Not so long ago – Remembering Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
America has lost two of its most endeared trailblazers over the last few weeks, Betty White and Sidney Poitier. At ages 99 and 94, respectively, we weren’t ready for their […]
Juneteenth Conversations
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day, is celebrated throughout the nation and as a state holiday in Michigan. This uniquely American holiday commemorates […]
Reenvisioning Justice
Today was a historic moment for our nation. Garry Brown, Tennessee District Attorney, announced that he has re-opened the investigation into the 1940 murder of whom some have identified as […]
Gratitude Leftovers – Part II
A Belated Happy Birthday to Elbert Williams
Gratitude Leftovers Part I
Leslie had the seminal experience of testifying to the Tennessee Legislature on the lynching of her great grand uncle and voting rights activist Elbert Williams and its effect on subsequent generations of her family.
Life is a Good Idea
Three years ago exactly, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my favorite poets: Ms. Nikki Giovanni. She came to one of our favorite local bookstores, Nicola’s, in promotion […]
Thank You Veterans
Veterans’ Day, unlike Memorial Day, is for all (this world and the next) those who sacrificed their freedom at any point to secure ours. My Promise to myself, my country, […]
Don’t Hate the Uniform by Guest Writer
New Navy Recruits Try on Their Uniforms With his permission, a friend and Veteran has allowed me to share his reflections about his time of service as a sailor in […]
NAACP President Cornell Brooks Speaks Tonight on CNN
Watch NAACP President @CornellWBrooks speak about new challenges and concerns in Civil Rights with @wolfblitzer on CNN tonight at 6 p.m. pic.twitter.com/GeXwUGJmWY — NAACP (@NAACP) November 10, 2016
Still Missing Whitney: One Moment in Time
Below is a blog post I wrote when Whitney died. Oddly enough, when I hear her voice, she still seems alive. Art is where human creativity, skill and imagination all […]
TRU STORY EXCLUSIVE: If Flags Could Talk
Tru Story Exclusive: About Elbert Williams If Flags Could Talk: Written and Curated by Leslie McGraw Thank you for tuning into the Tru Story blog series: About Elbert […]
TRU STORY EXCLUSIVE: A Seventy Five Year Old Lie pt 2
Tru Story Exclusive: About Elbert Williams A Seventy Five Year Old Lie: Part II by Leslie McGraw Elbert Williams Historical Marker Unveiling on June 20 Photo courtesy of Sharon Hayes. […]
TRU STORY EXCLUSIVE: A Seventy Five Year Old Lie pt I
Tru Story Exclusive: About Elbert Williams Elbert Williams is shown on the top row. On the bottom (l to r) are Medgar Evers, James Chaney, and Emmet Till. A Seventy […]
TRU STORY EXCLUSIVE: THE STOLEN LEGACY OF ELBERT WILLIAMS
Tru Story Exclusive: About Elbert Williams The Stolen Legacy of Elbert Williams by Leslie McGraw Elbert Williams is shown on the top row. On the bottom (l to r) are Medgar […]
TRU STORY EXCLUSIVE: Let Us All Seek Justice for Elbert
Tru Story Exclusive: About Elbert Williams Let us All Seek Justice for Elbert by Guest Blogger, Jim Emison Attorney Jim Emison, TN Cold Case Investigative Lawyer Thank you for tuning […]
What Peace Looks Like on a Thursday
The last time I opened this blog up was to post a blog entry on inequality for Blog Action Day. I wanted to write about how inequality always adds this […]
Trayvon: Social Injustice or Racial Injustice?
Clipped from: news.gather.com (share this clip) Social injustice versus Racial injustice? That’s the question that I keep trying to answer in my head. In fact, as more and more evidence, […]
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Storytelling, Reading, and Entrepreneurs Celebrated at the Ypsi Library Read-In
By Leslie McGraw, A2 Journal, Heritage News Feb.10, [email protected]: @LesGo4It Each year, upwards of a million people participate in the National African American Read-In during the month of February to […]