#layla neal

[musenemesis]

ph, Layla Neal

Waterlilies in the clouds

[de2thletter]

TAG DUMP TWO.

aces charles. ACES ! / chuck bartowski. life is the thing you bring wih you inside your head / connell waldron. an inarticulate desire for something beyond the daily life / joan watson. her life is happening far away from her. behind a closed door / marianne sheridan. happy endings don't happen for guys like us / neal caffrey. and those moon songs will be the songs that see you through / princess yue. and i'm bleeding and i'm bleeding right before the lord / matthew murdock. i'm a spy. THAT'S WHAT I DO ! / steve trevor. choking on grief and the remnants of my sanity. LIKE A MAD DOG ! / thomas wayne. i knew who i was this morning. i've changed so many times since then / alice liddel. don't you know a rumble ain't a rumble without me / dallas winston. striding powerful into the arms of the sea / elizabeth swann. if you're not scared it's not bravery / kit snicket. don't deny my growth. BLOOM BEAUTIFULLY ! / layla williams. like thomas the engine says. SIMPLE IS BETTER ! / lemon. it's dark it's desolate it's depressing. IT'S A DREAM ! / morticia addams. and so against my better judgement i'm the hero now / warren peace.

sometimes nothing keeps me together at the seams / eddie munson. sometimes i get sinister / goth barbie. kick push and coast / skater ken. you know what i am ? PURE HUMAN ! / rory williams.

[ot3showdown]

Final Bracket for the Ultimate OT3!!!

Polls will be linked below STARTING ON: FRIDAY, APRIL 7TH

Round 4 - Semifinals: (April 29 - May 6)

Parker/Alec Hardison/Eliot Spencer (Leverage) VS Zuko/Sokka/Suki (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

Legolas/Gimli/Aragorn (Lord of the Rings) VS James T. Kirk/Spock/Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Star Trek TOS)

The final 32 Contestants are as follows:

Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler/Jack Harkness (Doctor Who)

Parker/Alec Hadison/Eliot Spencer (Leverage)

Chel/Miguel/Tulio (The Road to El Dorado)

Geralt of Rivia/Yennefer Vengerberg/Jaskier (The Witcher)

Zuko/Sokka/Suki (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

Thanatos/Megaera/Zagreus (Hades)

Megamind/Roxanne/Metroman (Megamind)

Finn/Poe Dameron/Rey Skywalker (Star Wars)

Legolas/Gimli/Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)

Alucard/Trevor Belmont/Sypha Belnades (Castlevania)

Elphaba Thropp/Fiyero Tigelaar/Glinda Arduenna Upland (Wicked)

steve harrington/Nancy Wheeler/Jonathan Byers (Stranger Things)

James T. Kirk/Spock/Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Star Trek TOS)

Don Lockwood/Kathy Selden/Cosmo Brown (Singin' in the Rain)

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon/Guinevere (BBC Merlin)

Will Stronghold/Layla Williams/Warren Peace (Skyhigh)

Joaquin Mondragon Jr./Maria Posada/Manolo Sánchez (Book of Life)

Link/Zelda/Ganon (Legend Of Zelda)

Wolfgang Bogdanow/Kala Dandekar/Rajan Rasal (Sense8)

Donald Duck/José/Panchito (Disney/Three Caballeros)

Lito Rodriguez/Hernando Fuentes/Daniela Velazquez (Sense8)

L/Light Yagami/Misa Amane (Death Note)

Lonnie/Kyle/Rogelio (She-Ra & the Princesses of Power)

Will Herondale/Jem Carstairs/Tessa Gray (The Infernal Devices/Shadowhunters)

Troy Barnes/Abed Nadir/Annie Edison (Community)

Danny Fenton/Sam Manson/Tucker Foley (Danny Phantom)

Neal Caffrey/Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke (White Collar)

Dave Strider/Jade Harley/Karkat Vantas (Homestuck)

Chiaki Nanami/Hajime Hinata/ Nagito Komaeda (Dangan Ronpa)

Blue Sargent/Richard Gansey III/Henry Cheng (The Raven Cycle)

Adrien Agreste/Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Kagami Tsurugi (Miraculous Ladybug)

Ferris Bueller, Cameron Frye, Sloane Peterson (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

The bracket is seeded so that the ship with the most votes goes against the ship with the least (1 v 32, 2 v 31, 3 v 30, etc.)

Polls will be linked below STARTING ON: FRIDAY, APRIL 7TH

Round 4 - Semifinals: (April 29 - May 6)

Parker/Alec Hardison/Eliot Spencer (Leverage) VS Zuko/Sokka/Suki (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

Legolas/Gimli/Aragorn (Lord of the Rings) VS James T. Kirk/Spock/Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Star Trek TOS)

Round 3: (April 21 - April 28)

Parker/Alec Hardison/Eliot Spencer (Leverage) VS Chel/Miguel/Tulio (The Road to El Dorado)

Zuko/Sokka/Suki (Avatar: the Last Airbender) VS Danny Fenton/Sam Manson/Tucker Foley (Danny Phantom)

Legolas/Gimli/Aragorn (Lord of the Rings) VS Elphaba Thropp/Fiyero Tigelaar/Glinda Arduenna Upland (Wicked)

James T. Kirk/Spock/Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Star Trek TOS) VS Merlin/Arthur Pendragon/Guinevere (BBC Merlin)

Round Two: (April 14 - April 21)

Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler/Jack Harkness (Doctor Who) VS Parker/Alec Hardison/Eliot Spencer (Leverage)

Chel/Miguel/Tulio (The Road to El Dorado) VS Geralt of Rivia/Yennefer of Vengerberg/Jaskier (The Witcher)

Zuko/Sokka/Suki (Avatar: the Last Airbender) VS Thanatos/Megaera/Zagreus (Hades)

Danny Fenton/Sam Manson/Tucker Foley (Danny Phantom) VS Troy Barnes/Abed Nadir/Annie Edison (Community)

Legolas/Gimli/Aragorn (Lord of the Rings) VS Alucard/Trevor Belmont/Sypha Belnades (Castlevania)

Elphaba Thropp/Fiyero Tigelaar/Glinda Arduenna Upland (Wicked) VS Lito Rodriguez/Hernando Fuentes/Daniela Velazquez (Sense8)

James T. Kirk/Spock/Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Star Trek TOS) VS Wolfgang Bogdanow/Kala Dandekar/Rajan Rasal (Sense8)

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon/Guinevere (BBC Merlin) VS Joaquin Mondragon Jr./Maria Posada/Manolo Sánchez (Book of Life)

Round One: (April 7 - April 14)

Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler/Jack Harkness (Doctor Who) VERSUS Ferris Bueller, Cameron Frye, Sloane Peterson (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

Parker/Alec Hardison/Eliot Spencer (Leverage) VERSUS Adrien Agreste/Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Kagami Tsurugi (Miraculous Ladybug)

Chel/Miguel/Tulio (The Road to El Dorado) VERSUS Blue Sargent/Richard Gansey III/Henry Cheng (The Raven Cycle)

