Teaching Year 32: Literature Consoles & Confronts

I can still see him sitting to one side of the classroom after his friends made their way out to lunch. His American Literature Anthology was still open to the last page of Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” He leaned forward, looking like he was going to cry.

John Lewis’ Gift to Us

It is hard to believe John Lewis is dead. Having thought of him as a hero for so long, it is hard to settle into the knowledge that he does not dwell here as he did. The story of his life offers us so much richness and wisdom. I don’t want to let him go.

Refugees Deserve Refuge

These days, the world convulses with violence and sorrows of all sorts. One that is most heartbreaking is the reality of refugees. Whether fleeing violence in Syria, poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, violence in Myanmar or Central America, refugees have been largely left to their own devices. This makes their plight harder and unfair. In particular,

True American Founders

The people who truly founded America didn’t have to be alive at its founding. Some might find that an odd thought but it’s not odd at all. If we respect the most basic ideal on which America was founded: freedom, then those who lived that ideal are the true American Founders. George Washington and Thomas

Facing Race in America

Sometimes, when people discuss removing Confederate statues from places of public honor, they ask where the removals will end. They wonder if we should remove public honors from anyone who owned slaves, assisted the Confederacy. Simply put, the answer is “Yes.” America needs to dive into its history with honesty and decide to stop honoring

Guest Blogger Jimmy Friday’s Poetic Response to Police Brutality

I’m grateful and honored that my friend, Jimmy Friday, wrote this poem for my blog. Jimmy is a husband and father raising two Black sons. He lives in Houston, Texas. #ThatDidntAgeWell By Jimmy Friday Hypocrisy and lack of action, don’t age well. Turning a blind eye on THIS issue (to my detriment) but caring about

Pre-Order RAISING KING

I’m thrilled to share the you can now pre-order Raising King from Willow Books HERE. It will be published on September 15, 2020 and you will get it first, in the mail, at your home! Advanced Praise for Raising King: Raising King is a groundbreaking poetry collection that helps to rescue the radically compassionate legacy

Who Polices the Police?

It has been an awful few days in America and it is important, as my friend, Jimmy Friday, says in his reflection below, “Is it nice to look away?” In the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, a white woman in New York City calls the police on a Black man who asked her to leash

This Teacher Appreciates Teachers

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve had some great teachers and I’ve had some weak ones. Both influenced me for the good. Sometimes, seeing something done poorly can be a powerful motivation to do it well. But mostly, teachers who stirred up something inside me have had

JosephRoss.net Gets a Fresh Cut!

With Raising King coming out in September, I wanted for my website to get a fresh cut! It’s been a while in the making, but it’s finally done. Big Thanks to Robert Waxman. Without his skill and patience it would never have happened. The site has many of the same elements as the old one