The Black Experience of Homelessness: When the Safety Net Has Holes
When the safety net has holes, entire families fall through — and the Black experience of homelessness in America is far closer to home than most of us want to admit. That is the driving question behind my new three-part documentary podcast series, Unhoused and Unheard: The Black Experience of Homelessness, now available on The […]
The Black History Board Game Changing How We Learn
When I sat down with Dr. Maxine Bryant for this week’s conversation, I already felt a little intimidated. Not because she was difficult — she was warm and generous from the first moment. But because her knowledge of Black history in education is deep. She’s an award winning journalist who is rooted in decades of […]
What If the Official Story Isn’t the Whole Story? Ida B. Wells, Modern Lynching Investigations, and the Weight of Truth
A conversation with civil rights investigator Jill Collen Jefferson about suspicious deaths, investigative journalism, and the legacy of Ida B. Wells. What if the official story isn’t the whole story? I recently spoke with civil rights investigator Jill Collen Jefferson, founder and director of JULIAN about what she describes as modern-day lynching investigations across the […]
How an Unexpected Interview Led Me to Harriet Tubman’s Descendant
A reflection on journalism, unexpected connections, and how a National Park Service interview led to one of the most meaningful conversations in my ERASED series. How an Unexpected Interview Led Me to Harriet Tubman’s Descendant How an unexpected interview led me to Harriet Tubman’s descendant is a reminder that storytelling, and life, often works best […]
Raising Girls Beyond Fear
Why Raising Girls Beyond Fear Requires Financial Literacy I grew up in a house full of girls, and today when I think about raising girls beyond fear, I realize how much responsibility, faith, and early lessons about womanhood shaped my understanding of empowerment. Responsibility & Financial Literacy in Raising Girls Beyond Fear At times there […]
What Ended Reconstruction?
James Clyburn on the 1876 Election and Why One Vote Still Matters When I was told I had the opportunity to speak to South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn about Reconstruction and how it ended, I was really jazzed. It’s not because he’s a politician or that’s he’s got decades of political clout, but because I […]
Rich vs Wealthy for Speakers:
Rich vs Wealthy for Speakers explained. Dr. Willie Jolley shares how intellectual property and ownership help build generational wealth beyond speaking fees.
Melba Moore on Broadway:
A Full-Circle Moment with a Tony Award–Winning Pioneer Speaking to Melba Moore about her start on Broadway was more than an interview for me, it was a full-circle moment with a Tony Award–winning pioneer who helped kick open doors for Black actresses in American theater. When I sat down with Melba Moore, I wasn’t just […]
Press Freedom and Racism: How Systems Silence Truth
Press freedom and racism are often discussed separately, but they are deeply connected. In recent days, many people have shared images of the Obamas in response to a racist image posted on the President’s social media platform. That public reaction matters. But racism is not limited to offensive images, language, or moments of viral outrage. […]
Why Don’t We Learn About Robert Smalls in School?
Robert Smalls stole a Confederate ship, freed his family and crew, delivered that ship to Union forces during the Civil War, and later became a United States Congressman.This essay explores why we don’t learn about Robert Smalls in school and what his absence from classrooms reveals about how American history has been taught. When I […]
David Walker Then & Now: How Names Shape Legacy and Identity
When I was a kid, people would always joke and associate my name with “Esther” from Sanford & Son, the television comedy series. At first, I didn’t like it because I didn’t see the connection. But as I grew older, I realized that people were simply making a connection to something familiar—something that made them […]