just spent two days out in the marin headlands on a retreat with thirty other black men. it was invigorating, uplifting, comforting, and of course, affirming to have fella-ship with my fantastically creative, intelligent, and resilient brothas. strains of angie stone fill my head: "i just want the whole world to know about my black brothas..."

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my only comment about last tuesday's election -- and the hellish two years of republican "leadership" we face -- is that the democrats better GET IT TOGETHA. whatever happened to standing up for what you believe in -- and for those who believe in you?

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on saturday, uncle richard, my mother's eldest brother, had his homegoing ceremony after passing away from heart disease. i dedicated coltrane's "love supreme" in memory of uncle richard's generous and gentle spirit. the father of seven kids and a host of grands and even a few great grands, uncle richard told me in '97 that if he had continued playing the sax, he "coulda kept up with those big cats." unc, i hope you get to jam with coltrane and dizzy and mingus in a little joint on the other side of st. peter's gate.