I think it’s interesting that for ages, at singles conferences, Sunday services, and in Bible study groups, Vashti has been vilified, or been a biblical character of disapproval. In a few lines of biblical text, we learn that she refused to be objectified in front of drunk men and was…

I am a recovering Christianity addict. I confess. For years, I was addicted to the religion more than relationships. I was addicted to doctrine more than divine purpose. I was addicted to law more than love. I was addicted to spiritual gifts more than the spirit. I was addicted to church more than Christ. I was addicted to outward expression more than inward progression. I was addicted to what was taught more than what was truth. I was addicted to feelings more than faith.

Over the last few years, I’ve attended multiple nutrition and health focused conferences. The professionals at these conferences are always mostly White. And the presentations they make concerning nutrition and health issues are often the issues that affect Black people the most. After complaining to my academic dean about the…

Many years ago, I was madly in love with a guy. But my uncertainties about him caused our on and off again relationship. On one occasion, I asked him to wait for me while I figured out if I wanted to move forward with him. He agreed. Soon after, he…

Inspiration is not always pretty. Most times, the most painful things inspire me. Then torture me. If you are an artist looking for inspiration, be careful what you pray for. Inspiration does not come without a cost. My best poems were birthed in pain. I write my best through trauma. This is not always fun. It is not beautiful. It is torture. It’s like an incomplete suicide. To have to relive mentally what hurt. To find words to adequately articulate how I feel. To put my mental and emotional body through this. All in efforts to inspire someone else. Some of the best musicians and artists gave us their best after they went through their worst. We are indeed magicians when we are able to take “beast” moments and beautify them.

The healer in me wants to fix everybody. And though I’ve helped facilitate healing into the lives of many, there are some who I could not help, no matter how hard I tried. A few years ago, I had a student mentee who I Ioved and cared for. She claimed…

I’m still her. This is the little girl who was extremely insecure. She was learning herself. She had frequent anxiety episodes but didn’t know that’s what it was called. She was book smart but a little slow in understanding things about life. She desired to be seen. To be heard…

To the man who chooses to love me/ My apologies but you are choosing to love what’s left of me/the rest of me/what remains after high expectations and exhausted reserves to make up for his lack/the impact of frequent emotional cardiac arrests produced a fragile heart/parts are antiques/weak and terrified…

80% of guys won’t understand you because of your rare personality type. This has been my truth. I’ve always desired to meet someone who makes the strong attempt to understand me…to see me (internally)….to dig into my soul. What I’ve found is: 1) Some men will see you with time…