Flooding victims at Camp Mystic
As a mother, the thought of sending my child off to camp and never seeing them again is heartbreaking. The recent tragedy in Hunt, Texas, where several young girls were swept away by flash floods at Camp Mystic, has shaken us all. The loss of these young lives, of all the lives, is an unspeakable tragedy, and our hearts go out to the families grappling with the unimaginable pain of their children being taken from them so suddenly. The flooding that occurred on the Blanco River serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and severity of nature’s power. We must demand greater accountability in emergency response efforts and question the safety measures that allowed such a disaster to occur in the first place.
Yet, race has no place in this tragedy
In the aftermath of this disaster, the last thing we need is race seeping into the conversation. You may have heard about Sade Perkins, the former Houston Food Insecurity Board member, who posted a TikTok video that has sparked outrage. In the video, she described Camp Mystic as a “white girls’ camp,” citing a lack of diversity in a way that distracts from the tragedy itself. Her comments have been deemed inappropriate by officials, including Houston Mayor John Whitmire, and we agree the issue here should not be about a camp’s racial makeup. The focus should remain on the grieving families and the ongoing search efforts for the missing. But we’re not writing off Ms. Perkins, who has a history of standing up for marginalized communities, though we do say if you begin your post saying, “I’m probably going to get canceled for this…”, you probably should just press delete.
Beyoncé proves she’s queen
In other news, Beyoncé’s recent Cowboy Carter tour stop in Houston wasn’t just another show—it was an unforgettable testament to her reign as the queen of pop culture. From the jaw-dropping stage production to the electrifying energy to the (I’m sure now-unemployed car crane operator), Beyoncé proved once again why she remains one of the most influential artists in the world. This concert wasn’t just about music—it was an experience, a celebration of Black excellence, empowerment and the sheer force of her artistry. Houston’s energy was electric, and her fans didn’t miss a beat. But more than anything, word on the street is that the two-night tour made $36 million, making it the highest-grossing concert ever by a woman and a Black artist. Yep, Queen Bey is still at the top of her game.
Carnival Cruises revises rules
I’m going to be honest, I stopped taking Carnival Cruises years ago because I’m past the partying era of my life, and that’s what Carnival became known for—the “fun.” But their new rules? Well, it feels like they meant “white fun.” The cruise line has now implemented new policies banning hip-hop and rap music, Bluetooth speakers, dancing in public areas and—get this—fans. No more “pop, pop, popping” while you put your boots on the ground. I’m torn over these changes. On one hand, I understand they have to address the rowdy behavior that sometimes gets out of hand—trust me, Google “cruise fights” and you’ll see that bad behavior doesn’t discriminate by race.
But here’s where things get complicated. Carnival is known for its diverse audience, and let’s be real, out of all their cruise options, it’s the least premium brand, often attracting demographics prone to poor behavior. However, these new rules seem more like an attempt to “remove Black culture” than a genuine effort to police everyone’s actions equally. The brand has struggled with a reputation for chaos, and now they’re trying to clean that up. If these rules are enough to make you rethink booking a cruise, then I’d say Carnival has already achieved a major part of what they set out to do. But at what cost?
