(ThyBlackMan.com) Many of you may have seen the childhood film Pinocchio which had a little wooden boy listening to a “conscience” depicted as a little bug named Jiminy Cricket.  This cricket was to lead Pinocchio in the right ways so that he would not get into trouble.  Of course, Pinocchio ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) I recently read a report stating that black male joblessness is the highest its been in 40 years.  In addition to being the least likely to have gainful employment, we are also the ones who are most likely to end up in prison and without an education.  These glaring facts don’t ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) There is a growing debate over the relevancy, value and role of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the 21st century. Added fuel for this debate, by those who argue HBCUs have outlived their mission and usefulness, is the number of these colleges and universities that  labor under ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) I will never forget when I heard the political poem, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, performed at The Arlington Museum of Art, in Arlington, Texas. I was so enamored, attentive, and wanted to know if the poet on the stage was the author of the powerful words. I later ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Once a year, I like dedicating a column to the young brothers who are going to step forward into the adult ranks with their diplomas and degrees…tassel flip included. Sadly, high schools, colleges and universities no longer honor their graduates with speeches from ‘real’ folk. As exampled by a ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) As I sat down to write this column a few years back, I remembered that I paused to reflect upon an exhausting week. First, my wife informed me that the teenaged son of a dear family friend sat locked up in our county juvenile detention center. His crime? Hanging ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) You love your children; you deeply desire to see them grow up healthy and happy. But what is the most important thing you can give your children to help them grow up feeling loved, nurtured, self-confident and at peace? There are many good answers here, such as providing a ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Do you want some expert fathering advice? Let’s turn to the real experts out there—the dads in the trenches. We put out a question to dads on our weekly e-mail. It’s a question we also ask to men who are being considered for Father of the Year in several cities ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Time and circumstances has a way of changing your opinion about people. There was a time not too long ago when black people in my generation shook their heads at people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. They always seem to be raising hell for petty issues and playing ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrases 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Roth, TSP, and 457 plans. Do you know what they mean? Are these the latest Levi Blue Jeans? Are these the new and approved Mazda, Honda, Lexus series? If you’re having a difficult time sorting out the “alphabet soup” of retirement ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) As the economy moves to a more expansionary phase, lenders are easing credit standards and many consumers are looking to purchase “big ticket” items such as appliances and autos or make major home repairs. This pent up demand and seemingly mad rush to buy can cause some people to ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) On May 19, we lost Don Barden, a trailblazer for economic empowerment in our communities.  Don was born in Inkster, Mich., a Detroit suburb, which was the home of the first Black-owned radio station, WCHB, and was also the abode of the great Stevie Wonder. He was the ninth ...