Visiting my grandfather in North Carolina was nothing short of a civic wonderland. Before my feet had even crossed the flaxen welcome…
“My name is Tavonne Carson. I’m six years old.” If she hadn’t said my name, I wouldn’t have believed the little girl…
The girl you ask to dinner will never show you her true face. Her deep, caramelized skin is carefully concealed beneath layers…
I guess I’ve been an art historian, informally I’d say I’ve always “geeked out over art,” since my teens in San Francisco.…
I hear my student say that word and I’m not surprised. I knew this student was going to say it because this…
It’s late afternoon as we climb into my father’s gray Mercedes. As we stay stationary in the garage, I lean my fro…
When I arrive, the first part of the journey is to walk past the avid chain smoking of the other residents. Each…
Dear God, It’s your Ugandan daughter, with the 4C hair. As you know, I was born in Mengo Hospital between day and…
As Bill Withers plays in the background about grandma’s hands, I look down at my own. I have my grandmother’s hands. They…
Trina, I need you to stay inside for recess today. You are a little Black girl in a world that’s White. You…
It’s a typical spring morning – a slight chill, cloud cover, and the threat of rain. I can hear through my open…
As a kid, I remember the subject of race coming up twice in our family. The first time was when my brother…
“You real fine and you pretty,” the smooth words rolled past his toothpaste commercial level white teeth and thick coffee bean shade…
I need to remind myself that Mama is human, that she is not endless love, and food, and sacrifice. But she makes…
I was ten years old when I first witnessed domestic violence. It was a hot summer day on Hobart street. Children were…
“If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.” — Audre…