My therapist (Thanks, Obama!) has this theory about the various personality parts - like the inner critic - all being individuals who are essentially trying to help/protect you. She suggests trying to understand and befriend them, so they feel heard and can then stop hassling you. OK.

I agree with VannaB. I look forward to and appreciate your posts, whether I agree with your take (usually) or not (sometimes). Your writing is always worth a read and reflect.

speak of the devil

Whether you’d rather quote Spider-Man, Churchill, or Luke 12:48, it is no novel concept that increased authority is coupled with increased responsibility. It seems like too many are happy with the increased authority but fail to embrace any increased responsibility.

Let him retire? Why would he retire? SOP for this kind of thing is long review, followed by “he acted appropriately to the circumstance” or a one day suspension with pay.

They’re going to let that fucker retire with a full pension and call it a day.

Not for white women.

I have nothin but love for this entire community. But lets be real here.

“They’re going to grand jury, already?”--Laquan McDonald

While the souf had agriculture on lock in the late 19th and early 20th century, up nawf had the industry booming—literally. Us melanated folks got tired of the BS that wypipo been on and sought better living upways. East St. Louis was a thriving city where just about everyone had a job to support their family because…

I truly believe him being biracial may be why he did this (IF He Is Lying). In my personal relationships they’re always the one’s out to prove their blackness and their connection to it.

I don’t know if it’s American values (although I know what you mean), but a brief glance into American history reveals blackface by American Blacks because of what you stated..... poverty or lack of opportunity.

I know everyone has their own best way to silence that inner critic, but I like the idea of naming it and treating it like an annoying but well-meaning friend or auntie. Then when she bothers you, just say “mmmhmm,” and keep on doing what you’re doing. 

Funny, I was worried you might be annoyed at the implication that the writing you are doing now is somehow less important than writing a novel or essay collection. Like great writing has to be a monologue rather than a conversation. As a middle-aged person I tend to reach for paper books for motivation when I feel my…

Thou shalt have no idols before me.*

I remember when a few of us stopped standing after the Iraq invasion, our homeroom teacher would literally tell say we wanted her son to die ovrrseas.

Easy. What everyone else said about labor. Low wage workers everywhere are little more than slaves. Ask the Black South Carolinians who worked for the famous fat white lady chef. Did they not dress as whatever antebellum fantasies their boss had for her parties? Besides where there is a colonialist mind, there is a…

I’m not sure but I think we held Chrisette to a higher standard, we hold Black women in general to a higher standard. False equivalency to say people still ‘cape’ for R Kelly and other abominables in the Black communities; therefore, we should return her sister card. So, where do we draw the line? Black people are…

Ok then. Ready to play chess? Black her antiBlack ass out. She is doing what worked in the past and still works sometimes - pandering to the top dogs as she sees them. All women! Hah. Shes not repping for the white chicks I know! Countermove that ish people. It’s time to blackout the creepy crawly POC and even our own…

I can’t imagine anyone who writes not being insecure about their work. The only possible exception is someone devoid of the desire to be published, taken seriously, and acclaimed. Our want for acceptance and the rarefied rewards of literary glory fuck us up. Work that self-satisfies can do plenty to shield you from…