Hi, y'all, How are you? Like, really - how are you? I'm doing well. I'm experiencing my annual shock that it's almost the end of the year. Years go by so much faster than they used to. One day it's mid-October, and I'm enjoying watching the leaves turn, and next thing I know, it's New Year's Eve. If the year is flying by for you (along with all those writing deadlines you've set, …

I just learned the White House fired most of the members of the National Council on the Humanities. I wrote about it here. Please check it out.

I just read an article describing how the White House fired most members of the board of the national Council on the Humanities. The National Council on the Humanities advises the NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities} on grant-making decisions). Instead of a board of 26 members, there are now four members. The board has lost essential diversity and with it, most likely, the ability (or perhaps inclination) to entertain and fund a broad scope of grant requests.

Hello, How are you doing? I’m doing fine and dandy, as I’m over here contemplating what is my art. My colleague who insists that I am an artist is presenting me with opportunities to practice being an artist. I love it, and it’s forcing me to think about what my art is. I’m realizing some of the things I thought were my art likely are not, but honestly, saying that is too reductive.

I believe I have entered my Philadelphia era in my reading. As you know, I have a love-hold relationship with Libby. I put books on hold, and they are all invariably delivered to me when I cannot read them (usually because I’m already reading several books when several more get delivered to me). So I postpone delivery of the books, and the vicious cycle continues.

Hello! How are you? I'm doing well. I believe I have entered my Philadelphia era in my reading. As you know, I have a love-hold relationship with Libby. I put books on hold, and they are all invariably delivered to me when I cannot read them (usually because I’m already reading several books when several more get delivered to me). So I postpone delivery of the books, and the vicious cycle continues.

Hello there! How are you? I"m doing well, thank you very much. 🙂 So I mentioned I play the clarinet. Had I told you about it a few years ago, I would've used the past tense. I started on the clarinet in fourth grade. The summer before fifth grade, we moved to a different state where the local school district didn't begin the band program until sixth grade.

Hello. I'm Roshaunda, and apparently I write plays. That came as news to me, but in hindsight, it shouldn't have been a surprise. In 2019 I wrote a sketch for our women of God Luncheon. That was the first time I had done anything like that. God has long given me story ideas, and I always create and play out scenarios (with dialogue) in my head, so it makes sense that I ventured into play writing.

Hello and how are you!? I pray you're well. I'm doing well, myself. I live in St. Louis, MO, and we just got hit by a tornado the other day. God spared my family and our home, and I praise Him for it! But so many homes and buildings were destroyed, and several people lost their lives. I knew one of those people.

Hello! How are you? I pray you're well. I'm doing fine and dandy, thank you very much. Last time I wrote, I mentioned I've come to consider myself a cultural custodian for black women, and I promised I'd elaborate on that idea. Lately I've pondered a lot about my career, and what I love to do, and what I love to read, and who I like to serve, and so many things pointed to black women.

Hello! How are you? I'm doing just fine, thank you. Yesterday was Mother's Day, and I had a great day. I got to spend the day with my husband and our two young adult children. My children are at a stage in their lives where they don't live at home permanently anymore, so I'm exulting in the fact that they both are in-town for the summer.

US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon plans to shutter the US Department of Education and is calling it the department’s “Final Mission.” This mission, per McMahon, will adhere to three convictions. Parents are the primary decision makers in their children’s education.  Taxpayer-funded education should refocus on meaningful learning in math, reading, science, and history—not divisive DEI programs and gender ideology. 

In the Bible, in the book of Esther, Esther is a young Jewish woman who has been raised by her cousin, Mordecai. Through a series of unusual events (series of unusual events being the hallmark of the book of Esther) Esther becomes queen. The king unknowingly agrees to the mass genocide of Esther's people. As queen, Esther has proximity to the king and can speak with him on behalf of the Jewish people.

As you know, I do recorded readings of 19th Century US literature by and/or about black people. I've started to do those readings on Substack. I decided I wanted a space to explore all of my 19th Century literature ideas in one place, and I didn't think that place was LELA House. I think it's LELA House adjacent, but it's separate enough that I thought I'd try a different platform.

I'm building THRIVE Community to support black women in higher education, particularly those who live in the St. Louis metropolitan area. With all of the changes under the new Trump administration, I'm concerned about - well, a lot of things, to be honest. The takeovers, the erasures of history, the attack on the arts, the redaction of DEI, and on and on.

I have a Youtube playlist where I read aloud from 19th Century American literary texts, and I thought I’d share those here. In addition to reading the texts, I add my own commentary and analysis. I hope you enjoy them.

I have a Youtube playlist where I read aloud from 19th Century American literary texts, and I thought I’d share those here. In addition to reading the texts, I add my own commentary and analysis. I hope you enjoy them.