Geralt of Rivia/Yennefer Vengerberg/Jaskier (The Witcher) VERSUS Chiaki Nanami/Hajime Hinata/ Nagito Komaeda (Dangan Ronpa)

Zuko/Sokka/Suki (Avatar: the Last Airbender) VERSUS Dave Strider/Jade Harley/Karkat Vantas (Homestuck)

Thanatos/Megaera/Zagreus (Hades) VERSUS Neal Caffrey/Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke (White Collar)

Megamind/Roxanne Ritchi/Metroman (Megamind) VERSUS Danny Fenton/Sam Manson/Tucker Foley (Danny Phantom)

Finn/Poe Dameron/Rey Skywalker (Star Wars) VERSUS Troy Barnes/Abed Nadir/Annie Edison (Community)

Legolas/Gimli/Aragorn (Lord of the Rings) VERSUS Will Herondale/Jem Carstairs/Tessa Gray (The Infernal Devices/Shadowhunters)

Alucard/Trevor Belmont/Sypha Belnades (Castlevania) VERSUS Lonnie/Kyle/Rogelio (She-Ra & the Princesses of Power)

Elphaba Thropp/Fiyero Tigelaar/Glinda Arduenna Upland (Wicked) VERSUS L/Light Yagami/Misa Amane (Death Note)

steve harrington/Nancy Wheeler/Jonathan Byers (Stranger Things) VERSUS Lito Rodriguez/Hernando Fuentes/Daniela Velazquez (Sense8)

James T. Kirk/Spock/Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Star Trek TOS) VERSUS Donald Duck/José/Panchito (Disney/Three Caballeros)

Don Lockwood/Kathy Selden/Cosmo Brown (Singin' in the Rain) VERSUS Wolfgang Bogdanow/Kala Dandekar/Rajan Rasal (Sense8)

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon/Guinevere (BBC Merlin) VERSUS Link/Zelda/Ganon (Legend Of Zelda)

Will Stronghold/Layla Williams/Warren Peace (Skyhigh) VERSUS Joaquin Mondragon Jr./Maria Posada/Manolo Sánchez (Book of Life)

The final 32 Contestants are as follows:

Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler/Jack Harkness (Doctor Who)

Parker/Alec Hadison/Eliot Spencer (Leverage)

Chel/Miguel/Tulio (The Road to El Dorado)

Geralt of Rivia/Yennefer Vengerberg/Jaskier (The Witcher)

Zuko/Sokka/Suki (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

Thanatos/Megaera/Zagreus (Hades)

Megamind/Roxanne/Metroman (Megamind)

Finn/Poe Dameron/Rey Skywalker (Star Wars)

Legolas/Gimli/Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)

Alucard/Trevor Belmont/Sypha Belnades (Castlevania)

Elphaba Thropp/Fiyero Tigelaar/Glinda Arduenna Upland (Wicked)

steve harrington/Nancy Wheeler/Jonathan Byers (Stranger Things)

James T. Kirk/Spock/Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Star Trek TOS)

Don Lockwood/Kathy Selden/Cosmo Brown (Singin' in the Rain)

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon/Guinevere (BBC Merlin)

Will Stronghold/Layla Williams/Warren Peace (Skyhigh)

Joaquin Mondragon Jr./Maria Posada/Manolo Sánchez (Book of Life)

Link/Zelda/Ganon (Legend Of Zelda)

Wolfgang Bogdanow/Kala Dandekar/Rajan Rasal (Sense8)

Donald Duck/José/Panchito (Disney/Three Caballeros)

Lito Rodriguez/Hernando Fuentes/Daniela Velazquez (Sense8)

L/Light Yagami/Misa Amane (Death Note)

Lonnie/Kyle/Rogelio (She-Ra & the Princesses of Power)

Will Herondale/Jem Carstairs/Tessa Gray (The Infernal Devices/Shadowhunters)

Troy Barnes/Abed Nadir/Annie Edison (Community)

Danny Fenton/Sam Manson/Tucker Foley (Danny Phantom)

Neal Caffrey/Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke (White Collar)

Dave Strider/Jade Harley/Karkat Vantas (Homestuck)

Chiaki Nanami/Hajime Hinata/ Nagito Komaeda (Dangan Ronpa)

Blue Sargent/Richard Gansey III/Henry Cheng (The Raven Cycle)

Adrien Agreste/Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Kagami Tsurugi (Miraculous Ladybug)

Ferris Bueller, Cameron Frye, Sloane Peterson (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

The bracket is seeded so that the ship with the most votes goes against the ship with the least (1 v 32, 2 v 31, 3 v 30, etc.)

Thanks to all of you who voted in nominees, to all of you who sent in asks talking about your favorites, and to all of you who are here now! I hope you enjoy!

[folkfashion]

Scottish kilts, United Kingdom, by Layla Perchal Neal

[froggywritesstuff]

character list

the title is self explanatory. this is a list of the characters i'll write for. it'll probably change over time, and if you see a character you'd like but don't see them on the list, just ask cause i might've forgotten about them

Hamilton

Eliza Schuyler

Angelica Schuyler

Peggy Schuyler

Maria Reynolds

Alexander Hamilton

John Laurens

Philip Hamilton

Lafayette

Hercules Mulligan

James Madison

Thomas Jefferson

Aaron Burr

Umbrella Academy

Viktor Hargreeves

Diego Hargreeves

Klaus Hargreeves

Allison Hargreeves

Luther Hargreeves

Five Hargreeves

Ben Hargreeves (Umbrella or Sparrow)

Sloane Hargreeves

Jayme Hargreeves

Stranger Things

Will Byers (non female readers only)

Mike Wheeler

Lucas Sinclair

Dustin Henderson

Eleven Hopper

Max Mayfield

Robin Buckley (non male readers only)

Nancy Wheeler

Jonathan Byers

Steve Harrington

Eddie Munson

21 Chump Street

Justin Laboy

The Goldfinch

Boris Pavlikovsky

Theodore Decker

Marvel

Peter Parker (any actor)

Steve Rogers

Bucky Barnes

Sam Wilson

Makkari

Sersi

Sprite (platonic only)

Steven Grant

Marc Spector

Layla El-Faouly

America Chavez (non male readers only)

Kate Bishop

Yelena Belova (platonic only)

Shuri

Namor

Riri Williams

X-Men

Mystique

Kitty Pryde

Peter Maximoff

Rogue

In The Heights (movie version)

Usnavi de la Vega

Vanessa 

Nina Rosario

Benny

Sonny de la Vega 

Heathers

Veronica Sawyer

JD (Jason Dean)

Heather Chandler

Heather McNamara

Heather Duke

John Doe

John Doe

Ride The Cyclone

Noel Gruber (male or nb readers only)

Ocean O'Connel Rosenburg

Mischa Bachinski

Constance Blackwood

Ricky Potts

Hatchetfieldverse

Paul Matthews

Emma Perkins

Ted Spankoffski

Bill Woodard

Ruth Fleming

Pete Spankoffski

Richie Lipschitz

Max Jagerman

Grace Chasity

Lex Foster

Ethan Green

Hannah Foster (platonic only)

