humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
Judging Through "White Eyes"
Let me start with this... I am an American Black male and I have been all of my life. Now that that is out of the way I'll continue with my rant. It's not fair! It's not fair and I don't know who is at fault! Is it my own psyche or insecurities? Is my dismay and anger justified because my feelings are a result of self-hate born from oppression? My lack of clarity only adds to my angst, confusion, and frustration. Many American Black people, so I have been told, view the world and the interactions within through "white eyes." It's an utter curse that causes the afflicted to become judgmental, condescending, and negative about the other Black folks.
By Stone Jone8 years ago in Humans
Empathy: The Salvation of Mankind
The emergence of the technological revolution has shrunk the world, but for many, we are further away from each other than ever before (Unless you play Pokémon Go still). Social media connects us, but the gulf of understanding and accepting each other's thoughts and ideas betrays our lack of concern. Empathy is an inherent gift of evolution, it has helped humanity spread and flourish around the world. However, without training and practice, it is a skill that humanity may lose. We are born with the capability to walk, yet if we do not use our legs, then they grow brittle, It is the same with emotional health. If we do not practice or utilize our ability to empathize with others, then we will be unable to render support when such an ability is necessary. To ensure the progression and stability of empathy in future generations, there are several steps we must take.
By Robert Burdsall8 years ago in Humans
Gentrificate
The night breeze at this outdoor café reminds her of his fingers in her hair. She wants those fingers on her skin, her waist. She sighs and leans in to him even more, caressing his soft palms and coarse knuckles. A thickened middle finger joint. A pointer finger ever pointing to it's left. A pinky finger unable to bow. The hands that knew every inch of her and so expertly learned her most private of inches now spent their time fumbling with the wooden table where they sit. Ripping off the stickers from local bars and bands, his smoke-yellowed two fingers use their oil to rub of the remainder of the glue from the first sticker, his left palm rubbed itself against it, rolling it into a tiny ball until his thumb stamped it, stuck to it, and dropped it into an upside down beer cap that was sitting at the table before they intruded on its rest. She is jealous of the stickers, ripped to shreds by his hands, though no one who knew her would ever have guessed. His fingers were all crookedly healed from years of jamming hands bartending without insurance. Half the time she's known him he's had one or another finger handsomely wrapped with popsicle sticks by the school nurses where they met working as assistant teachers. She loves those hands. They show his two jobs, his exhaustive daily effort to succeed. Her last boyfriend's mom got a new nose “just for fun,” and these hands are about 60% of her attraction to her Bushwick-raised man.
By Durf Durfy8 years ago in Humans
Psychotic
I sat in my car with everything I owned packed up in the back seat. Tears were running down my face and my sobs would not stop. I was at that low point where all I could think about was all the wrong I've done in my life; I started filling my head with these negative thoughts about myself, about my life, and about every person in my life who I swear thinks nothing good of me. I'm sure it was the equivalent of the devil whispering in my ear.
By Madison Loucks8 years ago in Humans
Gratitude
I was on social media the other day and came across a really interesting quote by Anne Frank. The quote reads, “Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones, because the regret is stronger than gratitude." This quote really got me thinking, my family and I lost both of our grandfathers a few years back and my parents always say that they would do anything just to have one more moment with their dads, they would do anything just to see them smile one last time. Many people likely have that same thought, but why? Why do so many people express that feeling? Thinking about how people often say or think that I began to wonder, Is their regret stronger than their gratitude? What can I do to make sure my regret won’t be stronger than my gratitude? What can we all do to make sure our regret won’t be stronger than our gratitude?
By Jordyn Goolsby8 years ago in Humans
The Millennial Mold
The Millennial stereotype is like every other stereotype a biracial teen like myself has to face. It's a misunderstanding — a label that was smacked on my forehead like a sticker on a steak. I have a flavor, size, marbling limit, and price that I am supposed to be worth — the maximum and minimum that which my abilities will be bought and sold for.
By Lavon Swygert8 years ago in Humans
