Blog

The Costs Of Racial Integration For Black America

The phrase Make America Great Again as applied by president #45 really should not have the word again included. Why, because America’s greatness is more about it earning that label than by default.  Before America’s revolutionary war the white elite 2% effectively worked to manipulate the narrative of America to control communities that are black and poor. This blog […]

African American History Curriculum

Last year’s 2020 census findings officially confirmed to America that the population shift has begun to favor racial diversity in citizenship. This takes the twisted narrative of fearing the 1619 project and other similar syllabuses to hopefully support their value. This is also revealed in the classroom work of African American Registry, represented in our Teacher’s […]

Reparations, Who/What Needs Repair?

This year’s conversations towards the national elections in 2020 show several democratic candidates talking about reparations with some plans of action.   This blog will use the term reparations as it is used in tort law, which is narrow and is completely inapplicable to the history of slavery in the USA. Ethically it requires a living […]

On The Shoulders Of Giants

When Colin Kaepernick stopped standing for the national anthem at NFL games it sparked a nationwide conversation about patriotism and police brutality. Black athletes using their platform to protest injustice has long been a tradition in American history. In this episode we tap in our friends at Throughline to explore three stories of protest that are rarely told but essential to understanding the current debate: the heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson, the sprinter Wilma Rudolph, and the basketball player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

Racisms Disease and Healing Deferred in America

Like many of you, I know a family member or friend who is suffering from or has died from cancer. Many of you also know of someone who is suffering from or has died from racism in America. Both are deadly, both are merciless and kill any without closure. Some succumb quickly to its grip […]

The #MeToo movement and Black Women

Let me begin this blog with the disclaimer that I am a black man commenting on black women, therefore I’m on the outside looking in per the #MetToo movement. In America, the lives of black people, in general, are not as valuable as the lives of white people. This started with a legal document, the […]

Nature v. Nurture and Race, an African American Viewpoint

After about two decades after his birth, my son’s mother told me that he was becoming more like me. He has her smile, countless other characteristics from her too, both blending nature and nurture. We separated when he was about five with her having full custody and my weekly visits and separate annual vacations. Debating […]

21st Century BlackFace

The Lost Art of the Black Boycott in America

On June 15th, 1953 the black community of Baton Rouge, Louisiana staged the first municipal boycott of the 20th century. I’m using this factual event to ask the African American community why we are not using this strategy in 2018? I’m not confusing non-violent protest with the boycott, I am referencing the difference to not […]

The Alarm of Oppression

I recently researched the Herero people of Namibia and came across the Berlin Conference of 1898. I was stunned yet educated by a missing piece in what was making my alarm ring. This gathering of whites in Germany calculated an assault on Africa after American slavery to usher in European colonization. From Demark to Portugal, […]

The Feel Good Matrix of Black Panther (the film)

The 2018 movie Black Panther has exceeded many expectations, gross revenue, critical acclaim, symbolism, millennial attention, pride, etc.; I’ve seen it twice. My adult son enjoyed it and I think all viewers agree that the story, graphics, imagination, ethnic representation, moral of the story were special. With so much fanfare, I sigh a bit over […]

Country Before Party, Community Before Self

Last year, white republican senator Jeff Flake made a public contribution to the democratic candidate in the Alabama senators’ race. On the check memo area, he wrote “country above party.” I use this metaphor to speak to the African American community and have all of us (including myself) ask (and answer) can we do more […]

A 2018 NAPPID Day Question

Conceived in 1995, NAAPID stands for National African American Parent Involvement Day. Inspired by the Million Man March, it was created to encourage black parents to begin practicing the goals of NAAPID; there are several initiatives built into this. Promote African American parent involvement in their child’s education, provide strategies for African American parents, Identify and […]

I salute Alabama’s Black Women

With the recent senatorial election in Alabama, I must say I was pleased that Mr. Jones won against Mr. Moore. This was a special election because the president appointed Jeff Sessions to the office of attorney general. A friend and colleague of mine who was born, raised, and still lives in Birmingham once said that […]

My Self Esteem as a Descendant of American Slavery

Like many baby boomers in 2017, I can look back and see more than two generations of history. I can see it through and recall the vastness of what the world has become since around 1950. I can also break this down for my country, state, city, and neighborhood where I was raised. I was […]