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The Power of Sensitivity
Keeping our energy strong and pure throughout the day is vital for those who are sensitive.
Being a sensitive person in this world is an asset, yet it can sometimes feel draining due to our receptivity to the energy of the people and environments around us. Even when the energy is corrupt or negative, being able to feel it is a powerful defense mechanism— it prevents you from falling into the trap of believing you can’t do anything about it.
Imagine being clear in mind and understanding—accepting that your sensitivity is a power you can harness for your higher good. Rather than fearing what your power alerts you to, embrace it as an early warning system that signals clear and present danger. Think of it as a receptor that sharpens your perception. It’s better to sense danger in the dark of night than remain unaware of the possibility of harm. Your power of perception gives you the opportunity to make informed choices based on the energy you detect.
As humans, we long to be part of situations that engage both small and large groups of people, from the nucleus family to large crowds. It’s our nature. We want to come together without becoming overwhelmed or energetically depleted.
Now, as we witness the world transitioning into something unfamiliar, it’s more important than ever to know and connect with your people—those of like spirit, mind, and values. It’s vital to socialize with those who share similar philosophies and worldviews.
With a few simple strategies, we can entertain at home and be present in the world without losing ourselves in someone else’s energy or giving our own energy away. This takes time and practice, but the reward is being able to participate in social events without ending up depleted. The effort is well worth it.
The goal of this self-care ritual is to help keep yourself energetically strong when you’re in situations that can be draining. For example, if you’re hosting a party, you might take time to prepare yourself beforehand— just as you would clean your home and prepare meals for guests.
Preparing your inner sanctuary is just as essential. Our bodies are the home for our spiritual essence. Tending to your inner well-being could be reading scripture,
praying in the shower, taking a mindful walk, soaking in a cleansing bath, or doing anything that gives you energy—yoga, swimming, even skydiving.
You might also simply sit alone for a set time, tuning into your energy and grounding yourself so you’re not easily swept up by energy outside of you. You can work to unite your inner and outer energies. A mantra such as “I am centered, I am safe, I am one in the home of myself” can help focus your intent. You might also choose to charge a crystal, gemstone, or piece of jewelry with protective energy or the love of God, and wear or carry it. Of course, that love lives within you—but projecting it into a physical object can serve as a powerful visual or tactile reminder to
stay centered. Simply seeing or touching the object during the event can ground you and reconnect you with your intention.
Remember, it is always acceptable to excuse yourself for a quick bio break or step outside for a moment. These pauses give you time to check in with yourself and correct any energetic imbalances.
It helps to remember that we are spiritual beings expressed through our physical bodies. God is always within us—if we open up and embrace that truth.
No matter where you find yourself—at home or out in the world—taking care to balance spirit and body in the ways described here will allow you to keep your energy strong, even as you open yourself to others.
RECLAIM FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND CONFERENCE FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025, DUSABLE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER, 4 PM - 8 PM
Kai EL’ Zabar Editor-in-Chief
photo credit: Dot Ward
When the Country Bans Books, Chicago Buys Them: The City’s Quiet Revolt Against Censorship
In Florida, school libraries are locking their shelves. In Texas, Black authors are being pulled from classrooms. Across the country, a wave of book bans is trying to scrub away narratives that don’t sit comfortably with those in power.
But in Chicago? The books are flying off shelves—into homes, classrooms, and Black-owned bookstores, with purpose. This is not a loud resistance. It’s something quieter. Personal. Intentional. And deeply rooted in the city’s legacy of literacy as liberation.
At Bronzeville’s Semicolon Bookstore, a handwritten sign reads: “Banned Books Are Welcome Here.”
Owner Danielle Mullen says the store has seen a 40% uptick in sales of titles under fire nationwide—books like The Bluest Eye , Stamped , and All Boys Aren’t Blue . “When someone tries to erase us,
Chicago shows up,” she says. “And we read louder.”
The numbers back her up. According to the Chicago Public Library, requests for banned or challenged books jumped nearly 60% over the past year.
CPL’s “Freedom to Read” campaign— launched in response to the national crackdown—has become one of the most successful outreach efforts in its history, drawing families, educators, and civic leaders to its events.
But here, it’s not just about policy—it’s about presence.
For Black professionals in Chicago— many of whom are parents, educators, community leaders, or simply people who remember what it meant to find themselves in a book—this issue cuts deep.
“Censorship is a luxury for people whose stories are never questioned,” says
Mark H., a 49-year-old CPS principal on the West Side. “For the rest of us, it’s a warning shot.”
And it’s not just about novels. Many of the banned books focus on race, sexuality, and history—realities that shape Chicago’s neighborhoods and homes. Stripping those stories from libraries doesn’t just limit imagination. It narrows identity. It tells a generation of Black children that their lives, questions, and truths are too political to be on the page.
The ripple effects are already here. Some suburban school districts near Chicago have faced pressure to “review” curriculum materials, prompting quiet concern among teachers and administrators. Parents are forming informal reading circles to preserve access, and Black teachers across CPS are sharing banned books under the radar.
In response, local organizers are getting creative. Pop-up banned book fairs have appeared on the South Side, offering free copies of titles under attack. The Chicago Teachers Union is working with independent bookstores to get prohibited titles into classrooms— whether the state likes it or not. And Black-owned publishers like Haymarket Books are offering free eBooks of challenged works and partnering with local schools to lead discussions.
The fight is also legal. Illinois recently became the first state in the U.S. to pass legislation penalizing libraries that ban books—a bill co-sponsored by Black lawmakers who grew up understanding that literacy is survival. The law not only protects libraries from political censorship, but also signals that the right to read is non-negotiable.
But advocates say this is just the beginning. “The danger isn’t just what’s removed,” says Brittany Washington, a cultural historian and community archivist. “It’s what’s replaced. Sanitized versions of history. Textbooks with gaps where the truth should be. Curriculums that praise progress but ignore pain.”
In Chicago, resistance looks like a book bag with Assata and The 1619 Project tucked inside. It’s a father reading Between the World and Me to his teenage son on the Red Line. It’s a teacher assigning Beloved without waiting for permission. It’s a city choosing memory over myth.
This isn’t just about protecting stories. It’s about protecting power—our children’s, our community’s, and our future’s. Because when the country bans books, Chicago doesn’t stay quiet. We pass them around.
Real Men Cook Returns for Its 36th Father’s Day Celebration, Featuring Fathers, Food, Music, and Community
Excitement is in the air as Real Men Charities gears up to present the 36th Annual Real Men Cook food festival—a celebration of taste, tradition, and togetherness. The event brings the community together to sample delicious dishes lovingly prepared by men who pour heart and joy into the food they share with family, friends, and supporters of this invaluable initiative.
