“From the Mississippi Delta” is an autobiographical play by Endesha Ida Mae Holland. It covers more than four decades of her life, from growing up in poverty in Mississippi to her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and her academic achievements. The play was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Michelle Blackmon directed this wonderful production. […]
To Ponder
Letter: On Becoming a Princess – Eat Your Peas
At three years old she hated peas. Especially a side-dish of just peas and only peas while the rest of dinner was being prepared. As if somehow peas placed alone on a separate plate should be therefore prized? By a three year old? Nope. No matter what her mother said or did she wouldn’t eat […]
Mower Than You Know
Did you ever have one of those days where it strikes you that you don’t have enough money to buy what you want? I was mowing the lawn and realized that as I bent over to disconnect the bag of grass clippings. I must have frozen in mid-bending over that my wife Philace’s birthday was […]
Mindnight Dancing, Music and Memories at Our Fingertips
Sometimes we forget about things, like music that catches us off-guard and reaches out deep within our souls. It could just be the music or a gathering, or just our mind taking us away to other places. The other night I went into the living room where my wife Peggy was watching an ancient concert […]
Let’s Talk! – Dear Angry Henchmen
Are your screens off, and are you ready to take off on a round of lively conversation? Or intense pondering? Well, I have to admit that today’s prompt had me flustered. I thought it might be lines in a poem – and maybe they are – but my Google search came up empty. And so, […]
Across the Fence: The Mattress of One’s Life
My latest experiences call for interrupting the steady flow of Germanisms in American English in this column and for replacing at least today’s attempt at exploring a term with exploring hotels. Specifically, mattresses. And trust me, I’m not trying to sell you a particular brand. I’d just like to share with you on what thoughts […]
Letter: Pair Up – in Rowing, In Loving, In Life
I needed a distraction to block out the anguish as I rowed that early morning on the ergometer, an instrument invented I think for torture, certainly, the cause of a great deal of lung-excruciating pain. As I strained against the machine, gasping for breath, sucking air, mouth gaping, legs burning, I saw her. Though the […]
The Niceties – Lakewood Playhouse Review
Michelle Matlock, Director’s Note: “At it’s core, The Niceties is a powerful examination of the complexities surrounding race, power, privilege, and historical narrative. The play does not offer easy answers, instead, it raises critical, unresolved questions about our world.” Laurie O’Brien plays Janine Bosko, a white American history professor. We first saw her as Gingy […]
Christopher Plummer – In Spite of Myself – Book Review
I recently got a message from my cousin Lindy. Lindy is named after my mother. Our mom’s were twins. Lindy and I were the eldest of our families. I was the eldest with two sisters and Lindy was the eldest with three brothers. The message was about a book she wanted to know if I […]