My Monthly Blurb, TinyLetter Archive (2017–2023)

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Ballasts for the Mind

77 min readFeb 21, 2024

Across five years, from 2017 to 2020 and 2023, I wrote and maintained a TinyLetter blog called My Monthly Blurb for 20 subscribers. The blog’s description is: “A monthly recommendation newsletter of things I’m watching, reading and listening to. Opinions are my own.” My Monthly Blurb was the precursor to Ballasts for the Mind, there is some overlap/crossover between the two blogs beginning with the 2019 issues of my TinyLetter. TinyLetter is being discontinued at the end of February 2024, I’m placing my archives of those 36 letters here. The letters are unedited and are presented as they were submitted.

The First Blurb, June 1, 2017

by Raymond Williams

“Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right”

-Angie Thomas, from her book The Hate U Give

Welcome and thank you for subscribing. I was made aware about the Tiny Letter platform after listening to a podcast episode where one of the guests mentioned that she writes her own Tiny Letter. The inspiration for this started when a friend suggested a few years ago that I write a blog. At the time I did not think I had anything to say and at this moment I still feel this way. However, I came to the realization recently that I mostly use my social media accounts to share with others things that I have read, watched, or listened to. In this Tiny Letter I will recommend books, films, podcast episodes and other media that I think you all will enjoy. This will be a monthly newsletter, similar to what Ryan Holiday does in his monthly reading list. For this first letter I will recommend some media that I enjoyed in May 2017.

What I’ve Read

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann: Read my review here.

Fences by August Wilson: Read my review here.

What I’ve Watched

I recently watched two 2017 Oscar nominated films I Am Not Your Negro and Hidden Figures. I Am Not Your Negro is a documentary that uses the words of James Baldwin’s unfinished book to tell the story of race relations in America. Hidden Figures profiles three African-American women who worked as human computers for NASA in the 1960s and helped astronauts like John Glenn get into space. Hidden Figures was the last Best Picture nominated film that I watched. Since 2013, I’ve made it a habit to watch every film that was nominated for Best Picture and then make my pick for which movie I think should have won. Of this year’s nominees I really enjoyed Hacksaw Ridge, Hidden Figures, Lion, and Fences. Fences would be my all time favorite out of the four. It was such an emotionally powerful film and as a result of watching it I was inspired to read the play that it was adapted from (see above in the “What I’ve Read” section). August Wilson who wrote the play Fences also wrote 9 other plays that make up the Century Cycle. I’m making my way through each play in the Cycle and will share my thoughts about it in a future email. Lastly, I just finished watching the second season of Master of None and it was really good especially the last three episodes.

What I’ve Been Listening To

The Daily: Is a podcast from the New York Times that releases an episode every weekday. The show is hosted by Michael Barbaro who covers at least one big story that is in the news in about 20 minutes. It’s a good way to start your morning on what’s happening in the world. NPR has a similar show that I also listen to called Up First. It covers the day’s news in about 10 minutes.

S-Town: This is a podcast hosted by Brian Reed and created by This American Life and Serial. S-Town is about a man named John B. McLemore who is from a small town in Alabama. One day he contacts Reed to investigate a murder, what Reed ultimately discovers is a man and story you will never forget. This is a mini-series podcast of seven episodes.

Martin Luther King’s Give Us The Ballot Speech: May 17, 2017 was the 60th anniversary of this speech. I heard an excerpt of it during an episode of Fresh Air when Terry Gross interviewed Ari Berman, the author of the book Give Us The Ballot which is about the fight for voting rights since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. What struck me the most about King’s speech was the cadences in his voice (which is definitely from his calling as a Baptist preacher) and the language that he uses. He was a very intelligent sounding person, a trait we rarely see or hear nowadays. Also the fact that he was 28 years old when he delivered this speech also struck me because he doesn’t sound that young, he sounds much older, as he does in his later more well known speeches. It’s only 20 minutes, take a listen.

Thanks for reading and getting this far through the email. I hope at least one of these recommendations piqued your interest. Got any recommendations for me? If so, just reply to this email and your recommendation may just get mentioned in a future blurb. Lastly, please send me any suggestions or feedback that you have on how to make this newsletter better. Until next time.

-Raymond

The Second Blurb, July 1, 2017

by Raymond Williams

“If you can continue as heretofore to be yourself, simple, honest, and unpretending, you will enjoy through life the respect and love of friends …”
-William Tecumseh Sherman in a letter to Ulysses S. Grant from the book American Ulysses by Ronald White

“Shocked and humiliated, Murray did not respond, but the professor ‘had just guaranteed’, she grimly remembered, ‘that I would become the top student in his class’.”
-Pauli Murray from the book Jane Crow by Rosalind Rosenberg

Hi,

Thank you for subscribing and I hope you all had a great month of June. The first quote is from General William Tecumseh Sherman from a letter he wrote to Ulysses S. Grant upon Grant’s promotion to brigadier general. I like this quote because even though the line is specific to Grant I think it is useful advice to anyone. The second quote comes from a book that I’m currently reading. At the time of this quote Pauli Murray was enrolled as a law student at Howard University. Murray stated this after a professor made a comment that he did not know why women were in law school but since they were there the men in the class would have to put up with them. Pauli used this snide and sexist comment as motivation to be the best law student in her class, which she succeeded in doing. Let us all remember in the words of Sherman to be ourselves, simple, honest, and genuine and let us follow Murray’s example by not letting other people’s negative words cause us to falter or give up on our dreams. Here are my recommendations.

What I’ve Read

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: This book received alot of praise and hype last year and was called by some as the Black Lives Matter book. In my opinion it lived up to its hype and more. The Hate U Give is a YA novel that tells the story of Starr Carter who is a teenager from the hood and was also the witness to her unarmed friend’s murder by a cop. I liked this book because it was very readable and unputdownable. The characters in the novel felt so real. Finally, I enjoyed the elements of humor throughout the book. When tragic events like this story happen in real life it is hard to find joy about anything. You would think a book about this subject would be more angry and sad and there are times where that is the case however there are funny moments as well.

Tears We Cannot Stop by Michael Eric Dyson: Georgetown University Professor Michael Eric Dyson’s book was very well written and like The Hate U Give was unputdownable. Dyson draws on history, current events, and his own personal story to give a sermon on the sins of racism. In some respects I would compare this book with Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me. The only difference is that Dyson gives prescriptions on how to make race relations better.

American Ulysses by Ronald White: This was a good biography of the Civil War general and 18th President of the United States. He was an introvert, who was calm, self-less, loving to his wife, and a fighter for the rights of Native and African Americans. The one drawback was the section (40% of the book) on the Civil War which I found boring. I did not like the detailed coverage of the battles. If you like military history then you will definitely like that section. I personally found the coverage of his role during Reconstruction, his presidency, and his post-presidency the most interesting.

What I’ve Watched

Nothing to recommend this month.

What I’ve Listened To

NPR’s Hidden Brain: The podcast had two good episodes recently. The first Me, Myself, and IKEA was about why we tend to be attracted to other people with the same birthdays or background as ourselves AKA The Narcissus Effect. The second episode In the Air We Breathe is about unconscious or implicit bias and the role it plays in police-involved shootings and how we perceive them.

Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air: In a recent episode he interviewed the astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. I found the interview very interesting, they talked about a wide variety of topics from astrophysics, religion, and cute toys.

NPR’s Fresh Air: I listened to two good episodes recently. The first was an interview with Sheryll Cashin who is a law professor and author of the book Loving about the Supreme Court case that ruled that state bans on interracial marriages were unconstitutional. June marked the 50th anniversary of the ruling. The second was the interview with former Vice-President Joe Biden on his time in public service, how the Senate has changed, religion, and his political future.

The Daily: I mentioned this podcast in my first blurb. In one episode last month the podcast covered two big criminal cases in detail: the sexual assault case against Bill Cosby and a lesser known case in Massachusetts about a teenager who was charged with manslaughter for pushing her friend to commit suicide via text messages. The friend ultimately ended his life and the case was specifically on whether the friend could be held responsible for his suicide.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, August 1, 2017

by Raymond Williams

“Unity does not exclude diversity, nay more, without diversity there can be no true and perfect unity.” -Frederic William Farrar, Dean of Canterbury

I hope you all had a great month of July. Here are my recommendations from this past month.

What I’ve Read

The Mothers by Brit Bennett: A very well written novel about a love triangle between two friends and the boy they both love. It’s about past mistakes people make and how they influence and shape out future selves and relationships.

Jane Crow by Rosalind Rosenberg: This was a very well written and researched book on the life of lawyer, activist, writer, and priest Pauli Murray. Murray was instrumental in developing the legal argument challenging racial discrimination that was used in Brown vs. Board of Education. She coined the term “Jane Crow” which challenged discrimination against women on the same lines as racial discrimination under Jim Crow. The most interesting aspect of her life was her struggle with her gender identity. Murray believed that she should have been a man and the author documents numerous occasions throughout Murray’s life where she had to reckon with her identity.

Hunger by Roxane Gay: This is Gay’s memoir about her life as a “woman of size”. The book was emotionally raw. In it she describes a tragic event that happened to her when she was young and the weight gain that resulted from it. She centers most of her memoir on what life is like having an “unruly body”: the daily interactions with people who instantly judge her because of her size, the things that most people take for granted like sitting in one seat in a movie theater or an airplane as opposed to two seats, her relationship with food, and so much more. I hope this book opens the eyes of people who have not lived Gay’s life and I hope it makes people more empathetic towards those with different bodies. It did for me.

Lastly, I recommend an article by Philip Yancey on the challenge of reading in the age of the internet and smartphones.

What I’ve Watched

Moana: A friend and subscriber to this newsletter recommended that I watch this film and I really enjoyed it. Moana had a great plot and the songs were amazing.

Lastly, I thought this was a powerful video to commemorate the Fourth of July. Make sure you watch it to the end.

Reply to this email if you have any recommendations and feedback for me. Until next time, have a great August.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, September 2, 2017

by Raymond Williams

“You got love and you got death. Death will find you…it’s up to you to find love.”
-Holloway, a character from August Wilson’s play Two Trains Running

I hope you all had a good August and are looking forward to the upcoming Fall season this month. Here are my recommendations from this past month.

