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THE CASHWORDS

  MAKE UP YOUR MOUTH! by Cash Michaels If a recent spat of news stories and op-ed pieces are any indication, Joe Biden is in trouble with the Black vote for the 2024 election. Apparently Black folks in my community are not happy with the Democratic president’s tenure in office, and they’re not too pleased with Vice President Kamila Harris either. We’ve got plenty of time here to review whether or not such musings hold any political water before next November, but one thing I have noted with great interest is the number of black men, in particular, who have begun showing up on television or appearing in news stories not only boasting how they are not supporting Biden or the Democrats, but that they’re actually supportive of either the Republican Party, or, egads should I say it, …Donald Trump. Now before I go any further, let me wrap this missive in some important context. I wholeheartedly believe in the two-party system, and agree that African-Americans should
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THE CASHWORD FOR DEC. 14, 2023

              GETTING OLDER                                                 By Cash Michaels It’s the one thing I live with every day of my natural life. The one thing I can’t stop, but can improve upon. The one thing I can’t hide very well, though there are days when I wish I could. It’s the one thing that defines, and constantly redefines me in these waning days of my life. Getting older. The mental, emotional and physical changes I go through every day simply astound me. In less than a month, I will be 67 years old. I can’t say enough about how much that amazes me. I’ve officially been an “old man” ( the “grits-n-gravy” way of saying “retirement  age”) for at least two years. Yes, I’m semi-retired from journalism (though I currently write for five African-American newspapers across the state). Because of a double amputation to both feet, and constant pain in my spine, I’m unable to walk properly. Add to that my high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditi
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THE CASHWORD FOR DEC. 5, 2023

            WE WANT OUR POOR KIDS TO BE BETTER THAN US                       by Cash Michaels On Nov. 27th, the first school day back after Thanksgiving, anger turned to rage as a 14-year old teen at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School brandished a knife, and allegedly stabbed two fellow students, one of them fatally. Press reports suggest that the 14-year-old may have been acting defensively. His mother had reportedly called the school earlier, warning that her son might be targeted that day because of an earlier altercation his sister allegedly had with another Southeast Raleigh High female student, resulting in that student going to the home of the sister and mother with a gang, assaulting them. Whatever the sad, sad story truly is, it will no doubt  be sorted out in a court of law, where the 14 year-old assailant is likely to be tried as an adult for murder. As shocking as this story is, especially when it involves our young people, it is nothing new. Our young fo
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THE CASHWORD FOR NOV. 27, 2023

                             WHY ARE THEY RUNNING?                                     By Cash Michaels                                     Journalist, filmmaker                                     https://vimeo.com/790567289?share=copy With the March 5th primaries just a few months away, that means candidates across North Carolina have begun filing for office. Have you ever asked yourself why someone, anyone, would put themselves and their families on the line to run for public office these days? Please, don’t get me wrong, To serve as an elected public official in your community, county or state can be a noble calling, and should be lauded accordingly. But that’s assuming that you’re doing it for the right, selfless reasons. Bringing improvement to the community you live in, either through public service or enhancing the quality of life, is generally on the menu of successful public representatives, and deserving of praise. But what if you’re running for office
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THE CASHWORD FOR NOV. 25, 2023

  VOTING FOR WHO WE REALLY ARE by Cash Michaels Recently my friend and colleague, Tom Campbell, wrote an excellent op-ed about how the culture wars have slowly but surely changed North Carolina. And not for the better. But there’s one sure way to know which direction the Old North State is headed, and that will take place next year during the 2024 races for governor and president. Forget the candidates for a second. Besides, we won’t have an official read on them until after the primaries next year anyway. I think it’s wise to envision what kind of government the majority of us could vote for in November 2024. That’s what will define North Carolina in the coming years. If you yearn for a state where the only issues that matter are the ones that you perceive threaten your particular way of life, with no concern about how others are treated, or are even able to survive, then that pretty much tells the rest of us what kind of government you want.  You’re
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