167 Search results for "growth"

“Whatever glory belongs to the race for a development unprecedented in history for the given length of time, a full share belongs to the womanhood of the race.”–Mary McLeod Bethune “As more women enter public life, I see developing a more humane society. The growth and development of children no longer will depend solely upon […]

  Earlier this week, legendary producer Dr. Dre officially announced his intentions to release his long-awaited 3rd and (allegedly) final album, the now-mythical Detox, in 2010. Of course, we’ve heard this shit before; every year since 2007 or so has been the year Detox would finally see a release, and each time it never materialized. […]

I am surprised more and more each day at the growth of a small clique that bonds over their ruthless habit they’ve taken up before and after school, during lunch and at all other times they can manage to sneak away for a cigarette. In full view of my high school’s main entrance, a large […]

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. –Maya Angelou So, how do you make a little black girl believe that all she has gone through does not determine her ability to […]

Dear Black Woman, First, let me commend you on succeeding against all odds. Somehow you managed; you managed to make it through junior high and high school with your confidence intact. Despite my incessant barrage of negative imagery, you somehow made it this far in your life with a positive sense of self. I applaud […]

I would like to believe that there is a moment in everyone’s life that becomes a point of definition. This if nothing else has been the reality of my experience. My moment of definition was March 2006 when I was a participant in the finals of the Cleveland city wide poetry slam. Two weeks prior […]

TODAY’S CHILD ; Jamian, 11, loves music and the arts Renee Zalesky, California Chronicle, February 8, 2010 How 9th-Grade Gridlock Keeps Boys Out of College Richard Whitmire, The New York Times, February 7, 2010 Black dolls connect kids, history Katy Jordan, The Boston Herald, February 7, 2010 Anti-Abortion Billboards On Race Split Atlanta Shaila Dewan, New York Times, […]

    I read the New York Times article titled “Food Stamps Usage Soars, Stigma Fades.” The article is about the lessening of  stigma regarding the use of food stamps. What comes to mind when you think of the U.S. welfare system, specifically food stamps or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?  For me, I remember seeing black single mothers with multiple […]

Before I begin let me make this very clear: There is a difference between being culturally proud and politically aware. Tonight we will hear the President unveil his strategy for Afghanistan. He will attempt to explain to his constituents why sending more troops to Afghanistan is the right thing to do. I will be listening […]

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5FYahzVU44 Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is a film about an obese, sixteen year-old black girl growing up in Harlem. She is illiterate, has a really mean mama who beats, rapes, and berates her. She has two children by her father, who also infected her with HIV. Think Color Purple. After getting […]

Like most little black girls growing up in abusive  homes, I dreamed and sometimes daydreamed of being rescued from my reality. I wished I had a fairy godmother who would flick her magical wand singing, “Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo. Put ’em together and what have you got bibbidi-bobbidi-boo,” changing my alcoholic father into benevolent king, […]