This vibrant celebration takes place on Father’s Day—Sunday, June 15, 2025— from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at The Quarry Event Center, located at 2423 E. 75th Street in South Shore. It’s an opportunity for men to step forward and showcase their culinary talents—some using family recipes passed down through generations, others experimenting with bold blends of spices, herbs, and secret ingredients to awaken your taste buds. And for some, it’s their first time cooking just to give their children the chance to see “Daddy” in action.
Regardless of motivation, the energy is electric throughout the event—from food tasting and breaking bread to live performances by Chicago’s own Russoul and the dynamic ensemble Toca Live. Their powerful vocals, drumming, and rhythms provide a soulful soundtrack to a day filled with celebration, culture, and connection.
But Real Men Cook is more than just a food-tasting event. It’s a movement—one that has, for 35 years, put Black fathers front and center. Real Men Cook honors men not only for their skills in the kitchen but also for their commitment to family and community. Whether they’re seasoned chefs or simply preparing a dish out of love, these men reflect the power of presence, generosity, and unity.
This year’s event continues the tradition of uplifting fathers and families while also offering access to valuable community resources—all made possible by generous sponsors including UChicago Medicine, the UIC Cancer Center, and Shawn Michelle’s Ice Cream. The beloved ice cream company has partnered with Black Men’s Wellness Day to extend its support.
Rael Jackson, Program Director of Real Men Charities, grew up with the event. His mother, Yvette Moyo, was one of its
founding members and helped expand it nationwide. “For over three decades, Real Men Charities has led national and local efforts to redefine the image of men and support Black families through health, education, culture, and economic development,” he said. “Based in South Shore, Chicago, the organization continues to drive change through events, partnerships, and year-round programming.”
Rael added, “Before the pandemic, Real Men Cook was held in 13 markets nationwide. During the pandemic, Real Men Charities—the nonprofit behind the event—distributed over one million pounds of groceries. We decided to focus our efforts locally in South Shore and expand our Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, which we’ve done from the Quarry for six consecutive summers. Today, South Shore has the lowest incidence of youth violence among Chicago’s larger neighborhoods.”
This year’s festival features restaurants, caterers, businesses, and community organizations, alongside fathers and father figures who provide sample-sized dishes. Only men will serve food. Positive affirmations will be exchanged. Men will be the stars of the day.
Participants receive event-day branding, complimentary tickets, and the opportunity to serve and engage directly with the community. Attendees will enjoy samples in three areas: the outdoor patio, the indoor stage with live music and drumming, and spaces surrounded by laughter, children, and celebration.
Haven’t bought a Father’s Day gift yet? Consider treating your dad to this unforgettable experience. He’ll enjoy the festivities—and maybe even be inspired to participate next year and share his favorite dish.
Tickets: $45 in advance for adults and $20 for children and seniors ($55 and $25 at the door).
All proceeds benefit Real Men Charities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to building healthier families and communities. Get tickets: https://events.eventnoire. com/e/36th-annual-real-men-cook-fathers-day-celebration/tickets
Or make a donation at: www.RealMenCharitiesInc.org/donate
Heart Full Father’s Day Gift Ideas
You know your dad loves his fried chicken, mashed potatoes with loads of butter, and no matter what you or your mother, grandmother, and/or the doctor say to him about his blood pressure, he’s going to eat what he loves. So, what can you do to help? Father’s Day is a perfect time to introduce some healthy gifts that will help him “have his cake and eat it too,” so to speak.
Look for gifts that are stylish, fun, hip, and can add balance to your dad’s life with his battle of the bulge and his blood pressure or diabetes.
Apple Watch
Did you know that your Apple Watch can save your life and inform you of your overall well-being? It’s true. Noted is a Texas man whose Apple Watch alerted him to a potentially fatal heart problem when it notified him that he was experiencing atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by an irregular heartbeat that can increase the risk of strokes, blood clots, and heart failure. Look—your dad needs a reminder that’s more accurate and doesn’t nag, so that he stops hating to see you coming. No more warnings from you. Let his Apple Watch do it instead.
Exercise Trackers
So, Dad went to the gym. Great! Whether it’s a Garmin Forerunner, Fitbit One, or Armour39, he’ll love receiving a wearable technological device as a present. You can track your progress toward fitness objectives using them. Some apps can even track sleep habits, indicating active and restful phases.
Bike Horns
Hopefully, your father won’t run over any pedestrians, and you won’t have to worry about his safety. That’s why he must have a horn. U.S. News writer and University of Ottawa associate professor of family medicine Yoni Freedhoff recommends the Delta Airzound bike horn.
Cooking Tools
Men will use it even if it’s a vegetable saw and not a wood saw. According to Michael Roizen, head of the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic and writer for U.S. News, you should get your dad a kitchen tool like an apple slicer, salad spinner, chef’s knife, or cutting board. If you’re not looking for a high-end knife (yes, some cost over $1,000), you shouldn’t have to spend more than $20.
A Pound of Walnuts
It’s like giving someone a heart-healthy
pill in a bottle. In addition to increasing your vitamin E, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium intake, walnuts are a great source of antioxidants, healthy monounsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids. You should, nevertheless, warn your father not to gorge himself on them; he’ll burn roughly 200 calories just from one cup.
Heart Rate Monitor
Concerned about your heart health? A heart rate monitor will assist in determining whether Dad is exercising at an appropriate intensity. Some fitness trackers can tell you when you’re becoming too dehydrated, and others can help maximize fat-burning activity while simultaneously showing how many calories have been burned.
A Guide for Area Hiking
There is often more than one guidebook covering a state’s trails; for example, Washington has 100 Classic Hikes, and Georgia and South Carolina have Hiking Waterfalls in Georgia and South Carolina. Plan a hiking excursion with your dad and enjoy the fact that it is a fantastic mental and physical cardio exercise. Plus, it has a decent view.
Tickets for Group Bike Ride
This is always fun. Why go by yourself when you can make it a group thing? Talking, laughing, and getting plenty of exercise. Cut your vacation short if fifty or more miles seems like an insurmountable distance. The duration and difficulty of most group bike rides may be tailored to the rider’s needs.
Chin-Up Bar
More than a dozen muscles in your back, arms, shoulders, and chest are strengthened when you do chin-ups, which require your hands to point inward rather than outward, as when performing pullups. Typical bars cost between $70 and $230.
Frisbee
Throwing a frisbee around is one of those laid-back things to do that gets you enough physical movement. Join an Ultimate Frisbee league if things are going well. Agility will improve from the constant cutting, jumping, and throwing, and you may burn as many as 13 calories in a minute. In addition, it’s simple and enjoyable to play with that circular piece of plastic.
Introductory Lessons for Fitness Classes
Consider signing up for a series of martial arts, yoga, dancing, or tennis classes. It really depends on the parent. If he’s
more culinary-minded, enroll him in a cooking class at a nearby gourmet market or school. One may take anything from a one-time “basic knife skills” course (where one can learn to debone a chicken and then cook a stir-fry) to a “vegetable methods” presentation.
