Christie A. Cruise, PhD is an author, educator, and social justice advocate with a passion for empowering Black girls and women to speak their truths boldly and unapologetically. In January 2019 Dr. Cruise released her first book, It Don’t Hurt Now: My Journey of Self-Love & Self-Acceptance, of prose and poetry with themes related to colorism, sexual assault and abuse, depression and anxiety, body image, relationships, and spirituality. In February 2020, her thoughts on colorism were published in the inaugural Gumbo Magazine Black Edition published by Gumbo Media. Dr. Cruise writes a monthly blog on a variety of issues including love, grief, loss, and forgiveness.