Gospel

(ThyBlackMan.com) Octavia E. Butler, the groundbreaking science fiction writer, was never just a novelist. She was a cultural historian of possibility—mapping futures that reflected the deep struggles, dreams, and contradictions of the present. Through her words, she offered both a warning and a hope: humanity could fall to its worst instincts or rise to unimaginable heights. Her quotes—taken from novels, essays, and interviews—continue to resonate as both historical commentary and […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) The Force MDs stand as one of the most influential yet sometimes underappreciated groups in the history of R&B. Emerging from Staten Island, New York, in the early 1980s, the group pioneered a blend of hip-hop street corner doo-wop with silky R&B balladry, helping to lay the foundation for what later became the “New Jack Swing” movement. Their harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and authentic performances not only defined their era […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Micah Parsons being traded to the Green Bay Packers is one of those rare NFL moments that will be talked about for decades. Every so often, a transaction comes along that not only shifts the fortunes of two franchises but also alters the competitive balance of the entire league. This is that kind of move. Dallas loses its most dynamic player, the anchor of its defense, and perhaps the […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Discussing and debating political history, whether domestic or international, is a cherished pastime which transcends cultural or geographic boundaries. In America, we love to verbally joust in barbershops, basements, and bars. We sit in the present, pontificating about what our certain course of action would be when uncertainty reigned in times past. Almost inexorably, some of the discussants reach a point at which they openly boast about how they […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Few R&B groups embodied the late ’70s blend of funk, disco, and soul quite like Heatwave. Formed in the mid-1970s, the group became internationally known for their infectious grooves, smooth ballads, and the timeless songwriting of Rod Temperton, who would later go on to pen classics for Michael Jackson. Heatwave wasn’t just a disco band; they were innovators who merged soulful harmonies with rhythmic urgency, making their songs resonate […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) An epidemic of juvenile violent crimes endures. Why? The law presumes juveniles are intellectually and psychologically too immature to appreciate the wrongfulness of their violent ways and deserve leniency. But to borrow from Mr. Bumble in “Oliver Twist,” “If the law supposes that, the law is a a@@ — a idiot.” Violent juveniles have what Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. characterized as the “bad man’s view of the law.” […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Jazmine Sullivan has built her reputation as one of R&B’s most powerful voices by blending raw emotion with masterful storytelling. From bold declarations of heartbreak to intimate reflections on vulnerability, her songs resonate because they feel honest and lived-in. Each track is more than music—it’s a narrative that captures the complexity of love, loss, and self-discovery. The eight songs highlighted here showcase why Sullivan remains one of the most […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) “Public safety is people having a roof over their heads, good-paying jobs, strong schools, and accessible mental health care. That’s what safety looks like.” — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson “The status quo has failed. We cannot police our way out of crime. We have to invest in people, prevention, and healing.” — Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott American cities reflect the soul of the nation. From their skylines and cultural institutions […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) The US National Archives announced its release of thousands of pages of records on the Emmett Till Lynching in 1955. It timed it with the 70th anniversary of the brutal racial slaying of Till. It called the killing a “watershed moment in American history”. That’s an understatement for both personal and political reasons. The announcement stirred the never-ending memory I have of that September day in 1955. That was the […]