Fine Points
Now that he has the gym membership,
the introductory fitness classes, Frisbee team membership, hoop in the backyard, chin-up bar, exercise tracker, walnuts (don’t forget to add the raisins), his bike team, hiking guide/membership, and all the other wonderful gifts mentioned here, join him on some of the wonderful options offered to get him engaged. Just think of how it will extend both of your lives and time together.
From North Lawndale With Love Corey Hendrix’s Rise to Prominence
on ‘The Bear’
Born and raised in North Lawndale, Corey Hendrix’s steady climb — from small roles to a standout spot on one of TV’s most beloved shows — is powered by grit, heart, and home.
Corey Hendrix doesn’t have to manufacture grit for the screen. He was raised on it—on the porches, courts, and corners of North Lawndale, a historically rich but economically overlooked stretch of Chicago’s West Side. It’s where he first learned to observe people—to listen closely, speak with intent, and recognize when silence said more.
“We filmed The Chi right in North Lawndale, where I grew up,” Hendrix said. “Most of my scenes had that same energy—it was all familiar. That wasn’t acting. That was just Tuesday for many people I grew up around.”
Before the cameras or casting calls, Hendrix was just a kid on the West Side,
trying to figure out what came next. He graduated from George Westinghouse in 2000—part of the first wave of newly minted millennials. Back then, there was a lot of talk that this class would “lead the world.” But in neighborhoods like North Lawndale, the future didn’t always come with a clear path. Still, Hendrix held on to his dream—even when it felt far off.
“Back then, we didn’t talk about acting as a real path. You’d maybe hear someone say they wanted to be in movies, but it felt like saying you wanted to go to Mars.”
Still, Chicago had its own brand of stage—one built in lunchroom cyphers, church performances, high school talent shows, and sidewalk storytelling. And
Hendrix was always watching.
On weekends, you might find him hanging at The Circle, a West Side staple for teens looking to see and be seen. It was a ritual, almost a rite of passage, complete with trying to get phone numbers and show out just enough to stand out— but not so much that you’d get clowned.
“On a good night? Maybe two or three numbers, max. But it wasn’t even about that. It was about presence. About being there.”
That presence would carry him forward. Hendrix later enrolled at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where he realized quickly that being from the West Side came with assumptions—and baggage.
“The moment I told people I was from the West Side, the South Side kids would clown me. It was automatic. I had to call home and ask, ‘Yo, is there
something I missed?’”
There was. The often-unspoken cultural divide between the South and West Sides of Chicago ran deeper than high school basketball rivalries. It was rooted in migration patterns, resource distribution, and urban policy—things Hendrix wouldn’t fully grasp until adulthood. Still, the divide shaped him.
“It made me sharper. You had to defend your side, your neighborhood, your whole identity sometimes. That kind of pride doesn’t leave you. It just gets more refined.”
Even now, as his career gains national recognition, Hendrix remains firmly rooted in North Lawndale. While many of his castmates on FX’s The Bear fly back to Los Angeles or New York between seasons, Corey stays.
“I’m here. I never left. After filming, all the restaurants start reaching out—‘Co-
u
rey, can you come by? Bring your castmates!’ I’m like, ‘They’re gone, man. It’s just me,’” he laughs.
Finding His Voice in The Chi
Before The Bear, before even Fargo, there was The Chi. For Corey Hendrix, the Lena Waithe–created series wasn’t just a breakout opportunity—it was the turning point when the dream stopped feeling distant.
He’d moved to Los Angeles chasing work, but when he booked The Chi, it brought him right back to Chicago for filming. It was his first major television gig, and it came with six episodes and something even more powerful: proximity to home.
“I remember filming scenes and thinking, this is my real neighborhood. I’m not playing Chicago—I am Chicago,” he said.
That weight wasn’t lost on him. For all the talk about representation, The Chi was one of the first shows to let Corey bring himself fully into a role. The writing didn’t flatten his experience, and the location work made it feel personal.
“There’s something about filming in the city you’re from. You move different. You act different. You know what certain looks mean. You know when someone’s just hanging out—or if they’re up to something. There’s texture.”
But after season one, when he appeared
in half a dozen episodes, Hendrix hit a familiar wall. When season two arrived, he was cast in just one.
“It’s the hardest part about this business. One year, you feel like you’re ascending. Next year, they go in a different direction and you’re barely in the story,” he said.
It wasn’t personal. In fact, his relationship with Waithe remained warm. The two shared that shorthand only Chicago natives understand—and in a business like theirs, that connection means something.
“I saw Lena at a dinner and told her I’d booked Fargo. She was hyped for me— said they’d work around my schedule for The Chi if they needed me, even though I had already booked Fargo. That meant a lot.”
Most people assume that being on TV means stability, but in reality, most SAG-AFTRA actors don’t earn enough to
qualify for union health benefits. To qualify, actors must earn at least $27,540 in covered wages annually—a number most never hit.
Hendrix didn’t come close.
“My son was born in July 2018. I didn’t even have $200 in my account. I was living in L.A. with an apartment I couldn’t afford,” he said. “Back then it was just, ‘don’t get sick.’ No extra money. No insurance. Just trying to hold it together.”
Things began to shift by the end of 2019, when work picked up—and with it, some breathing room.
“I’ve been blessed to have health insurance for these past five years or so,” he said. “But before that, man... it was rough.”
There was no nest egg, no safety net—just the pressure to produce. It wasn’t a glossy Hollywood narrative.
The Bear, the Wine, and the Work
When The Bear premiered, nobody expected it to become the kind of show people made time for—not even the cast.
“I knew it was different. The writing was tight. The tone felt new. But we didn’t know it’d be this,” Hendrix said. “It blew up. Jeremy [Allen White] already had fans from Shameless, but this? This was different.”
Hendrix plays “Sweeps,” a background fixture in the restaurant who slowly finds his footing as the kitchen evolves. At first, he was simply the guy fixing stuff, sweeping up, helping out. But by season two, he was studying wine. Literally.
Continue on Page 12
It was sink or swim.
C.Hendrix as Omie Sparkman “Fargo” Image Courtesy of Fargo on FX
C.Hendrix as “Sweeps” Season 1 of “The Bear” Image Courtesy of Fandom
Cover Story
“I saw the script said my character was training to be a sommelier, so I had to get to work. I started reading about wine, going to tastings, talking to experts.”
At one point, production even connected him with sommeliers who explained how they train their palates and refine their instincts.
“It’s wild — they do tastings early in the morning because your senses are sharper. I was sipping and spitting wine before 10 a.m., tipsy as hell, thinking, I have to film later today.”
But for Hendrix, the wine storyline wasn’t just quirky character development—it was symbolic.
“It’s about growth. Sweeps isn’t a chef. He doesn’t have formal training. But wine? That’s a lane he can own. He can refine himself. He can reinvent.”
