If Roots began the essential discussion, this series is the exclamation point — In August of 1619, a ship appeared on this horizon, near Point Comfort, a coastal port in the English colony of Virginia. It carried more than 20 enslaved Africans, who were sold to the colonists. No aspect of the country that would be formed here has been untouched by the…

White supremacy is rooted in insecurity, low self-esteem, and self-loathing — I would be hard-pressed to find a functioning adult in America who isn’t aware that racism exists in this country. I’m not saying they wouldn’t deny it. I’m only saying that you’d have to be living under a rock to not be cognizant of the fact that we live in…

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was set to give this speech on April 7, 1968, but he was killed three days before the world had a chance to hear it — Please don’t act like everyone loved my father. He was assassinated. A 1967 poll reflected that he was one of the most hated men in America. Most hated. Many who quote him now and evoke him to deter justice today would likely hate, and may already hate, the authentic King…

It’s hard enough to walk in our stilettos without additional restrictions and unsolicited suggestions from those with privilege We live in a country that is very “me” oriented. Most Americans are more than a little obsessed with themselves and anything that concerns them directly, which is why conversations on racism…

Tyre Nichols’ killing at the hands of five Black officers has spawned inaccurate conclusions about policing in America — Tyre Nichols, a Black man, avid skateboarder, gifted photographer, adored son, father, brother, family member, and friend described as having “such a good spirit and calm presence” is dead. He died on January 10, 2023, after succumbing to his injuries from the horrific and brutal beating at the hands of…

The third perpetrator, William Roddy, receives additional 35 years — Gregory and Travis McMichael, the father, and son responsible for the malicious death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery on February 23, 2020, were sentenced to life in prison on August 8, 2022, for committing a hate crime and violating his civil rights under Georgia law. William Roddy, the third member of…

More focus is placed on debunking the truth and glorifying arguments than on ending the cruelty and dehumanization of Black people in America — There are many incredibly gifted writers on Medium and other platforms. I often find myself mesmerized by all the intricately woven words, the heavily documented sources embedded within each article's content, and the melodic flow of ideas masterfully linked together to create essays that make each reader think.

A message of gratitude for women whose lives have been historically underappreciated and undervalued — Thank you, Black woman. Thank you for waking up today, getting out of bed, and choosing to exist in a society that often renders you invisible. Thank you for insisting on being SEEN. Thank you for never downplaying your talents, your intelligence, your savvy mindset, or your beauty to make…

I will not be waving a flag bearing stars and stripes today — THIS is America. This picture is not just a brief snapshot of a horrific one-time event in this country. It represents the underbelly that has never been dormant in this society finally rising to the top of the cup and spilling over for everyone to see. The January 6th insurrection…