Earlier this year, I invited supporters of Donald Trump to join me in conversation, behind the scenes and out of the limelight. A couple of people took me up on my offer, and I'm really glad they did. I had been having a hard time being compassionate toward them. My thoughts, my words, and my …
Planting New Paradigms
My paternal grandfather was an agricultural extension agent in rural Virginia, long before I was born. In his role, my grandfather traveled around from farm to farm, teaching landowners in his African-American community to cultivate the soil in a manner that produced the greatest yield of crops. In …
Living After, In, and For
The very first time I voted in an election, was during my Freshman year of college. Growing up, conversations about politics were standard. We did not shy away from these discussions. We talked about politics the same way we talked about what we were having for dinner. We watched the debates …
Breaking Point
My grandfather came to live with us, after my grandmother passed away. He’d sit on the banquette in our kitchen, one leg crossed over the other, his right hand resting on our butcher block table. Sometimes I’d pass through the kitchen on my way to somewhere else. Other times, I’d stand at the …
“…come together…”
We've just experienced a week for the record books, haven't we? How are you doing? How's your heart feeling? After hearing about the death of Alton Sterling, I spent a good portion of the day, laid across the bed in our guest bedroom. I cried. I stared at the ceiling. I had a few conversations …