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28 days -- 56 ways to be Young, Gifted and Black: Jae Shepherd


How do you spend your days?

I spend my days being active running, swimming, doing yoga, and/ or lifting. If I'm not being active, I'm hanging out with an amazing community of folxs who teach me what unconditional love is. I also spend my time growing and learning in community with the women at Magdelene St. Louis.

What brings you joy?

Cristin, my cat, painting, laughing, dancing with my cute fam, the love my community shows me, reading poetry, working out, meditating, booty rubs,and chicken bring me lots of joy. Also knowing that my black trans joy is an radical act of resistance in a world that would rather see me dead brings me joy.

What is liberation to you?

Liberation looks like a melinated utopia where black folxs are thriving not just surviving. Liberation looks like the absence of oppressive colonial structures (capitalism, racism, ageism, transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, etc). Liberation looks like everlasting black love and joy.

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