opinion

There is nothing more powerful than written narrative. A good book can provoke thought, give affirmation, expand your point-of-view, and make you laugh from your gut. The outpouring of ideas and energy from writer to reader is nothing short of divine, and on the remarkable occasion that an author is able to effectively unpack the emotions that we're too busy or too numb to let ourselves feel, it creates an intimate bond and transformative experience like no other.No matter what your recruitment prospects are looking like this cuffing season, never underestimate the uncomplicated and reliable company of a good book. With new releases from Ta Nehisi Coates, Toni Morrison, Nikki Giovanni, and a few highly anticipated newcomers, Autumn is overflowing with great options. So, go ahead and restock those K-Cups, grab your snuggliest blanket, and get into these 10 must-read fall book releases.             1. We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates                                                                   Ta-Nehisi Coates is a literary beast. Period. With the 2015 release of, Between the World and Me, the journalist, comic book writer, and author solidified himself as one of the most renowned social commentators of our time, topping the New York Times bestseller list and winning the National Book Award for Nonfiction. His latest book, We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy, set for an October 3rd release, promises to keep it all the way real with an apt examination of the racial climate that leads this country to make the drastic pivot from Barack Obama to Donald Trump. For a sneak peak into this powerful commentary, check out Coates' latest essay in The Atlantic.2. Real American: A Memoir by Julie Lythcott-Haims                                                                  Described as "courageous and achingly honest," Real American is the autobiographical story of one woman's battle with the psychological effects that American racism routinely inflicts on people of color. The only child of an African-American father and a white British mother, author Julie Lythcott-Haims speaks of the microaggressions and blunt force insults black folks contend with every day. Set for an October 3rd release date, this novel is sure to invoke your internal amen choir.  3. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Denene Millner Books                                                                                     There is nothing like a fresh fade and a crispy line-up for the instant glow up! Written by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James, and set for an October 10th release, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is the perfect gift for all the fly young black boys in your life.4. A Good Cry: What We Learn From Tears and Laughter by Nikki Giovanni                                                                                Set for release on October 24th, A Good Cry is sure to make you do just that. In her latest collection, renowned poet Nikki Giovanni reflects on the many people, places, and circumstances that have shaped her journey. Go ahead and gather your Kleenex 'cause you know Nikki don't play.5. Man Alive: A True Story of Violence, Forgiveness and Becoming a Man by Thomas Page McBee                                                                   In Man Alive, Thomas Page McBee takes the reader on his life-changing transition from female to male. Due for re-release on September 5th, this is the true and deeply emotional story of the process that led McBee to reclaim his body on his own terms. 6. Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies by Dick Gregory                                                                    We lost a real one on August 19th. Dick Gregory paved the way for "woke" activism, and fortunately for us, the comedian, writer, and politically engaged icon left us with his documented take on some of history's most impactful moments. In Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies, Gregory walks us through 100 key events from our complicated history in the U.S.7.The Origin of Others (The Charles Eliot Norton Lectures) by Toni Morrison                                                                    With the September 18th release of The Origin of Others, distinguished novelist Toni Morrison draws on her Norton Lectures at Harvard University to give a critical examination of the ever relevant themes of race and fear, and our obsession with constructing a separate "other." Given Toni Morrison's uncanny ability to weave words around complicated concepts that we instinctively know to be true, I'm already here for this.8. Passage by Khary Lazarre-White                                                                  Due for release on September, 26th, Passage is the story of Warrior-a young black man navigating the streets of Harlem and Brooklyn in the early nineties. NYC born and bred, the author, Khary Lazarre-White places his lead character in direct confrontation with the environmental forces that seek to derail him. Nineties nostalgia and a hardcore coming of age tale...it's about to get real out here for my fellow xennials.9. Blessed Life: My Surprising Journey of Joy, Tears, and Tales from Harlem to Hollywood by Kim FieldsWhether you know her from her role as Regine Hunter on the influential 90's sitcom Living Single, or from her stint on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kim Fields is an OG in the game. Having begun her acting career at the tender age of seven, the pop-culture icon has flourished for decades, evading the destructive path that claimed so many of her child-star contemporaries. In Blessed Life, set for release on November 14th, the actress shares her journey through self-discovery and adulting. Drop these gems, Kim! 10. Chicago Flashback: The People and Events That Shaped a City’s History by Chicago Tribune Staff                                                                    The city that brought us Common, Yeezy, and Lil Chano from 79th too often gets a bad rap, but don't sleep on the Chi. The journalists at the Chicago Tribune have rounded up news stories and photos from the past 170 years and compiled them into this vast archive of the people and events that have shaped the city. Chicago Flashback is set for release on November 17th.Let these reads bless your upcoming fall season.                                                                     ...

