When I first saw this magazine cover I must admit I was in denial that this was actually an Ebony magazine cover. I mean after all, Ebony magazine is for US, right? And by "US" I mean Black Women! And not just the light skinned, with straight hair and acceptable European features Black Women. Smh. …
Real Talk about Gentrification in Oakland
Gentrification: The process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of upper middle class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. Let me first say that I'm not against redevelopment. Oakland is one the most racially and culturally diverse cities in the Bay Area, so I am all for the city of Oakland …
Continue reading "Real Talk about Gentrification in Oakland"
Why don’t women respect and support each other more?
For the past few weeks, I've been mulling over this issue about why, some women do not seem to respect and support other women. In my 42 years, I haven't met one woman, regardless of age or race, who hasn't had an issue with another woman at some point in her life! As grown women, we all have …
Continue reading "Why don’t women respect and support each other more?"
Can we change racial inequity in this country?
'Do I believe we can change racial inequity?' This question was posed during a Race Power, Privilege Workshop: Tools and Strategies for Advancing Racial Equity training I attended last week. Everyone who attended worked in an organization or city/county department that provides services to the community in some form or fashion. Now, I personally don't believe …
Continue reading "Can we change racial inequity in this country?"
How do we strengthen the Black Community?
Community. I often wonder if that word has meaning for folks anymore. The definition of community is: a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality,share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. A common cultural and historical heritage... Now, to me that means that a people who have such a …
Continue reading "How do we strengthen the Black Community?"
Do you know where you’re from??
The funniest things come out of the mouths of kids sometimes. And by "funny" I don't necessarily mean "haha" but more on the "that's interesting" side. The side that usually has me saying, alrighty then. So, one of my jobs is teaching dance at the YMCA in Berkeley, and the kids I teach are primarily …
The US is the Biggest Jailer of Kids
I saw something on Twitter from the ACLU about a report that was submitted to the UN regarding the treatment of children in youth detention centers here in the US. It reminded me of my time working at the Ella Baker Center when I first learned about the horrors of The Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), …
Did you know there used to be a “Black Wallstreet”?
I recently discovered a piece of history that has conveniently been left out of our history books. On June 1,1921 one of the most affluent Black communities in northern Tulsa, Oklahoma was destroyed. The community stretched across 36 blocks, encompassed over 600 businesses and had a population of 15,000 Black folks. From what I've read about that community, …
Continue reading "Did you know there used to be a “Black Wallstreet”?"
Time to Renew our sense of Community
I woke up the other day with an overwhelming feeling that it is crucial that we as individuals renew our sense of community. As a society, we are entirely too disconnected from one another, too focused on individual needs and wants, concerned only with what effects us and our immediate circles. It's a shame and …
Time for Revolution- where the Revolutionaries at?
I've been thinking lately about how our past civil rights leaders would feel if they were able to witness what has become of our society in 2014 almost 2015. Yes we've made some progress, but as a whole, where are we really as a people? As a community? Because what I have noticed is that …
Continue reading "Time for Revolution- where the Revolutionaries at?"
Dawn M. Edwards 