Dear Diary: These 3 educators are ancestors but live on in me. They taught me to be honest, kind, empathetic, truthful, and put my name on my work, content I created. They also taught me not to claim I was more than I am, but always acknowledge “who my people were.” -1 My people are many. The list of names is long. They all taught transparency. So, to the point: I am not tutoring, advising, consulting, or otherwise guiding anyone in their search for “the meaning to life” or “how Negro, Colored, African American, Black, -2

I intended to post this earlier today, but my schedule didn’t allow. This has been a day of remembrance, a day that once deeply traumatized me. 1/ OTD-November 22, 1963, I was home helping my mother organize plans for Thanksgiving. In between our work, we were watching various television shows. There was frequent interruption to announce President John F. Kennedy’s next stop in Dallas, Texas. /2

1/ 🗳🗳History shows the 15th Amendment in 1870 gave Blacks the right to vote, but it was not until 1966 that all barriers were removed allowing them to vote freely. 2/ Blacks always understood 🗳as one of the basics of citizenship, and often used creative ways to reinforce the importance of voting. Historic Springfield Baptist Church, founded in 1787, used a “church repair” fundraiser to amplify the concept of 🗳.