The 1619 Project Movie Review

There are two types of history. The first is the one that is told by the ones who hold the pen. The second is the truth, which is often withheld by those who want it to be buried.

The new six-part Hulu documentary, The 1619 Project, is based on the book The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story co-written by Nikole Hannah-Jones. Told through the lens of Hannah Jones’s familial history and the lens of American history, she reveals what most of us (hopefully) already knew.

This country is built on racism and the backs of black Americans. Since they arrived as chattel more than 400 years ago, every dignity, respect, and human right has been denied to them. Over the course of the series, it delves into the various ways that multi-generational disenfranchisement has created a legal, social, and financial vacuum that has yet to be filled.

As difficult as it is to watch, I feel like it is necessary. The film speaks to the potential of his country and its (somewhat) inability to face up to our collective sins. Obviously, we have work to do. But at the same time, there is a feeling of hope, knowing that there are enough people in this nation who truly believe in its ideals and do not pay it lip service.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

The 1619 Project is available for streaming on Hulu.

His Name Is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice Book Review

Change can happen in a number of ways. One of the ways is a single moment that catalyzes a movement and forces change.

That moment was the murder of George Floyd two years ago. It forced all of us to open our eyes to the structural racism that has plagued this nation and limited African-Americans for centuries. His Name Is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice, by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, was published earlier this month. The book not only traces Floyd’s life, it tells the story of how structural racism affected his family going back generations.

We get to know the man behind the image. He was a sweet, intelligent person who loved his family and had ambitions beyond what was expected of him. Had Floyd (whose family knew him as Perry) not been limited simply because of his skin color, Floyd might have done great things with his life. But, as we all know, his life was cut short in a tragic and horrific manner.

I think this book is a necessary read for all of us. It is a condemnation of all of us who were previously unable or unwilling to take off our blinders. It is a reminder that hate kills. There is no going back and undoing what has been done. We can only move forward and do everything we can to prevent it from happening again.

Do I recommend it? Without a doubt. I would not be surprised if it was not only on the bestseller list for a long time to come, but also on many “best-of” lists by the end of the year.

His Name Is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice is available wherever books are sold.

Ladies Get Paid: The Ultimate Guide to Breaking Barriers, Owning Your Worth, and Taking Command of Your Career Book Review

It’s not exactly a secret that women, especially women of color earn less than men. Instead of speaking up and asking for what we deserve, we often accept less to be seen as a good employee.

Ladies Get Paid: The Ultimate Guide to Breaking Barriers, Owning Your Worth, and Taking Command of Your Career, by Claire Wasserman, was published earlier this year. Wasserman, the founder of Ladies Get Paid, encourages her readers to see their career worth and not be afraid to stand up for themselves. Citing stories of subjects who have followed her advice, she speaks of subjects such as asking for a raise/promotion, dealing with office politics, and feeling like you are not enough.

I loved this book. Wasserman writes in such a way that even the timidest of readers would find the courage to speak up for themselves. What got me was the stories of the women she profiled. Even though the details are different, the narrative arc is the same. I also very much appreciate the big point she makes is that employers continue to pay those of us with darker skin less than our lighter-skinned sisters.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Ladies Get Paid: The Ultimate Guide to Breaking Barriers, Owning Your Worth, and Taking Command of Your Career is available wherever books are sold.

Just Getting Rid of the Homeless Camps in NYC is Not Enough

I think it is pretty safe to say that the homeless issue is a worldwide problem. Though the solutions seem simple enough to execute, the reality is that it comes down to deeds, not words.

Over the last couple of weeks, New York City Mayor Eric Adams decided that the way for the city to solve the problem in regard to homeless citizens was to purge the streets of encampments that have popped up in various locations.

While I understand that aggressive action is needed, this is nothing more than kicking the can down the road. The issues that contribute to someone living on the streets seem enormous: mental health, drug addiction, structural racism, lack of affordable housing, unsafe shelters, etc.

The truth is that while they are daunting, they are not impossible to solve. Now granted, I’m not an expert, but simple logic seems to be the cure for what ails us. If we (by we I mean both the government and the individual citizen) deal with the respective issues that contribute to the overall problem, then it goes away. But if continue to say we are going to do something and not follow through, then the outcome remains the same.