SHE READER

links, blogs, quotes, photos and articles about the state of today's Islamic World and beyond.

[shereader-blog-blog]

Outer space #newmexico (at White Sands Dunes Alamogordo, New Mexico)

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#TrumpDump -- The one and only time I've ever liked Borat. (had to make this cause couldn't find it anywhere!! How?!)

[shereader-blog-blog]

uh NO.

Two separate styles spreads from Glamour’s March 2015 issue.

[whoismims]

[micdotcom]

Emotional photos show the first Sunday service at the Emanuel AME Church after the shooting

The church was packed to capacity; the Associated Press reported parishioners were queued in long lines to get in. Police officers were on the scene throughout the service, which was led by the Unity Church of Charleston’s the Rev. Ed Kosak. At the end of the service, Kosak left the congregation with a powerful, hopeful message.

[salon]

[salon]

Pope Francis officially dropped his much-anticipated encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si,” Thursday, and it has a lot to say: about man’s responsibility to care for creation, about the limits of the market and technology’s ability to solve our environmental problems, even about the importance of gender differences (I’ll leave the analysis of that one to someone else).

But despite conservative critics’ suggestion that the pope “leave the science to the scientists,” the 138-page document is notable precisely because it gets the science right: the pope, who does in fact have scientific training, deftly summarizes experts’ understanding of climate change in two concise paragraphs — and even goes so far as to call out specific myths used by climate deniers to cast doubt on the science.

The pope has no tolerance for those who “seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems”

[spacemohawks]

These are the 9 victims of the terrorist shooting attack at “Mother” Emanuel AME church in Charleston, SC. Now that he’s been arrested, let’s delete all our pictures of the shooter and remember the victims instead. His name should be forgotten. Theirs deserve to be remembered. 

Their names, from left to right, top to bottom, are:

Tywanza Sanders: Recent graduate of Allen University in Columbia, SC.

Sharonda Coleman-Singleton: Mother of three, reverend, and beloved high school track coach.

Clementa Pinckney: Church pastor and S.C. state senator.

Cynthia Hurd: A 30+ year veteran librarian at Charleston County Public Library.

Myra Thompson (not pictured): Wife of Anthony Thompson, a vicar at Holy Trinity REC.

Ethel Lee Lance (not pictured): A 70 year old grandmother who had worked in the church for over 30 years.

Daniel Simmons (not pictured): A staff member at the church.

Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor: Mother of 4, sang in the church choir.

Susie Jackson: 87 years old. Longtime church member and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

source - Buzzfeed

[spacemohawks]

Reblogging because the rest of the victims’ names and photos were just released – I have updated the post accordingly.

…crying again. Look at all of these beautiful, wonderful souls. What a senseless snuffing out of precious life.

[ruinedchildhood]

[newyorker]

Caitlyn Jenner’s highly choreographed emergence has precipitated an important national conversation about transgender issues, but it has also led to a useful discussion about the stereotyping of age, the valorization of a certain form of beauty, and the perpetuation of damaging gender norms.

Rebecca Mead on Caitlyn Jenner’s Big Debut (via newyorker)

[lavernecox]

