I strongly identify as a mixed-race and queer female my parents raised me to
queer female my parents raised me to
queer female my parents raised me to never choose just one or the other
never choose just one or the other
never choose just one or the other because I’m multiple identities all day
because I’m multiple identities all day
because I’m multiple identities all day every day and as passionately as I hold
every day and as passionately as I hold
every day and as passionately as I hold my mixed race identity and sexual
my mixed race identity and sexual
my mixed race identity and sexual orientation to be true
orientation to be true
orientation to be true I have grappled with the fact that the
I have grappled with the fact that the
I have grappled with the fact that the world sees my truth as a falsity i jus
world sees my truth as a falsity i jus
world sees my truth as a falsity i jus ana Lillian Thompson I’m proud to say
ana Lillian Thompson I’m proud to say
ana Lillian Thompson I’m proud to say that I’m the child of a black man born
that I’m the child of a black man born
that I’m the child of a black man born and raised on the ghetto streets of
and raised on the ghetto streets of
and raised on the ghetto streets of Southwest Washington DC and a Central
Southwest Washington DC and a Central
Southwest Washington DC and a Central American woman from Nicaragua who came
American woman from Nicaragua who came
American woman from Nicaragua who came to the United States with nothing but a
to the United States with nothing but a
to the United States with nothing but a dream for a better life hyeju ana
dream for a better life hyeju ana
dream for a better life hyeju ana Lillian Thompson and proud to identify
Lillian Thompson and proud to identify
Lillian Thompson and proud to identify as queer because in my 29 years of life
as queer because in my 29 years of life
as queer because in my 29 years of life I have fallen in love with men and women
I have fallen in love with men and women
I have fallen in love with men and women but ultimately see my happily ever after
but ultimately see my happily ever after
but ultimately see my happily ever after with another woman now as a child being
with another woman now as a child being
with another woman now as a child being mixed was not complicated I grew up in
mixed was not complicated I grew up in
mixed was not complicated I grew up in the diverse suburb of Rockville Maryland
the diverse suburb of Rockville Maryland
the diverse suburb of Rockville Maryland right outside of the nation’s capitol
right outside of the nation’s capitol
right outside of the nation’s capitol their commonalities between my friends
their commonalities between my friends
their commonalities between my friends and neighbors were highlighted more so
and neighbors were highlighted more so
and neighbors were highlighted more so than our differences however as I’ve
than our differences however as I’ve
than our differences however as I’ve gotten older and moved away from home to
gotten older and moved away from home to
gotten older and moved away from home to travel both nationally and
travel both nationally and
travel both nationally and internationally to pursue my academic
internationally to pursue my academic
internationally to pursue my academic and career goals I have found myself in
and career goals I have found myself in
and career goals I have found myself in more and more situations where my Miss
more and more situations where my Miss
more and more situations where my Miss mixedness becomes a topic of
mixedness becomes a topic of
mixedness becomes a topic of interrogation these situations are
interrogation these situations are
interrogation these situations are fueled by constant reminders of what
fueled by constant reminders of what
fueled by constant reminders of what makes me different from those who do not
makes me different from those who do not
makes me different from those who do not identify as mixed race
identify as mixed race
identify as mixed race unfortunately I’m more than used to the
unfortunately I’m more than used to the
unfortunately I’m more than used to the typical questions of what are you or
typical questions of what are you or
typical questions of what are you or what are you mixed with and statements
what are you mixed with and statements
what are you mixed with and statements such as I didn’t even think being mixed
such as I didn’t even think being mixed
such as I didn’t even think being mixed was a thing or you don’t even seem black
was a thing or you don’t even seem black
was a thing or you don’t even seem black and latina like what is that
exactly during my childhood I never
exactly during my childhood I never thought about sexuality much sex was
thought about sexuality much sex was
thought about sexuality much sex was quite taboo in my family I was that
quite taboo in my family I was that
quite taboo in my family I was that awkward only child who thought pressing
awkward only child who thought pressing
awkward only child who thought pressing the lips of my Barbie dolls together to
the lips of my Barbie dolls together to
the lips of my Barbie dolls together to kiss was incredibly scandalous or
kiss was incredibly scandalous or
kiss was incredibly scandalous or getting caught in a closet out of all
getting caught in a closet out of all
getting caught in a closet out of all places
places
places curiously kissing one of my dolls I mean
