It’s no surprise Donald Trump endorsed him. — There was a boy who lived a few blocks from my childhood home in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The boy (I’ll call him Jason) was younger than me, so we didn’t interact much. The one thing I remember about him was his prolific lying. For the most part, Jason‘s lies were…

The portrayal of Native Americans in popular culture often overlooks a complex history that included slavery — Not long ago, I participated in a book club hosted by Writers and Editors of Color (WEOC), an international collective of writers representing the kaleidoscope of peoples of color (full disclosure; I am an editor for WEOC’s publication on Medium and a member of the group’s leadership). Our book club’s…

We’re in the middle of a second Gilded Age, but no one seems to realize unrestrained capitalism is the problem — Trader Monthly was a lifestyle magazine that ran from November 2004 to February 2009. While the publication’s stated audience was well-heeled participants in the financial trading community, its target market was predominantly male and white. Before its demise due to the financial crisis, Trader Monthly was known for glorifying all…

When it mattered most, Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell chose power over the country — TRADING IS AS MUCH ART AS IT IS SCIENCE. No matter what the analysis, the charts, or the algorithms say, sometimes a trader goes with their gut. Maybe it’s a feeling about the market’s direction or stock that doesn’t feel right. Other times, it’s a hunch regarding a merger that…

Wallace’s interview with Nikole Hannah-Jones put white America’s denial of the country’s racist history on full display — This piece was first published on The Journeyman, my Substack publication, prior to the announcement that CNN+ will shut down after less than a month of operations. My mother had an amazing green thumb. She could turn the sickliest plant into beautiful flora. The wrap-around porch of our Pine Bluff…

There’s a lot more to astronomical financial success than “hard work” — A few days ago, my daughter made an odd sound; actually, it was more of a noise. Whatever the classification, I’m sure it’s something every parent has heard before. It is the sound of disapproval, unique to young people transitioning from adolescence to adulthood — something between ‘pshaw’ and ‘ugh.’ …

On nicknames, soda machines, and the death of my innocence. — I grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in a primarily Black neighborhood walking distance from downtown. In the early seventies, we moved from Little Rock after our parents began jobs as managers in the menswear and womenswear departments at the local Dillard’s Department Store. Although I spent equal amounts of…

When the refugees are blonde-haired and blue-eyed, the reception is very, very different. — Like virtually every person in the free world, I’m pulling for the citizens of Ukraine. Their plight is the real-life embodiment of David versus Goliath — good versus evil. I find myself pulling for them, despite their ridiculously long odds. What is especially compelling to observe is the evolution of…

Almost every move they make reaffirms my decision to boycott the ‘Big Game.’ — I stopped watching NFL football six or seven years ago. The one exception to my boycott is the Super Bowl. If we’re being honest, we have to admit the NFL’s signature clash is more an event than a game. My decision to watch is driven not by the teams but…