humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
William’s Blood
Here I lay on the bathroom floor, nails bloody and knees bruised from fighting off a relentless predator. I scream, but nobody dares to hear the cries of a big black girl suffering and fighting for the reigns of her own body, particularly after midnight. The time is now 12:33 am. Minutes convert themselves to hours in my mind; time devours itself, and I find myself trapped in a loop. I’ve been here before, I think to myself. Making my final attempt to arise from the hypothetical ashes of sweat and shame, I come face to face with the sole of a thick leather boot. I shift my gaze to eyes that shine like pebbles in a pond, and I am immediately taken back to simpler times.
By as told by heather 👩🏽🦰5 years ago in Humans
Newbie Writer
Hello there! I’m new here to Vocal. I’ve been wanting to write for quite awhile. But hadn’t realized until now there was a platform for it. So I’m going to go ahead and give this a try. I grew up with racist family members so that alone makes all of the stories much more elaborated to be unbelievable. But I swear to you I can not make this stuff up. Follow along as I recollect my experiences and journey dating as a single Caucasian mother. And how it took me so long to get to a point where I am just ok. Slightly not, but what’s today?
By SassyLyric 5 years ago in Humans
Exploring Ethnic Identity Formation of Filipinos Versus Filipino Americans
Introduction To help us understand how people maintain their identity within a certain cultural context, we need to consider the traditions, behaviors, beliefs and values of a society. Culture is learned through experience and observation, and it is transmitted over time from generation to generation. However, culture is adaptive rather than static (Greene, 2018). Furthermore, cultural identity influences how we make decisions and interact with others.
By Antonette Correa5 years ago in Humans
The pain of gain
I walked outside today. In my backyard, a personal nature, the nature of my nature, COVID free and connection free. A place in which I have the liberty to be, but no one can love me as I do it. I went outside, and it was blistering cold. A real cold, the kind that scares the other cold. And in this cold there is snow. Snow I remember from when I was quite small. And my first inclination is to play with it, with my bare hands. And I do. And there’s a reaction of freezing pain that I knew was coming which for some reason still surprises me in the moment and after. And I feel relief that I still feel that surprise, that perplexity, because I’ve touched snow so many times before, out of desire, only to be punished by the hurt of the cold, and then rewarded by the desire, as it all happens again, despite my knowing the outcome, knowing how both work in relation to one another, each sensation, the sensation of wanting and actions and reaction, or thinking I know I do, and through thinking I know I somehow feel what that knowledge accounts for, or know what that feeling accounts for, but perhaps these feelings and logics are doing us not enough justice. I didn’t go outside today. I didn’t touch any snow. I simply watched it from afar and imagined each sensation, each implication, each temptation, maybe if I write these words I can improve my station, just kidding bro I’m on fucking vacation, to vacate this nation, and placate ovation, on top of the world, you can be too, no intimidation. I think we need to innovate our innovation. Without that being taken as dictation. One more time, seriously, so, I went outside, and it was cold but sunny. The warm air cooled me as I give you language verbose that accentuates hopes, sows dreams at seams. The cool air whispered to me in the way that only certain lovers do. Then it held me tightly there and hovered in a way that only certain mothers do. Then I struggled and broke free of the grasp and began to gasp but that’s just more air. I love and hate this despotic despair. I love and hate that I’m beginning to care. I love and hate this pains reign, this reigning pain, get out of my hair. So I can start anew in a place that I choose let’s call it THERE.
By Alec Febbraro5 years ago in Humans
Tis the season to give!
Yes, tis the season to give! Or really the season of, 'how broke do I want to be after the Christmas of the not so great year of 2020?' Who gets what, who gets nothing, how much, or how little? Now I am a pretty frugal man, but this year Scrooge has nothing on me!
By Eric Sykes5 years ago in Humans
Don’t Try To Be “Normal” — The World Needs You to Be Yourself
“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” — Maya Angelou This phrase expresses very well how a good part of our lives ends up being wasted. How much of our life is spent trying to be normal? How much effort do we make to be like others?
By Zen Michael5 years ago in Humans
Journey
It started with an awakening, not just one, but multiple awakenings simultaneously. They grooved and intertwined unknown to the many connections they made. Sometimes the journey seemed endless and other times the journey must be repeated; maybe more than twice. For one, it will be life-changing for it needs to be. Another may only need a fraction of what it takes to discover the meaning or may never discover it at all. Sad to say fear can do more harm than good or can be the defining factor.
By Stephanie Battle5 years ago in Humans