Heartstopper

Charlie Spring (non female readers only)

Nick Nelson

Tara Jones (non male readers only)

Darcy Olsson (non male readers readers only)

Elle Argent

Tao Xu (non male readers only(headcanoning him as bi or pan is disrespectful and transphobic))

Tori Spring

Imogen Heaney

Isaac Henderson (platonic only)

Do Revenge

Eleanor Levetan (non male readers only)

Drea Torres

Deadpool

Wade Wilson/Deadpool

Wednesday

Wednesday Addams

Enid Sinclair

Bianca Barclay

Xavier Thorpe

Ajax Petropolus

Eugene Otinger

(young) Morticia Addams

(young) Gomez Addams

Beetlejuice

Lydia Deetz

Tomorrow When The War Began

Ellie Linton

Lee Takkam

Fiona Maxwell

Homer Yannos

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse/Across the Spider-Verse

Miles Morales

Gwen Stacy

Pavitr Prabhakar

Hobie Brown

Margo Kess

Miles G Morales (earth 42)

Miguel O’Hara

Maze Runner

Thomas

Newt (non female readers only)

The Broken Hearts Gallery

Lucy Gulliver

Nadine (non male readers only)

Nick Danielson

Treasure Planet

Jim Hawkins

Enola Holmes

Enola Holmes

Lord Tewkesbury

Turning Red

Mei Mei

Miriam

Abby

Priya

Raising Dion

Nicole Warren

Tevin Wakefield

Dion Warren (platonic only)

Julie and the Phantoms

Julie Molina

Luke Patterson

Reggie Peters

Alex Mercer (non female readers only)

Flynn

Carrie

Abbott Elementary

Janine Teagues

Jacob Hill (non female readers only)

Gregory Eddie

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Jake Peralta

Amy Santiago

Rosa Diaz

Love Victor

Victor Salazar (non female readers only)

Benji (non female readers only)

Felix Weston

Pilar Salazar

Lake Meriwether

Lucy

Mia Brooks

Andrew

In Treatment

Eladio

Laila

Spree

Kurt Kunkle

Once Upon a Time

Emma Swan

Regina Mills

Killian Jones

Mary Margaret Blanchard

David Nolan

Henry Mills

Mulan (non male readers only)

Graham

Neal Cassidy

Peter Pan

Jefferson

Dash and Lily

Dash

Lily

Boomer

Juno

Juno MacGuff

Paulie Bleeker

Summer Days Summer Nights

Debbie Espinoza

Frankie Espinoza

Scream (1 through 6)

Sidney Prescott

Billy Loomis

Mickey Altieri

Roman Bridger

Jill Roberts

Charlie Walker

Sam Carpenter

Tara Carpenter

Amber Freeman

Chad Meeks-Martin

Mindy Meeks-Martin

Quinn Bailey

Venom

Eddie Brock

Honest Thief

Ramon Hall

Beth Hall

Wild Child

Poppy Moore

Kate

Drippy

Freddie Kingsley

Monsters and Men

Manny Ortega

Marisol Ortega

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Trevor Spengler

Phoebe Spengler (platonic only)

Error 143

Micah Yujin

Community

Abed Nadir

Troy Barnes

Annie Edison

Jeff Winger

Britta Perry

The Obession

Logan

Delilah

The New Girl

Lia Setiawan

Stacey Hoffman

Mythic Quest

Poppy Li

Brad Bakshi

Adventure Time

Finn

Princess Bubblegum

Marceline

Marshall Lee

Prince Bubblegum

Flame Princess

School Spirits

Madison

Simon

Charley (non female readers only)

Wally

Rhonda

Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves

Simon Aumar

Disventure Camp

Aiden (non fem readers only)

James (non fem readers only)

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies

Jane Facciano

Olivia Valdovinos

Nancy Nakagawa

Cynthia Zdunowski

Richie Valdovinos

Ted Lasso

Ted Lasso

Roy Kent

Jamie Tartt

Keeley Jones

Sam Obisanya

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Noah Diaz

Elena Wallace

Mirage

Helluva Boss

Blitzø

Stolas (non female readers only)

Loona

Millie

Moxxie

Octavia

Verosika Mayday

Fizzarolli

Asmodeus

Hazbin Hotel

Charlie Morningstar

Vaggie (non male readers only)

Angel Dust (non female readers only)

Husk

Alastor (platonic only)

Vox

Lucifer

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (rise + mutant mayhem + tmnt 2007 + tmnt 2012)

Donnie

Mikey

Raph

Leo

April

The After Party

Yasper Lennov

Space Force

Tony Scarapiducci

Renfield

Teddy Lobo

Robert Montague Renfield

Undercovers

Bill Hoyt

Amazing Digital Circus

Jax

Parks and Recreation

Leslie Knope

Ben Wyatt

April Ludgate

Andy Dwyer

Jean-Ralphio Saperstein

Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja

Randy Cunningham (18+ people DNI unless requesting platonic stories)

The Earliest Show

Josh Bath

House of Lies

Clyde Oberholt

Mean Girls (movie + musical + movie musical)

Cady Heron

Regina George

Gretchen Wieners

Karen Smith/Shetty

Janis Ian/Sarkisian/Imi'ike (non male readers only)

Damian Hubbard (non female readers only)

Warm Bodies

R

Peep World

Nathan Meyerwitz

Your Boyfriend

Peter Dunbar

[fluffyblueblanket123]

Doctor’s Visit

@badthingshappenbingo

My first story featuring Neal and Christian!

Christian wasn’t the biggest fan of going to the doctor, but he understood how important it was. He would do it. Begrudgingly, but he would do it. Neal, his beloved however, did everything he could to avoid going. Especially when he was sick.

Which was why Christian was sitting on the couch, dressed to leave, with his car keys in his hands, waiting for Neal’s truck to come home.

As soon as he heard Neal’s truck pull up, Christian was quickly up on his feet and rushed out the door.

Neal was getting out of his truck. Christian thought he looked real tired. Good thing they were going to the doctor and he was the one driving.

“Great, you’re here,” Christian said instead of a greeting. “Let’s get going.” He grabbed Neal’s arm and took him to his car.

“Going where?” Neal asked in a confused tone. “I just got home—”

A cough escaped from his lips.

Christian winced at the sound. He opened the passenger side door and had him sit down. He closed the door and went to the other side. He got in and buckled up, giving him a look to do the same.

“Where are we going?” Neal repeated his question. He sounded more hoarse this time

Christian didn’t answer him right away. He backed out of the driveway and started towards their destination before replying.

“We’re going to the doctor,” said Christian.

“Seriously?!” Neal exclaimed. “This is ridiculous! I told you I’m fine—” He started to roughly cough.

“Not with a cough that sounds like that,” Christian told him. “Besides, if Jayce sent you home, you know you’re sick.”

“You told him to send me home, didn’t you?” Neal asked.

“No, I didn’t have to,” Christian replied with a slight huff.

Neal huffed too.

“Christian, I know you’re worried about me,” said Neal, “but I’m alright. It’s just a cold—”

He started to cough again. Christian was worried but he stayed quiet. Once he stopped, Christian sighed.

