“I don’t want to! I don’t have to! You can’t make me!” I probably said something like this as a child. I know I’ve heard children say things like this all my life. A child will promise you anything if it means he can get his way. Many adults even promise they will do this … Continue reading Childishness →

One of my favorite memories from the 1970’s is car shopping with my Dad. As I recall it, we were looking at a 1973 Chrysler Town and Country Station Wagon. The floor model had cruise control. At one point, Dad asked the salesman if he knew how cruise control worked. When the man admitted he … Continue reading Trust →

This morning I was trying to fix some scans of deteriorating snapshots. A few of them were of black and white persons – together – on a sofa – in the south, no less! I noticed that photographically speaking, it’s hard to get a good picture of black people and white people together, especially if … Continue reading What I Learned from Old Photos →

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused me to think about a lot of things – many of them all at once. The impermanence of life. The shortsightedness of leaders. The hubris of the fortunate. The political ambitions of religion. The hopes I have for the next generation. My latest story, “In a Twinkling…,” a fantasy about … Continue reading Covid Questions →

Lately, I’ve been thinking about many things at once. The sacrifices of our soldiers. The life of my Uncle James, cut short at the close of WWII. He served in the 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion and was shot within days of being sent home. I’ve also had the COVID-19 pandemic on my mind, with all … Continue reading Inside My Head →

With my deepest respect for Chadwick Boseman, who let his work speak for him. My Dad and I once talked about the importance of being able to demonstrate your ability rather than just talk about it. One day, after we went to a jazz band concert, he told me his favorite performer of the night … Continue reading Let Your Horn Do the Talking →

The law is one thing – human behavior is another. While we might think a policy or law will solve a problem, common practice is often more powerful than written rules. We need to remember the statutes and court decisions that enabled the slave trade, the Jim Crow era, and discriminatory housing and lending were … Continue reading Majority Rule →

Be careful what you wish for... “I am the Genie of the lamp. Your wish is my command.” “Hi, I’m Jerry. Jerry Duke. How many wishes do I get?” “Three, Jerry. Haven’t you seen ‘Aladdin’?" “Just checkin’. Let’s see what ya got. I wish I owned all the gold in Fort Knox.” “A rather mundane … Continue reading Jerry and the Genie →

“Don’t make yourself stupid…” My dad said this to me a few times when I was growing up. I think this phrase was intended to remind me not to overcomplicate things, not to make small problems big, not to confuse myself with speculation, but to look for the best in others and just solve the … Continue reading Don’t Make Yourself Stupid →

Once upon a time there was a little blue rubber band. He lived across the street from two big brawny red rubber bands. One day, the big red rubber bands called out to the little blue rubber band. “Hey, ya wanna play a game?”