In the brilliant and paradigm shifting masterpiece, Where We Stand, bell hooks takes on the subject of class in America and Americans refusal to discuss it. Classism, bigotry and racism affect us all and lead us all to make some dumb ass assumptions and then commit to some even dumber behaviors. When we view history… Read More »
I often find myself telling friends and anyone who can hear that while I am often derided and or ridiculed for being weird, outspoken and too truthful, people often rely on my insight to assist them with inviting and managing change. The one fear that consistently rears its head is that I will be rendered… Read More »
Several years ago, I read an essay about the ways that we respond to violence. It was pointed out that we typically will have one reaction if we are assaulted in the world by someone we don’t know or have never seen. We respond differently when it is someone we know intimately. Many times during… Read More »
Twenty plus years ago Marianne Williamson’s brilliant Return to Love rocked my world. In this mind blowing book, she addressed the concept that everything we do in life moves us closer to fear or love. Brene Brown states that culturally our daily questions consists of: Who are we supposed to be afraid of and whose… Read More »
When I hear the nonsense of racism regarding scary black men and then get immediately assured that I am not one of “them”, I often wonder: When is my time coming ? We have been hoodwinked into believing that some of us deserve life (educated, churchgoing, those on their way to college) while others (drug… Read More »
Today, September 1, marks the beginning of a movement. My movement is to stop the brutality of black men by police that continues to sweep this country on a daily basis. Black folks and those who care about us should be aghast at our treatment. Shock and disgust will not invite change. Praying and hoping… Read More »
About a week ago, an acquaintance invited me to a party with this preface: It’s just for women and we will have a male stripper but you can come since your gay”. I politely and shockingly declined. It was clear to me that this person like many others is confused about a definition of maleness… Read More »
Recently, I have been obsessed with images from the Civil Rights Movement. I want to be reminded of how vile human beings could be and the possibility of change. I want to remind myself that this group of brave soldiers (individuals) faced death, vicious dogs and racist violent cops willing to murder and annihilate children… Read More »
Black Men and depression have had an interesting relationship. We are not socialized to psychological and emotionally see men. Many of our behaviors people wrongly assume is just maleness asserting itself. Many of our behaviors people mislabel as men being men. Violent, moody, silent and unresponsive. We simple chalk it up to a gender deficiency… Read More »
When I announced my pending marriage more than four months ago , my family was very vocal with their disapproval. Some of the bullshit I heard was just mesmerizing. “You don’t know him that well”. “Nobody in our family has met him and You are making a big mistake are a few of the brilliant… Read More »