“I think this is more than just a cold,” he told him. “Please…just let the doctor examine you. Real quick. Then, we’ll go home—”

Neal stared at him at first. Then he sighed.

“Ice cream for dinner and you got a deal,” he bargained.

Christian huffed a laugh, pretending to think about it. “Ok. You can have ice cream for dinner.”

They soon arrived at the doctor’s office. Christian parked the car and then, guided Neal inside and to a chair.

“Wait here,” Christian gently ordered. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get you checked in.”

Neal nodded. Christian could see him shaking before going to the desk. He felt bad for him but he knew it was necessary. He got him checked in and went over to sit next to him.

“Neal?”

“Hmm?”

“You know Dr. Banks will only do what he needs to do to help you get better.”

“I know that.” Neal sighed. “But, I still feel nervous.”

Christian nodded. He took Neal’s hand and gently squeezed it.

They only waited for about five minutes before Layla, the nurse, called Neal back.

“Hi hun,” Layla greeted with a warm smile as they approached her. “How are you today?”

Neal shrugged. “I can’t complain.”

Layla knew better but she nodded anyway. She took them into an exam room.

“Alright,” she said gesturing to the scale, “let’s get your weight.”

Neal took off his shoes and hoodie and stepped up onto the scale. Layla checked the number and wrote it down while Neal slipped his shoes back on. Then, he went to the chairs next to the exam table and sat down. Christian sat down next to him.

Layla went over and put the pulse oximeter on his finger before grabbing the blood pressure cuff and wrapping it around his arm. They all stayed quiet as Layla took his vitals. Once she got the readings, she took off the cuff and oximeter and wrote down the results. Then, Layla took out the thermometer.

“Under your tongue,” she gently ordered.

Neal opened his mouth and let her stick the thermometer under his tongue. He stayed quiet. When it beeped, Layla took it out of his mouth. She frowned.

“That’s quite the fever you’re running there hun,” she said as she wrote the number down.

“What is it?” Christian asked, taking Neal’s hand into his own.

“102.7,” Layla answered. She walked towards the door and opened it so she can put Neal’s chart into the holder on the door. “Dr. Banks will be here in a little bit. I hope you feel better soon hun.”

Neal thanked her as she left. He sighed.

“I didn’t know I had a fever that high…”

“You wouldn’t even gotten out of bed this morning if I’d known you had a fever that high,” said Christian.

Neal looked down at his feet.

“I’m sorry…”

Christian kissed his cheek.

“You don’t need apologize for being sick darling.”

“I still feel bad,” Neal mumbled.

“It’s ok.”

Neal laid his head against Christian’s. He closed his eyes to rest for a bit.

They didn’t have to wait very long for the doctor to arrive. They heard the knock at the door. Christian called out that it was ok to come in.

Dr. Banks opened the door with a smile.

“Hello there,” he greeted. “How’s my favorite patient this morning?”

Neal looked at him and gave him a hesitant smile.

“Can’t complain,” he croaked.

Dr. Banks’ eyes flashed briefly in concern but he turned his attention towards Neal’s chart.

“Says here that your vitals have been all of the place…and quite high.”

“Well…umm…uhh…” Neal stammered.

Dr. Banks puts the chart down and picks up a instrument to look into Neal’s ears.

“Alright, I’m going to have you hop up onto the exam table and we’ll get started, Ok?”

Neal nodded, shaking a little bit. Christian helped him onto the table.

The doctor approached him with the otoscope. Neal winced when it was put into his ear.

“Does your ear hurt?” Dr. Banks asked.

“No,” answered Neal. “My ears don’t hurt. My throat does though.”

The doctor made a ‘hmm’ sound. He examined his ears and then, examined his eyes.

“Eyes and ears look good,” commented Dr. Banks as he got the tongue depressor. “Now, open wide and say ‘ahh’ for me please.”

Neal never liked this part but he did what he was asked. He coughed roughly afterwards. He winced and rubbed his throat.

“Your throat does look a bit swollen,” said Dr. Banks as he threw away the tongue depressor. “Doesn’t look like strep though, so we won’t worry about that.”

Neal nodded.

Dr. Banks went over and felt the lymph nodes in his neck.

“Your lymph nodes are swollen too,” he said. “But with that fever, I’m not surprised.”

“They do kinda hurt…” Neal admitted.

“Yeah, I’m sorry, son,” Dr. Banks apologized.

Christian had been staying quiet and just listening to the doctor. He felt bad for Neal and wished he could do more to help him.

Dr. Banks picked up his stethoscope from around his neck and put the tips in his ears.

“Ok, let’s start with those lungs,” he said as he rubbed the diaphragm between his hands. “I don’t like the sound of that cough.”

Neal lifted up his shirt and Dr. Banks put the diaphragm of the stethoscope on his back.

“Just breathe slowly through your mouth ok?”

Neal nodded. Dr. Banks listened carefully to his lungs. Neal coughed a couple of times during the exam. While Neal didn’t see it, Christian saw Dr. Banks frown a little bit. He took off his stethoscope.

“Ok, I want you to breathe normally now,” said Dr. Banks, “I’m going to just have a little listen to your heart.”

Neal nodded and coughed a couple of times. The doctor placed the diaphragm of the stethoscope to his chest and listened carefully to his heart.

“I’m hearing a heart murmur but we know that you get them with your fevers,” said Dr. Banks as he took off the stethoscope. “Now, I’m going to have you lay down and lift up your shirt a bit.”

Neal lied down on the exam table and pulled his shirt up, exposing his stomach.

Dr. Banks started to gently feel Neal’s stomach. Once he was done, Dr. Banks had him sit up. Christian stood up too.

“So…” Christian started, “is it a nasty flu or something else?”

“It sounds like we’re in the beginning stages of a chest cold,” said Dr. Banks as he looked over at Neal. “I want you to stay at home and get some rest. I’ll also prescribe some medicine to help.”

Neal nodded.

“Ok, thank you Dr. Banks.”

“You’re welcome son,” Dr. Banks replied with a smile. He turned to Christian. “If he starts to get worse or he isn’t getting any better, call me ok?”

Christian nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

Christian helped Neal up and out of the doctor’s office and helped him into his car. Once Christian was also in the car, he turned to him with a small sigh.

“Let’s get you home and I’ll make you some soup.”

Neal nodded.

“Thank you…”

Christian kissed his cheek before starting the car and driving them home.

[hopeheired]

+ @mighticst​ (layla williams)

hope has long since lost sight of neal. but she hasn’t lost sight of her other friends: magenta has pulled zach towards the kitchen; ethan is still dancing; warren and freeze girl - khione - slipped out the back door about an hour ago and will? will is trying his damndest to be a good host.

the bass thumping through the speakers feels like a heartbeat and hope happily could have remained where she was, leaning onto the railing, people watching. but then there’s a flash of red, weaving through the crowd.

layla, hope realizes, and abandons her spot to make her way down the stairs again. when she does, she sees that larry has all but cornered her friend. 

