Local, state & federal laws
favored people who are Caucasian
in daily dealings, with a fatal flaw
for those who challenged the situation.
White family wealth is accrued
over centuries while people of color
endure socioeconomic abuse
as generations struggle to recover.
An absence of any pursuit
of justice for Black…
I Shoulda Youtubed “How To Canoe” Before My Trip
Come sit right back and you’ll hear a tale….
It all started simply enough. I was on my second “Man Camp” — a men’s retreat with my church. One of the many activities scheduled was a 10-mile canoe trip down a creek in an Indiana state park. What could go…
Starkly different means to a relationship’s end based on gender
Out of curiosity, I made a list of “out-of-love” R&B songs. I wondered if the volume of songs for ladies would outnumber the number of songs that guys made. To qualify for the list, the songs must be one where the lead singer is too through with his or her…
What effect will the downfall of R. Kelly have on “sugar daddy” culture?
I thought the concept of “sugar daddies” was a prop for comedy movies and Blaxploitation classics. As a sheltered youth, much of my exposure to the world was filtered through my parents’ values. Thus, my worldview was pretty narrow when I began my journey as an ambitious, career-oriented, young Black…
Travel Adventures In Inline Skating
As a child of the 70s, there were few active, fun things to do in the house that wouldn’t land you in trouble. Parents were always kicking children out… “and don’t come home until lunch…” and then “…don’t come home until the streetlights come on!” Kids had to find something…
THE CASE FOR THE 1619 PROJECT + A GENEALOGICAL CASE STUDY
Reinforcing The 1619 Project through genealogical research
My experience navigating branches of my family tree highlights the efforts of 18th and 19th-century European slavers who orphaned Africans stolen from their homeland. …
A letter to myself about pursuing writing
Dear Joel,
The world is in need of a voice such as yours. Writing may seem to you like a small contribution to the world, but your output may be the voice that brightens the world for someone who subscribes or even stumbles upon your pieces. Your writing for that…
Poem
A simple greeting as I first enter
a space you occupy lightens the mood
to set a charming tone that tempers
interactions as interests are pursued.
Ground rules refined through generations
show honor and respect through behavior
that’s appreciated, as expectations
of social graces are met and curry favor.
A…
The experience sparked an online debate
It’s not often when I have a close encounter with nature that’s impressive…when I didn’t even leave home. As documented in the above photo, a hawk perched on the planter outside my front door. He was a little over a foot tall. …
Concurring with Killmonger’s motives though not his methods
The film “The Monuments Men” (2014) is based on the true story of the Allies’ furious effort to save the art treasures of Europe that were stolen by the Nazis during World War II. In addition to trying to defeat the Axis powers, the Allies had the foresight to recognize…
