Unpacking

Gaslighting Another Black Community For Fun & Profit

Scratch beneath any story in Coconut Grove and you’ll discover the issue of race lurking. We’ll get to that eventually, but this true fable — with a twist on the race issue — starts with the approval of a Wawa gas station in the City of Coral Gables. So what? Cities approve gas stations all the time. However, this approval didn’t have any public consultation with the community, nor public hearings, both of which would normally have taken place. And, that’s ...

Unpacking Coconut Grove ► Part Eight ► The Powers That Be

The Charles Avenue Historical Marker with the E.W.F. Stirrup House in the background. My quest to save the E.W.F. Stirrup House, and my running headlong into the Powers That Be in ...

Happy Labour Day ► Thank A Unionist

As the Right Wing relentlessly attacks Unionism, Labour Day is a the very best day to remember just exactly what we owe to Unionism. It is no stretch to say ...

Unpacking Coconut Grove ► Part Seven ► Signs along Charles Avenue

The Charles Avenue historical marker with the historic E.W.F. Stirrup House in the background. Now that the City of Miami has designated Charles Avenue an Historic Designation Roadway (whatever that ...

An Open Email to the City of Miami ► Unpacking Coconut Grove ► Part 6.1

This is a copy of the email I sent to the City of Miami Office of Communications. It was addressed to an email address I was given over the phone ...

Unpacking Coconut Grove ► Part Six ► Still Building With No Building Permit

The E.W.F. Stirrup House on Friday, August 24, 2012. Note the used metal studs leaning against the building. Used materials to build their chi chi Bed and Breakfast? How nice. Another ...

My Evening With First Lady Michelle Obama

My ticket. It was a thrill to get my ticket to see The First Lady Michelle Obama. One thing that was less than thrilling: To get the ticket I had to ...

A Charles Avenue Love Story ► Unpacking Coconut Grove ► Part Five

The Charlotte Jane Memorial Park Cemetery On the corner of Charles Avenue and South Douglas Rd., on the opposite end of the street from the E.W.F. Stirrup House, is the ...

Unpacking Coconut Grove ► Part 4.1 ► A Photo Essay

The room on the second floor in which the (alleged) illegal demolition was taking place. Another angle, showing the 2nd floor front room and the former upper porch, now an interior room. A quick visit to ...

My First First Lady

My coveted ticket I managed to score a ticket to see First Lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday. I am on her mailing list and she wrote to me personally, along with ...

Unpacking Coconut Grove ► Part Four ► Open Houses and Broken Laws

The meeting place Is there illegal work going on inside the E.W.F. Stirrup House? I certainly think so. Get comfortable and read on. This is a long one, friends. It was Friday ...

My First Band ► Cobwebs And Strange ► Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be

When I was growing up, like every other kid in ‘Merka, I wanted to be in a band. The Beatles had just broken worldwide and it seemed like the easiest ...

Unpacking My Detroit ► Part 5.1 ► The 1943 Riot

Late last month I wrote about Detroit’s three major riots, one of them being the 1943 Riot. I am currently reading an amazing book that adds a bit more context ...

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