In 1988, Keith Sweat produced a hit record “Make It Last Forever”. Not only was the song a hit in the African American community but it had crossover appeal. “Make It Last Forever” reached #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 List. While the song will never be remembered for being lyrically extraordinary, it was remarkably profound. The song was so appealing because it provided a … [Read more...]
Three Ways Steppin’ Can Help Your Marriage [Video]
When you’ve been married as long as I have, you are constantly looking for ways to keep things fresh. I believe continuing to search for creative and innovative experiences is key to helping your relationship remain energetic. Marriage can quickly turn stale if we are not working repetitively to improve individually and collectively. It’s been my experience that the best … [Read more...]
African American Women Need A Hand Not A Fist
For the last several weeks to months, African Americans across the nation have cried foul about the way African American men are treated. Our collective cries have crossed multiple segments of society. Whether it’s unemployment, police brutality, lack of educational opportunities…the calls for change and improvement have been loud and nonstop. The Show Me State Most recently, … [Read more...]
Five Things Parents Should Do After the Mike Brown Shooting
Another useless and unfortunate killing of an African-American child is an international news story. It seems that violent incidents involving children are more common place now than ever. No matter which side of the political aisle you sit or how your personal experiences frame your opinion, I believe we can all agree that one child dying from violence is one child too … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Black Parents’ Back To School List
I don’t know about you but I can hardly believe that the summer is almost over. If it isn’t depressing enough realizing that shortly the warm weather will be gone and the long days will disappear – avid parents like me will soon be sending our children back to school. I realize that for some, seeing our kids return to school is a welcomed sight but not so much with me. I may … [Read more...]
How to Know If You Are Prepared to Be A Parent
As the author of a book and blog about parenting, it should come as no surprise that I am often asked questions about – you guessed it parenting. Oddly, for as long as I have been writing and advocating for parents to revere parenting as a divinely granted and highly honored profession, it has been rare that anyone has taken the time to ask what I believe is the most important … [Read more...]
The Best Way for African Americans to Celebrate the 4th of July
As we prepare to enjoy the Fourth of July commemoration – a day often observed by indulgence and in many cases the overindulgence in food, drink and spirited celebration – let us not forget what the day means particularly for the African American community. July 4, 1776 is the officially recognized day of the signing of The Declaration of Independence. In 1776, the purpose … [Read more...]
Is It Time for the African American Community to Rethink Manhood?
Six years ago, I had the last conversation I would ever have with a very dear friend. While we were talking in June 2008, I did not for one second imagine that we would never speak again. The Last Call Between June and September 2008, I attempted to call my friend on a number of occasions. We share the same birthday and it had been our ritual for 20 years to never miss … [Read more...]
How to Separate GREAT Fathers from Weak Links
The time of year where American children have the opportunity to collectively celebrate fathers is nearly here. Father’s Day, the third Sunday in June, is the National Holiday that commemorates fathers. More than celebrating fathers, Father’s Day is a referendum on the paternal unions existing between fathers and children and the societal influence fathers have on their … [Read more...]
4 Great Moves Every Parent Should Make Before Summer Vacation
If you're having a difficult time believing that it's almost summer, join the club. Parents all over the Country are asking themselves the same question: “Where has the time gone”? It seems like only yesterday that children were just starting the school year. Now there are only weeks or days remaining before the summer break begins. Not So Fast Before your child gets settled … [Read more...]
Don’t Blame Your Child…It Really Isn’t Their Fault
If you have been blessed, as I am, to be a parent, you know parenting to be an experience of the greatest highs coupled with the lowest of lows. This is not an exaggeration - parenting is part joy and part pain. Nevertheless, for the lucky parents, parenting is an experience with much more joy than pain. Joy & Pain Yet, no matter how lucky a parent may be, joy and pain … [Read more...]
It’s April 1st, but We Have No Time for Foolishness
Although April 1st is not a national holiday, many Americans will treat it as such. April 1st or as it is almost universally known, April Fools’ Day, is the day where Americans play pranks throughout the day on one another. If you can imagine it, we do it. From placing insulting signs on one another’s backs to covering someone’s car with post-it notes to tampering with … [Read more...]
The “Write” Way to Communicate Effectively with Your Loved Ones
In any relationship there will be ups and downs. One of the keys to having more ups than downs is being able to communicate effectively with our loved ones. Whether it’s a spouse, partner or child, communicating effectively seems simple enough when times are good but the slightest disagreement or misunderstanding can derail and ruin even the best relationships forever. Two … [Read more...]
Four Cold Hard Requirements of African-American Fathers
On February 27, 2014, President Barack Obama launched the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative. The written aim of the initiative is to build ladders of opportunity for boys and young men of color. The unwritten objective is to find a cure for inept parenting. Parents Just Don’t Understand Whatever you think about the President’s initiative, two things are true: 1) America has a … [Read more...]
What Parents Can Learn From the Jordan Davis Tragedy
For the past several weeks, the Nation has again been captivated by the senseless murder of another African-American teen. Once again, a child has been gun downed pointlessly and his parents are left struggling to put their lives back together without a key piece to their puzzle. More Of The Same The murder of Jordan Davis provides the media and political pundits/social … [Read more...]