What’s clear is that the scientific community and community leaders must reach out and work hard to ensure that African Americans gain the confidence to get vaccinated. This won’t be easy. But with the leadership of Dr. Corbett and others, and with a new administration getting serious about providing the resources for mass vaccination and for outreach into the communities most impacted, lives can be saved. ... read more »

We can concede that it was a shock to many, if not most, White folks to see “their own” dressed in Hollywood Viking and Visigoth headdress, howling hate, attacking police and property, calling out kill lists for various future victims, as they rampaged seditiously and sanctimoniously through the Capitol attempting a coup. But they should not have been surprised, even if shocked, about how this time they found themselves and some of us and others, needing to shelter in place and hide under desks and tables to escape harm and possible death in one of America’s most sacred and secured places of government, the U.S. Capitol Building. ... read more »

How about a tomato with genes from a fish?? Or a real cat that lights up in the dark? (dpsnc.instructure.com) We hear about crossbreeding, mingling and mixing different kinds of seeds, animals, foods? ... read more »

There was a time when the aspiration of most Black Americans was either sports or music, as other vocations were closed or limited at best. As the old saying goes, if life deals you lemons, make lemonade. So, Blacks like Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson and Berry Gordy ran with what they had to work with. ... read more »

America’s Democracy was recently challenged and rocked.  As the New York Times quoted, the mob that stormed our Nation’s Capitol, “listened to the president.”  Trump called them, “very special people.”  He went on to also say, “we love you.”  ... read more »

January 6th, 2021 was intended to be a day of ceremonial ritual that underscored the strength of our democracy, and the commitment we as a nation have to a set of principles, values, and ideals that anchor our embrace of the constitution of the United States. Students in universities and colleges, in K-12 institutions, and even mature adults could treat it as a civics lesson, for there were many teachable moments in this season of election politics. ... read more »

Once again, the edges of the years have met and merged, and another new year has come. And we find ourselves and the world in the midst of winter in the worst of ways. COVID-19, a pandemic of worldwide proportions and devastating impact, has swept across the world, wreaking havoc on the health, lives, and livelihood of millions, showing no mercy and no signs of an early exit. ... read more »

The decision not to charge the officers who shot and killed a Black child on sight encapsulates everything that is wrong with the Department of Justice under the current administration. Once again, it has protected the powerful at the expense of the powerless. Once again, it has failed to seek justice for a Black life. ... read more »

Yup! That’s the right attitude. Attitude, outlook, state of mind, mindset, bright perspective, without fear … these all promote your success going forward. Here’s the thing. Your goal-plan may be for one year; however, take in your plan one day at a time. Why? Because Rome wasn’t built in a day (a saying) You can make change through the power of “the spoken word.” Know what you want. ... read more »

Our country will remember this year as the year of COVID-19 and the uprising in activism for Black communities throughout the country. During a financially burdensome time for all restaurants, but especially for Black business owners, we started the Black Restaurant Coalition of Los Angeles. Our organization was founded to strengthen, support, and promote restaurateurs, small businesses and the entire Black restaurant community. ... read more »

The selection of California Senator Kamala Harris to join and then win the nation’s Vice-Presidency gave unprecedented hope to Black women across the nation. Not only had a woman broken a glass ceiling in professional development; she was also Black and a graduate of Howard University, one of the nation’s premier Historically Black Institutions. ... read more »

Gun violence spiked across the country in 2020, the most violent year in decades. 19,000 were killed in shootings, the highest death toll in 20 years (and that does not include gun suicides). Mass shootings — defined as four or more shot in an incident — also rose drastically to over 600. ... read more »

I recently read about another African American man by the name of Andre Hill that was killed by a White police officer in Ohio. The officer mistakenly thought a cell phone Mr. Hill had in his hand was a gun. I also just read that since the death of George Floyd, there have been at least 76 Black people killed by White police officers. ... read more »

Every year as the clock rolls over to the next, I begin to reflect on how I did during the current year and then I write out what I hope to achieve for the year to come. If you are like me, I am so ready to say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021.  However, even with all the pain and disappointment that came this year, I still was able to experience some joy when I married the love of my life in our backyard this past summer. ... read more »

You have choice. Ask yourself, “what seeds have I sown and expect them to blossom and grow. Surely, over a period of time you have sown some seeds to grow something. You expect to reap fruit from the seeds. Don’t you? Yes, of course. ... read more »