Hannah L Drake is a blogger, activist, public speaker, poet, and author of 11 books. She writes commentary on politics, feminism, and race and her work has been featured online at Cosmopolitan, The Bitter Southerner, Harper’s Bazaar and Revolt TV. In 2019 during Super Bowl Sunday, Hannah’s poem, "All You Had To Do Was Play The Game, Boy," which addresses the protest by Colin Kaepernick, was shared by film writer, producer and director Ava DuVernay, and then shared by Kaepernick. The poem has been viewed more than two million times.
Hannah’s commentary on life and challenging others to dream bigger have been recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama. Hannah Drake was featured on the Tom Joyner Morning Show with Jacque Reid to discuss her international movement, Do Not Move Off the Sidewalk, which addresses the power of holding your space. Hannah was selected by the Muhammad Ali Center to be a Daughter of Greatness which features prominent women engaged in social philanthropy, activism, and pursuits of justice. Hannah was selected as one of the Best of the Best in Louisville, Kentucky for her poem Spaces and recently was honored as a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed by the Kentucky Governor recognizing an individual’s noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to community, state, and nation. Labeled as a change agent, Hannah’s message is thought-provoking and at times challenging, but Hannah believes that it is in the uncomfortable spaces that change can take place. “My sole purpose in writing and speaking is not that I entertain you. I am trying to shake a nation.”
Typically, as a writer, I take time to work through my thoughts, research statistics, develop a compelling opening and storyline and know that I am working towards a conclusion that will challenge the reader and invoke dialogue across sectors to move a conversation that is generally centered around […]
In the Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luter King Jr. wrote, “First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is […]
Removal of Confederate Statues Sparks Debate Rep. Thomas Massie: “It’s a slippery slope.” Sadiqa Reynolds: “Slide down!” Rep Thomas Massie: “Where does it end though?” Sadiqa Reynolds: “It ends with justice!”
In recent weeks with the tragic and unfortunate murder of Heather Heyers, it seems the world has turned its eye to the United States of America, wagging its finger in shame. The blatant acts of racism that ascended upon Charlottesville, Virginia have been rebuked by actors, comedians, senators, […]
Recently, it seems every media outlet is attempting to find any Black person other than the Embarrassment to Black People Trifecta, Ben Carson, Omarosa and Sheriff Clarke to speak up for Donald Trump in the wake of him cozying up to people just like him Neo-Nazis, the KKK, […]
In the wake of the racist violence that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, Lady Gaga took it upon herself to start a hashtag #BeKind, and another soon popped up on Twitter, #ThisIsNotUS. Really? This is not us? Be Kind?
By now I am sure you have heard of the domestic terrorist event, fueled by racism, which has taken place in Charlottesville, Virginia. What the media has chosen to call the “alt-right” (Tiki Torch Posse) instead of what they are-the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazis, bigots, racists, took a […]
I have seen the beginning, standing in the Door of No Return at Goree Island in Dakar, Senegal. I was almost afraid to walk through the entrance of what many call a slave castle. There was nothing majestic or regal about the building. Had history not recorded the […]
Guest Blogger: Naa-Shorme of Write To Live What a week. While grieving the death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards at the hands of police, we received notice that justice will not be served in the case of Alton Sterling who was shot by police in Baton Rouge last summer. We […]
I should have known when the creators and showrunners of the hit TV series Game of Thrones, David Benioff, and Dan Weiss, had “Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, […]