“so i was thinking dinner and a movie,” larry says, “truly, i like nature documentaries as much as the next guy. nature documentaries and chill.” hope doesn’t like the way he says it. doesn’t like him, either. it sounds like a lie. it sounds like he’s trying to get with her because of her looks - not her personality.

every guy has tried the ‘i like nature documentaries’ route before.

in response, her magic flares up. hope does her best to tamp it down again, forcing her mien into something more amicable.

“there she is, the prettiest girl in the room! i was looking for---” then, several things happen at once and hope has trouble keeping up: between one heartbeat and the next, layla’s pressed up against her, crushing her lips against hope’s. without thinking, hope deepens the kiss. or tries to. but it’s over much too quickly for her liking.

but all she can do is look at layla’s mouth. layla’s pretty, pink mouth. her mind is quick to take things further than just one kiss, is even quicker to supply thoughts and images.

and maybe this is just a power play, to show larry that yes, layla’s taken. (even though she isn’t. he doesn’t need to know.) this time it’s hope who leans down and kisses layla, gently tugging on the redhead’s bottom lip with her own.

larry makes himself scarce.

[hufflepuffobsessedwithmarvel]

Dawson's Creek

Athena Repeta. Faceclaim is Marie Avgeropoulos.

Layla Hudson. Faceclaim is Ciara Bravo.

Claire Neal. Faceclaim is Kelsey Chow.

Lennon Hastings. Faceclaim is Torrey DeVitto.

Mona Hunley. Faceclaim is Ruby Modine.

Paige Potter. Faceclaim is Leighton Meester.

Pippa McPhee. Faceclaim is Lauren German.

Spencer Potter. Faceclaim is Kat Dennings.

Summer Murray. Faceclaim is Rachel Hilson.

Vanessa Holmes. Faceclaim is Lovie Simone.

[musenemesis]

ph, Layla Neal photography

Century trees and Florida Mountains - vintage feel from silhouettes against the majestic rain clouds before a storm.

[pokemon-legends-and-legacies]

Ten facts about Caleb!!

10 Facts About Caleb Moore

He has his mother Flannery’s red hair, though his is more on the ginger side, having some orange tints to it rather than being just red. He doesn’t know what his other parent looked like (they being just someone his mom hooked up with), nor does he particularly care, but he assumes his lighter hair and green eyes come from them, as Flannery has red eyes.

He loves wearing both scarves and bandannas despite the Hoenn heat. While tying a cloth around his forehead isn’t that weird since he helps out at the hot springs and it can function as a sweatband, the scarves he has no excuse for other than liking how they look. While he sometimes will go without a bandanna, the scarf is constant enough his friends grow concerned when he isn’t wearing it.

He was a somewhat lonely child, there not being many other children his age in Lavaridge. While he was friendly with most of the other residents he didn’t have many close friends. As a result, a lot of his personality is a bit of a facade, as he acts cheerful and open just since that’s what got people to like him (and the older people there on vacation would give him sweets for being ‘such a nice young man’). In reality he’s on the more reserved side, with a sharp wit and fondness for snide comments. After going on his journey and meeting more people, he opens up more and ends up making his first friends.

He likes to give people nicknames, whether they want them or not. Some of these for his closer friends include ‘Opes’ for Opal, ‘Scully’ for Layla, ‘Aurory’ for Aurora, ‘Alietta’ for Alba, ‘Eyebrows’ for Harry, the ‘Terrible Trio’ for the Pendragon triplets, and ‘Red Bean’ for Neal (due to his hair color). He’s also one of the very few people Yuusuke tolerates calling him by his given name, Lyndon. Caleb abuses this privileged readily, often calling him ‘Lyndie’.

Opal is his closest friend, the two meeting on their respective journeys. The rest of his friend circle met through happenstance and random encounters and each of have a different story to tell for how they all became friends. Caleb claims it was his ‘magnetic personality’ that drew such different people from all different regions together.

He’s very physically affectionate and rather flirtatious, often slinging his arm over people’s shoulders and greeting them with a hug. He does keep in mind if someone’s uncomfortable with that however - he never wants to take his teasing too far and end up hurting someone. Once he starts dating Layla, however, he does tone down the ‘flirting with everyone’ quite a bit and mainly just flirts with his girlfriend (though he’ll still jokingly flirt with his other friends.)

Though he might act the part of an airheaded, chatty fool half the time, Caleb is quite smart and has a voracious appetite for knowledge - in no small part thanks to books being his main source of entertainment as a child. He also enjoys coming up with strategies and one of his favorite parts of being a Gym Leader is figuring out how to adapt to his opponents and keep them on their toes.

He hates spicy food, which his friends regularly point out the irony of considering he’s a fire type Gym Leader. He argues that his favorite food is grilled meat, so that’s befitting enough of a fire type specialist that everyone can over look his hatred of spicy things.

He sleeps. A lot. Both a full night’s rest plus naps during the day. He claims it’s from growing up in such a lazy and laid back town that makes him so sleepy. He tends to drink a lot of coffee to clear any lingering drowsiness, which usually just makes him more eager and chipper than usual (Opal often complains about ‘Coffee Caleb’ since nobody should be that happy that early in the morning.)

He claims to have a photographic memory. Nobody’s been able to confirm or deny this, but the general agreement is that, photographic or not, Caleb does have a very good memory. Generally what he finds worth remembering are random trivia and things he can use for blackmail against his friends (he remembers when Yuusuke wouldn’t lend him his umbrella and he had to walk home in the rain... Yuu might not remember but Caleb does...)

[itsloriel]

waiting by Layla Perchal Neal

[thespeedyreader]

Black Lives Matter: A (By No Means Complete) Reading List

“Books are a form of political action. Books are knowledge. Books are a reflection. Books change your mind.” - Toni Morrison

It has always been, and always will be, vital to educate ourselves on the world around us. In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, I hope that this blog can become a platform for sharing resources on black history and literature, in a conscious effort to educate both ourselves and those around us. It is our duty to continue to amplify the voices of people of colour, because it is through education that we can make lasting changes in the world.

Here you will find a list of books and essays by authors of colour, and which speak about the experiences of people of colour everywhere. By committing to read even one of these books, you are expanding your consciousness of the lives around you, and giving people of colour a voice.

(Please reblog with your own book recommendations - keep the chain going!)

