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(ThyBlackMan.com) Many individuals of all backgrounds would identify marching as an organized and uniform way to move forward by walking with a rhythmic pace or stride. Numerous Black Americans would contend that there isn’t another race of people in the world that can move and march with rhythm like Black Americans have for the past 406 years in America. It is safe to say that some individuals have secretly admired […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Claude McKay, one of the most influential figures in the Harlem Renaissance, left behind a rich collection of poetry that captured the complexities of Black identity, resistance, love, and longing. McKay, a Jamaican-American poet, wrote in a style that ranged from vivid depictions of personal struggles to piercing social commentary. His work contributed significantly to the literary landscape of the 20th century, creating a bridge between the Caribbean and […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) “American communities, disproportionately Black and Brown, have long borne the scars of the Drug War. Extreme and racist sentences for crack cocaine offenses tore apart families. Children grew up visiting their parents behind bars. Those parents are now elders, yearning to hold their grandchildren. Justice is served by allowing these individuals to return home. Their debt to society was long ago paid.” — Kara Gotsch, Executive Director of The Sentencing […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Sometimes we get so accustomed to appreciating the goodness of people that we overlook their shortcomings. Many of us worked so hard and donated more than we could afford to support the campaign of VP Kamala Harris.  We were so appreciative of President Joseph Biden when he dropped out of the Presidential race to give our super qualified sister Harris to run for the office. We were disappointed when […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Rita Dove is one of the most celebrated poets of our time. As the youngest person to serve as Poet Laureate of the United States and the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Dove’s work traverses boundaries of time, history, and human experience. Her poetry is known for its musicality, historical resonance, and emotional depth, making her a central figure in contemporary American literature. In […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Part 2. It is important to note that the legacy and lessons we speak of here are not only for us and the world, but also for the Haitian people themselves. Indeed, there is always a need for us to remember as well as reflect in our going forward, for it is by knowing our history and honoring it that we are best able to engage the present and […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) (****)  “They shot my son in front of me. I lifted his head and his blood poured on me.” The people of Masafer Yatta are brave in the face of genocide. Their beautiful mountainous region, home of 20 ancient Palestinian villages on the West Bank, is being encroached upon. Homes and businesses are being demolished. Thankfully the injustices they endure are being chronicled and archived by courageous filmmakers. One of the […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) The Right Rev. Mariann Budde is a woman of power. Budde is the first woman to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, a position she’s held since 2011. As bishop, she oversees 86 churches across Washington, D.C., and Maryland, with 38,000 members. She is a bold woman who knows how to use the power of her position, as demonstrated in her sermon during the inaugural prayer service. The traditional […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Toi Derricotte’s poetry illuminates the depths of identity, resilience, and human experience with an unflinching honesty that captivates readers. Through her poignant exploration of race, family, trauma, and healing, Derricotte invites us into spaces of both personal and collective introspection. As a co-founder of Cave Canem—an organization that has reshaped the landscape for Black poets—her influence on contemporary literature cannot be overstated. Her works, deeply intimate yet universally resonant, […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) A little more than a year ago, I wrote about the MERIT Act, which was introduced by Sens. Todd Young of Indiana and Tim Kaine of Virginia. Democrat Kaine and Republican Young proposed MERIT, which stands for Merit-Based Educational Reforms Institutional Transparency. The proposed bill would curtail legacy admissions in higher education. A “legacy” in this context refers to a high school student whose close relative (e.g., mother, grandfather, etc.) […]