curiously kissing one of my dolls I mean
curiously kissing one of my dolls I mean seriously can only hildren be any
seriously can only hildren be any
seriously can only hildren be any weirder but I digress hung up in a
weirder but I digress hung up in a
weirder but I digress hung up in a heteronormative and religious family
heteronormative and religious family
heteronormative and religious family where gay people were described as that
where gay people were described as that
where gay people were described as that way or being told I will eventually find
way or being told I will eventually find
way or being told I will eventually find the right husband for me made the
the right husband for me made the
the right husband for me made the concept of sexuality highly binary for
concept of sexuality highly binary for
concept of sexuality highly binary for me it was not until attending college at
me it was not until attending college at
me it was not until attending college at West Virginia University go Mountaineers
West Virginia University go Mountaineers
West Virginia University go Mountaineers when I started to meet individuals who
when I started to meet individuals who
when I started to meet individuals who identify as LGBTQ and not until
identify as LGBTQ and not until
identify as LGBTQ and not until attending graduate school out here in
attending graduate school out here in
attending graduate school out here in Illinois when I realized sexuality does
Illinois when I realized sexuality does
Illinois when I realized sexuality does not exist within the binary and it took
not exist within the binary and it took
not exist within the binary and it took me almost almost twenty four years to
me almost almost twenty four years to
me almost almost twenty four years to truly develop and come into my own
truly develop and come into my own
truly develop and come into my own sexuality which I continue to develop
sexuality which I continue to develop
sexuality which I continue to develop today throughout this I’ve always
today throughout this I’ve always
today throughout this I’ve always believed in a middle ground the gray
believed in a middle ground the gray
believed in a middle ground the gray area reading between the lines this is
area reading between the lines this is
area reading between the lines this is what I like to call the space between
what I like to call the space between
what I like to call the space between the space that is not quite black and
the space that is not quite black and
the space that is not quite black and it’s not quite white the space that’s
it’s not quite white the space that’s
it’s not quite white the space that’s not quite gay but not quite straight
not quite gay but not quite straight
not quite gay but not quite straight it’s a beautiful blend of several
it’s a beautiful blend of several
it’s a beautiful blend of several characteristics that in this instance
characteristics that in this instance
characteristics that in this instance make me me so to be honest claiming
make me me so to be honest claiming
make me me so to be honest claiming identities like mixed-race and queer
identities like mixed-race and queer
identities like mixed-race and queer both of which do not reside on either
both of which do not reside on either
both of which do not reside on either end of a binary but rather smack dab in
end of a binary but rather smack dab in
end of a binary but rather smack dab in the middle makes my everyday life a
the middle makes my everyday life a
the middle makes my everyday life a negotiation of the space between it is
negotiation of the space between it is
negotiation of the space between it is exciting to navigate the space between
exciting to navigate the space between
exciting to navigate the space between but it is not easy
but it is not easy
but it is not easy the space between poses daily challenges
the space between poses daily challenges
the space between poses daily challenges for example I struggle with feeling like
for example I struggle with feeling like
for example I struggle with feeling like am i enough almost daily am i black
am i enough almost daily am i black
am i enough almost daily am i black enough am i lucky not enough am i queer
enough am i lucky not enough am i queer
enough am i lucky not enough am i queer enough and those thoughts Domino into
enough and those thoughts Domino into
enough and those thoughts Domino into the ultimate question of well what does
the ultimate question of well what does
the ultimate question of well what does it even mean to be enough and can enough
it even mean to be enough and can enough
it even mean to be enough and can enough ever really be achieved during this
ever really be achieved during this
ever really be achieved during this mental spiral into a hopeless of
mental spiral into a hopeless of
mental spiral into a hopeless of I ended up feeling the need to break out
I ended up feeling the need to break out
I ended up feeling the need to break out of the space between because I feel it
of the space between because I feel it
of the space between because I feel it would just simply make my life easier
would just simply make my life easier
would just simply make my life easier it’s like my mind is telling me Joanna
it’s like my mind is telling me Joanna
it’s like my mind is telling me Joanna just identify as one thing so that we
just identify as one thing so that we
