Early Discipline and Academic Foundation Anita Crusoe’s story begins in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she attended South Side High School. Driven and academically ambitious, Anita graduated at just 16 years old, completing enough credits to finish as a junior. By attending summer school to take advanced courses, she intentionally accelerated her academic path while maintaining a demanding schedule as a three-sport athlete in volleyball, basketball, and track. This early pattern—discipline,...

The United Hates of America: From the Perspective of a Black Woman I once wrote a paper titled "The United Hates of America." It wasn’t meant to shock—it was meant to tell the truth, a truth that’s as old as America itself. It’s a harsh reality for some to accept, but for others—including myself—it’s a lived experience. The one issue all Americans seem to unite on is hate—historically and currently. Where’s the lie? As a Black woman in America, I see and feel this truth every day. Hate isn’t...

When it comes to the conversation on violence in America, Black women often go unmentioned, ignored, and unprotected. Despite the harsh reality that no group in this country has had to endure what we have, people are quick to center debates on “Black-on-Black crime.” This narrative is designed to deflect accountability and dismiss the structural inequalities we face. Here’s the truth: “Black-on-Black crime” is a myth designed to silence and shame Black communities. Crime overwhelmingly occurs...