For Dreamers, Thinkers and Achievers
By Cheryl Mattox Berry My daughter’s godmother, Rosalind, experienced the most frantic 48 hours of her life when her only living sibling, Dianne, fell ill in another city. She was unable to provide medical information to aid doctors treating Dianne. At first, doctors thought Dianne, a contract instructor at a professional school, had suffered a […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry I’ve overheard and engaged in the most interesting conversations at the gym. Before my Zumba class started one day, Tony, a Venezuelan in his early 20s, said he liked my hair. We wear a similar curly hairstyle except his is blond. He asked if he could touch my hair. I let […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Here we go again. New allegations of sexual abuse have surfaced against R&B crooner R. Kelly. This time, Kelly is accused of holding several young women – all of them legally adults – in a cult-like environment at homes in Atlanta and Chicago. The parents of these young women claim Kelly […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Be careful what you say around your children. I’m not talking about disparaging remarks about other races and ethnic groups because we know our offspring tend to believe what they hear at home. I’m referring to phobias and insecurities. Many parents unwittingly saddle their kids with their own issues, which can have […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Every now and then, a challenge presents itself that reminds me of the green sundress. I can laugh now, but it was a serious matter at the time. Here’s the story: One summer, I decided that I would learn how to sew. My mother, grandmother and sister made beautiful clothes so […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry My mother, Josephine, has always been an enigma. That is, until about ten years ago when she started divulging family secrets and telling anecdotes about growing up in rural Mississippi and the men in her life. Until then, this is what I knew about Mom: She was a dedicated nurse, disciplinarian […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Why are women so afraid to say something when they’re treated unfairly? That’s the question that keeps running around in my head as the media report cases of sexual harassment in the workplace. It seems that many of these women suffered in silence until someone else stepped forward. The reasons given […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry If we could get rid of bad stuff in our lives as easy as the folks in the TV commercial for the letgo app, life would be a lot easier. Unfortunately, we have to work hard at removing obstacles that keep us from being our best selves, but It can be […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry The Day Without a Woman protest reminded me of what I did when feeling unappreciated and ignored by my family. I staged a Mom Strike. I printed large “On Strike” signs in bold letters and posted them on every surface in the kitchen and laundry room, and on my bedroom door. […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Once upon a time, professional athletes were considered role models. Then, we found out that some of them battered their girlfriends and wives, consumed drugs and did all sorts of illegal stuff. Thud! They were kicked off the pedestal. Now, we need to do the same for this president of the […]
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