Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts's Blog, page 5

Of Camels and Judgment

I wanted to judge her. I won’t lie about that. She spent 25K on a prom send-off. Who does that? The story is here but the abbreviated version is this: A mother in North Philadelphia went all out for her son’s prom send-off. She held what amounted to an elaborate, over the top, block party… Continue reading Of Camels and Judgment

Words Matter: My Fav Reads of 2016

Some of my favorite reads from the year that made most of us want to do nothing BUT curl up in bed and read until it ends.

Academia, Love Me Back

Originally posted on TIFFANY MARTÍNEZ:
My name is Tiffany Martínez. As a McNair Fellow and student scholar, I’ve presented at national conferences in San Francisco, San Diego, and Miami. I have crafted a critical reflection piece that was published in a peer-reviewed journal managed by the Pell Institute for the Study of Higher Education…

But I Didn’t Say Yes

A late night conversation about consent.

Why Revolt Remains on the Table

I consider myself a peaceful person. For me, this simply means that I don’t believe that most problems can be solved through violence or aggression. I’ve lived most of my life by the mantra that says, “conflict is inevitable but combat is optional.” I don’t avoid confrontations but I certainly don’t take up arms every… Continue reading Why Revolt Remains on theTable

When Black Players Were Basketball Slaves: Has the NBA Really Changed?

The NBA Finals are in full swing, and after the Golden State Warriors dominated the first two games of the series, many are wondering if the Cleveland Cavaliers can mount a comeback. Fans on both sides are taking shots at the other. Cavs diehards bemoan Steph Curry’s reliance on the three-point shot, while Warriors fanatics… Continue reading When Black Players Were Basketball Slaves: Has the NBA ReallyChanged?

All Black, All Kentucky: In Memory of a Hometown Hero

“Muhammad Ali was from Kentucky.” These five words have been the quickest way for me to shut down anyone who’s ever teased or chided me about being from Kentucky, about my slight drawl and being “country,” asking whether I wore shoes or owned horses or if the grass is really blue. I tell them that,… Continue reading All Black, All Kentucky: In Memory of a HometownHero

Beauty in the Contradictions: The Spiritual Evolution of Prince

“Prince was just too nasty for me. I grew up in the church,” she said. My first inclination was to defend the musical icon I loved so much. “Well, you know he wrote 1,000s of songs—over 40 albums, and only a relatively small portion ofthose could be considered’nasty.’” “Well, all the ones I ever heard… Continue reading Beauty in the Contradictions: The Spiritual Evolution ofPrince

What I Learned from #Lemonade – (Hint: It Ain’t Got Nothing to Do with Bey, Jay, or Becky with the good hair)

Yep. That’s the truth. After a few days mulling it over, I’ve figured out that what I “get” the most from Beyonce’s latest offering, a visual album titled #Lemonade released on HBO/Tidal this past weekend, has absolutely nothing to do with the content of the work. Yes, I think it’s a brilliant, creative, and transparent… Continue reading What I Learned from #Lemonade – (Hint: It Ain’t Got Nothing to Do with Bey, Jay, or Becky with the goodhair)

Sometimes It Snows in April – A Tribute Essay for Prince

“I was dreaming when I wrote this, so sue me if I go too fast…” Well, one can dream, right? There are just some artists we expect to live forever. I don’t know why. Intellectually, of course, we know that we all die and so will they. But there are some whose work has… Continue reading Sometimes It Snows in April – A Tribute Essay forPrince