What I’ve Read

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This novel was definitely a page turner. Evelyn Hugo is an aging Hollywood actress who gives a young reporter, Monique Grant, the opportunity of a lifetime. Hugo tells Grant her life story and gives Grant permission to write an authorized biography on her. As the title states, Hugo has seven husbands and you get to meet all of them. However, the most important question is not why did she get married so many times but its: Who is the real Evelyn Hugo? & Why did she pick Grant to write her biography? Fans of old Hollywood and psychological dramas will like this book.

August Wilson’s Century Cycle: In my first Monthly Blurb I mentioned that after I watched the movie Fences I decided to read all 10 plays in Wilson’s Century Cycle (which Fences is a part of). Each play represents the African American experience in each decade of the 20th Century. Of the 10 plays, Fences was the best followed by Radio Golf which are the sixth and last plays of the cycle, respectively. Radio Golf in my opinion was a great ending to the cycle. Check it out if you are interested.

The Firebrand and the First Lady by Patricia Bell-Scott: This was a well-researched book on the friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Pauli Murray. It is a great companion to the biography of Pauli Murray that I mentioned in the last Blurb. I enjoyed the author’s use of letters between the two women. I could really tell that both women admired and respected each other.

What I’ve Watched

Detroit: This must see film by the Academy Award Winning director Kathryn Bigelow tells the true story of the Algiers Motel incident that occurred during the 1967 Detroit riots. It’s a story of police brutality that is raw and will leave you numb after it ends. The incident is still relevant in our trying times, although it happened 50 years ago.

What I’ve Listened To

IsraelCast interview with Tremayne Smith: Tremayne is a friend of mine from college. He served as the drum major of the marching band as well as SGA president. He currently serves as a special assistant to Representative G.K. Butterfield who represents NC’s 1st District in Congress. As you will hear in the interview he talks about his recent trip to Israel, his life growing up in Salisbury, NC and his future aspirations. Tremayne is a really good person and I’m happy to be able to share this interview with you all. I hope you enjoy it.

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Reply to this email if you have any recommendations or feedback for me. Until next time, have a great September.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, October 1, 2017

by Raymond Williams

“We should never stop learning. The moment we think that we are who we are is the moment we give away our unrealized potential.” -Dr. Travis Bradberry

I hope everyone had a good September and that you all are enjoying the Fall weather. Here are my recommendations from last month.

What I’ve Read

I finished a few books in September but there is only one that I had to make sure you put on your radar. The book is The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. Boyne is the author who wrote The Boy With The Striped Pajamas (which I never read but saw the movie). Boyne’s new novel was really good. It tells the story of Cyril Avery, a boy from Dublin, Ireland who was given up for adoption by his mother. The book spans 70 years of Avery’s life focusing on his search for himself. This is a hard book to describe because there is not one single plot but trust me when I say this book is one of those rare gems with characters you will not forget. Check it out if you are interested.

What I’ve Watched

I just finished watching the series finale of the show Rectify which aired for four seasons on the Sundance channel. Each season is really short usually between 6 and 10 episodes. Rectify was a show about a man, Daniel Holden, who was tried and convicted of murdering and raping his girlfriend. After almost 20 years on death row he is released because DNA evidence proves he didn’t do it. The show is about what happens when he goes back to his rural hometown and finds that people are not welcoming him back with open arms. Many think he still did it including some members of his own family while others are more concerned with his well-being. Aden Young, the actor who plays Daniel, does a great job. Overall the show is smart because we all have seen examples of people being released from jail because of DNA evidence but never see how their lives end up. In some cases we may even think that life for these people just returns to normal. Rectify shows that life for formerly incarcerated people just becomes more complicated. They are free physically from jail but in most cases they are still locked up mentally.

What I’ve Listened To

Last month I finished Seeing White, a 14-part series on the podcast Scene on Radio from Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies. The podcast series is about how the concept of whiteness was constructed and works in American society. I was very impressed with the content that was presented and with how well it was produced. I think this series could be very helpful in our ongoing discussion about race relations in this country.

Lastly, I’ve been listening to NPR’s It’s Been A Minute with Sam Sanders since June and have been meaning to share it with you all. Sam Sanders was a former host of the NPR Politics podcast during last year’s election and then left the show to start his own podcast. I really enjoy this show. It comes out twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays. Fridays are the most important episodes where Sam and two of his friends talk about the week in news and pop culture. I look forward to listening to it every week. I like that this show is very relaxed even when they are talking about serious issues. Sam and his friends talk about everything as if they were just having a conversation around lunch time or at the water cooler. The best part of the show is the segment when they let listeners tell the one thing that made their week (you may feel a little emotional after listening to that part). Tuesday episodes are a deep dive where Sam talks with a guest about their life and work.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great October.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, November 4, 2017

by Raymond Williams

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” -Robert Frost

This month’s newsletter will only focus on some of the books that I read and enjoyed. Let me know if you have any podcasts, books, movies, or tv shows that you are enjoying.

What I’ve Read

What Happened by Hillary Clinton: Let me first start by saying that this book is not about Clinton blaming everybody but herself as has been played out in the media and her critics. This book is a campaign memoir. She talks about why she ran, what it was like running in 2016, the limitations of being a female candidate, the causes of her loss, and she talks about her mistakes and takes responsibility for them. In other words, she does the thing that people who allegedly “read” the book claim she did not do. Clinton’s book was very well written especially considering how quickly she wrote it (Feb-July 2017). I could tell it was very cathartic for her. In the book you will see that she is funny (throws some shade at times), smart, and analytical. I was very impressed with the amount of studies and data that she included to back up her arguments about how the campaign was covered.

Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates: This was a very good collection of Ta-Nehisi’s essays from the past eight years. I had read five of them before and my intention was just to read the three that I had not read and the new essays but I changed my mind. His new essays preface the ones that he wrote for The Atlantic. He talks alot about where he was as a writer and what he was thinking about race relations. The new essays were so good that I felt compelled to reread the old essays. Overall I highly recommend this book to readers who are not familiar with his work and those who are. Reading these essays together was definitely an experience seeing the lines connecting as well as Coates’ evolution as a writer and thinker. I especially enjoyed the epilogue about America’s first White president. Here are three great interviews with Ta-Nehisi Coates conducted by his colleagues at the magazine where he has come to prominence The Atlantic. This comes from the podcast Radio Atlantic.

Honorable Book Mentions: Cuz by Danielle Allen, Camino Island by John Grisham, I Am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin, and Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Lang.

Lastly, you should read Seneca’s essay On the Shortness of Life. I got a lot of pieces of wisdom from it, like these lines: “It is not that we have a short time to live, but we waste a lot of it” & “People are frugal in guarding their personal property; but as soon as it comes to squandering time they are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy”.

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Reply to this email if you have any recommendations or feedback for me. Until next time, have a great November.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, December 3, 2017

by Raymond Williams

“Everyday try to be more tender with the people you love than the day before.” -Brian Doyle

What I’ve Read

The Miss Nelson Collection by Harry Allard and James Marshall: A collection of some of my favorite books (Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Miss Nelson Is Back, and Miss Nelson Has a Field Day) when I was in elementary school. It was great re-reading them again. Viola Swamp is still a scary character.

Still I Rise by Roland and Taneshia Laird: I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel. I actually learned some new facts especially from the 19th Century.

Lincoln’s Gamble by Todd Brewster: Todd Brewster’s book was a very good account about how the Emancipation Proclamation evolved from an idea in the summer of 1862 to the directive that was issued on January 1, 1863. Brewster chronicles these six months very well. The book read like a political thriller. I felt as if I was in all the different rooms when Lincoln debated on whether to even issue the proclamation and on the potential ramifications of his action. I really like this book because it broke down why issuing the proclamation was a big deal. I think many people today think that it was a simple decision but Lincoln actually struggled on whether he would issue it all the way until the day he did.

On a personal note, the magnitude of what the Emancipation Proclamation did finally hit me near the end of the book. We have always been taught that Lincoln freed the slaves, this concept is fixed in our brains since elementary school, so much so that we forget the human element of this evil institution. Hundreds of thousands of slaves were set free (not all) in the Confederate states and some of them may have been my ancestors. I don’t know if my ancestors (many who I know by name because of my genealogy research) were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation but I do know they were able to gain their freedom by 1865 when the 13th Amendment was ratified. Who knows when slavery would have ended if the Emancipation Proclamation had not been signed. All I do know is that I will be forever grateful for the act that Lincoln did in 1863.

Questions (reply to this email with your responses)

-What was your favorite book as a child?

-What historical event has had an impact on your life or your family’s life?

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great December.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, December 31, 2017

by Raymond Williams

“So the lesson learned is, ignorance breeds fear. If you don’t keep that fear in check that fear will breed hatred because we hate those things that frighten us. If you don’t keep that hatred in check, that hatred will breed destruction.” -Daryl Davis

This quote comes from C-SPAN’s Q&A program. The host interviewed Davis who I actually heard speak at my undergraduate institution several years ago. Davis is starting to get renewed attention for his work on befriending members of the KKK and slowly nudging them away from their racist beliefs. Click the link above to check out the interview.

What I’ve Read

“When it comes to silencing women, Western culture has had thousands of years of practice.” -Mary Beard

Beard’s Women & Power is a collection of two lectures that she gave in 2014 and 2017 both on the subject on how women are treated and perceived in the public sphere and the historical roots of this treatment. Beard shows through her lectures that the silencing of women as well as the way we view women in power has its roots in Greek and Roman mythology. In many ways this book reminded me of a book I read earlier this year Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America about the history of racist ideas in America. I always knew that misogyny existed but was not fully aware of its roots. This book is essential reading.

Best Books of 2017

I’m trying something new this year, below I list the best books that I read in 2017. The only criteria is that I finished the book in 2017 and gave it 4 stars or higher on Goodreads. The rankings are in descending order based on the number of likes that my friends gave the review that I wrote. Without further ado, here is my list.

10. (tie) Jane Crow by Rosalind Rosenberg, The Firebrand and the First Lady by Patricia Bell-Scott, The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman
9. (tie) Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram Kendi, Still I Rise by Roland and Taneshia Laird
8. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
7. The Mothers by Brit Bennett
6. (tie) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, I Am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin
5. We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates
4. Women & Power by Mary Beard
3. What Happened by Hillary Clinton
2. Hunger by Roxane Gay
1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

What I’ve Watched

This month I recommend two funny movies that came out earlier this year. The first is Ingrid Goes West. This movie was really funny and serious. Aubrey Plaza did a great job in the role of Ingrid Thorburn a mentally unstable young woman who goes to California to stalk an Instagram star played by Elizabeth Olsen. O’Shea Jackson Jr. was also good as the character Dan Pinto. The second is Girls Trip. This movie was also hilarious. It is about four women who have known each other since college who take a girls trip to ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans. Tiffany Haddish is definitely the breakout star in this film.

