ordinary thoughts: imposter syndrome
Hola familia! As February comes to a close, we wanted to check in on y’all regarding those 2024 goals and resolutions you wrote down at the end of 2023. The first two months of the year have seemingly zoomed by faster than an express train. Are we staying committed to the mission and keeping good on our promises? For us, the end of each month is a perfect time to reflect on the progress we’ve made, and all the things that need improvement. There’s no better time than now to track your progression.
And remember, this is a leap year folks. Thus, March doesn’t arrive ‘til Friday. I know some of y’all have been eager to bring out the sage in light of a new month of blessings and positive energy… but you’ll have to hold off just one more day. You got this.
- Isaiah & Cybele
combating imposter syndrome
A multitude of factors can be attributed to why Black and Brown people tend to second guess or overthink in the face of simplistic dilemmas at work, finding themselves knee-deep into imposter syndrome without even realizing it.
stories that have our attention
A Black woman's breast cancer diagnosis led to a community of survivors embracing natural beauty products
Tiah Tomlin-Harris still remembers the feeling of not being able to breathe when her doctor told her she had triple-negative breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease, at age 38. She was shocked and terrified of what she didn’t know.
When she brought a list of questions to her doctor, she was met with pushback. The former pharmaceuticals manager wanted to know if there was anything she could change about her lifestyle to prevent the cancer from spreading. But the doctor told her those kinds of adjustments wouldn’t change things, and she needed to focus on seeking treatment.
Georgia Latino groups condemn heinous crime at UGA, as they fear anti-immigrant rhetoric
After the suspect in the slaying of nursing student Laken Riley was revealed to be an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, students at the University of Georgia and Latino organizations have made pleas against hateful rhetoric directed at Hispanics and immigrants. The Latino Community Fund Georgia said that it has been “monitoring instances of folks that have been saying that they want to go ‘hunting for immigrants,’” which Gilda Pedraza, executive director and founder of the group, described as "damaging narratives" and "a very real-life threat.”
Pedraza said she has personally seen threatening social media posts that appear to be from local residents. The comments have so scared some of her group's member organizations and Latino community leaders that they've removed their contact information from their websites. "People just don't feel safe," she said. "We are trying to really prevent the negative narratives."
Family of exonerated man killed by Georgia deputy at traffic stop files lawsuit
The family of a Georgia man killed by a sheriff’s deputy in October, three years after he was exonerated and freed from prison, has filed a federal lawsuit against the sheriff’s office and the deputy. Leonard Cure’s family and their attorneys filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday, naming Buck Aldridge, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office deputy who fatally shot Cure, and Sheriff Jim Proctor.
Along with seeking monetary damages, the suit claims that Aldridge and Proctor violated Cure’s Fourth Amendment rights when Aldridge stopped Cure and ultimately killed him on Oct. 16, during a traffic stop on Interstate 95 near the Georgia-Florida border, said Harry Daniels, one of the family’s attorneys. The family is seeking $16 million — $1 million for every year Leonard Cure was wrongfully incarcerated for armed robbery. His death came after he was freed from a 16-year prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit.
in other news...
Politics
Social justice artist fights to keep Black families in Chicago homes
2 men found guilty of murder in Jam Master Jay killing
Mayor of Birmingham advises Black athletes to avoid Alabama colleges if anti-DEI bill passes
Markets
Alphabet’s Gemini AI misstep is the latest reason Cramer is getting fed up with the stock
Crypto leverage is roaring back, fueling latest bitcoin surge
10 highest-yielding dividend stocks in the Dow
Tech
Apple cancels decade-long electric car project, source says
OpenAI hit with new lawsuits from news outlets over AI training
Bumble falls as CEO signals need for app revamp after poor earnings
Sports
Howard University is making history as the first HBCU to take part in a figure skating competition
Former NFL MVP Cam Newton involved in scuffle at youth football tournament in Atlanta
Scottie Pippen, other ex-Bulls to go on ‘No Bull’ tour talking drama over Jordan’s “Last Dance”
pa' la cultura
cultural trivia
Award season is upon us 🏆
Question: How many women of color have won the Oscar award for Best Actress?
4
1
7
9
song of the week
Song of the Week is chosen from subscriber submissions, as we pay close attention to the latest exceptional output of music from artists who remain slightly under the radar.
Song of the Week:
words of wisdom
Today’s quote from decades ago felt extremely relevant, and vital, given the times we’re facing.
From ‘No Name in the Street’ by American writer and novelist James Baldwin, first published in 1972.
Cultural Trivia Answer
The answer, ladies and gentlemen, is… *Drum roll please*
2. 1
Dorothy Dandridge, Diahann Carroll and Angela Bassett are just some of the legends nominated for Best Actress before Halle Berry won for Monster’s Ball. Since then, we’ve seen nods for Viola Davis, Ruth Negga and Cynthia Erivo. And yet, Halle is still the only Black woman to ever win the award.