White Racial Illiteracy Puts Us All In Jeopardy
More significantly, most White people have never had to learn about Black people. They’ve never had to adapt to our environment, or to learn our collective social norms (even noting that being Black is not one monolithic thing).
The Value of Discomfort
Imagine if you are a top surgeon who specializes in brain cancer; and you frequently talk to your patients and their loved ones about their condition, the proposed treatment options, […]
America: Be Honest With Me . . . Can I Have Both?
I’m a quintessential 70’s girl: raised to be modest. I’m now in my 40’s and am just learning how to graciously accept a compliment, negotiate what is deserving, and embrace […]
Organization Isolation
Edith’s is a place where not much has changed in 16 years. The menu is the same, the booths are the same thick, burgundy fake leather (with a few more cracks), there is still a working jukebox, and many of the employees are the same. When Leslie walks in, they don’t say, “Hi Leslie” they holler “June-y, hey baby!” They know her by her childhood nickname. They know HER. There – at Edith’s – she belongs.
TIME TO GIVE FEWER FCK$
One of the greatest benefits of having money in life is the freedom to not give a fCK. The more money you have the fewer fCks you have to give. […]
Black Enough? Who Gets a Card?
Teenage hormones evidently caused me to be temporarily insane because I brazenly announced to my strong, Southern, Black momma one day that if she didn’t allow me to go to […]
HOW A CONVERSATION ABOUT A BLOW-UP SANTA LET THE AIR OUTTA MY JOLLY
Hell naaaaw! Please don’t tell me that you have one of those huge blow up Santas in your front yard, I teased while laughing hysterically. I was talking to one […]
Braids and Blindness
This summer, me and my teenage sons spent almost five exciting, humbling, fascinating and educational weeks touring Thailand, Bali and Hong Kong. Besides ensuring that passports and immunizations were current, […]
Unfriended: What Happens When Folks Try To Have Uncomfortable Conversations
Spasmodic rain – quickly switching between many large and heavy drops, and sparser, smaller ones – during my rush hour drive allowed my brain to wander to subjects that had […]
I Have #MeToo Many Questions
I believe Christine Blasey-Ford. I believe Deborah Ramirez. I believe the dozens of women that were assaulted by Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Bill Cosby and Donald Trump. I know that […]