It’s okay to have mixed feelings about Kamala
ZORA Fam,
There’s a lot going on. Kamala Harris is the new VP pick for what’s likely going to be one of the most tense election cycles in recent history. There have been deadly explosions in Baltimore and Beirut in the last 7 days. Protests against police brutality are still ongoing and getting increasingly violent. Not to mention the airborne virus that’s still ravaging the globe.
Whew! I want to remind you to take a deep breath and take some of your attention back.
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With so many things vying for our clicks and views and concern and outrage, it can be hard to distinguish what’s important, what to prioritize or, let’s be honest, what to care about. It can also be easy to feel overwhelmed and weighed down by the daily deluge of tragic news and political drama.
Honestly, If you can’t find it in you to give a fuck about everything happening in the news, that’s okay. I think it’s easy to feel guilty for wanting to tune out every once in a while. As someone who’s made my career in news and media, I know following every trending topic can be addicting. But when we’re pulled in so many directions on what we should care about, we can start to feel stretched thin. It’s easy to forget what’s important to you.
What is your priority? Maybe right now it’s not Kamala. Maybe it’s not tracking coronavirus outbreaks in your state. That’s okay! Maybe, instead, it’s dancing around your house listening to “WAP” or watching Black Is King for the 40th time. Maybe it’s getting (and staying) healthy. Maybe it’s simply trying to live life as normally as possible despite everything going on.
Whatever it is, your priority should always be yourself and your sanity. It’s not always an easy thing to do, but there’s nothing selfish about taking time for yourself. It’s one of the major themes of ZORA’s new series, The Pleasure Principle, all about getting clear about your wants and your needs and putting yourself first.
You should always be your number one priority. You need you now more than ever. And when you’re good to yourself, you can be better to others.
Take care,
Jolie A. Doggett, ZORA platform editor
PS: We want to hear from you! ✨ Take ZORA’s Solo Sex Survey and let us know how you’re making your pleasure a priority. ✨
🎤 Having Our Say 🎤
ZORA spoke with Sexologist Shamyra Howard all about masturbation, self love and making your pleasure a priority. She gave her tips for getting the most out of your me time. Here’s an excerpt from her interview for The Pleasure Principle:
“One of the many benefits of masturbation is an increased sense of self. [Solo sex] fills us with relaxation, we experience less stress, we’re more motivated, we feel good, we’re more in tune to the things around us, and we’re more likely to seek out other pleasure-inducing activities. A lot of people when they hear self-pleasure, they automatically think of masturbation, and that is an all-time favorite form, but if we’re really going to talk about self-pleasure as it relates to Black women, we need to talk about engaging in activities that are satisfying to you. It’s all about giving yourself permission to do things that feel good.”
➡️ Read the full interview with Shamyra Howard.
✨ The Best of Us ✨
News, art, and stories worth celebrating. All by or for WOC.
Congratulations are definitely in order for Senator Kamala Harris, who made history this week as the first Black and South Asian woman to be a vice-presidential running mate on a major party ballot.
Veteran journalist Chandra Thomas Whitfield brings us a 12-episode podcast, In These Times, on how systemic inequality affects our lives and livelihoods, with interviews from Black women and experts in the American workforce.
Marjon Carlos profiles Cardi B for ELLE. The rise and rise of Cardi B just keeps coming.
(In)Visible Portraits, a documentary about the history of Black women by filmmaker Oge Egbuonu, is a must-see.
Aliya S. King delivers a deep dive into the Black internet gold rush that wiped away $75 million in 18 months.
ZORA contributor Iman Sultan reports on a nationwide movement of strippers fighting for justice in their industry.
Karen Derrico, the mom of 14 kids and star of TLC’s Doubling Down With The Derricos, has her hands full. Here’s how she runs a smooth household.
🗣️ The Last Word 🗣️
“You are your best thing.” — Toni Morrison
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