Hi friends,

It's been a while since we last corresponded this way. After 19 months of unemployment, I've found myself in this position again.

Some of you may already be familiar with me, while others might be reading my name for the first time. I am a longtime culture journalist that has written for many different publications such as The New York Times, Washington Post, Harper's Bazaar, Elle and many others. I was most recently staffed as a Senior Culture Reporter at HuffPost. Throughout my professional journalism career, I have experienced four layoffs. Each time was different yet equally devastating. I remember the 2008 recession, which was horrific, but this current one seems seismic in the way that is compounded by *gestures broadly and frantically* everything else going on in our social and political landscape. Add to that, AI-processed job applications, ghost jobs, defunding of both culture and culture reporting/criticism, etc.

I say that all to say, I have now reached a point where I must depend on, to borrow Blanche DuBois' famous line, "the kindness of strangers." To be honest, I'm a bit humiliated and sad to admit that, and I recognize that I am far from the only Black woman in this situation right now. To any who might be reading this right now, I see you.

With my bank account on its way to depletion and with very few paid assignments and no full-time job prospects for the rest of this year, I am looking for a little support to get me through these next few bill cycles.

Thank you for taking the time to read and/or share this—and any help you can provide.