Ciarra Jones
Bio
Ciarra’s writing explores race, education, religion, and sexuality. You can find her writing on Huffington Post, Medium, Black Youth Project, and the Tempest.
Little Miss Flint's Activism Is All About Making Kids Like Her Feel Valued
By Ciarra JonesAt just 8 years old, Mari Copeny, aka Little Miss Flint, was already changing the world. In 2016, when she was in third grade, she became the face of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis when she wrote a letter to President Barack Obama about the…
If Hell Is As Sexy & Gay As Lil Nas X Made It Look, Sign Me Up
By Ciarra JonesAre you even a celebrity if you’re not stirring things up? With his new hit single "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" — and its accompanying video — Lil Nas X is making people talk. The video, released on March 26, received both praise and backlash on…
The Capitol Riot Didn't Surprise Me. Here's Why
By Ciarra JonesOn Jan. 6, many Americans watched in shock, horror, sadness, and anger as supporters of President Donald Trump breached the U.S. Capitol building to disrupt the certification of Electoral College votes. More specifically, these rioters stormed the…
Climate Activist Vanessa Nakate Wants A More Inclusive Movement In 2021
By Ciarra JonesVanessa Nakate is a force. The 24-year-old Ugandan climate activist is courageous, knowledgeable, kind — and unrelenting in her commitment to fighting what she calls a “real-time” battle. “In school, we are taught not to be afraid of climate change.…
For Black People, Protesting Is Life & Death — Not A Costume
By Ciarra JonesHalloween costumes tend to reflect our cultural moment, and the summer before Halloween 2020 was defined by protest and unrest. The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor ignited already simmering tensions concerning the…
America Is Still Gaslighting Black People About Racism
By Ciarra JonesAs I write this article, the sound of rubber bullets and tear gas canisters collide in my Los Angeles apartment. The cacophony of sound, echoing of death and terror, is deafening, and the non-stop din is traumatizing all over again. Downtown Los…
For Young Black Women Like Me, Reproductive Health Has A Troubling History
By Ciarra JonesDuring my second semester of college, my roommates found me on the floor of my dorm room, shivering and doubled over in pain. They called for an ambulance, but the EMTs refused to take me to the hospital. I made an appointment with my general…
