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The Highlighter #177: When Best Isn’t Enough 🎓

Posted on by Mark Isero

Happy Thursday! I’m happy to report that our reading community continues to grow. For the second week in a row, last week’s issue was the most popular in Highlighter history. Thank you to new subscribers, old subscribers, and everyone in between!

One reason we’re becoming stronger is that we’re having more dialogue about the articles. If you want to share your thoughts, email me, leave a voice memo, follow The Highlighter Forum, or join our WhatsApp group chat. I’d love to hear from you!

You’re going to enjoy this week’s issue, which includes articles on college surveillance, the #MeToo movement, our racist health care system, and the perils of sunscreen and cauliflower puffs. If you don’t have two hours to read everything, I recommend you peruse “When Being the Valedictorian Isn’t Enough,” which will evoke alternating emotions of anger and despair. (You’re free to have other feelings, too.) Have a great week!

When Being the Valedictorian Isn’t Enough

We know that hard work and good grades don’t always guarantee upward mobility and the American Dream. But surely valedictorians do well in life, right? Sort of—if you went to a suburban high school. But if you graduated top of your class at a Boston public school, most likely things didn’t pan out. This Boston Globe special report follows 113 valedictorians and tells their stories through articles, photos, videos, data, and next steps. (~60 min)

+ Start by reading “An Epidemic of Untapped Potential.” You’ll meet Michael Blackwood, who got into Boston College on a full scholarship, felt lost on campus, had to drop out, and now makes $30,000 a year, at age 30.

+ Alert: You’ll want to click on everything, but The Boston Globe has a tight paywall. Choose wisely—or subscribe (99 cents for 4 weeks).

Big Data Helps Colleges Predict Whether You’re Going to Graduate

Maybe those Boston valedictorians would have succeeded had they attended Georgia State University. GSU predicts how likely its students will graduate by tracking their academic progress, financial status, and 800 other data points. The results are positive: The graduation rate has risen to 55%, up 7% since 2012, and GSU now awards degrees to more Black students than any other university in the nation. But the program’s surveillance raises privacy concerns and changes students’ course schedules if the computer deems them too challenging. (18 min)

Loyal reader Monica loves her husband and all five of her wonderful human children, but puppy Zuzu is now Monica’s favorite family member. Want your pet to achieve large amounts of fame? hltr.co/pets

Being a Black Woman Means Doctors and Nurses Think You’re Incompetent

In America, far too many Black women die giving birth. Far too many Black babies die before their first birthday. When Tressie McMillan Cottom, a college professor and bestselling author of Thick: And Other Essays, complained of pains and bleeding late in her pregnancy, doctors didn’t believe she might be in labor. Instead, they scolded her, calling her too fat and too loud. The result was tragic. (8 min)

#MeToo From Below

Critics of last Saturday’s Women’s March argue that mainstream feminism does not adequately embrace issues of race and class and does not include the experiences of trans-women. In this essay, Madeline Lane-McKinley attacks the capitalist roots of Lean In feminism and wonders whether the #MeToo movement will break “the silent ceiling,” growing t

Is Sunscreen the New Margarine?

Slather on sunscreen, loyal readers, or risk skin cancer. But be sure to get enough sunlight, or else you’ll be deficient in Vitamin D, increasing your chances for cancer, diabetes, and stroke. So many health decisions! Lower your anxiety and read this article, which reminds us that the sun is good for us, and that dying from skin cancer is very rare. (15 min)

Cauliflower Puffs Aren’t Good For You

You heard it here first: Vegetable-themed snacks are not good for you. No matter how charming Vegan Rob is, the main ingredient of his Probiotic Cauliflower Puffs is not cauliflower. Also, please don’t think you’re making a healthy choice when you reach for Fiery Hot Peatos instead of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. If you want a chip, grab a chip. (Whatever you do, don’t wash it down with juice.) (10 min)

Thank you for reading today’s issue of The Highlighter! Hit reply or use the thumbs below to tell me what you thought. Also, let’s welcome this week’s 18 new subscribers: Shana, Cait, Jan, Elian, Robert, Xuan-Vu, Nicole, Jesse, and 10 others. If you like The Highlighter, please encourage a friend to subscribe. The best way is to keep talking about the newsletter nonstop until they succumb. Or if you want to do even more, become a VIP member! On the other hand, if you don’t have time for The Highlighter, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!

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Introducing Spotlights

Posted on by Mark Isero

Sometimes I hear from readers, “Why don’t you organize issues based on topics?” It’s a great idea, no doubt. But my inclination is always to prioritize the best writing each week, rather than trying to collect pretty-good writing around a common theme.