The show, now entering its third season, has earned multiple Emmys and near-universal critical acclaim. But what’s equally rare is the dynamic on set.
“No egos. None. We’re three seasons in, awards are coming in, and everyone’s still down-to-earth. It feels like an indie project with a big budget.”
That spirit—humble, collaborative, sharp—reflects how Hendrix views his place in the ensemble. He’s not jockeying
for top billing. He’s building something slower, but stronger.
And he’s doing it from home.
“I’m the only one from Chicago who lives here. So when the season wraps, everyone else leaves—L.A., New York, France. I stay. I go eat at all the spots. The food groups call like, ‘Can you come out?’ And I’m like, ‘Of course. I live here.’”
Father First
More than any role, fatherhood reshaped how Hendrix moved—not just in his career, but in his entire sense of urgency. By the time he learned in 2017 that he was going to be a dad, he’d already been grinding for years, booking roles here and there, trying to make just enough. But now the stakes were higher. The hustle wasn’t theoretical anymore.
“I had done season one of The Chi, and I was starting to see a little light,” he said. “But I wasn’t stable. I was still trying to figure it out.”
His son was born the next summer— and everything shifted.
“You’re not grinding for yourself anymore,” Hendrix said. “It’s not just your name on the lease. That kind of pressure can crush you — or focus you. For me, it was the latter.”
He doubled down on auditions. Took more risks. Traveled more strategically. Any job he took had to make sense—not just creatively, but practically. Could he still pick his son up from school? Would health insurance kick in?
“It’s not romantic. It’s real,” he said. “For the first year of his life, I was mostly just in the house with him, auditioning between diaper changes.”
Now, his son is six—old enough to start connecting dots between “Daddy’s job” and “Daddy’s face on TV.”
“At first, it just weirded him out. He’d see me on TV and be like, ‘Why are you on there?’” Hendrix said, laughing. “I took him to the set one day and showed him how we make stuff. He looked around and said, ‘Are they gonna make a movie about me?’ I was like, ‘Maybe, man. Maybe they will.’”
If Hendrix sounds grounded, it’s because he is. He’s not swept up in the illusion of stardom. He’s inside it— working, adjusting, learning—but not owned by it.
“I still gotta figure out who’s watching him when I go to L.A. I still gotta pack lunch and show up at school. It’s just life,” he said. “That’s what keeps me real.”
Even with the rising profile and steady
work, Hendrix doesn’t claim to have it all figured out. His career is moving, yes, but it’s also evolving in ways he’s still trying to track.
“You can be in something great and still feel like you’re chasing the next gig. That’s the hustle part people don’t see,” he said. But the doors are opening wider. He’s writing more. Looking into producing. Still acting. Still auditioning. And still putting his son first.
“I always wanted to do something big, but now I want it to matter. Not in the press release way — in the life way. What can I leave him that’s useful?”
There’s no blueprint for sustaining an acting career—and certainly not one while raising a kid in the city you never left. But Hendrix seems to have carved one for himself: work hard, stay home, give your all, and do it your way.
“Everything I’m doing now—this isn’t some reinvention,” he said. “It’s just me evolving. Same kid from Lawndale. Still working. Still here — and still building.”
And with The Bear heating up for another season, and more eyes on him than ever, Hendrix isn’t trying to escape his past. He’s building on it—one project, one line, one moment at a time.
This Is What Love Looks Like Black Fathers in Their Own Words
A personal tribute to the strength and stories of Black fathers—told through the voices of those who live it every day. (Written by a daughter, sister, wife, and witness to Black fatherhood in its truest form.
I’ve always known that Black fatherhood was beautiful, powerful, and present— because I’ve seen it with my own eyes. As we prepared to honor fathers in this issue, I reached out to the men in my life whose presence and wisdom have shaped not only their own children but also the people around them. Some are community leaders, mentors, and friends whose voices carry weight not only in their
homes but throughout our culture. Others are friends, mentors, and community voices I admire deeply.
I asked them a few questions—not just about parenting, but about legacy, identity, strength, and truth. I told them their opinions, foresight, sacrifice, and knowledge deserved to be amplified. I reminded them that while their work as fathers often goes unnoticed, this was their moment to be celebrated, uplifted, and seen. Some didn’t usually speak up. Some aren’t used to being asked. But all of them showed up with honesty and depth. And what they shared became one of the most meaningful collections of words I’ve ever had the privilege to hold.
The myth of the absent Black father is just that—a myth. Research shows that Black dads are often more hands-on than society assumes. But beyond numbers, the real evidence is in the everyday moments: the early morning drop-offs, late-night talks, quiet sacrifices, and loud cheers from the sidelines. That’s where fatherhood lives.
This collection is a time capsule—capturing the voices of over five generations of fathers. Some are just beginning their journey. Others carry the honor of being great-great-grandfathers. But every testimony here holds the weight of a birthright: the calling to show up with purpose, to nurture, to lead. And each man accepted that call fully and presently.
What follows is not just a reflection on fatherhood. It’s a living, breathing testimony—a celebration of presence, sacrifice, and love passed down through generations.
“It’s About Showing Up” — Defining Fatherhood
Fatherhood is not just a title—it’s a daily decision. A choice to be consistent, intentional, and emotionally available. These men spoke about what it means to show up, not just physically, but in spirit, in presence, and in purpose.
“Fatherhood is effort,” said Kenneth Miller. “It’s waking up every day and choosing to be better than you were the
day before. It’s knowing you won’t always get it right, but still showing up with intention. Realizing you’re not perfect, trying your hardest each day to be a better father. It means paying attention to the details—how your kids speak, how they carry themselves, what they’re not saying—and guiding them even when they don’t realize they need it.”
Jamaal Buchanan called it a role of transformation: “A teacher, a protector, a provider, a molder of life. I choose to show up because my children are a reflection of me.”
Kenard Karter shared how it challenged and shaped him: “My default is to lead with direction, but I’ve learned real fatherhood requires vulnerability and the willingness to grow.”
Peter Jericho defined fatherhood through presence and flexibility: “Being available, a model, and willing to adapt— whatever the circumstance—with love and discipline.”
Marcellus Hunter offered one of the most grounded truths: “It’s not just show-
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ing up—it’s engaging. Looking your children in the eye. Helping them grow into who they’re meant to be.”
And Russell White added a quiet but powerful definition: “Just keeping in touch every day with my children in one form or another. Texting or calling.”
“I Became the Father I Needed” — Lessons from Fathers Past Behind every father is a father figure—a blueprint, a contrast, or a prayer. The men I spoke with shared what they learned (or wished they’d learned) from those who came before them.
David Seaton lost his father at seven.
“That absence let me imagine what I would’ve wanted. Now I try to be that for my daughter.”
Justice Hunter saw his father’s good intentions in hindsight: “He wasn’t wrong all the time. Now I’ve got a third eye for what’s ahead. I learned from him, even when I didn’t understand it yet.”
