Last month I went to a comedy club for the first time. It was a blast and I laughed all night long. I’m a big fan of stand-up comedy and had only watched stand-up shows on television, so being able to see a live comedy act was a treat. I was excited but also nervous during my first visit. I’d been warned about some comedy club etiquette before arriving, like how you shouldn’t sit front row at a comedy show to avoid getting clowned by the comedian. Luckily, I wasn’t too close to the stage. The crowd was cool too. And the comedians? Hilarious! I was actually going to back out of going because I’d been given tickets for the show last minute, but I’m glad I didn’t because I would’ve missed a good time. If you’ve never been to a comedy show, I definitely recommend going. It’s a good time. Who couldn’t use a good laugh? The comedy club scene is also a great opportunity to mingle with other singles - if you’re single, of course. My trip to the comedy club has been another wonderful experience this summer that I’m grateful to cross off my bachelorette life list. I hope all you other bachelorettes out there are enjoying your life during your own seasons of singleness. Because if you don’t enjoy your own company, why would anyone else?
I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...