Eulogized, that’s what he said. He said he felt like he had been eulogized.
When I sat down to interview Darnell Ishmel, a opera singer based in Michigan, I didn’t think of the impact the story would have on him. My mind typically thinks about the impact stories would have on readers.
But after listening to a voicemail Ishmel left for me, I further understood just how much this type of storytelling matters to not just who is reading but being able to give others a chance to tell their stories. This is what it means to have the power to allow people to share stories of their authentic self. This is why this is important.
The stories that we tell with Black Like Us empower and impact not just the reader but it also allows others to feel empowered when being able to take ownership of their greatness and share it with others.
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In case you missed it
Flint, Mich., is known for many things but definitely not opera.
Tucked in a neighborhood on the north side of Flint, you wouldn’t know it, but there is an opera singer.
There I was on January 31, 2022, sitting across from Darnell Ishmel in his living room surrounded by custom wall art that swirled gold, burgundy, blue, copper, and brown; African statues, tapestry, and masks; and deep burgundy furniture.
The 9-year-old girl only put two things on her Christmas list. When she opened the box, there it was, a white telescope. Her father helped her put it together and gave her the do's and don'ts when using it.
She was excited to see what the universe had to offer. But what she didn't know was that it would change her perception of the world forever.
Music and fishing.
Those are the two things that have always been constant in Fred McBride's life.
"I was four or five when my grandfather took me fishing," said McBride recalling his first fishing trip. "I will never forget it. I actually messed up my Zebco reel. I got my line so tangled up he had to throw it away."
From tent camping, RV life to van life, Lixie Jane loves the outdoors, and she wants you to love it too.
Jane grew up camping with 4-H and has always had a passion for the outdoors, but she noticed one thing. Few Black people had the same love for her favorite pastime. So, in 2019 she launched Black And Camping to help fill that void and to encourage others to also start camping.
