Humanity on Display in Texas

By Cheryl Mattox Berry A man opens his home to strangers with two young children. Volunteers rescue a family stuck in the attic as floodwaters swirl a few feet below. Good Samaritans pluck drivers from flooded cars. These acts of kindness by ordinary people in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey don’t surprise me. During the […]

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Boycott R. Kelly

By 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 […]

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Dress Codes Are Necessary

By Cheryl Mattox Berry A dress code has been on the books for women and men working on Capitol Hill since forever, but now women who want to bare their shoulders are making a big deal out of it. Last week, a TV reporter was barred from the Speaker’s lobby, which is a room outside […]

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Keep Fears to Yourself

By 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 […]

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Beachgoers Let It All Hang Out

By Cheryl Mattox Berry The beach, where bodies are on full display, is one of the few places where women don’t seem to be concerned about how their body looks or who’s looking at them. Who would’ve thought that fear of body-shaming doesn’t apply to bodies on the beach. I had that epiphany while biking […]

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Speak Up!

By 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 […]

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Let Go!

By 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 […]

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A Mom Strike Gets Results

By 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. […]

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