We Need to Talk 2023 (on Substack)
Subscribe to this Substack column for $5 per month or $50 per year to read race- and culture-related posts. For $90 as a founder, get full access to “Black Girl In a Doggone World™,” “Homegrown Tales,” “I Do See Color,” "Tickled" and “Window Shopping” too.
(Looking for WNTT 2019? Click here. 2020? Click here. 2021? Click here. 2022? Click here.)
36. Can people recognize who their frenemies are? ~ From Shanquella Robinson to Gabe to Tyrese, why do people give their friends-turned-enemies so many chances?
35. 14 valuable lessons I learned representing myself in Small Claims Court ~ Yes, you can win your case pro se, but listen to your legal coach
34. Baby bonding: When friends fight ~ Childless women can bond with their friends' children, but what happens when the two adults bump heads?
33. 'Two Kisses in a Box': A Poem ~ Lincoln University of Missouri's Poetry Writing Workshop
32. 'Houseguests': A Poem ~ Lincoln University of Missouri's Poetry Writing Workshop
31. Is it safe to make security cameras your tech babysitters? ~ My memories of being a latchkey kid
30. Memories of Lahaina Hawaii ~ The Sugar Cane Train that was my intro to Lahaina in Maui
29. Humor is beer goggles for women ~ Why 'You People' makes some men so angry
28. If answering your calls in real time is mandatory, let's call it quits ~ The link between insecurity and emergencies
27. Weird Barbie won me over in the 'Barbie' movie ~ Childhood memories and mother-daughter arguments came flashing back while watching my childhood hobby
26. That time he spoke my love language ~ When my college crush proved he understood ‘Quality Time’
25. Want a tattoo? Wait until you’re 30 ~ What melanin-rich people need to know about tattoos, tattoo removal
24. Bridezillas and Groomzillas may or may not appear ... But should wedding insurance be purchased regardless?
23. Should you get wedding insurance to fight against fraud? ~ Rob Nuccio of WedSure: 'Change of Heart' wedding insurance, insurance fraud
22. Even if allergic to latex, there are other condom options ~ Avoid the excuses, stock up for safe sex
21. The Keke Palmer breakup celebration is making me cringe ~ Not all single women want to see other women be single
20. Should graduation celebrating be banned? ~ The Philadelphia High School for Girls versus my 8th grade graduation
19. Marriage and money: When should women talk about it? ~ Best practices for women discussing marriage while dating, retirement planning
18. Erotica fiction will never be my cup of tea ~ And it took a Judy Blume book special for me to finally narrow down why
17. I need to talk to my weed guy ~ Because I never won the Olympics like Tara Davis-Woodhall or Sha’Carri Richardson
16. When did men twerking become gay? ~ And other problems I have with the Fun Police for men
15. ‘R&B Money’ podcast brings back my fangirl days of Immature ~ The podcast I didn’t know I needed to show respect to R&B legends
14. Respectfully, you must be really bad at sex ~ No, tampons are not equal to penetration
13. Blueface and Chrisean Rock are the car crash I won’t look away from ~ My own volatile relationships keep making me hope Chrisean walks away
12. Chris Rock: Women-hating men will never understand Will Smith ~ Why ‘Selective Outrage’ further confirms Chris Rock is bitter about women
11. Men versus women: Why do men hate single-women songs so much? ~ Silence in marriage, celebration of singles
10. If you enjoy firing people, please don’t work in HR ~ “Roy’s Job Fair” brought up two types of HR people —only one of which we need more of
9. Does heartbreak really feel like this? ~ The one relationship story my father was tickled by
8. Is outing a cheater on social media worth it? ~ “Love Is Blind”: Why are these TikTok girls getting 15 minutes of fame off S.K.?
