Uncategorized – Page 21 – Word on the Street

Voices/Perspectives of African Americans Flourish on The Root

In timing with the 100th anniversary of the NAACP and the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln this week, I wrote an article for Poynter’s diversity blog about The Root. An online magazine, The Root features content from leading black writers, as well as information about genealogy. I found the site to be particularly interesting becauseContinue reading “Voices/Perspectives of African Americans Flourish on The Root”

An Anniversary That Gets Easier with Time, and a Cat

February 9 is a day I’ll always remember. It’s the day my mom died, the day that signaled the end of a life and the beginning of my rocky journey into life without a mom. I’ve learned a lot in the past 12 years since my mom died, but I still struggle to understand whyContinue reading “An Anniversary That Gets Easier with Time, and a Cat”

Meet Clara, My New Furry Friend

Here are some photos of my new cat Clara. She is the most loving cat I’ve ever met, and she’s quite spoiled, too. Whenever I sit down, she jumps on my lap and starts purring. She extends her paws toward my face as though she’s giving me little love taps, and then she often curlsContinue reading “Meet Clara, My New Furry Friend”

Saving the Times’ ‘Modern Love’ Column for Last

I have a method for reading the newspaper: it involves reading my favorite sections last. When reading the Sunday New York Times, saving “the best” for last means setting aside the Sunday Styles’ section — eye candy for anyone interested in quirky trends, love stories and fashion. The styles section colors outside the lines ofContinue reading “Saving the Times’ ‘Modern Love’ Column for Last”

Learning from Old Written Work

I’ve often thought that one of the best ways to improve as a writer is to go back and read your old work. Read it with a critic’s eye. Laugh when you read it. Cringe. See how far you’ve come as a writer. Lately I’ve been reading a lot of my old articles and realizingContinue reading “Learning from Old Written Work”

The Benefits of Waking Up Early

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I made a goal of going to bed by 11:30 p.m. each night? Well, I haven’t exactly met my goal. I’ve still been going to bed late and haven’t gotten much sleep lately. Habits, no doubt, are hard to break. They are breakable, though. A friend Tweeted aContinue reading “The Benefits of Waking Up Early”

Documenting Conversations on ‘Overheard in the Newsroom’

You know those days when you hear something so ridiculous or funny in the office that you just want to share it with someone? Well, now there’s apparently a Web site journalists can use to anonymously do just that. I don’t know how legitimate the site is, and I wonder how true some of theContinue reading “Documenting Conversations on ‘Overheard in the Newsroom’”

Obama’s Historic Inauguration Unites People, Renews Hope

The masses flocked to Washington, D.C., to witness a defining moment for our generation, the swearing in of the nation’s first African American president, Barack Obama. They waited in lines, faced the cold and ran on little sleep in a city that seemed to flash continuously with lights, loud noises and waving flags. And yetContinue reading “Obama’s Historic Inauguration Unites People, Renews Hope”

Traveling to D.C. for Obama’s Inauguration

I’m sitting in an Amtrak station now, waiting to take a train from Baltimore to Union Station in Washington, D.C. Like millions of others, I’ve come to see the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. I may not have much Internet access throughout the next few days, but you can be sure I’ll be writing moreContinue reading “Traveling to D.C. for Obama’s Inauguration”