Stephen J. Matlock's Blog

Non-Violent Protests Are American

We have the Constitutional right to peacefully assemble, to petition the Government to listen to and respond to our grievances, and the right to say what we will without prohibition. (James Madison, primary author of the First Amendment

It’s Finally Here: Fieldnotes on Fortitude

It’s finally done and published. Whew! This summer, along with my other activities, I helped edit a book of essays about staying resilient in times of great chaos and galloping fascism. Truly a labor of love from the writers, editors, and publisher, Fieldnotes on Fortitude: Resilience in Resistance contains sixteen essays by a wide variety of authors with their unique insights into understanding of our current condition. It will eventually be available in both online and retail stores, but for now, it’s available on Amazon. Fieldnotes on Fortitude: Resilience in Resistance Enjoy!

On the Existence of Black Folk

We just do not allow Black people in America to just exist. To be. To be learning and growing. To make mistakes and then figure out the way forward. To be children who are innocent and who love fun, who are mischievous and scared and reluctant to admit they’re scared. To boast and exaggerate, to hide and crawl away. To try new things and even reject them. Or to discover their talents and pursue their interests to become fulfilled in life.

When We Hide the Past in Plain Sight

Jim Crow is an evil, yes, and many of us have a social response of “that’s so terrible.”But we do not want to admit how terrible it was and is again.We are a country of people proud to be Americans but so ashamed of our actual history that we erase it and suppress it from being taught and learned and seen.

Black and White; Truth and Lies

Some seventeen years ago now a man I didn’t much know but with whom I sparred asked a question of me that changed the course of my life: “You do know that I’m Black?”

Language and Memory

Yesterday I was talking with my Haitian friends in Haitian Creole for about an hour as we were planning how to set up our class to teach Haitians how to speak American English. Per my request, they talked a little more slowly and with fewer idioms than usual (although they did throw in an idiom that I got right away with my brain rapidly connecting the imagery with cultural aspects of Haiti, and man did that feel good that I did that!).

M toujou ap aprann – I’m still learning

One day I’ll be good enough to interact with native speakers who don’t know me and who don’t give me grace for my mistakes.

Thoughts on My Last Day at Work

I had my retirement lunch today with my team, along with a few people who showed up unexpectedly from past, … More

When We See Them

I’ve come to know many Haitians who are delightfully unique in their outlook on life as they are in their accents and vocabulary, which gives me no end of headaches as I try to figure out yet another idiom or unique word play I need to understand so that I can grasp their meaning.

Chèmèt chèmètrès

Adventures in translation This was my “wrapped the chain around the axle” moment today. My assignment this month is to … More