Women Are People, Not Symbols One useful lesson is that women should not be idealized as morally purer, less sexual, or less complicated than men. Women, like men, can be generous, selfish, loyal, dishonest, confident, insecure, romantic, practical, and everything in between. The mistake comes when one stereotype is replaced with another. Real understanding begins
Stop Believing the Script and Start Seeing the Person Read More »
Willard “Home Run” Brown Willard Brown was already a Negro League star before the St. Louis Browns gave him a major-league opportunity in 1947. Josh Gibson had nicknamed him “Home Run” Brown, and segregation had already taken away some of his prime years before the American League opened its doors. Less than a month after
The Bat Nobody Wanted Read More »
Reading Scripture With Different Eyes I have reached a point where I no longer believe the Bible has to be read in only one way. It contains history, poetry, law, prophecy, parable, wisdom, and spiritual teaching. Some passages describe events, while others also speak to the inner life. A story can belong to the ancient
The Kingdom Within Read More »
Smart Was Not Enough One of the strongest lessons this individual learned at Morehouse was that intelligence alone would not separate him for long. He was surrounded by talented, ambitious Black men who could think, write, speak, and compete at a high level. That experience taught him that potential means little until discipline gives it
Prepare for the Seat Before You Take It Read More »
The Noise Around Us Not every voice deserves access to your spirit. People will tell you what cannot be done, why something will fail, or why you should stop trying. Sometimes they are not trying to hurt you; they are simply speaking from the limits of their own experience. The danger comes when their limits
Be Careful What You Listen To Read More »
Trust Begins With Feeling Heard People open up when they feel genuinely heard. Too often, we listen only long enough to prepare our own response. Someone shares an experience, and we immediately answer with one of our own. We may think we are connecting, but sometimes we are pulling the attention away from them. Charles
If You Want to Be Heard, Prove That You Heard Them Read More »
When an Amazing Story Sounds Like Hidden History The claim that nine-foot Black pharaohs were discovered in ancient American mounds sounds dramatic because it combines mystery, hidden history, giant bodies, golden masks, and government secrecy. But extraordinary claims still require evidence. I could not find credible archaeological support for the supposed mummies, Egyptian burials, ancient
A Story So Shocking I Had to Check It Read More »
The Past Is Not Coming Back to Apologize Life has taught me that the past may never return with the apology or explanation I wanted. I can replay what happened, but I cannot change it. Healing begins when I stop waiting for yesterday to make things right and start asking what I learned from surviving
What Burned Me Also Taught Me Read More »
Living Through Trouble Before It Comes I have caught myself having entire arguments in my head before anything actually happened. I can be driving somewhere and already know what I think someone will say, how I will answer, and how badly the conversation will end. By the time I arrive, my body may already be
The Arguments That Never Happened Read More »
Language and Thought The idea that language shapes reality is appealing because it suggests that different languages help people see the world in different ways. Linguist John McWhorter argues that language can influence how we think, but usually only in limited ways. He does not believe language creates completely different realities for different groups. Culture
Does Language Shape Reality, or Record It? Read More »