What I’ve Listened To

This month I recommend the podcast Uncivil which is about the untold history of the Civil War. The hosts of the show reveal things we thought we know but really don’t. For example, the show has discussed topics such as women soldiers in the Civil War, the origins of the song Dixie and the Lost Cause narrative. I really enjoy this engaging show, you should check it out.

Reader Responses

Earlier this month I asked you to identify your favorite childhood book and the historical event that impacted you or your family’s life. Here are some of the responses that I received.

Favorite Childhood Book: The Bluest Eye (mentioned by La Tonya), and The Magic School Bus Series (mentioned by Christina).

Historical Event: The civil rights movement, learning why voting was important to people who died for my right to vote (mentioned by La Tonya).

Questions for this month (reply to this email with your responses):

1. What were some of the books, movies, tv shows, etc. that you really enjoyed in 2017?

2. What books, movies, tv shows, etc. are you looking forward to checking out in 2018?

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great January and Happy New Year.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, February 1, 2018

by Raymond Williams

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a permanent attitude.”

“Only goodness can drive out evil and only love can conquer hate.”

“Intellectual blindness is a dilemma which man inflicts upon himself by his tragic misuse of freedom and his failure to use his mind to its fullest capacity.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from his sermon “Love In Action”

What I’ve Read

Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff: Like most political junkies, I knew I had to read this book as soon as the excerpts were released in The Guardian and CNN. Steve Bannon is the central figure of this book. He is probably one of the few people who was quoted heavily from beginning to end. As most are probably aware, the White House officially cut any remaining ties to Bannon as a result of his participation in the book.

In my opinion the book pretty much confirms alot of what we know about the internal workings of the White House through reporting from The New York Times and The Washington Post. The internal chaos and infighting between household names like Bannon, Priebus, Spicer, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump (aka Jarvanka in the book) is not surprising. The book reminds me a lot of Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime specifically how the author quotes people “on background”.

This Is Just My Face by Gabourey Sidibe: Sidibe’s book is very good. This book is her memoir about her life before and after she became famous. I highly recommend it if you are looking for an interesting and funny book to read. I read the actual book, however, I wish I had read the audiobook version just to hear her say her asides and other remarks. Can’t wait to see how the rest of her career will turn out. I hope she writes more books.

What I’ve Listened To

“AMAZING … worth every second of listening.” -Stephanie

I could not agree more with the quote above from Stephanie, reader and friend of “My Monthly Blurb”. She recommended this podcast to me about the 1970–1990s era cult known as Heaven’s Gate. Heaven’s Gate was an apocalyptic cult that believed the end of the world was near and that the members would be rescued by a UFO that would take them into the next world. The podcast is 10 episodes long and is hosted by Glynn Washington, host of the podcast Snap Judgment (which I also recommend). Glynn and his team interview family members of the cult followers, former cult members, and scholars who studied cults. It’s a fascinating audio documentary. What I like the most about this podcast is that the show does not demonize or try to make the members of the cult look crazy. They simply show how easy it was for people, who were seeking for something more, to be swayed by charismatic leaders. You can listen to it here.

What You Read in 2017

La Tonya recommends two books: Child of God by Lolita Files and I Love You More by Jennifer Murphy

Stephanie unveils her favorite books of 2017 on her blog which you can find here.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great February.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, March 2, 2018

by Raymond Williams

“Life isn’t about what you’ve done, but what you can do.” -Steve Madigan (brother of Tim Madigan, author of I’m Proud of You)

What I’ve Read

I’m Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers by Tim Madigan: I became aware of this book through Ryan Holiday’s book recommendation newsletter. It is a very good book about the friendship between two men: the author and Mr. Fred Rogers, from the PBS show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Mr. Rogers was such a kind and gentle person to Tim as you can tell from the many letters and emails featured in the book between Madigan and Rogers. Mr. Rogers was also always supportive and prayed for Tim during “The Furies” as the author calls his trials and tribulations. Three days ago (Feb. 27th) was the 15th anniversary of Mr. Rogers death, his show ended 17 years ago and premiered 50 years ago in Feb 1968. I remember watching the show when I was younger but my attachment to it was not as strong as other shows (Sesame Street, Barney, Arthur, etc.). This book as well as this video has inspired me to read more about Mr. Rogers and to watch old episodes of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. And in case you haven’t got enough of Mr. Rogers, Tom Hanks will be playing him in a future film.

Honorable Mentions: The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn and Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward.

What I’ve Watched

I came across Slate’s Black Film Canon in 2016 after listening to an episode of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. The Canon contains 50 films directed by African-Americans from 1920–2016. I had not seen or was unfamiliar with most of the films in the Canon. Initially I discovered that I had seen 17 films (34% of the Canon). I became curious about the other films so I challenged myself to watch the remaining 33 films. I began watching the films in 2016 and finished in February 2018. Some of the films I rented from Netflix, watched on YouTube or iTunes. I found some of the rare films in my local library. Overall I enjoyed watching the remaining films and I also found some new gems. Below I present a list of my favorite films from the Canon. Go check out the Canon maybe you will find your new favorite movie from the list.

My Favorite Films from the Black Canon
Within Our Gates (1920)
The Learning Tree (1969)
Losing Ground (1982)
Sugar Cane Alley (1983)
Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Juice (1992)
Malcolm X (1992)
Sankofa (1993)
I Like it Like That (1994)
Devil In A Blue Dress (1995)
When the Levees Broke (2006)
Night Catches Us (2010)
Pariah (2011)
12 Years A Slave (2013)
Belle (2014)
Fruitvale Station (2014)
Selma (2014)
Creed (2015)
OJ: Made in America (2016)

I have no doubt in my mind that when the Canon is updated these two recent films will be added to the list: Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017) and Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther (2018) (this would simultaneously be Coogler’s third film in the Canon as well as his third feature length film in his career as a director). Watch Coogler, he is going places.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great March.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, April 7, 2018

by Raymond Williams

“Don’t be afraid of being wrong. Because being wrong is just an opportunity to find more of the truth.” -Annie Duke

Books

A Gift of Love: Sermons from Strength to Love and Other Preachings by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-This book was really good. It is a collection of sermons from his book Strength to Love plus two more sermons that the King Estate added. Dr. King had such a way with words. He was so smart and full of wisdom. I wish there were more nationally known preachers like him in our current moment.

The Triumph of Christianity: How a Forbidden Religion Swept the World by Bart Ehrman-I found this book fascinating. It tells the early history of how Christianity became one of the major world religions. Ehrman challenges the notion that the cause was Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity and that the real reason is that the religion spread by word of mouth in small social networks. He presents his findings by using ancient source material and data. A very readable book.

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele- This memoir is beautifully written. Patrisse Khan-Cullors is one of the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement. This book is her story. It is about the effects of mass incarceration and the war on drugs, all on this one woman and her family. Patrisse lived under all these pressures. It is not surprising that she became an activist when you see what she lived through. This book is not a story of a terrorist as some have called BLM activists. It is a story of survival, perseverance, and the endless pursuit of freedom.

From Dissertation to Book by William Germano-Revision, revision, revision. Germano states that the book manuscript a writer submits to a publisher must be a significant revision of the dissertation. This book is very helpful in this regard. I really liked when Germano said in the beginning that the book would not provide you THE answer but will provide you with answers on what to do next with your dissertation. It has definitely given me answers on how to proceed. This is a book that should be read by all new PhDs after they defend their dissertations.

Podcasts

Atlanta Monster: This was a very good 10-part podcast series. It reminded me of the podcast Serial with the only difference being that this case, the Atlanta Child Murders, is more well known. I walked into this podcast thinking I knew how it would end. I was WRONG. This podcast revealed many issues with the case and leaves you wondering about what really happened. If you like true crime and sensationalism then you will will like this show.

What’s Ray Saying?: I was first introduced to Ray Christian when he was featured on an episode on the Snap Judgment podcast. Since that time I’ve listen to every episode of his own podcast called What’s Ray Saying? Christian’s podcast episodes are generally split in two parts. Christian gives a black history lesson in the first part and then tells a story from his life that is related to the main subject of the episode. Recent episodes have focused on black hair and black people’s history with police. What I really like about Christian’s podcast is how down to earth he is on the show.

Films

Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri: Very good film. Has sort of a Coens Brothers feel. Frances McDormand was really good in her role. Very deserving of the Oscar for Best Actress.

Miss Sloane: Somehow I missed this political thriller from 2016. Jessica Chastain plays a lobbyist for a gun control interest group. She uses unconventional and unethical means to accomplish her goals which ultimately gets her in trouble with colleagues and Congress. This is definitely one to check out.

I, Tonya: A very good movie about the figure skater Tonya Harding. Allison Janney was fantastic as Tonya’s mother. This movie paints a more nuanced portrayal of Tonya.

Coco: The Oscar winning film was really good. It’s about the Mexican holiday the Day of the Dead where people celebrate and honor the lives of relatives who have passed away. It’s a story about the importance of remembering our ancestors and why we should pass the knowledge about them to the next generation.

Recommendations from You the reader

La Tonya recommends the book An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. You can find La Tonya’s review of the book here.

Free gift
Let’s see how many of you read all the way to end. I have a special FREE gift for those who are interested. It is The Atlantic’s special KING issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s death on April 4, 1968. If you would like a PDF copy let me know and I’ll send it to you.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great April.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, May 5, 2018

by Raymond Williams

“It’s the quality of your relationships that will determine the quality of your life.” -Esther Perel

Books
This month I will be recommending one book that I read last year that I did not feature in this newsletter. I read a few books this past month but there were none that I highly recommend.

The Life and the Adventures of a Haunted Convict by Austin Reed: This book is a well written prison memoir. It was written around 1858 however it was discovered about 9 years ago in an estate sale. Scholars verified Reed’s story and found that he was a prisoner in the 1800s in New York, making this the earliest known African-American prison memoir.

