WHEN MYTHS BITE THE DUST
Myths persist… until they don’t. Some myths seem to live forever. Others slip away quietly, unnoticed. Quite a few explode in our faces, whether we’re ready for their demise or not. Letting go of myths is sometimes easy, other times difficult. Two myths that disappear early in one’s life are those of Santa Claus and…
WHAT ABOUT DIPLOMACY?
Although March has produced colder, windier weather than we experienced in February, Spring is near. The branches of our twin maple trees have sprouted little red buds in advance of their leaves, and the crocuses and daffodils are in bloom. Among its many gifts, Spring offers us the sweet enticement of hope. We’re tempted to…
I CAN’T TEACH OR DISCUSS WHAT?
If I were a World Language teacher in the state of Florida, what subject-related contents would I have to omit from my lesson plans?
AND NOW… AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
I wish everyone a peaceful and healthy New Year. And now, a few thoughts about an item on the Supreme Court’s docket. You would expect an American person of color to be in favor of affirmative action, right? While I’m living proof of that expectation, I know the correlation between one’s racial identity and supporting…
THIS FALL’S GREAT AMERICAN YARD SALE
Dear readers, you might remember from a previous blog that I don’t enjoy going to or participating in yard sales. Traipsing through someone’s collection of used tools, ancient cassettes, old Christmas ornaments, and dozens of frayed wicker baskets is not my idea of fun. Perhaps if I were a collector of things, I’d froth at…
TRUE CONFESSION: I’M AFRAID OF THE DARK
I’ve known this for a long time, but recently I’ve been reminded of it. I’m not referring to the nighttime’s darkness associated with zombies or vampires, although I am glad that with two cats as opposed to two dogs, I don’t have to make forays outside late at night. Dogs have to be walked, in…
LET’S TAP THE BRAKES ON THE BREAKING NEWS…
Perhaps it’s the heat and humidity that’s gotten to me. Each time I listen to the news I hear headlines listed like a series of bad dreams or worse, a non-stop run-on sentence of misery, violence, and existential threats to my being. Writers can get away with a run-on sentence from time to time, but…
THE THING ABOUT ELVIS PRESLEY
A friend of mine whose musical tastes I respect and usually share wrote a Facebook post in which she urged people to see the new biopic about Elvis Presley. I responded that if she were familiar with the late Elvis’ reputed attitude about Black folks, she’d understand why I didn’t want to see this film.…
THE THEORY OF ONE
During the halfway mark of my teaching career, I felt discouraged and less than successful. I questioned what I was accomplishing, what I was contributing to the greater good of my students, why I was no longer enthusiastic about teaching Spanish and French. In tune with B.B. King’s plaintive lyrics atop the chords from his…
IN APPRECIATION OF AMISTAD
Many of you recall reading about the ship, Amistad. In 1839, in violation of all treaties then in existence, Portuguese slavers abducted a group of Africans from Sierra Leone and set sail for Cuba. Some of these captives rebelled, seized the ship, and ordered the crew to return to Africa. Instead of sailing West, the…
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