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(ThyBlackMan.com) There’s something about Alicia Keys that just sticks with you. Maybe it’s the way she blends soulful vocals with heartfelt lyrics, or how she sits at a piano and makes it feel like she’s speaking directly to you. From the first time I heard “Fallin’” on the radio, I knew Alicia wasn’t just another R&B artist — she was different. Over the years, she’s become the soundtrack to everything […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Not so long ago, nearly everybody except 92 percent of Black women pretended they didn’t know what Project 25 was.  They did that all the way up to Election Day while listening to what the “Would Be King” was clearly saying. Make no mistake, he told us over and over again.  Even to normally sensible white women on the subject of women’s rights, Hispanics who thought they were more privileged […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) When I think about the artists who have truly moved me—who’ve stopped me mid-task, mid-thought, mid-life—Tracy Chapman is always at the top of that list. Her voice is like a soft wind that somehow knocks the air out of you. Her lyrics don’t scream; they whisper truths you’ve tried to ignore. Whether you discovered her in the late ’80s, or someone recently put you onto her brilliance, Chapman’s music […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) If you’ve ever cranked up a guitar-driven rock song and felt that electric jolt of rhythm pulse through your body—chances are, you’ve got Chuck Berry to thank. As a guitarist, songwriter, and flat-out pioneer of rock and roll, Chuck Berry didn’t just make music; he laid the foundation for an entire genre. He’s the reason your favorite rock star picked up a guitar in the first place. Personally, I’ve […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Hearing loss can develop gradually, making it difficult for individuals to recognize that they need help. As a family member or close friend, you may notice subtle changes in their behavior before they do. Identifying the early signs of hearing loss can help them get the support they need to improve their quality of life. If they struggle with conversations, background noise, or constantly ask for repetitions, they may […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Your feet do a lot of work every day, yet they’re often overlooked when it comes to health and self-care. Minor foot issues might not seem like a big deal at first, but if ignored, they can turn into painful, long-term problems that affect mobility and quality of life. Addressing small concerns early can save you from discomfort, medical treatments, and even surgery down the line. Pay Attention to […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Forty-five years ago, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation designating March 2-8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. The final day of that period was International Women’s Day, which had already been celebrated in many countries for much of the 20th century and recognized by the United Nations as a day to acknowledge women’s contributions and call for women’s economic, political and civil rights. American women historians, […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Chuck Schumer is right, and James Carville is right. They don’t want the Democratic Party getting pulled into MAGA’s cyclone of ruinous policy. To get to safety, they are reining in the left flank for whom the fight is all. The hotheads don’t recognize that bad timing loses battles. Senate Minority Leader Schumer took a good deal of incoming after he pushed his caucus to help pass the Republicans’ […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) For several decades, I have loved studying history. I was first smitten with the subject due in large measure to my late high school teacher, Mr. Terry Wright. Mr. Wright was entertaining, encouraging, and enlightening. He was instrumental in my decision to major in history in college. As I began to learn more about some of history’s greatest tragedies, I would often wonder what went through people’s minds — […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Writing about James Cleveland again feels like revisiting an old friend—someone whose voice once echoed through the walls of my childhood home or the church pews on a quiet Sunday morning. While my first piece highlighted his more recognized work, this time I wanted to dig a little deeper—into those songs that may not always get the spotlight, but still carry that unmistakable Cleveland spirit. You know the kind—songs […]