HTTP/2 301
cache-control: max-age=3600
content-security-policy: default-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval' data: *.vimeo.com; script-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval' *.silktide.com https://*.facebook.net https://js-agent.newrelic.com https://*.youtube.com https://*.vimeo.com https://*.wp.com *.gstatic.com *.doubleclick.net https://*.google-analytics.com https://*.google.com https://*.googleadservices.com *.googletagmanager.com googletagmanager.com https://*.googlesyndication.com https://*.paypal.com https://platform.twitter.com https://*.googleapis.com https://fonts.bunny.net https://www.google.com https://connect-js.stripe.com https://applepay.cdn-apple.com https://analytics.silktide.com https://www.googletagmanager.com www.paypal.com www.paypalobjects.com platform.instagram.com www.instagram.com *.vimeo.com *.vimeocdn.com *.newrelic.com *.nr-data.net www.googletagservices.com *.googlesyndication.com *.googleadservices.com googleads.g.doubleclick.net adservice.google.com adservice.google.ae adservice.google.al adservice.google.at adservice.google.be adservice.google.bg adservice.google.bs adservice.google.ca adservice.google.ch adservice.google.ci adservice.google.cl adservice.google.co.bw adservice.google.co.cr adservice.google.co.id adservice.google.co.il adservice.google.co.in adservice.google.co.jp adservice.google.co.ke adservice.google.co.kr adservice.google.co.mz adservice.google.co.nz adservice.google.co.th adservice.google.co.tz adservice.google.co.uk adservice.google.co.uz adservice.google.co.ve adservice.google.co.za adservice.google.co.zm adservice.google.co.zw adservice.google.com.ai adservice.google.com.ar adservice.google.com.au adservice.google.com.bd adservice.google.com.bh adservice.google.com.bn adservice.google.com.bo adservice.google.com.br adservice.google.com.co adservice.google.com.cy adservice.google.com.ec adservice.google.com.eg adservice.google.com.et adservice.google.com.fj adservice.google.com.gh adservice.google.com.gi adservice.google.com.gt adservice.google.com.hk adservice.google.com.jm adservice.google.com.kh adservice.google.com.kw adservice.google.com.lb adservice.google.com.mm adservice.google.com.mt adservice.google.com.mx adservice.google.com.my adservice.google.com.ng adservice.google.com.ni adservice.google.com.np adservice.google.com.om adservice.google.com.pa adservice.google.com.pe adservice.google.com.ph adservice.google.com.pk adservice.google.com.pr adservice.google.com.py adservice.google.com.qa adservice.google.com.sa adservice.google.com.sg adservice.google.com.sv adservice.google.com.tr adservice.google.com.tw adservice.google.com.ua adservice.google.com.uy adservice.google.com.vn adservice.google.cz adservice.google.de adservice.google.dk adservice.google.dz adservice.google.ee adservice.google.es adservice.google.fi adservice.google.fr adservice.google.ge adservice.google.gr adservice.google.gy adservice.google.hn adservice.google.hr adservice.google.hu adservice.google.ie adservice.google.im adservice.google.iq adservice.google.is adservice.google.it adservice.google.jo adservice.google.kz adservice.google.li adservice.google.lk adservice.google.lt adservice.google.lu adservice.google.lv adservice.google.md adservice.google.mk adservice.google.mu adservice.google.nl adservice.google.no adservice.google.pl adservice.google.pt adservice.google.ro adservice.google.rs adservice.google.ru adservice.google.se adservice.google.si adservice.google.sk adservice.google.so adservice.google.sr adservice.google.tl adservice.google.tn adservice.google.tt google-analytics.com www.google-analytics.com ssl.google-analytics.com stats.g.doubleclick.net ajax.googleapis.com maps.googleapis.com maps.google.com translate.googleapis.com translate.google.com www.googletagmanager.com googletagmanager.com tagmanager.google.com; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline' data: https://*.wp.com https://*.googleapis.com *.gstatic.com https://*.google.com https://googletagmanager.com https://fonts.bunny.net https://patterns.startertemplatecloud.com *.vimeocdn.com fonts.googleapis.com 'unsafe-inline' maps.googleapis.com maps.google.com translate.googleapis.com www.googletagmanager.com tagmanager.google.com; img-src 'self' data: https://*.gravatar.com https://*.facebook.com https://*.ytimg.com https://*.wp.com https://*.w.org