7. AMC, read the room and avoid ticket price changes ~ What movie theater companies did not figure out from social isolation
6. Is it OK for your mom to be your wingwoman? ~ Erykah Badu’s thirst trap post with her daughter: Yay or nay?
5. Be grateful for the company that fired you ~ The nightmare for-profit company that reduced clothing waste and wasted my time
4. Fighting over a man? Hard pass ~ The Cardi B logic I agreed with in my 20s but not beyond
3. 24 free fitness videos to get you active indoors ~ Creating a social isolation exercise video playlist
2. Why single people need a will, too ~ Don’t blow off writing a will — even if you’re childless
1. His friend died of AIDS, but he still believes AIDS isn’t real ~ Why contraception talks should happen more than sex
35. 14 valuable lessons I learned representing myself in Small Claims Court ~ Yes, you can win your case pro se, but listen to your legal coach
34. Baby bonding: When friends fight ~ Childless women can bond with their friends' children, but what happens when the two adults bump heads?
33. 'Two Kisses in a Box': A Poem ~ Lincoln University of Missouri's Poetry Writing Workshop
32. 'Houseguests': A Poem ~ Lincoln University of Missouri's Poetry Writing Workshop
31. Is it safe to make security cameras your tech babysitters? ~ My memories of being a latchkey kid
30. Memories of Lahaina Hawaii ~ The Sugar Cane Train that was my intro to Lahaina in Maui
29. Humor is beer goggles for women ~ Why 'You People' makes some men so angry
28. If answering your calls in real time is mandatory, let's call it quits ~ The link between insecurity and emergencies
27. Weird Barbie won me over in the 'Barbie' movie ~ Childhood memories and mother-daughter arguments came flashing back while watching my childhood hobby
26. That time he spoke my love language ~ When my college crush proved he understood ‘Quality Time’
25. Want a tattoo? Wait until you’re 30 ~ What melanin-rich people need to know about tattoos, tattoo removal
24. Bridezillas and Groomzillas may or may not appear ... But should wedding insurance be purchased regardless?
23. Should you get wedding insurance to fight against fraud? ~ Rob Nuccio of WedSure: 'Change of Heart' wedding insurance, insurance fraud
22. Even if allergic to latex, there are other condom options ~ Avoid the excuses, stock up for safe sex
21. The Keke Palmer breakup celebration is making me cringe ~ Not all single women want to see other women be single
20. Should graduation celebrating be banned? ~ The Philadelphia High School for Girls versus my 8th grade graduation
19. Marriage and money: When should women talk about it? ~ Best practices for women discussing marriage while dating, retirement planning
18. Erotica fiction will never be my cup of tea ~ And it took a Judy Blume book special for me to finally narrow down why
17. I need to talk to my weed guy ~ Because I never won the Olympics like Tara Davis-Woodhall or Sha’Carri Richardson
16. When did men twerking become gay? ~ And other problems I have with the Fun Police for men
15. ‘R&B Money’ podcast brings back my fangirl days of Immature ~ The podcast I didn’t know I needed to show respect to R&B legends
14. Respectfully, you must be really bad at sex ~ No, tampons are not equal to penetration
13. Blueface and Chrisean Rock are the car crash I won’t look away from ~ My own volatile relationships keep making me hope Chrisean walks away
12. Chris Rock: Women-hating men will never understand Will Smith ~ Why ‘Selective Outrage’ further confirms Chris Rock is bitter about women
11. Men versus women: Why do men hate single-women songs so much? ~ Silence in marriage, celebration of singles
10. If you enjoy firing people, please don’t work in HR ~ “Roy’s Job Fair” brought up two types of HR people —only one of which we need more of
9. Does heartbreak really feel like this? ~ The one relationship story my father was tickled by
8. Is outing a cheater on social media worth it? ~ “Love Is Blind”: Why are these TikTok girls getting 15 minutes of fame off S.K.?
7. AMC, read the room and avoid ticket price changes ~ What movie theater companies did not figure out from social isolation
6. Is it OK for your mom to be your wingwoman? ~ Erykah Badu’s thirst trap post with her daughter: Yay or nay?
5. Be grateful for the company that fired you ~ The nightmare for-profit company that reduced clothing waste and wasted my time
4. Fighting over a man? Hard pass ~ The Cardi B logic I agreed with in my 20s but not beyond
3. 24 free fitness videos to get you active indoors ~ Creating a social isolation exercise video playlist
2. Why single people need a will, too ~ Don’t blow off writing a will — even if you’re childless
1. His friend died of AIDS, but he still believes AIDS isn’t real ~ Why contraception talks should happen more than sex
©2008 Shamontiel L. Vaughn | All rights reserved
