Old School Thoughts

Kenya was on a special assignment and left Martha and I to steer the ship. So, Martha and I decided to go out on the front porch to talk about the importance of people/groups participating in a meaningful dialogue. Martha and I had a mutual agreement that we lose a lot of momentum due to selfishness and the need to be greater than others. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,...

Evidence of a Crime? Against who.....? This Week's topic is based on a "good hair" and Black people's perpetration of European beauty standards. Who is the criminal? Our European ancestors or a crime we impose on our fellow African Americans?

Tonight , our inspiration comes from a Facebook post about African Americans returning to Africa. Someone responded, "they need to leave behind their dysfunction." What does Dysfunction actually mean?

I asked Martha and Kenya to join me in a discussion about how we should be prepared and trained to respond to issues that we consider to be insulting/offensive. We spent this time assessing the difference between affirmative actions, DEI, and DAR. It is important for us to use history and knowledge to pinpoint the cause and effect of discrimination and racism as a response to accusations pertainin...

Martha, Kenya, and I went out on the front porch to discuss how we approach gathering and sharing of information pertaining to African/African American history. The focus was not specifically on genealogy research, but on history all together. What should we consider? Do we apply timelines of history? Do we consider the impact of slavery, escaping to avoid harassment and possible death? Do we cons...

Martha, Kenya and I returned to Old School Thoughts to explore this complex question of What's in Your Hello? This discussion is an exploration of how we, as people speak to each other and or how we do not speak to each other. We try to answer this question based on our personal travels, by regions, by experiences, and by race. What connects us and what causes our antennas to rise?

I chose this title because I asked Martha and Kenya to return for another episode to answer this question: If African American history was banned from public schools, colleges, and universities, what responsibilities do we have to teach that history? Should we look for responsibility from churches, organizations, fraternities, sororities, home - where? I really enjoyed the conversation. Are we, as...

Martha and I were blessed to have Kenya Hicks as a guest on the front porch. Knowing your history is a vital part of knowing who you are. Martha and Kenya did what historians should do when it comes to exploring African history, they expanded their viewpoints to include the African Diaspora. This conversation deserves a continuation.

I chose this topic for today's episode because I have so much love for family, the unity of Africans (throughout the Diaspora), the history of our ancestors, the gifts they left behind, and the ways in which they conquered insurmountable odds. I also chose this topic because Martha and I put so much effort into leaving a legacy of Old School Thoughts, wisdom, and a sharing of experiences for p...

When we rallied together, the burdens were weakened. What I mean by this statement is that when friends and family members suffered any kind of hardship, there was always somebody there to lend time, money, meals, or whatever to soften the pain.

First thing: Happy New Year to all of you and your families! This is our first episode of 2025. Based on many of our conversations, with others, Martha and I are concerned about the future of Griots in the African culture throughout the Diaspora. What I am poking at is the desire for people, in general, to search Google to measure the accuracy of realtime information shared during conversations. G...

Martha requested to go out on the front porch to discuss the importance of knowing how food helps and or affect us in a negative way. Though neither of us claim to be a nutritionist, Martha wanted us to come together to bring attention to our health since diabetes, high blood pressure, and other ailments are prevalent in the African American communities, culture, and race.

Today, Martha and I returned to the front porch to assess two statements that our parents and other adults would express in their disappointment of some things we would say or how we would behave following some experiences of education. They would say, "You are an educated fool" or "You are too smart for your own good." If you have heard one or both of the statements, what are your thoughts?

Martha and I decided to go out on the porch to discuss the 2024 presidential election. We touched on demographics, trust, privileges, and more. On 6 November, my granddaughter asked me, "Pa Pa, did you see the vote on television?" I responded with, "Yes." She came back with, "Who won - red or blue?" Following our conversation, I was impressed with her and her parents. They are instilling in her th...

Martha and I are back and we are here to discuss the dynamics of family unity and separation. We also spoke about the importance of talking about politics. We, as African Americans have been taught not to talk about religion and politics, but we should. How do we plan for 18, 20, 50, and 100 years? That is an important question for us to ponder and answer. Send us your thoughts. We Love You and Be...

This episode is a result of a special request from Charnita Hill. Martha and I joined Charnita to bring more attention to the sacrifices, experiences, commitments, and more that caregivers and those who require care have to live with. This episode requires further discussion(s) and actions. If you are able to relate to this discussion, please submit a comment.

Today, Martha and I focussed on two different "Villages" as we discussed people can build a strong Village and how people can destroy a Village. When I speak of a Village, I think about how adults stepped in to help others - even if that help meant adopting others. They would do it and that is what I see at Frank Chester Senior Citizens Center located in Columbus, Georgia. We also talked...

Martha and I met, again, on the front porch to talk about a number of things, but we started with sharing tidbits about the presentation given by Charles and Dawn Casey on Saturday, 15 June 2024. They were the first speakers to support my latest initiative to have guests to step on the Zoom stage to talk their personal journey(s) through genealogy. They did a magnificent job! - Martha and I went o...

Martha and I had the distinct pleasure of joining Dewayne to learn about his humanitarian mission to Nairobi, Kenya. We met at the Columbus Public Library in Columbus, Georgia. Dewayne provided responses to why he chooses to help people from abroad when he and his friends could give to people in his own country. He spoke on misconceptions and more.

Martha and I are continuously returning to the porch to express our thoughts about history, reality, community, self reinvention, and more. We shared our individual thoughts about what we have witnessed and experienced in these expressions of thoughts. When you go about your day(s), what do you think about?

Martha and I decided to swing on the front porch, again. Before we started, we took the time to honor the military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy and for those freedoms we fight to keep. Children In The Kitchen is a reflection of how some of us were able to cook our favorite meals at such a young age. What was your experience(s)?

Martha and I had to halt our pre-episode conversation to go out on the front porch because the topic was getting too hot!! We elected to invite you all to the front porch because there is another generation of children who are about embark on adult life after graduating from high school. We need to keep them in prayer because we will have to depend on them to mature as adults, educators, politicia...

This episode is dedicated to the women of Gees Bend, Alabama. It is also a tribute to African American culture. Martha and I got to watch a YouTube documentary about the women quilt makers of Gees Bend and we were blown away by the history and culture of that community of women. This concerns me because our young people are growing up in a generation of high tech which keeps them from building the...

Martha and I decided to go out on the porch to discuss the planting of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. This podcast is about sowing seeds of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding for future generations to discover. How do you forgive?

During this episode, Martha allowed me to share with all of you a conversation I had with a stranger that turned into a surprising revelation about my family. The second half was given to Martha to talk about the interview between Shannon Sharpe and Amanda Seales on the podcast titled, Club Shay Shay. It is an excellent interview. Please look it up on YouTube. Thanks to all of you for your support...