Legendary American writer James Baldwin once wrote a rather simple, yet complex maxim on the issue of life. "Trust life," he said "and it will teach you, in joy and in sorrow, all you need to know."

"Joy" and "sorrow" appear as two essential elements in Baldwin writings. Every...

Political eulogies often times seem corny when delivered by those who don't know. It's one of the main reasons they're somewhat difficult to write. Not that they're inappropriate since the individuals they are delivered in memory of led public lives, earning public scrutiny and, in death, public reflection. But, we...

The easy analysis on the White House's perceived withdrawal from the (in)famous "public option" is to assume the President lost the stomach for it. In Politico, columnist Roger Simon asks: Does President Obama have the Guts?--which is somewhat hollow considering it takes a bit of grit for a black...

The real problem with the recent Valley Club swimming pool incident is that, if you're from Philadelphia, it comes as no surprise. We might wear that Ill Town badge with gritty pride, but we know what the deal is and has always been.

Philly Inquirer Columnist Annette John-Hall's breath...

Rage against the Mullah machine fumes in Iran, economy is wrecked, and health care reform is a rubbery roast of ripped tire on the road to political hell. Recent conversations, instead, managed to touch on the meaning of "urban literature."

As critics, observers and fans of Black literature lament the...

Recent announcements from the Administration concerning an "accelerated" 100-day Roadmap to Recovery may feed into the suspicions of political cynics over its pace. Without doubt, it's certain that the government's maddening, multi-trillion intravenous shot in the economic arm will provide some cushion of relief in some areas. Common sense only...

In a futile bid to hype an upcoming Republican Party special session in Washington this week, GOP Communications Director Trevor Francis characterized the unusual meeting - so soon after picking a Chair only several months ago - as "the beginning of a new direction for the party" and that "the...

This tea party stuff is spooky.

It's not just the tea parties, it's the symbolism behind them and the parallel track with history. The inability of organizers to explain why they've done this now as opposed to the past several years of ballooning deficit spending under the previous administration....

The current state of the Grand Ole' Party brings that beat back to March 30, 1981, when then President Ronald Reagan was shot and critically injured in a hail of bullets from the gun of one mentally troubled John Hinckley, Jr. Waxing nostalgic, not only was it a tragic episode...

First - a few dropped thoughts on the President's first month. Despite the massive challenges faced, fam maintains steely composure and ease over the past month - a quality that makes him rather strong and solid as Commander-in-Chief. The constant communication and focus on transparency (from simple efforts like a...

Most possess enough common sense to assume we've not reached any sort of "post-racial" utopia -- by any stretch of the imagination. Even if we've made strides in accomplishing a decent level of social comfort and affability, we have some ways to go before truly claiming a complete, unconditional truce...

The disconnect between what is inside the Beltway and who is outside that twisted petty politrick of partisan rubble is a rather peculiar human state. To say D.C. is self-insulated from the rest of that which it governs is somewhat of an understatement. It's peculiar because the nation's capitol is...

Last week carried enough political theater to fake an Emmy, and showed that all politics is really all about perception. Party-line stimulus vote in the House, from eagerly left-twitched Democrats to jacked-in-a-regional-box Republicans. The meteoric media rise of Rod Blagojevich and his peculiar fall - if that's what you call...

There are quite a few who dash to dash the hyperbole of "historic moments" and "first Black President" this and that. Even though, coming correct, the glib satisfaction of seeing it fascinates. Understand, however, that moving forward, it can't (won't) be about "Black President(s)" as much as it's really on...

It's easy to get polemic and bust a rhyme or two on the fantastic history unfolding in D.C. this week. But, since we're supposedly ushering in a "new era" of comity and political virtue, we'd be remiss without any reflection on what we can contribute to our most precious human...

The (dis) appointment of Roland Burris appears to spin out of unnecessary control at every speeding moment of the news cycle, even as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Illinois chum/senior Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) fail to see the full reality of it. Talking heads continue to spin numerous...

As new school and fresh as President-elect Obama portrays himself, he is ultimately a rather predictable kat. Not predictable in the sense that we can easily deduce what he'll be up to next, but predictable in the sense that this is how he'll govern post-Jan. 20th. His nature, the essence...

Discussion and speculation abound regarding the sorry state of the Grand Old Party, with its clone-like band of graying White dudes and their backstage entourage of eager Leave-It-To-Beaver millenials and Gen Xers. Truth be told that the entire party did more than lose itself over the past several years -...

Perhaps the shadiest aspect of this unfolding "bailout" saga is the clarity of its existence juxtaposed against the vagueness of any direct benefit to the common good. Notice the convenient lull of an election -- now transition soap opera -- interruption which temporarily stuffs it behind campaign cholic, giving it...

Of course, we are hit with the question of infinite dollar amount: what does this all mean?

At the moment, nothing wrong with rolling in it. Jump around in it. Splash up and down in it - do backstrokes, hand-stands and float real nice in it. Nothing wrong with shedding...