But long-time subscribers know that I really like following topics over time. For instance, you know that I like featuring articles on desegregation and white supremacy—not to mention the perils of fruit juice. If you keep reading The Highlighter, you’ll see that I’m following a topic over the course of several issues. It’s like the writers are talking to each other, and we get to enjoy their conversation.

But what if you want all the best articles, all in one place? This got me thinking about bringing together the best articles on a given subject, all together in one collection. I’m calling this new feature “Spotlights.” (It’s not a bad name, right? 😀)

My goal with Spotlights is to give you just the 5-10 very best articles that have appeared in The Highlighter about a common topic. This means that once I create a Spotlight, I’ll keep curating the list—adding and subtracting articles, maybe even putting them in a different order.

If you want to go deep on an issue—if you really want to build your background knowledge, to get a sense of what people have been writing about a topic over the last couple years—Spotlight is for you.

Check out my first Spotlight, “Dieting, Body Positivity, and Fat Shaming.” If you click on an item, you’ll read my blurb and continue on to read the article.

I’m not sure how often these Spotlights will come out, but I’m excited about them, and I hope you are, too. Please let me know what you think in the comments!

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The Highlighter #176: The Weight I Carry

Posted on by Mark Isero

Happy Thursday, loyal readers, and welcome! Last week’s Highlighter was the most popular issue ever. Thank you for reading the articles, sending me your thoughts, submitting pet photos, and suggesting topics to follow. This reading community is a strong one!

This week’s issue includes articles on spirituality, Afrocentric schools, and burnout. They’re all excellent. But if you have time to read just one, I recommend “The Weight I Carry,” which explores the turmoil of daily life of a 460-pound man.

+ Pop-Up Article Club: 3 slots left! Want to read and discuss a great article in person with other Highlighter subscribers? Eight of us will gather on Feb. 10, 2-4 pm, at The Highlighter Retreat Center in Oakland. Let me know if you’re interested in signing up or if you have questions about this new endeavor!

The Weight I Carry

Tommy Tomlinson weighs 460 pounds. He writes, “I’m the biggest human being most people who know me have ever met, or ever will.” Tommy gets scared riding the subway, fearing a sudden jolt will cause him to fall on top of another passenger. He arrives at restaurants early so he can scope out seats that will handle his weight. The veins in his legs can’t push blood back to his heart. Now 50 years old, Tommy has never learned to swim or hiked a mountain. “I’ve missed out on so many adventures, so many good times, because I was too fat to try.” (22 min)

+ Share your story. No matter our weight, many of us have felt shame about our bodies. What are you doing to approach your body with greater love and acceptance? Email me, leave a message, or join our WhatsApp chat.

+ Check out more articles on dieting, body positivity, and fat shaming.

Land Not Theirs: Confronting Religion’s Role in Oppressing Black Women

While visiting over holiday break, college student Madison Davis realizes that her family’s spiritual beliefs no longer match her own. Though she grew up in the Black Church and acknowledges its crucial role in the Black community, Ms. Davis abhors how Christianity served to subjugate Black people and how the Bible was used to defend slavery. Now Ms. Davis finds herself exploring the occult, focusing on meditation in order to create magic. (28 min)

‘I Love My Skin!’ Why Black Parents Are Turning to Afrocentric Schools

Nikole Hannah-Jones (#125) and Gary Orfield and many other leading thinkers believe that integrating schools is the only way to achieve equitable outcomes for students across race. But not all Black parents feel this way. This article explains the rise in popularity of Afrocentric schools in New York City. “I love myself,” one student said. “I love my hair, I love my skin!” (9 min)

This Is What Black Burnout Feels Like

Last week’s lead article on millennial burnout was extremely popular and challenged readers past pat, stereotypical notions of the generation. But some of you found author Anne Helen Petersen (white, middle-class) out of touch. Here’s Tiana Clark’sresponse: “No matter the movement or era, being burned out has been the steady state of black people in this country for hundreds of years.” (10 min)

+ Podcast Update: When I featured “79” as one of last year’s best three articles (see #173), naturally I wanted to speak to author Brian Broome. Good news: He’s on the latest episode of The Highlighter Podcast! In the interview, Brian talks about how he became a writer in rehab, how the first piece of writing he submitted got published, and how “79” began as a rant against white supremacy. We also explore the effects of capitalism and white supremacy on Black people and the perils of respectability politics. Please take a listen!

