(ThyBlackMan.com) When I was in graduate school, one of my mentors (Dr. Carson Lee, RIP), gave me a copy of a book written by Jonathan Kozol titled “Death at an Early Age: The Destruction of the Hearts and Minds of Negro Children in the Boston Public Schools.” The book is a powerful firsthand ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) It’s with some discomfort that I consider the possibility that Trump’s radical immigration agenda will lead to better immigration policies. The discomfort comes from the cruelty involved: the roughing up of good people who’ve been quietly working, the celebrations of brutal incarceration, the racially tinged rhetoric. Hope comes in the ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) This marks the third time I’ve written about the late, great Aretha Franklin – and for good reason. Her musical career spanned more than five decades, earning her the well-deserved title of “Queen of Soul” through socially conscious anthems, gospel-infused power, and unmatched vocal artistry. Yet, tucked within her ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Vice President JD Vance’s handling of the press is masterful, and some of his interactions with them have taken on iconic status. For example, in January, Vance was being interviewed by Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation.” While asking Vance about the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Brennan protested that ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Donald Trump knows a good deal when he sees one. He also knows that a good deal can fail if the rules are stacked against it. That is the reality facing America’s freight rail system today. The proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger has the potential to be ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Michael Jackson’s musical legacy is often defined by his chart-topping dance hits, record-breaking albums, and groundbreaking performances. But there’s another side to his artistry — one rooted in tenderness, romance, and vulnerability. Across his career, Michael delivered love songs that could make listeners smile, ache, or lose themselves entirely ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Dynasty may not have received the same mainstream saturation as some of their R&B and funk contemporaries, but for those who know, their discography is pure gold. Emerging from the late 1970s as part of the SOLAR Records family alongside Shalamar, The Whispers, and Lakeside, Dynasty carved a distinctive ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of writing about the music and legacy of Reverend James Cleveland several times — and each time, the response from readers has been overwhelmingly positive. This marks my fourth deep dive into his extraordinary body of work, a testament to how much ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Did you know that nearly 40 million Americans are hit with a surprise tax each year on gains they never received? $1,500 is the average amount millions of savers pay the IRS every year in phantom gains taxes. Why? Because buried deep in our outdated tax code is a ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Been a while, my apologies. Had to drive my daughter back to university for the fall in Virginia, and daughters are way more complicated than sons. Add to this getting prepared to teach this fall and working on a screenplay, I had to rewire my reaction from right-brain to ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) In 2008, Madeline “Kara” Neumann, age 11, died of diabetic ketoacidosis in Wisconsin. Her parents treated her symptoms with prayer instead of medical care. The day before she died, Kara could no longer talk while suffering terrible stomach pains. Yet her adults still wouldn’t take her to a doctor. ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Few artists in hip-hop history have matched the meteoric rise and cultural impact of MC Hammer. Emerging from Oakland’s music scene in the late 1980s, he quickly evolved from a local sensation into an international icon. With his blend of rap, dance, and showmanship, Hammer redefined hip-hop performance and ...