just identify as one thing so that we don’t have to keep defending you to
don’t have to keep defending you to
don’t have to keep defending you to everyone all the time but to move out of
everyone all the time but to move out of
everyone all the time but to move out of the space between into a nice condo in
the space between into a nice condo in
the space between into a nice condo in the binary has become much more of an
the binary has become much more of an
the binary has become much more of an option due to a recent increase in
option due to a recent increase in
option due to a recent increase in questioning of my racial and ethnic
questioning of my racial and ethnic
questioning of my racial and ethnic identity and my queerness these
identity and my queerness these
identity and my queerness these questions are not just of what I am but
questions are not just of what I am but
questions are not just of what I am but have come to subtly discredit my
have come to subtly discredit my
have come to subtly discredit my identities altogether let us begin with
identities altogether let us begin with
identities altogether let us begin with my mixed race identity my girlfriend and
my mixed race identity my girlfriend and
my mixed race identity my girlfriend and I first met in November this last
I first met in November this last
I first met in November this last November and when we first met she made
November and when we first met she made
November and when we first met she made it clear that she identifies as a black
it clear that she identifies as a black
it clear that she identifies as a black lesbian and is undeniably Pro black in
lesbian and is undeniably Pro black in
lesbian and is undeniably Pro black in her personal beliefs and behaviors when
her personal beliefs and behaviors when
her personal beliefs and behaviors when we first started to get to know one
we first started to get to know one
we first started to get to know one another
another
another she frankly informed me that I was not
she frankly informed me that I was not
she frankly informed me that I was not ethnic that I have been whitewashed
ethnic that I have been whitewashed
ethnic that I have been whitewashed because when I shared experiences about
because when I shared experiences about
because when I shared experiences about myself it sounded like I was sheltered
myself it sounded like I was sheltered
myself it sounded like I was sheltered as if my parents kept all of the black
as if my parents kept all of the black
as if my parents kept all of the black and Latina kids away from me and that I
and Latina kids away from me and that I
and Latina kids away from me and that I was not like any other black or latina
was not like any other black or latina
was not like any other black or latina person she knows because I just didn’t
person she knows because I just didn’t
person she knows because I just didn’t act like other black girls they didn’t
act like other black girls they didn’t
act like other black girls they didn’t just sound like me her justification for
just sound like me her justification for
just sound like me her justification for my apparent display of a lack of
my apparent display of a lack of
my apparent display of a lack of ethnicity was that due to
ethnicity was that due to
ethnicity was that due to characteristics I embody such as I’m too
characteristics I embody such as I’m too
characteristics I embody such as I’m too passive I’m too nice I talked properly
passive I’m too nice I talked properly
passive I’m too nice I talked properly all the time I like baseball and hockey
all the time I like baseball and hockey
all the time I like baseball and hockey I don’t really listen to a lot of black
I don’t really listen to a lot of black
I don’t really listen to a lot of black people music I’m not
people music I’m not
people music I’m not bourbon enough I say phrases like okie
bourbon enough I say phrases like okie
bourbon enough I say phrases like okie dokie essentially negated my claim as
dokie essentially negated my claim as
dokie essentially negated my claim as black and latina now I’m sure some of
black and latina now I’m sure some of
black and latina now I’m sure some of you are thinking wow what a girlfriend
you are thinking wow what a girlfriend
you are thinking wow what a girlfriend but believe me she is amazing and is
but believe me she is amazing and is
but believe me she is amazing and is very understanding and knows that me
very understanding and knows that me
very understanding and knows that me sharing this is not a condemnation of
sharing this is not a condemnation of
sharing this is not a condemnation of her words or me bad-mouthing her in any
her words or me bad-mouthing her in any
her words or me bad-mouthing her in any way but what it does is serve as an
way but what it does is serve as an
way but what it does is serve as an example of of opinions that I’ve been
example of of opinions that I’ve been
example of of opinions that I’ve been told throughout my entire life both
told throughout my entire life both
told throughout my entire life both directly and indirectly to explain
directly and indirectly to explain
directly and indirectly to explain personal characteristics that I embody
personal characteristics that I embody
personal characteristics that I embody from how I act to how I speak to even
from how I act to how I speak to even
from how I act to how I speak to even what sports and music I like have
