Neha Sampat

What It Means to Be American: My Journey from “Other” to “Us” (Originally published on July 4, 2018)

I’m still lifted by Benito’s performance. My soul needed what he gave us more than I even realized. He helped us all expand our view of what it means to be American and made me think back to my essay on that topic. Posted it yesterday in my Substack. Hope you will check it out, subscribe, and share!

A Holier Trinity A poem for Alex Pretti

open.substack.com/pub/nehauner...

Seriously. And in our culture, cousins are called and treated as siblings, so it really is his aunt. Sheesh.

These Bay Area restaurants are offering free meals for SNAP recipients during the shutdown A growing wave of Bay Area restaurants will provide free meals to people on federal food assistance when SNAP benefits run out Nov. 1.

Please Note: As of now, the majority of SF Bay Area restaurants that plan to offer free or reduced-priced meals to families who will lose #SNAP benefits are owned by ethnic minorities. There are TONS of eateries across the SFBA: are white owners pitching in, too?🧐 www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaur...

Using acrylic markers to create a painting: #AGoodPlace

Source: www.reddit.com/r/DamnThatsR...

I know we’re all Online (probably chronically) but what truly makes me sad is that this still isn’t the tipping point. And I have no idea what it will take for the average American to wake the fuck up to what’s going on.

This. And in my personal network, I’m noticing who tends to speak up and who doesn’t. And let me just say that those of the unmelanated variety tend to be quieter and pull a Homer.

Question for the white liberals who have written columns praising Charlie Kirk in the name of "free speech."

Where are you columns actually DEFENDING THE FREE SPEECH of people who are being fired for [checks notes] quoting Charlie Kirk? (Which most of you white praisers didn't have the guts to do)

When I was placed on the Professor Watchlist in 2021, people sent death threats about my children. I had security officers monitor my 8yo at school.

Where is all the outrage for those of us who have been targeted for years? Where is the outrage for our families?

My own colleagues are silent.

They went from blaming Black Folks to blaming the LGBTQ Community to blaming Jewish Folks for Charlie Kirk being murdered…by a fellow white supremacist.

🗣️🗣️🗣️Are you non-marginalized allies paying attention? I mean are you really paying attention?

We need y’all to get your shit together for 2026.

Returned here after a long break to find this lovely post. It’s my poem, “Legacy,” published in the stunning @thebkmagazine.bsky.social!

A photo of my poem in the book, which says “The Sparrows Shake Me, Wake Me After Mary Oliver M.S. Marquart   My body and I have endured a thousand humiliations; I was crying at the most recent, when suddenly a house sparrow swooped past my window, landing in the soil below. Then like lightning it flew onto a tree branch, trading places with its fellow. The winged messenger quickly drew my eyes to dozens of sparrows, brown bodies flitting from tree to tree, rolling in the earth, hopping in the tall grass, black beaks pecking at invisible treasures, voices chirping incessantly.      I realized that the winter’s bare branches had sprouted leaves, that the magnolias and cherry blossoms in the distance were starting to bloom, that daffodils and crocuses were springing up, bunches of hope.    You do not need to be able-bodied to merit a share in the joys of life. You can be disabled, struggle through each day, unable to leave home, unable to work, unable to be physically present for loved ones’ birthdays, recitals, graduations, weddings -- and you can still taste nature’s beauty and delights.   Outside the open window: bright clouds floating in a sunny blue sky, intensified leaf and petal colors on grey days, luscious floral scents drifting on the breeze, a carpet of green ferns swaying in the wind like ocean waves.   The sparrows’ demanding cheeping, peeping, shrieking shout at me, as if to shake me, wake me out of a haze, remind me that the world’s love is for every creature, as we float through the cosmos together.”

