9 To be real about resilienceI’ve listened to many keynote speakers, presenters and panelists talk about the importance of resiliency over the years […] This entry was posted in Advice Black People Encouragement Language & Words Musings about life words of wisdom and tagged coping keynote speakers platitudes resilience resiliency on August 18, 2016 by Candelaria Silva
4 Beauty Role Models – look aroundSorrow and incredulity rose in me as I watched a discussion recently on a local television show whose […] This entry was posted in Beauty Black People Celebration self-esteem Uncategorized and tagged angelique kidjo beautiful black women Beauty Beyonce carmen mcrae Cicely Tyson diahann carooll Fannie Lou Hamer joan armatrading mari evans Mary J. Blige Model Pat Evans Mriam Makeba nancy wilson nina simone odetta Pam Grier Shirley Chisholm Sonia Sanchez toni cade bambara Toni Morrison on June 16, 2016 by Candelaria Silva
2 Defining Blackness – Beyonce, Jamelia & CandelariaNote: I posted this piece in 2009. It bears repeating because of the recent brouhaha over Beyonce’s blackness. […] This entry was posted in Black People Celebration Language & Words Power - Politics & Race Rants self-esteem words of wisdom and tagged Beyonce blackness defined Jamelia Piers Morgan Queen Bey on April 27, 2016 by Candelaria Silva
6 This meeting needs an enema“This town needs an enema,” the Joker’s character played by Jack Nicholson says in a Batman movie. He […] This entry was posted in Black People Boston Community Power - Politics & Race Rants Roxbury-related and tagged Boston Redevelopment Authority Chuck Turner Dianne Wilkerson Roxbury Strategic Masterpla Oversight Committee The Joker Tremont Crossing Project on January 4, 2016 by Candelaria Silva
12 Soul food in BostonSoul Food in Boston…not. A recent article in the Boston Globe, Savoring a healthier, revitalized soul food by […] This entry was posted in Black People Boston Community Food Pleasures Roxbury-related and tagged Carole Darden Coast Cafe Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen Downhome Catering Handy & Person Catering Jessica B. Harris Maxine's on Saint James Next Step Soul Food Cafe Norma Jean Darden Patti LaBelle Slade's Bar and Grill Soul Food; A Taste of Country Cooking; Edna Lewis; Spponbread and Strawberry Wine The Pit Stop The Rotisserie United House of Prayer Kitchen Boston Vertamae Smart Grosvenor on October 11, 2015 by Candelaria Silva
3 To Be Real – Thoughts about Rachel/Caitlyn/Laverne“It’s got to be real. To be real. It’s got to be real.“ The chorus from Cheryl Lynn’s […] This entry was posted in Black People Rants self-esteem and tagged Caitlyn Jenner Cheryl Lynn identity Laverne Cox passing Rachel Dolezal on June 15, 2015 by Candelaria Silva
2 Can I poet with you – Ntozake ShangeI had originally hoped to post a poem a day during Poetry Month (April) which has officially ended […] This entry was posted in Art Black People Books Celebration Language & Words Laughter & Joy Love & relationships words of wisdom Writing - ideas & samples and tagged Mass Poetry Month Ntozake Shange on May 1, 2015 by Candelaria Silva
Can I Poet with You? – Lucille CliftonIt is downright unfair to pick a couple of poems from a prolific poet to represent them. In […] This entry was posted in Black People Books Celebration Language & Words Reading Writing - ideas & samples and tagged Grolier Poetry Book Shop Lucille Clifton National Poetry Month Poetry on April 17, 2015 by Candelaria Silva
Can I Poet with You? – Clarence MajorClarence Major is a poet, novelist and painter. I have a tattered copy of Swallow the Lake, a […] This entry was posted in Art Black People Celebration Language & Words Reading on April 14, 2015 by Candelaria Silva
1 Can I poet with you? Langston HughesOne of the poets I love the most is Langston Hughes. I read his book, The Sweet Flypaper […] This entry was posted in Advice Black People Books Language & Words Publications Reading and tagged Langston Hughes Roy Decarava on April 3, 2015 by Candelaria Silva
2 Positive Statistics about Black MenI wonder if I should even bother with this post. After all, the Black men I know personally […] This entry was posted in Black People Diversity Encouragement Language & Words Power - Politics & Race and tagged black men Derrick Jackson I Am A Statistic Mystic Valley NAACP Statistics Sterling Brown on March 3, 2015 by Candelaria Silva
6 A Lyrical Life – Rose Marie McCoyReading obituaries on a regular basis introduces me to all sorts of people of local, national and international […] This entry was posted in Black People Celebration Funerals & Obits Music Tribute on February 24, 2015 by Candelaria Silva
2 The New Jim Crow by Michelle AlexanderThe New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander (Copyright 2010, 2012 by […] This entry was posted in Black People Books Power - Politics & Race and tagged black men Frantz Fanon mass incarceration Michelle Alexander Police Prison prison industrial complex racism The New Jim Crow W.E.B. Du Bois War on Drugs on September 7, 2014 by Candelaria Silva
8 Will this keep my grandson safe?I have an old acquaintance who types all of his emails in capital letters. They all begin, GREETINGS, […] This entry was posted in Black People Musings about life Power - Politics & Race Rants and tagged Ferguson Missouri Little Black Book Michael Brown Raising Black Boys Safety of Black Boys on August 23, 2014 by Candelaria Silva
Awarding DiversityAwards are given to recognize work above and beyond the call of duty, beyond the usual. Right? The […] This entry was posted in Black People Boston Community Diversity Local Politics Rants and tagged criteria for diversity awards Diversity Awards lack of criteria for diversity awards on March 13, 2014 by Candelaria Silva
1 A Black Business Panel I’d like to seeHaving recently attended panels that convened some of the usual presenters for businesses owned by Black (and other […] This entry was posted in Advice Black People Boston Encouragement Publications Uncategorized Work & working and tagged Black History Month panel Black-owned Businesses How to organize a business panel MWBE Businesses in Boston on February 28, 2014 by Candelaria Silva
2 What Social Justice Means (to me)Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. Social workers […] This entry was posted in Black People Boston Community Language & Words Power - Politics & Race Rants words of wisdom Work & working and tagged Candelaria Silva Center for Economic and Social Justice community development Full employment Jr. Day National Association of Social Workers Social Justice; Martin Luther King on January 28, 2014 by Candelaria Silva
Chicken Wings & Collard Greens (coda to Beantown Jazz Festival)“I know you got soul, if you didn’t you wouldn’t be in here.” These lyrics by Bobby Byrd […] This entry was posted in Black People Boston Food Music Pleasures Publications Roxbury-related on October 7, 2013 by Candelaria Silva