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“The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.” -James Brown (R&B Soul Singer)

“Wise men talk because they have something to say, fools talk because they have to say something.” -Plato

Earlier this week Forbes contributor, and also (White American) Gene Marks did the unthinkable, and suddenly became a poor black kid. After reading his article…

Education is the jewel casting brilliance into the future. –Mari Evans                                                    On this day,  I will take five minutes to evaluate  how I might support my sons  better at school and be a  more effective advocate for them.

People mistake their limitations for high standards. –Jean Toomer On this day,   I pledge to inspire my sons,  to challenge their perceived limitations,  or to find ways to work around them so that they are never tempted to restrict their dreams. Read more…

In my early youth a great bitterness entered my life and kindled a great ambition. –W.E.B. Dubois On this day,  I pledge that,  when my sons are angry,  I will encourage them to determine what their upset about and figure out what they can do about it. Read more…

This is a highly complex world. It can be moved by neither blackness nor beauty. It can only be moved by people who know how to handle power. –John Henrick Clarke On this day, I will take five minutes to discuss with my sons an item relating to black pride—kente cloth,  for instance,  or a […]

What can you really say when your aunt tells you you’ve gained some weight when you arrive home for the holidays? This was me two…

All my work is meant to say, “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” __Maya Angelou On this day, using examples from our family, history or contemporary life, I  will take five minutes to talk to my sons about how we can use our defeats to fuel us to work harder. […]

Write as well as you rap; teach us as well as you dress; build as well as you dance; study as well as you condemn others and we will not have to make excuses. –Haki Madhubati On this day, I will take five minutes to talk to my sons about channeling energy so that we […]

I am not a quitter. I will fight until I drop. It is just a matter of having some faith in the fact that as long as you are able to draw breath in this universe, you have a chance. –Cicely Tyson                                                    On this day,  I will teach my sons to visualize their success and […]

Let our posterity know that we their ancestors, uncultured and unlearned, amid all trials and temptations, were men of integrity. — Alexander Crummell                               On this day,  I will take five minutes to point out something to my sons,  a photograph of  a forebear,  a patchwork quilt,  my high school yearbook,  and tell my sons that […]