Laquesha Bailey
22 years old literally, about 87 at heart. I write about self care, university life, money, music, books and whatever else that piques my interest.
@laqueshabailey
The Intersection of Black Femininity and Queerness
I grew up curious and queer. Out of place amidst the expectations of a violently heteronormative and denominational country. When I got accepted to attend an all-girls secondary school, I distinctly remember family members joking: "Don't become a lesbian. We'll disown you." Haha, super funny. This was the early 2000s when being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community was still something you whispered about in hushed tones and hid relentlessly from your family and friends. There was virtually no queer representation in the media and even less so for those who happened to be queer and black (at the same time!).
Laquesha BaileyPublished 8 days ago in Beat
The Summer I Spent Alone
A crisis. Havoc. All at once, alone. Advice defined, doors sealed, the virus raged. When ‘shy’ is default, silence feels as home,
Laquesha BaileyPublished 12 days ago in Poets
Tropical Time Loop
This place has no four seasons, solely days That weave and bleed beneath the beating sun. Harsh light, sweat-lined limbs, briny to the taste,
Laquesha BaileyPublished 15 days ago in Poets
Why Girlboss Feminists Make Us Nauseous
Not long ago, fitness influencer Grace Beverley (formerly known under the moniker GraceFitUk) released her highly anticipated debut book entitled Working Hard, Hardly Working: How to achieve more, stress less and feel fulfilled. The book claims to give insight into the productivity hacks and management strategies that launched Grace into the forefront of entrepreneurial success.
Laquesha BaileyPublished 20 days ago in Journal
Infographic Activism on Instagram is Performative and Weird
The idea for this post started rumbling at the back of my mind almost a year ago. I was browsing through Instagram, as one does when trapped indoors with nothing better to do owing to a disease ravaging the world. After some mindless clicking, I stumbled upon an infographic that one of my friends had reposted to her stories. It warned against the “whitewashing” of characters in animated TV and included a picture of Yue, a character with stark white hair and blue eyes from the Nickelodeon animated series Avatar the Last Airbender. Immediately, I DMed my friend to point out the incorrectness of the graphic she had shared.
Laquesha BaileyPublished 24 days ago in Journal
Was Thanos Right About Saving Earth?
The most memorable antagonists are the ones that make you reconsider your position on an issue. They are not evil for evil's sake but operate from a moral compass that, while unpopular, is entirely understandable and at least partially agreeable. In this regard, Thanos stands out. If you are unfamiliar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Thanos (huge purple dude, weird chin) is an overarching villain who first makes an appearance in the first Avengers movie in a post-credits scene. His presence remains enigmatic as the heroes move from film to film, but as the universe expands, the audience is able to piece together little nuggets of information about him.
Laquesha BaileyPublished about a month ago in EarthExploring My Teen Angst Using Overused Music Stock Photos
When I graduated from fifth form, my school organized a dance for everyone in my year to celebrate the momentous occasion. The idea of this event terrified me because my name and 'dancing' really shouldn't be anywhere near each other, but I went anyway for fear of missing out on "the time of my life." Awkwardly wobbling about in 6-inch heels, I made my way to the Hilton hotel, clad in a bedazzled peach gown that I most definitely didn't have the chest for. I prepared myself to have a glorious night, or at the very least, pretend that I did. However, when I arrived, I spent the evening subjected to death glares from another girl in my year, someone I had spoken to maybe once or twice in the five years that I had attended secondary school. Coincidentally, we had worn the same dress: mine in brilliant peach and hers in an illustrious grey. Different colours, but still self-evidently the same dress.
Laquesha BaileyPublished about a month ago in Beat
Can Writers Be Apolitical?
Short answer: no. No, they cannot. Long answer: it's a little more complicated than that. I find discussions of politics to be incredibly fascinating. Maybe it's because I study in a program heavily based on politics and write about current affairs every day. Growing up, I was privy to a phrase that rings in my ears to this day. Three things you never talk about: money, politics and religion. I have to say, even as a child, I thought this was a weird turn of phrase. On the smörgåsbord of interesting conversational topics, why is politics off limit? What about politics triggers our delicate sensibilities and makes such topics untenable?
Laquesha BaileyPublished 2 months ago in The Swamp
