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Christopher A. Kess

@kesschristopher.com.bsky.social

Baltimore. Theatre. Books. Orioles. Ravens.

177 Followers  |  667 Following  |  10 Posts  |  Joined: 15.11.2024  |  1.5736

Latest posts by kesschristopher.com on Bluesky

Just sitting in the corner doing nothing. I feel like I should be doing something.

10.11.2025 00:42 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
"Peace is Every Step" by Thich Nhat Hanh

"Peace is Every Step" by Thich Nhat Hanh

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. πŸ“š
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 5: β€œPeace is Every Step” by Thich Nhat Hanh

02.11.2025 05:50 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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IBM fired Black executives to β€˜appease’ Trump, lawsuit claims The company previously faced a series of lawsuits alleging that its DEI programs discriminated against White male employees.

A Black product manager is fighting back. Companies need to learn there's a cost to 'bending the knee' when it comes to this administration. Hope the plaintiff wins!!

www.hrdive.com/news/ibm-fir...

31.10.2025 00:00 β€” πŸ‘ 112    πŸ” 42    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2
"Ethical Ambition" by Derrick Bell

"Ethical Ambition" by Derrick Bell

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. πŸ“š
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 4: β€œEthical Ambition” by Derrick Bell

01.11.2025 04:45 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
β€œLove Poems” by Nikki Giovanni

β€œLove Poems” by Nikki Giovanni

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. πŸ“š
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 3: β€œLove Poems” by Nikki Giovanni

30.10.2025 01:53 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The Magic Words

18.12.2024 19:22 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Report for America announces 100+ newsroom partners and the opening of new corps member applications - Report for America Report for America announces 100+ newsroom partners and the opening of new corps member applications Selections include 66 local newsroom partners and corps member positions, 35 accelerator program pa...

Baltimore Beat is proud to announce our selection as a Report for America host newsroom. www.reportforamerica.org/2024/12/17/r...

17.12.2024 15:16 β€” πŸ‘ 54    πŸ” 21    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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Orioles sign veteran Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano The 35-year-old Sugano has spent his entire 12-year career with the Yomiuri Giants of the NPB’s Central League, and he’s the league’s reining MVP after posting a 1.67 ERA in 156 2/3 innings.

Orioles sign veteran Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to one-year deal

17.12.2024 01:07 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Billy Bob Bundleroosky

13.12.2024 03:26 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Cover of β€œSelected Poems of Langston Hughes.”

Cover of β€œSelected Poems of Langston Hughes.”

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. πŸ“š
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 2: β€œSelected Poems of Langston Hughes”

12.12.2024 23:58 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Nikki Giovanni πŸ–€

There aren't enough hearts

12.12.2024 02:09 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Cover of "Whispers, Secrets, and Promises" by E. Ethelbert Miller

Cover of "Whispers, Secrets, and Promises" by E. Ethelbert Miller

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. πŸ“š
#blackbooksky #booksky

Day 1: "Whispers, Secrets and Promises" by E. Ethelbert Miller

12.12.2024 02:44 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Every big story that comes out of maryland has a "I went to high school with that guy" factor

10.12.2024 12:02 β€” πŸ‘ 43    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Color photo of Nikki Giovanni in the woods in black long-sleeve shirt and gray hair, clasping her hands in front of her.

Color photo of Nikki Giovanni in the woods in black long-sleeve shirt and gray hair, clasping her hands in front of her.

"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal
I cannot be comprehended
except by my permission

I mean . . . I . . . can fly
Like a bird in the sky."

Nikki Giovanni: Ego Tripping

To the woman who gave us so much joy in with her words (which we need now more than ever): Thank you. Rest. Onward

10.12.2024 09:37 β€” πŸ‘ 159    πŸ” 60    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 4
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Renowned poet and Black arts movement icon Nikki Giovanni dies at 81 The poet and activist was a leading figure of the Black Arts Movement. Giovanni was working on her upcoming book of poetry, set to publish in the fall.

www.npr.org/2024/12/09/n...

10.12.2024 03:13 β€” πŸ‘ 210    πŸ” 84    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 11
Nikki Giovanni describes how she doesn't think death is the end of us.

