Between 1910 and 1970, it is estimated that more than five million African Americans migrated from the rural American South to northern cities. Perhaps, not so surprisingly, I didn’t learn about The Great Migration, until I took Black American History 200 during my sophomore year in college in 1982. Ironically, it was this same year … Continue reading
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Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: Surviving Life With a Chronically Impatient Partner
“Arrgh! (Hammering, banging noises). DAMN IT!” These were the sounds I heard from my then boyfriend (now husband) as he was trying to fix a kitchen cabinet in my house as I prepared to put my home on the market due to a job promotion and upcoming move. My yellow labrador retriever, Charlie, kept running … Continue reading
The Second Step: A Second Look
Note: I originally wrote this essay for a freshman-level university course when I was 19 years old back in 1982. I decided to share it here in its original form with commentary at the end as to whether my perspectives have changed at all during the last 40+ years. In looking back over my life, … Continue reading
Silence Isn’t Fatal
Once, during a job interview, I was asked to state how I thought that others would describe me. One particular phrase came to mind, “Well, she seems nice enough, but she’s so quiet!” Now, I suppose if that is the absolute worst thing people can find to say about me, I shouldn’t feel too discouraged. … Continue reading
It’s Not Milk
As an “oldish” member of Generation X, I’m too young to remember the days of home milk delivery in glass bottles. I can, recall, however, when supermarket milk came in cardboard cartons. The backs of the cartons featured the heartbreaking photos of missing children while on the front the words, “Pasteurized and Homogenized” were boldly … Continue reading
Who’s the Real Villain?
As I work to improve my Spanish language skills before moving to Mexico in September, I’ve started reading the Spanish editions of many of the stories I enjoyed as a child. Most of the stories bring back wonderful memories of having the stories read to me, by my mother, grandmother, or a beloved teacher at … Continue reading
Opting Out – Is It Doing Our Children More Harm Than Good?
I’ve never been an “outdoorsy” sort of person, especially when the weather is hot (and in North Carolina, where I currently live, it’s hot from late April through early November.) So, one of my hot weather guilty pleasures is to watch YouTube videos of the often out-of-control school board meetings, where parents, students, and sometimes … Continue reading
Fueling the Fire or Starving the Beast?
What the film: FernGully: The Last Rainforest Taught Me About MAGA Escapism – in these turbulent political times I suspect that there are many Americans who, me included, just need a break from all of the negativity. I must admit that the outcome of the 2024 Presidential election hit me hard and in the months … Continue reading
Is “Flip-Flopping” Always a Bad Thing?
“Flip-Flopping” or Simply an Evolving Point of View? In the world of politics, facing accusations of being a “flip-flopper” is often the kiss of death for a potential candidate. Back in 2000, when then Vice-President Al Gore launched a campaign to be the successor to President Bill Clinton, many believe that Gore’s change of direction … Continue reading
Will I Ever Use This in Real Life?
Although many things in society have changed between the time when I was a middle school and high school student from 1975 to 1981 and today, I suspect there is one area in which older Gen Xers like me and today’s Gen Zs. For generations, students in required history courses have often questioned the need … Continue reading
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