A few days ago, NBC sought to create a winter holiday TV event with The Wiz Live! that combined the family friendly wholesomeness of the The Sound of Music with the Twitter-takeover cultural force of Scandal and Empire. Continue reading “The Wiz of Chi-raq”
Don’t Sit There
I was supposed to be on a bus going to Massachusetts to see the autumn leaves in their full New England colorful bloom. Continue reading “Don’t Sit There”
Off White Privilege
Recent terror attacks in Paris and Beirut. Civil war in Syria. Forced exodus of millions of Syrian and Iraqi families. French bombs. U.S. bombs. Russian bombs. Soda can bombs. These are serious times. Continue reading “Off White Privilege”
Dear Why People
This afternoon I took a break from the daily routine and spent a few hours walking through the American Museum of Natural History. As I walked up to the entrance on Central Park West, I saw a line of yellow school buses and I knew my plans for a peaceful & quiet wander were not going to happen today. Continue reading “Dear Why People”
Thank You For Being Here
Over the weekend, while eating breakfast at my favorite diner, I saw two elderly women rise from their seats in the booth next to me and embrace each other in an extended hug while saying those words to each other. This simple combination of gesture and word, this display of authentic friendship, stopped me in the middle of my meal. Continue reading “Thank You For Being Here”
Lights, Camera, Slam
This week the country has been faced with another incident in the great state of South Carolina involving a local law enforcement officer misusing his authority and mishandling a citizen. Among the many debates that have taken place on TV, on social media, and in living rooms across the country, one line of argument has been particularly troubling to me. Continue reading “Lights, Camera, Slam”
Watercolors at the Water Cooler
“Is this what progress feels like?!” That was the first of many questions which jumped in my mind while reading a recent Atlantic magazine article by Dr. Adia Harvey Wingfield which presents a view of workplace diversity from the perspective of people whose bodies and backgrounds have added color to the canvas of the professional workplace. Continue reading “Watercolors at the Water Cooler”
Good Clean English Names
“Why didn’t your mother give you a good, clean, English name?”
This unfortunate question was directed to me by a newly hired co-worker at my job during a training session a few weeks ago. While my initial reaction was surprise at the boldness and lack of tact with which the statement was uttered, the second (and longer-lasting) feeling that cascaded over me was one of disappointment in my co-worker. From the outside, it looked like she would have known better.
The New Negrotarians
In the middle of a recent conversation with my brother about the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, he described his political position by using a term I’d never heard before: Negrotarian. Continue reading “The New Negrotarians”
ClassofHC Poll: Who Do You Love?
While roaming the streets of Twitter recently, I came across a debate between sports commentator Bomani Jones and a collection of his followers and his trolls. The discussion was sparked by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aug 26th signing of Michael Vick, the former Falcons, Eagles, and Jets quarterback. Continue reading “ClassofHC Poll: Who Do You Love?”