My thoughts and prayers are with the islands in the Caribbean already affected by Irma, and areas in South Florida. I’m writing this from a pitch-black room in Clearwater, Florida.No, no. The hurricane hasn’t even reached Florida yet. The sun is shining on a cloudless blue sky. My dad has just decided to board up every window in the house for when if it gets here.If you haven’t heard, Hurricane Irma is making her way to the Sunshine State (awkward) at full force, while currently heading through the Caribbean.Unfortunately, that means everyone in the state at level-10 panic, panic that is completely unnecessary.I’m a born and raised Floridian from Pinellas County, a small peninsula within the state peninsula. We have been #blessed in our area that we have avoided major storms hitting us directly, but we are no stranger to hurricanes, what they mean and how to prep for one.Hurricane season begins on June 1 in the Atlantic and runs until November 30 (according to the National Weather Service), and the peak season is between August and October. We know this. Every local weather station on the first will inform you that hurricane season is here, loud and proud. Checklists are available in early summer.Make sure you have jugs of water, batteries and perishable items. Your windows, roof and garage door should be to code. Make sure your pets are registered for a shelter. You should have coolers and first aid kits and matches and candles and a battery-powered portable DVD player for the kids entertainment.And here we are, in the midst of a storm, like we’re in the middle of the freaking Hunger Games. People are clawing at each other for the things we know we’re supposed to have.Seriously, there are videos of people attacking each other over plywood and water.Now, I’m not sitting here taking hurricanes lightly. They are obviously dangerous and shouldn’t be dealt with nonchalantly.However, unlike with tornadoes and other spontaneous disasters, we know that hurricanes are coming and we usually get some prep time while the ‘canes head this way.In watching my fellow Floridians freak over the uncertainty of the storm, it made me think about how we handle many other aspects of our lives.How many instances do we begin to panic over having to juggle multiple situations in our lives, without stepping back?Sometimes, so many issues can be avoided if we just took the time to look at our checklists and plan. This can go for our personal lives, jobs, families and relationships.Sometimes, I think we are fueled by anxiety and we allow that to drive our actions instead of just being prepared. We allow the fact that we’re moving now to be enough, when we could have been moving weeks, months or years ago.Sometimes, the panic is unnecessary, but a choice.However, I sit in a dark room because the windows are covered by boards cut 12 years ago in prep for a possible storm.I hope this storm does the least damage as possible, and serves as a reminder to people in this state, and around the country, that being a little too prepared isn’t a bad idea.It’s better than getting beat over the head with plywood at Home...

It’s back-to-school season for college students, and for so many that means moving somewhere new, starting at a brand new school and discovering who we are away from our parents, siblings and childhood friends. Taking on so many new responsibilities can be overwhelming, but there’s also a lot of fun that comes along with exploring your identity, dating and making new friends. Unfortunately, along with dating and meeting new people comes the risk of dating abuse — a very harsh reality on a lot of campuses.Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 actually experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, which is almost triple the national average. But there are steps you can take to stand up for your friends of all genders and yourself and to recognize the signs of an unhealthy or abusive relationship.The first step is knowing what abuse is and being able to identify unhealthy situations.Does you or your roommate or best friend deal with a partner who is constantly checking their phone or email without permission? Do their mood swings cause you anxiety and does their explosive temper cause fear? Those aren’t healthy relationship qualities. Abuse isn’t always physical (although that’s a legitimate concern, too). If your partner is isolating you from your family, telling you what to do, controlling who you interact with on social media or making false accusations about you constantly, that’s still abuse. Know that these actions are not out of love, they are manipulative.But understand that you are not alone in these experiences. About 43 percent of dating college women report experiencing violent and abusive dating behaviors. Abuse can affect everyone. The next step is seeking help. If you live with your partner, it can be an especially hard burden to bear and can motivate you to ignore or downplay these behaviors. But it’s not impossible to seek help and stay safe. Record your abusive incidents, tell someone you trust and create a safety plan. Once you share that plan with someone you trust, you can avoid being alone with your abusive partner and can make an escape plan. There are local resources that can help you stay safe; don’t be afraid to reach out to them.The advantage to being on campus in these incidents is that there are Title IX protections and campus resources that are put in place to protect you. Whether you’re still in the dorms or living off campus, these resources, specifically for college students, are there to support you in your decision to stay out of harm’s way.But what if you aren’t the one who needs help? Watching someone you love experience abuse can be stressful and heartbreaking, and there are even cases of secondary trauma for those in the position. But there are steps you can take to support and motivate your loved one to get help.Abusive relationships lead to an imbalance of power, so everything you can do to empower your friend or roommate to make their own decisions or get help is key. Talk to them about safety plans (i.e. when you should call the police on their behalf, talking to your neighbors or campus security, identify safe rooms in your home), create code words for when they are in danger, talk about having groups around (benefit from the strength in numbers), and more. Overall, just be there for them in a non-judgmental way. Understand that these situations are complicated, but your support could be the lifeline they need.The college experience is full of growth, fun, love and discovering who you are. But just like anything, there are dangerous situations that can arise. Be alert and aware of who you surround yourself with and the state of your friends and roommates. Be a good listener and a good friend, and see how your support and love can keep what’s supposed to be a positive life experience just that.If you need more resources on how to help a friend in an abusive relationship, refer to these tips from the National Domestic Violence Hotline.This post is brought to you in collaboration with the National Domestic Violence...

