Jeff I. Moore, founder of www.EverydayPowerBlog.com, was kind enough to publish my essay about my experiences with rejection. http://everydaypowerblog.com/2016/06/19/how-to-not-give-up-on-your-dreams-after-years-of-rejection/

Why is the person who has been raped granted less consideration than the convicted rapist? This (most recent) Stanford rape case exposes society's refusal to define rape as a crime, especially when the rapist is a winning athlete, all-American type or popular or wealthy or powerful or famous or projects some other superficial trait that too often trumps judging their actions according to high benchmarks of ethics, honor and decency. The convicted rapist's letter made me think he was a narcissist at best or a sociopath at worst. Emily Doe's Every Woman's letter made me cheer for her grit and courage.  

The concept of  "white privilege" usually generates vigorous debate and push-back about whether such a thing even exists. For me as an adult, the phrase makes me think about the unconscious expectations of automatic inclusion and representation in everyday life because during my childhood picture books (#WeNeedDiverseBooks & #1000blackgirlbooks says it's still true today.), posters, and the people shown in picture frames didn't look like I looked. It took years for me to understand the trickle-down effects of exclusion as a form of rejection of the equal intrinsic value of some people's existence while still feeling entitled to those rejected people's consumer dollars and brand loyalty. Inclusion and representation have always been important to human beings. Consider primitive cave drawings, burial masks, and ancient statuary. Having one's existence positively acknowledged is a sign of invitation, welcome, respect and admiration. It's posi...