LaTonya Yvette, self-portrait

Her clear writing and clever initiatives make LaTonya Yvette a welcome voice in discussions about race, motherhood, style and community. Her new book, Stand in My Window: Meditations on Home and How We Make It, explores the concept of home not just as a physical space, but as a reflection of one's identity, cultural heritage, and aspirations. 

Recently she talked with Rachel Cargle about the intersection of domestic life and social justice. 

RACHEL CARGLE

'You say that homemaking is not a response to anything. Instead, it is something inherent to how we show up to life. I was going to ask how homemaking is a response to the polycrisis that Black, Indigenous and people of color are facing. To respect what you’ve said, I’ll instead ask you this instead: How has homemaking been a medicine in these times of desperation?'

LATONYA YVETTE

"There you go, it’s medicinal. I’m trying to move away from resiliency as a badge of honor. I think we’re so used to Black people being in response to what whiteness has done or how it has harmed us. 

"I can give imagery on how this shows up for me: Sonya Massey was killed in her apartment in July [by two Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies who responded to Massey’s 911 call about a possible prowler at her home]. Four days later, I still went on and had the birthday party I had planned before the news of her murder. People danced in my living room and danced in my backyard. I saw people in my house, all different kinds of people, and I was blasting music, and I was dancing. Having people in my living room is not only something that I know how to do, it’s something we [Black women] know how to do: create a safe space. It was medicinal for me and for everybody else. It wasn’t about getting tougher or pushing against anything, it actually was just about coming together to heal one another."

ARTICLE: LaTonya Yvette and Rachel Cargle on Reclaiming Rituals of Home