Y’all know I’ve been writing–and finishing–two books for the past few years. So I don’t talk to y’all all the time, only when something presses urgently on me, and this past couple of months have been weighing my heart down. The political atmosphere is crazy, and I’ve learned to take that in some-what stride. […]
This week, when I read the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, I wished I could say I was shocked, but I’m not. The accusations against him are so familiar to me. I recognize my experiences along the same spectrum, in different professional arenas, particularly as a writer, though in my case, I was the victim of […]
In one week, our President has attacked #TakeAKnee protesters and ignored the crisis in Puerto Rico. Quiet as it’s kept, both situations involve the dismissal of black folks as un-American.
“Son of a bitch” has obvious, gendered implications as well. In fact, the insult is less about the son and more about the mother who established lineage. The mother must the original animal to create another animal.
Last week, as I read about the courage of Jemele Hill in addressing the disturbing messages coming from the White House, my own racial cowardice was thrown into relief. Those people who know me would be shocked by my calling myself a coward. After all, I was a red, black, and green diaper baby, a […]
Hey Y’all: It’s been a long time! Too much has been going on for me to tell you about, and yes, I’m still on official blog hiatus. But it’s my blog, so that means, I can come back any time I want! And this month is my birthday month! And yes, I’m a Leo. Okay, stop […]
I wish I could find a phrase that instantly informs the sweet, perfectly nice, very liberal and progressive white organizers of literary events that if you’ve only got four black guests in a room of over two hundred, you don’t sit one of those black guests in the back of the room, especially if she’s […]
Y’all I was just doing a random search and came upon this YouTube video from “With Ossie and Ruby.” It said, “Ruby Dee” performs her poem–and I thought, now, Miss Ruby was one of my favorites actresses, but I didn’t know she was a poet! I clicked on it, and Miss Odetta starts singing. (Don’t know […]
For some reason, I woke up at 3:15 this morning, checking things off my Daily To-Do List. Usually, I don’t awake until about 8am or even later, and when I do, I always chastise myself for laziness. I am the daughter of a woman who grew up on a farm, who rose in darkness to […]
It’s Afropalooza Time!!!–And I had to come back for this. I had to. You know this is my favorite time of the year. And no, I am not going to give excuses for being gone so long. I’m just going to act like your favorite auntie: Swish in wearing my cutest outfit, pretend I’ve […]