In the previous post (Introduction) I asked “Is African-American Literature’s absence in high school one of the primary reasons race relations are still complex?” I am still interested in feedback on this question. Today the class moved into the section of the book titled The Vernacular Tradition. Without removing the ability of anyone reading...
This semester (Spring 2012) I will be attempting to carry the class conversation beyond the parameters of the school and into cyberspace to allow any person interested in commenting and reading to discuss potential topics with the students who have decided to take this...
A mix of Stevie Nicks, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, with a dash of interpretation like Cassandra Wilson ,the Phenomenal Ruthie Foster captures a new rock and soul sound mixed with spirituals, jazz and country in generating her signature sound. I guess it...
Okay the initial thought when you see the words Folks Folly is? I’m waiting, waiting… I have a business partner who lives in New York. He has never been to Memphis, but he took the time right before Christmas to do a bit of...
Authored by Christopher D. Burns Archie’s Psalm is a glimpse into the life of a latchkey kid who is encountering situations that force him to learn about the changing world around him. A coming of age story with a carefully crafted narrative and subplot,...
Typically my reviews are less reviewish and more analysis, but what does that matter? They are all pretty informative so what do you expect of this one? Okay, you see the cover? Kid with dark hair, the author’s name has two initials and the...
Most people have the pleasure of enjoying films on the big screen. Unfortunately, my wife and I have far too much respect to drop the kids off at the in-laws house for every big release. This means that we have to wait to see...
Key Point 20: Stay Away From Dream Killers – This section can easily be its own book. However, I will keep it simple. There are two types of people in this world: supportive and non-supportive. Is it this black and white? No, not really…...
Key Point 19: You Have Great Ideas – I tell people all of the time, don’t tell me what you are thinking about doing. I’m the person who believes in you. I am not a dream killer. I am going to try my best...
Key Point 18: Conquer Your Region First – In all honesty I am swimming upstream. I know I told you not to do this, but I really, really enjoy writing about the NBA. I’m passionate about it. How has this effected my growth? My...
Key Point 16: Blogs Are Easier To Monetize – Monetizing, for this section, is the process of generating revenue through your website. There are generally three ways to monetize: Sell something, sponsorships and donations, and ad revenue. Selling something is the obvious way to...
Key Point 15: Blogs Are Easy To Use vs Wysiwyg or Dreamweaver – Key Point 14 and 15 should really be 14 A and B. When a person signs up for a hosting service and they don’t have any experience in building websites, they...
Key Point 14: Use a Blog To Launch Your Ideas – This is more of a technical discussion than a motivational/informational section. The web is an incredible place. Technology and the internet have decreased the size of the world. Speaking with people in Chinaand...
Key Point 13: Research your chosen market – This should probably be common sense, but believe it or not, too many people decide to jump into the water before seeing if it’s too hot or too cold. When I was starting ARCH, I already...
Being a Black Man at the Corner of Progress and Peril is a collection of news articles by the staff at the Washington Post. After reading The Bond, Disintegration and Honky, picking up this book followed suit with my current fascination with race; in...
Key Point 12: Find Out About Resources – In Memphis there are several places that can be visited and free information is available. The only thing a person has to do is give their time to researching their city’s opportunities. One of the best...
Key Point 11: Social Media is Grassroots – Is this a redundant Key Point? Yes, it is. However, I can not stress the importance of utilizing social media to grow your company/business. Twitter has a registered 145 million users. Facebook has over 250 million...
Key Point 10: Develop a Plan of Action – When you have a great idea, which is often, write it down. If you are going to start a clothing company, sit down and figure out which item you will sell first. I covered a...
Key Point 9: Do Not Swim Upstream – This falls in line with capitalizing on opportunities. If a person extends their hand to you, don’t turn it away. They may know information that you need to have an easier path. Swimming upstream is for...
If you take the time to browse through this site you will see several articles that discuss Social media and its effect on websites. My personal opinion is that spending most of your time on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and Tumblr has a negative effect...
Key Point 8: Daily Dedication & Consistency – I no longer work a salaried job. I took the plunge, but I know very well that most people will not take a step like I did and give up a great salary for the uncertainty...
Key Point 7: Change is Inevitable – In Key Point 4 I stated that if you run into a person who has a business plan and they are not adjusting it constantly, get away from them. Business is like breathing. No breath will ever...
Key Point 6: Grassroots Marketing is Vital – I have been involved in basketball for the last 16 years. I was a college student/athlete, a head coach, assistant athletic director, recruiter for a JUCO, camp coordinator, basketball website developer, point of contact for college...
Key Point 5: Learn To Do Some Things Yourself – Let’s say you have decided to start your own photography service. You have gone to school as an art major and you learned to shoot videos and film as an elective. You really enjoy...