Don’t You Know My Name…
Little bird got a name, you call it sparrow… Drop of water got a name, you call it rain… He is a man, but its slave you call him… From the song, SLAVE, sung by Dionne Warwick In the warmth…
The Lupita Effect
There are those moments in time, often brief and fleeting, that are a watershed and force a collective re-imagination of fundamental assumptions about who we are and how we are situated in the world. For this moment, she stands at…
A Sage Reflection on Life…
This, my inaugural blog submission, is dedicated to my dear friend, UT Saunders. He was one of the wisest and most elegant persons I have ever known. He had a grace and certainty about life and always appeared, even as…
Mississippi Calm
I am always struck by the shocked response I receive from most folks when I tell them I’ve lived in Mississippi. Usually those who have never been to Mississippi are the most vocal in detailing graphic truths about the racist,…
Ordinary Heroes
I am in awe of the power of images in the cultural imagination to shape our perception of the world as we know and experience it. The daily doses of wreckage and deprivation that depict the lives of African Americans…
The Value of a Good Reputation
There are those little items in life that we often overlook but which have a tremendous influence on the quality of our lives and telegraph the content of our character. We are regularly overwhelmed by the bigger issues that face…
Let’s Cherish Those We Love
There are issues that affect our lives which result from our being people of African descent in America. They shape our perspective and give meaning to our individual and collective experiences. They are unique to us and have no relevance…
Seasons Of A Man’s Life
Growing old in a culture that glorifies and celebrates youth to the exclusion of all else can present a set of psychological and emotional challenges. The exaltation of the lean, taut body, unlined, supple skin and head full of luscious…
Living Single
It is better to travel alone than to travel with a bad companion -African Proverb The couple moved with a comfort and ease that spoke of their years together. They walked to the dance floor and began a slow, intimate…
To Serve…
The Tuskegee Airman and the lesser known but equally noteworthy 452nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion exemplify an unwavering commitment to the ideals of American democracy. Their valor and skill sent a clear and compelling message to America and the world about…