The Heroic Harley Quinn

Birds of Prey is a work of art.

I mean, what’s cooler than an unlikely group of dope women working together to defeat a common enemy? Especially when led by the likes of an unforgettable and perhaps sometimes underappreciated character like Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). Harley is also accompanied by a strong and determined squad that includes Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), and Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Collectively, these women team up to take out a villain in Gotham, Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), and many others throughout the film. Though an odd figure, it’s hard to ignore how heroic Harley is. And her backstory is even more intriguing.

In Birds of Prey, it’s learned that she went to college and earned her Ph.D., became a psychiatrist, fell in love with the Joker, went on to pursue a life of crime and chaos, and when her relationship with the Joker ended, you could see her heartbreak and her humanity. She cried. She cut her hair. She moved into her own place. Took herself out for an egg sandwich. Bought a pet hyena, affectionally named Bruce after Gotham’s very own Bruce Wayne (also known as Batman), and sets out on a quest to find and reinvent herself. She was starting over. Which is a heroic act in and of itself, and not an easy thing to do. Harley ends up on some unbelievable adventures, including a rescue mission to protect a pickpocketing kid in danger, teaming up with some fierce female allies, and fighting off different individuals she’s wronged along her path towards self-discovery. Her approach and impeccable sense of humor are hard to ignore, and watching her kick butt and take names alongside a group of tough, determined, and dedicated women was something I could definitely appreciate. Harley is a criminal, but she's also a hero. Sure, she's made a ton of mistakes and been reckless and wild at times. However, it's hard to deny her vulnerability, willingness to be herself, and how she redefines a new meaning of what it can mean for a woman to be truly emancipated.

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

I’m Glad I’m Not Married

When I was about five years old, I was sitting in the backseat of my dad’s car when me, him, my older cousin (my aunt’s son), and my aunt (my dad’s sister) caught my aunt’s fiancé with another woman. My dad had been driving my aunt out to run some errands since she didn’t have a driver’s license or a car. When she spotted her man with another woman, she told my dad to pull the car over, got out of the car, and immediately addressed him. She wanted the keys back to her apartment and was done with him. The other woman she caught her fiancé with slapped him when she realized what was happening, and that was that. When my aunt returned to the car, she was clearly and understandably upset, and the ride back to her place was quiet. Although I was too young to fully grasp what was happening at the time, I knew it wasn’t good. And now, at 34 years old, I can’t imagine how much pain she was in. Her wedding had been planned and paid for – and she never made it down the aisle. My aunt was a beaut...

Dear Young Black Professionals

As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...

Making Waves