Chapter 1
The Things We Carry
Inspired by Tim O’Brien’s reflections on the invisible burdens soldiers carry, this chapter explores the unseen weight of being a racialized body in predominantly white spaces. A conversation between Black men opens the door to how tokenism operates subtly, shaping both internal identity and external perception. It defines tokenism as the evolutionary arm of colonialism—control not through exclusion, but selective inclusion.
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🥂Random links are the neurodivergent off ramp. Nestled between paragraphs are what I expect you to click if you so decide to engage how this neurodivergent writer’s mind works. Totally optional.
🥂 Davido Convo
BONUS Content about African v African American🥂 “…but that gave me something to think about.”
Bonus Content: TikTok -
🌱 Getting Involved prioritizes action. Ways I planned for you to engage your body or mind like you would a rep in the gym. Reading the pages is the inhale, but getting involved is the exhale.
PROMPT: What things do you notice coming up as you read this chapter?
What did you notice in your body, viscerally? Any tension or heat?
What came to memory and mind? Any stories surface? Which one(s)?
What came to mind and imagination? Did you think of something creative or artistic as you read?
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🧭 Side Quests this invites exploration without overwhelming. An exploration that is fully optional and for only if a section really lands for you but you want more about the topic… I got you. Each one extends the experience, turning a chapter into a journey:
🧭“…but that gave me something to think about.”
🧭“…tokenism is part of the exchange her mother makes for her family’s stability.”
BONUS CONTENT:
“The Lived Experience of the Black Man” -an essay by Franz Omar Fanon