Mind of Malaka

What ‘Bolden’ Teaches Us About Creative Genius, Community Mental Health and New Technology

Posted on May 13, 2019
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

“Destroy a man’s soul and they will destroy each other.” – Judge Perry, Bolden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-4XA0QqDWY It is unlikely that you will hear much fanfare or discussion around the newly released Bolden, a biopic that centers on the life of once-famed cornet player Buddy Bolden. Once…

Musings

What’s The One Thing You Want Most In This Life?

Posted on May 9, 2019
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

Have you ever woken up with a start, heart pounding and mind struggling to catch up with your thoughts at dawn? Of course you have. There’s no way you’ve made it into adulthood without experiencing a similar episode. What was it that jolted you from…

Musings

Kindness Is A Skincare Product

Posted on April 18, 2019
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

A few days ago, the term “skincare product” was trending online for the simple reason that digital denizens deigned that it must be so. Reliably, mixed in with actual (and helpful) skincare product reviews and suggestions were hilarious proposals. Some of my favorites include: Ronke…

Musings

We Spent A Very Happy (Un)Pi(e) Day With Prince of Tarts

Posted on March 14, 2019
by Malaka
with 6 Comments

Today is Pi(e) Day! I always feel an intense pang of disappointment – bordering on anxiety – when anyone reacts to this salutation with a flummoxed “Huh”? The glazed over eyes, the furrowed brows and wrinkled noses all serve as a reminder of my evangelical…

Musings

In Celebration Of My Favorite Black Villains

Posted on March 13, 2019
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

I’ve been having strange dreams lately. (And no, Tia, it’s not the gin.) Over the course of the past eight days or more, I’ve dreamt that I’ve engaged in acts that range from the unspeakable to the bizarre. When I eventually find a therapist, I…

Motherhood

These Are the Dangers of Removing Struggle From Your Child’s Life

Posted on March 12, 2019
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

Mothering comes in various stages of learning to unlearn to relearn. Isn’t that what the woke, young folks say these days? “We gotta learn to unlearn…” Whatever. As I type this I am sitting in a bar with a splitting headache. It’s * checks phone…

Madness

So Let Me Tell Y’all About This Camp I Just Left…

Posted on February 25, 2019
by Malaka
with 2 Comments

“You really think I care if some funky fourteen-year-old doesn’t like me?” So, you’re probably wondering how I got here. Those of you with kids can imagine the plethora of scenarios that led to me screaming these words by the marshy shores of a South…

Musings

Can You Trust Your Friends to Give an Unbiased Opinion?

Posted on February 22, 2019
by Malaka
with 0 Comments

Event: I goofedTime: Feb 22, 09:30 Who is the first group of people you’re advised to approach whenever you have a new idea/product/thing that you want to share with the world? Come and get your cookie if your answer is “friends and family”. For us…

Marriage

Are You Going to Marry The Man of Your Nightmares?

Posted on February 11, 2019
by Malaka
with 4 Comments

I started visiting a new church in the city we’ve moved to. It’s as different from Shack Church (our previous house of worship) as peanut butter is from humus. Both creamy, both legumes… and those are where the similarities end. They both have their merits,…

Madness

The Secret Life of Flies

Posted on February 7, 2019
by Malaka
with 1 Comment

I killed a fly this morning. I don’t know about you, but there’s something refreshing about confessing one’s insecticidal tendencies. I feel cleansed. So yeah, I killed him. (FYI: All insects are male.) Big ol’, blue bottle, buzzin’ bugger. He was sitting on my windowsill…