Evia and Adah, my granddaughter, when she was almost two years old.
This brings me to the new series of video podcasts (emphasis on podcasts) that I’m currently doing, focusing on life elevation lessons. I dedicate this series to my sons and my grandchildren.
I will launch this series of podcasts to accompany my next books, in which I compile articles I’ve written over the past ten years. Some of you know that I began years ago compiling some of my hundreds of past blog articles and comments into books like the ones you see in my sidebar. I had put that project on the back burner for a few years and was focusing on other things I enjoy doing. But I will prioritize starting up again now for three main reasons: (1) I have grandchildren. (2) My sons have been urging me not only to record but to elaborate and provide the details behind my views, outlook, and philosophy about life. They believe that how I think and my experiences are especially valuable and will continue to be so for generations. Wow! What a vote of approval! That warms my heart so much, as their mom.
When they were growing up, their dad and I constantly talked to them, teaching them. There were always long talking sessions, conversations, and discussions with them. We poured all we had into them. As adults in their 30s, they’ve seen how our teachings paid off for them. They have seen how my and their dad’s decisions elevated all of our lives. They want my teaching lessons to be available, in all forms, to their children, and to many others. (3) I compile the articles and the accompanying comments from my previous blog into books because it’s important to document black women’s herstories, unveiling details surrounding the different directions that large numbers of black American women took at stages of our journey.
One thing about history is that only the people who are considered “important” are usually talked about in history books. Well, black women are of great importance to me. I am a black woman. We are important. It’s up to us to record our stories and make them a part of the historical record.
I dedicate this series to my sons and my grandchildren. I realize I’m a thought leader, among others, on specific slices of life. I know that various others have generously helped themselves to the pillars of my work which I’ve mainly aimed at black women: promote self-interests first and foremost, marriage to quality men only–from any group, vetting, reciprocity, mix and mingle in the global village, highlight black beauty and desirability, play the female card, escape from poisonous people and places, living well, make silent moves, use shrewdness and common sense in all decisions, supreme importance of culture, etc. I’ve also stressed the continuing need for black women to form networks and make sacrifices, if necessary, to form intentional communities/networks of like-minded women with similar values. When those people are connected, there is great power and protection in numbers, so I will continue to stress all of these.