David Olive found his blueprint in faith: “I serve a God who sees everything. My father taught me obedience, and I pass that on.”
His son, Darryl Olive, deepened the perspective: “There’s no guide for being a father other than the Bible. What separates a good father is how he handles mistakes—and how he continues showing love even when the world is hard and unforgiving.”
Dudley Pitter passed down lessons learned through action: “My father taught me honesty, financial wisdom, and how to work with my hands. He shaped me to be self-sufficient and dependable.”
He also shared a memory that still echoes in his spirit—a short poem from his father that shaped his view of perseverance:
“Standing at the foot of the hill, boy, gazing at the sky.
Oh, can you get up if you never try?”
“It propelled me,” he said. “And I carry a lot of nuggets like that from him.”
And Russell White reflected, “Just learning how to be patient. Listening. Through trials and tribulations. Thinking back, I was actually listening to all the individuals in my family and expe -
rience by the father figures.”
“In That Moment, I Knew They Saw Me” — Feeling Seen as a Father
To be seen as a father is not about applause—it’s about impact. These moments, often quiet and fleeting, stay etched in the hearts of men who give everything to their children.
Peter Jericho remembered his son’s preschool graduation: “He wouldn’t go on stage until he saw me. Then he introduced me—‘Hey, this is my dad.’ That was a moment.”
Kenard Karter recalled his daughter choosing to live with him in Chicago: “Her decision told me my voice mattered. She saw me as a consistent, fair, guiding presence.”
David Seaton’s moment came through sacrifice: “I was working seven days a week after an employee quit. My daughter told my wife, ‘Daddy is working hard.’ That made it all worth it.”
Marcellus Hunter, in a moment of deep loss, found strength: “At my wife’s funeral, I stood up for our family. I wanted
to show my children that it’s okay to be strong—and okay to hurt.”
And for Russell White, the clearest affirmation came in growth: “Seeing my daughters mature and grow into healthy, well-adjusted human beings.”
“This Is What I Want Them to Remember” — Values That Endure
These fathers are not just raising children—they’re shaping future adults. With every decision, they’re planting values they hope will take root.
Kenneth Miller wants his children to “be solid and stand-up people.”
Justice Hunter said: “No matter what life throws at you—go forward, never backward. Last name is Hunter. Go get it.”
Jamaal Buchanan emphasized resilience: “No shortcuts. If you want it, work for it. Stay focused. Don’t quit.”
Dudley Pitter said, “Responsibility, loyalty, being a person of your word. Yes is yes. No is no.”
Darryl Olive shared the invisible strength of fatherhood: “Your kids don’t always see your pain, your exhaustion,
your sacrifice. But that’s what makes you a father— you keep going anyway.”
David Olive reminded us, “Start the learning process early. The sooner, the better.”
Russell White hopes his children always “appreciate the little things.”
“We’ve Always Been Here” — Rewriting the Narrative
The world has long tried to define Black fatherhood through absence. These men defy that narrative with every early morning, every hug, every hard conversation.
“It’s sad society sees Black fathers as anomalies,” said Kenneth Miller. “Like we’re not supposed to be involved. But we are.”
Kenard Karter echoed the call for a new vision:
“The world isn’t used to seeing us as emotionally aware, consistent. But we’re out here—redefining what strength looks like.”
Jamaal Buchanan said, “The idea that we’re not around is false. Every Black man I know is a present, engaged father. We’ve got to debunk that narrative.”
Peter Jericho reminded us of the stakes: “They’ve spent centuries trying to make us look weak, dangerous, irresponsible. I refuse to fall into that trap.”
Dudley Pitter added, “I was present. Every morning. Every night. That’s
not rare—it’s just not shown enough.”
And Russell White made it plain: “The only thing I care about is the opinion of my children.”
“The Standard Is Ours to Set” — Fatherhood in This Moment
To be a Black father today is to raise children in a world of noise and pressure—and to guide them with clarity, love, and truth.
Jamaal Buchanan warned: “Our children are under attack—from music, from tech, from culture. We have to be conscious protectors.”
Marcellus Hunter said, “Being a Black father means doing the work and surprising people with how well we do it.”
Justice Hunter agreed: “We have to keep setting the standard. People will ask—how did he do that?
That’s the goal.”
David Seaton framed it as legacy: “I’m building something for my daughter—a legacy of possibility, not regret.”
Russell White concluded, “Spiritually, being a father who happens to be Black is extremely rewarding. I appreciate the job I’ve done thus far in every waking moment.”
This Is the Legacy
This story isn’t just about fatherhood—it’s about Black men choosing to
love boldly, lead honestly, and parent with heart in a world that often misunderstands or overlooks them.
These fathers aren’t invisible. They are everywhere— in car lines and bedtime prayers, on sidelines and at graduations, behind latenight homework help and early-morning work shifts. They are present. They are
powerful. They are permanent.
Before we close, I want to say this plainly: every voice shared here matters. Every story, every answer, every bit of honesty—it all matters. Because Black fathers matter now more than ever.
Reading and hearing the wisdom these men have gathered—lessons they’re
still living and learning in real time—is more than insightful. It’s a treasure. A privilege. A sacred archive of love, legacy, and growth.
They are protectors. Healers. Coaches. Disciplinarians. Comforters. Mentors. And always—fathers.
This is what Black fatherhood really looks like.
And this is something each one of them—and all of us—can be proud of. With gratitude to the following contributors: Kenard Karter, Kenneth Miller, Marcellus Hunter, Justice Hunter, David Seaton, Jamaal Buchanan, Peter Jericho, Dudley Pitter, David Olive, Darryl Olive, Russell White
Entertainment Zada Johnson, Ph.D. Contributing Writer
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour Celebrates the Rich Black Roots of Country Music
As it makes its way overseas this month for its European run, Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit” is shaping up to be the blockbuster cultural phenomenon of the summer. During the first leg of its United States dates (including three nights at Soldier Field here in Chicago), it has scored a number of accolades, including the highest-grossing reported single-venue engagement ever for a female artist. Along with its larger-thanlife spectacle and performance, the tour is also a fascinating cultural presentation of country music’s African American roots. If you missed the Chicago run, there is still time to catch the second half of the U.S. tour in July—and it’s well worth a road trip to see its dazzling visuals and thought-provoking messaging in person.
Much like the groundbreaking Cowboy Carter album, the tour boldly challenges the confining aspects of genre and the notion that Black artists have no significant place in country music. In an Instagram post describing the inspiration for the project, Beyoncé recalls the heavy criticism she received for venturing into the country genre. “Because of that experience,” she writes, “I did a deeper dive into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archive.” The Cowboy Carter tour brings this deep dive to life with a masterfully presented array of forms that have shaped country music—including blues, gospel, Irish step dance, bluegrass, flamenco, yodeling, and opera.
