Is Technology Ruining Our Lives?

Growing up my family had dial up internet. (Yes, there was a time when Wi-Fi was non-existent.) There was exactly one computer in the house that was the family computer and my brother and I had e-mail accounts, closely monitored by our parents. We weren’t allowed to use the computer without permission or during the school week unless we had an assignment or project that needed to be done. There was no social media. No smart phones. No texting. And no way of anyone being able to have multiple ways of being able to get in touch with you or clock your moves. I remember that time (early through late 90s) being much more peaceful.

These days? There’s practically technology almost, everywhere. People aren’t as present as they used to be. Most people seem so “plugged in” that they’re often out of touch with reality. Others have meltdowns and fall into comparison traps after scrolling through their social media feeds, and a lot of people are definitely way more impatient.

I don’t believe technology is evil, however, I believe it’s a great source of strain, pressure, and addiction for many, many people. Pro’s like, being able to keep in touch with others, stream television shows and movies at one’s leisure and the option to obtain tickets for events and travel, and being able to do online shopping are nice, but the con’s such as distractions, comparisons, and the lack of being present are things that can prompt the question:

Is technology ruining our lives?

Henry David Thoreau once said, “Men have become tools of their tools…”

Have we?

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

Dear Young Black Professionals

As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...

Black Male Athletes And Their Dating Preferences

In the 2017 horror film Get Out , there’s an unforgettable scene when one of the film’s villainous characters, Rose, a young white woman, is seen eating Fruit Loops and drinking a bottle of milk through a straw as she searches the internet for “Top NCAA prospects.” This moment in the film is frightening because the purpose of Rose’s search is to ultimately lure young and unsuspecting Black men to a deadly fate after she begins dating them. If you’ve seen the film, you know how everything ultimately turns out, but if you haven’t, you’ll have a better understanding of the bigger picture. Recently, college football superstar and future NFL prospect, Travis Hunter, became a source of media scrutiny and controversy regarding his relationship with his fiancée, Leanna Lenee. Much of the criticism was around his fiancée and comments she shared about how she wasn’t initially interested in Travis before they started dating. Additionally, she received backlash regarding the couple’s interact...

Making Waves