About the Author

The author is a white Anti-Racist, Social Justice Advocate. She seeks knowledge and truths surrounding the interconnections of the historical and contemporary issues of racism across the globe.

With knowledge and truth comes responsibility. As a woman who is part of the dominate white culture and a citizen of the world, there is a responsibility to share information that will

lead to a more culturally humble society.

The author at times reacts in an emotionally charged manner but does so with a

good heart and from a good place.

The author is of the belief that there is only one race label and that is the Human Race.


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Feb 4th, 2014

Singing the Blues


      As we all know this is Black History month. I debated over what topic I should write about. I was truly drawn to write about the movie “12 Years a Slave” which I went to see by myself in November of 2013. The movie is such a profound piece of scholarly history, it moved me in away only few know about. The unexpected emotions that erupted was unlike anything I have ever read, seen or heard about and will stay encased in my heart and soul. And to think that there is so much more to the historical story of slavery a portion of which, is locked away in the words and the musical notes in the stories and the songs of those long gone.

      Now what would I write about, hmmmm. Being the planner that I am, I began to think about what destination I wanted to travel to on my vacation. I am now an empty nester ¾’s of the year and I only have to think about where I would like to travel! Blues music is my third passion behind writing and photography. Chicago is known for their free summertime Blues Festival and in years past, hosted all of the great’s such as Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, the late Bo Diddley, and Buddy Guy and so on. This is sounding promising!

      Chicago is deeply rooted in the history of the Blues and supported the musicians who were monogamous to the genre. However, it was St Louis where the culture of the Blues began and then in the 1950’s migrated to Chicago.

      I was all excited to book accommodations and I started to research places and events in Chicago only to become greatly disenchanted. Chicago just recently lost their bid to have the National Blues Museum make its home in the Blues district. St Louis is the future home of the NBM. What was disturbing to me was the fact that St. Louis' $14 million dollar project, won the backing of a local developer who wanted a museum to anchor a retail, residential and office complex next to the convention center downtown, just blocks from the Gateway Arch. Well let’s see some of the investors such as Todd George, Bob Santelli, Mike Kociela, etc. happen to be what??? Yup, you got it middle age, wealthy, white business men…need I really say more??? 

      As I began looking at Chicago as my vacation destination, guess what, the Blues venue and backers are also prominently what…. I can’t hear you???? This is an issue that further reinforces the need for economic redistribution, but I won’t go there for this post…I promise!  For this post I will simple say that the next stop on my vacation research trail is to look at minority owed businesses along Hwy 61 in Mississippi. 


      The Mississippi Blues Trail tell stories through words and images of bluesmen and women and how the places where they lived and the times in which they existed–and continue to exist–influenced their music. The sites run the gamut from city streets to cotton fields, train depots to cemeteries, and clubs to churches.

      Many greats came from Hwy 61 such as my absolute favorite Blues man Albert King, the mentor to my second favorite Stevie Ray Vaughn. Both music legends now in heaven still singing the blues. In a future post I will provide an update on my findings.
      The last question I will pose to all of you is…when in God’s name will the 1% wealthy elite give back what has been out right stolen from the Black community? 


No wonder the phrase 
“Made in America” denotes 
“whiteness” in the 
global markets!



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