Like the rest of America, I am distraught and outraged by yet another mass shooting in one of our high schools during which 17 innocent lives were taken. And like the youth who are speaking out, I’m also weary of the thoughts and prayers offered by lawmakers who have no intention of doing anything about the problem. The days of thoughts and prayers only must come to an end in 2018. Continue reading “Demanding Gun Control”
Black Fraternal Life
It’s hard to believe that 2018 marks 40 years as a member of my beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I was at the University of Southern California in 1978 when I attended the Rush event to consider joining my father’s sister organization. My father was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first fraternal organization established by African American college men at Cornell University in 1906. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was the first of its kind, too, having been established at Howard University, just two years later in 1908. These forty years as part of the “Divine Nine” have not just been wonderful, but inspiring. Continue reading “Black Fraternal Life”
LGBTQ Equal Rights Under the Law
Section 1 of the 14 Amendment of our Constitution guarantees all citizens of the United States their rights to life, liberty, and property as well as an equal protection under the law. This applies to all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or their gender identity. The freedom of religion doesn’t give the state a right to deprive any group of their rights. https://constitutioncenter.org/media/files/constitution.pdf So why are Evangelicals so hell bent on denying citizens who identify within the LGBTQ umbrella their Constitutional rights? Continue reading “LGBTQ Equal Rights Under the Law”
Evangelicals Versus Planned Parenthood
I consider myself a follower of Christ, a Christian. But I do not consider myself an evangelical Christian as I once did. I first started to break with evangelicals over the issue of abortion–not that I ever had an abortion. Luckily, I was never presented with that dilemma. But their pro-life argument doesn’t make Biblical or scientific sense to me. And then the final break came over their stance and ill-treatment of homosexuals and transgender people. If I hadn’t already broken with the evangelicals, I would now as their leaders give a pass to the most overtly immoral president we have ever had. Continue reading “Evangelicals Versus Planned Parenthood”
First Time Juror on a Trial
I did my civic duty and reported for jury duty on Wednesday of last week. I was fully expecting a repeat of my many previous days of jury service. I would read and possibly be called into a courtroom for jury selection and be excused. I’ve never served beyond that. That’s what I was expecting, but this time was very different. And I’m actually glad it was. Continue reading “First Time Juror on a Trial”
Immigration from Shitholes
According to my Ancestry DNA, 84% of my ethnic heritage comes from the “Shithole” Africa. More specifically, a whopping 48% of it comes from Nigeria. I have traced my family roots in America back to slaves on both sides and not surprisingly, there are a few white people (of Scottish, Jewish, and Spanish descent) mixed in. Mine is the story of America and what it means to be American. What Mr. Trump espoused was a white supremacist way of thinking that threatens to poison the collective minds and attitudes of vulnerable, ill-informed people. Continue reading “Immigration from Shitholes”
The Long Fight for Social Justice
It is a delightful sight to sit in a large room surrounded by the ethnic, racial, gender fluidity, religious, generational, and sexual orientation diversity that represents America. In early December, I had the pleasure of attending the NASPA Multicultural Institute in New Orleans. At the conference were student affairs professionals, chief diversity officers, campus mental health providers, faculty, researchers, diversity experts, and graduate students hoping for a career in student affairs. Since its inception, I have attended all but one of the Multicultural Institutes. But this one, because we are in the age of Trump when the values and tenants of multiculturalism are under attack, this conference made me realize why social justice work is so exhausting. Continue reading “The Long Fight for Social Justice”
New Year New Resolutions
One of my favorite times of the year is this week between Christmas and the New Year. For me, it is a time of deep rest, resolve, and reflection. I get to rest because my University is closed and we get a paid vacation every year. This is truly a blessing, so thank you Cal Lutheran University! My resolve to know better, be better, and to do better becomes more apparent in this quiet time. And then I take the time to reflect the year that is passing and on what resolutions will carry me to a better place next year. Continue reading “New Year New Resolutions”
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
It’s Christmas Eve and while I have so much to say, the only thing I will say this Sunday is Merry Christmas to my Christian friends and Happy Holidays to everyone else. In the words of a favorite Christmas song: “May the joy of the season surround you.” I pray you take today and the rest of the year to be fully present with family and friends and also with those who are less fortunate, filling their lives, too, with your love, kindness and generosity.
About Taxes and Tax Cuts
Ramming bills through Congress along strict party lines hasn’t proven to be good policy. The ACA or Obamacare at least invited Republicans to contribute, but Republicans had already decided that they were going to oppose anything Obama wanted to do despite the fact that the ACA was originally a Republican idea. That leads us to the Republican failure to repeal and replace the ACA. Is it any wonder that they had no better ideas after 8 years, especially since the ACA was their idea? That brings us to their obsessive need to pass something big. I wish they had tackled infrastructure and not taxes. Continue reading “About Taxes and Tax Cuts”