Surviving America: Music As Therapy
“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.” In the 1960s the great American writer and activist James Baldwin wrote these words, words that have been…
on being black in america in 2014
i am consumed, struggling to find my way out. i am consumed, inundated with stories of brutality and injustice flung in my face, many i seek out. i am consumed with hearing stories that make me angry, sad, stories that…
It Is About Race
One sentiment echoed again and again by some segments of the American population is, "this is not about race." Former NYC Mayor Giuliani recently criticized the current Mayor Bill de Blasio for suggesting that the Eric Garner case had anything…
Ramblings on Ferguson
Today marks the beginning of my fourth month officially living in the United States, following a 6.5 year hiatus during which I called Kusatsu, Japan, London, England, Dassa-Zoume, Benin, and Rome, Italy home. After my initial move abroad in 2008,…
How to Travel on Halloween
I have never really been into Halloween, not that I dislike it, but I have never been one of those people who thought about what costume I would wear more than one week before the 31st, if at all. This…
Old country, New City
One month ago I officially moved to Washington DC, becoming a resident of the United States again, following a six and a half year hiatus. So many people ask me how I ended up back in the US and how…
Eating Atlanta: ONE Midtown Kitchen
Yesterday I arrived in Atlanta for a five day trip to spend time with a good friend and her husband. When evening fell upon us after lots of laughs and slow sipping on a new favorite whiskey, stomachs began to…
Memory Monday: Made in America – Philly
I'm starting a new series on this blog called "Memory Monday". Because I have been quite the inconsistent blogger over the years, there are plenty of trips that I have taken that I never blogged about, so this is my…
Ann Arbor’s Finest: Zingerman’s
A few weeks ago during the first meeting of the advisory board for the Detroit Food Academy, I had the pleasure of meeting Paul Saginaw of the Ann Arbor based company, Zingerman’s. During the meeting he spoke of his company…
A Perfect Weekend in Martha’s Vineyard
A few months ago, my dear friend Crystal and I were on the phone and decided to plan a trip to Martha's Vineyard with friends. We settled on a date in September, rounded up a group of ten amazing women,…