Ya’ Can Never Own ‘em Enough

I’m talking about living in America, following politics in America, and resolving social and policy issues throughout our nation over the past several years.

My friend Brandey Sligsus comes to mind when I think about it.

She is a brilliant woman that I had known since I was in the second grade. She was always smart. She was always outgoing. She could articulate her thoughts and she was fearless. She was proud to be American and she was proud to be Black.
 
And yes – she was cute, too, although I never dated her.
Over the course of our friendship, we talked, debated, laughed, and struggled together as friends. We protested together during the Rodney King controversy of 1991-1992. We supported each other through school experiences, both academic and social. No topic was too big. No takes were too hot. No disagreement was too explosive.

Until those recent calls where I was regularly described as a 4-syllable noun that resembles “knickerbocker” – repeatedly.