aprilisms
the APRIL R. SILVER blog
Established 2008
Quote of the Week: On Houses (Kahlil Gibran)
Greed is money’s biggest client. Comfort is the context. The money-changers (Wall Street) have built houses made of straw. Read this week’s quote from Khalil Gibran: “And tell me, people of Orphalese, whathave you in these houses? And what is ityou guard with fastened doors? Have you peace, the quiet urge that revealsyour power? Have …
Quote of the Week: James Baldwin
“I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” LEARN MORE about JAMES BALDWIN, a masterful writer.
Quote of the Week: Harriet Tubman’s “Keep Going”
Hillary Clinton got it wrong. Here is the quote that has long been attributed to Harriet Tubman: “…If you are tired, keep going;If you are scared, keep going;If you are hungry, keep going;If you want to taste freedom, keep going.”
What Desperate Looks Like
My most dreadful love relationship showed up when I was in my twenties. I was lonely and very fearful that I would never find a boyfriend. At 25, I had never been in a serious relationship, had kept my virginity until I was a sophomore in college with very few sexual experiences to follow, and …
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Quote of the Week: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman has deeply moved me since I was a little girl. I have been at her feet all my life. In these entries, I’d like to share with you aspects of Harriet that many people are not aware of. Here’s one of my favorite quotes, for starters: “Oh Lord, convert master!” “Oh Lord, change …
Verizon Wireless In Bed with “Niggas” (from Put On BLAST! July 7, 2008)
The following Put On BLAST! item was published last month. In fact, it was sent July 7, 2008 at 9:55 am. By 12 noon, Verizon has issued a statement in response to the outcry. The POB! family played a key role in pushing Verizon to address this. Read the back-story below, then (in a separate …
Verizon Wireless In Bed with “Niggas” (from Put On BLAST! July 7, 2008) Read More »
The Meaning of: Muse
muse (the verb, not one of the daughters of Zeus) – to consider or meditate at at length muse (the noun; again, not one of Zeus’ daughters) – a state of deep reflectionmuse (still…not yet the offspring) – a guiding spirit; a source of inspiration; a poet and Muse (OK, now) – one of the …
Quote of the Week: On Love
One of my FAVORITE writers is KAHLIL GIBRAN (1883 – 1931), a Lebanese poet, philosopher, and artist. His most popular work is the classic book “The Prophet,” written in 1923. If there is a book that belongs in the library of any poet, writer, thinker, seeker of knowledge, it’s this one. During my mediation this …
In Memoriam: Isaac Hayes aka Black Moses
I was visiting a friend in Harlem yesterday when I learned of Isaac Hayes’ death. The texts and emails came one right after the other. Like most of you, I was felt a pang in my heart. “Back to back! What does this mean?” I wondered. During this corridor last year (July and August), the …
In Memoriam: Bernie Mac
Around 8:30am, I got the sad news from Dean Meminger of NY1 News. Bernie Mac had died earlier this morning. I didn’t believe it and at the risk of insulting Dean’s journalistic integrity, I asked him “Are you sure?” Taken in with nothing but pure childlike denial, I kept saying to myself that that couldn’t …
Poetry: “I Love You, Nado”
I Love You, Nado (inspired by Nina Simone’s “I Loves You, Porgy”) Monday he came back for me, Like he had before. Deep inside I knew I had to go. With his hard hands he handled me, He handled me so… When he took me Monday I had your favorite dress on. It was like …
Quote of the Week: New Ideas
I learned this quote from performance poet, playwright, and educator MO BEASLEY (a dear friend, client, and fellow Howardite). Mo was conducting his popular “N-Word” workshop for high school students in Mt. Vernon last spring when he explained the importance of seeking out the deep origins of the word nigga, a word that many young …
Login Be Damned!
About 4 years ago I took my first luxury vacation. I treated myself to a trip to Puerto Rico for a few days, stayed at a luxury resort, bought anything I saw that I wanted without worrying about cost (I just needed to try that once in my lifetime), and toured most of the island. …
5 Tips for Business Email
Like many of you, I live on email and conduct the bulk of my business correspondence via email. And like many of you, I’m sure, I feel oddly disconnected if I’m away from desktop or BlackBerry for extended periods of time. It becomes this big “thing” in my head if I’m going to be offline. …
Forty Backwards
I originally published the essay below (via Put On BLAST!) two summers ago (July 2006). Here’s the replay, with a few extra gems. The response was tremendous then. Thought you might enjoy it now. Forty Backwards Last month I turned 38. With 40 fast approaching, I’ve been more reflective than usual. I’ve begun to observe …
Arts & Activism 101
It was in 2005 that I had one of my “A-Ha!” moments. I was directed to connect with an organization in the south that “spoke my language,” an organization that I should know: Alternate ROOTS. It was exciting to discover them. I felt like I should know them already, given my background. But I had …
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