Most people believe they’re great leaders. They share it on job-interviews, networking events, and daily conversations. They automatically take the lead on projects, tasks and activities because they’re natural “leaders” and they can move groups toward victory. However, comparing yourself to others doesn’t automatically justify your ability to lead. Your proximity to power doesn’t guarantee success. And previous actions don’t always translate to present effectiveness.A true leader adopts these three actions:1. Endure Pain For Your TribeThe effectiveness of your leadership is determined by your ability to withstand pain. Leaders—and black leaders in particular—understand that there are forces who attempt to distract, destruct and damage our credibility and lives because we are supporting our people. Leaders are heads of organizations and if they fail, then their people may fail. They continuously sacrifice their quality of life, including advancing relationships, obtaining resources, and enjoying time, to provide a better quality of life for their tribe.You’re not ready for leadership if you cannot withstand the painful process of promotion. The more leadership roles you receive, the more painful situations arise. Great leaders withstand the pain of people assassinating their character and unrealized dreams. They live above societal standards while being shaped emotionally, spiritually and mentally for their moment. Leaders endure painful processes and attacks on multiple levels. If you’re not willing to sacrifice at a high level, then you’re not ready for leadership.2. Desire Encouragement Not RecognitionYou’re not ready for leadership if you’re doing it for likes, shares or retweets. It’s wonderful to be recognized by your peers, but effective leaders aren’t driven by that. They are driven by the purpose, which they may not want or enjoy, that is on their life. Maturing leaders desire our support, confidence and abilities to feed them hope. They want to know if we can encourage them by supporting their dreams, donating to their causes and providing sources of inspiration. They’re not fazed by awards and titles, they’re focused on fulfilling their vision. Leaders want to know if their tribe can encourage them through tough situations, not just feed compliments. Poor leaders are fueled by attention. However, if you want to be a great leader, then you must be willing to move in silence.3. Properly Manage Their InfluenceYou’re not ready for leadership if you desire to use positions for personal and political gains. Leaders are sensitive to how they project influence. Leaders use their influence in a meaningful manner to advance their mission. They speak and move methodically because they know their presence holds value. Leaders understand that it’s not about how many people you influence, but how you manage the influence you already have. They protect their brand and respect their tribe. They don’t use their influence to advance agendas that will harm their following. They leverage their influence to mentor, advocate and sponsor others.Finally, you must be able to lead yourself. If you can lead yourself, knowing all your issues and problems, then you’re better fit to lead others. Remember: leaders endure the pain for their tribe, desire encouragement not recognition and properly manage their influence for the...

