CEDTalks

With July coming to an end, we are nearing the last few weeks of summer. The issue? These dog days are the final days to get everyone together for one of my favorite events, the cookout. Cookouts (not picnics) are the pillars of  summer  fun in the African American community; in addition to the endless laughter and fun, they temporarily dismiss the stress and evils of the daily grind. They offer incredible food, great music new and old, and of course, provide the platform for which we can "invite someone to the cookout". "Inviting to the cookout" is a rising phenomenon in which a person of color invites someone (often one void of color) that would not usually be in attendance at our backyard barbecue. Though a fairly recent trend (because  Brother Malcolm  would've never "invited" ANYONE to the cookout), it is quickly becoming a national Black pastime. The invite is usually based on their impact on Black culture; past invitees include Michael ...

"Why you bother me when you know you don't want me? Why you bother me when you know you got a woman? Why you hit me when you know you know better? Know you know better" SZA, "Love Galore" Wish I could tell you, SZA. We don't know what we're doing. Relationships. It's the hardest and most rewarding job a man can ever have. King Kong...ain't got sh*t...on relationships. Last week, I finally got around to watching the recent Denzel Washington film Fences with my family. It was signature Denzel; with the help of fellow stars Viola Davis and Mykelti Williamson, the movie delivered a strong depiction of the challenges and sacrifices of family life. The crazy thing was, it simultaneously reinforced yet redeveloped my perspective on family and committed relationships. Davis and Washington's relationship identified the unique layers of love. It spoke to the beauty in fantasizing of days past and enjoying each other's company; conversely, i...