Shields Or Targets? Black Women Can’t Be Both.

“If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see.” James Baldwin      “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” Malcolm X        In 2005, Calvin… Continue reading Shields Or Targets? Black Women Can’t Be Both.

Daddy Dearest: When Hypocrisy and Ignorance Goes Viral

Earlier last week, when the majority of us were focused on sports, elections and stormy weather, rapper, actor and reality star Clifford “T.I.” Harris became a one-man viral news sensation. Not because of his rhymes, this time, but his reasoning—-or lack thereof—-when it comes to sexual autonomy and parenting daughters versus his sons. The cringe-inducing… Continue reading Daddy Dearest: When Hypocrisy and Ignorance Goes Viral

Seems Like He’s Raping……

……..As a parent myself and the mother of two daughters, these allegations are heartbreaking and horrific. I cannot imagine the pain their loved ones are going through, having awareness of what’s going on and desperate to get their daughters away from the self-proclaimed ‘Pied Piper of R&B.’ But I also must ask, as a woman… Continue reading Seems Like He’s Raping……

Can We Live: When Black Women Are Shielding, Yet Targeted By, Black Men

Picture it: Dallas, 2001. I was settling into my singleness and adjusting to the demands of working and raising my then-toddler son. Slowly dealing, but still feeling the weight of it all, but I sought solace in my friends, my family and my go-to elixir of choice, music. Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama” and… Continue reading Can We Live: When Black Women Are Shielding, Yet Targeted By, Black Men

The R. Kelly Conundrum: Our Morals Or His Music?

“Your brain thinks in words; your soul thinks in music.” It was an inscription carved into a metal picture frame I was gifted with several years ago, but one that fits me to a T because I specialize in both modes of expression. And if an author or musician can consistently evoke emotions within me… Continue reading The R. Kelly Conundrum: Our Morals Or His Music?