

Like Nina Simone
This election wasn't the first time people threatened to leave the country if a particular political party came to power. It's a threat uttered often; but is rarely intended. But what would happen if the threat wasn't empty? What would have to happen to seriously compel people to pack their things? Darnell Lamont Walker has been a creative for years. All you have to do is look at his long list of books, his IMDb, or follow the musings on his blog to see that. But just a short


Expat by any other name
February 10 was my two-year anniversary in Colombia. When I moved, my friend, Kathryn, was doing a documentary about people emigrating from the U.S. So, I am fortunate enough to have footage of this huge change in my life. It seemed fitting that we would watch it on my anniversary weekend. I sat there with tears in my eyes (I mean, you know I cry at anything). But these tears were of so many emotions: a reaction to my cousin who cried when I told her I was moving, the scenes


Freedom of Speech*
There’s a dozen of us standing on a street corner outside of the US Embassy in Bogotá. The signs in our hands address sexism, racism, homophobia, and the current political climate in the U.S. Most of us are somewhere on the spectrum of Gringo–Colombians who have lived large parts of their lives in the US, Gringas born to immigrant parents, and US teachers now living in Bogotá. And we’re not happy with politics in that shared home of ours. Across the street stands a row of pol


The New Echoes Blog
Hi! Welcome to the Echoes Blog. Before I get started, let me tell you a little bit about where this comes from. When I wrote Echoes of the Struggle, I wrote it with the intention of starting a conversation. Much like the main character, Dani, I was raised by very accepting and loving people. They were open to all races, religions, genders, and sexual orientation. Today, our country, actually the world, is divided. It’s not divided between races. It’s divided between people wh