Image via Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

This week we’re #TeamLaverne, claiming our narratives through art of all kinds, and casually hanging out with Solange Knowles.

What we’re checking out…

Acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie got herself into some trouble during a recent interview in which she made some highly controversial statements about trans women. Then Laverne Cox came through on Twitter to set us all straight.

One thing we’ve seen time and time again is that there’s a serious pay gap for speakers at tech conferences. How can we fight back? With our voices. (And sometimes our fingers because #Twitter.)

“Was it reasonable to assume Ms. Kim was a nanny?” is a question we’ve got to throw out with yesterday’s trash. OBVS it’s not reasonable, yet mixed-race couples still seem to be a shocker to the world. Sigh.

Young folks have something to say about the trauma and violence of police brutality, and they’re doing it…through young adult novels.

Out of times of hardship, come forth the most beautiful and honest art. Learn more in this conversation between Jessica Valenti and the artist behind the Stop Telling Women To Smile movement, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh.

The latest from our speakers.

Have you checked out the newest books from our speakers?!? Be sure to grab a copy of Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu, and Beyond Respectability: The Intellectual Thought of Race Women? by Brittney Cooper.

Jamia Wilson had the opportunity to sit down and discuss what it means to be a black feminist with recent Grammy winner, Solange. So we’re all basically one step away from being her and Beyonce’s new best friends.

One of the opening keynote speakers for this years Green Schools Conference and Expo was Antwi Akom, and he laid some information on us on how five megatrends will affect the future of environmentally friendly schools.

Jamil Smith was a guest host for the With Friends Like These podcast, where he talked to fellow Ohioans Jessica Byrd and Wesley Lowery about police violence, political change, and their home state.

Jackson Bird likes the concept of identity — just not the word. Find out why in his latest video here.

Also, we’d like to take a moment to congratulate Jackson on joining the Spring 2017 Class of TED Residents. #FRESHSpeakersSlay

Lastly, check out the Q&A live stream of Bisi Alimi and others speaking at the University of London on sexuality in Africa.

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