So, Grant Cardone is in the news this week. You may know him as an author and a purveyor of financial and business advice. I’ve never absorbed any of his content. I’m leery of anyone who’s made a fortune telling other people how to make a fortune — especially when they target specific audiences, like Black people. … Continue reading There’s Customizing a Message for Your Audience, and There’s Perpetuating Bias
One of the fastest women in the world is a 21-year-old Black woman from Dallas with a penchant for brightly colored weaves, long nails and window washer eye lashes. Her name is Sha’Carri Richardson, and her appearance is all anyone can talk about. Sure, we acknowledge that she’s on her way to her first Olympics, … Continue reading Leave Sha’Carri Alone. She’s Young, and She’s a Winner
I must say I don’t feel the least bit gruesome for the subtle satisfaction I feel in acknowledging — dare I say, low key celebrating? — someone’s demise. But I don’t. I suppose it helps that Aunt Jemima isn’t actually a person. She’s a construct. An antiquated, racist construct that has now officially been rebranded. Out with … Continue reading Aunt Jemima Is Dead
My closest friends know I have a running joke about how in my next life I want to be reincarnated as a white man. I’d like to be 6’3″, fine, with thick, jet black hair, milk pale skin and blue eyes. I mean blue! That spooky, piercing Chris Pine/Paul Newman blue. The rest of me … Continue reading To Avoid Arrest and Death in Cases of Domestic Terrorism, It’s Best to Have Blue Eyes and White Skin
So, Pinterest settled a huge discrimination lawsuit this week. Francoise Brougher, its former chief operating officer, received $22.5M. It’s big. But what’s interesting is that the women who initially brought the discrimination to light received virtually nothing. “Ifeoma Ozoma and Aerica Shimizu Banks went public in June with allegations of racial and gender discrimination, two months before … Continue reading Pinterest Settles Big Discrimination Lawsuit, Ignores Key — Black — Players
In a word, what’s happening right now in the media, and low key in this country, is a shitshow. It’s like this Fast Company piece from Joe Berkowitz said: “We are heading down a dark path, and laughing all the way about the shoddy paving.” It’s ridiculous, but this is the reality. We are so bogged down … Continue reading The Media Is In Crisis, and It’s Taking America Down with It
My sister and her friend got me a bike for my birthday, and I’ve been riding it almost every day. It feels wonderful to move fast, propelling myself forward, a cooling wind in my hair — even though I’ve probably eaten quite a few bugs. But I’ve seen a man recently, built, strong, walking along … Continue reading This Is the World that We Live In
In this age of social media, it’s refreshing to say, there are still a lot of good old-fashioned letters being written. Of course, they’re not being delivered via USPS – thank goodness, since they’re having their own issues – but these letters are doing a lot to convey the thoughts, feelings and intentions of the … Continue reading Kamala Harris for VP, and the Army of Men and Women Who’ve Put a No-Nonsense Line of Support in the Sand
I can only believe — mostly because I want to — that right now we’re going through some kind of farcical growing pains in society. Why? Because I see too much name calling, finger pointing, lying, he say she say type behavior going on, and it’s exactly the type of nonsense you engage in before … Continue reading What Do You Do When Grown People Act Like Kids?
A Life Not Grey 