Reed tells his life and adventures as if it were a novel. Many have compared it to Charles Dickens writing. I found the biblical imagery used throughout very interesting. The characters of people that he met along the way are also fascinating. The sad part about reading his memoir is that I kept thinking about the similarities to today’s problem of mass incarceration. This quote by Reed struck me: “it makes my heart ache every time I see so many young men a rushing within the walls of a gloomy prison. where in the course of time he will become the harden inmate of a gloomy prison”

And this quote by Horace Cook to Reed: “Within these walls are some of the smartest and intellectual young men that are in this country, young men endowed with a good education and a good reason, and who might have done a good deal of good and might been bright and shining ornaments in the world and angels in heaven-but instead of that they are spending the best of their days in a dark and a gloomy prison”.

I highly recommend that you read this book. I would also advise that you pay special attention to the research in the introduction and the endnotes. The records included in the Appendix were also fascinating especially the two letters that the researchers found from Reed to the House of Refugee (the jail where he was incarcerated).

Here are a few honorable mentions from this past month: Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue by Ryan Holiday, From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream by Janice Ellis, and Circe by Madeline Miller.

Podcasts
Slow Burn: This was a very good podcast on Watergate. It stands out because the host recounts the events (some that are not well known) that led to President Nixon’s resignation as they were happening.

Making Obama: This is the second season of the “Making” series from WBEZ. The first was called Making Oprah which I also highly recommend. Making Obama tells the story about how the city of Chicago was influential in making him a national politician.
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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great May.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, May 31, 2017 (Happy Anniversary!!!)

by Raymond Williams

“You cannot lose another life than the one you’re living now, or live another one than the one you’re losing.” -Marcus Aurelius

June 1st marks the one year anniversary of this newsletter. Thank you to those who have been subscribers since the beginning and welcome to the new subscribers. Let me know if you have any suggestions on how this Tiny Letter can be improved.

Books

Two books this month, my apologies for the long reviews but I really liked these two books.

Coretta: My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King: Coretta Scott King’s memoirs as told by the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds is a book that was 20 years in the making although the seeds of this project were planted 42 years ago when Reynolds first interviewed King. King’s book is really good. In it she recounts her upbringing in rural Alabama and her dreams to become a concert singer. That all changed when she met a young seminary student named Martin Luther King Jr. She later became his wife and was also a powerful figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Coretta was truly a partner with Dr. King. In fact there would be no Dr. King without Coretta. She reviewed his sermons and speeches while at the same time she pushed him politically. Coretta was a pacifist since her college years and later pushed Dr. King to publicly denounce America’s involvement in the war in Vietnam. Their marriage was not perfect, as no marriage is. The Kings had disagreements as to Coretta’s role in the movement. Coretta wanted to be an activist and a mother while Martin just wanted her to be a stay at home mother. As the independent woman that she was, Coretta decided that she could have it all by giving speeches, protesting, performing concerts, and fundraising for the movement.

The second half of the book focuses on her life after Dr. King’s assassination. She talks about the challenges of creating and nurturing her “fifth child”, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. She was also an activist and grassroots lobbyist in her own right. She was influential in getting the law that made Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday (as well as other legislation). She was also involved in the movement to end apartheid in South Africa and helped former totalitarian countries to become democracies.

The Coretta that I knew, before reading this book, was the woman in all the black and white photos marching with Dr. King. The history books don’t tell the full story. Coretta was an influential woman as many women were during the Civil Rights Movement but who don’t get their due compared to the male leaders. I highly recommend that you read her book in order to learn more about her story.

The Seminarian: Martin Luther King Jr. Comes of Age by Patrick Parr: This was a phenomenal book. It chronicles King’s three years as a seminary student at Crozer Theological Seminary in the late 1940s/early 1950s. This is a period of King’s life that is seldom covered in other biographies. This well researched, quick read is divided into three sections (the three years he was in seminary) and each chapter covers a term within each year. Each chapter includes a replica of his course schedule. It gives an overview of the courses, what he learned from the courses, and the grades he received. I like that Parr gives the reader an idea of what it would have been like to be a fellow seminarian with King.

The book also covers his life outside of seminary: episodes of discrimination, covers his relationship with his family at the time, his development as a preacher, his introduction to Gandhi’s teachings, and even his romantic relationships (Parr gives special attention to King’s girlfriend Betty Moitz, a white woman from Pennsylvania).

This book does a good job showing how the experiences of this school made the young man who was in his late teens/early 20s into the minister and civil rights leader that he would become just a few short years later in Montgomery, Alabama and then to the rest of the country in the 1960s.
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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great June.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, June 30, 2018

by Raymond Williams

“The only thing new in this world is the history you don’t know.” -Harry Truman

Books
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey: Initially I had no plans to read this book. Comey had been a major fixture on the political scene for at least two years beginning with his role in the 2016 Presidential election. I changed my mind about reading it when I heard from others how good and well written the book was. I’m glad I changed my mind. Comey’s book is very good and it is even funny at times. It gives advice on ethical leadership by using examples in his life as a public servant. He consistently writes about the importance of truth telling and integrity. I was also impressed by how observant he is of other people. He paints portraits of people by describing in detail on how they physically look as well as delving into their personalities.

Calypso by David Sedaris: A funny book of essays by Sedaris. This was my first book by Sedaris, I was familiar with him from his previous appearances on This American Life. In Calypso, I liked how there were common themes such as getting older and mortality connecting the essays together. Ironically James Comey makes a cameo in one of his essays.

How to Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians by Quintus Cicero: In his letter Quintus Cicero gives advice to his brother Marcus Cicero (the one we hear about in the history books) on how to win an election. The advice that Quintus gives Marcus rings true even in 21st Century American politics. The letter is mostly serious but at times is even funny, especially when Quintus writes about the scandals of Marcus’s opponents. As I was reading it I thought about whether Quintus was giving him good unbiased advice considering they are brothers and all. Not only is he supportive of his brother by telling him about his strengths as a candidate he also informed him about his weaknesses. I think you will enjoy this book if you love politics. Its very short and you can finish it in an hour.

Honorable Mention: Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke (yes, the actor).

Films
I finally got around to watching Spiderman: Homecoming. I really enjoyed it. Check it out if you are a superhero fan and haven’t seen it yet.

Podcasts
-The Daily: Early this month the podcast did a 5 part special called Charm City that reported on the life of one family in Baltimore, MD after the death of Freddie Gray. This week the podcast did a two part series on pregnancy discrimination which covered how pregnant women are discriminated in the workforce. Both series were very eye opening for me.

-Represent- A podcast on different types of representation in our entertainment culture. Its last episode aired this month.

-Today, Explained- A daily podcast that goes in depth on a story in the news. Recent episodes have focus on Justice Kennedy’s retirement, the child separation policy at the Southern border, and Juneteenth.

-This American Life: #648 Unteachable Moment- It’s really good, especially the segment on Starbucks’ racial bias training.

-Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations: I just started listening to this one and I enjoyed the episodes featuring Anthony Ray Hinton (2 parts) and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

-Medium Playback: I just listened to the first episode with Roxane Gay. In it notable authors read pieces they wrote on Medium and then are interviewed afterwards. Gay wrote an essay in April called “What Fullness Is” on the lead-up and aftermath of getting weight loss surgery. It’s a very powerful piece. The episode is well produced with music in the background when she reads the essay and the interview was a great treat. I’m looking forward to future episodes.

-Radio Diaries: Check out Episode #77: Last Witness: Surviving the Tulsa Race Riot. This episode features an interview with the last living survivor of the 1921 race riot and then interviews the last two living widows of the Civil War, one Union and one Confederate.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great July.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, July 29, 2018

by Raymond Williams

Quotes
“Human beings are just walking accumulations of love and regret. The only thing that ever made me happy is being next to someone who loves me.” -Wilma Flintstone

“Because if civilization is going to last, if it’s going to amount to anything more than just a place to watch tv and get cheap snake meat, it will only be because we’ve learned to do one thing. To care for people who mean nothing to us.” -Fred Flinstone

“Fear puts us in bondage. Freedom from fear liberates us. Courage is not the absence of fear but the overcoming of fear.” -Marcus Borg

“If we don’t learn about the past, we won’t know what happened before we got here and we will have a greater difficulty making sense of what is happening now.” -Phyllis Theroux

Books
The Flintstones by Mark Russell and Stephen Pugh: The Flintstones is a 12 issue limited comic series. This series presents the Flintstones in a modern but still ancient light. It focuses on issues of labor, immigration, discrimination, religion, science, and consumerism. It definitely speaks to this time period but it also makes you wonder how ancient civilizations handled social changes. Did they handle it in the same ways that we do today? Was there a segment that embraced the change as well as resisted it? Overall it’s really good and funny. Definitely check it out if you were a fan of the Flintstones when you were younger.

Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most by Marcus Borg: Borg’s book is about his evolution into a progressive Christian and what that means to him. Borg described his childhood as being raised in a more fundamentalist tradition and that over time he let certain tenets go. In his book he focuses on how some Biblical stories should be taken metaphorically rather than literally, how salvation is more about the transformation in this life, and the importance of helping the poor and promoting nonviolence in our chaotic world. He also makes the argument that early Christianity and the Eastern Orthodox Church is more in line with this thinking. I actually had the privilege to hear Borg speak almost 10 years ago when I was in college. Borg who is now deceased was a well written theologian whose work is understandable to a general audience.

Honorable Mentions: How to Run a Country: An Ancient Guide for Modern Leaders by Marcus Cicero, Redemption: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last 31 Hours by Joseph Rosenbloom, and Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar

Podcasts
Tim Ferris Show: Check out episode #323 where Tim interviews three inmates in a maximum security prison.