Earlier, I came across the article, "Having Work Friends Can Be Tricky, But It’s Worth It," which I found to be interesting. The most interesting part was the statistics on co-workers vacationing together. “Going on a vacation with a co-worker is virtually unimaginable in America—less than 6 percent of workers have taken their relationship with colleagues to this level.”  A few weeks ago, I returned from vacation with four other people, one of which is a friend I met through work. So now I fit into that “less than 6 percent” category, and if you know me, you would never think I would. I like to keep small circles and I am not the social butterfly, so when I go to a new company, I do what is asked of me and go home. Having numerous side hustles when I was younger, I always had the “business is business, friends are friends” mentality, and it still holds true to this day. You have to have the same mentality in the workplace, which also allows you to quickly get over any grievances you have with someone that you forged a friendship with through work. This is something that many athletes that play on teams learn early on. You get into a fight with a teammate during practice, you leave it on the field and you do not carry that grudge forward. I was reminded of this again my freshman year in college after getting into a fight with a junior during football training camp.At work, there will be some people that you relate to easier than others, and it is OK to befriend them. This makes the workplace more fun and enjoyable, and creates a healthier environment. The less you interact with others in the workplace, the greater the chance that communication starts happening in silos when it is time to work with other departments. You are either left out of the loop or fail to include the correct people when it comes time to get projects completed. It is not hard to be professional and social during work, and there was a time when this was the case. As company family picnics declined, so did the social interaction in the workplace. In my opinion, the more you understand the different personalities of your co-workers, the easier it is to communicate with them and not take things personally when there is miscommunication. Now, conversations with some co-workers are down to the level of saying, "Hi, how are you doing?" and getting the response of, "I am fine, and you?" as you pass each other in the hallway, barely making contact, and your voice trails off in the distance. With the emergence of social media, the game has changed even more. Co-workers you do not speak to want to be your friend, and companies are searching for you before hiring you. Sometimes, you have to draw the line and not add everyone that you work with. You do not always want to see their views on certain issues or have them providing their opinions on posts you make. Several years ago, I remember seeing an article that read, "Arrested for Setting Fire to the Home of a Woman Who 'Unfriended' Her on Facebook."  Americans are one of the few people that can work in a group with others from another country, and then be asked about the tasks they were given. They will be able to answer the question about the tasks, but fail to remember anything about the socio-emotional side of the activity. It is like they are just going through the motions, disengaged and only thinking about getting right to business. This reminds me of when I used to help run a youth football league. I was the Commissioner for the third and fourth grade league and I almost had to ban a parent the first day of practice. The coaches were meeting their players for the first time, and one parent felt that the coach of one particular team was taking too long to start running drills. This parent did not care that the coach did not know the name of his child yet, he just wanted to get down to business. Since he felt that the coach was taking too long—he saw other teams start to practice—he became angered and threatened the coach. I had to go over and defuse the situation from two sides. The league president was ready to get rid of the parent and the player, and I had to assure him that I could handle that situation with the parent without having to kick the player off the team. After it was all said and done, the parent was never an issue the rest of the season.  There are some workplaces that encourage employees to make friends at work and provide an environment that makes it easier to do so, while a select few frown upon it and want you to do your robotic duties and go home. Personally, I could not work for a company with a work culture that pushes the...

Honestly, I’m still baffled as to how catcalling is still a prevalent method men resort to when they see a beautiful woman walking by. Personally, I don’t know any scenario where catcalling has actually worked. I don’t ever recall a moment in where, as a woman, I felt empowered or gassed by someone hollering sexist crap to me as I mind my business walking down the street.According to Webster’s dictionary, catcalling is when someone makes a whistle, shout or comment of a sexual nature to a woman passing by. There is a level of deeply rooted discomfort, resentment and pure disgust a woman experiences when she is confronted with, “Ayo ma, you looking gorgeous! Can we talk?”Cat-callers are like mosquitoes women can never dodge, no matter how much repellent they apply.Yes, catcalling is a form of harassment. Don’t believe me? When women were asked if they’ve ever been catcalled, data demonstrated that over 99 percent said they had in fact experienced some form of street harassment. The same data revealed 95 percent expressed they’ve been honked at on a frequent basis, 57 percent said they’ve actually been physically touched or grabbed aggressively in public, 81 percent have been victims of sexually explicit comments and 37 percent said they’ve had a stranger masturbate in front of them in public. I could continue hitting y’all with the facts, but this issue isn’t fully addressed, ever.Expecting a polite response from woman after being sexually objectified is indeed harassment. Yelling negative unsolicited responses after a woman dubs your so-called “compliment” is also harassment. It’s such a misleading myth that catcalling is a form of flattery to some women. It isn’t. We hate it, and it really needs to stop.Fellas, please understand that you will never get a girl that way. Like how do men think harassing a female on the street is okay?!