Classic Fiction

The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison

Beloved - Toni Morrison

Another Country - James Baldwin

Go Tell It on the Mountain - James Baldwin

The Colour Purple - Alice Walker

Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe

Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys

Kindred - Octavia E. Butler

The Lonely Londoners - Sam Selvon

Small Island - Andrew Levy

Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Contemporary Fiction

Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo

An Orchestra of Minorities - Chigozie Obioma

White Teeth - Zadie Smith

Red at the Bone - Jacqueline Woodson

An American Marriage - Tayari Jones

Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams

A Brief History of Seven Killings - Marlon James

Black Leopard Red Wolf - Marlon James

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong

The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett

Sorry To Disrupt the Peace - Patty Yumi Cottrell

Freshwater - Akwaeke Emezi

The Fifth Season - N.K. Jemisin

My Sister, the Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite

What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours - Helen Oyeyemi

Homegoing - Yaa Gyasi

The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead

The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead

The Girl With the Louding Voice - Abi Daré

We Cast a Shadow - Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Washington Black - Esi Edugyan

The Black Flamingo - Dean Atta

Just Mercy - Bryan Stevenson 

The Icarus Girl - Helen Oyeyemi 

Poetry, Theatre and Graphic Novels

A Raisin in the Sun - Lorraine Hansberry

Citizen: An American Lyric - Claudia Rankine

Night Sky With Exit Wounds - Ocean Vuong

I Am Alfonso Jones - Tony Medina, illustrated by Stacey Robinson & John Jennings

Your Black Friend and Other Strangers - Ben Passmore

Say Her Name - Zetta Elliot, illustrated by Loveis Wise

Silencer - Marcus Wicker

Don’t Call Us Dead - Danez Smith

How ro Be Drawn - Terrence Hayes

The Black Unicorn - Audre Lorde

Coal - Audre Lorde

Passion - June Jordan

Children’s/YA Fiction

Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi

The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas

Akata Witch - Nnedi Okorafor

Binti - Nnedi Okorafor

You Should See Me in a Crown - Leah Johnson

With the Fire on High - Elizabeth Acevedo

Refugee Boy - Benjamin Zephaniah

Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X - Ilyasah Shabazz

Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness - Anastasia Higginbotham

A Is for Activist - Innosanto Nagara

New Kid - Jerry Craft

This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work - Tiffany Jewell

Non-Fiction and Autobiography

The Miner's Canary: Enlisting Race, Resisting Power, Transforming Democracy - Lani Guiner

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou

Me and White Supremacy: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism and Change the World - Layla F Saad

Don’t Touch My Hair - Emma Dabiri

Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging - Afua Hirsch

The Good Immigrant - Nikesh Shukla

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge (available for free on Yorsearch)

The New Jim Crow - Michelle Alexander (available for free on Yorsearch)

Sister Outsider - Audre Lorde

So You Want to Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo

The Fire Next Time - James Baldwin

The Autobiography of Malcolm X - Malcolm X

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism - Robin DiAngelo

Divided Sisters: Bridging the Gap Between Black Women and White Women - Midge Wilson & Kathy Russell

They Can’t Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement - Wesley Lowery

Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America - James Foreman Jr.

The Wretched of the Earth - Frantz Fanon

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir - Patrisse Khan-Cullors & Asha Bandele

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower - Brittney Cooper

Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race - Debby Irving

The Hidden Rules of Race: Barriers to an Inclusive Economy - Andrea Flynn, Susan R. Holmberg, Dorian T. Warren, & Felicia J. Wong

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race - Beverly Daniel Tatum

How to Be Anti-Racist - Ibrahim X. Kendi

[emerald-studies]

How to be an Ally

 Discussions on Race Pt. 2

June 29, 2020

Day 1 of 7

Post with fixed links here!: 

https://emerald-studies.tumblr.com/post/626271345488150528/how-to-be-an-ally

Reblog this one!

[ These are just some thoughts I have in my head about this topic, it isn’t meant to be a purely academic discussion. It’s meant to be a conversation to learn about another perspective. ]     

Also sorry this one took longer than previous posts, I had to do a lot of research.     

-

1.  Check In On Your Black Friends/Acquaintances 

 In my opinion, I believe the best way to be an ally is to reach out to your Black friends and check in on them, consistently. If you can recognize the times we are living in are absolute hell, you should be checking in on the most effected. None of my friends have checked up on me to see how I was doing or just to talk. They didn’t even bring up the protests until I did. It feels very very lonely and scary to not be checked up on by the people who say they support and love you. So, I’m making this the first point because I don’t want anyone else to feel this way, not trying to complain.

2.  Learn More About Black History

It’s important to learn about the Black activists that our history books left out. Yes, Martin Luther King Jr. was, and is, important but we need to reflect on why he was pushed on us so much in our history classes, compared to other Black leaders. Is it because our government would rather us walk down the street holding signs than actually defending ourselves against the cop who’s beating us?

Here’s a master list of activists to start you off.

3.  Go to Rallies and Protests

Find protests and rallies in your area by looking on Twitter and search #yourcityprotest. Or watch your local news channel to see where they are (if they’re being covered on the news). Also search on Facebook. Wear a mask.

4. Donate and Sign Petitions

If you don’t have extra money to donate, that’s fine. If you still want to be an ally then sign all the petitions you can. Take a day to research all the ones you can sign/haven’t signed and sign them!

(Also you don’t need to donate to change.org! Directly donate to non-profit organizations and victims’ families!)

George Floyd - change.org

George Floyd - amnesty.org

George Floyd - colorofchange.org

Get The Officers Charged

Charge All Four Officers

Breonna Taylor - moveon.org

Breonna Taylor - colorofchange.org

Breonna Taylor - justiceforbreonna.org

Breonna Taylor - change.org

Breonna Taylor - thepetitionsite.com

Ahmaud Arbery - change.org

Ahmaud Arbery - change.org 2

Ahmaud Arbery - change.org 3

Justice for Oluwatoyin Salau

Pass The Georgia Hate Crime Bill

Defund MPD

Life Sentence For Police Brutality

Regis Korchinski - change.org

Tete Gulley - change.org

Tony McDade - change.org

Tony McDade - actionnetwork.org

Tony McDade - thepetitionsite.com

Joao Pedro - change.org

Julius Jones - change.org

Belly Mujinga - change.org

Willie Simmons - change.org

Hands Up Act - change.org

National Action Against Police Brutality

Kyjuanzi Harris - change.org

Alejandro Vargas Martinez - change.org

Censorship Of Police Brutality In France

Sean Reed - change.org

Sean Reed - change.org 2

Kendrick Johnson - change.org

Tamir Rice - change.org

Tamir Rice - change.org 2

Fire Racist Criminal From The NYPD

Jamee Johnson - organizefor.org

Darius Stewart - change.org

Darius Stewart - moveon.org

Abolish Prison Labor

Free Siyanda - change.org

Chrystul Kizer - change.org

Chrystul Kizer - change.org 2

Andile Mchunu (Bobo) - change.org

Eric Riddick - change.org

Amiya Braxton - change.org

Emerald Black - change.org

Elijah Nichols - change.org

Zinedine Karabo Gioia - change.org

Angel Bumpass - change.org

Sheku Bayoh - change.org

Angel DeCarlo - change.org

Sandra Bland - change.org

Sherrie Walker - change.org

Darrien Hunt - change.org

Cornelius Fredericks - change.org

Elijah McClain - change.org

James Scurlock - change.org

Darren Rainey- change.org

Visit these sites for more info:

http://www.pb-resources.com/

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

5. Educate yourself and others.

Articles: 

- “America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer | Atlantic (May 8, 2020)

- Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists

- ”My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas | NYT Mag (June 22, 2011)

- The 1619 Project (all the articles) | The New York Times Magazine

- The Combahee River Collective Statement

- “The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston | Vox (May 28, 2019)

- Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups developed by Craig Elliott PhD

- “Where do I donate? Why is the uprising violent? Should I go protest?” by Courtney Martin (June 1, 2020)

- ”White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh

- “Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)

Movies/TV Shows: 

When They See Us

American Son

Hello Privilege, It’s Me, Chelsea

The 13th

Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story 

What Happened Miss Simone?

