Author Archives: Crystal Rose H.

A continuation of the Hidden Figures episodes Also available as a video podcast on Spotify. Crystal (she/her)Today I’m going to be joined by Eric Ballentine, who has been a volunteer and in leadership for both Climbers of Color and Queer Mountaineers. I previously spoke to Eric not that long ago about a topic of theContinueContinue reading “Eric and the Queer Mountaineers:”

This article is also available as a video podcast on Spotify A continuation of the Hidden Figures in POC spaces collection in which stories by Black people are shared about their experiences in affinity spaces. This episode, listen to Eric Ballentine speak on their experience in Climbers of Color and Queer Mountaineers. We chat aboutContinueContinue reading “Hidden Figures: A Chat with Eric Ballentine”

Also available as a Podcast on Spotify “Still don’t know my origin Still don’t know who’s listening Still can’t tell the difference between Strength and my conditioning Something’s in the water I think there’s something in the water Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god I’ve been gone a while now Never thoughtContinueContinue reading “Hidden Figures in POC Spaces: The Follow Up”

Listen on Spotify  Part VI: The Kind that Poems Could Never Capture the Longing Of    When a person is in crisis it shows. Overly emotional reactions, not seeing things clearly or admitting mistakes: these are all traits of someone in crisis. And from the stories this director told about their life lately, it was obviousContinueContinue reading “Hidden Figures in POC Spaces”

Listen on Spotify Part V: Right Now What Cha’ll Want Gonna Lose to What Cha’ll Need to Hear    When the account stuff was finally resolved near July 2023 (as in the system started working; not that I or anyone else received an apology), I was relieved but still hurt. This had a huge negative impactContinueContinue reading “Hidden Figures in POC Spaces”

Listen on Spotify Part IV: I’m Not Gonna Tiptoe No More I Swore I’d Leave It Here    With Keith out of the accountant position, we were all waiting for the account to be changed over by the deadline missing director so we could move forward with business as usual. And slowly but surely, finances startedContinueContinue reading “Hidden Figures in POC Spaces”

Listen on Spotify Part III: I’m Certain that I’m Weathered    “How to ensure a space will have equity and inclusion…? The key is education…People of color can hate white supremacy and still be anti-black and/or anti-indigenous. Entering a space especially for POC does not magically make that person anti anything, it takes work and itContinueContinue reading “Hidden Figures in POC Spaces”

Listen on Spotify Part II: We Don’t All Fly    That’s right: individuals on the Climbers of Color Board had voted no, effectively blocking me from becoming a board member in the very organization I had helped to build over the last 5 years. One person voted no and another one abstained from voting (in solidarityContinueContinue reading “Hidden Figures in POC Spaces”

Listen on Spotify “…I thought this day would never come I’ve seen plenty rain but never sun And whether or not you seek it on the surface ain’t nobody perfect and I’m certain that I’m weathered from The kind of storms that daddy couldn’t warn you of The kind that poems could never capture theContinueContinue reading “Hidden Figures in POC Spaces”

“Now I’m so in mode to just emote until my throat is hoarse ‘Cause they wouldn’t recognize a trailblazer until the road is torched So if you follow me, beware, my accounts are probably jaded. Maybe a characteristic of the underappreciated…” -Sa-Roc1    Occasionally events happen that cut so deep emotionally one wonders where it stemsContinueContinue reading “Deep in the Bones: An Issue of Plagiarism”