Why Literature?
Contrary to popular belief, reading is still a fundamental way for leaders to develop perspectives and start conversations that produce culture change.
Vision Speaks publishes books and essays to empower leaders of all ages & backgrounds.
BOOKS
They Were Chosen: A Novel
Many would agree police brutality gets a bigger spotlight than other issues that negatively impact Black people. As we mourn the loss of individuals shot while unarmed, we can’t forget the safety & wellbeing of those who are still living among us. This comical, yet critical novel explores sexual violence through the lens of two HBCU in New York City. (Vision Speaks Press, 2022).
ESSAYS & OP-EDS
Medium: Kimberle Crenshaw Helped me Overcome my Male Gaze as a Writer.
By Shola Gbemi (March 2023)
Kimberle Crenshaw is an American legal scholar who coined the “intersectionality” framework to capture how Black women are often at the crossroads of multiple inequities simultaneously. As an intern for Crenshaw at the African-American Policy Forum, I learned how to write about black women’s encounters with injustice, and beyond my male gaze.
BTheChange: Continuing the Conversation with Women of Color Changing the World.
By Shola Gbemi (June 2022)
In 2021, B Lab US & Canada piloted the Level program to better engage & support for businesses led by women who are Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color. The program was designed in response to the murder of George Floyd and the national call to action for business leaders to promote racial equity.
Medium: Reimagining Kanye West’s “Jesus is King”: The Politics of Performance in Hip Hop.
By Shola Gbemi (Nov 2019)
Kanye Wests’ ninth studio album Jesus is King was met with skepticism from listeners and non-listeners alike. Although Kanye mentioned God in his lyrics and branded the record as a “gospel” album, some folks aren’t buying it, literally and figuratively. This essay unpacks how hip hop fans decide when to “believe” in the lifestyles portrayed by rap artists, and why.
By Shola Gbemi (Nov 2018)
Blac Chyna’s collab with Whitenicious by Dencia’s skin-bleaching product brand disgusted Black millennials worldwide. This essay explores the history of skin-bleaching in African countries like Nigeria, where the influencer hosted the brand’s “Blac Chyna Collection” launch.
By Shola Gbemi (Aug 2018)
Amanda Seales posted an Instagram video challenging the male ego and display of emotion in romantic relationships. While society supports male ego in ways that it does not for women, Seales’ perspective raised a few challenges for men who embrace and communicate their emotions.
By Shola Gbemi (June 2018)
While movements for police brutality awareness and sexual assault awareness prompt our activism, we must “have that same energy” when it comes to how our speech and behaviors impact the wellbeing of those around us.
By Shola Gbemi (June 2016)
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 desegregated higher-learning institutions. Despite this, there was little change regarding the character and cultural norms of PWIs. This literature review discusses the experiences of Black students attending PWIs & HBCUs during the 1960s. It also highlights how cultural norms such as racial discrimination negatively impacted the psychological wellbeing of African-American students.