My 2015 Year in Review

Everyone’s year in review is a personal experience. I am leaving the biggest news stories ‘year in review’ for the media outlets. My year involved me growing and branching out as a poet. I didn’t complete all task I set before me regarding an activist memoir but I did well with my poetry. My year […]

My Kind of Town

C is for Corruption…C is for Chaos…C is for Chicago! I am a Chicago native born, raised, and educated including undergrad and post-grad studies. I still love my hometown. Those who have moved away usually have done so because of reasons that are not specific to the city. Well unless you count tons and tons […]

Op-Ed: Electing New Chicago Leadership

From a distance, one can only read as events unfold in Chicago. Revolution is a good thing only when viewed in its entirety. Don’t get so caught up in toppling false gods and the witch hunt that you lose sight of what truly matters: What comes next? If you look at Arab Spring, Egypt, and […]

Beyond World Borders

“Put brain in gear before putting mouth in motion.” This was one of my father’s favorite sayings. Yes, he could have said, “Think before you speak.” However, the words he used created a clear visual picture. Truly engaging your brain and organizing your thoughts prior to speaking is a skill that not everyone posses. Responses […]

Together We Stand

The following content was published in The State Newspaper – South Carolina on Tuesday, October 13, 2015: Disaster, tragedy, and devastation can bring the worst out in people. Here in South Carolina recent floods as a residual affect of hurricane Joaquin have brought out the best in people. Just as with other natural disasters […]

A Brother Remembers – USS Cole Attack

Originally posted on PaisleyPerspective:
~~~ On October 12, 2000 I like the rest of the world learned about the attack on the USS Cole while docked in Aden, Yemen. 17 naval personnel were killed and 39 injured as result of the bombing that blasted a 40 by 40 ft. hole into the side of the…

Intolerance

On September 11, 2001 the U.S. was devastated with terrorist attacks in New York City at the World Trade Center and Washington, DC at the Pentagon. There was also the downing of United Airlines flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It is suspected that the White House was the intended target of flight 93 hijackers. Those […]

Favorite Teachers

Teachers are the mortar of society. A good teacher helps to bind knowledge within us. Excellent teachers allow us to ask “why?” and then allow us to think through to our own conclusion(s). When we veer off the path a good teacher will guide us back and orientate us in the right direction.

First Days

Tear streaked faces with runny noses along with convulsive crying are a constant on the first day of school for many parents of five year olds. Parents don’t fear it will be okay, I know you’re nervous. Oh you thought I was talking about the children…well they too have their moments. However most often it […]

Built By Bullies

My first encounter with a bully was when I witnessed a classmate have milk poured on their head. I was 5 years old and waiting for my mother to pick me up from half day kindergarten. I recall thinking that the act was mean but the kid who did it was much older, so I […]