People often ask me why I research black men and not black women. The answer to that is long and complicated, but it boils down to doing the work of what would be so close to my own life day in and day out, would be to live that life twice. I am so grateful… Continue reading How to Get to the Other End of a Dark Tunnel
Category: Work
Winter Reflections
We live in a world of strong beliefs, whether religious or secular. There are those willing to die, and even kill, for what they believe. While those are extremes, it does make me think about what we are willing to sacrifice of ourselves on the way to wherever it is we are trying to go.… Continue reading Winter Reflections
Dr. King, Selma, and the Search for a Legacy
Over the holidays I took a walk along the calm rivers of the White River in Indianapolis. I thought of its name and its literal representation of the line between white and black in my state. I looked out over the river, and I thought that in this great nation the one thing that we… Continue reading Dr. King, Selma, and the Search for a Legacy
Exactly Where You’re Meant to Be
"Moving on is easy. It's staying moved on that's trickier." - K. Klemer Something strange is going on. It's mid-August, and I am not in a flurry of butcher paper and books and PD's. There's someone new in that apartment on Wayne Avenue. I am not having a drink at Lou's or Rock Bottom, nor am… Continue reading Exactly Where You’re Meant to Be
A Different Type of Signing Day
Today I was greeted with the news that anyone planning on not being at Northwestern in the fall would need to give in their letters of resignation. For many reasons, I did not want to have someone bring around a form to me to fill out and sign and I decided to fill one out… Continue reading A Different Type of Signing Day
Time Out to Read
Whenever my environment had failed to support or nourish me, I had clutched at books -Richard Wright, Black Boy Today I caught up on my teacher email account. I was rewarded with an email that made me sit in my room crying with joy over the things one must always remember really matter. It… Continue reading Time Out to Read
If You Come Softly, Part II
"And the rich between us shall drink our tears" The most vivid instant message I can remember ever getting was senior year of college. It was the same year I thought that I could save someone from drowning and come back ashore unscathed. I was wrong, and I was marked, am marked by the tragedies… Continue reading If You Come Softly, Part II
The Ingredients to Mutually Prevent Destruction
Again I could feel the familiar mixture of anger, exasperation, and sadness at the slumped over head and shoulders, conscientiously opting to twist the pen between his relaxed fingers instead of making them dance across the pages of the bare and empty notebook pages. I rest my hand on drooped shoulders A split second thought… Continue reading The Ingredients to Mutually Prevent Destruction
“YOU MAY SIT BESIDE ME, SILENT AS A BREATH”
If You Come Softly If you come as softly As the wind within the trees You may hear what I hear See what sorrow sees. If you come as lightly As threading dew I will take you gladly Nor ask more of you. You may sit beside me Silent as a breath Only those who… Continue reading “YOU MAY SIT BESIDE ME, SILENT AS A BREATH”
When You Need It the Most, Part II
God’s grace turns defeat into victory, tragedy into triumph, and weakness into strength by providing real power over circumstances. I have found over my time teaching that one of the hardest things to do is keep teaching on the days when you find yourself overwhelmed with what is going on in your own personal life.… Continue reading When You Need It the Most, Part II
Odelia Younge 