M Simone Boyd
“If we have children, we’re going to raise them Baptist, right?”
That’s how a conversation began after church one Sunday. Morris and I had been dating for a few months, and decided that we’d take our relationship to the next level by going to church together.
We went to his church at 8 AM and my church at 10 AM. But our churches were different denominations. And when Morris asked that question, I realized that I was a bit concerned about being a Baptist. …
We’re having a lot of problems with him. And, we can’t seem to get him off of his cellphone and Xbox.” That’s what the lady sitting behind me at breakfast said the other day. I immediately sat up straight and leaned a little closer to listen in. (Okay, so I’m nosy.)
She wanted her son to be present. She wanted to connect. And, she also wanted her husband to help in cutting her son’s addiction to electronic devices.
But, she felt alone.
I have the same problem with my 17-year old brother. …
Have you ever wondered what it really means to be unequally yoked?
It’s a term that’s thrown around a lot in Christian circles and it’s based on a passage of Scripture in 2 Corinthians 6:14. It says “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ”
Now, that term “yoked” is actually an agricultural term that describes two oxen pulling a burden. But when the oxen aren’t evenly matched…an interesting thing happens. …
I became an angry black girl in the fourth grade. I hadn’t realized it until my teacher, Mrs. Jefferey-Roebuck told me I needed to change my attitude. I didn’t think I had a bad attitude.
I knew was angry. I was mad because I didn’t live with my biological mother. I was angry because the new boy didn’t like me. I was angry because my hair shrunk when it was wet and all the other girls in class had perms.
But I was totally unaware that anyone else knew I was angry. It turned out, everyone knew I was angry. Because I was brash and abrasive when I dealt with my classmates. …
I was sitting in Belga Cafe on Capitol Hill talking to a friend about how I really wanted to be a writer.
I was feeling a little dissatisfied with my job as an energy analyst and really felt the pull to get back to writing. (I’d been itchin’ to write ever since Mrs. Butzer told me I was a good writer during my Junior year in high school.)
And my friend, Morris, asked me: …
For me, it seems like every day is a fight in overcoming fear. No, I don’t kick and scream. No, I don’t cower in the corner. But I do have a voice that pops up and asks accusatory questions, like:
Waaaay better people have come before you and failed. …
Earlier this year my little brother , Isaiah, was featured on a local blog. He’s co-parenting the cutest little boy you will ever lay your eyes on. (Okay, so I’m biased. )
By dawn , he’s a ball player. He works out and practices several hours a day. By day, he’s a farmer and helps run an organic farm. But, he lives for the time he gets to spend with Obie, every other week. …
A few years ago, I had almost given up hope on black marriages and the idea of a black family. I witnessed two of my cousins go through tragic divorces.
And the only happy couples I knew were my parents and my best friend’s parents. But, they were both in their late fifties.
Two things happened that changed my perspective.
…
If you’ve listened to the radio in Tennessee over the past 27 years, you’ve probably heard Courtney Poe’s voice. He’s DJ Cwiz and he’s toured the world with hip hop’s biggest names (including Oscar-Winning Three 6 Mafia and UGK).
But Courtney says that his most important role is being a father.
Last year he, joined a couple hundred other runners for the Fatherhood Games 5K. He runs half marathons regularly, but this particular event was different. Because it was a race to celebrate him and all dads.
“I did [the race] because I wanted to celebrate that I have one for the dads. I run all the time, but this one was personal,” said Courtney.
He explained that he’s been on both sides of fatherhood. Initially, he was just trying to make things work as a co-parent. …
Can black families live happily ever after?
The Lord answered that question in an awesome way! Check out the video to hear that story. …