[Clever Title Beginning with "If I . . . "]
If I were to write a blog post in response to Gene Marks’s blog post, then I’d be just like hundreds or even thousands of other bloggers out there, including one of my own blog co-authors, fivefifths. As if this topic hadn’t been commented-on to death at this point, we’ve seen new posts almost daily … Read more
Flag Day
As an introductory matter, I’d bet my soul and yours that you couldn’t tell me off the top of your head when Flag Day is. Go ahead. I’ll wait . . . . .Ok. Times up. It’s June 14th. It commemorates the adoption of the United State Flag on June 14th, 1777. Bet you didn’t … Read more
Stuffing v. Dressing
Continuing with our seasonal discussion of foods that have traditionally polarized the black community, I though I might take a stab at settling once and for all a question that has recently come to my attention. Namely, what is the proper term for the breaded side dish that accompanies many Black Americans tables during Thanksgiving. … Read more
This has got to STOP
There is something that has been bothering me. From time to time here on the blog we write about the slightly racist things that occur in our daily lives. As Black people, that’s just par for the course. You become accustomed to questions about hair texture. Why you, in the minds of your lighter colleagues, always … Read more
“O They Tell Me of a Home . . .”
O they tell me of a home far away O they tell me of a place where no storm clouds rise O they tell me of an uncloudy day O they tell me of a place where my friends Have gone O they tell me of that land far away Where the tree of life … Read more
Who Taught You to Hate Yourself?
This post was inspired by an exchange I had with a sistah on Twitter this morning. Now you see, Twitter is never short of provocative intellectual discussion that spark erudite dialogue. Ok. Who am I kidding. Twitter is usually full of gossip, ignorance, news about celebrities [including false deaths thereof]. Anyway, this morning, I happened … Read more
The Road Not Taken . . .
There is ever-present in the Black experience the urge to measure one’s self against the experience of others. A natural desire to recognize the uniqueness of the African American experience while at the same time searching for the bonds and undercurrents that tie us together as a people. This blog was created so that we … Read more
Capital Punishment in America
Much has been said and many will weigh in on the unfortunate case of Troy Davis in the coming days. His execution in Jackson, Georgia last night at 11:08PM raised national awareness about the racial disparity in the Justice System in America. I was at the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC when I heard … Read more
I Am Troy Davis
I am fivefifths. I am a writer on a blog which quickly became more than what I expected it to be (thanks to you all we just reached 50,00 views!). I am a student and a teacher. I am an employee with a job I love and hate. I have friends, and I have great … Read more
My Secret Identity
It has often been said of Batman and Superman that their “alter-ego” is the truest form of the character. For Bruce Wayne, the tragic killing of his parents before his young eyes spawned perhaps the most bad-assed non-super superhero ever to have existed. It inspired him to train and raise his crime-fighting and deduction skills to near … Read more
