Harlem BY LANGSTON HUGHES What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?…
For a little over two decades, I’ve had the honor and privilege of calling Ms. Jean family. I am also fortunate and grateful that she called me friend. As any new daughter-in-law might, I searched for common ground – a language we could share. We found that in a mutual love for The Young &…
America is exploding with racial tension. We, who are children of those who lived through the Civil Rights Era, often subscribe to the belief that life is better for Black people than it was in previous years. We’re not wrong about that. Life is better. Laws protect us from blatant disregard for our daily rights.…
For those who are a threat by virtue of their birth – Lord, hear our prayer For mothers who cry themselves to sleep – Lord, hear our prayer For people who know not what they do – Lord, hear our prayer For innocence that dies and guilt that walks – Lord, hear our prayer For…
So, we seem to find ourselves in a quandary. We have heard and read the allegations of Dr. Bill Cosby’s inappropriate activities with women. On one hand, we don’t want to believe that our Bill is capable of being the kind of man he’s accused of being. On the other hand, we find it hard…
I applaud those who take the time to ask the right questions. In the Zone, Finding your Sweet Spot..
Written 7/11/2008 and still true . . . Writing is the vessel through which great things occur in my life. Proinde ego sum. I write, therefore I am. I need a writing instrument and a blank slate almost as much as I need heart and brain; almost as much as air and water. Throughout all…
Relationships require and deserve the benefit of two already-whole individuals.
My husband’s love language is receiving gifts. He made that clear within a couple of weeks of meeting when for Valentine’s Day I received: the largest bouquet of flowers ever created, a box of chocolate, a massager for the office chair and personalized gifts for each of my 3 daughters. On each occasion that followed,…
Other possible titles include: How I’ve Learned to Trust God; God Will Do What He Says He Will Do; Faith is a Learned Activity; or A Modern Day Psalm. According to Rev 12:11 We overcome “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of [our] testimony.” (NKJV) Sometimes we wait until the battle is…
Every now and then our own words come back to haunt us (sometimes in a good way.) This week I embarked on a new entrepreneurial adventure. I launched Ask Tracie Jae – a research assistance company. This morning, I found a poem that I wrote in July, 2009. Courage I’ve been told, It’s not what we do…
Daddy, I sat down to write this letter as a public declaration of my private appreciation. The words ‘thank you’ seem inadequate for a person who has always been in my corner and never managed to fail me. Certainly, as an adult, through adult eyes, I see you as fallible (as all of us are).…
#tbt This morning Ruby Abernathy crossed my mind. When I was an 8th grade student at Lanier Middle School, we were assigned a service project for history class. I don’t remember the exact requirement, but we had to find a place to serve and then write about it. I volunteered at Thomas Care Center on…
He knew how to hurt her. He knew that her previous relationships were laced with infidelity and that she’d vowed not to go back to that life. He knew that nothing would cut her more deeply than being on the receiving end of things she’d dished out, repented for, forgiven herself for. And he knew…
Sometimes things happen to, or around, me that it takes me a while to rebound from. Sometimes it’s the actual incident, but more often it’s the principle of the matter. One such thing that sends my water to about 98.5°F is when persons in some position of authority (real or implied) take it too far.…
The T Room 