In this day and age where division drowns out unity, self-interest overshadows selflessness, and too many hearts are hardened by hate, fear, pain, or indifference, our ability to love our Blackness is an act of self-affirmation—it is an imperative. For Black women, loving our Blackness and practicing self-love is not just personal, it is political and revolutionary. It is a love affair with ourselves—a deep, unwavering commitment to cherish our beauty, our history, and our brilliance.
Read MoreJanuary brought in a winter storm and lots of snow and ice to much of the central states and the east coast. Living in Georgia, I don’t get to see snow that often, so it is always a big deal. Regardless of whether you are accustomed to the snow or not, there is a small part of us that feels compelled to build a snowman.
Read MoreHoliday songs and movies are streaming on every platform imaginable. People are flooding the stores in search of the perfect gifts. Faculty are feverishly putting grades in. And students are begging for that one extra point or 2 …or 3..or I am sure 5! Without a doubt, the madness of December has begun.
Read MoreFinding peace in someone else’s choice for you can be challenging, especially if it feels at odds with your desires and autonomy. Although we may not be able to change the circumstances, we can change how we move forward in the consequences. Finding peace doesn’t mean suppressing your feelings. It simply means working through your feelings to reach a place where you can move forward with grace and resilience. And the implications for choosing peace are far beyond what you can imagine.
Read MoreSubtle changes are exactly what has happened in higher education over the last year or so. The subtle embedding of political viewpoints in college policies, presidential hiring and firing, and college admissions has had a barage of impacts that have decreased student enrollment and eroded faculty tenure lines. Regardless of what side of the aisle you sit, these changes have an impact on the ways you carry out your job. So what does the subtlety of the autumn air have to do with the academic journey?
Read MoreThe professoriate places very unrealistic expectations on us, and we add to that by setting unrealistic expectations on ourselves as well. But when is it enough? How do these expectations really impact our professional trajectory and well-being?
Read MoreCommencement — without its attachment to an educational activity — means the beginning of something, and the commencement speech is a message to the graduates about their new beginning. It’s an opportunity to reflect on one’s journey and address the potential and possibilities that lie ahead. The same can be true for those in higher education or those whose work aligns with the academic calendar.
Read MoreTax day rolled in last week and with it were long lines at the post office, feelings of trepidation around signing up for payment plans and chatter about the new taxes laws that impact us all. Regardless of if you owe the IRS or anticipate a refund this year, we all pay ‘taxes” as we journey through life. I am not speaking about financial taxes, I am referring to the emotional tax we pay each day - at work and sometimes at play.
Read MoreMarch is Women’s History month. Or perhaps we can just say March is Herstory Month. A month that focuses on the accomplishments of women. A celebration of our stories and our unapologetic baddassness (is that a word?). An acknowledgement and uplift of our intersectionality. As I think about the word herstory, it is not about a pronoun - a his or her; it is about presenting a historical context that focuses primarily on the contributions of women, and in this case, Black women.
Read MoreFebruary is the month when we celebrate our history. It is a reminder of what we have accomplished and who we should pay homage to. Have you ever thought about the work our ancestors put into making things better for us?
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