Thank you for reading today’s issue of The Highlighter! Please hit reply or use the thumbs below to tell me what you thought. Also, let’s welcome this week’s 15 new subscribers: Gladys, Jason, Jesse, Alisa, Minnie, Peter and 9 others. If you like The Highlighter, the best thing you can do is to encourage a friend to subscribe. You can forward them this issue, send them this link, or urge them in person. If that’s too much, leave a kind word! Or if you want to do more, become a VIP member! If you don’t think this newsletter is for you anymore, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!

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Podcast #41: Brian Broome, “79”

Posted on by Mark Isero
Photo by Nathan J Shaulis / Porter Loves Photography www.porterloves.com

When I featured “79” as one of last year’s best three articles (see Issue #173), naturally I wanted to speak to author Brian Broome. He graciously accepted the invitation, and I’m honored to present our conversation to you, loyal Highlighter Podcast listeners!

In the interview, Brian talks about how he became a writer in rehab, how the first piece of writing he submitted got published, and how “79” began as a rant against white supremacy. We also explore the effects of capitalism and white supremacy on Black people and the perils of respectability politics.

If you haven’t read “79” yet, do so now! and then come back to listen to our conversation. Also, you’ll want to check out more of Mr. Broome’s writing, so head on over to brianbroome.com.

 

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode. Leave a comment below! If you’re valuing this podcast, please write a review at Apple Podcasts. Thank you very much for listening!

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The Highlighter #175: Millennials Are Burned Out

Posted on by Mark Isero

Happy Thursday, loyal readers, and welcome! I get to work with teachers, which makes me happy, and a few weeks ago, one of my colleagues, who is in her mid-20s, told me something that got me thinking. She said, “I know how to work hard. That’s not the problem. It’s just that I don’t want to work hard all the time.” That sentiment is at the heart of today’s lead article, “How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation.” I can’t wait until you read it. It’ll get you to think, no matter which generation you claim.

+ Announcing: Pop-Up Article Club! Want to read and discuss a great article in person with other Highlighter subscribers? Eight of us will gather on Feb. 10, 2-4 pm, at The Highlighter Retreat Center in Oakland. Email me if you’re interested in signing up or if you have questions about this new endeavor!

How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation

A year ago (#124), I featured the article, “Millennials Are Screwed,” which challenged stereotypical notions that millennials are lazy and spend too much money on avocado toast. This provocative article by Anne Helen Petersen offers a theory about why millennials have trouble doing errands, registering to vote, and preparing food. They’re burned out from adulting because they’ve spent all their energy optimizing their lives. (34 min)

+ Let’s talk about this article, don’t you think? I know you have opinions! You can email me, leave a voice memo, or join the group chat on WhatsApp.

Children of the Unabomber

Go ahead, delete your Facebook account. But doing so won’t prevent your dependence on technology. No amount of minimalism or tidying up will slow down the effects of capitalism and the industrial world. (Besides, you like your iPhone!) The only remedy — according to anti-civ advocates, eco-extremists, and followers of Ted Kaczynski, who sent bombs to scientists 23 years ago — is to blow everything up. If we don’t, there’s no hope against climate change, and we’ll continue living in The Matrix. (33 min)

The Costs of the Confederacy

More than 1,500 monuments remain standing to honor the Confederacy. They’re not free, and not all of them are privately funded. Over the past 10 years, Southern states have charged their residents $40 million in taxes to maintain these monuments and to support groups that promote white supremacy. An example: Mississippi fourth graders go on field trips to learn “the honest truth, that slavery was good and bad,” that the Civil War wasn’t fought over slavery, and that slave owners “loved their slaves” and ”treated them like family.” (24 min)

Marie Kondo Sparks Dread

Everyone seems to be watching “Tidying Up” on Netflix, and I proudly announce that I’m on Episode 5. Except not everyone agrees that Marie Kondo(#51, #65, #101) sparks joy. In this review, Rosemarie Ho challenges Ms. Kondo’s approach. What if an item is useful but doesn’t spark joy? Isn’t clutter also the preservation of memory? (8 min)

Thank you for reading today’s issue of The Highlighter! Please hit reply or use the thumbs below to tell me what you thought. Also, let’s welcome this week’s 14 new subscribers: Miguel, Natalie, Daniel, Tim, Jonathan, Justin, Kent, and 7 others via Stoop. At this rate, we’ll have 1,000 loyal readers in no time!

If you like The Highlighter, the most supportive thing you can do is to encourage a friend to subscribe. You can forward them this issue, send them this link, or urge them in person. If that’s too much, leave a kind word! If you don’t think this newsletter is for you anymore, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!