Book Review: “Men We Reaped” by Jesmyn Ward

I purchased Men We Reaped after a riveting hour-long interview Jesmyn Ward gave to NPR radio stung me with anticipation. The book changed my life. Ward takes you back and forth through time seamlessly, on a journey to uncover meaning behind the deaths of five men in her life. Along the way I played devil’sContinue reading “Book Review: “Men We Reaped” by Jesmyn Ward”

Sunday Sharing: ‘Cultural Legacies’

I’d like to try and make Sunday a day to share a quote or piece or work from another artist that has influenced me, and perhaps offer a few words on it. Let me know if you like or dislike the plan! Cultural legacies are powerful forces. They have deep roots and long lives. TheyContinue reading “Sunday Sharing: ‘Cultural Legacies’”

We’re Far From Equals, Yet

I’ll never forget the time a non-Jew (which I had known many of before) approached me in our middle-school hallway and bluntly asked “Are you Jewish?” I was pretty sure I did not have a Jew sign on my forehead, so I said ‘Yes.’ He made some indecipherable body gesture and walked away, leaving meContinue reading “We’re Far From Equals, Yet”

Love & Race

I’ve been wondering if the custom of marrying your own ‘kind’ contributes to racism? Does feeling like ‘X’ should only marry ‘X’ contribute more negativity than good? When I was young, I told myself I would marry whomever I fell in love with, regardless of race or creed. My family encouraged me to marry a ‘niceContinue reading “Love & Race”

Car Bopping

(Profanity in this 30 second clip) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNCkj0kPqRw I have been guilty of this, I’m sorry to admit. I’m a white guy who likes to sing and dance in his car. I’ve frozen up and stone-faced myself when pulling up next to a car of other white people. I don’t know what I was afraid of.Continue reading “Car Bopping”

A Letter To Daniel Snyder

Outside my local post office today, a scraggly looking man asked me for a favor. He didn’t have any money for a stamp, so he asked me to post this letter on my blog instead. It is written to Daniel Snyder, the owner of the NFL’s Washington Redskins. Please forward it to him if youContinue reading “A Letter To Daniel Snyder”