quickly took a turn for the worst as genuine moments for critique and self-reevaluation became self-victimization… Read more »
American Individualism Will be The Detriment of Us All
Speaking from an American’s point of view, I think most of us can agree that 2020 has been a complete shit show. To try and even articulate the amount of BS that has occurred in this country, let alone across the globe, would require a mountain of words that I don’t have the energy to process at the moment. Like many others, I am drained out and need a serious break that I doubt any of us will be seeing anytime soon, which only adds to the frustration and exhaustion. However, as my mom has always told me: everything does come with its lesson, and in the year 2020, I’ve realized just how individualistic the American culture/society is. Now, I’m not just waking up with this astute observation; deep down,… Read more »
Tolerance is NOT Acceptance, Yes You Are Still Homo/Transphobic
I had a discussion with a family member of mine about a week ago, where we discussed queer identities and the journey towards acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals in our global society. We went back and forth for what seemed like hours when, in reality, it was only about 20 minutes. At first, the conversation was fine, and we seemed to be on the same page for most of it. However, it wasn’t until they repeated a sentence I’ve heard way too many times in my 21 years of life, a sentence that infuriates me to my core: “I don’t have to support the LGBTQ+ community in order to accept them.” From there, the conversation went downhill, and as our voices continued to increase in volume, I decided to hang up… Read more »
Living Vicariously Through the Black Image
As many in my generation do, I find TikTok to be very addicting. I usually find myself on there for hours at a time, ignoring most of my responsibilities, for the pleasure of watching a compilation of clips that only last a few seconds. And if we’re being honest, I enjoy these moments of light thinking and “immaculate vibes”; being able to disconnect myself from reality for a few hours a day has become an essential part of my de-stressing routine. And, honestly, I’d say that’s the case for many others that spend an ample amount of time using the app. Either that… or it’s all just an excuse for our lack of productivity and procrastination. Regardless of the reason, with the amount of time I spend scrolling through Tiktok,… Read more »
We Are Gay & We Are Pregnant: How Unpregnant Combats the Stigmas Surrounding Abortions
***SPOILERS MENTIONED. This past weekend, while in my humble dorm room eating a bag of frozen cotton candy grapes, I decided to start my 7-day free trial on HBO and watch the recently released movie Unpregnant starring Barbie Ferreira and Haley Lu Richardson. I remember quite vividly when the trailer first came out and based on my initial reaction and Twitter’s; I thought I had an idea of what type of movie I’d soon be watching; another coming of age film that’s centered around teen white girls. And yes, it was precisely just that. But I wasn’t entirely disappointed. In this movie, we follow 17-year-old Veronica (played by Haley lu Richardson,) as she and her friend, Bailey (played by Barbie Ferreria), travel across state lines to the nearest abortion clinic…. Read more »
Save Yourselves And Leave Black Women Alone
“Strong,” independent,” “resilient.” There was a time in my life where I saw these characteristics as noble and empowering. An affirmation that was important for young girls to hear multiple times throughout their life. However, I quickly realized that these characterizations had their own separate meaning when referring to Black women and girls. Lately, especially on Twitter, I’ve been coming across multiple posts reinforcing the same tired message that Black women will save the United States; that we will right the oppressive past of this country and create an equitable future for all. In light of this, I want to reiterate what has been said by Black women before me and will be said by Black women after me—we are not your mules. We will not “save” this country, we… Read more »
