The Reading List: August 16, 2020

Image via the lovely Grace Farris. We hope you all take some inspiration from it and use the USPS to send some snail mail soon.

Shannon

Another excellent profile of the GOAT, SImone Biles.

I had forgotten all about the 2008 men’s 100m butterfly controversy, but this profile of Milorad Cavic, whom Michael Phelps beat out for the gold by one one-hundredth of a second, sent me down a rabbit hole of old Olympic swimming races.

We watched “Euphoria” in the span of one cold winter day earlier this year, and I didn’t know much about many of the young actors who starred. This profile of Hunter Schafer is excellent.

An excellent take from Damon at Very Smart Brothas. The way the current administration has handled Covid is nothing short of monstrous.

However, it’s still important to remember why Black Progressive women feel torn about Kamala Harris.

A deep dive into the failures of the Georgia governor, Brian Kemp. I grew up in Georgia and have a lot of family and friends there, and the complete mishandling of Covid has been horrifying to watch, especially as the schools have started reopening. Please, wear a mask.

Elizabeth

KAMALA! Admittedly, I am still the biggest fan of one E. Warren, and not just because of her name, but I am so happy to see such an accomplished woman on the ticket. Want to know even more about her? Here are 13 new-to-me facts. Plus, here are some bonus behind-the-scenes insights into VP BIden’s process.

I hate that we have allowed female ambition to become such a polarizing thing: why should women not allowed to want to do awesome things?

Admittedly, I love a good “Social Justice Slideshow” on Instagram, and I loved reading how they have taken over social media this summer.

A perfect reminder to sometimes lean into your self-doubt.

We should all be more like Ina Garten.

FLAMES ON THE SIDE OF MY FACE when I read this article about the elite and how they are skirting around coronavirus rules.

And to end on something fun, the Fug Girls have been covering historic events since…2020…and I love this week’s look at the “almost royal” wedding of JFK and Jackie.

Moira

Having worked for the yoga cult lululemon for two years in my twenties, I’m endlessly fascinated by other yoga cults (of which there are many). This exposé on Yoga to the People is a fascinating read.

This excerpt made me very excited for Shayla Lawson’s “This is Major,” a memoir about her workplace experience with the most toxic of Beckys.

I have found profiles on safe COVID weddings so very sweet. This one is lovely.

Lastly, but most importantly, the incredible Michele Hall, who was a younger friend with whom I trained in ballet, is an incredible young Black female public defender in Maryland. She is a hero of mine. Her article in the Atlantic about how COVID is a time for amnesty for minor misdemeanors speaks to the toxicity and punitive/non-reparative system of punishment that exists in this country.