https://*.emerson.edu *.gstatic.com *.doubleclick.net https://*.google-analytics.com https://*.google.com https://google.com https://*.googleadservices.com https://*.googletagmanager.com https://googletagmanager.com https://*.googlesyndication.com https://*.paypal.com https://*.paypalobjects.com https://wpdesk.net https://woocommerce.com https://patterns.startertemplatecloud.com https://www.kadencewp.com https://connect.advancedcustomfields.com s.w.org ps.w.org ts.w.org secure.gravatar.com www.gravatar.com data: www.paypalobjects.com *.paypal.com *.googlesyndication.com stats.g.doubleclick.net blob: google-analytics.com www.google-analytics.com ssl.google-analytics.com www.google.com *.googleapis.com maps.google.com maps.gstatic.com www.gstatic.com *.ggpht.com translate.googleapis.com translate.google.com i.ytimg.com www.googletagmanager.com; connect-src 'self' *.silktide.com bam.nr-data.net https://*.facebook.com *.doubleclick.net *.g.doubleclick.net https://google.com https://*.google.com https://*.google-analytics.com https://*.googleadservices.com https://*.googletagmanager.com https://*.googlesyndication.com https://*.googleapis.com https://*.paypal.com *.gstatic.com https://bam.nr-data.net https://*.nr-data.net https://yoast.com https://woocommerce.com https://analytics.google.com https://applepay.cdn-apple.com www.paypalobjects.com *.paypal.com *.vimeo.com *.googlesyndication.com googleads.g.doubleclick.net stats.g.doubleclick.net www.google-analytics.com ampcid.google.com analytics.google.com about: maps.googleapis.com maps.google.com translate.googleapis.com www.googletagmanager.com; font-src 'self' data: https://*.wp.com *.gstatic.com https://cdn.jsdelivr.net https://fonts.bunny.net data: fonts.gstatic.com fonts.googleapis.com; object-src 'none' ; media-src 'self' *.gstatic.com; frame-src 'self' blob: https://*.facebook.com https://*.vimeo.com https://*.youtube.com https://*.wp.com https://wordpress.com *.doubleclick.net https://*.google.com https://*.googletagmanager.com https://*.paypal.com https://platform.twitter.com https://connect-js.stripe.com www.paypalobjects.com *.paypal.com www.instagram.com *.vimeo.com *.vimeocdn.com *.googlesyndication.com googleads.g.doubleclick.net maps.googleapis.com maps.google.com www.youtube.com www.googletagmanager.com; manifest-src 'self' ; child-src 'self' www.paypalobjects.com *.paypal.com *.vimeo.com *.vimeocdn.com www.youtube.com www.googletagmanager.com; worker-src 'self' blob:; base-uri 'self' ; report-uri https://pshares.org?gdsih-csp-report;
content-type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
expires: Sun, 18 Jan 2026 19:47:12 GMT
location: https://pshares.org/blog/
permissions-policy: camera=(self), geolocation=(self), microphone=(self)
referrer-policy: no-referrer-when-downgrade
server: nginx
strict-transport-security: max-age=300
x-content-type-options: nosniff
x-frame-options: SAMEORIGIN
x-pantheon-styx-hostname: styx-fe3-b-6f684c5d8c-krjch
x-redirect-by: WordPress
x-styx-req-id: 19570a64-f49e-11f0-a729-9ef699a13d1e
age: 0
accept-ranges: bytes
via: 1.1 varnish, 1.1 varnish, 1.1 varnish, 1.1 varnish
date: Sun, 18 Jan 2026 18:47:12 GMT
x-served-by: cache-chi-klot8100127-CHI, cache-bom-vanm7210046-BOM, cache-bom-vanm7210072-BOM, cache-bom-vanm7210072-BOM
x-cache: MISS, MISS, MISS, MISS
x-cache-hits: 0, 0, 0, 0
x-timer: S1768762031.443528,VS0,VE807
vary: Cookie, Cookie
content-length: 0
HTTP/2 200
cache-control: public, max-age=604800
content-encoding: gzip
content-security-policy: default-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval' data: *.vimeo.com; script-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval' *.silktide.com https://*.facebook.net https://js-agent.newrelic.com https://*.youtube.com https://*.vimeo.com https://*.wp.com *.gstatic.com *.doubleclick.net https://*.google-analytics.com https://*.google.com https://*.googleadservices.com *.googletagmanager.com googletagmanager.com https://*.googlesyndication.com https://*.paypal.com https://platform.twitter.com https://*.googleapis.com https://fonts.bunny.net https://www.google.com https://connect-js.stripe.com https://applepay.cdn-apple.com https://analytics.silktide.com https://www.googletagmanager.com www.paypal.com www.paypalobjects.com platform.instagram.com www.instagram.com *.vimeo.com *.vimeocdn.com *.newrelic.com *.nr-data.net www.googletagservices.com *.googlesyndication.com *.googleadservices.com googleads.g.doubleclick.net adservice.google.com adservice.google.ae adservice.google.al adservice.google.at adservice.google.be adservice.google.bg adservice.google.bs adservice.google.ca adservice.google.ch adservice.google.ci adservice.google.cl adservice.google.co.bw adservice.google.co.cr adservice.google.co.id adservice.google.co.il adservice.google.co.in adservice.google.co.jp adservice.google.co.ke adservice.google.co.kr adservice.google.co.mz adservice.google.co.nz adservice.google.co.th adservice.google.co.tz adservice.google.co.uk adservice.google.co.uz adservice.google.co.ve adservice.google.co.za adservice.google.co.zm adservice.google.co.zw adservice.google.com.ai adservice.google.com.ar adservice.google.com.au adservice.google.com.bd adservice.google.com.bh adservice.google.com.bn adservice.google.com.bo adservice.google.com.br adservice.google.com.co adservice.google.com.cy adservice.google.com.ec adservice.google.com.eg adservice.google.com.et adservice.google.com.fj adservice.google.com.gh adservice.google.com.gi adservice.google.com.gt adservice.google.com.hk adservice.google.com.jm adservice.google.com.kh adservice.google.com.kw adservice.google.com.lb adservice.google.com.mm adservice.google.com.mt adservice.google.com.mx adservice.google.com.my adservice.google.com.ng adservice.google.com.ni adservice.google.com.np adservice.google.com.om adservice.google.com.pa adservice.google.com.pe adservice.google.com.ph adservice.google.com.pk adservice.google.com.pr adservice.google.com.py adservice.google.com.qa adservice.google.com.sa adservice.google.com.sg adservice.google.com.sv adservice.google.com.tr adservice.google.com.tw adservice.google.com.ua adservice.google.com.uy adservice.google.com.vn adservice.google.cz adservice.google.de adservice.google.dk adservice.google.dz adservice.google.ee adservice.google.es adservice.google.fi adservice.google.fr adservice.google.ge adservice.google.gr adservice.google.gy adservice.google.hn adservice.google.hr adservice.google.hu adservice.google.ie adservice.google.im adservice.google.iq adservice.google.is adservice.google.it adservice.google.jo adservice.google.kz adservice.google.li adservice.google.lk adservice.google.lt adservice.google.lu adservice.google.lv adservice.google.md adservice.google.mk adservice.google.mu adservice.google.nl adservice.google.no adservice.google.pl adservice.google.pt adservice.google.ro adservice.google.rs adservice.google.ru adservice.google.se adservice.google.si adservice.google.sk adservice.google.so adservice.google.sr adservice.google.tl adservice.google.tn adservice.google.tt google-analytics.com www.google-analytics.com ssl.google-analytics.com stats.g.doubleclick.net ajax.googleapis.com maps.googleapis.com maps.google.com translate.googleapis.com translate.google.com www.googletagmanager.com googletagmanager.com tagmanager.google.com; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline' data: https://*.wp.com https://*.googleapis.com *.gstatic.com https://*.google.com https://googletagmanager.com https://fonts.bunny.net https://patterns.startertemplatecloud.com *.vimeocdn.com fonts.googleapis.com 'unsafe-inline' maps.googleapis.com maps.google.com translate.googleapis.com www.googletagmanager.com tagmanager.google.com; img-src 'self' data: https://*.gravatar.com https://*.facebook.com https://*.ytimg.com https://*.wp.com https://*.w.org https://*.emerson.edu *.gstatic.com *.doubleclick.net https://*.google-analytics.com https://*.google.com https://google.com https://*.googleadservices.com https://*.googletagmanager.com https://googletagmanager.com https://*.googlesyndication.com https://*.paypal.com https://*.paypalobjects.com https://wpdesk.net https://woocommerce.com https://patterns.startertemplatecloud.com https://www.kadencewp.com https://connect.advancedcustomfields.com s.w.org ps.w.org ts.w.org secure.gravatar.com www.gravatar.com data: www.paypalobjects.com *.paypal.com *.googlesyndication.com stats.g.doubleclick.net blob: google-analytics.com www.google-analytics.com ssl.google-analytics.com www.google.com *.googleapis.com maps.google.com maps.gstatic.com www.gstatic.com *.ggpht.com translate.googleapis.com translate.google.com i.ytimg.com www.googletagmanager.com; connect-src 'self' *.silktide.com bam.nr-data.net https://*.facebook.com *.doubleclick.net *.g.doubleclick.net https://google.com https://*.google.com https://*.google-analytics.com https://*.googleadservices.com https://*.googletagmanager.com https://*.googlesyndication.com https://*.googleapis.com https://*.paypal.com *.gstatic.com https://bam.nr-data.net https://*.nr-data.net https://yoast.com https://woocommerce.com https://analytics.google.com https://applepay.cdn-apple.com www.paypalobjects.com *.paypal.com *.vimeo.com *.googlesyndication.com googleads.g.doubleclick.net stats.g.doubleclick.net www.google-analytics.com ampcid.google.com analytics.google.com about: maps.googleapis.com maps.google.com translate.googleapis.com www.googletagmanager.com; font-src 'self' data: https://*.wp.com *.gstatic.com https://cdn.jsdelivr.net https://fonts.bunny.net data: fonts.gstatic.com fonts.googleapis.com; object-src 'none' ; media-src 'self' *.gstatic.com; frame-src 'self' blob: https://*.facebook.com https://*.vimeo.com https://*.youtube.com https://*.wp.com https://wordpress.com *.doubleclick.net https://*.google.com https://*.googletagmanager.com https://*.paypal.com https://platform.twitter.com https://connect-js.stripe.com www.paypalobjects.com *.paypal.com www.instagram.com *.vimeo.com *.vimeocdn.com *.googlesyndication.com googleads.g.doubleclick.net maps.googleapis.com maps.google.com www.youtube.com www.googletagmanager.com; manifest-src 'self' ; child-src 'self' www.paypalobjects.com *.paypal.com *.vimeo.com *.vimeocdn.com www.youtube.com www.googletagmanager.com; worker-src 'self' blob:; base-uri 'self' ; report-uri https://pshares.org?gdsih-csp-report;
content-type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
link:
; rel="https://api.w.org/"
permissions-policy: camera=(self), geolocation=(self), microphone=(self)
referrer-policy: no-referrer-when-downgrade
server: nginx
strict-transport-security: max-age=300
x-content-type-options: nosniff
x-frame-options: SAMEORIGIN
x-pantheon-styx-hostname: styx-fe3-b-6f684c5d8c-kvzdd
x-styx-req-id: 4d96ec93-f494-11f0-8cb6-dabfd917ec5b
age: 4207
accept-ranges: bytes
via: 1.1 varnish, 1.1 varnish, 1.1 varnish, 1.1 varnish
date: Sun, 18 Jan 2026 18:47:12 GMT
x-served-by: cache-chi-klot8100075-CHI, cache-bom-vanm7210059-BOM, cache-bom-vanm7210072-BOM, cache-bom-vanm7210072-BOM
x-cache: HIT, MISS, MISS, MISS
x-cache-hits: 5, 0, 0, 0
x-timer: S1768762032.264883,VS0,VE246
vary: Accept-Encoding, Cookie, Cookie
content-length: 62242
Blog - Ploughshares
Skip to content
Writing for me had always been a release. But every time I tried to write about my experiences as a Black man, the same thing happened: I doubted myself, and wondered if I was Black enough to write about the Black experience.
Avni Doshi’s Booker shortlisted 2019 novel wonders if, since our minds can distort our memories into unrecognizable things and still have us believe them as truth, it is apt to say they overtake us, a sort of parasitic recall designed to humor us through our lives.
Gayl Jones’s 1975 book positions language as an apparatus of control and power, a weapon used to continue cycles of oppression. It contends that silence—both literal and metaphorical—can create a future untainted by the past.
In their debut short story collection, Lydia Conklin examines what it’s like to inhabit a body and/or sexuality that is inherently uncomfortable—not because of one’s certainty about their identity but because of how others reject or suppress it.
Little Dog, the narrator of Ocean Vuong’s debut novel, learns to be strategic in his use of language as a means of self-preservation.
Heather Christle’s 2019 book is a beautiful study of one of humanity’s most universal experiences, its fragments acting as tear drops that, when collected, turn it into one very good, very emotional cry.
Summer, Helena, and Hermia hold fast to their own definitions of love, even in the face of men who refuse and ignore them.
The Great Dane in Sigrid Nunez’s acclaimed novel embodies grief itself—a presence that comes uninvited, demands attention, disrupts routine, behaves inscrutably, and holds the power of ferocity and tenderness at once.
Nancy Mitford’s tragicomic novel demonstrates the unglamorous acts of love that come from sustained, tested friendships, and it’s from these relationships that the book mines much of its celebrated humor and its overlooked, but just as important, compassion.