One Saturday when I was 14, my friend Erin and I were hanging out at my home when the minister of our church stopped by to lay his hands on my mom’s sprained ankle. As this was not standard procedure for Methodist ministers, Erin and I exchanged dubious looks. We instinctively knew what the adults seemingly didn’t – that Rev. Patliff was a creepy old man. And my mom was still … [Read more...]
Our beautiful green planet just marked a shocking new milestone – enduring 12 consecutive months of unprecedented heat. Every single month from June 2023 to May 2024 was the world’s hottest such month on record, and this alarming trend appears likely to continue. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, who are about to mark the beginning of summer, this is sobering news. … [Read more...]
What if, all through your childhood, your dad told you things like, “You’re gonna shake up this world,” and, “You’re gonna win Wimbledon.” And drove you past mansions in the wealthy part of town, assuring you that some day you’d have one of your own. For two young Black girls growing up in the 1980s in a sketchy neighborhood south of L.A., such aspirations may have seemed … [Read more...]
It’s hard to imagine, especially for those of us (like me) who spent our summer vacations haunting the local library and devouring adventure novels, but many U.S. kids have no library near where they live – and thus no access to books. Three years ago, this fact became apparent to Baltimore resident Araba Maze. As she was reading a book to her niece on the front stoop of her … [Read more...]
Waxing Moon Goddess by Ramona Szczerba I went salsa dancing last Saturday night for the first time in years. Salsa used to be my world, and I was out dancing at least five times a week. Over time, the scene changed – and so did I. But one of my favorite bands was playing nearby, so I dusted off my dancing shoes and ventured forth. Saw some old familiar faces, drank some wine … [Read more...]