The show’s powerful opening arrangement of “American Requiem,” “Blackbird,” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” sets the stage for Cowboy Carter’s message of transcending the limitations of genre. From the moment she takes the stage, Beyoncé immediately voices her resistance to critics’ efforts to exclude her from country music in the lyrics of “American Requiem” (“they used to say I spoke too country and then the rejection came, they said I wasn’t country enough”), while the giant video display behind her flashes the message: “Never Ask Permission For Something That Already Belongs To You.”
As the show proceeds, Beyoncé honors Black country music pioneer Linda Martell, the first Black woman to perform at the storied Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The show also includes references to Chuck Berry, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, James Brown, and Little Richard—major contributors to multiple genres of American popular music who never fully received the mainstream recognition they deserved. The influence of these artists on Cowboy Carter reverberates in her stage performances of “Oh Louisiana,” “Ya Ya (Why Don’t You Love Me),” “Just For Fun,” and “Flamenco.” American folk and blues icon
Lead Belly’s rendition of the work song “Looka Looka Yonder” serves as a prelude for “Alligator Tears,” signaling country music’s deep African American labor song and blues roots. Marian Anderson’s operatic “Deep
River” plays behind the western burlesque segment, foreshadowing Beyoncé’s own impressive operatic vocalizations in “Daughter.”
The show’s visual presentation also includes intriguing bits of hidden African American history. The western film interlude includes The Horse in Motion, the 1878 clip known as the first motion picture, which features Black jockey G. Domm riding a horse. The tour’s “Chitlin’ Circuit” tagline is a historical reference to the nationwide network of venues that supported Black artists when segregation barred them from performing in spaces reserved for white artists. There are also multiple images of the Statue of Liberty, including a giant onstage bust of her with braids—perhaps a reference to the statue’s hidden history of being originally envisioned as a symbol of anti-slavery.
For Beyoncé superfans, her setlist inclusion of classics like “Bills, Bills, Bills,” “Crazy in Love,” “Single Ladies,” “Formation,” “Irreplaceable,” and “Love On Top” is sure to delight. There is also a reprise of the Renaissance album that ties Cowboy Carter back into the larger ethos of Beyoncé’s introspective look at
her nearly thirty-year career. Her touching tributes to her family—and cameos from daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi—are also notable moments that reveal the everyday relatability behind the musical icon.
For the deep thinkers, Beyoncé’s attention to historical and cultural detail on this tour raises important questions around how we define genre and the complicated politics of who gets to sing what types of music (and who gets recognition for their contributions). Her skillful and sometimes humorous presentation of the cowboy archetype is a brilliant study in the way African American artists have long resisted their marginalization by
leveraging the very images used to exclude them.
To appreciate the full context of Cowboy Carter’s historical and cultural references, Ken Burns’ 2019 Country Music documentary provides great background on African American contributions to the country genre. Francesca Royster’s Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions and Alice Randall’s My Black Country also offer solid frameworks for understanding the racial marginalization that Cowboy Carter disrupts. If you’re looking for a concert experience to track down on a road trip this summer, Cowboy Carter is a worthy contender. Taking in the fervor of her superfans against her extraordinary visual aesthetics recalls the iconic tour performances of her own musical heroes, Michael Jackson and Prince (who are also honored during one of her retrospective interludes). In years to come, this era of Beyoncé’s creative output will likely be considered some of the most culturally influential music of our time. With its empowering messaging and captivating performances, the Cowboy Carter tour is a must-see for superfans and general music enthusiasts alike.
ARTS & CULTURE
Wildflower Music Festival
Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood will host a full day of music, art, and community celebration on June 21 with the return of the Bronzeville Vendor Fair and Wildflower Music Festival.
Now in its third year, the event will take place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. along 33rd Boulevard between Michigan Avenue and State Street.
Founded by jazz vocalist and community leader Senabella Gill—also known as “The Bronzeville Diva”—the Wildflower Music Festival blends local culture with live performances, family-friendly activities, and an outdoor market featuring local artisans and vendors.
The festival’s main stage will feature performances from noon to 9:45 p.m., with a line -
Malachi Webster Staff Writer
up that includes:
Zahra, award-winning jazz vocalist and storyteller
Zion Ali, youth advocate and rising star Greg Penn (CrossWind), Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban fusion artist Sarita Harrington, blues vocalist with a rich musical lineage
Uneq’ka, R&B and gospel singer, star of Bronzeville the Musical Zemrah, Crown Royal Female Vocalist of the Year
Dakarai Barclay, jazz trumpeter and Luminarts Fellow Thaddeus Tukes, vibraphone virtuoso and DownBeat “Rising Star”
Robert Irving III, jazz legend and former Miles Davis collaborator Senabella Gill, founder of the festival and host of the event says, “Beyond music, the festival will feature a vendor market showcasing local merchants and makers, along
with activities for children— including a bounce house (adult supervision required). Free parking is available along Michigan Avenue and in Illinois Tech lots D1, D2, and D4, accessible via 34th Street and State Street.”
Accessibility services will be provided in partnership with Cultural Access Collaborative, with support from the Chicago Academy of Sciences and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum for attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The festival is presented by the Office of Community Affairs at Illinois Tech, with support from WDCB 90.9 FM, Organic Oneness, the Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention, the Near South Planning Board, VanderCook College of Music, Stuart School of Business, and others.
ARTS & CULTURE
Beyond Bronzeville: Chicago’s Black Theater Reviv -
al Is Happening in Small Rooms and Big Voices
Ifyou’re waiting for a Broadway-sized revival of Black theater in Chicago, you’re already missing it. The soul of the city’s performance scene is pulsing in storefronts, church basements, back rooms of coffee shops, and black box stages from Pilsen to South Shore. Quietly, definitively, a renaissance is unfolding—led by Black playwrights, actors, and directors who aren’t chasing approval, but presence. On a rainy Friday night in April, a crowd filed into a modest space off 47th and King Drive. No red carpet, no fancy bar. Just folding chairs and a homemade light rig. But when the lights dimmed, everything shifted. The play was For Colored Folks Who Ain’t Never Left Home, a biting, beautiful piece about memory and migration. The audience didn’t clap— they hummed. They exhaled. They felt it.
“This isn’t theater for escape,” said Nia Rhodes, a 38-year-old drama teacher
from Chatham. “It’s theater that holds a mirror up to your aunties, your fears, your Sunday morning arguments with God.”
That’s the tone running through this revival. It’s not polished for the tourists. It doesn’t have to pass through institutional filters. It lives on rawness, community memory, and cultural specificity. You won’t see it on a marquee downtown, but it’s rewriting the rules of what theater can do—especially for a generation of Black professionals navigating complexity in every part of their lives.
