Dear Reader, A couple of months back, I had the pleasure of listening to Marlon James read from his latest book “Black Leopard, Red Wolf“. Before his visit to Houston, I read the New Yorker article on him. The VERY long New Yorker article that just was so…LONG. OMG! What do people write mini-novels as … Continue reading The Nostalgia of Place
Dear Reader, There is a saying that has circulated around social media and public discourse -- representation matters. And it does. Seeing yourself reflected back at you is affirming. It tells you, shows you, that you are not alone and that you are okay. After the turbulent 2017, I needed to see that. I needed a … Continue reading Watching black bodies move
When I talk about my father and when I write stories about him, I chose my words carefully. His is a story of redemption. The success of that redemption depends on who you ask. My dad was Osiris Fernández y Ferrer. That was his full name according to his Cuban passport. I say that … Continue reading How redemption continues even after death
Dear Reader, I've been thinking a lot about bravery recently, what it actually means and what it takes to be brave. This bravery thing seems like a simple thing to figure out but I'm not quite so sure. I've been called brave once. About a year ago. See, I did something that most people wish … Continue reading Don’t call me brave. Call me chingona
Listen, my black speaks Spanish. And I love learning about African American History. Love it. But I want to know about my history. Who are the people who fought in wars and made discoveries? Whose names are all but forgotten? What are the issues they have confronted and overcome?
Dear Reader, I have a confession to make. I've never read Langston Hughes. Nope. Not in a class. Not out of class. Know of him. Know of his work. But never really engaged with it. Yes, I know. I am a special kind of person. Got it. However, I am growing into my blackness. That … Continue reading Growing into my blackness: Reflection on Langston Hughes
For me, I feel like my year didn't start until June so I only have half year of 2015 to think about. This was a fantastic year and I learned so much about myself as a person and a writer so it's a bit sad that it's ending. That doesn't mean I'm not excited for the new year and the adventures it'll bring.
Dear Reader, Today, I am dreaming of Miami. It's been nearly six months since I last stepped foot in that town and it changed my life. That was when I felt something break inside of me and a shift happen. There was bound to be change. That was June 26. It wasn't even … Continue reading How the worst time of my life became the best
Dear Reader, Sometimes being Afro-Latina comes with stomaching the obvious -- being left out of the narrative. I tried to avoid the HBO documentary Latin Explosion because I already knew what it was going to be, a celebration of Latino achievement in America. And it should be celebrated -- Rita Moreno, Jose Feliciano -- their very … Continue reading That Latin Explosion documentary…incomplete
Dear Reader, I am exhausted and with good reason. On Wednesday night, I was part of an amazing livestreamed reading. Culture, Love, and Identity: An Afro-Latina Reading. It was amazing and just knocked my socks off. You know when you work on something for so long and you don't know how it's going … Continue reading The best night of literature and words
Dear Reader 