Connecting the past to the present for a better future.
On Veteran’s Day this year, I was in France with a local travel group. We spent 12 days touring the country. On the fifth day, we visited Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. It was a sombering experience. My Dad and three brothers were veterans and I am a veteran. Many people do not know the …
I grew up in the segregated South. Dad served during WWII but was not able to vote until President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was a tough place for Black people, but it was our home. We lived in the segregated part of town and lived under racist man-made Jim Crow …
According to World Population Review, poverty is universally defined as not having enough income to meet basic needs. This extends beyond just not having enough money for a new vehicle, smartphone, or to take a vacation. Instead, people that live in poverty struggle to keep a roof over their heads, put food on the table, …
Four years ago, my seven year old granddaughter inspired me to write this story. The happy little girl was skipping beside her grandmother as she walked. She watched their inseparable companions make the same moves they made. Her long curly ponytail bounced up and down as if keeping step with each skip. Her inseparable companion’s …
Last May, I wrote a blog post titled Poverty in Appalachian America. I am intrigued about the 13 state regions; therefore, I subscribed to their mailing list and receive email updates. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was approved by Congress in 1965. The regions receive millions of dollars for education, infrastructure, and jobs. This week, …
Recently, I traveled by motor coach with a community group of like-minded travelers to Mackinac Island, located in Northern Michigan. This was my first trip to Michigan and excitement was in the air. Because the ride was long and we were in a motor coach, we made many stops on our journey. One amazing stop …
According to the book, They Came Searching, by Eddie Faye Gates, from pre-statehood days to the present, people have come to Tulsa seeking a better way of life. Tulsa had mineral-rich lands and people of all races and nationalities. People from all over the United States went there for a better way of life. Native …
When I was growing up, not many people knew about the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Even today, the history is not well-known. We knew about race massacres across the nation but not in Tulsa. One of my older brothers loved history and told us, his younger siblings, about the history. At one time, Ida …
I was asked to present an overview of Juneteenth for our community Black History Month program. I quickly gathered a team together and we presented information to an audience that was willing to listen and learn. Our theme was “Celebrating Freedom Together.” I’m grateful to the awesome singers from a local Black church that supported …
According to historians, by 1444, there was a thriving market in Portugal for African enslaved people. Both the Europeans and Africans had a tradition of slavery but the two differed. Slavery was prevalent in many Central and West African societies before and during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. When diverse African empires, small to medium-sized nations, …