It's really hard to believe that a new year is again knocking at our doors. Some people are reluctant to open that door and grant that mystery guest access into our lives. Others who have seen this year filled with tragedy and heartache are willingly welcoming the change and wanting to put a greater distance … Continue reading Are You Mad
Earlier this year, I graduated from a year-long program organized by the American Leadership Forum or ALF for short (not to be confused with the 80s sitcom - Alien Life Form), designed to grow, develop, and foster leadership throughout the state (Oregon). ALF challenged me in ways I never imagined and introduced me to concepts … Continue reading The Long Road
I am a commodity sold and traded at will I am not seen as human, not seen as an equal I am devoid of feeling and emotion but a force of physical labor I am forced to have less than and work more to survive I have no wealth to build my legacy, no 40 … Continue reading Less Than
As an adult, I'm truly embarrassed by the naivety of my juvenile thoughts as a young child. I was a Black boy raised and taught to respect the authority of the police and that they only took away the “bad” people. In my little head, I didn’t understand the deeper complexity around my misconception of … Continue reading A Cycle of Pain
I am baffled and confused by the ignorance of some (White) people when it comes to the acceptance of racism in America. What makes it worse, are the things that are said (or sung) which are blatantly racist and the one’s delivering the message, think there’s nothing wrong. Sound familiar? For those of us that … Continue reading A Scout’s Song
Photo credit: Stan Lim I have a strong dislike for politics. Honestly, I always feel uneasy when I have to navigate the unpredictable waters of seemingly “qualified” candidates in an election year. With the name-calling and trash-talking that happens between the leading candidates, I grow quickly fatigued. This year is different and all I can … Continue reading The Hood of Leadership
This post is snapshot of the BLM movement in Portland. The city isn't a battleground as the media portrays.
It's not a game anymore, it's real life! The world has changed and it’s been a long time coming. An awakening has occurred; an amazing, loud, and unsettling awakening in the United States and in other parts of the world. The death of an unarmed Black man at the hands of a White police officer … Continue reading The Black Experience
Life as a African-American/Black man. Life as a African-American/Black woman. A life that can quickly and violently be taken away. Rest In Power: Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd Last night I finally broke down. My emotional shell just cracked and I started crying, something I don’t often do. I just reached a saturation point … Continue reading See No Evil
Politics are not a favorite part of my regular diet. I don't crave the civic satisfaction some of my more enlightened friends and colleagues do. I actually never really have. When I do try and digest the platter of ballot measures, bond amendments, and candidate profiles, I feel nauseous and unsatisfied. Photo credit: Sommer Martin … Continue reading The Bitter Taste of Politics
Judge Don't Judge...Much 