Author: Jayson Kristopher
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You Almost Killed My Wife
This isn’t a tragedy. This is a love letter to the Black woman that I married. It’s a love letter to the Black woman that raised me. It’s a love letter to every Black person that has, will, or wants to experience giving birth.
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I Quiet Quit Years Ago
And, I’m Better For It It’s 2013 and I’m 24. I’m staring into her eyes, damp from the freshly drawn tears, and I imagine they must have once been filled with light. I imagine that everyone’s eyes are filled with hope, like those of children, at least once. But, not now. Now, they are weary. Perhaps now,…
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I Started a Union When I Was Four
If you asked her, she’d probably tell you some crap about being influenced by the great organizers of the past and wanting to further their legacy. She’d probably relate it back to our family’s humble beginnings and not wanting to see people get taken advantage of. She’d say that she became a labor organizer because…
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Let’s Talk About Why We’re Really Mad at Will Smith
And, I’m angry with Will Smith because the man that I followed and admired — the man whose memoir is so vulnerable that it feels as if he’s having a conversation with you from across the coffee table — chose to tarnish his night, his work, and the work of his colleagues with the stroke of his hand.
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How Does it Feel to Be Black?
It’s 2022 and I’m still contemplating your question. I stared at you wondering if we’d ever met and we had. We met when we read together in the fifth grade. We met once at the arcade when you told my mom that we should leave and “give other folks” a chance to play. We met…
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When Death Knocks
It’s not always what it seems… The three large thuds shook him out of bed. The room was void of light and his eyes could barely adjust. He sat upright, perched on the edge of his bed, and gathered that it must have been the early hours of the morning, long before the sun would…
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I Wrote My First Will At Four Years Old
I actually dictated it, but that’s not the point Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash It was staring at me — big, black, and ugly. For years, it was just there, attached, clinging to me like a parasite that lasted long after an international trip. I did what I could to put it out of my mind, but nothing…
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We Do Not Exist For Your Comfort
A reflection on critical race theory, ignorance, and maintaining your voice Photo by Khadim Fall on Unsplash I stand at about 5’5’’ with the grace and frame of an amateur wrestler that lifted just enough weights to see some ring time but gets winded before the start of every match. My shoulders are broad and for most…
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I Met the Strongest Person in the World
He never needed help Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash “Okay, so we’re all here because of our hard work and of course, the help that we’ve received. And, that’s the message that we want to convey to our students. We’re here to help and at times, you’ll need help.” That statement seemed simple enough. Hard work…
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“Write Every Day”
And More Advice That I Don’t Follow Photo by Daniel Herron on Unsplash “I have an idea. I’m going to write a post every week. It’ll be quick — just something to keep the creative juices flowing.” That was me and that was my goal for 2021. “Minute Mondays” is what I called it — quick thoughts on anything that was…
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I Got Vaccinated Because I’m Selfish
We talked about our mistrust in the system and our desire to see what happens after obtaining more data. She read the initial reports and concerns with that particular trial. Far from an anti-vaxxer, she just wanted to make sure that benefits outweighed the risks. I just didn’t want to kill my mom.
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When People See More in You
I’m a writer and my friends get it Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels “You’re more than just a social worker though.” His words hit me like a Wu-Tang album. They were hard, raw, and uncompromising. I let them dangle in ether, occupying the void between his end of the phone line and mine. “You know what…
Jayson Kristopher 