(ThyBlackMan.com) Douglas Turner Ward (1930-2021) wrote a searing play, Days of Absence that depicted the way life might be like in a small southern town where all of the Black folks disappeared. Predictably, white folks could not walk and chew gum, neither at one time nor at the same time. They could ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Ronald Isley’s voice is more than a melody—it’s a feeling. It’s the slow drop of a bassline in a smoky lounge. It’s the sweet ache of falsetto drifting over candlelight. For over six decades, Isley hasn’t just sung soul—he’s defined it. Whether serenading hearts with The Isley Brothers or ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Cab Calloway remains one of the most influential figures in 20th-century American music. Known for his charismatic stage presence, distinctive vocal style, and groundbreaking contributions to swing and jazz, Calloway carved out a space where music, theater, and cultural commentary intersected. As a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Few artists have had a more significant influence on both funk and soul music than Larry Graham. As the pioneering bassist of Sly and the Family Stone and the dynamic frontman of Graham Central Station, Graham didn’t just play music—he redefined how the bass guitar could drive a song. ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Future historians may one day uncover and reveal the truth of recent days. In particular, two events which have captured media and public attention. The first event recently unfolded in Los Angeles, California. Thousands took to the street over several days to protest what they considered inhumane, unwarranted, criminal ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) When it comes to pure, effortless falsetto and emotional storytelling, few voices in R&B stand out like El DeBarge’s. Whether leading the family group DeBarge or stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist, El had a way of making you feel every lyric. His songs weren’t just about ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) President Trump’s tough stance on trade has been a win for American workers. He has protected jobs, revived key industries, and taken on countries like China that have long abused and exploited our markets. His leadership exposed the weakness of past trade deals and brought accountability back to the ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) According to the National Association of Home Builders, nearly 75 percent of families – 100.6 million households – cannot afford a median priced new home in 2025. With a price tag of $459,826 and an accompanying 30-year mortgage rate of about 6.5 percent, it’s no surprise that both families ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Charlie Parker didn’t just play jazz—he flipped it inside out and painted it with fire. Known as “Bird,” he soared through the bebop revolution with lightning-fast lines, harmonic daring, and soul-stirring emotion. His alto sax wasn’t just an instrument—it was a voice that cried, laughed, and preached the blues ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) I don’t know what people in other countries think about the “Make America Great Again” slogan. What I am certain, however, is that the dealmaker in chief has made it look anything but great. In fact, he has made the US look irresponsible, look untrustworthy, impotent and feckless. He ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) David was the greatest of Israelite kings, a man after God’s own heart. Despite his shortcomings, he was the most impressive king and came to be used years later by the Israelites as the standard measure for good leadership. One wonders how he came to be this way. In 2Samuel ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) When I think about the roots of blues music—the raw honesty, the pain wrapped in poetry, the joy carved out of hardship—I think of Ma Rainey. Her voice was more than a sound; it was a declaration. Long before it was fashionable or even safe, Ma Rainey was singing ...