Derrick McMahon
Should critical thinking be selective?
Aug 24 2011

When some choose to turn a blind eye to the facts

What is critical thinking, and why do we partake in it? That is a question which has been on my mind a lot. As someone who is strongly committed to the social justice movement, critical thinking is one of the best gifts that I can bring to our combined efforts to challenge interlocking systems of oppression. I am very interested in the degree to which we stress critical thinking, and the various issues, such as belief in God, that we give exemptions to.

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Non-traditional families don’t have to be damning to youth
Jul 27 2011

It takes a community to raise a child

We are socialized to devalue male and female influences unless they come from our biological parents. Anything else, we’re told, is deficient.

However, it’s not that kids lack male and female influences, but rather society only values this influence in the context of two-parent heterosexual homes.

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Homosexual youth still struggle with their identity
Jul 6 2011

Suicide too often becomes an option

Dissolved R&B group Xscape’s famous song contemplatively asks, “Who can I run to, when I need love?”

Thousands, if not millions, of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) youth in this country are asking themselves that very question, and are being met with the antithesis of love: hate.

The loss of one child due to suicide is senseless, but the loss of nine young people to suicide, because of bullying they experienced as a result of, or being perceived as gay—what sense could it make?

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Self-love: Don’t dwell on what you cannot change
Feb 10 2011

The key to life’s happiness

Life is unpredictable, and it’s certainly not fair.

But why should it be? If everything we wanted or desired to happen took place, there would be no spice to life.

There are a lot of people who have yet to come to a point in their lives where they are going to be happy with themselves.

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If God is neither male nor female, then what?
Dec 23 2010

Attributing gender to the Almighty

In a bold move, one Scottish church has taken a progressive leap toward remedying the former patriarchal notions about God that have become commonplace among many churches. According to the Daily Mail, a British tabloid newspaper, bishops in the Scottish Episcopal Church removed words such as “Lord,” “he,” “his” and “him” from their sermons. The bishops see this as a step toward moving away from suggestions that God is of a male gender.

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Illiteracy in the Black community
Sep 8 2010

Enough is enough

While reading an issue of Essence recently, I was touched by an interview the magazine did with its former editor Susan L. Taylor. The topic of the interview was mentoring and why the former editor had become so passionate about the activity. One of the things that stuck out to me was when Taylor stated, “Enough is enough” after revealing that 58 percent of Black fourth graders are functionally illiterate.

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Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Arkansas
Walmart Stores Inc. recently announced the promotion of Rosalind G. Brewer, 49, to president and CEO of Sam’s Club. She will replace current Sam’s Club President and CEO Brian Cornell, who informed the company that he would move back to the Northeast for family reasons. Brewer was most recently president of the Walmart U.S. east business unit, where she was responsible for more than $100 billion in annual revenue, representing almost 1,600 stores and more than 500,000 associates. Brewer was also the first chairperson of the Walmart President’s Council of Global Women Leaders. “Roz came to us with an outstanding background in consumer packaged goods more than five years ago,” said Mike Duke, Walmart president and CEO. “During that time I have seen her develop into a talented merchant and retailer. She has strong strategic, analytical and operational skills and has successfully managed a large and complex business. I’ve also been struck by Roz’s servant leadership when I have visited stores with her. She always lets her team do the talking, with her focus being on how to better support their needs.”
 

California
Essence magazine recently announced the fifth annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon honoring the industry’s most exciting African American talent, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in Hollywood. The event will take place on Feb. 23 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Essence will celebrate five extraordinary women who have left an indelible impression with their work within the film and television industries: Kerry Washington (Vanguard Award), Octavia Spencer (Breakthrough Performance), Pam Grier (Legend Award), Paula Patton (Shining Star Award) and Shonda Rhimes (Visionary Award). This star-studded event commemorates Essence magazine’s annual Hollywood issue and in honor of the fifth anniversary, Essence.com is giving fans exclusive access to all the red-carpet interviews via live stream from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and re-airing that evening at 9 p.m. EST.

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