Fruit for Thought: the Intersection of Education, Culture, and Performance

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — February 27th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ Your Pusherman I'm your mama, I'm your daddy, I'm that brotha in the  lab.I'm your doctor when you need. THG?  To build your speed.  You know  me,  I'm your friend, Your main boy, thick and thin. I'm your pusherman...   Why get higher, when you can go faster and be stronger? These dealers  ain't  pushing cocaine or heroine. Matter of fact, you won't find them on the corners or in the alleys. Their prescription is for instant success and fame. What disappoints me, th...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — February 13th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ Play Hard and Grow: Life to the ThirdPower The sweat was dipping and her legs were burning. Gia Ferguson knows she can't stop peddling, not now. No one in the class has stopped, so why should she.    "Everyone was going off adrenaline," explained Ferguson, a psychology major from Miami. "I was in pain and they were in pain."   This wasn't preparation for the Tour de France, but those hills and sprints felt like the real thing. This is no ordinary spin  class, better yet this is no ordi...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — February 6th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ DC’s Got Their Mo-Joe (Gibbs) Back By now, the crews have left. ESPN, FOX Sports and every local network has filed their footage into the archives. It's old news to Washingtonians and they patiently watched and waited as Super Bowl XXXVIII ended in historic fashion: maybe next year that will be us.   After completing only two of his five seasons with the Redskins, Steve Spurrier's "Fun & Gun" offense ultimately killed his career and almost killed quarterback Patrick Ramsey.    "He didn't...

Before my current writing life, there was  The Hilltop ,  Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form. From The Hilltop Archives Originally published in   The Hilltop , Howard University — February 6th, 2004 __________________________________________________________________________________ CBS: Eye Poppin' TV     Enough people, enough.   Y'all are still debating this like some six year-olds on the playground. I am going to squash this so it can forever and consistently be squashed.   When I picked up the Washington Post last Monday, everybody had something to say about the super bowl halftime show. However, it was the opinion of one columnist in the style section, who will remain nameless, that caught my attention. No  offense to him, but his two cents aren't  w...