Last February, I asked my older kids how they were commemorating Black History Month at school. Both children gave me blank stares. “My teachers haven’t even mentioned it,” said my 10-year-old daughter. “What’s Black History Month?” asked my 8-year-old son. Although I was disappointed by their responses, I was not surprised. Celebrating Black History Month […]
When I was 5 years old, I had a friend named Manuel Rodriguez. I was a shy kid and Manuel was naturally outgoing and friendly. He took me under his wing and helped me to adjust to the scary world of kindergarten. One thing that intrigued me about Manuel was the way he talked. At […]
As an African-American, I’ve spent a good portion on my life defending Black History Month. Many people believe that celebrating a specific ethnic group is antiquated and unnecessary. I wholeheartedly disagree with the naysayers because people aren’t naturally inclined to celebrate other cultures. So a month when we focus attention on a particular culture doesn’t […]
June 19 is a special day for me. First of all, it’s my mother’s birthday. Secondly, it’s a significant date in African American history. It’s Juneteenth—or Emancipation Day. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1862 and became effective January 1, 1863, several Confederate states refused to acknowledge it. Two years later, federal troops arrived […]
According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, a large percentage of dads want their wives to be stay-at-home-moms. Of the dads surveyed, 37% think moms should stay home, and 41% think that part-time work is a good compromise. I’m not surprised by these results. Several of my friends have told me that […]
Walt Disney World knows how to work the magic—there’s no doubt about that. As soon as you enter the Orlando theme park gates, especially if you have kids, it’s hard not to get swept up in the full-on fantasy and unbridled joy. Now, with the new Fantasyland section of the park, guests get transported through […]