Before the barbecue. Before the beach trips and blowout sales. Before America made it about summer. We made it sacred. May 1, 1865, Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War had just ended. Freedom had just…
May 19th Belongs to the Fire Starters: Malcolm & Yuri
I’m not here to litigate who killed Malcolm.Not here to debate why the FBI feared him, or how America labeled him a threat while ignoring the threats it posed to him.And I’m not here to…
Y’all Still Buying Eggs?
To all you Appalachian-living, no-teeth-having, Walmart-shopping, healthcare-lacking, MAGA hat-wearing inbreds—are you still buying eggs? What did yo’ mans have to give up to get a $400 million dollar plane? Was it his soul or yours.…
MOVE
I’m a few days late writing this. May 13, 2025, marked what would have been the 40th anniversary of this horrific event. But I needed time—to learn more, to sit with the weight of it,…
Dear Momma,
Twenty-seven—the number of years you’ve been gone. It still hurts. I still don’t really celebrate Mother’s Day. I used to say after you were gone that Michelle is not my mother, so I don’t have…
Fire
- Posted on
- – 2 Comments on Fire
I rose this morning smelling like smoke. But last night, I’d been cleansed. It was the fire, you see. Brothers around the flame. Our ancestors—Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, and many others—shining through our lit faces. Kings.…
Desegregation vs. Integration — Part II
When Desegregation Disguises Itself as Integration Desegregation without real integration wasn’t just a missed opportunity. It was a wound — one that never properly healed. When the focus stayed on access but never touched belonging,…
Desegregation vs. Integration — Part I
Unlocking Doors vs. Building New Homes What is the difference between desegregation and integration? A question asked to a panel at a symposium on local Black history I was fortunate to attend at Northwestern University.The…
Lighthouse
This Easter morning, I dropped Michelle and her mom off at Mass, then headed to church. Like most Easters in my life, I didn’t really want to go. The days of knowing what I’d wear…
Commandments
This is an excerpt from my book BLACK, please leave a comment and share your opinion. I used to watch The Ten Commandments every Easter weekend on ABC. That was just part of the rhythm…