Commentary
Fight Apathy, Play Spades
Have you ever played spades and got a hand with no trump or face cards? What did you do? Did you look at your partner in a way to signify that you had nothing? Did you decide to bluff or try to intimate the opposing team? Maybe they will make a mistake. Did you cheat or think about cheating? Did you call misdeal and force everyone to start over with a new hand? Or, did you play the hand you were dealt and let the cards fall where they may?
Paul Mayhue Says, Don't Do Business With Turn Key
Grand Rapids resident and former Commissioner Paul Mayhue, Vietnam Veteran and Paid Mortgage Officer, discovered some water leakage in his roof that started in his garage.
Are Black Women Turning Into Men?
Editorial / By Dr. Yaounde Olu An article written by @IndiaMonee titled "Pastor T.D. Jakes Says Families Are Lost Because We Are Raising Up Women To Be Men" and shared on Facebook by Shad Wick attributes the following to a sermon by Pastor T.D. Jakes, delivered on Father's Day, entitled "Real Men Pour In."
Celebrating the 4th of July in 2022
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
We Are The Government
This week, I talked to a friend about some of today's trending topics, and he said something that stuck with me: "We are the government." His statement is accurate, and it made me think about how we use, acknowledge, criticize and shape what we traditionally think of as the "government." Most of us operate as though the government is outside of our being, and we view it as something bigger than us, an agency or system beyond our control. However, the foundation of our government is our constitution, and it begins with us as it starts with ... we the people.
Showing Patriotism Despite Hate and Discrimination
I am presenting at the Midwestern History conference at Grand Valley State University this week. I am always excited when I get the chance to highlight the contributions of African American women in Grand Rapids. This week I am talking about the war work of local African American women during the first world war. World War I (WWI) started in 1914 with a conflict between France and Germany.
A Black Mother's Tears
Last Thursday, after the release of the videos showing how their son was killed, the parents of Patrick Lyoya spoke at a press conference at Renaissance Church of God in Christ Family Center. Peter and Dorcas Lyoya explained how they came to America seeking safety from the Republic of Congo in 2014. They went on to say that that sense of security was destroyed by the police when Patrick was killed. They shared that Patrick was their first child, and Mr. Lyoya noted that he expected Patrick to take his place as the patriot of the family.
My April Muse is MLK
A muse is a person or personified force who is a source of inspiration or creativity. Used as a verb, to muse someone or something is to consider them thoughtfully. This week with all that is going on logically, nationally, and even internationally, I am musing on the work and words of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Who is Indoctrinating Whom?
A form of hypocrisy is what it is. Have you ever accused someone of doing something while you were actually engaging in the very thing you were charging? Over the past year, the far-right has accused educators, Democrats, and others of "indoctrination" regarding Critical Race Theory (CRT), gender identity, and diversity in the classroom. Indoctrination is defined as the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of ideas, beliefs, and values. Humph, this is interesting because there have been attempts to condition or brainwash Black people into believing that we are inferior since being brought to America. So, these recent accusations of indoctrination regarding racism are like the pot calling the kettle black.
The Confirmation Hearing: Are You Watching This
Have you been watching, listening, paying attention to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court hearings? I think you will agree that she has been put through some unnecessary nonsense if you have. Many of the questions asked by Republicans are not to get information about her work, experience, or even her philosophy. The questions are designed to clue in and elicit the Trump base, the far-right Republicans, and people who fear and have contempt for those who don't look, think, or behave as they do.
Women History and Voting Rights
I'm kind of in my feelings because last Sunday was the 57th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday." You know, the march across the Edmond Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 7th, 1965. The day that six hundred plus people boldly protested even though one of their own, Jimmie Lee Jackson, a voting rights activist, was shot and killed during a peaceful protest a few days before. The day in which these protesters were compelled to challenge voter suppression and Jim Crow practices. The day that their peaceful protest was met with violence from state and local police, the very institutions that were supposed to protect and serve them. The day in which police attacked and beat those protesters, including John Lewis, then a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee leader, though they did nothing wrong. Bloody Sunday is widely considered a catalyst and turning point for getting the 1965 Voting Rights Act passed in August of that year. I'm in my feeling because despite all that, here we are in 2022, and several states have introduced and passed legislation that chips away at the very thing they fought for, our Voting Rights.
Salute To Ketanji Brown Jackson
Black women are finally getting their due. First, Joe Biden picked Kamala Harris as his running mate, and she is now the Vice President of the United States. Many of us thought that we would never see that day. Then last week, President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become a Supreme Court Justice, making her the first Black woman ever nominated. According to Whitehouse.gov, President Biden selected Jackson because she has "exceptional credentials, unimpeachable character, and an unwavering dedication to the rule of law." Wow, as a Black woman myself, I am more than proud; I am excited for her. And I admire her for the work she had put in to reach this level.