A photo of the cover of the book, which says “Beyond the Veil Press In Praise of Despair disability pride poetry, essay, & art anthology” The cover is set on a disability pride flag as the background, with diagonal stripes in muted red, yellow, white, blue, green, and charcoal gray. There’s an image of two hands making a heart with their thumbs and pointer fingers; one hand is an x-ray of a hand and the other hand is a white hand. Behind the white hand, there is a letter sealed with a heart that has a medical heartbeat symbol running across the middle. This artwork is by Raika Sailing.

A flyer for the book, which says “IN PRAISE OF DESPAIR Disability Pride Anthology Available Now @BEYONDTHEVEILPRESS” and includes an image of the book cover and the Beyond the Veil Press logo Mr. Bitey (designed by Josiah Callaway), which looks like the head of a smiling black cat, all in a pale yellow box on top of the disability pride flag.

I’m delighted to share that my poem “The Sparrows Shake Me, Wake Me” was published in Beyond the Veil Press’s new disability pride poetry, essay, & art anthology, In Praise of Despair.

To purchase: a.co/d/jiG0Rqg

#crippoetry #crippower #DiabilityPride #disabledpoets #disabilitypoetry #poetry

Chronically ill? I HOPE YOU LIKE PAPERWORK

Background image is the cover art by Amuri Morris featuring a woman in a blue heavy gown crouches with her pet wolf sitting behind her. The subject is in a vast forest with bits of bright blue sky peaking through. Behind her a gold portal opens to another world of flames and a burning city. Text overlaid is the excerpt from the piece. Text at the bottom says Read more in The B'K Magazine, Volume 16, Issue 2!

CW: ableism (critiqued)

According to some, we will live in silver cities, and we will have saved the bees, so hills will shine, carpets of flowers will grow, and suburbs will be walkable.

Read more by Ella T Holmes in The B'K Magazine, Volume 16, Issue 2: www.talbot-heindl.com/bitchin_kitsch

Too many people treat the chronically ill person in their life appalling, and then turn around and expect help when they become sick themselves.

I will always help when someone asks, but consider at least owning your prior gaslighting, ghosting & ableism. Admit you didn’t “get it”.

All those "Showing gratitude increases mental wellbeing!" studies you hear about: how many of them control for actually having something to feel grateful about? Seems to me that would be the more crucial component, no?

What is the diagnosis when mental health providers traumatize you to the point of mental illness?

Asking for a zillion melanated and marginalized friends.

Want to support disability justice? Start by listening to disabled people. Then, actually *believe* what they tell you.

Martyr!

Exactly this. I lodged a complaint, and the medical director harmed me the same way as the doctor about whom I was complaining.

Thank you for sharing yourself and Molly with us. I read your post and feel so grateful for your courage and the example of big-heartedness Molly gave us and still gives us.

Wherever there is yt supremacy, there is a Desi chamcha operating as its soldier. For shame!!

Every year during US/CA Black History Month I see white people going viral talking about it.

But way fewer Black folks going viral.

I know it’s the algorithm, I’m not blaming anyone! But do take a moment to think, am I seeking out Black voices?

Here are 10 Black creator Starter Packs to start ⬇️

Holding our reps and one another accountable is a cornerstone of true democracy. Righteous rage is a cornerstone of justice. So stop shaming me for not being quiet, nice, cooperative, and polite.

Better yet, follow their leads, and amplify their insights.

This right here.

A witch hunt has begun at the FBI. Employees are required to provide information by Tuesday and are being encouraged to report on their coworkers. The FBI questionnaire asks agents about their roles in various cases, including whether they made arrests or appeared in court, among other details.

Giving access to SSNs, other data on government employees to non-employees like Musk is a violation of 5 USC 552a, and carries with it a penalty of $1000 per person whose data was accessed. We are building a case. Govt employees who want to participate should contact me directly

Jasmine Crockett: "The problem is that Americans thought it was okay to take a full fledged criminal and make him the President of the US and then they want to act aghast when he does criminal things. Let me tell you, we have a thug in charge of the US and if we don't wake up we may not have a US"