Category: writing

White cat stretching on a brown wooden plank

Two Things

Back in July or August of 2023 my left thigh started bothering me. Certain kinds of clothing irritated the heck out of it, but even without anything touching it, I’d have this numb-prickliness

Man sitting on a park bench reading a newspaper

What I’ve Learned in 2023

I wanted to reflect upon what I learned this year, and also think of how my knowledge will affect my choices and behaviors in the new year…

Short stories and lengthy processes

This week’s follow-up assignment was to write my own story, in Haitian Creole, using the grammatical constructions, and build out a similar example of dialog, interaction, and choices. Then, after writing it, I had to read the story and record it, and send the recording to my instructor.

Am I fluent yet?

“Am I fluent yet?”
The answer is, of course, “No, not yet.”
But I did have a good session with my instructor today. I am learning kreyòl and I am speaking kreyòl.
And I will take that and hold onto it.

SPEAKASY: An interview with Elyse Douglas

I had the opportunity to interview Elyse Douglas about her latest book, SPEAKEASY, published by Broadback. I appreciate that she gave so generously of her time when she could be working on the sequel!

Beliefs and Behaviors

The Jesus of the texts doesn’t encourage harm for others—and the opponents of health protocols aren’t demonstrating the person of the texts.

The Fear of Transparency

The myth of white success also develops the myth of white innocence. All the successes were due to white efforts that others seemed unable to copy; all the events of terror and destruction were minimalized and forgotten. And white innocence was preserved & confirmed for a people who could gladly declare their devotion to America as the land of “liberty and justice for all.”

This Do

There is nothing that white American Christians have or want as human beings that our Black brothers and sisters do not want.

When Church Becomes the State

Sometimes we think that by making our country an explicitly religious one, we will solve our problems. But the results are always worse.

Mug of coffee on a square of burlap. A journal and pencil lay next to it. There are coffee beans scattered around the cup and on top of the journal.

The Confidence of Ignorance

It’s really sad when white guys don’t get it. There’s a sui generis difference between the experience of Black Americans … More

REVIEW: Just Mercy

I got this book for Christmas, and it sat on my pile of “To Read” books because there were a … More

Two pencils on a yellow background

Getting an Upgrade

Well, it’s official. I’m now an editor for the online magazine Our Human Family, which has the motto “Conversations on … More