During this episode, I asked Martha to help me understand why some people are committed to making others rich? Who did you make rich, lately? We went out on the front porch to tackle the subject.

Martha and I have returned to the microphone to talk about distractions while sitting on our vicarious front porch. This is our first recording since February 18, 2024 - but now we are back!

This episode is a continuation of S5:E18. Martha and I welcomed Spence and Dewayne back to Old School Thoughts to expand our conversation on African American entrepreneurship. What are the challenges? Why do we give up buildings in certain locations when other ethnicities do not have to grapple with the same concern(s)?

Martha and I had the pleasure of having SFC Richard C. Spencer (aka Spence) to join us on Old School Thoughts to discuss our values. In January 2024, I was parked at the commissary on Fort Moore in Georgia and noticed a soldier gathering grocery carts to return to the entrance of the commissary. I was blown away with his action because I had done the same thing because I can't understand why there is no motorized cart puller available for the young workers. On that day, I approached SFC Spencer and introduced myself to share with him my thoughts about what he had done. I also asked him to join Martha and I on our podcast to share with all of us his reason for doing such an unselfish act. He agreed and here we are.

Martha and I opened the mic to Dewayne because he wanted to discuss the complexities of business planning in the African American community or amongst African Americans as a networking relationship. The conversation was so insightful and led us to expand on some areas that caused us to reach our stopping point. We ended the conversation with an agreement to return for an extended episode. Let us know what your thoughts are and pass this episode to others for answers.

Martha and I are questioning the truth about family genealogy. On 24 January 2024, I made a discovery about my family that I feel very strongly about, but it comes with perplexing feelings and thoughts. Martha joined me in this finding of my/our family's research because Martha is also related to me on my paternal side, as well. On many occasions, I have stated that our family does not belong to us, they are to be shared beings. I would like for each listener to think about our ancestors and what they endured to search for and or regather families. Some families decided to move on and some accepted the truth. I am interested in your thoughts.

This episode is a tribute to Ella Sheppard, born into slavery in 1851 and died in 1915. She was the daughter of Simon Shepphard and Sarah. She and her parents were property of Andrew Jackson residing on Jackson's Hermitage plantation. She is known as the matriarch of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. This is another example of African American history that we are left to present as trivia information.

I apologize for incorrectly stating her father's name in the episode. Please schedule time to research the timeline of Ella Sheppard.

Martha and I decided to return to the front porch, on the eve of celebrating the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Holiday, to discuss and evaluate 99 years of violence against the people of Jessup County, Mississippi, that led to the tragedy of Mississippi Burning. We are asking our listeners to watch the movie and evaluate what the timelines of history from 1865 - 1964.

Martha and I have decided to return to the front porch to talk about various conversations. Martha decided to pose the question about our (African Americans) ability to focus on one cause. She stated that when we were enslaved, we singularly focused on freedom. During the Civil Rights Movement, we singularly focused on equality of voting, education, transportation, and etc. Today, we seem to be too distracted and or conditioned to focus on one singular goal. Due to everything that is happening in our society, from 2023 - 2024, the African American agenda has faded from the upcoming election process.

Here is the question: What would you do, if you found out that what you were doing was wrong? I would usually ask this question to people who would approach me under the umbrella of religion, but I apply it to every point of learning. I have asked Martha and Dunbar to join me in discussing this topic. How did you feel the first time you decided to challenge a belief or tradition that you grew up with? Those beliefs and traditions that shaped you might be under personal attack (internally and externally) as you grow and or mature. So, I am asking each of you, what have you learned that caused you to think differently about previous beliefs and traditions?