BNP Testimonies: Walking Through Fire

In response to the staggering election results in which many members of marginalized communities experienced how disconnected they were from their fellow citizens as the country elected bigotry and hatred; Black Nerd Problems put out the call to hear how people were coping. Here is a collection of short essays on what we’re doing, just to get by. The Threat: Lauryn Tillman / Twitter: @Blaquestarr/Instagram: @Blaquestarr Black cis-gendered woman who knows she is a threat simply by existing as Black and Female. A week before the election, I found myself humming “Walk Through the Fire.” I had two papers to write that evening and in my quest to continue to procrastinate, I found the “Once More With Feeling” episode’s soundtrack online to fulfill my need for geeky musicals. On my 8-hour drive home that weekend to vote in my hometown, I continued to loop Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical. I voted Tuesday morning, hopped back in my car to drive back to campus for an Election Watch Party, and thought my itch for the Buffy-verse was done. However, as the reality settled in that Trump would be the next president-elect, I found myself wondering if I was suddenly living in Sunnydale. I felt numb and Buffy’s verse in “Walk Through the Fire” took on a whole new meaning. Still in shock, I went home and started watching Buffy on Netflix. Every day since the election, after school and work, I go home and marathon the episodes. I’ve always loved the series, but now, I crave it. I …