Christopher A. Kess

James Ransone, who played Ziggy on “The Wire,” dead at 46 James Ransone "committed not only to the work but to the camaraderie that turns every good film production into something familial and caring,” said David Simon, creator of "The Wire."

James Ransone, who played Ziggy Sobotka on “The Wire,” has died. He was 46.

“He committed not only to the work but to the camaraderie that turns every good film production into something familial and caring,” said David Simon, the show’s creator. www.thebanner.com/culture/film...

@baltimorebrew.bsky.social has their own "we told you so" article from a few years ago that they've posted today:

baltimorebrew.com/2021/05/25/a...

In Love With TIF In middle school, some of my classmates insisted I had a crush on a girl named Tiffany. Though this Tiffany was indeed cute, I did not have a crush on her. One could say I was in the initial throws…

#Baltimore #PortCovington #BaltimorePeninsula

www.christopher-kess.com/2016/06/02/i...

I was skeptical of this project back then, too. Some of my thoughts at the time linked below (sorry, my site is a mess):

That's stuck with me too, just not as much as some others.

It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.

Cover of "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin.

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 📚
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 6: “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin

Miss you, auntie

Just sitting in the corner doing nothing. I feel like I should be doing something.

"Peace is Every Step" by Thich Nhat Hanh

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 📚
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 5: “Peace is Every Step” by Thich Nhat Hanh

IBM fired Black executives to ‘appease’ Trump, lawsuit claims The company previously faced a series of lawsuits alleging that its DEI programs discriminated against White male employees.

A Black product manager is fighting back. Companies need to learn there's a cost to 'bending the knee' when it comes to this administration. Hope the plaintiff wins!!

www.hrdive.com/news/ibm-fir...

"Ethical Ambition" by Derrick Bell

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 📚
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 4: “Ethical Ambition” by Derrick Bell

“Love Poems” by Nikki Giovanni

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 📚
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 3: “Love Poems” by Nikki Giovanni

The Magic Words

Report for America announces 100+ newsroom partners and the opening of new corps member applications - Report for America Report for America announces 100+ newsroom partners and the opening of new corps member applications Selections include 66 local newsroom partners and corps member positions, 35 accelerator program pa...

Baltimore Beat is proud to announce our selection as a Report for America host newsroom. www.reportforamerica.org/2024/12/17/r...

Orioles sign veteran Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano The 35-year-old Sugano has spent his entire 12-year career with the Yomiuri Giants of the NPB’s Central League, and he’s the league’s reining MVP after posting a 1.67 ERA in 156 2/3 innings.

Orioles sign veteran Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to one-year deal

Billy Bob Bundleroosky

Cover of “Selected Poems of Langston Hughes.”

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 📚
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 2: “Selected Poems of Langston Hughes”

Nikki Giovanni 🖤

There aren't enough hearts

Cover of "Whispers, Secrets, and Promises" by E. Ethelbert Miller

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 📚
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 1: "Whispers, Secrets and Promises" by E. Ethelbert Miller

Every big story that comes out of maryland has a "I went to high school with that guy" factor

Color photo of Nikki Giovanni in the woods in black long-sleeve shirt and gray hair, clasping her hands in front of her.

"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal
I cannot be comprehended
except by my permission

I mean . . . I . . . can fly
Like a bird in the sky."

Nikki Giovanni: Ego Tripping

To the woman who gave us so much joy in with her words (which we need now more than ever): Thank you. Rest. Onward

Renowned poet and Black arts movement icon Nikki Giovanni dies at 81 The poet and activist was a leading figure of the Black Arts Movement. Giovanni was working on her upcoming book of poetry, set to publish in the fall.

www.npr.org/2024/12/09/n...

Nikki Giovanni describes how she doesn't think death is the end of us.

From an interview I did with Nikki Giovanni back in 2017:

“Writers don’t write from experience, although many are hesitant to admit that they don’t. …If you wrote from experience, you’d get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy.”

— Nikki Giovanni

RIP, genius….

#WritingCommunity #writing

The greatest. Rest deeply Mother Nikki Giovanni. 🖤💔❤️

The women gather because it is not unusual to seek comfort in our hours of stress.
A man must be buried.
It is not unusual that the old bury the young though it is an abomination.

RIP 🕯️
Nikki Giovanni (1943-2024)

Never forget that she got “thug life” tatted on her as a tribute to Pac

This is an incalculable loss but Nikki Giovanni lived a grand and interesting life; that will always be a gift. May she rest in power.

Allowable any Nikki Giovanni I killed a spider Not a murderous brown recluse Nor even a black widow And if the truth were told this Was only a small Sort of papery spider Who should have run When I picked up the book But she didn't And she scared me And I smashed her I don't think I'm allowed To kill something Because I am Frightened

I return to this poem often, and have posted it around my neighborhood when the times call for it.

Today is as good as any day to return to it.