From COVID-19 to George Floyd and All the Pain in Between
byIf I have learned anything over the past three months, it is this salient axiom: Pain unifies people. Quite frankly, it is a truth…
Message Feature
Cover stories, cover packages, current events and issues
I Got 5 On It: What’s Your Hustle?
byData from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics from August 2019 indicates that the average duration of unemployment is five months. Those statistics…
Shelter in Place
by“Shelter: to protect or shield from something harmful” (Oxford Dictionary) Never has the term, ‘shelter’ been used as commonly as we’ve seen recently with…
How to Avoid a Bank Robbery
byThis is not a notice or warning coming from your local police department or neighborhood watch group. Some of you may surmise that since…
In Honor of Pat Sparks Harris, Friend and Associate Message Editor
bySeptember 25, 1947 – May 20, 2020 Pat Sparks Harris, the long-time backbone of Message (1999-2018), served most recently as our Associate Editor before…
My Last Dance
by“Sorry, kid. I am only taking pictures with kids that I know today.” That was how the only conversation that I’ve had with Michael…
Black Does Crack
byThe Impact of Race-Based Stress on Black Bodies I was hosting a Black student discussion when an attendee shared this statement: “My generation is…
Where is My Money and Why am I Short?
bySeveral weeks have passed since you were promised your stimulus check, if you qualified. Where is your money and why is it taking so…
Your Liberation Library
byBook Review of Jonathan E. L. Brooks Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods Everyone ministers in communities, but are our methods most effective? Jonathan…
How Coronavirus is Impacting Your Retirement Plan
byAt the end of 2019 Congress passed into law the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, also known as the SECURE Act….