(ThyBlackMan.com) History may not perfectly repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Two protectionist episodes — the infamous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 and the Trump-era tariffs of today — offer a striking example. Both emerged from economic nostalgia and fear of change. Both were politically attractive. And both were costly, ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) It feels strange talking about the world’s richest man, only 53 years old, in the past tense. But that somehow seems appropriate for Elon Musk, who weeks ago was considered Donald Trump’s co-president. Now he’s clearly falling off that high perch, just as Tesla, his star asset, reports net ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) When we look back at the golden era of late ’90s and early 2000s R&B, one name that always commands respect is Ginuwine. He wasn’t just another smooth voice on the radio—he was a vibe. From those futuristic Timbaland beats to the way he made vulnerability sound sexy, Ginuwine ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Donald Trump ran on a platform of peace, economic revitalization, prosperity, secure borders, domestic tranquility and order. He won in a landslide because people were thirsty for a so-called “America First” common-sense program. However, in three months Trump has only delivered on the border security issue while his domestic, ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) The world will miss Pope Francis. In fact, it already does. After having already battled pneumonia, the pontiff passed away on April 21st due to complications from a stroke. Francis was the first pope from Latin America – and the first from outside Europe in roughly thirteen hundred years. He ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) There’s a certain mood only Johnny Mathis can create. You hear that first note—soft, romantic, almost whispered—and suddenly the world slows down. Whether it’s playing through a vintage hi-fi system or quietly looping through your earbuds, his music has a way of finding you when you need it most. ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) I have previously written about the dangerous consequences of America intentionally sabotaging its “soft power.” Doing so has occasioned an opportunity for Russia and China to assume more prominent roles in the mediation, adjudication, and manipulation of global affairs. These two nations are not merely our political and economic ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) The first time I saw Prince in purple, I automatically assumed it was in honor of the Minnesota Vikings we admired during our youth. On this day (April 21) in 2016, the world lost one of the greatest musical polymaths to have lived – Prince Rogers Nelson. Born four years ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Grace Jones has always been one of those artists you don’t just listen to—you experience her. The first time I heard her voice, it stopped me in my tracks. Deep, confident, and unapologetically different, it felt like she was singing from another world entirely—one where art, fashion, gender, and ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Few voices in soul music history have captured the raw complexities of love and heartache quite like Percy Sledge. With a vocal style rooted in gospel tradition and delivered with unflinching sincerity, Sledge transformed emotional vulnerability into musical strength. His ability to convey longing, regret, and hope made him ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) I see many similarities today that spawned the American Revolution, except that the arrogance and lack of concern for the victims of their harmful regulations and policies come from Washington, DC. It is taught that the American Revolutionary War started on this date in April 1775 with the battles ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) When I think about the voices that shaped the sound of grown-up R&B, Alexander O’Neal is always near the top of the list. His music didn’t just fill dance floors or top charts—it tapped into the emotions that so many of us wrestle with: heartbreak, trust, longing, love, and ...