Tulip for Tebeau

Pioneers and their schools have long had a mutually beneficial bond. This symbiosis was eloquently articulated by a Duke University resident, Broadbent, at the dedication ceremony for the Samuel DuBose Cook Center for Social Equity: “You have led a remarkable life and we are today annexing your name to the fame of this school. Some might say we are honoring you by naming the Center after you, but everyone knows the truth - we are honoring ourselves and this Center by appropriating your enduring legacy.”

Cook, a distinguished political scientist, made history in 1966 as the first Black professor to receive tenure at a predominantly White southern university in the United States. By affiliating themselves with his pioneering work, schools like Duke aim to share in the honor and social capital of civil rights icons. Yet as Broadbent suggests, the true beneficiaries of such naming opportunities are arguably the institutions themselves.

The Engineering of Racism

Racism and white supremacy have survived in the United States for a very long time because from the onset, it was based on sound ‘engineering.’ The book contends that racism is not a belief, practice, or ideology that flared up by accident or through the spur of the moment. Rather, it followed sound engineering stages like planning, design, and construction. Racism was designed to serve a domineering purpose for white people and, therefore, there was a lot of planning that eventually led to its design and construction. Because the architects had a vision of its permanency, they chose the most durable materials for its construction. Metaphorically, they used mortar, bricks, and steel beams. These durable materials, among others, include religion, science, government (including the Supreme Court), the constitution and laws, brutality, and social media. As the centuries rolled by, succeeding architects of this design and construction have done a superb job in maintenance and modifications to elude stumbling blocks. Based on the times and prevailing winds, the racism construct has undergone mutations to evade capture and destruction – even to this day. Like a car, the engineering and engineers have evolved, the models and make are changing, but the underlying engineering remains intact. Today, the overt, brash, and brutal racism has generally ceded to an equally destructive, calculated, politically-correct, less pompous, highly sophisticated, and veiled racism. The book dissects this durable foundational construct and proffers recommendations that will systematically minimize its intensity.

Tales of Agonies

Given the current Nigerian security quicksand, characterized by a plethora of human brutality seen in only very few countries of the world, the book offers coping resources primarily to Christians, who seem to be the most vulnerable group. Of course, these could be of help to non-Christians as well. This intervention has become necessary as people live in constant anxiety, fear, and apprehension and are, in fact, distressed. Consequently, human life is unprotected, miserable, and strained. The social, economic, and political life of the country is off-kilter. Only multiple intensive surgical interventions, such as those offered in the book, can save the day. Thus, a synergy of psychological and spiritual resources and techniques is considered robust enough for this purpose. In this way, they are conducive to effective coping and full functioning, not only in hostile environments.

Private Escape: Sometimes I Think!

This collection of poetic themes, philosophy, and personal thoughts is provocatively written to excite the reader’s mind. Duke’s journey into the realms of spiritual redemption and to establish a footing in the truths of reality will stimulate your mind. The romantic ensemble is tasteful and pushes the envelope of erotica, while the prisoner’s pastime section is both sad and rewarding. Written during the first six months of the pandemic, it is emotional and thrilling. 

Politics, Police and Other Earthling Antics

Mourning Bands On

Mourning Bands On is an accessible journey into the hypersensitive world of today’s American law enforcement. The reader is brought into the law enforcement world through an introduction to the history, function, and development of the American police model. With an understanding of policing’s role in American society, the reader is then immersed into the raucous and contentious cultural upheaval which American policing is currently experiencing.

Using well-known examples, the reader is challenged to consider how American culture is affected by critical incidents and the portrayal of those events in our media intensive world. The reader will review the cases in the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, as well as others. The cases are presented as a narrative of events supported by the findings and legal conclusions of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Each incident is reviewed with a view of how the incident effected American society and brought change to American culture and thus policing.

The reader will experience how American policing has changed through legislative, societal, and cultural pressure resulting from the reviewed critical incidents. With an appetite for more, the reader is encouraged to further explore the relationship between societal norms and American policing.

The work concludes with a final challenge to the reader. How do we, as a society, reform American policing to move forward after this unprecedented period of cultural change? The author offers several possible reforms to enact, what can you add to the conversation?

Ending Today’s Chaos And Repairing America

In our modern American society, we find ourselves amidst a disheartening breakdown, where chaos prevails. The dominance of a few corporations stifles diversity across numerous sectors of our economy. Complex and biased laws and tax systems cater to special interests, while the upbringing of many children and the quality of education are skewed towards wealthy areas. Moreover, our online platforms inundate us with fraudulent schemes, adding to the societal disarray.

This thought-provoking book offers a fresh perspective on historical change, presenting the idea that the Western world has undergone three distinct civilizations: the Greco-Roman, the Medieval, and the Enlightenment. With the passing of each civilization, we have witnessed a gradual deterioration of institutions and the erosion of social consensus. Examining the challenges we face today, the book delves into the concept of ‘Justice’ and questions what truly constitutes a fair society. It then presents a range of potential improvements to our current institutions, serving as a temporary measure until a new civilization emerges. Additionally, the book explores America’s place in the global context and delves into the complexities faced by other civilizations experiencing their own periods of institutional breakdown.

By offering a critical analysis of our present state and proposing alternative perspectives, this book provides a guiding light for navigating the turbulent waters of societal transformation. It inspires hope for a future where our institutions can be reimagined, fostering a more just and harmonious society.

Developing Practical Wisdom

Many people recognize wisdom as an important ideal, but the subject is rarely studied in public education or widely understood outside academia. Drawing from historical and contemporary research in psychology, philosophy, and education, Developing Practical Wisdom describes, in language accessible to any thoughtful reader, how people can intentionally learn to become wiser. The narrative provides a comprehensive set of pedagogical tools, including theories and practices, for developing deeply coherent perspectives on the world and the people in it. It explains how to cultivate coherent thinking and apply moral principles in daily life.

Actualitas: Philosophy-Art for the 21st Century

Philosophy offers more than a momentary diversion; it provides valuable insights for gaining personal control and making important decisions. Imagine a lone leaf drifting in an autumn breeze, coasting on an updraft before floating to the ground, eventually broken down by the elements and recirculated into the soil. Embracing personal responsibility without scapegoats exemplifies the essence of carpe diem – seize the day.

Throughout history, philosophy has grappled with the concept of fear, though modern times have seen this domain largely conceded to pseudosciences, often offering solutions through natural and synthetic drugs.

Aristotle had much to say about fear: ‘…the things we fear are fearful and such things are, broadly speaking, evils: e.g. disgrace, poverty, sickness, friendlessness, death… Probably one ought not to fear poverty or disease, nor in general anything that is not… one’s own fault…’

365 Inspirational Messages from Our Creator

Embark on a transformative journey through 365 Inspirational Messages from Our Creator, a captivating collection that unveils profound insights into the tapestry of life on Earth. Far from being a tool for indoctrination into any specific religion, this book offers a universal exploration of spirituality, inviting readers to embark on a personal quest for enlightenment.

Within these pages, discover a multitude of timeless philosophical points presented in a refreshingly distinctive manner. Regardless of your educational background, these simple and accessible messages will effortlessly resonate, leaving you with a deep sense of understanding and inspiration. Delve into the pages of 365 Inspirational Messages from Our Creator, and find a renewed sense of tranquility, a clearer direction amidst life’s confusion, and the blessings of peace on your personal journey.