Now that the 2020 presidential election is over, it’s time to do an autopsy. What did we learn? We learned that nearly 160 million Americans voted in this year’s presidential election as of this writing. Clearly, people felt that a…
Author Archive for Daniel McCloud
The Lion’s Den | Every Vote Counts
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Every Vote Counts
Over the past months, one of the main points of discussion surrounding the upcoming presidential election has been voter suppression. Or in a broader sense, actions that may be viewed as a threat to the democratic process of voting. There…
The Lion’s Den | Nature’s Lessons
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Nature’s Lessons
As summer slips into fall and the sound of the cicadas provide us with a nightly symphony, I am reminded of the simplicity of nature and how it has a way of gently reminding us that despite what we think,…
The Lion’s Den | It Continues to Play In Peoria
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | It Continues to Play In Peoria
The City of Peoria became the center of attention in a recent New York Times article titled “The City that Once Guided a Nation Now Shows its Cracks.” The article focused on the looting that took place in the City…
The Lion’s Den | The Cliff
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | The Cliff
Eight minutes and 46 seconds was the time it took for Dereck Chauvin and his fellow officers to murder George Floyd. But it has been 401 years since Africans were kidnapped and brought to this country as slaves. From 1619…
The Lion’s Den | To Play Ball, or Not to Play Ball: That is the Question
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | To Play Ball, or Not to Play Ball: That is the Question
As I write this article, I am reminded of a conversation I once had with my wife. The question that I posed to her was this: “Can you imagine a world without sports?” She laughed and said, “No.” Well, here…
The Lion’s Den | Sticks and stones
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Sticks and stones
Everyone remembers the saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” When scrutinized, this phrase is a thought process that is used as a defense mechanism to fend off insults and verbal barbs that…
The Lion’s Den | I Am Not My Hair
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | I Am Not My Hair
The California-based legislation, The Crown (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, SB-188, is designed to prevent discrimination toward African Americans based on their hair. This law is housed under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and…
The Lion’s Den | Part II African American Education: Post Civil War
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Part II African American Education: Post Civil War
Following the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery, America faced many challenges, including the significant loss of free labor and a social stratification system thrown into turmoil. Primary among these challenges was how to address the…
The Lion’s Den | Part I: African American Education: During Slavery
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Part I: African American Education: During Slavery
This article is the first in a series that exams the African American experience with America’s education system. Part one will examine the education of Blacks during the times of slavery. Education for African Americans during slavery was mainly illegal.…