Cruising through EssenceMany readers have written to me asking why I write in Australian publications. The answer is because most Americans, especially editors and publishers, are not interested in hearing what goes
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Not a lot has changed"It is a sad day to stand here in 1994 and talk about racism this pervasive ... not in a foreign country, but right here in [America]" — Keith Carson. The late Malcolm X referred to black
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It is cold in the little cubicle that bears the number 38. It is January 11, and I am in the far end of H-Cell House. Ordering me into the filthy cell, the corrections officer (CO) said, "I'll give you some things to clean
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Well seasoned"A woman is a woman until the day she dies ..." — Moms Mabley For those who do not know, the late Moms Mabley was a consummate humorist and comedian. Her risque antics and one-liners will live
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Looking out: Setting the record 'straight'"The bombardment of negative imagery is not only having a devastating effect on blacks', especially black youths', view of themselves, but also on how others see them." —
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Looking out: We should ask ourselves: Why?"Penology ... has become torture and foolishness, a waste of money and a cause of crime ... a blotting out of sight and heightening of social anxiety." — Paul Goodman
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Looking out: Queen NzingaLike just about every other European nation, the Portuguese waged war upon blacks in Africa. Contrary to popular historical belief, the various black peoples of Africa have been defending
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Even now"Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy." - F. Scott Fitzgerald At the tender age of 10, Eugene Bullard ran away from home. He was the seventh of 10 children born to a black father and Creek
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Standard operating policy"Correspondence is prohibited with individuals outside the continental United States who are not related by birth, marriage, or legal adoption." — Warden A.G. Thomas To the dismay and
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Looking out: Parts of the rainbow are violent"In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." — Booker Taliaferro
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Looking out: Wrestling with imagesRecently I took the time to observe closely the so-called "wrestling match" on Saturday morning television. One combatant, the African-American, who I will refer to as Brother Man
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Looking out: Little-big-girls"Nothing is so soothing to our self-esteem as to find our [presumed] bad traits in our forebears. It seems to absolve us." — Van Wyck Brooks Because this column is published via