Shanice_

“But first and foremost, combating hate requires understanding it—not what it seems to be or what we hope it amounts to, but what it actually is.”
― Seyward Darby, Sisters in Hate: American Women on the Front Lines of White Nationalism

“What the fuck do you know about young women, Maggie thinks. We don't remember what we want to remember. We remember what we can't forget.”
― Lisa Taddeo, Three Women

“Who has the rights to the story of a place? Are these rights earned, bought, fought and died for? Or are they given? Are they automatic, like an assumption? Self-renewing? Are these rights a token of citizenship belonging to those who stay in the place or to those who leave and come back to it? Does the act of leaving relinquish one’s rights to the story of a place? Who stays gone? Who can afford to return?”
― Sarah M. Broom, The Yellow House

“Virginity is just a social construct, and sex is just a physical act. You can go out to Viagra Triangle right now and find some guy who'll be willing to sleep with you, then roll over a few minutes later feeling completely unchanged and totally let down." He leaned in closer, enthralled by her focus, by how her gaze hadn't lifted from his mouth since he'd started speaking. "But . . . wanting someone for more than just their physicality? Wanting to hear from them, speak to them, see them, every second of the day? That feeling when their hand brushes against yours and you ask yourself if you want to hold it? That first kiss? It amplifies everything. You feel like you're on fire. It's transformative, in the best ways. In the worst ways too. That's what I want for myself. It's what I want for you too, especially since you're new to this. And if we can find that together, great. But I'm not taking anything less.”
― Shirlene Obuobi, Between Friends & Lovers