Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

I am for good fences. I believe in maintaining good fences. I believe in mending fences. And like a good neighbor . . . a fence should always be there to separate and maintain personal property. So why is it certain people who do not have good regard for their own have even less for their

And One to Grow On

The final day of Black History Month deserves a special bonus and I believe Eloise Greenfield and Daniel Minter’s book—all sixteen pages that feel like eight—fits the bill. It’s about mid-wives, the women who “caught” the babies. “Somewhere in the African past,before the guns, before the shackles,before the kidnappingsof story-tellers and sky-readers,musicians, dancers, doctors,sculptors, teachers, planters,hunters,

From Coon to King

We have gone from “coon” to king in twenty-eight days. Only in America, folks. Only in America. Every day is a day in the life of African Americans. Happy Black History Month to all who celebrate! Be well.

Whitney Moore Young

I do not recall learning anything about Whitney Moore Young before today. Meeting him for the first time has been exciting. He worked with Lyndon Johnson. So why haven’t we heard more about him? He headed the Urban League for Pete’s sake. Young said he grew up with the basic belief in the inherent decency

I Found Him

A high and low search for a new person to shine the history spotlight on yielded nothing. Until this morning when suddenly he was there. In fact there are two such worthy gentlemen. I found both of them here. But wait. Perhaps Mr. Johnson should not be listed as such because I, too, knew about

You’d Think I Know Better

I have a habit of collecting interesting discoveries from the backyard. Sometimes I slip them in a pocket and forget about them until they’re discovered in the washer or even the dryer. Having to clean up the messes is punishment enough until the next time I forget. Too often something live or its eggs accompanies

Day Two Five of Two Eight

I have three days left in the month and am nowhere near the end of possible greats to write about. James Baldwin is hanging out in the wings but there’s a game that needs watching and dinner that needs prepping. And Muller. All eighty-six pages! They are riddled with links though. So maybe I will

When We Could Fly

I remember when I discovered Virginia Hamilton. Today I could not for the life of me recall if she is an African American or not. My how memory clouds. There was a time when I tried to buy every book she wrote and every book the Dillons illustrated. I read them out loud to our

A Brother From Different Mother

I still wonder why he did it. His truth is marching on. Still.

With Rice

Not much beats leftovers if it’s a dish everyone likes. One of the best is my recipe for okra, tomatoes and shrimp served over rice. Cornbread on the side is nice but no salad is necessary. A good andouille is a grand substitute for shrimp while crab and shrimp send the dish over the top.