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Letter from the Editors

Happy Black History Month! For us, there is ‘no’ Black History Month. Black History is every month at The Intersectionalist because we are dedicated to telling Black stories and bringing attention to Blackness.

We’ve been told to uphold white supremacy in journalism by “acquiring” objectivity. But our souls are seen in every waking moment: white gazes scrutinizing and criticizing our voice, tone, hair, language — our evolving Blackness. There is no unbiasedness in being Black for Black is beautiful, prideful, light, energy, love, and hope. We see our Blackness, and that is okay.

Being Black women in journalism has led us to become disillusioned about this field. Time and time again, journalists refuse to understand, report, and uplift diverse Black stories. Typically, or at least to most white people, being Black means being onedimensional. Suffering police brutality, high rates of incarceration, victims of hate crimes, dying from childbirth, and other atrocities are not what define us. We are more than just pain and suffering; we are more than just tools in the game of white supremacy.

This issue is dedicated solely to Blackness because we are redefining the definition of “newsworthy.” From exploring the history and cultural significance of soul food (pg.12) to embracing the voices of Afro-Latine students on campus (pg.14), we‘ve centered the beauty of Blackness. And we couldn’t be happier.

We are excited to see more Black stories in the future, for we are Black not only in February but every day.

Stay tuned,

Mel & Eryn