In a post-pandemic Chicago, the mainstream stages are still struggling to rebuild. But outside that system, something honest is happening. Productions like Who Told You You Could Sing? by Tolu Ajayi or Casket Sharp by veteran actor Tyrese M. are selling out 40-seat venues. These aren’t warm-and-fuzzy nostalgia pieces—they’re politically sharp, culturally textured, and unapologetically Black. And the audiences aren’t just theater
kids or retirees—they’re educators, therapists, lawyers, and nurses. They’re people who grew up on Poetic Justice and The Corner, who see their own contradictions reflected on stage. The work feels familiar in its rhythm but braver in its storytelling. It doesn’t ask permission to be complicated. It just is.
The economics of this revival matter, too. These theaters are hyper-local, often self-funded, and sustained by communities that understand the power of showing up. In many cases, ticket sales help pay the rent on the space. Actors split a modest pot. Nobody’s in it for the money. But somehow, they’re richer for it.
Chicago has always been a city of working-class visionaries—Lorraine Hansberry, Oscar Brown Jr., Free Street Theater. That lineage hasn’t gone anywhere—it’s just morphed. Today’s storytellers are using TikTok trailers to draw folks in and post-show talkbacks to unpack everything from gun violence to intergenerational silence. One show ended with the
cast offering free mutual aid resources for tenants and caregivers in the audience. And it’s not just the South Side. In Logan Square, a Black-led collective recently staged August in Autumn, a modern retelling of Wilson’s Ma Rainey set during the George Floyd uprisings. In Evanston, a one-woman show about being the only Black woman in a corporate legal firm is drawing sold-out crowds every Saturday. One audience member described it as “HR trauma with Shakespearean pacing.” These aren’t just plays—they’re conversations. They’re confessions. They’re homecomings.
For Black professionals juggling identity, career, and legacy, this theater matters. It’s not polished. It’s not filtered. It’s not chasing diversity panels or big grants. It’s just telling the truth in rooms where people are ready to listen. And maybe, ready to heal.
So skip the downtown ticket and find the real show. It might be happening three blocks from home.
IN MEMORIAM
Sly Stone Dies at 82; His Sound Changed Everything
Influential bandleader behind Sly and the Family Stone helped shape modern music
Sly Stone, the groundbreaking musician, producer, and frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, died on June 9 in Los Angeles at the age of 82. His family confirmed the cause as complications related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Born Sylvester Stewart on March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, and raised in Vallejo, California, Stone was a multi-instrumentalist and musical prodigy. He began his career as a radio DJ in the Bay Area before emerging as a songwriter and producer. In 1966, he formed Sly and the Family Stone, a racially and gender-integrated band—radical for its time—whose message of unity, equality, and creative freedom was matched by a genre-blending fusion of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelia that redefined the sound of popular music.
The group rose to national prominence with hits such as “Dance to the Music,”
IN MEMORIAM
“Everyday People,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Family Affair,” and the iconic “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” Albums like Stand! (1969), There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971), and Fresh (1973) were not only commercial successes but also critical turning points in American music—mixing raw political commentary with experimental sound and stripped-down funk that later laid the foundation for hip-hop and modern R&B production.
Chicago was among the cities where Sly and the Family Stone left an indelible mark. The band performed several times in the city, including a celebrated set at the International Amphitheatre in February 1972, where Stone delivered a high-energy performance featuring many of the group’s signature hits. Earlier, in 1970, a scheduled free concert at Grant Park was canceled after crowd unrest, reflecting both the band’s intense popularity and the social volatility of the era.
Despite his cultural influence, Stone’s later years were marked by turmoil. Addiction and disillusionment with the mu-
CNW Staff Report
sic industry led him to withdraw from public life. By the 1980s, he had become reclusive, at one point living in a van in Los Angeles while continuing to create music in private. His behavior during sporadic live appearances became increasingly unpredictable, but his status as a musical innovator never faded.
Stone was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. His long-awaited memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), was published in 2024 to critical acclaim, offering an honest and often raw look at his life and career. A documentary about his life, Sly Lives!, also premiered that year.
He is survived by three children and a musical legacy that spans decades and genres. His influence can be heard in the work of Prince, Public Enemy, D’Angelo, OutKast, Janelle Monáe, Kendrick Lamar, and many others. His music has been sampled extensively in hip-hop, and his approach to sound remains a touchstone for producers, artists, and cultural
historians alike. In the words of Questlove, who once called him “the most radical musician to ever grace the stage,” Sly Stone didn’t just bend the rules—he made new ones. His vision lives on wherever rhythm meets resistance, and wherever music dares to be more than entertainment.
Renee Ferguson, Trailblazing Chicago Investigative Reporter, Dies at 75
Her journalism freed the wrongfully convicted and reshaped public policy
Renee Ferguson, the veteran investigative reporter whose work exposed injustice and led to tangible reform, died on June 6 at age 75. She passed away in hospice care, according to her family.
A native of Oklahoma City, Ferguson earned her journalism degree from Indiana University and began her career at The Indianapolis Star and WLWI-TV. In 1977, she became the first Black woman to serve as an investigative reporter on Chicago television, joining WBBMTV (CBS). She later moved to NBC5 (WMAQ-TV), where she remained for more than two decades.
Ferguson’s investigations sparked major
change. One of her most consequential stories helped exonerate Tyrone Hood, who served over 20 years for a murder he did not commit. When her reporting failed to sway the courts, she contacted Governor Pat Quinn directly. On his final day in office, Quinn commuted Hood’s sentence. “After 20 years, I was finally able to get a wrongfully convicted man named Tyrone Hood out of prison,” Ferguson told Crain’s Chicago Business. In another widely recognized report, Ferguson exposed how U.S. Customs at O’Hare International Airport disproportionately subjected women of color to invasive strip searches. Her 1997 story prompted national scrutiny and led to changes in federal search procedures.
Earlier in her career, she went undercover as a student at Waller High School (now Lincoln Park High), documenting serious safety and leadership failures. The reporting led to personnel
changes and increased oversight within Chicago Public Schools.
Ferguson received seven Chicago Emmy Awards, a DuPont–Columbia Award, a Gracie Award, and a Nieman Fellowship from Harvard. She was also a founding member of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. “She was an amazing investigator… she had a real gift to help people open up and craft a story that made people care,” said NBC5 anchor Marion Brooks. NBC Chicago General Manager Kevin Cross described her as “an incredible echo in our newsroom that still rings through the DNA of our investigative journalism.”
Ferguson retired in 2008 but remained a vocal advocate for journalism as a force for justice. She is survived by her son, Jason Smikle. Funeral arrangements are pending. Her work remains a powerful example of journalism’s capacity to effect lasting change.
The A.I. The answer.is...
If you plan to succeed in today’s global environment, you need a plan, the discipline to execute it, and the will to win. It’s the only way forward in a competitive world where the space for success is shrinking by the moment. But before all else, you must be committed and focused— which means you must be intentional.
1. Intentional
Definition: Done by intention or design; intended.
Interconnection: This is the core concept. All other words on this list describe different facets or degrees of intentionality. It’s the broadest term for an action carried out with a specific aim or purpose in mind.
