By & For: Black Youth – Breakthrough U.S.

Commemorating Pride with Nia

During our #QueerYourPride campaign, Breakthrough uplifted the joy, determination and activism of the LGBTQIA+ communities with a Digital Quilt. By & For contributor Nia Asemota produced this beautiful artwork highlighting the essence of Pride Month. Nia sought to depict “the power of loving without limits” and she has done so successfully with 3 visible examples…

Allies Promise by Caela Collins

I may not say all the right things. I won’t always be the first to know or understand. I will never feel the true weight of your burdens or carry your individualistic fears. But I will not abide by any pride that human nature has allowed to reside within me. I won’t use loving words…

Daddreaming by Caela Collins

I saw him standing there and wondered what he was thinking. I often wonder what runs through people’s minds when they stare into that blank abyss in the distance that lays before them. He could’ve been thinking something deep & meaningful like him thankfully combining through his blessings. His mind might’ve been wandering the concrete…

M.O.T.H.E.R. by Caela Collins

by Caela Collins (in dedication to my mother Valerie) Childhood Mother, mother there is no Other Together we share the same color Hair Even though there’s a lot of Rules So what I think you’re cool!I Love You! Adulthood Most of all, I want to say thank-you. No matter how Overly elaborate the words of…

By & For: Powerful Women in Activism

Everyone has an active role to play in addressing society’s injustices. For activists that make this work a primary focus of their lives, that responsibility can sometimes be greater, challenging even, but evermore rewarding. These women women explain what their activism work means to them, the process of that work, and how they take time to recover.

A Woman: Poem for International Women’s Day

Poem Kai Adia Women have the audacity to birth new worlds With passion and honey on their tongues. This world would not move without women, They hold up half the sky. Reaching with their arms, they shout FREEDOM Into the heavens Raising unsung heroes From history’s sullen shadows. What is a Woman? Intuitive Connecter Emotional…

Meet Nia Asemota: Artist Contributor to By & For

Cover art by Nia Asemota Nia Asemota is a young artist, technical instructor for Black Girls CODE, and contributor to By & For. “My artwork is the epitome of my inner personality- bold lines and bright colors. Through my cartoon realistic pieces, I seek to pay tribute to my dynamic cultural heritage as an Afro-Latina…

Why Black Joy is Important According to 10 Young People

To demonstrate the power of Black joy, here are 9 Black people explaining what brings them joy and why Black joy is important to them; all participants answered the question: “What brings you joy right now? Why is joy important to you?”

A Look Back at Representation in 2020: 8 Ways Black Hair Matters

Today, Black women are loving their hair unapologetically. We are creating and buying our own products from brands made “By and for Us.” Black hair is a story of resilience and the story has continued as a key topic of conversation throughout 2020. Yes, our twist outs, fros and low cuts are taking center stage as a representation of independence and strength. And yet, centuries of race-based hair discrimination has sparked the saying, “Black hair is not just hair.” Why?

How To Effect Change Through The Political System

In wake of the killings of Jacob Blake, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Aubrey, George Floyd and many other Black people killed by police, America is at its tipping point. It is totally normal to wonder how greatly our voices can shine in the midst of all this violence and a global pandemic. This country has been faced with generation after generation of racial, economic and social inequalities, so, how can we effectively improve the health of our society when faced with so many long-standing obstacles?