Essays

Color photo of a sunset behind a silhouette of pines, across a trimmed grass field, and seen through tall grasses.

ON TURNING TWO

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

September 5, 2023


Pushing away the toxic dialogue of internalized criticisms to acknowledge how Hello Barkada stayed true to its mission through its second year.

BUT ARE YOU LISTENING TO THE LINDA LINDAS?

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

September 16, 2022


How Growing Up, the debut LP by The Linda Lindas, is poised to resonate with fans of all ages.

ON TURNING ONE

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

September 1, 2022


A reflection on the first year of Hello Barkada, in words and Spotify playlist. Thank you to everyone who has visited since September 2021!

Front cover of Trinidad Escobar's "Arrive In My Hands" Queer Erotic Comics. Featuring an illustration of oceanside cliff formations that look like two women laying on their left sides in an embrace.

THE BREADTH OF TRINIDAD ESCOBAR'S ARRIVE IN MY HANDS

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

February 25, 2022


Published by Black Josei Press, Trinidad Escobar's Arrive In My Hands is a collection of Queer erotic comics, poem-comics, and illustrations that surges off the page like desire released from dormancy.

COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF BLACK JOSEI PRESS.

A light-skinned Black woman with type 3C hair walking down a dirt road that cuts through a grass plain. The woman is walking towards the camera, yet looking beyond it. She is wearing an olive green bomber jacket on top of a light grey knit top.

FAST COLOR NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION

By Jonita Davis 

January 7, 2022


Why this film from 2019 is worth several watches now that it's available to stream on Netflix. Codeblack's Fast Color stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lorraine Toussaint.

IMAGE OF GUGU MBATHA-RAW COURTESY OF LIONSGATE.

A brown hand holding up the black and white zine in front of a leafy green hedge. The cover of the zine features falling leaves and the title, "isang mahal."

INSIDE OUR PREMIERE ZINE

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

January 5, 2022


We're wishing you a happy new year with our first micro-press effort: A 16-page zine featuring the first print reproductions of our 2021 comics series as well as original written and illustrated works, including an exclusive memoir essay titled "In Minor."

A pink sunrise seen through dried grasses on a plain.

ON POSITION

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

December 20, 2021 


At the core of Hello Barkada's mission is bell hooks' thoughts on marginalization from her 1990 essay, "marginality as site of resistance."

PHOTO BY OC GONZALEZ ON UNSPLASH.

Screenshot of Christine Pasalo Norland, Barbara Brandon-Croft, Bianca Xunise, and Steenz during the panel "Celebrating Jackie Ormes."

ON GRACE

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

November 1, 2021 


This month’s founder’s essay reflects on the organization's progress so far, which has been due in large part to the artists who've shared their time, energy, and expertise with Hello Barkada.

Production still of brown-skinned character Zelda interviewing a colorful, multi-armed ghost named Chete at a table in a Korean BBQ restaurant. Chepe is in the center, flanked by Zelda to the left and a brown-skinned character on its right. On the table are bowls of kimchi and steamed white rice, and a Fisher Price-like voice recorder and microphone.

CITY OF GHOSTS

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

October 20, 2021 


Why more people should watch and fan the popular Netflix animated series by creator Elizabeth Ito.

IMAGE COURTESY OF NETFLIX.

A little boy in an orange shirt touches the mural at Unidad Park in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles. Pictured in the mural are Farmworker Organizers Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong, and former Pilipinas President Corazon Aquino.

ON NAMES

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

October 2, 2021 


Why the organization and platform is called "Hello Barkada."

Dots & Boxes game sheet next to a potted succulent.

CENTERING THE LATINX DIASPORA

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

September 15, 2021 


September 15 marks the start of Latinx Heritage month! Please join us in learning about artists and creative writers from the Latinx, Xicanx, and Hispanic diaspora and how they continue to impact arts and culture as a whole.

Characters Xialiang, Shang-Chi, and Katy from the Marvel movie "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

WHY SHANG-CHI MATTERS

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

September 8, 2021 


The Marvel blockbuster adds to the growing tapestry of Asian representation in American popular culture. Just bare in mind: We don’t all know martial arts.

PHOTO FROM MARVEL.COM.

Founder Christine Pasalo Norland sitting on a tree swing. Behind her is a view of Echo Park, Los Angeles.

ON PEACE OF MIND

By Christine Pasalo Norland 

September 1, 2021 


How starting Hello Barkada is equal parts empowerment, protest, humility, and rest.