What has become one of the most disturbing statements uttered by Americans is, “This is not who we are.” No, actually, this is disgustingly who we are. This collective act of self-delusion is not new; it has been a part of the American ethos since our nation’s inception. Our country’s existence has always depended on […]
The Color of Concern Read More »
It was the summer of 1971, I was 14 years old, and I was on the verge of a rite of passage every young boy undergoes. That summer, I would start my first real job, you know, the kind where you get paid less than you actually earn. Neighborhood Youth Corps was a program established
Tales From the Hood – Let The Music Play Read More »
I shared a piece titled “GOAT” on August 5, 2021. I wrote about the generation known as the “Greatest Generation.” The generation that sacrificed and fought heroically in World War II. In my article, I discussed what made this generation so special, but I also highlighted aspects of this generation and our society at the
Theoretically, institutions are the threads that weave and bind a nation together. Institutions come in many forms. They can be foundational documents, such as constitutions, governing structures, executive and legislative bodies, and systems of justice and courts. Institutions can be based on principles, such as the Bill of Rights, and democratic practices, such as voting;
The House Is On Fire Read More »
One of America’s favorite pastimes is waxing poetic about how virtuous we are and how every other country should aspire to be like us. There is much to admire and celebrate about America, but we don’t like to acknowledge or discuss the two foundational vices in our country: greed and racism. They’re in our
United $tates of America Read More »
It was August 1988, four years since I received my honorable discharge from the United States Army. Before joining the Army, I worked as a Financial Aid Director and, coincidentally, upon leaving, continued that type of work for two years for a small university in the DMV – District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia region. It
Our country seems perpetually in a state where each presidential election is the most critical election of our lifetime. Some say that phrase is hyperbolic and overused, but many don’t take it seriously. Donald Trump’s rise, which has commandeered one of our two major political parties, has represented a Rorschach test for our nation, and
Approximately 12 years ago, I wrote a tribute to a man who inspired thousands of young children growing up in Spanish Harlem and throughout New York City. That man’s name was Herbert Chuck Griffin. He was a visionary and taught us that if we could believe, we could achieve. If we persevered, so many of
Chuck Street Renaming Ceremony Read More »
March 29, 2024, was an important day for me. It was the 5th anniversary of my prostatectomy (prostate surgery). I was completing my semiannual visit to my urologist, Dr. Djalma, and received excellent news. My doctor told me that my exam results meant that my semiannual visits could now become annual visits. The medical consensus
It was the first day of summer vacation, and the sun beat down on the blacktop, which made the freshly laid pavement shimmer like black gold and hot enough to melt the rubber on a new pair of Skips. It was summertime in New York City, and that was our time to let the games
Hot Fun In The Summertime Read More »