Distinction: Emphasizes the presence of a goal or aim. An intentional act can be spontaneous, as long as it’s driven by an underlying purpose.
2. Deliberate
Definition: Characterized by careful and thorough consideration; done or said on purpose; slow, unhurried, and steady, as though allowing time for decision on each individual action.
Interconnection: A deliberate act is always intentional. It implies a conscious choice.
Distinction: Adds nuance—thought-
fulness and careful consideration before acting. A deliberate act is not rushed or impulsive; it involves weighing options and consequences. While an intentional act can be spontaneous, a deliberate one rarely is.
3. Volitional
Definition: Done by an act of will; with deliberate intention; implying freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.
Interconnection: Closely related to “intentional,” as it highlights that the intent originates from one’s own will.
Distinction: Emphasizes free will. A volitional act is chosen, not coerced or accidental. It underscores internal agency.
4. Purposeful
Definition: Having a definite purpose in view; determined; resolute; directed toward a specific end.
Interconnection: An action is purposeful if it’s intentional. It’s a strong synonym for “intentional” when focusing on the reason something is done.
Distinction: Stresses a clear, defined goal. While “intentional” refers broadly to having intent, “purposeful” implies focused, determined action toward a specific end.
5. Premeditated
Definition: Characterized by fully conscious, willful intent and a measure of forethought and planning; considered beforehand.
Interconnection: All premeditated acts are intentional and deliberate.
Distinction: Carries the strongest connotation of prior planning and forethought. Common in legal contexts, especially for crimes, it signals that an act was not impulsive but conceived in advance. There is typically a notable time gap between intent and execution.
6. Conscious
Definition: Done with awareness and knowledge; aware of the consequences.
Interconnection: Intentional acts almost always involve a conscious actor.
Distinction: Focuses on the actor’s state of awareness. A conscious decision means you’re alert and aware of what you’re doing and its impact. You can unconsciously cause an effect, but you cannot intentionally do something unconsciously.
7. Witting
Definition: Aware of what’s involved in a particular situation; done with knowledge of the facts; informed or knowing.
Interconnection: Similar to “conscious,” with an emphasis on situational
awareness. Often implies intentionality. Distinction: Typically used in contrast to “unwitting,” highlighting awareness of circumstances. A “witting participant” acts knowingly, suggesting intentional involvement. It stresses being “in the know.”
Summary of Interconnections and Distinctions
Intentional is the broadest term, signifying action done with a purpose or aim.
Deliberate adds an element of thoughtfulness and careful consideration. Volitional emphasizes the act arising from free will.
Purposeful stresses the clear objective or goal behind the action.
Premeditated implies advanced planning and forethought.
Conscious focuses on the actor’s state of awareness during the action.
Witting highlights awareness of the facts or context surrounding the action. Think of these as concentric circles, with intentional at the center. Deliberate, volitional, and purposeful lie close to the center, offering distinct shades of meaning. Conscious and witting describe the mental state accompanying the action. Premeditated stands apart as the most specific and intense form of intentionality, marked by planning.
Be Cool and Swag Out Your White T-Shirt
Iknow everyone’s talking about “black is back” or “white with a black accent” when it comes to sneakers.
I’m not. Retro ’70s styles and ’90s chunky signature styles are a blast from the past. Still, hold on to them—they’ll be back. Just not this year. Trust me.
I mean, you can rock them if you want. But I’m suggesting something bolder: grab a yellow sneaker and let it rip with your sexy white T-shirt. Of course, you’ve got to rock it your way. That’s the one signature move here.
I know what you’re thinking: sneaker color trends cycle in and out fast, so maybe yellow’s not the move you want to make. But do it anyway. Fashion is about change—that’s what designers live for. To create. To move forward.
Saw Gigi Hadid styling sunshine on her feet the other day. Yep, yellow kicks. So if
she can rock them, you can too. Let them keep your feet comfy and free for casual, carefree days full of cool vibes. Stop second-guessing and just go find your perfect yellow—or mustard—sneaker. Whatever shade you like. But yellow, as in mellow, is the groove.
Hadid went with canary-hued Vans. They completed the perfect summer outfit she picked. She paired them with jeans and a white tee. You can take it a step further—add a cardigan (color of your choice) or a fabulous sport jacket. Again, color of your choice, but keep it simple. That’s the mood: cool, calm, and collected.
It’s not a coincidence that all the cool brands are dropping their buzziest sneakers in bright yellow. Shop smart. Find your go-to summer outfit. Keep it fresh. Keep it bold.
Mare Evans Contributing Writer
Baked Mustard-Crusted Salmon With Asparagus and Tarragon
It’s summertime, and we must be ready for the sun. Moving light and bright is what summer fun is all about. So, our meals must sustain us yet be light enough so that we can wear our bare-all summer wear.
Perfect for this kind of thinking and intentional eating is salmon — an extra-flexible weeknight protein that is virtually foolproof. You can sear it on the stovetop, toss it on a sheet pan, or cube it and bake it nugget-style. Then, pair it with sauces and spices of all kinds, like a teriyaki glaze, a mustard-based marinade, or a simple lemon-thyme dressing. Your choice.
Cooking salmon makes some people nervous. Don’t be. Just start with this recipe to build your confidence. Step one, of course, is selecting the perfect salmon for this recipe. The next step is coating the top of each fillet in country-style or whole-grain Dijon mustard, which simultaneously marinates and moistens the fish as it cooks. A low-temperature oven ensures tender results every time.
Bake the salmon gently in a low-temperature oven to ensure a moist and succulent fillet. It only takes about 15 minutes. You read that right — 15 minutes. And the wonderful, healthy asparagus cooks on the same baking sheet, making clean-up a breeze.
Cooking Notes:
If asparagus spears are thick, increase the initial baking time to 10 minutes before adding the salmon fillets to the baking sheet. If you prefer your salmon more well-done, increase the cooking time by 5 minutes and check for doneness.
Recipe Information:
Total Time: 22 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 bunch thin asparagus (about 1 pound), trimmed
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper,
divided
4 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets
8 teaspoons country-style or whole-grain Dijon mustard
Preheat oven to 275°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons of oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper on the prepared sheet. Arrange in a single layer on one half of the baking sheet. Bake asparagus for 5 minutes.
Step 2:
Meanwhile, spread each salmon fillet with 2
teaspoons of mustard. Sprinkle fillets with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In a small bowl, toss the panko with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle the panko mixture evenly onto the salmon fillets, then dust with smoked paprika.
Step 3: After the asparagus has baked for 5 minutes, remove the baking sheet
from the oven. Place the prepared salmon fillets, skin-side down, on the empty half of the baking sheet. Return to oven and bake until the salmon is firm but still pink in the center and the asparagus is tender — about 14–16 minutes more for medium-rare salmon. Divide salmon and asparagus among four plates and top with tarragon.