what sports and music I like have
what sports and music I like have somehow
somehow
somehow and unbeknownst to me stripped me away
and unbeknownst to me stripped me away
and unbeknownst to me stripped me away from my racial and ethnic background as
from my racial and ethnic background as
from my racial and ethnic background as for my queerness the question comes from
for my queerness the question comes from
for my queerness the question comes from a sense of confusion and honestly many
a sense of confusion and honestly many
a sense of confusion and honestly many stereotypes of the LGBTQ community that
stereotypes of the LGBTQ community that
stereotypes of the LGBTQ community that continue to divide the community rather
continue to divide the community rather
continue to divide the community rather than bring it together prior to
than bring it together prior to
than bring it together prior to attending graduate school I dated males
attending graduate school I dated males
attending graduate school I dated males all my serious relationships up until
all my serious relationships up until
all my serious relationships up until that time were with men I never thought
that time were with men I never thought
that time were with men I never thought about dating women or even sometimes
about dating women or even sometimes
about dating women or even sometimes thinking of somebody who identifies as
thinking of somebody who identifies as
thinking of somebody who identifies as transgender because those options were
transgender because those options were
transgender because those options were never presented to me where I’m from
never presented to me where I’m from
never presented to me where I’m from however moving to Chicago to pursue my
however moving to Chicago to pursue my
however moving to Chicago to pursue my master’s in PhD it pushed me further
master’s in PhD it pushed me further
master’s in PhD it pushed me further into the space between in graduate
into the space between in graduate
into the space between in graduate school I realized gender and sexual
school I realized gender and sexual
school I realized gender and sexual orientation was not as one-sided as I
orientation was not as one-sided as I
orientation was not as one-sided as I had previously thought and I am proud to
had previously thought and I am proud to
had previously thought and I am proud to say that since being in graduate school
say that since being in graduate school
say that since being in graduate school I’ve not only dated but I have met and
I’ve not only dated but I have met and
I’ve not only dated but I have met and befriended people who identify across
befriended people who identify across
befriended people who identify across the spectrum as gender non-conforming
the spectrum as gender non-conforming
the spectrum as gender non-conforming transgender gender queer and gender
transgender gender queer and gender
transgender gender queer and gender fluid and seeing the fluidity of gender
fluid and seeing the fluidity of gender
fluid and seeing the fluidity of gender identity and gender expression was
identity and gender expression was
identity and gender expression was something I instantly became attracted
something I instantly became attracted
something I instantly became attracted to because I already operated in a sense
to because I already operated in a sense
to because I already operated in a sense of racial fluidity
of racial fluidity
of racial fluidity so this attraction led me to explore
so this attraction led me to explore
so this attraction led me to explore dating people who were the same sex as
dating people who were the same sex as
dating people who were the same sex as me or maybe the same sex as me
me or maybe the same sex as me
me or maybe the same sex as me biologically but express their identity
biologically but express their identity
biologically but express their identity differently as freeing as it was for me
differently as freeing as it was for me
differently as freeing as it was for me to become more open to dating all types
to become more open to dating all types
to become more open to dating all types of people it confused many who knew me
of people it confused many who knew me
of people it confused many who knew me friends who I grew up with back home who
friends who I grew up with back home who
friends who I grew up with back home who only ever saw me with men did not quite
only ever saw me with men did not quite
only ever saw me with men did not quite understand the sudden change questions
understand the sudden change questions
understand the sudden change questions like so you’re a lesbian now will you
like so you’re a lesbian now will you
like so you’re a lesbian now will you ever date guys again and just because
ever date guys again and just because
ever date guys again and just because you’ve had bad relationships with guys
you’ve had bad relationships with guys
you’ve had bad relationships with guys doesn’t mean you have to give them up
doesn’t mean you have to give them up
doesn’t mean you have to give them up for good swirled around me on the other
for good swirled around me on the other
for good swirled around me on the other end the LGBTQ community did not embrace
end the LGBTQ community did not embrace
end the LGBTQ community did not embrace me fully either with statements such as
me fully either with statements such as
me fully either with statements such as you’re just a curious street girl and