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations: I really enjoyed her two part interview with Maria Shriver. (Part 1 and Part 2)

Still Processing: The New York Times podcast on pop culture and the tech world recently put out a two part discussion where famous and everyday Asian-Americans talk about the racism they face and why it matters. It was a very eye-opening discussion. (Part 1 and Part 2)

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great August.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, September 3, 2018

by Raymond Williams

Quotes

“There’s no sadder place to be in this world than a place where there’s no hope.” -Anthony Ray Hinton

“You need to hold on to your hope. If you have hope, you have everything.” -Anthony Ray Hinton

“Life is more intense when one is all here to live it.” -Phyllis Theorux

“To be good at any activity requires practice: no matter how hard you try, you cannot do naturally what you have not done repeatedly.” -Leo Tolstoy

“We should get ready for death, because it will come, sooner or later. The best thing to do is to live a good life. If you live a good life, you should not be afraid of death.” -Leo Tolstoy

“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” -W.L. Watkinson

“It’s better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.” -Khaled Hosseini

Books

The Color Purple by Alice Walker: If you are like me then your familiarity with The Color Purple is just with the film adaptation which was released in 1985. I have seen the film multiple times and I never really had any desire to read the original source material. I rewatched the film for the first time in about 10 years and I had the urge to read the novel. The book is very good. I listened to the audiobook version read by the author Alice Walker. Of course as I was listening to the book I kept comparing and contrasting what I remembered from the film. The film sticks close to the book but there are definitely some storylines that the book goes into more detail. The women in The Color Purple are strong. They faced sexual and verbal abuse, misogyny, and racism. I highly recommend that you read it if you are big fans of the film.

The Journal Keeper: A Memoir by Phyllis Theroux: Phyllis Theroux’s memoir is a collection of her journal entries over a period of six years. In it we see her facing life’s challenges and opportunities: getting older, financial concerns, aging parents, and finding love. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse through her life. It has definitely inspired me to write in my journal more often.

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row Anthony Ray Hinton: Hinton’s book is about his 30 years, roughly a generation, on death row for a crime he did not commit. It is just another example of how the criminal justice system is unfair to people of color and the poor. Through it all Hinton had a great support system: his mother, his friend Lester, and his lawyer Bryan Stevenson who wrote the great book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. It is a great story of perseverance.

Honorable Mentions: Your Black Friend by Ben Passmore and The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle.

Podcasts

Fresh Air replayed a 1999 interview with the late Aretha Franklin that is definitely worth listening to.

Films

Check out the movie Tully which stars Charlize Theron and tells the story of a mother who is exhausted after having her third child until her night nanny comes to her aid.

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Lastly, check out this interview between Leslie Reese (friend and subscriber to this Tiny Letter) and I on her blog: Part 1 and Part 2. Let me know what you think about it.

Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great September.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, September 30, 2018

by Raymond Williams

Quotes
“People just act on the outside what they feel on the inside.” -Tracy McMillan

“What is important is not the quantity of your knowledge, but its quality. You can know many things without knowing that which is most important.” -Leo Tolstoy

“Ignorance in itself is neither shameful nor harmful. Nobody can know everything. But pretending that you know what you actually do not know is both shameful and harmful.” -Tolstoy

“Sorrow isn’t a place you can leave behind. It’s part of you. It changes the way you see, feel, and think, and every once in a while, the pain isn’t remembered, it’s relived; the anguish as real and heartbreaking as if it was happening all over again.” -Joe Ide

Books
Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement by Devery Anderson: Devery Anderson did an amazing job covering the history of the murder of Emmett Till, a 14 year old African-American boy from Chicago who was killed in Mississippi. This book had been on my radar for a few years but I finally decided to read it once I viewed Till’s original casket in the National Museum of African-American History and Culture and after the recent news that the Department of Justice is reexamining the case. Anderson’s book is divided into two parts. The first part covers the incident that led to Till’s murder, the murder itself, the trial, and the aftermath of the trial. The second part covers the resurgence of interest in the case which led to first reopening of the case in the early 2000s. The book covers details of the story that I was not aware of. For example during the trial the defense made the argument that the body was not Emmett Till and that the NAACP planted a body to stir up trouble in Mississippi. Anderson’s treatment of this dark episode in American history is very well researched (the amount of detail is amazing) and is in my opinion the definitive account of the Till case.

Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward: Woodward does it again. An eye-opening and at times depressing book.

Honorable Mentions: Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! and The Frog Prince, Continued (both by Jon Scieszka, had to go back to my childhood on these two).

Podcasts
Check out this interview between Tracy McMillan and Oprah on Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations. I got the first quote above from this interview.

Retropod: I just started listening to this podcast by the Washington Post. Its a history program that connects what’s currently going on in the news to a similar story in the past. Each episode is very short no longer than 6 minutes.

Films
An Honest Liar: It’s about how the magician the Amazing Randy exposed psychics, clairvoyants, and faith healers as frauds all while he kept a secret of his own.

RBG: A CNN documentary about the life and career of the second woman justice of the Supreme Court.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great October.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, October 31, 2018

by Raymond Williams

Quotes
“To study the past is to unlock the prison of the present.” -Jill Lepore

“The past is an inheritance, a gift and a burden.” -Lepore

“To write something down is to make a fossil record of a mind.” -Lepore

“Teaching people how to think is to make people a little less arrogant.” -Unknown

“Seek to learn constantly while you live; do not wait in the faith that old age by itself will bring wisdom.” -Solon

“Never interrupt an enemy making a mistake.” -Napoleon

“It’s not what happens to you, but how you reacts to it that matters.” -Epictetus

“Burnout is not the price you pay for success.” -Arianna Huffington

Books
Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Eli Saslow: Two years ago I read a Washington Post article, written by Saslow, about Derek Black’s departure from white nationalism. Black was once considered the heir to the white nationalist movement, he is the son of Don Black founder of Stormfront (a White Nationalist website) and the godson of David Duke former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan (Don Black was also a former Grand Wizard). Black’s rise out of white nationalism would not have occurred if it were not for his college friends who talked and shared with him research debunking his racist views. We need more people like them to help in the struggle of tamping down racism. The father of one of Derek’s friends said it best when he said that we need to “reach out and extend the hand, no matter who’s waiting on the other side”.

Films
The Hate U Give: Readers of The Monthly Blurb might remember that I ranked the book as the best book that I read in 2017. The film is just as good.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?: A great documentary about the show Mister Rogers Neighborhood, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary of the first episode airing on tv this year.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great November.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, December 1, 2018

by Raymond Williams

Quotes
“Happiness does not lead to gratitude. Gratitude leads to happiness. -David Steindl-Rast

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“There’s nothing comfortable about being courageous. Everyone wants to be brave, but no one wants to be vulnerable.” -Dr. Brené Brown

“Hope is a song in a weary throat.” -Pauli Murray

Books
Dark Testament: and Other Poems by Pauli Murray: I first became aware of Pauli Murray last year after I read her biography Jane Crow: The Life of Pauli Murray by Rosalind Rosenberg (which I featured in this newsletter). Dark Testament was mentioned in the book. I put off reading this collection of poems because I’m not big into poetry unless its Shel Silverstein. I changed my mind when I read an excerpt of one of her poems “Mr. Roosevelt Regrets” in Jill Lepore’s book These Truths: A History of the United States. Dark Testament is really good, it’s full of socially conscious poems. My favorite from the collection are “Dark Testament”, “The Passing of F.D.R.” (an interesting poem considering the fact that Murray was a vocal critic of FDR), “The Newer Cry”, “Prophecy”, and “Dinner for Three”.

Reader Recommendation: La Tonya recommends the book A Different Drummer by William Melvin Kelley.

Films
Whitney: A very powerful and sad documentary about the life and career of the singer Whitney Houston.

Mudbound: A Netflix original film, very good story. Mary J. Blige and Carey Mulligan were great in their respective roles.

Podcasts
Why Governor Jennifer Granholm Cut Her Hair: An interview with former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm about the challenges of running for office as a woman (from the podcast Death, Sex, and Money).

Nobody Looks Like Me: The story of the Memphis 13 about the group of black elementary school (yes, I said elementary school) students who integrated their school in the 1960s (from the podcast The Nod).
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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great December.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, December 31, 2018

by Raymond Williams

Quotes
“Don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course.” -President George H.W. Bush (1924–2018)

“He who is looking for wisdom is already wise; and he who thinks that he has found wisdom is a stupid man.” -Eastern Wisdom

“There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, may they always be.” -Irish Proverb

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” -Epictetus

Books
These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore: History lovers will delight in this one volume political history of the United States beginning with Columbus and ending with Trump’s election. I enjoyed learning about facts, stories, and characters I was unaware of before. That famous quote that history doesn’t repeat itself but it rhymes, is so true. I saw so many echoes of the past in our present day as I read this book.

Best Books of 2018
I read over 40 books this year but I really enjoyed the following:

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff
This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare by Gabourey Sidibe
I’m Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers by Tim Madigan
A Gift of Love: Sermons from Strength to Love and Other Preachings by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Triumph of Christianity: How A Forbidden Religion Swept the World by Bart Ehrman
When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele
From Dissertation to Book by William Germano
Coretta: My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King
The Seminarian: Martin Luther King Jr. Comes of Age by Patrick Parr
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey
Calypso by David Sedaris
How To Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians by Quintus Tullius Cicero
The Flintstones Vols. 1 and 2 by Mark Russell
Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most by Marcus Borg
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Journal Keeper: A Memoir by Phyllis Theroux
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton
Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement by Devery Anderson
Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward
Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Eli Saslow
Dark Testament: and Other Poems by Pauli Murray
These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore

Films
Green Book: I saw this movie a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen were great playing their respective roles. I thought the film was a creative way to learn about the Green Book (even though it was not a major part of the film, to learn more listen to a recent Retropod episode on it). I definitely see Oscar nominations for it.

Crazy Rich Asians: This romantic-comedy was great. I can’t wait to see the sequels that come from it. I hope that it results in more films with all Asian casts, 25 years since the last major all Asian film (The Joy Luck Club) is far too long.

Podcasts
“A Lucky Man” With @reggiereads: Check out this discussion between the hosts of the Misread podcast and Reggie Bailey (a subscriber to this Tiny Letter) on the short story collection A Lucky Man.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, Happy New Year and have a great January.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, January 31, 2019

by Raymond Williams

“When you read about the lives of other people…you are part of their lives for that moment. You inhabit their lives and you feel what they’re feeling and that is compassion.” -Amy Tan

“People mistakenly think that virtues lies in the knowledge of many things. What is important is not the quantity but the quality of knowledge.” -Leo Tolstoy

Books
Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon: Heavy is a powerful memoir written by a black son to his mother. It’s in essence a story about the challenges of being a black man in America, about the pressures one experiences even at the height of what society calls “success”. Laymon’s consistent reference to his body echoed other books like Roxane Gay’s Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me which also references the challenges of living in a black body that is afflicted by sexual abuse, physical violence, racial bias and oppression. Laymon’s work is definitely “heavy” but readable.