On May 29, 2014, the issue of timemagazine magazine which proclaimed the “Transgender Tipping Point” was revealed with me on the cover. June 1, 2015 a year and 3 days later, Caitlyn Jenner’s vanityfair cover was revealed proclaiming #CallMeCaitlyn I am so moved by all the love and support Caitlyn is receiving. It feels like a new day, indeed, when a trans person can present her authentic self to the world for the first time and be celebrated for it so universally. Many have commented on how gorgeous Caitlyn looks in her photos, how she is “slaying for the Gods.” I must echo these comments in the vernacular, “Yasss Gawd! Werk Caitlyn! Get it!” But this has made me reflect critically on my own desires to ‘work a photo shoot’, to serve up various forms of glamour, power, sexiness, body affirming, racially empowering images of the various sides of my black, trans womanhood. I love working a photo shoot and creating inspiring images for my fans, for the world and above all for myself. But I also hope that it is my talent, my intelligence, my heart and spirit that most captivate, inspire, move and encourage folks to think more critically about the world around them. Yes, Caitlyn looks amazing and is beautiful but what I think is most beautiful about her is her heart and soul, the ways she has allowed the world into her vulnerabilities. The love and devotion she has for her family and that they have for her. Her courage to move past denial into her truth so publicly. These things are beyond beautiful to me. A year ago when my Time magazine cover came out I saw posts from many trans folks saying that I am “drop dead gorgeous” and that that doesn’t represent most trans people. (It was news to be that I am drop dead gorgeous but I’ll certainly take it). But what I think they meant is that in certain lighting, at certain angles I am able to embody certain cisnormative beauty standards. Now, there are many trans folks because of genetics and/or lack of material access who will never be able to embody these standards. More importantly many trans folks don’t want to embody them and we shouldn’t have to to be seen as ourselves and respected as ourselves . It is important to note that these standards are also infomed by race, class and ability among other intersections. I have always been aware that I can never represent all trans people. No one or two or three trans people can. This is why we need diverse media representstions of trans folks to multiply trans narratives in the media and depict our beautiful diversities. I started #TransIsBeautiful as a way to celebrate all those things that make trans folks uniquely trans, those things that don’t necessarily align with cisnormative beauty standards. For me it is necessary everyday to celebrate every aspect of myself especially those things about myself that don’t align with other people’s ideas about what is beautiful. #TransIsBeautiful is about, whether you’re trans or not, celebrating all those things that make us uniquely ourselves. Most trans folks don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and I have now have. It is those trans folks we must continue to lift up, get them access to healthcare, jobs, housing, safe streets, safe schools and homes for our young people. We must lift up the stories of those most at risk, statistically trans people of color who are poor and working class. I have hoped over the past few years that the incredible love I have received from the public can translate to the lives of all trans folks. Trans folks of all races, gender expressions, ability, sexual orientations, classes, immigration status, employment status, transition status, genital status etc.. I hope, as I know Caitlyn does, that the love she is receiving can translate into changing hearts and minds about who all trans people are as well as shifting public policies to fully support the lives and well being of all of us. The struggle continues…

[shereader-blog-blog]

That Way We’re All Writing Now

First we LOLed. Now we’re changing the way a sentence works

[pleatedjeans]

THIS IS  NOT MY CAT! (24 Pics)

[naturalprose-deactivated2025040]

WHAT THE HELL WHY DOESN’T THIS HAPPEN TO ME

[bitrates]

It’s nice seeing that the kid from degrassi is walking again

[democraticnonsense]

[takealookatyourlife]

This is hilarious in the darkest way because this tree is holding the dead corpse of one of the other trees

[nirvanaschild]

[usatoday]

Proof that Stephen Hawking is the coolest. Ever.

http://usat.ly/1Owd0Jj

[muslimwomeninhistory]

Rappers, Divas & Virtuosos from the Muslim World: Mariem Hassan and Anusheh

For the last 13 years Mariem Hassan’s heartfelt, piercing voice has been the musical ambassador of the Western Saharan people. The Saharawis became refugees in 1979 when after the exploitation of its people and resources, Spain abandoned Western Sahara as a colony and ceded it to Morocco. The Saharawis now live in isolated refugee camps under harsh conditions and with little freedom. As the film traces her development as a singer and shows her tireless effort to promote the Saharawi cause and culture, it also outlines how her people lost their homeland and the efforts being made by European countries to help them regain their sovereignty.

Anusheh is a fiery, outspoken Bangladeshi singer-songwriter whose band Bangla is very popular with young people in her homeland. She has pioneered the fusion of traditional rural songs with rock music, giving them new life. As a Fakiri, Anusheh has been attacked by Islamic fundamentalists, but has fought back courageously, stating that the Islamicists do not represent the real spiritual values of her countrymen. Her strength comes from her firm faith in Marfat, that is, finding God within oneself. The film observes her recording in a studio in Dhoka, the capitol, and making a pilgrimmage to Kushtia in western Bangladesh, where she sings and communes with her guru. We also see her in the store she started in Dhoka, where she employs disabled people, former sex workers and roadside painters.

via Cultures of Resistance