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    Author: John S. Blake

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    John S. Blake

    John S. Blake is a cisgender, African American writer, poet, activist, and youth advocate originally from New York City and now resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Blake is a VCU Grad, MFA student at Sierra Nevada University, Watering Hole Graduate Fellow, TEDx speaker, essayist for The Big Smoke America, spoken word artist, as well as a literacy tutor, lecturer, and mentor. Blake facilitates workshops, lectures, and performs nationwide: universities, high schools, middle schools, detention centers, prisons, and youth programs.

    Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Featured, Society
    Everybody Loves Will: Smith on TikTok
    John S. Blake July 31, 2022

    A flash essay by John S. Blake, “Everybody Loves Will: Smith on TikTok,” about Will Smith’s recent TikTok video responding to a question about letting fans down with “the slap.”

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    Featured, Op-eds, Politics
    Sleep Now in the Fire: Out of Shock, Out of Shame
    John S. Blake December 24, 2021

    A new essay by John S. Blake, “Sleep Now in the Fire: Out of Shock, Out of Shame,” tells the tale of two [in]different Joes, ignoring the wishes of Americans this holiday.

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    Current Affairs, Featured, My take on ..., Residents
    I Just Can’t Anymore
    John S. Blake July 5, 2018

    John S. Blake reflects on this Fourth of July and reviews the current state of affairs and questions our definition of what it means to be independent and American.

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    Featured, My take on ..., Residents
    The Star
    John S. Blake December 28, 2016

    John S. Blake pays tribute to his friend, Tavis P. Brunson.

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    Featured, My take on ..., Residents
    Soon, Not a Drop to Drink
    John S. Blake November 26, 2016

    As oil interests and corporate greed trump common sense and human decency, indigenous people are suffering, land is ravaged, and water supplies are poisoned: enough is enough. Essay by John S. Blake.

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    Featured, My take on ..., Residents
    The Art of Dying
    John S. Blake July 16, 2016

    In light of the latest tragedies of black lives taken, John S. Blake examines the past three decades of his life.

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    Featured, Music, Society
    Sign o’ the Times: My Heart Hungers for Starfish and Coffee
    John S. Blake April 23, 2016

    John S. Blake's love letter to the dearly beloved genius Prince.

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    Featured, My take on ..., Residents
    “Stop, Children, What’s That Sound?”: Deflection Old as Slavery
    John S. Blake February 17, 2016

    John S. Blake examines recent controversy surrounding Glen Allen High School in Virginia and a factual video that is being disputed by Mark Holmberg who argues that racial inequity is behind us.

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    Featured, My take on ..., Residents
    I Didn’t Fall Through, I Was Pushed: The Cracks of America’s Educational System
    John S. Blake December 21, 2015

    John S. Blake examines his path through America's educational system, and why compassion, not prejudice, could have changed his direction sooner.

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    Featured, My take on ..., Residents
    The Joy of Warmth
    John S. Blake November 30, 2015

    Another essential essay from John S. Blake, this one about AIDS. Ahead of World AIDS Day, December 1st, this is a poetic tribute to his brother Benny and a reminder to give to those in ...

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