— Chantel Morel (@chantelmorel) August 21, 2017It doesn't matter whether she has short shorts on or plastic bag, no woman should ever have to feel uncomfortable or unsafe ...— Chantel Morel (@chantelmorel) August 21, 2017 Yes, my b*tch face will prevail until you come correct. Why? Because 75 percent of women have actually been followed by an unknown stranger. It's unfortunate to also know that catcalling began at the age of 10 for most girls. I’ve personally had a man curse me all the way down the block in my neighborhood, and actually threaten to put his hands on me, all due to this catcalling nonsense. Nowadays, I hope that I look at my phone intently enough or cross to the opposite side when I see a crowd of men gathered. I’d rather not deal. But if I have to, my b*tch face should let you know I’m not with the shenanigans.I was 10, walking with my cousin in a sleepy beach town, and he was a middle-aged white guy who'd had a few too many. #firstharassed— Nicole Chung (@nicole_soojung) May 28, 2015I was harassed so much I can't tell you when I was #firstharassed. That's how "normal" it was. I just know it started around age 9/10ish.— Khal Draghoe (@brownandbella) May 28, 2015No, it’s not working, y’all. And it never will. It’s that natural sense of entitled attention men have that really gets me. Men, do you think because you’ve said a sexually motivated comment that I’m supposed to be flattered? Nah. Catcalling never impressed anyone. If anything, it makes a woman more repulsed by your false pretenses, because there’s not much of a follow through after “Ayo ma!” It’s really white noise at this point. I know impeaching Trump would happen before finding a global consensus on catcalling, but let’s give these stank faces, throw these curve balls and embarrass these cat-callers until further notice....

Oh, beautiful for racist skies, for amber waves of pain. For purple mountain travesties, above the muted chains! America! America! God dimmed his grace on thee. And crowned thy brute with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.Long before I was even thought of, my immigrant parents wholeheartedly invested into the "American Dream." They were sold on the deception that America is "the land of equal opportunity, the land of the free." My parents took on degrading jobs, worked tirelessly, linguistically assimilated and attempted to practice the "American Way" just so I, their American child, can have a quality of life that was better than theirs.Throughout each developmental stage, my parents stressed the importance of education and hard work.Mama always said, "Do good in school, work hard and there's nothing you can't have in America."Right?Well, 28 years later, I've come to accept not only is the "American Dream" deferred, it's a delusion perpetually deterred—an "American Nightmare" in which people of color aren't able to wake up from.On November 9, 2016, I woke up to a reality I still refuse to accept. Of all the years of being aware of racial inequality, I truly believed, if anything, The United States of America would always uphold a bare minimum criteria for who leads the country. I thought, "Wait a minute, even McDonald's, retail or the customer service industry at least requires some sort of experience and/or good reference to acquire a job." Regretfully for me, but boastfully for some, racism trumped, and here we all are nine months later watching America go back in time.For years, white America believed its own lie that racism is dead. According to white America, people of color should've been satisfied with the passing of The Civil Rights Act and Brown vs Board of Education. For too long, white America handed affirmative action and government assistance to black and brown communities on a silver platter, daring us to complain. White America confidently believed, "You got what you wanted. The entire country was weighted on the same scale so you should have had nothing else to protest and march about." I truly continue to wonder what strain of hallucinogen privileged white men and women were inducing, because those presumptions were far from the truth. Evidently, racism is still very much alive. More now than ever, closeted racists and white supremacists alike feel empowered to be loud and barbaric about their beliefs.I was born in America, therefore, I am an American citizen. We're a democratic society—well, that's what the American books told me growing up. So with all of the red, white and blue in which I am entitled, I boldly state that I am utterly disgusted, but yet not surprised at the worsening condition of this country. If the White Nationalist March that took place in Virginia wasn't a look in the mirror on the dark state of this country, I volunteer myself as a tribute to be shipped back to my family's country. Haiti or Africa, it doesn't matter. Get me outta here ASAP!White America, marginalized groups told you for decades that the roots of your tree is still grounded in hate. Most recently, it has tickled me to see newsreels and social media commentary rallying against simultaneously being an American and Nazi supporter. College and non-college degreed white men and women, this is the outcome of your November 2016 electoral vote, marinate in that world shattering decision. While white America continues to have a frenzy with the heightened white supremacy behavior being portrayed, you can find me on standby being an unbothered black woman exercising my right to mind my business. To have our voices heard about inequality in America, people of color have protested, we have marched and have been killed; we remained ignored. Warnings were given, white America, this is now your mess, fix it without the expense of another black and brown...