humanity

Humanity begins at home.

The Vault
The Vault Dad looked proud, although it was all mom’s idea, and as I held open the trunk of the car he gave me a wink that told me we had joined the ranks of all the normal families in the neighborhood. I had the feeling that dad felt disturbed being the head of the only family on the block still watching television on a black-and-white set, but mom had told us each time we requested the upgrade, “Some people are color blind, and they’re not ashamed.” But we were ashamed, my father and I, and although the world was alive with color, our home was all gray. I noticed a brief expression of disappointment on his face when the trunk closed easily over the great cardboard box. He was looking forward to the neighbors seeing us drive through the neighborhood with our trunk tied open, bringing home our new TV.
By Chris Keyser6 years ago in Families
Aiesha's Blessing
Aiesha’s Blessing Written by Patricia Lewis FADE IN: AIESHA (young black girl) recently graduated from high school and is living with her aunt TERESA (young black woman).
By Pat Lewis6 years ago in Families
A Whole New World
When I think of my hometown, I can’t help but to think of Princess Jasmine in the movie Aladdin. Princess Jasmine was so used to being sheltered by her dad and seeing the same things every single day. When Aladdin came in the picture and took her on the magic carpet ride she was so amazed. It was as if the audience could feel the excitement and the adrenaline running through her system as they sang “a whole new world, that’s where we’ll be.” Seeing Princess Jasmine’s eyes gleam as she took a look at the world around her for the very first time on the magic carpet ride was immensely relatable. I could relate so much to Princess Jasmine because when I moved from my hometown the Dominican Republic at the tiny age of 5 to the east side of the United States a lot changed. Like Princess Jasmine, I began to grow up as a very sheltered and protected child. I got use to my routine that consisted of school, home, and hanging out with only the highest and most pristinely back ground checked friends. When I say back ground check, I mean my parents had to meet them and their parents a couple of times for them to make the cut. No longer could I just walk up to my friends house and ask if they were home. That is not how America worked and America slowly became what I knew. I was transferring from a little islander to a little suburban. Little did I know, if I was similar to Princess Jasmine, I too had a magic carpet in my near future. The only difference was my magic carpet was in the form of a U.S passport. I would soon be reconnected with the grounds my feet touched first, with the air my lungs breathed first. I would soon be with most of the people that held, fed, and watched me first. It was amazing to know I had so many first there...and it wasn’t my last.
By N.tti6 years ago in Families
New England Neighborhoods
My hometown is located on the sleepy southeastern Connecticut (SECT) shoreline, best known for the quaint historic fishing town of Mystic. You remember Julia Roberts' 1988 breakthrough role in Mystic Pizza, right? The one where she played Daisy, the fun-loving pizza parlor waitress, opposite her on-screen sister Kat, the aspiring astronomer and rising Yale freshman? Maybe not. We here in SECT like to think you do—it makes us feel relevant.
By Melissa de la Cruz6 years ago in Families
Chatham-Kent
This place is smokestacks and sunsets. Silhouettes and silos. Unpaved roads and tiny little houses. Bales of hay and picturesque boardwalks and muddy little footprints at the bottom of your stairs.
By Colin Pattison6 years ago in Families
Our Village
My very first memory in our yellow house in Brooklyn is sitting crisscross applesauce on the floor in an empty living room, facing a small boxy silver television. This was 1998 and I was five.
By Allegra Louise6 years ago in Families
Home Has No Bounds
Everyone seems obsessed with having a physical home to return to? As if having a place to show up to will make sure you get back to it every night. Why does it matter that you’ve been in the same place for ten years, sounds a little boring to me.
By Nunchi Goya6 years ago in Families
Cracks and Crevices
There was a spider web in the corner of the room shrouding with shadow and black. The light was diminishing so that the other corners could also be filled with darkness. It was like the corners were it’s source, and the color bled into the rest of the room, even though I knew it was just the absence of light. The fragile trap set by the spider looked stiff and unmoving. If you took a picture, you’d think it was silent, and you’d be right.
By Moses F. Merino6 years ago in Families
February 3, 2020
It smelled different. There it was, his usual place, and hers right beside it, where they left the water and the food. She followed as he walked over there. He bowed his head, and grazed the bottom of the empty water bowl with his nose. Her tail brushed by him as she sunk into the bed, where the weathered rubber toy and tennis ball lay just as she had left it. He joined her. Above them, a hand turned the tap and warm water flowed out, hitting the ground and trickling into a gentle stream away from them. Then, they rose and drank. It was their place, still.
By Sophia Bower6 years ago in Families
How Does this Work?
For weeks I have seen commercials for this site called vocal and wondered, "what on earth is this platform?" They say it's a way to make money by telling your stories. My question to that is, "what stories are they wanting to know?" I want to figure out what exactly this platform is? So, here I am. Are you still reading this? My name is Anthony I come from the Midwest. I live in the Kansas City, Missouri Metro area. Yes, Missouri, not Kansas. The reason why I say that is because even that jackass (Donald Trump), who use to be in office, mistakes us as Kansas. When our Football Team, the Kansas City Chief's won the Super Bowl last year when he congratulated the great state of "Kansas" for their Super Bowl victory the previous year. Any consolation, we made shirts to commemorate "Kansas's Victory" in quick fashion as a middle finger for those who don't know how to read a geographical map. Anyway, I have been in Missouri for 20 plus years since my mother moved us here due to my parents splitting when I was about nine years old. And I have been here ever since.
By Anthony Anthem6 years ago in Families
Switching Lenses . Top Story - February 2021.
"Grab the tea & have a seat next to me, you see this picture right here?" "Let me see." My niece said as she sat down to take a look at what I was holding. "That's the good ole country baby. Now, most folks 'round the world think when you're from Louisiana you're automatically from the big Easy or New Orleans, and that just ain't whats all to the "boot". You see there's a lot of culture, knowledge, and hidden gems, from the pull-strap of the boot all the way down to the heel, crawling over to the toe, and back up the vamp of the boot! Louisiana has a lot of trees and a lot of land with roots going all the way back since before the purchase!".
By Delexia White6 years ago in Families
Smoke, Fog and Nostalgia
Small town life isn't for everyone, but it does have a certain sort of beauty and comfort. You know your neighbors and have explored every inch of terrain. It's your home and if ever a place felt like a hug, that's it. To me that hug was just a little too tight and got tighter every day. Now I have the Wanderlust in me, but I'll always feel nostalgia for that little slice of town; Scappoose, OR.
By Crystal Cronin6 years ago in Families