you’re just a curious street girl and
you’re just a curious street girl and you’ll you’ll never last with a woman
you’ll you’ll never last with a woman
you’ll you’ll never last with a woman because you’ll end up going back to a
because you’ll end up going back to a
because you’ll end up going back to a man they always do and so there I was
man they always do and so there I was
man they always do and so there I was vulnerable in the space between yearning
vulnerable in the space between yearning
vulnerable in the space between yearning to feel accepted by both sides while
to feel accepted by both sides while
to feel accepted by both sides while simultaneously
simultaneously
simultaneously being condemned by both for sitting on
being condemned by both for sitting on
being condemned by both for sitting on the fence as I put this talk together
the fence as I put this talk together
the fence as I put this talk together two questions came to my mind as I
two questions came to my mind as I
two questions came to my mind as I reflected on my seemingly now lack of
reflected on my seemingly now lack of
reflected on my seemingly now lack of minority status and confused them using
minority status and confused them using
minority status and confused them using sexual orientation first of all what
sexual orientation first of all what
sexual orientation first of all what does it really mean to be ethnic and
does it really mean to be ethnic and
does it really mean to be ethnic and queer and second what does it mean to be
queer and second what does it mean to be
queer and second what does it mean to be genuine of any identity I wonder if I
genuine of any identity I wonder if I
genuine of any identity I wonder if I were to give in to stereotypes would
were to give in to stereotypes would
were to give in to stereotypes would that make me more genuine when it comes
that make me more genuine when it comes
that make me more genuine when it comes to my identities if I grew up on the
to my identities if I grew up on the
to my identities if I grew up on the ghetto streets as my dad if I struggled
ghetto streets as my dad if I struggled
ghetto streets as my dad if I struggled in the shacks of Nicaragua like my mom
in the shacks of Nicaragua like my mom
in the shacks of Nicaragua like my mom if I would have just continued dating
if I would have just continued dating
if I would have just continued dating men and never fallen for those who
men and never fallen for those who
men and never fallen for those who identify as LGBTQ if I would simply pick
identify as LGBTQ if I would simply pick
identify as LGBTQ if I would simply pick aside would all of that qualify me as a
aside would all of that qualify me as a
aside would all of that qualify me as a bona fide black latina and queer female
personally I cannot deny that I continue
personally I cannot deny that I continue to struggle with questions of am i
to struggle with questions of am i
to struggle with questions of am i enough and will I ever be enough as I
enough and will I ever be enough as I
enough and will I ever be enough as I continue to navigate the space between I
continue to navigate the space between I
continue to navigate the space between I have been and most likely will be
have been and most likely will be
have been and most likely will be reminded that as half-and-half I will
reminded that as half-and-half I will
reminded that as half-and-half I will never be fully black or fully latina I
never be fully black or fully latina I
never be fully black or fully latina I have been and most likely will be
have been and most likely will be
have been and most likely will be reminded that as someone who has once
reminded that as someone who has once
reminded that as someone who has once dated men
dated men
dated men I will never fully be queer enough and
I will never fully be queer enough and
I will never fully be queer enough and yes I could feel as whole as I wanted I
yes I could feel as whole as I wanted I
yes I could feel as whole as I wanted I could shout it from every mountaintop
could shout it from every mountaintop
could shout it from every mountaintop and be proud of the reality I hold to be
and be proud of the reality I hold to be
and be proud of the reality I hold to be true but the world will always see me as
true but the world will always see me as
true but the world will always see me as two parts of a whole never two whole
two parts of a whole never two whole
two parts of a whole never two whole parts and the saddest part about these
parts and the saddest part about these
parts and the saddest part about these reminders is that they usually come from
reminders is that they usually come from
reminders is that they usually come from my own communities my fellow black
my own communities my fellow black
my own communities my fellow black latina Latino LGBTQ folks my own people
latina Latino LGBTQ folks my own people
latina Latino LGBTQ folks my own people who I thought would be the first to have
who I thought would be the first to have
who I thought would be the first to have my back in times when I’m feeling
my back in times when I’m feeling
my back in times when I’m feeling inadequate are the first to criticize me
inadequate are the first to criticize me
inadequate are the first to criticize me and remind me that ultimately I’m flawed
and remind me that ultimately I’m flawed
and remind me that ultimately I’m flawed and so what happens now we’re to mix
