Category: Essays on Race

A series of essays highlighting the ongoing issue of race in the culture, politics, and psyche of America.

Racism in the “Postracial” Era: Three Teachable Moments

March 27, 2015

Over the course of this week, two remarkable, not-so-random, acts of kindness by young people flooded the airwaves: the humble apology of ex-University of Oklahoma/SAE Fraternity member, Levi Pettit, for his participation in the infamous “lynch a n*****” chant; and the mature-beyond-any-age petition for forgiveness of the crass ex-Bloomsburg University baseball player, Joey Casselberry, for … More Racism in the “Postracial” Era: Three Teachable Moments

Black History Feature of the Day: Did You Know That Dwight Eisenhower and Some Other Famous People Were Black?

February 24, 2015

February 23, 2015 This essay started innocently enough. I read and shared a Facebook post declaring that President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s mother was mulatto. Which, in our racially driven American society (the “one drop” theory) would make Eisenhower Black as well. I decided to do a little research on this and opened up Pandora’s Box—Big … More Black History Feature of the Day: Did You Know That Dwight Eisenhower and Some Other Famous People Were Black?

Black History Month Feature of the Week: In Celebration of Barack Obama

February 7, 2015

February 7, 2015   “But wisely, in truth, he has held up to us the mirror of truth….” This quote, from my poem “The Inauguration of Change 2009,” resonates with me today as the greatest strength of President Barack Obama—his Truth. It is a strength he has shown ever since he stepped onto the national … More Black History Month Feature of the Week: In Celebration of Barack Obama

What’s In a Name? From “N-Word” to African-American

February 6, 2015

February 2-5, 2015 In my lifetime (61 years), I have gone from being “Colored” to “Negro” to “N-Word” to Black to African-American. How did I get here? When I was growing up, my paternal grandmother and step-grandfather always referred to themselves as “Colored.” In contrast, my maternal grandparents—especially my grandfather—preferred the term “Negro.” All of … More What’s In a Name? From “N-Word” to African-American

The Origins of Black History Month

February 2, 2015

In 1926, the historian Carter G. Woodson, co-founder (with the prominent minister Jesse Moorland) of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, proclaimed the second week of February as “Negro History Week,” to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). These two beacons of freedom … More The Origins of Black History Month

Black History Month 2015

February 1, 2015

February 1, 2015 February is Black History Month in the United States. And, for this year’s celebration, the National Theme is A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture. In honor of Black History Month, baltimoreblackwoman will join this important celebration by posting essays, videos, and photos highlighting the countless contributions of Black Americans to … More Black History Month 2015

The Lynching of Obama: Or, Porquois (peut-etre) Je ne suis pas Charlie

January 15, 2015

January 15, 2015 “There’s somethin’ happenin’ here What it is ain’t exactly clear There’s a man with a gun over there A tellin’ me, I got to beware” —Buffalo Springfield I have lived through, and have memories of, all the Presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama. In my small way I have admired, respected, … More The Lynching of Obama: Or, Porquois (peut-etre) Je ne suis pas Charlie

Race and Community: Lessons from a Black Woman from Baltimore

January 9, 2015

NOTE: This piece is the first of a series of Essays on Race. I wrote it in the spring of 2014 and, obviously, a lot has happened in the sphere of race relations since then. Ferguson. Staten Island. The callous murder of a 12-year-old black child. Ad nauseum. I have to stand up, speak  up—for … More Race and Community: Lessons from a Black Woman from Baltimore