Rhythms of Love and Intimacy

This year, my wife Willetta and I decided to cook a special meal together. For her, “Intimacy is a closeness you can’t adequately do at a restaurant. The experience of doing the actual chopping, seasoning and cooking the food together itself is romantic for me. The conversation is different and we even get to listen to our own special music. No restaurant can do that for us and I enjoy the intimacy of just the two of us alone,” she says. read more

Tracee Perryman: Helping Others Define Their Greatness

Dr. Tracee Perryman (Dr. P) is featured on the cover of this week's The Sojourner's Truth newspaper. She discusses the evolution of her values, career, and role in serving others. Dr. P emphasizes her commitment to fostering resilience and uplifting Black womanhood. (Read More)

The Viability of Black Family Life: Infidelity

African Americans have been described as the “most unpartnered and isolated group of people in America and possibly the world” (Patterson, 1998). If true, what are the causes and implications of the fractured relationships? I spoke with noted intimacy expert, Ebony Utley, concerning the growing alienation between black men and women. Part three, the conclusion of our discussion, deals with the intersection of infidelity and technology. Read More

The Viability of Black Family Life II: Communication about Communication

Can fractured relationships be repaired? Can mistrust, resentment and other harmful consequences of a disconnected people be healed? I spoke with noted intimacy expert, Ebony Utley, concerning fractured or dysfunctional relationships, a topic many perceive to be emblematic of contemporary life in the black community. read more

Ali: The Blessedness of Resistance

He knew, just as most of us have known for as long as we can remember, that fire burns. So, when a young Cassius Clay won the world heavyweight boxing title in February 1964 and soon thereafter announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, that he would feel the intense heat of societal backlash. read more

The Viability of Black Family Life

Will African Americans be able to regain a sense of community where healthy, stable, reliable and consistent relationships and/or families exist? I talked with a noted intimacy and relationship expert, Ebony Utley, Ph.D, concerning solutions to the current state of conflict and disconnectedness that exists, particularly among men and women, in the black community. read more

When Strong is Weak

Last week, Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson used the kickoff rally for Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken’s campaign to announce her own plans to run for mayor in 2017. Perhaps a calculated “flex” intended for the ears of potential rival mayoral candidates, it is, rather, the mayor’s strong-armed maneuvers, allegedly taking place behind-the-scenes, that could ultimately undermine her reelection efforts. read more