For Dreamers, Thinkers and Achievers
By Cheryl Mattox Berry Sexual predators, like disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein, aren’t just in Hollywood. They have lived among us for years – in all professions. Problem is, few women have called them out because they fear retaliation, career suicide, isolation or being shamed by co-workers. My 82-year-old mother was one of the silent […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. When a woman wants something badly enough, she’ll figure out a way to get it. She’ll plot, negotiate and sacrifice until victory is hers. Ladies, it’s time we took up the mantle of leadership for tougher gun laws. We can’t sit around […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry To people fighting injustice and oppression in the United States and around the world, I heard the perfect song to serve as your anthem when I visited Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis. The song is “Make Them Hear You.” It’s from the Broadway musical “Ragtime,” which tells the story of […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry I feel sorry for people who say they don’t need friends. I can’t imagine my life without them. Friends make life more fun, interesting and bearable. The importance of friendship was driven home recently with two poignant stories in the media. In one story, an elderly woman wrote a letter to […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Still. That’s what I become when the world turns chaotic and ugly. I withdraw from the voices that spew hate, intolerance and lies. I find solace in music, inspirational books and Bible verses. I make a point of smiling and being nicer to people. The driver who is honking behind me, […]
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 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 […]
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 Reading