SANDRA'S VOICE

Jessica’s eyes popped open like a robot.  She bounced out of bed, dashed to the display case but came to a screeching halt.  A shock wave passed through Jessica’s body, imprisoning her vocal chords. 

     After a moment of silence, her throat released a high-pitched tone.  “Mom, Dad, help!” 

Her parents scurried into the room.

     Jessica panic-stricken, pointed at the floor.  “Look, Look at Buckwheat!” 

     “What happened?”  Sharon gasped.

     Her father interject...

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Spiff guarded the display case, waiting to capture his prey.  The clock struck midnight, and chattering resumed.  Ready to attack, Spiff leaped up.  With smirks plastered on their faces, the female dolls paraded over to Buckwheat.  Buckwheat’s body stiffened, scared to move.  The females slithered toward him with seductive movements, adding pleasing tones to their conversations. 

     “We would like to apologize for treating you so harshly,” Chelsea said.    

     “Yes, we’re s...

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      A dazzling full moon camouflaged the sinister aura of the fierce, gusty wind.  The grandfather clock chimed midnight.  Bickering and scuffling sounds interrupted the stillness in the night.  The streetlight shone through the bay window capturing the shadows of the female dolls shoving Buckwheat as he tried to defend himself.  The females discharged words at Buckwheat like a firing squad.

      “Who is he?”  Hearts asked.

     “You mean what is he?”  Chelsea asked.

     “W...

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Jessica eyed Buckwheat, reflecting on the message from her father.  Feeling a little remorse, Jessica caressed Buckwheat and promenaded toward the display case as her father trailed behind.  She lingered for a while to admire her classy female doll collection.  Sophisticated Lady fashioned a satin fusion evening gown, trimmed in black lace, with a black netted bow in her hair.  Satin Doll adorned in a glitzy satin blue lace evening gown accented with embroidered gold thread and matching headd...

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Thirteen- year old Jessica, avid collector of black female dolls, received a big surprise from her father.  He gave Jessica her first male doll Buckwheat.  Jessica negative response led her father to teach her a brief history lesson about picanniny.     

      “Jessica, let me give you a little history lesson.”  Her father expounded as if he was a history professor.  “There was once a television show called Our Gang originated by Hal Roach, which was also known as Little Rascals.  It ran...

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The idioms stereotype and picaninny are lost in translation.   People hear, see and feel these words yet ignore that these expressions are exploited in every form and fashion today. 

Buckwheat’s Journey… is a young adult fiction, with a light-hearted yet evocative perspective of stereotype/picaninny that addresses social skills, self-esteem, and bullying and conflict resolution.  Set in Chicago, Buckwheat re- enters the 21^st century as a doll and clashes with black classy female dolls beca...

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Today, I participated in the College Board conference Dream Deferred: The Future of African American Education.
This was a powerful, awesome, and unbelievable conference.  Educators, students and others discussed, brainstormed, engaged, networked, and collaborated.  The highlight was Robert Townsend. Educators and students viewed his new film The Hive about a young man pulled from his father's gang and forced into a reform school .  Afterwards, we engaged in profound and enlightening discussio...
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There are so many people giving advice about the writing process and lots of writers blogging, searching for their niche that the sound bytes are getting louder. I just want to turn down the volume and just write and let my words ring out.  I love writing regardless of who is listening.
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Despite all the evil that surrounds us, we must continue to love one another.  We hate the sin but love the person.

It takes more energy to hate and less to love.

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