Honorable Mention: For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt

Films
Searching: A modern day take of a girl goes missing story. The film was very well done. I was in it for the whole ride. John Cho was great in his role as the missing girl’s father.

The Oath: A funny and thought provoking dark comedy about the perils of discussing politics during Thanksgiving.

Night School: Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish were great in this comedy about a guy going back to school to get his GED.

The Incredibles 2: This sequel comes 14 years after the original movie. I haven’t seen the original since it came out. The new movie was great, it had a good story and the score was amazing just like the original film.

Podcasts
Bag Men: This is a really good podcast on the Spiro Agnew scandal. Agnew was Pres. Nixon’s VP who resigned a year before Nixon because he committed tax evasion, or so that is what we are led to believe. Rachel Maddow unpacks what really happened in this seven part series.

Scene on Radio Season 3: MEN: I recommended this podcast before in this Tiny Letter after I listened to Season 2 which was called Seeing White. Season 3 is all about masculinity, it origins, and the effects it has on society (ie. misogyny, himpathy, sexual harassment, feminism, etc.)

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great February.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, February 2019

by Raymond Williams

Quotes to Ponder
“Don’t take a ‘No’ from someone who doesn’t have the power to give you a ‘Yes’ in the first place.” -Tituss Burgess

“If you know the truth and decline to speak the truth, you are not living truthfully.” -The Daily Stoic

Books I recommend
How to Be Black by Baratunde Thurston: I originally read this laugh out loud book almost six years ago and loved it. It spoke to me then and it spoke to me again now. It should be read by every black person whoever felt like they weren’t black enough. It also should be read by non-black people who have misconceptions on what and how “all” black people think and behave. Thurston’s book teaches the reader that there is more than one way to be black. He knows this because he was the child of a woman who exposed him to activities that we as an American society do not tend to associate with black people. This book is also filled with advice such as how to be the black friend and the next black president. Ultimately I learned that society does not define what blackness is, black people do. So when you see a black person doing something that seems foreign to you, it just means that it is time to update your definition of blackness.

How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns: This is the third book that I have read by Peter Enns after The Evolution of Adam and The Bible Tells Me So. How the Bible Actually Works is an interesting new book about how Enns thinks the Bible should be read. He believes that it should be read less as a rule or guidebook for life, as evangelicals have promoted it. Rather Enns thinks it should be read for the wisdom it gives in light of its ambiguity, diversity, and ancientness. The ancient writers of the books of the Bible viewed God in certain ways based on how they connected with God and their own life experiences. I enjoyed Enns conversational style of writing. He transitions well between chapters and is often funny at times.

Film I recommend
Obit: This 2016 documentary covers the work of the obituary writing team of the New York Times. It’s really good and although the focus is on celebrity obituaries the documentary made me think alot about the lives we all live and how others will think of us when we depart.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great March.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, March 31, 2019

by Raymond Williams

Quotes to ponder

Forgiveness is not a line you cross, its a road you take. -James Safechuck

Good things, once done, will never disappear, even if you forget about them. -Leo Tolstoy

Books I recommend

“A daughter was only a temporary guest, quietly awaiting another man to scoop her away, along with all her financial burden.” -Etaf Rum

“The cruelest thing on earth is a man’s heart.” -Etaf Rum

Etaf Rum has written a phenomenal debut novel about the lives of three Palestinian-American women: Isra, her daughter Deya, and Isra’s mother-in-law Fareeda. These women come from a culture that believes that women have two purposes: getting married and having male children (female children are frowned upon). Isra moves to Brooklyn from Palestine after marrying a man named Adam. The novel moves back and forth in time from the 1990s to 2008/2009 as Deya is coming of age, being raised by her grandparents after her parents have been killed in a car accident. Deya is expected to get married after she graduates but she has better plans for her life. I could not put this book down, the characters and story felt so real to me. I’m usually not a fan of time shifting in books but Rum is so effective in this effort that I never became confused about what period I was in. She does this well through her transitions at the end and beginning of new chapters. I highly recommend this book.

Other recommendations

Us: Jordan Peele’s new film was very interesting and thought provoking. It was not as scary as thought it was going to be.

My Monthly Blurb, May 1, 2019

by Raymond Williams

Quotes to ponder
It’s the ability to take a joke, not make one, that proves you have a sense of humor. -Max Eastman

Remember that all the present rests on all the past. -Frederick Douglass

I live inside of books, fortresses of human feeling. -Emily Bernard

Literature is the accumulation of the painful lessons humans have learned by trial and error. -Ryan Holiday

It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. -W.E.B. DuBois

Recommended Books

Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom: David Blight’s Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Frederick Douglass was great. In it Blight effectively shows that Douglass was a prophet, who used rhetoric couched in the Old Testament, for the abolition of slavery, voting rights for blacks, women’s suffrage, and other civil rights issues. But this is not a complete hagiography, Blight gives a balanced look on his subject. He is critical of him when Douglass made racist and misogynistic statements against Native Americans and women, respectively (even though he was highly depended upon women throughout his life). What impressed me the most about his story is that how later on in life he motivated and encouraged a new generation of leaders to become active, leaders such as Ida B. Wells, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, and Paul Laurence Dunbar. Finally, Blight does a great job of using Douglass’s words from his speeches, letters, and other writings to share his thoughts on the issues of the 19th Century. Douglass’s words still ring true in the 21st Century.

Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America: In my opinion this book offers the clearest explanation on how Trump won the 2016 presidential election while losing the popular vote. Sides, Tesler, and Vavreck argue that Trump and Clinton both activated voters’ identities and that activation helped Trump more than Clinton. They state that Trump’s rhetoric and candidacy activated whites without a college degree who held negative views on racial, ethnic, and religious minorities that were in line with Trump’s platform. These voters were disproportionately in key battleground states that allowed him to win the Electoral College while losing the popular vote.

The authors effectively showed how Clinton and Trump won their respective nominations. They also addressed every issue that could have impacted the final election results: the Access Hollywood tape, Comey letter, Russian interference, Clinton email scandal, etc. Finally I believe they successfully debunk the myth of economic anxiety being the cause of Trump’s win and had the clearest explanation about why some Obama voters voted for Trump.

Honorable Mention: The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Misc.

Go check out Avengers: Endgame when you get the chance, a great end of an era. Also the Oscar winning documentary Free Solo was really good about the rock climber Alex Honnold.

My Monthly Blurb, May 31, 2019

by Raymond Williams

Hi All,

Tomorrow, June 1, is the two year anniversary of this Tiny Letter. Thank you all for subscribing and for your support.

Quotes to Ponder

Reconciliation is the pursuit of the impossible- an upside-down world where those who are powerful have relinquished that power to the margins. -Austin Channing Brown

Instead of waiting for the bright sunshine, I have learned to rest in the shadow of hope…This is the shadow of hope. Knowing that we may never see the realization of our dreams, and yet still showing up… I work toward a world unseen, currently unimaginable. -Austin Channing Brown

You don’t know if you’re loving when you hang out with only people you like. You only figure out if you’re loving when you’re in relationship with people who are causing you to suffer. -Kevin Makins

I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain. -James Baldwin

History, as nearly no one seems to know, is not merely something to be read. And it does not refer merely or even principally, to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do. -James Baldwin

You are only as good as your word. You can be smart, aggressive, articulate, and indeed persuasive, but if you are not honest, your reputation will suffer, and once lost, a good reputation can never be regained. -Robert S. Mueller III

In life you do not fight battles because you expect to win…you fight them merely because they need to be fought. -Mark Russell

Recommended Books

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown:

“This book is my story about growing up in a Black girl’s body.”

“I am not a priest for the white soul.”

“Our only chance at dismantling racial injustice is being more curious about its origins than we are worried about our comfort.”

This is a powerful book. Many of Brown’s experiences being black in a white world have echoed my own. However, they are more visceral because she lives with the double bind of being a black female. Her book is part memoir and also has elements of James Baldwin and Ta-Nehisi Coates. Her voice is unique because she focuses alot on her interaction with white Christians, especially those who purport to be “nice” and “not racist”. Chapters 8-”The Story We Tell” and 14-”Standing in the Shadow of Hope” are my favorite in the book. Brown has a way with words, this is clear in Chapter 14 when she writes about her relationship with “hope” (see second quote above).

The Mueller Report: Presented with Related Materials by The Washington Post

“The Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion.” -Volume 1

“Our investigation found multiple acts by the President that were capable of exerting undue influence over law enforcement investigations, including the Russian-interference and obstruction investigations. The incidents were often carried out through one-on-one meetings in which the President sought to use his official power outside of usual channels … The President’s efforts to influence the investigation were mostly unsuccessful but that is largely because the persons who surrounded the President declined to carry out orders or accede to his requests.” -Volume 2

Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team have finished their investigation after indicting 34 people (26 of whom were Russians) and getting 7 guilty pleas. They have also submitted a report of over 400 pages. Volume 1 chronicles how the Russian government interfered in the election as well as the connections between the Trump campaign and Russia. Volume 2 covers the potential acts of obstruction by the President of United States in response to the Russian investigation. Below I provide a review of each volume and then discuss my overall thoughts of the report.

In Volume 1, the Mueller team goes into detail on how the Russians interfered in the election. First, by a social media campaign and second by hacking into the computers of Democratic campaign workers and Clinton staffers and releasing the hacked material to the public. I was fascinated to learn, in the social media section, that around 126 million U.S. Facebook accounts and about 1.4 million U.S. Twitter accounts were in contact with Russian accounts. The Russian’s social media strategy consisted of posting political messages with the intent of dividing voters so that they would more likely support Trump (and Sanders during the Dem primary) and less likely to support Clinton. The investigation identified multiple contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia during and after the election season (e.g. Trump Tower Moscow Project, planning for a potential Trump and Putin meeting before the election, the infamous Trump Tower meeting, Manafort and Kilimnik meetings, poll data sharing, etc.). It is important to say that the investigation did not find evidence of coordination/conspiracy between Russians and the Trump campaign but it is very concerning that members of the Trump campaign were open to receiving potentially damaging information from the Russians. Lastly, one question that still remains for me is: why did former Trump campaign officials lie about their contacts with Russia? Several people would not be in legal trouble today if they had not lied to Congress or the Special Counsel’s office.

