Joseph Lamour

Bio

Washington DC native Joseph Lamour is a writer, an artist, and a musician — sometimes all at once. Joe loves to write about the intersection of social issues and pop culture, food, love, and strange things on the Internet. You can see his words on MTV news, Apartment Therapy, and others in addition to Mic. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Joe's work has been displayed in galleries in New York and DC, the Pentagon, Smithsonian, the Pentagon, and the White House (under Obama, of course). You‘ll probably hear him singing if you’re near him for more than 45 minutes.
The Buss It Challenge is a testament to young Black resilience
By Joseph Lamour
This entire week, I’ve been repeatedly rapping the phrase “throw it like a stripper, yuh” — to no one in particular — from Erica Banks’ “Buss It.” Though this behavior is concerning to all of the people I live with, the 2020 single and its catchy…
Thanks to maskless Republicans, the Capitol insurrection might turn out to be a super spreader event
By Joseph Lamour
For some Members of Congress who sheltered in place during the terrifying insurrection at the Capitol building in Washington last week, another threat, this one viral, loomed large inside of their Republican counterparts. Representative Pramila…
How to role-play without feeling super awkward
By Joseph Lamour
Men’s fashion at its most buttoned up really does it for me. Period drama, particularly: both the early 1950s-60s suiting of Mad Men or the Regency-era gentleman in ornate jackets and breeches in Bridgerton have this effect on me. It may be the…
Can you really judge a Black man's politics by his hairline? (Yes)
By Joseph Lamour
It takes effort to turn the might of Black hair from luscious to atrocious, so an unfortunate haircut or style is very noticeable to me and most of my community. And we like to point it out, too. That’s why a ubiquitous rumor about a small subset of…
Ginger ale isn't the stomach superhero you think it is
By Joseph Lamour
When I would have an upset stomach as a child, I knew the sweet, effervescent silver lining would be a tall glass of ginger ale. And this’d come fairly often since, as a kid, I threw up a lot (my body's inability to handle artificially-flavored…
Our very favorite bottles to pop on New Year's Eve, and beyond
By Joseph Lamour
The vaccine may be here, but most of us haven't gotten it yet. So as much as we're anticipating those glorious antibodies — and the opportunity to drink at a crowded bar agains — we'll have to wait. At least through the winter, the couch is your…
The best type of lube for whichever kind of sex you're having
By Joseph Lamour
I believe it was Colin Powell who said, “Trust is the glue that holds people together, and is the lubricant that keeps an organization moving forward.” I’m certain he was not talking about the gooey stuff you get in the unmentionables aisle in your…
Why it cuts so deep when your favorite celebrity lets you down
By Joseph Lamour
I love television brainiacs, especially ones who can cook. For a decent stint of time, I admired the Food Network’s Alton Brown, a practical scientist with a lab in the kitchen. The chef and author’s knowledge of food and his penchant for…
Anti-vaxxers are pushing a nonsensical claim about the coronavirus vaccine and "disappearing needles"
By Joseph Lamour
Anti-Vaxxers and givers of life (to long-dead and completely preventable diseases) are hell bent on disseminating absurd falsehoods about vaccines. And naturally, they’ve recently turned their attention toward the coronavirus vaccine. In the most…
4 amazing gifts for people in long distance relationships
By Joseph Lamour
Hate if you must but this year, during an actual pandemic, I somehow found a man who is interested in me. Unfortunately, we're separated by two states and this entire year, we have been forced to only communicate with each other through text and…
The best Black-owned booze brands to stock your bar with
By Joseph Lamour
The spirits industry is still overwhelmingly white for a number of reasons, one being America’s tendency to discriminate against minority- and women-owned small businesses by making it very challenging for them to get start-up loans and publicity.…
Yes, the coronavirus vaccine can cause an allergic reaction. No, you shouldn't worry
By Joseph Lamour
This December, the hard work of scientists around the world has brought the first round of COVID-19 vaccines, which will be crucial to our return to "normal." While some people are excited, some fear what could happen if they take it, for both…
Hate at first sight: Why you dislike certain people right away
By Joseph Lamour
In previous, less deadly Decembers, my friend group has been known to meet at a rental house for a weekend of drinking, hot tubbing, and more drinking. A couple years ago, a friend brought his two roommates along with him, and one rubbed me the…
Pharrell is launching a fund to support Black and Latinx businesses
By Joseph Lamour
Black and brown Americans have faced an upward battle when trying to start a business. They've historically experienced, among other challenges, getting start-up funding. This snuffs out the possibility of success for a brand before it’s even taken…
4 weird, unexpected things that happen to your body as you get older
By Joseph Lamour
I’m now in my very late 20s (otherwise known as my 30s) and I’ve started noticing some changes in my body and face. For one thing, I have frown lines. While those little parentheses that hug my mouth are expected, every week seems to bring a new…
Mexico was absolutely not here for Elon Musk's "Teslaquila"
By Joseph Lamour
Creative baby namer and figurehead of Tesla Elon Musk is in the headlines again. This time, however, it’s not a story of unwarranted billionaire triumph. Someone actually told him no, and it is glorious. As we learned a few weeks ago, Musk announced…
Why do some songs make us horny?
By Joseph Lamour
While the content of it may vary, we all have a Spotify Playlist we turn on when we’re turned on. Playing certain music when you’re about to have sex with somebody special (or not special) is a necessary joy. And while a poll of 50 people may surely…
Everyone's favorite paint-mixing TikTok star just got fired by Sherwin-Williams
By Joseph Lamour
Corporate America truly boggles my mind sometimes. The big wigs often want employees who are reliable and invested, totally dedicated, and actually into their job. And sometimes, when they have someone like that, they’ll discard them for the…
Tyson Food managers allegedly bet on which employees would catch coronavirus
By Joseph Lamour
Meat processing plants, as you might be able to tell from headlines over the past few months, are largely responsible for keeping our food supply chain going right now. Many of them have been rriticized for not implementing sufficient safety…
This common quarantine habit can mess up your sleep — and your health
By Joseph Lamour
Actress and playwright Mae West once famously said, “I do all my writing in bed; everybody knows I do my best to work from there.” While her phrasing’s a little saucy, she did indeed write some of her plays from the comfort of her bed. I also write,…