Scholars Sanctuary

Recently, I had a conversation with someone from my past. As we were catching up, we were discussing travels and trips. This person has taken a few trips to some beautiful places. That conversation reinvigorated my plans to travel.  In high school, I was a dual-enrollment student. That just means I was a high school student and college student-simultaneously. Upon graduating high school, I continued attending the community college (Delgado Community College-New Orleans, LA) I had been enrolled in. There are a few professors/instructors I remember. Dr. Hall, a brilliant Russian lady, Dr. A.J. Goubler- who passed away during the semester, and Alvin Mitchell. Then, there was Dr. Sandra Wright, a bohemian-type woman. She was fly in many ways. One class, she showed us on VHS- yes, that long ago- some footage from her travels to South Africa (Johannesburg). I was intrigued and drawn to the country. It has been on my bucket list since.  Traveling is enriching. It feeds your soul and ...

This is a list of MY favorite books. These books, in some way, impacted my life, changed my thought process, or just made me reevaluate things, internally. In no specific order: Afeni Shakur: Evolution of a Revolutionary - by Jasmine Guy (yes, Whitley Gilbert from A Different World). This book is about Afeni Shakur (Tupac's mom). She talks about her time in the Black Panther Party, her addiction, and her growth-as a woman. Such a good read.  Left to Tell - by Immaculee Ilibagiza. It's about survival of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. It is a story of fear, faith, forgiveness, and perseverance. If you like the movies Hotel Rwanda and/or Sometimes in April , you will enjoy this book.  Letter to My Daughter - Maya Angelou. I need to do a reread. She reflects on her childhood; talks about the time she stopped talking to everyone except her brother. I quote parts of this book in the criminology/criminal justice classes I teach.  The Autobiography of Malcolm X - Alex Haley. This b...

There are moments when I start to feel sorry for myself. I engage in my own “pity party “. Then I am reminded of God’s grace. There are things in my life I cannot take back. No matter how much I atone, I still live with the thoughts and shame of my actions. It’s in those moments I stop feeling bad about my current situation and start to thank God for giving me grace and keeping me out of situations that could have killed or imprisoned me.  A spiritual journey is a personal experience. No one can tell you what that should look like. You just have to walk through it. Mine looks messy. You can read previous posts and see how I am all over the place. Can I truly love God, yet still be “of the world”? Yes, I think so. We don’t live in a bubble and we are not just surrounded by people who share our beliefs. We are of the world. In the world. It’s this place, this space where we CAN reach others. Share our testimony. Fellowship. Does being in the world mean I have to engage in worldly thi...

Sex should be a conversation. Couples should have it. Potential partners should have it. Parents and their children should have it. One of our downfalls-as humans- is the lack of communication regarding sex. This is how we end up with high numbers of unwanted/unplanned pregnancies, diseases, and those living with shame surrounding sex. We aren’t talking about it.  One thing I am big on is not shaming teens when dealing with sexual matters. Sex isn’t something to be embarrassed about. Masturbation isn’t something to be embarrassed of. There are healthy ways to engage in this dialogue. But no one should be ashamed of their body having natural feelings or desires. Abortion is a hot topic. I have previously blogged on my thoughts and opinions about this subject and how discussing sex can eliminate the thought of having one or not. Healthy choices involving sex begin with conversations and communication about sex. You can’t just engage in the act without both parties going in with full ...

Stop having children with someone you aren’t married to or wouldn’t want to marry. Let’s normalize this. Part of teaching is sharing knowledge gained through education. Another part is sharing from experiences. In some ways, that experience is far more valuable than something you’ve read in a book.  That’s my goal-to share what I’ve been through and hopefully guide you to make smarter decisions. Co-parenting is a bigger commitment than marriage. Yes, legal marriage ties you to another person, but divorce separates you from that person. Bringing a child into the world is a lifetime commitment. While you can walk away from an ex and not look back (if no kids are involved), creating life with another forces you to maintain some type of connection with one you may want to move on from.  Children are innocent beings who deserve to be raised in love and to be taken care of. If the creators of that child cannot get along, the child suffers. Don't create life with someone you wouldn’t...