The Two Killings of Sam Cooke

Who Killed Malcolm X?

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce (Lighter in tone)

LA 92

Dear White People

Videos:

- Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48)

- “How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion” | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)

- American Oxygen - Rihanna

- Formation - Beyonce 

Podcasts:

- Malcolm X Speeches

- 1619 (New York Times)

- About Race

- Code Switch (NPR)

- Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw

- Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

- Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights)

- Pod Save the People (Crooked Media)

- Seeing White

Books:

- The Autobiography of Malcolm X

- Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About RaceBook by Reni Eddo-Lodge

- Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

- Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper

- Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

- How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

- Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

- Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold

- Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

- Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

- The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

- The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs

- The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

- This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga

- When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson

- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD

Follow:

- Shaun King: Instagram | Twitter | Website

- Antiracism Center: Twitter

- Audre Lorde Project: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- Black Women’s Blueprint: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- Color Of Change: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- Colorlines: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- The Conscious Kid: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- Families Belong Together: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- MPowerChange: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- Muslim Girl: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- NAACP: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- National Domestic Workers Alliance: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

- Ziwe | Instagram | (She has discussions about race with White people, kinda grilling them, every Thursday at 8 p.m. EST. Super thrilling to watch.)

Here’s Some Music Too:

Change Gonna Come - Sam Cooke

Chain Gang - Nina Simone

Missisippi Goddamn - Nina Simone

Fuck Da’ Police - N.W.A.

New Slaves - Kanye

This is America - Childish Gambino

I’m Not Racist - Joyner Lucas

Fight the Power - Public Enemy

Glory - Common, John Legend

Freedom (Live) - Beyonce

I Can’t Breathe - H.E.R.

American Oxygen - Rihanna

Brown Skin Girl - Beyonce 

+

My Playlist With A Few More

Black Artists Matter Playlist

What a large list! It looks so overwhelming! Don’t worry, you don’t have to read/watch/listen to everything. It takes a lot of effort!

  Jk. 

If you don’t want to do some homework and good deeds, then you don’t want to be an ally. And that’s perfectly fine. Just don’t lie to yourself about it.

Tough shit.

-

Discussion time.

Who are your favorite Black activists that you didn’t learn about in school?

(Mine is Huey P. Newton)

Favorite song by a Black artist? 

(Mine is Freedom by Beyonce but the live version)

Let me know what you think here

-Faith

[snailg0th]

Mj’s Ultimate Political Reading List (that isn’t just crusty russian dudes)

Hello! Today I’m going to give you a list of books that I recommend that revolve around leftist politics!

Malcolm X Speaks by Malcolm X

Women, Culture, and Politics by Angela Davis

Women, Race, & Class by Angela Davis

Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis

The Meaning of Freedom by Angela Davis

Abolition Democracy by Angela Davis

Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Davis

The Prison Industrial Complex by Angela Davis

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

Gender Trouble by Judith Butler

Performative Acts and Gender Constitution by Judith Butler

Imitation and Gender Insubordination by Judith Butler

Bodies That Matter by Judith Butler

Excitable Speech by Judith Butler

Undoing Gender by Judith Butler

The Souls Of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

Black Reconstruction In America by W.E.B. Du Bois

Darkwater by W.E.B. Du Bois

This Bridge Called My Back by Cherríe Moraga

Ain’t I A Woman? by Bell Hooks

Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx

Socialism: Utopian and Scientific by Fredrich Engles

Fascism: What is it and How to Fight it by Leon Trotsky

Profit over People by Noam Chomsky

The Accumulation of Capital by Rosa Luxemborg

Reform or Revolution by Rosa Luxemburg

The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

Discipline and Punish by Michel Foucault

Black Skins, White Masks and The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon

Orientalism by Edward Said

An Introduction to Marxist Economic Theory by Ernest Mandel

The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

Anarchism and Other Essays by Emma Goldman

Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin

Black Women, Writing, And Identity by Carole Boyce Davies

Feminism Without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity by Chandra Talpade Mohanty

An End To The Neglect Of The Problems Of The Negro Women by Claudia Jones

Left of Karl Marx: The Political Life Of Black Communist Claudia Jones by Carole Boyce Davies

The Postmodern Condition by Jean François Lyotard

Capitalist Realism by Mark Fisher

Colonize This! by Daisy Hernandez and Bushra Rehman

Socialism Made Easy by James Connolly

Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay 

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

The Sacred Hoop by Paula Gunn Allen

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Notes Of A Native Son by James Baldwin

Biased: Uncover in the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America 

The Color of Law: The Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America

A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft

The Socialist Reconstruction of Society by Daniel De Leon

7 Feminist And Gender Theories 

The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution

Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea J. Ritchie

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Lavender and Red by Emily K. Hobson

Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock 

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson

Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affects Us and What We Can Do

The Common Wind by Julius S. Scott

The End Of Policing by Alex S Vitale

Class, Race, and Marxism by David R. Roediger

Yearning by Bell Hooks 

Race, Gender, And Class by Margaret L Anderson 

Ezili’s Mirrors: Imagining Black Queer Genders by Omise’eke Natasha Tinsley 

Working At The Intersections: A Black Feminist Disability Framework” by Moya Bailey 

Theory by Dionne Brand

Dora Santana's Work by Dora Santana

Property by Karl Marx

Wages, Price, and Profit by Karl Marx

Wage-Labor and Capital by Karl Marx

Capital Volume I by Karl Marx

The 1844 Manuscripts by Karl Marx

Synopsis of Capital by Fredrich Engels

The Principals of Communism by Fredrich Engles

Imperialism, The Highest Stage Of Capitalism by Vladmir Lenin

The State And Revolution by Vladmir Lenin

The Revolution Betrayed by Leon Trotsky

On Anarchism by Noam Chomsky

[inevitablemoment]

“Taxi” Characters as SNL’s Karaoke All-Stars

Alex: None of them.

Bobby: Guy Who Was Doing Great Until The High Notes Came In/Finance Bro Trying To Get Laid

Louie: IDK

Elaine: Su Soppa Layla/Girl Who Claims Her Friend Signed Her Up But We All Know The Truth (depends on how her week went)

Tony: Guy Who Must’ve Chosen The Wrong Song, But Wait A Second...

Latka and Simka: Two German Tourists Trying Their Best

John and Suzanne: Couple Who Thought It Would Be Fun To Sing Like Homer and Marge Simpson

Jim: Su Soppa Layla/Neal, The Quiet Guy In The Hoodie

[northernstories]

African American Literature Suggestions from NMU English Department

The English Department at Northern Michigan University has prepared this list of several dozen suggested readings in African American literature, with some materials also addressing Native American history and culture. The first section contains books that will help provide a context for the Black Lives Matter movement. It includes books that will help readers examine their own privilege and act more effectively for the greater good. Following that list is another featuring many African American authors and books. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it does provide readers a place to start. Almost all of these books are readily available in bookstores and public and university libraries.

