As we hope everyone knows, last night the state of Alabama elected Doug Jones to the U.S. Senate. Jones, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama who prosecuted the Klan, beat Judge Roy Moore, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama, who was twice elected to and then ousted from that position for refusing to [...]
Since we will be taking a break from posting on Thanksgiving day itself, today's Thoughtful Thursday offers up some Thanksgiving poetry for you and your family to enjoy. We begin with two poems from Paul Lawrence Dunbar (1872-1906), who was one of the first African American poets to gain national recognition. You will note the distinctively different voices in [...]
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund held its 31st Annual National Equal Justice Award Dinner in New York City tonight. The evening was an inspirational tribute to LDF and its focus on defending civil rights and empowering people and communities in the fight for equality. If you don't know about the Legal Defense Fund, you can and should [...]
Today's Thoughtful Thursday pays tribute to three African American women poets: Jessie Redmon Fausetz, Audre Lorde, and Natasha Trethewey. Jessie Redmon Fausetz (1882-1961) played an important part in the Harlem Renaissance as the literary editor of The Crisis, a magazine founded by W.E.B.Dubois. A graduate of Cornell University in 1905, she was a teacher before and after her stint [...]
Success Academy Charter Schools in New York City have had an impressive track record of helping students achieve impressive results on statewide reading tests. Their website boasts that this year 84% of their students (their "scholars") passed the mandatory English Language Arts (ELA) tests and 95% passed the math tests, making them the #1 school system in New York [...]
In the wake of the tragic Las Vegas Shooting, for today's Thoughtful Thursday we offer inspirational poems of survival. We begin with "little prayer" by Danez Smith, a call for healing. We move on to classic celebrations of survival, "Life is Fine" by Langston Hughes and "And Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou. We end with "Shoulders", in which [...]
Sixteen years ago we watched in horror as terrorists took the Twin Towers down, damaged the Pentagon and killed innocent people on American soil. We honor the memories of the fallen every 9/11 with prayers for their families and for our country, with monuments, with moments of silence. We remember. Noted poet Lucille Clifton (1936-2010) wrote "September's Song, A [...]
Today's Thoughtful Thursday offers quotes to help our children and ourselves with the transition to a new school year. Here are some quotes to remind us of the value of the educational journey, and some to encourage them as they return to the classroom. Share with your sons, and enjoy. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can [...]
The youngest son in my family is graduating high school tomorrow. So proud of this guy! In honor of all the graduates on this Thoughtful Thursday, GCP would like to dust off an old favorite, "If for Boys" by Rudyard Kipling. The words of this poem never fail to inspire, and its wisdom is timeless. Enjoy. Congrats to the [...]
Last weekend Wharton MBA's graduates heard an amazing speech from their fellow student Dante Pearson '17 at their graduation ceremony. And now you can too. Click here and listen to this thoughtful and insightful speech from this young brother. Such a level head, commanding presence and great thinking from such a young man. Look out for him--we will hear [...]