A cursory listen to typical radio playlists might lead folks to believe that true soul music is on life support and few true ‘sangers’ are left to revive it. But if you were at Grand Prairie’s Verizon Theater last night, Anthony Hamilton and Fantasia served up plenty of rib-sticking Southern-fried soul, nourishing the cravings of… Continue reading Fantasia & Anthony Hamilton Dish Up Southern Soul At Verizon
Category: DMN Briefing Columns
Weekly published columns that appear in Friday’s paper version of Briefing and online @dallasnews.com/local voices, make sure you check for the new ones on Saturdays to add your .02 :)
Raise Up, Man Up Or Shut Up: Brothers, the Choice Is Yours
If a single sentiment were used to describe today’s relationships between African-American men and women, the computer screen would read, “It’s complicated.” For every general conflict that can arise from connecting with the opposite sex—-career expectations, child-rearing, gender roles and so on—-historical complications, including slavery and present-day racism, can increase life’s tensions and become toxic… Continue reading Raise Up, Man Up Or Shut Up: Brothers, the Choice Is Yours
Keep It Real, Make It Plain: Truth Is Love, Not Hateration
“Can’t I criticize what I love?” Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon It’s as close as your Facebook feed, your teenager’s tweets, your girlfriend’s Instagram or Uncle’s Pinterest boards: all of us are witnessing—and to a degree, participating in—-a social-media-driven celebration of self. It’s the famous James Brown refrain from “Get Up (I Feel Like Being… Continue reading Keep It Real, Make It Plain: Truth Is Love, Not Hateration
Birthday Love, Life Lessons: a Decade With The Diva
Dear Daughter Nia, Last Monday wasn’t the sunniest of days: thunder roared, lightning flashed and storms swirled over and around us. But what still made it special for all of us was that on April 11, ten years ago to the day, you became a part of our lives. With outstretched arms and a steady… Continue reading Birthday Love, Life Lessons: a Decade With The Diva
No ‘Cans’ Left, Zero F’s Given: Beyond 40 & Over The BS
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”― Audre Lorde A few years ago, I went to a concert featuring former American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino. Just as she had been during Season 3 of the program, Barrino was a stage-slaying siren who moved the crowd… Continue reading No ‘Cans’ Left, Zero F’s Given: Beyond 40 & Over The BS