Nikki Giovanni describes how she doesn't think death is the end of us.

From an interview I did with Nikki Giovanni back in 2017:

10.12.2024 03:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1421    πŸ” 577    πŸ’¬ 14    πŸ“Œ 25

β€œWriters don’t write from experience, although many are hesitant to admit that they don’t. …If you wrote from experience, you’d get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy.”

β€” Nikki Giovanni

RIP, genius….

#WritingCommunity #writing

10.12.2024 03:27 β€” πŸ‘ 153    πŸ” 53    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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The greatest. Rest deeply Mother Nikki Giovanni. πŸ–€πŸ’”β€οΈ

10.12.2024 03:55 β€” πŸ‘ 252    πŸ” 66    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 3
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The women gather because it is not unusual to seek comfort in our hours of stress.
A man must be buried.
It is not unusual that the old bury the young though it is an abomination.

RIP πŸ•―οΈ
Nikki Giovanni (1943-2024)

10.12.2024 03:39 β€” πŸ‘ 193    πŸ” 35    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Never forget that she got β€œthug life” tatted on her as a tribute to Pac

10.12.2024 03:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1009    πŸ” 213    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 6

This is an incalculable loss but Nikki Giovanni lived a grand and interesting life; that will always be a gift. May she rest in power.

10.12.2024 03:42 β€” πŸ‘ 2972    πŸ” 438    πŸ’¬ 24    πŸ“Œ 16
Allowable any Nikki Giovanni 

I killed a spider 
Not a murderous brown recluse
Nor even a black widow
And if the truth were told this 
Was only a small
Sort of papery spider 
Who should have run 
When I picked up the book
But she didn't 
And she scared me 
And I smashed her 

I don't think 
I'm allowed 

To kill something 

Because I am 

Frightened

Allowable any Nikki Giovanni I killed a spider Not a murderous brown recluse Nor even a black widow And if the truth were told this Was only a small Sort of papery spider Who should have run When I picked up the book But she didn't And she scared me And I smashed her I don't think I'm allowed To kill something Because I am Frightened

I return to this poem often, and have posted it around my neighborhood when the times call for it.

Today is as good as any day to return to it.

10.12.2024 03:47 β€” πŸ‘ 1771    πŸ” 472    πŸ’¬ 16    πŸ“Œ 17

Years ago, when my dad was running a store-front Black History Museum, he somehow got Nikki Giovanni to come and visit, and they had such an experience that she donated some things from her own family. Since then, she has always made me think of him. Hope they both rest easy.

10.12.2024 03:09 β€” πŸ‘ 242    πŸ” 26    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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"Once you know who you are, you don't have to worry anymore."

~Nikki Giovanni πŸ•ŠοΈ

10.12.2024 03:02 β€” πŸ‘ 366    πŸ” 144    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 13

ancestor nikki giovanni, we speak your name. and we thank you. πŸ™πŸΏπŸ•ŠοΈ

10.12.2024 02:58 β€” πŸ‘ 160    πŸ” 51    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
Nikki Giovanni Poems, readings, poetry news and the entire 110-year archive of POETRY magazine.

Here’s a great overview of the phenomenal Nikki Giovanni. Truly a legend. πŸ’”

10.12.2024 03:00 β€” πŸ‘ 856    πŸ” 416    πŸ’¬ 14    πŸ“Œ 14
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Well-known Virginia Tech professor dies at 81 Virginia Tech professor and poet, Nikki Giovanni, has died at the age of 81.

Virginia Tech professor and poet, Nikki Giovanni, has died at the age of 81.

10.12.2024 02:52 β€” πŸ‘ 9584    πŸ” 2533    πŸ’¬ 327    πŸ“Œ 922

RIP Nikki Giovanni

10.12.2024 03:13 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Nicholas B. Mangione Nicholas Bernard Mangione, a self-made real estate developer who owned country clubs, nursing homes and a radio station, died Sunday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center of complications from a stro…

If you want some background on the Mangione family - the most prominent Italian-American family in Baltimore according to some! - you can find an unpaywalled version of the family patriarch's obituary here web.archive.org/web/20241210...

10.12.2024 01:28 β€” πŸ‘ 86    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 2

13

07.12.2024 05:03 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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