and so what happens now we’re to mix
and so what happens now we’re to mix race and queer individuals like myself
race and queer individuals like myself
race and queer individuals like myself who reside in the space between go from
who reside in the space between go from
who reside in the space between go from here do we stop believing in who we are
here do we stop believing in who we are
here do we stop believing in who we are whether our identities are perceived by
whether our identities are perceived by
whether our identities are perceived by others correctly or not do we continue
others correctly or not do we continue
others correctly or not do we continue to convince our own people the ones who
to convince our own people the ones who
to convince our own people the ones who give us the most pushback for not
give us the most pushback for not
give us the most pushback for not being enough that yes we are enough and
being enough that yes we are enough and
being enough that yes we are enough and we should not be stripped of our
we should not be stripped of our
we should not be stripped of our identities simply because we look
identities simply because we look
identities simply because we look different sound different prefer to
different sound different prefer to
different sound different prefer to engage in different cultural interests
engage in different cultural interests
engage in different cultural interests or love people for their lived
or love people for their lived
or love people for their lived experiences and not for their genitalia
experiences and not for their genitalia
experiences and not for their genitalia do we try and establish definite
do we try and establish definite
do we try and establish definite connections for what it means to be as
connections for what it means to be as
connections for what it means to be as genuine of as a person of color or
genuine of as a person of color or
genuine of as a person of color or genuine as a queer person so that at
genuine as a queer person so that at
genuine as a queer person so that at least we have some kind of rulebook to
least we have some kind of rulebook to
least we have some kind of rulebook to abide by when claiming these identities
abide by when claiming these identities
abide by when claiming these identities or do we just not care let the
or do we just not care let the
or do we just not care let the sensitivity and emotion all slide and
sensitivity and emotion all slide and
sensitivity and emotion all slide and live proudly and freely in the space
live proudly and freely in the space
live proudly and freely in the space between my money has been on the last
between my money has been on the last
between my money has been on the last choice I actively chose and continue to
choice I actively chose and continue to
choice I actively chose and continue to choose to lose the fear of going against
choose to lose the fear of going against
choose to lose the fear of going against the grain I developed my own voice so
the grain I developed my own voice so
the grain I developed my own voice so that I’m comfortable in Who I am and no
that I’m comfortable in Who I am and no
that I’m comfortable in Who I am and no longer feel a need to compare myself to
longer feel a need to compare myself to
longer feel a need to compare myself to an artificial standard because at the
an artificial standard because at the
an artificial standard because at the end of the day I know I cannot give in
end of the day I know I cannot give in
end of the day I know I cannot give in to negative feelings I’ve experienced
to negative feelings I’ve experienced
to negative feelings I’ve experienced from discontent and questioning by
from discontent and questioning by
from discontent and questioning by others who feel I’m in accurately
others who feel I’m in accurately
others who feel I’m in accurately portraying the racial or ethnic identity
portraying the racial or ethnic identity
portraying the racial or ethnic identity and sexual orientation I was born into
and sexual orientation I was born into
and sexual orientation I was born into and yes I feel I was born queer but I
and yes I feel I was born queer but I
and yes I feel I was born queer but I know that’s a whole other TED talk I
know that’s a whole other TED talk I
know that’s a whole other TED talk I know I cannot change people’s opinions
know I cannot change people’s opinions
know I cannot change people’s opinions especially if those opinions are not
especially if those opinions are not
especially if those opinions are not grounded in anything definitive aside
grounded in anything definitive aside
grounded in anything definitive aside from personal ideals I know that the
from personal ideals I know that the
from personal ideals I know that the pride that I have in the claim as a
pride that I have in the claim as a
pride that I have in the claim as a queer black and Latina female is my
queer black and Latina female is my
queer black and Latina female is my truth my reality and that will never
truth my reality and that will never
truth my reality and that will never falter I’m lucky to be working at center
falter I’m lucky to be working at center
falter I’m lucky to be working at center on halsted the largest LGBTQ community
on halsted the largest LGBTQ community
on halsted the largest LGBTQ community center in the Midwest down in Chicago
center in the Midwest down in Chicago