Northern Michigan University’s English Department offers at least one course on African American literature every semester, at least one course on Native American literature every semester, and at least one additional course on non-western world literatures every semester. Department faculty also incorporate diverse material in many other courses. For more information, contact the department at english@nmu.edu. Nonfiction, primarily addressing current events, along with some classic texts: Joni Adamson, Mei Mei Evans, and Rachel Stein, editors. The Environmental Justice Reader: Politics, Poetics, and Pedagogy. This classic collection of scholarly articles, essays, and interviews explores the links between social inequalities and unequal distribution of environmental risk. Attention is focused on the US context, but authors also consider global impacts. Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. A clear-eyed explication of how mass incarceration has created a new racial caste system obscured by the ideology of color-blindness. Essential reading for understanding our criminal justice system in relation to the histories of slavery and segregation. Carol Anderson, White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide. A very well-written but disturbing and direct analysis of the history of structural and institutionalized racism in the United States. Gloria Anzaldua, Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. Anzaldua writes about the complexity of life on multiple borders, both literal (the border between the US/Mexico) and conceptual (the borders among languages, sexual identity, and gender). Anzaldua also crosses generic borders, moving among essay, story, history, and poetry. James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time. A classic indictment of white supremacy expressed in a searing, prophetic voice that is, simply, unmatched. Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me. A combination of personal narrative in the form of the author’s letter to his son, historical analysis, and contemporary reportage. Angela Davis, Are Prisons Obsolete? In this succinct and carefully researched book, Davis exposes the racist and sexist underpinnings of the American prison system. This is a must-read for folks new to conversations about prison (and police) abolition. Robin DiAngelo, What Does It Mean To Be White? The author facilitates white people unpacking their biases around race, privilege, and oppression through a variety of methods and extensive research. Ejeris Dixon and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarshnha, editors. Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories From the Transformative Justice Movement. The book attempts to solve problems of violence at a grassroots level in minority communities, without relying on punishment, incarceration, or policing. Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The most well-known narrative written by one of the most well-known and accomplished enslaved persons in the United States. First published in 1845 when Douglass was approximately 28 years old. W.E.B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk. Collection of essays in which Dubois famously prophesied that “the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line.” Henry Louis Gates, Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow. Must reading, a beautifully written, scholarly, and accessible discussion of American history from Reconstruction to the beginnings of the Jim Crow era. Saidiya Hartman, Lose your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route. In an attempt to locate relatives in Ghana, the author journeyed along the route her ancestors would have taken as they became enslaved in the United States. bell hooks, Black Looks: Race and Representation. A collection of essays that analyze how white supremacy is systemically maintained through, among other activities, popular culture. Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Narrative of a woman who escaped slavery by hiding in an attic for seven years. This book offers unique insights into the sexually predatory behavior of slave masters. Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. A detailed history not only of racist events in American history, but of the racist thinking that permitted and continues to permit these events. This excellent and readable book traces this thinking from the colonial period through the presidency of Barack Obama. Winona LaDuke, All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life Any of LaDuke's works belong on this list. This particular text explores the stories of several Indigenous communities as they struggle with environmental and cultural degradation. An incredible resource. Kiese Laymon, Heavy: An American Memoir. An intense book that questions American myths of individual success written by a man who is able to situate his own life within a much larger whole. Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua, This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color This foundational text brings together work by writers, scholars, and activists such as Audre Lorde, Chrystos, Barbara Smith, Norma Alarcon, Nellie Wong, and many others. The book has been called a manifesto and a call to action and remains just as important and relevant as when it was published nearly 40 years ago. Toni Morrison, The Source of Self-Regard. An invaluable collection of essays and speeches from the only black woman to win a Nobel Prize in literature. Throughout her oeuvre, Morrison calls us to take "personal responsibility for alleviating social harm," an ethic she identified with Martin Luther King. Ersula J. Ore, Lynching: Violence, Rhetoric, and American Identity. Ore scrutinizes the history of lynching in America and contemporary manifestations of lynching, drawing upon the murder of Trayvon Martin and other contemporary manifestations of police brutality. Drawing upon newspapers, official records, and memoirs, as well as critical race theory, Ore outlines the connections between what was said and written, the material practices of lynching in the past, and the forms these rhetorics and practices assume now. Claudia Rankine, Citizen: An American Lyric. A description and discussion of racial aggression and micro-aggression in contemporary America. The book was selected for NMU’s Diversity Common Reader Program in 2016. Layla F. Saad, Me and White Supremacy. The author facilitates white people in unpacking their biases around race, privilege, and oppression, while also helping them understand key critical social justice terminology. Maya Schenwar, Joe Macaré, Alana Yu-lan Price, editors. Who do you Serve, Who Do You Protect? Police Violence and Resistance in the United States. The essays examine "police violence against black, brown, indigenous and other marginalized communities, miscarriages of justice, and failures of token accountability and reform measures." What are alternative measures to keep marginalized communities safe? Ozlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo, Is Everyone Really Equal? The authors, in very easy to read and engaging language, facilitate readers in understanding the ---isms (racism, sexism, ableism etc.) and how they intersect, helping readers see their positionality and how privilege and oppression work to perpetuate the status quo. Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. An analysis of America’s criminal justice system by the lawyer who founded the Equal Justice Initiative. While upsetting, the book is also hopeful. Wendy S. Walters, Multiply / Divide: On the American Real and Surreal. In this collection of essays, Walters analyzes the racial psyche of several major American cities, emphasizing the ways bias can endanger entire communities. Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery. Autobiography of the founder of Tuskegee Institute. Harriet Washington, Medical Apartheid. From the surgical experiments performed on enslaved black women to the contemporary recruitment of prison populations for medical research, Washington illuminates how American medicine has been--and continues to be shaped--by anti-black racism. Malcolm X, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Autobiography of civil rights leader that traces his evolution as a thinker, speaker, and writer.

If you would like to enhance your knowledge of the rich tradition of African American literature, here are several of the most popular books and authors within that tradition, focused especially on the 20thand 21st centuries. Novels and Short Stories James Baldwin, Go Tell It on the Mountain James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man Langston Hughes, The Ways of White Folks Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God James Weldon Johnson, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man Nella Larsen, Passing Nella Larsen, Quicksand Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison, Beloved Richard Wright, Native Son Drama Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun Ntozake Shange, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf August Wilson, Fences August Wilson, The Piano Lesson Poetry A good place to begin is an anthology, The Vintage Book of African American Poetry, edited by Michael S. Harper and Anthony Walton. It includes work by poets from the 18th century to the present, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton, Countee Cullen, Rita Dove, Robert Hayden, Langston Hughes, Yusef Komunyakaa, Claude McKay, Phillis Wheatley, and many others. Here are some more recent collections: Reginald Dwayne Betts, Felon Wanda Coleman, Wicked Enchantment: Selected Poems Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, The Age of Phillis Tyehimba Jess, Olio Jamaal May, The Big Book of Exit Strategies Danez Smith, Don’t Call Us Dead