Volume 2, ultimately does not find whether or not the President obstructed justice. Instead the report lays out numerous incidents where the President may have obstructed justice. The report shows various contradictory statements by the President that were confirmed to be false by other members of his Administration. One of the most disconcerting aspects of Volume 2 is the fact that so many individuals felt “uncomfortable” when the president directed them to do something that would potentially influence the investigation (e.g. Richard Ledgett’s account on page 56 of Vol. 2 was the most eye opening to me). Also is seems like everybody (Comey, McGahn, Priebus, Rogers and Ledgett, Lewandowski, etc.) was taking notes on their interactions with the President. What does it mean when people feel so strongly that they have to take contemporaneous notes about these interactions? The last 22 pages of Volume 2 provide a legal seminar on the definition of obstruction. Mueller’s office gives a legal rationale for why Congress can pass laws redefining obstruction so that controversial acts (that do not involve official conduct) by the President are applicable and will not intrude on the President’s ability to take care that the laws are faithfully executed. Based off of my reading of the report there is evidence of episodes where Trump did and episodes where he did not obstruct justice. Mueller’s office decided not to indict or make a determination on obstruction because of the Office of Legal Counsel’s guidelines that a sitting president can not be indicted.

Overall, Mueller’s team has put together an impressive record of what did and did not happen in the 2016 election and the first two years of the Trump administration as it relates to the Russia investigation. Mueller and his team have provided a great service to this country by uncovering the truth using detailed analysis and by confirming prior news reports and echoing books such as Woodward’s Fear: Trump in the White House and Comey’s A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership.

Honorable Mentions: Prayers for Dark People by W.E.B. Du Bois and What Truth Sounds Like: Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished Conversation about Race in America by Michael Eric Dyson.

Misc.: Go see the documentary Amazing Grace which chronicles the live recording of Aretha Franklin’s 1972 live album of the same name, the film The Wife starring Academy Award nominee Glenn Close (she should have won it for this film), Science Vs’ podcast episode on DNA Kits, BackStory’s podcast episode on the history of women in Congress, Ryan Holiday’s article on alive and dead time, and Planet Money’s podcast episode on James Holzhauer’s domination on the game show Jeopardy.

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great June.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, July 1, 2019

by Raymond Williams

Quotes to Ponder

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith. -Franklin D. Roosevelt

When we condemn posterity for slavery, or for Native American removal, or for denying women their full role in the life of a nation, we ought to pause and think: what injustices are we perpetuating even now that will one day face the harshest of verdicts by those who come after us? One of the points of reflecting on the past is to prepare us for action in the present. -Jon Meacham

When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. When there is talk of violence, let us stand up and talk against it. In the face of death, let us honor life. As St. Paul admonished us, “Let us ‘not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’”. -Bill Clinton

History and Scripture teaches us that there can be no reconciliation without repentance. There can be no repentance without confession. And there can be no confession without truth. -Jemar Tisby

Recommended Books

Encyclopedia Mythologica: Gods and Heroes Pop-Up by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda: I really enjoyed mythology and pop-up books as a kid. So when I found out this book existed I just knew I had to buy it. The pop-up art in this book are beautiful, amazing, and very intricate. The book covers mythologies from various parts of the globe (Greek, Egypt, Norse, Eastern/Pacific, North/South American), some of which I was unfamiliar with. The only thing that was missing was mythology from West/Sub Saharan Africa. Overall, this book definitely made me feel like a kid again.

Honorable Mentions: The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham, Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles by Mark Russell, The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby, and A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

Misc.: Columbia Journal Review has a great article on the Florida Man phenomenon, Octavia Spencer was great in the film Ma, also make sure you check out Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

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Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great July.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, July 31, 2019

by Raymond Williams

Quotes to Ponder

There is good in everything, if only we look for it. -Laura Ingalls Wilder

If you’re not humble, life will visit humbleness upon you. -Mike Tyson

Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be? -Barack Obama

Becoming is never giving up on the idea that there’s more growing to be done. -Michelle Obama

Reading isn’t just a hobby or a pastime; it’s a lifestyle. -Anne Bogel

A person’s actions will show you who they are, and a person’s words will show you who they want to be. -Anonymous

Recommended Books

Becoming by Michelle Obama: Michelle Obama’s book is the first memoir that I have read about the life of a First Lady. I really enjoyed it and I thought it was well written. Obama comes across as very authentic, relatable, and funny in her writing. I was impressed with her honesty especially as it relates to her growing up/going to school as a black woman. I also found the tidbits about living in the White House fascinating. Ultimately in this memoir Michelle shows that her life wasn’t a storybook. She overcame various obstacles: being a black woman from the South Side of Chicago; being a professional woman after attaining an Ivy League education; balancing a marriage with a politically ambitious spouse; motherhood; and her life in politics as a First Lady.

I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel: This is one of the best books for book lovers. Anne Bogel’s book reminds you why you love to read and gives useful tips on how to enrich your reading lifestyle. There were many times in this book where I thought she was talking directly to me. For example when she wrote about not being ashamed of not having read the books everyone has read. She promotes reading books that appeals to you because your reading life is your journey. You know what you like and don’t like. I also like her suggestion about reading the acknowledgment section all the way through. In the past I usually skip or skim it. Bogel gives good reasons why you should start reading it from beginning to end.

Honorable Mentions: A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul by Leo Tolstoy, A Memory of the Future: Poems by Elizabeth Spires, and The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday

Misc. An interesting read in light of the #NotMyAriel controversy; Baratunde Thurston, the author of one of my favorite books How To Be Black did an amazing TED Talk on living while black; and Toy Story 4.

Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great August.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, September 8, 2019

by Raymond Williams

Quotes to Ponder

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the strength to do what is right in the face of it. -Anonymous

We don’t have the right to change anyone else, and no one else has the right to change us. If we are going to change, it is because we want to change, because we don’t want to suffer any longer. -Don Miguel Ruiz

To find the truth in people, sometimes you have to open up to the truth inside yourself. -John Kerry

All happiness depends on courage and hard work. -Honore De Balzac

Recommended Books

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram Kendi: It is only fitting that this book is being released after the past several weeks of racists attacks by politicians and mass shootings in the name of White Supremacy. After witnessing these acts many Americans will say “I’m not like that, I’m not a racist. I don’t have a racist bone in my body”. Ibram Kendi’s newest book addresses that mindset. In his follow up to Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, Kendi argues that the dichotomy of either being a racist or not a racist is a false one. We must choose to be racist or antiracist. Kendi tells the reader how to be an antiracist by using history and his own biography. He chronicles his own personal evolution of espousing racist ideas at a young age to his transformation as an adult.

Kendi places himself amongst the five individuals that he profiles in Stamped and in turn challenges us to question our own racist views that we all espouse. This is an extremely personal book not just from the author’s standpoint but from my own. Before reading his last book Stamped from the Beginning, I would have considered myself “not a racist” but realized as I read “Stamped” that I held many assimilationist views. I also believed that I couldn’t be a racist because I am Black. In this book, one of Kendi’s most effective chapters dispels the myth that Blacks can’t be racist because they are a racial minority. He effectively shows that Blacks hold racist views of other Blacks which have been passed down to us by racist Whites. Ultimately he argues that people of all races (White, Black, Latinx, Asian, Native American, etc.) can be racists. But the good news is that being racist is not set in stone. Kendi tells us that we can change and become antiracist. Read his book so you can figure out how. Just like Stamped from the Beginning, How to Be An Antiracist has changed my thinking for the better.

Overall, Kendi’s writing is amazing and beautiful. I especially loved his use of transitions between chapters, it makes the book hard to put down.

Thanks to One World and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The White Card: A Play by Claudia Rankine: There is alot to unpack in this play. I may even need to reread it. The dialogue is sharp and rich. I would definitely like to see this on stage.

Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership by Steven Levingston: Barack and Joe is a great refresher about the real life bond between the former president and vice-president. Levingston’s book chronicles the relationship by highlighting important events from their days in the Senate to the more current moment of Biden deciding to run for President in the 2020 cycle. The author does a great job recounting the veepstakes process of Obama picking Biden to be his running mate. I believe it was the first detailed account that I have read of the negotiations between the two as well as the debates between campaign staff.

It is impossible not to read this book in the context of the 2020 election. This is not a biased book for or against Biden as a presidential candidate. I commend the author for being fair, it covers the positive aspects of Biden while also reminding the reader of the many gaffes he has said in the past that people may have forgotten. As the author mentions in the book, this is definitely a first draft of the relationship between the two individuals. I look forward to reading a larger book that focused on additional events in detail such as their discussions/debates during the Bin Laden raid, the Libya intervention, the BP oil spill and other major events, more along the lines of Peter Baker’s Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, which recounts the Bush-Cheney years and their relationship. Overall, if you are looking for an enjoyable and nostalgic book about the interracial Batman and Robin then look look no further than Levingston’s work.

Thanks to Hachette Books and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Honorable Mention: Star Wars: Be More Yoda: Mindful Thinking from a Galaxy Far Far Away by Christian Blauvelt

Misc. Go check out the remake of The Lion King, reading this story gives me hope, and the NPR podcast White Lies about the 1965 murder of Rev. James Reeb.

Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great September.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, October 13, 2019

by Raymond Williams

Quotes to Ponder

Home is what you think about when you don’t want to be where you are. -Casey Gerald

We measure success by the lives that we change. -Casey Gerald

I read at least one book every week. No matter the circumstances, I make the time. Learning is a lifetime affliction, y’all. -Chris Wilson

Recommended Books

Last month I started posting my book reviews on Medium, here were my favorites from September.

Misc.

I recently saw the film Joker which I thought was really good. The Nod’s episode on The Gamer Godfather You’ve Never Heard Of was very informative.

Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great October.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, December 19, 2019

by Raymond Williams

My apologies for the late email, I forgot to send one out for October and November. So this Blurb will combine my recommendations for both months.

Words from the Wise

We must believe in our souls that we are somebody, that we are significant, that we are worthful, and we must walk the streets of life everyday with this sense of dignity and this sense of somebody-ness. -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It is a dangerous attempt in any government to say to a Nation, “thou shalt not read”. -Thomas Paine

Hope begins in the dark. -Anne Lamott

My Favorite Books from the past two months
In this article, I reviewed the following three books: Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston, The Impeachers:The Trial of Andrew Johnson and the Dream of a Just Nation by Brenda Wineapple, and This America: The Case for the Nation by Jill Lepore.

