Perspective

Hair Boundaries

Boundaries! What have we, as Black women, sacrificed in generations of our lives dealing with the boundaries of our hair to fit into white society? First, we were forcefully brought to these American shores by force, tortured, and raped for 400+ years in this hemisphere by brutish captors…

Pushing Against Caste Boundaries

In my seven decades, I’ve learned, experienced, been amazed, been defeated, yet survived and thrived. As I read Isabel Wilkerson‘s discussion about class and caste in her immortal work… Caste: The Origins of our Discontent, I re-examined my educational and career experiences considering her intensive dissection of the…

Serving Care: Entrepreneur, Candice Hayes

I met Candice Hayes at least 15 years ago when she was giving home spa treatments. She was enthusiastic and on point; I knew she had business acumen. Entrepreneurship came earnestly to Hayes; beyond his job, her late father owned a janitorial and painting business. Hayes recalls,” At…

Confined Love: Sena Tues

“Fervid Look” series 1(102cm X 120cm) on canvasMixed Media on Canvas / Collage I was formatting this issue and had what I thought was a random thought; “I need Sena Tues in this issue.” I love his series of images with flowers. My daughter and I were discussing…

The Issue with Afro-textured Hair

When one thinks about it, the issue with the type of hair that African Americans have remained such a conundrum is fascinating. One realizes that many folks in American society need glasses, common sense, or lessons in observing and actually “seeing.” When Africans were forced into slavery in…

Thanks for Listening: Learning Boundaries

I have been troubled by folks who try to limit my rambunctiousness from a very young age. As I aged, I learned that being too truthful was not necessarily good. Until age seventeen, I thought that the truth was the light, and that was how God wanted it….

The Unwanted Call

September 18, 2017 I am standing in my kitchen, puncturing a white marshmallow that I’ve just popped into my mouth with my tongue. My cell phone rings. I pat myself down for it. It’s you. I haven’t been expecting your call. Not after the way you treated me…

What’s Your Focus?

We often focus on our failures and disappointments and tend to forget or disregard our successes – this statement is not very far away from the truth! It is so easy for me to focus even right now on the failures and disappointments I have encountered in my…

Rest Required

Our lives are crowded with busy distractions, racing schedules, and self-imposed demands. We need to include some downtime to sit and rest. Even the Winter teaches us this – let go, be silent, be still and rest. I am a confessed workaholic. I love nothing more than to…