center in the Midwest down in Chicago dealing with people every day who are
dealing with people every day who are
dealing with people every day who are navigating the space between whether it
navigating the space between whether it
navigating the space between whether it is my colleagues or people out in the
is my colleagues or people out in the
is my colleagues or people out in the community I get the chance to tell
community I get the chance to tell
community I get the chance to tell others that going against the grain is
others that going against the grain is
others that going against the grain is sexy and I’m lucky to be finishing my
sexy and I’m lucky to be finishing my
sexy and I’m lucky to be finishing my PhD with the Department of Criminology
PhD with the Department of Criminology
PhD with the Department of Criminology law and justice at the University of
law and justice at the University of
law and justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago where I’m
Illinois at Chicago where I’m
Illinois at Chicago where I’m researching how racial microaggressions
researching how racial microaggressions
researching how racial microaggressions affect mixed-race college students so
affect mixed-race college students so
affect mixed-race college students so again more sexiness
again more sexiness
again more sexiness and through this research I’m once again
and through this research I’m once again
and through this research I’m once again able to view the space between as
able to view the space between as
able to view the space between as constructive and not undesirable despite
constructive and not undesirable despite
constructive and not undesirable despite potentially not fitting into whatever
potentially not fitting into whatever
potentially not fitting into whatever cookie cutter mold there is for being a
cookie cutter mold there is for being a
cookie cutter mold there is for being a genuine person of color or a genuine
genuine person of color or a genuine
genuine person of color or a genuine queer lady you better believe no one can
queer lady you better believe no one can
queer lady you better believe no one can tell me I do not fit into the history of
tell me I do not fit into the history of
tell me I do not fit into the history of what it means to be a queer person of
what it means to be a queer person of
what it means to be a queer person of color because in America I do and you
color because in America I do and you
color because in America I do and you know what I know I do my place in
know what I know I do my place in
know what I know I do my place in history as a strong queer person of
history as a strong queer person of
history as a strong queer person of color has been written and continues to
color has been written and continues to
color has been written and continues to be written right between the lines
be written right between the lines
be written right between the lines backed by a soundtrack of pop and hip
backed by a soundtrack of pop and hip
backed by a soundtrack of pop and hip hop a wardrobe of sneakers and
hop a wardrobe of sneakers and
hop a wardrobe of sneakers and sundresses while hooping to the basket
sundresses while hooping to the basket
sundresses while hooping to the basket on the court and sliding into third on
on the court and sliding into third on
on the court and sliding into third on the field with an admiration of feminine
the field with an admiration of feminine
the field with an admiration of feminine men and a passion for masculine women
men and a passion for masculine women
men and a passion for masculine women with a personality that is equally
with a personality that is equally
with a personality that is equally passive and aggressive yet all
passive and aggressive yet all
passive and aggressive yet all accomplished with a swagger that is
accomplished with a swagger that is
accomplished with a swagger that is undeniably a lady in the workplace and a
undeniably a lady in the workplace and a
undeniably a lady in the workplace and a beast in the streets and whether this
beast in the streets and whether this
beast in the streets and whether this does this depiction of Who I am makes
does this depiction of Who I am makes
does this depiction of Who I am makes sense to you or not it is clear to me as
sense to you or not it is clear to me as
sense to you or not it is clear to me as I thrive in the places and spaces
I thrive in the places and spaces
I thrive in the places and spaces between that it makes this world crazy
between that it makes this world crazy
between that it makes this world crazy beautiful and that the space between is
beautiful and that the space between is
beautiful and that the space between is in my being it’s in my blood it’s what
in my being it’s in my blood it’s what
in my being it’s in my blood it’s what wakes me up every night and put every
wakes me up every night and put every
wakes me up every night and put every night wakes me up every morning and puts
night wakes me up every morning and puts
night wakes me up every morning and puts me to sleep every night or vice versa
me to sleep every night or vice versa
me to sleep every night or vice versa and you know what that will always be
and you know what that will always be
and you know what that will always be enough for me thank you
enough for me thank you
enough for me thank you [Applause]
”
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