And in this article I reviewed the following two books:Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans, and the forthcoming book Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino

Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great December and Happy Holidays.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, February 23, 2020

by Raymond Williams

It’s been two months since I last sent out a Blurb, my apologies for not keeping my monthly schedule. I’ve been writing alot on Medium and got a little sidetrack.

Words from the Wise

For Black History Month I compiled a list of quotes, from notable African Americans, for each day this month for readers to reflect on. You can find the list here.

What makes a book change you is less about how good a book is, and more about how right a book is-whether the right person is reading the right book at the right time. -Megan Holstein

I think about service as the act of giving love toward others. That could be love in the form of generosity, kindness, empathy. The simple act of smiling at someone is an act of service. -Vivek Murthy, MD

You can’t always please yourself; you must sometimes please other people…you must often displease others…You must be prepared on many occasions in life to please no one at all-not even yourself. -Henry James

My Favorite Books (from the past two months)

The Great Rift: Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, and the Broken Friendship That Defined an Era by James Mann

Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein

The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe by Richard Rohr

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson: I read this book twice already. It is simply beautiful, the poem is great and the illustrations are amazing and powerful. A great book to read during Black History Month and throughout the year.

American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump by Tim Alberta: Alberta has written an amazing book which chronicles the 11 year journey of the Republican Party, going from a party in a civil war while out of power to its return to power with the Trump Presidency. I’m someone who follows politics very closely and remembers all of the events that took place in this book but Alberta effectively gives an unbiased look at where the political right was and is during this last decade. The book ends in the Spring of 2019, alot has happened since. A sequel is definitely needed, I hope he writes one.

Honorable Mentions: Prophesy Hope!: An Advent Reflection on Hope, Peace, Love, and Freedom by Danté Stewart, The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allan Poe, and Words from the White House: Words and Phrases Coined or Popularized by America’s Presidents by Paul Dickson

Send me your recommendations and feedback that you have for me. Until next time, have a great February.

-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, March 29, 2020

by Raymond Williams

I hope this Blurb finds you well, healthy, and at home in the midst of pandemic. Stay encouraged, we will get through this. -Raymond

Words from the Wise

For Women’s History Month I compiled a list of quotes, from notable women, for each day this month for readers to reflect on. You can find the list here.

Recommended Books
The links to the first four books go to my reviews on Medium.

Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College by Jesse Wegman

The Amen Corner by James Baldwin

Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope by Jasmine Holmes

The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. by Peniel Joseph (Release Date: March 31, 2020)

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy: Such a powerful little book packed with so much wisdom. It is one that I will read often.

Deeds Not Words: Celebrating 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage by Sandra Sider and Pamela Weeks: This quick read is a collection of quilts created by artists commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote in America. The title comes from the militant suffragist, Emmeline Pankhurst. The quilts were very beautiful and as result this book is best read on a color e-reader, if you choose not to read a hard copy of it. I learned about other women suffragists who I was initially unfamiliar with outside of Elizabeth Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Ida B. Wells. I especially enjoyed reading the appendix that provided a list of notable women who were the “first” at doing something important and were featured in one of the quilts. Thanks to NetGalley, Schiffer Publishing, Sandra Sider, and Pamela Weeks for the free ARC copy in exchange for a honest review.

Honorable Mention: Superstitions: A Handbook of Folklore, Myths, and Legends from around the World by D. R. McElroy (Release Date May 19, 2020)

My Monthly Blurb, April 27, 2020

by Raymond Williams

Words from the Wise

We suffer more in imagination than in reality. -Seneca

Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. -Romans 12:21

It is because good is always stronger than evil. Always remember that, Antonio. The smallest bit of good can stand against all the powers of evil in the world and it will emerge triumphant. -Rudolfo Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima

Do not wait. If there is something you wish to do, go do it. Death comes for busy people too. It will not pause and return at a more convenient time. -James Clear

Home is memory and companions and/or friends who share the memory. -Toni Morrison

Recommended Books

The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt by Jill Watts (Release Date: May 12, 2020)

Navigate Your Stars by Jesmyn Ward and Gina Triplett: Jesmyn Ward has written a powerful commencement speech, now in book form, that teaches the reader about the importance of education, not just in the formal classroom sense but also the education that life experiences teach you. Ward uses her unique backstory of coming from Mississippi and the limits that were placed on her black family members, how education was not enough, and how working was crucial to her current success. This speech is for those who don’t get the lucky breaks. If you need inspiration, read this book. Get lost in the beautiful illustrations by Gina Triplett. Although it’s a perfect message for graduates, I think people of all ages will find this little but powerful book influential. Read it and read it again, and again. Then continue to work hard and persist as Jesmyn advises.

Coronavirus: A Book for Children by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson, Nia Roberts, and Axel Scheffler: I saw this was a free ebook on Apple Books and decided to check it out. Even though it’s geared to kids, I think adults will find it helpful as well. It’s very clear and concise and I actually learned a few things from it.

Honorable Mentions: She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

Stay well,
-Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, May 31, 2020

by Raymond Williams

Tomorrow, June 1st, is the 3 year anniversary of this newsletter. Thank you for subscribing.

Words from the Wise

Books and stories are medicine, plaster casts for broken lives and hearts, slings for weakened spirits. -Anne Lamott

A man who does not trust cannot be trusted…A person who trusts can be trusted. -James McBride, Deacon King Kong

A lot of saints don’t start off well, but they end that way. -James McBride, Deacon King Kong

People died to give me the right to read. So am I going to dishonor their deaths by not reading? I see it in a broader context than just reading to learn or for entertainment. I feel personally that I have an obligation to honor those people’s deaths; they died so that I could have the opportunity to read. -Coach George Raveling

Hope is being able to see there is light despite all of the darkness. -Desmond Tutu

Recommended Books

A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump’s Testing of America by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig: I’ve read a few books on this era over the past three years, this may be the best one. It does not try to cover every single controversy, if so then it would be over a 1,000 pages. I like that it does cover some of the incidents that did not receive alot of news coverage at the time. Lastly, this book does a great job of actually letting the reader experience the Mueller investigation from the Mueller team’s point of view, which has mostly been kept under wraps.

Pelosi by Molly Ball (Link goes to my Medium review of the book)

Honorable Mention: Deacon King Kong by James McBride

Book Discussion

Lastly, one of the highlights of my month was having the opportunity to host a book discussion with the historian Jill Watts about her book The Black Cabinet, which I recommended last month. I wrote an article that gives and overview of the discussion, you can find it here.

Stay well,
Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, June 30, 2020

by Raymond Williams

Words from the Wise

You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive. -James Baldwin

Joy is the gift of love. Grief is the price of love. Anger protects that which is loved. And when we think we have reached our limit, wonder is the act that returns us to love. -Valarie Kaur, See No Stranger (2020)

I shall permit no man, no matter what his color might be, to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him. -Booker T. Washington

Pain that is not transformed is transferred. -Father Richard Rohr

All that you touch, You Change, All that you Change, Changes you, The Only lasting truth, is Change. -Octavia Butler

If you’re not careful, you’ll get caught up in the words of racism and miss the works of racism because some people who engage in the works of racism never use the words. -Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, We Are Called to Be A Movement (2020)

“I almost tried out for a play once,” she told Kennedy, climbing the steps. “But I chickened out.” “Well maybe that’s your problem,” Kennedy said. “You tell yourself no before anyone even says it to you.” -Brit Bennett, The Vanishing Half (2020)

Recommend Books

See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valarie Kaur

Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S. by Lenny Duncan

Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

We Are Called to Be a Movement by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Honorable Mention: The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution by Eric Foner

My Antiracism Reading List

Lastly, I compiled (as many others have also done) a list of 39 books that I thought would be helpful to readers who wanted to learn more about racism in light of the recent acts of police brutality and the protests in response to those acts. I wrote this article before I read the books that I mentioned above, many of which would have been added to the list if I had read them sooner. You can find that list here.

Stay Well,
Raymond

My Monthly Blurb, February 19, 2023

by Raymond Williams

Hi All,

It’s been almost three years since I last sent this newsletter. I hope you all are doing well. I’ve still been blogging about books but over at my blog on Medium. If you want to continue to follow my reading journey then check it out at Ballasts for the Mind. This will be my last newsletter from this platform, I’ll leave my archive posts up for posterity. Email me if you would like to stay in touch: rtw0613@gmail.com Also check out my Linktree page here: https://linktr.ee/raymondwilliams

-Raymond

P.S. My favorite books that I read in 2023, so far, are:

The Bitter End: The 2020 Presidential Campaign and the Challenge to American Democracy by John Sides, Chris Tausanovitch, & Lynn Vavreck
Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica by Zora Neale Hurston

My Monthly Blurb, TinyLetter Archive (2017–2023)

Table of Contents

The First Blurb, June 1, 2017

What I’ve Read

What I’ve Watched

What I’ve Been Listening To

The Second Blurb, July 1, 2017

What I’ve Read

What I’ve Watched

What I’ve Listened To

My Monthly Blurb, August 1, 2017

What I’ve Read

What I’ve Watched

My Monthly Blurb, September 2, 2017

My Monthly Blurb, October 1, 2017

What I’ve Read

What I’ve Watched

What I’ve Listened To

My Monthly Blurb, November 4, 2017

My Monthly Blurb, December 3, 2017

My Monthly Blurb, December 31, 2017

My Monthly Blurb, February 1, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, March 2, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, April 7, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, May 5, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, May 31, 2017 (Happy Anniversary!!!)

My Monthly Blurb, June 30, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, July 29, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, September 3, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, September 30, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, October 31, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, December 1, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, December 31, 2018

My Monthly Blurb, January 31, 2019

My Monthly Blurb, February 2019

My Monthly Blurb, March 31, 2019

My Monthly Blurb, May 1, 2019

My Monthly Blurb, May 31, 2019

My Monthly Blurb, July 1, 2019

My Monthly Blurb, July 31, 2019

My Monthly Blurb, September 8, 2019

My Monthly Blurb, October 13, 2019

My Monthly Blurb, December 19, 2019

My Monthly Blurb, February 23, 2020

My Monthly Blurb, March 29, 2020

My Monthly Blurb, April 27, 2020

My Monthly Blurb, May 31, 2020

My Monthly Blurb, June 30, 2020

My Monthly Blurb, February 19, 2023

Written by Raymond Williams, PhD