Every summer, when the temperature increases a few notches, the clothes become more scarce, the skin gets browner, the hair reverts back to the natural curl, a new season of possibility dawns. From summer vacations, to summer jobs – it is a time to meet new people, visit new places, try new things.

This summer I traveled to the motherland for the first time, specifically, Cape Town, South Africa. Of course, it was no accident that I chose to do [...]

I recently returned from South Africa after spending a summer working and taking classes at one of the historically black/colored universities. I always read about apartheid and the racial conflict – but I was not aware of the post apartheid issues festering. On the surface, things seemed kumbaya – Mandela was released from prison, apartheid ended, the African National Congress became the new government. However, while I was there, many people were reluctant to have a conversation if the topic [...]

Two summer tracks that the DJ will spin in most any club in South Africa.

Ramsey Lewis – Solar Wind LP (circa 1974)
Summer Breeze
Label: Columbia Records

Ramsey looks oh so cool on this cover though….when did cool die?

Time to kick back and relax. I can’t explain why, but summer always makes me feel good. I love not having to stay up to do classwork, being able to roam the city without a jacket, not rushing to anywhere in particular on the weekends, and of course, I love summer luv (or at least the hope).