WSV’s Aundrea Sayrie writes, “One gets weary. Not including last week, Newsweek reports that an additional 181 Black people have been murdered at the hands of police since George Floyd, and it hasn’t been a year. When Derek Chauvin’s verdict was read last week, I did not rejoice. I did not feel excitement of any sort. I was in total shock witnessing the anomaly of accountability of a police officer. This never happens.”
Author: Aundrea Sayrie
In honor of National Poetry Month, WSV’s Aundrea Sayrie shares a poem she hasn’t finished and maybe never will.
Aundrea Sayrie details the life and accomplishments of investigative journalist and feminist icon Nellie Bly as part of WSV’s “Badass Women” series.
WSV’s Aundrea Sayrie writes about Aviator Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman, the first Black female pilot in U.S. History.
WSV’s Aundrea Sayrie writes about the man behind the March on Washington, Civil Rights icon Bayard Rustin. This event and plenty more surrounding Martin Luther King, Jr.’s achievements fail to recognize his right-hand man. It was Rustin who had strategically organized the march in only eight weeks.
WSV columnist Aundrea Sayrie details the background of Carter Godwin Woodson, known as the “Father of Black History,” as well as how the month-long celebration of Black contributions and achievement came to be.
WSV Columnist Aundrea Sayrie writes, “Love him or hate him, Donald Trump is an effective leader. Here are four things about his leadership style that make him effective.”
“There is talk about returning to normalcy but we all know that we experienced an abrupt end to an era as we knew it, and witnessed the foundation of whatever else is to come. Whatever it is we are resilient. We are yet hopeful. As things are looking up but continue to be uncertain, all we can do is to step out on faith. Stay encouraged. Cheers to 2021.”
“I want to imagine that those in leadership couldn’t possibly be so willfully ignorant of the complications impacting the Black American experience. The conscious omission of our history, and history and reality is gaslighting at its finest. It’s cruel.”
WSV Columnist Aundrea Sayrie asks voters to think beyond the presidential election and focus on the needs of their respective communities.
“While it is tempting to consider 2020 a total loss, it’s not. With all of the adjacent disappointment, it has showcased just how brilliant, resilient, and kindhearted humans can be.”
“Tuesday’s debate was another missed opportunity for Donald Trump to create unity, by showing a desire for equity and justice for all American citizens. Instead kerosene was added to the fire.”
Aundrea Sayrie talks data brokers and the pitfalls of social media in this week’s “Living on Purpose” column.
In this week’s column, Aundrea Sayrie asks “When is a cult a cult?”
“In all of my contemplating about how to heal and foster positive change within a community, I have never once considered ‘code switching’ to be an obstacle.”
“Commenting, and reposting requires so little effort and happens so fast, it’s easy to not even realize you’re participating by casting your stone. Recently a local prosecutor whom I have never crossed paths with was the subject of local cancel culture. I can’t identify the guy in a lineup, but plenty of folks have strong opinions about the direction of his future. It was apparent while watching his character be crucified in the comment section.”
Life feels like a multiple-choice test without any easy answers right now. Virtual, homeschool or online? Mask or no mask? Who should you vote for and why? Take a stand, take a knee, or take a time-out from all of it? Every question is weighted.
“Black people are missing in Three Rivers. They are missing from downtown storefronts, positions at schools, boardrooms, and the Armstrong factory. Strategically, they are missing from the heart of the city. Living in downtrodden homes, next to a downtrodden park on the outskirts of town. Like the now vandalized street mural on Broadway.”