Opinion

The Importance of Academic Spaces for Developing Black Excellence

The pursuit of freedom and a better life for Black and African Americans has been wrapped up in our access to educational opportunities since arriving on the shores of this land over 400 years ago.  I vividly recall my mother demanding that my four siblings and I complete high school and go on to college. My mother knew that an education would open doors of opportunity and, ultimately, a better life. Neither of my parents attended college prior to marriage and children, but attending college was not an unfamiliar concept in my home. My two oldest siblings completed trade schools

Recentering the Million Man March: Remembering the Promise of Operational Unity 

The Million Man March and Day of Absence are posed first in challenge to ourselves. We understand that the challenge to ourselves is the greatest challenge. For it is only by making demands on ourselves that we can make successful demands on society. In this regard we have raised three basic themes: Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility.  

Let Me Tell You Why I Think We Should Vote 

Let me start off by saying, no, I’m not naïve, stupid, or a childish patriot with an American Flag pin on my lapel.  I know that sometimes it feels like this voting thing is all BS.  I realize that for years as a people we haven’t seen most of our political prayers realized in the time we would like, and yes, sometimes they seem like they will never be answered.   

Do You Think You Are Worth Investing in Yourself?  

Over the years I have worked with many high-level people who pour their entire lives into what they do and what they believe in, especially when it comes to helping others.  However, when it comes to investing in ourselves and getting what we need to continue to grow and become our best selves we struggle.    

The Rape of Tamar

Merriam-Webster defines “rape” in several definitions. However, we will focus on the most well-publicized definitions as this: a carrying away by force; unlawful intercourse with a woman without her consent, and chiefly by force or deception.   

Are You Ready to Finish Strong in the Fourth Quarter?

October marks the beginning of the fourth quarter.  Often when we hear references to being in the fourth quarter we think of sports.  The fourth quarter is usually when the players put everything on the line to win the game.  If they have already done well, they continue to sprint forward and if they are behind, they muster up all the energy they can to win the game.   

Let’s All Support National Bullying Awareness Month  

October is National Bullying Awareness Month and during this time we should all acknowledge and bring awareness to the subject of bullying especially because of the devasting and ongoing negative impact that is has not only amongst our youth, but in our society as a whole. Bullying is an extremely serious matter that continues to disrupt the lives of our children. Many children suffer in silence, harboring inner pain that stemmed from being bullied.

Remembering and Recounting Seasons of Righteous Struggle: More Notes on Resistance From a 1960s Lecture 

 We really have to watch our language when we talk and interpret history and current realities and always interpret things and speak from a Black frame of reference. Even people who are supposed to be conscious sometimes slip into a white way of conceiving and saying things. But if we are constantly attentive to how we understand and interpret things from a Black frame of reference, a Black perspective, we won’t make such self-diminishing and undermining mistakes.  

The 2023 Assessment Roll 

I come before you this month to let you know we are in the final stages of fulfilling our Constitutional mandate and probably the most significant item I do as your Assessor: The Assessment Roll.  

Rabbit Hunting Ain’t No Fun When the Rabbit Got a Gun 

  Isn’t it interesting that Republicans and the Red “Mad” Hatters are all flipping out because one crazy white boy (who was a bad shot) tried to kill Trump?  And another didn’t get the opportunity to test his marksmanship before being ran off by Secret Service — this white-on-white crime is just getting out of hand!   I wonder if “60 Minutes” is going to do a segment called, “The Hate that Hate Produced?”  Some of you may remember, back in July of 1959, Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes” became interested in the Nation of Islam after being told of the

The Meaning and Moral Imperative of Struggle: Some Instructive Insights From the Odu Ifa  

In the midst of our and other ongoing struggles for liberation, freedom, justice and other indispensable and indivisible goods in the world, I turn constantly to the sacred texts of our ancestors for grounding and guidance, for constantly deepening insight, urgently needed answers, and uplifting and liberating inspiration. This is especially important to me, to Us, in these difficult, dangerous and demanding times in which evil seems ascendant, shape shifting oppression appears ever-enduring, genocide is shamelessly “justified” by the would-be “superior” and “civilized,” and righteous resistance is denounced and outlawed on campus, in Congress and society.   But still we must