June 19, 1865 — now commonly known as Juneteenth — is when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were made aware that the Civil War was over and that they were free, a full two months following the surrender of…
Author Archive for Daniel McCloud
The Lion’s Den | Look where he brought me from: A musical journey
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Look where he brought me from: A musical journey
When seeking to discuss and describe the developments of Black music during slavery and the subsequent Civil War, one must first trace the origins of Black music before it arrived in America. To do that, one must examine the history…
The Lion’s Den | Wonder drug: Empathy-1619
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Wonder drug: Empathy-1619
They had finally done it. The smart kids at Florida A&M University had created the drug that would wipe out racism and injustice in all of its forms. But, of course, none of this would have happened if not for…
The Lion’s Den | Throw another log on the fire
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Throw another log on the fire
We’re living in a world of cosmic slop, cast back into the primordial pool. I escape from this madness through reading; literature is one of my safe havens, and if Jay-Z can travel first class to change the forecast, as…
The Lion’s Den | What if Malcolm, Martin survived?
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | What if Malcolm, Martin survived?
For those familiar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is a series of comics dedicated to “What If?” This comics series has recently been rebooted as an animated series on the Disney+ Channel. The concept of the “What If?” series…
The Lion’s Den | Gordon Parks provides perspective through a uniquely qualified lens
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Gordon Parks provides perspective through a uniquely qualified lens
“I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social change wrongs. I knew at that point I had to have a camera,” Gordon Parks. These are the words of Gordon Parks,…
The Lion’s Den | Mightier Than a Sword
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Mightier Than a Sword
“When I get mad, I put it down on a pad; give ya something that cha never had.” – Chuck D (Public Enemy), “Welcome to The Terrordome” In recent years there has been a war raging against the press. For…
The Lion’s Den | Are we our brother’s keeper?
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Are we our brother’s keeper?
During the Monday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts on October 11, 2021, news broke that NFL head coach Jon Gruden had been fired from his $100 million job as the head coach of the…
The Lion’s Den | Dystopian nightmare
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Dystopian nightmare
Date: September 11, 2021. Location: Somewhere near Nowhere. Journal Entry: 9112001 It’s been 20 years since the attack that changed the world as we know it. At 8:46 am, the first tower was hit. At 10:28 am, it was down,…
The Lion’s Den | Words of the Day
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Words of the Day
Does everything in today’s world revolve around the issue of race? If this is the case, dialogue is the first step in understanding other viewpoints and creating sustainable, positive change. It then stands to reason that when we engage in…