Ashia Miller, Author at Rolling Out

Savannah, Georgia is one of the South’s best kept secrets with its teeming art life thanks to the world renowned Savannah College of Art and Design, beautiful architecture, and it boasts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. Beneath its quaint southern hospitality and charm, however, rests an issue, among many…

same-sex marriage

Millions of Americans and the world watched in awe as we bore witness to the election of America’s first African American president, Barack Obama, and many felt as though this monumental moment was a supreme milestone noting just how far African Americans had come in the USA. Most recently, Meghan Markle, a biracial American actress,…

In Texas, one of the most notoriously Republican states in the nation, earlier this week an openly gay Latina, Lupe Valdez, was selected as the first-ever openly gay and Latina gubernatorial nominee from a major party. In an interview with The Hill, the 70-year-old openly gay Latina understands what she’s up against in November and is ready for the…

One of the images on display in Spelman from Deborah Roberts’ “#EvolutionOfMimi” The idea of colorism, similar to racism, creates a hierarchy solely hinged on the hue of someone’s skin, which we all know is largely determined by genetics and the amount of melanin coursing through a person’s body. While the colorism debate and epidemic…

In an eyebrow-raising rule change, the National Football League, or NFL, has implemented a fine for players if they choose to kneel during the national anthem. The news, not surprisingly, has been met with shock, disbelief, and has caused many, including NFL players, to speak out via social media. Dawuane Smoot, a defensive end for…

Historically and politically, Georgia has traditionally been a red, Republican, and very conservative state. Even in the past two presidential elections, Georgia, with the exception of the greater Atlanta area, has been very Republican. As election season is now upon us, the time has come for Georgia to elect a new governor, and the road…

Since the inception of our country, there has always been the concept of race and its use has always served a nefarious purpose. Fast forward to 2018, and we are still stuck in the same trap, allowing the social construct of race to continue to define and divide us. Following the settlement of…

While feminism and the grassroots #MeToo organization have experienced surges in participation and awareness, the Trump administration could potentially deliver a swift blow to women’s rights with a potential rule to be voted on regarding abortion. The rule could potentially restrict where federal monies are allocated with respect to abortion. The aim is to separate…

In the 21st century, there have been many social causes that have had a far-reaching impact, such as the #MeToo movement, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the LGBTQ movement. While every movement has its own agenda, what connects these new movements is their desire to be tolerated, accepted and included. The Boy Scouts of…

Savannah is a sleepy Georgia town renowned for its majestic trees, historic squares, and as the setting for the wildly popular novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. What Savannah isn’t known for, however, are long periods of snow, major movie star visits, or plane crashes — all of which have happened this…

For as long as many of us can remember through countless history books and world news headlines, North and South Korea have long been locked in a decades-long war and neither country was willing to wave the white flag — that is, until now. Last week, the world was left shocked after pictures surfaced of…

Photo credit: The Baltimore Police Department America has one of the highest crime rates in the world. There have been several high-profile cases, Jon Benet Ramsey and the Black Dahlia, to name two, that drew worldwide attention. Even those who have sworn to protect and serve have been at the center of investigations which brings…

Roosevelt Kitchen (Photo source: Alachua County Jail) Love is an interesting topic and a wonderful feeling but in the case of Roosevelt Kitchen, love is a heated subject. Roosevelt Kitchen, 55 and resident of Florida, is accused of pouring gasoline on his girlfriend of four years while she lay in a neighbor’s bathtub. By the…

Bill Cosby appeared outside the courthouse after his conviction on three counts of aggravated indecent assault void of emotion, expression, and all the charm that the now-disgraced all-American TV dad once had. The 80-year-old has never had much to say outside of simply denying the allegations, regarding the mounting allegations that stem back several decades.…

Photo credit: Twitter – @kanyewest Kanye West has always had a flair for the dramatics and has never shyed away from controversial topics, preferring to meet them head on and give his own opinion. Much like his now infamous “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” statement during a live broadcast for victims of Hurricane…

Instagram – @meekmill Philadelphia has been at the center of a few controversial incidents in the past few weeks, most recently the Starbucks incident where two young African American men were walked out in handcuffs, and now the Meek Mill case has brought the inconsistencies of the prison system to the forefront. Earlier on Tuesday,…

A myriad of movements and calls to action have spawned hashtags such as #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter and #FreeMeek. In the case of the latter hashtag, the Philadelphia native and former battle rapper’s case has become an example of how the American judicial system contains many potholes and areas with a lack of continuity. As many celebrities, including…

Donald Trump

Photo source: Facebook – Donald J. Trump Once Americans have emptied their pockets for the latest gadgets and late-night infomercial splurges during the holiday season, many are at ease knowing that tax season is just around the corner. What many choose to do with that extra money is a matter of choice and discretion but…

In a video that has now gone wildly viral and been viewed over 4M times on YouTube, two young African American men — Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson — are handcuffed and escorted out of a downtown Philadelphia Starbucks after the manager on duty called the police on them. The April 12 incident has inadvertently caused an…