Mar 16Things You Learn, 10 March 2023It is in the most unexpected moment, when we recognize just how fleeting life really is. That recognition can come in the middle of the day, when it’s business as usual — and then, suddenly, none of that matters anymore. It can also come in the wee hours of the…Life2 min readLife2 min read
Feb 12When It All Ends (Preface)[The following is a sample of fictional works from G Harrell Literary Properties.] They stood there, along the ledge of the building — the six of them, hand in hand, silent, motionless, tearful. No one knew if they were family members or friends or neighbors or strangers, but what was…Fiction7 min readFiction7 min read
Feb 7INVERNESS (Preface)[This year, G. Harrell Literary Properties is planning to spread its wings, by publishing its literary content in different media platforms. Inverness, a novel by Gary Harrell, will be released as an audiobook, given the importance of the subject matter. The following is that novel’s preface. …Fiction Writing9 min readFiction Writing9 min read
Feb 1Gary Harrell on Black HistoryBlack history is America's history. That's because, from the beginning, black history has been interwoven into the vivid and assorted tapestry that is this great Republic. Of course, that distinction isn't unique. Every American has arrived at this point with a rich and varying history that does not stand apart…American History2 min readAmerican History2 min read
Jan 27Et Tu, Memphis?This is maddening - this casual and widespread devaluation of the lives of people of color. Before we discuss another incident of police brutality, we should acknowledge that, though heinous, this isn’t our biggest problem. In fact, in the African-American community, while many are loathe to admit it, the likelihood…BlackLivesMatter4 min readBlackLivesMatter4 min read
Jan 24GUNS. GUNS. GUNS.GUNS. GUNS. GUNS. [Originally written on 25 May 2022, and published here with only minor edits.] Schools. Malls. Supermarkets. Houses of worship. Concert venues. Movie theaters. Nightclubs. Salons. Parks. Casinos. Family gatherings. Office buildings. Public streets. Workplaces... These are just a few of the locations where gun violence has shattered…Guns3 min readGuns3 min read
Jan 2Twelve New ThingsAn article written in the Wall Street Journal, by Zachary Karabell of River Twice Capital, may have included the best reflection on 2022. Of the last year, Karabell said this in his opening words: “…[W]e have reached the end of 2022 with a disagreeable form of globalization: Everyone, it…Emotional Intelligence5 min readEmotional Intelligence5 min read
Dec 1, 2022ReverenceEveryone did the same thing yesterday. They paused for a long moment, perhaps to hold back any urge to cry, before ever speaking a word. Each of their faces were initially expressionless, attesting to a long tradition of stoicism against the hardship before them. …Family7 min readFamily7 min read
Oct 4, 2022A Matter of Acute UrgencyThe Supreme Court Is On The Verge Of Killing The Voting Rights Act The beginning of the end for the Voting Rights Act started more than 30 years ago. On Oct. 3, the end of the end is…fivethirtyeight.com Tonight, when I read the preceding article, my thoughts returned to words written by Stacey Abrams in her book, Our Time Is Now: The voting system is not just political; it is economic and social and educational. It is omnipresent and omniscient. And it is fallible. Yet, when a structure…Voting Rights4 min readVoting Rights4 min read
Aug 19, 2022Black with Ink, Red with BloodIn 1258 A.D., there was no Iraq. The ancient city of Baghdad was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, and it was under siege by a Mongol army under the command of Hulagu Khan. When the city’s defenses fell, its invaders stormed in and laid waste to Baghdad. One of…Censorship10 min readCensorship10 min read
