Author Archives: The Reeders Block

Review of Emeka Ossai: More Fiction than Fact

Screenshot of Emeka’s YouTube video by J Reed If you’re a blossoming self-publisher, author or other form of writer, you’ve likely encountered information by the charismatic Emeka Ossai. Through grammatically-incorrect emails, Emeka pushes his self-publishing course called ”My Self-Publishing Blueprint.” I’ve noticed an uptick in traffic on my website to an article I wrote concerningContinueContinue reading “Review of Emeka Ossai: More Fiction than Fact”

Angel Bumpass: No Freedom, No Peace

In the above photo, a free Angel Bumpass smiles while talking to members of the media after her case was dismissed at the Hamilton County Courts Building, in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. (Matt Hamilton/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP) Update: On August 09, 2023, a Tennessee judge dismissed the murder case againstContinueContinue reading “Angel Bumpass: No Freedom, No Peace”

The Irony of Johnathan Price

From left to right: Murderer Shaun Lucas, Victim Johnathan PricePhoto by: UpnUpNews “I never got that kind of energy from the po-po,” Johnathan Price wrote, concerning officers. From his experiences, he claimed, he never got bad treatment from police. He urged Black people to judge by their own experiences, not everyone else’s. Johnathan defend cops.ContinueContinue reading “The Irony of Johnathan Price”

Trump Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Photo by Houston Defender You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool COVID-19. After insisting for months in public that coronavirus wasn’t a threat, Donald Trump himself has contracted the virus. According to Dr. Gupta, it doesn’t look good for Trump. At over 6’3 and 240 pounds, TrumpContinueContinue reading “Trump Tests Positive for Coronavirus”

To the Anti-Looters: Shut Up

by Jermaine Reed Anti-looters, please shut up. This is not a defense of looting; Rather, this is a chiding of those condemning what they have denigrated as ”looters.” A common argument I am hearing is, what happened to George Floyd was wrong, but looting has no place in this. Another argument is that Black peopleContinueContinue reading “To the Anti-Looters: Shut Up”

BREAKING: Another Mass Shooting, 3 Dead in Arizona

Photo by: Daily Mail By Jermaine Reed According to AZCentral, 20-year-old Armando Hernandez Jr. killed three people in a random shooting in Arizona’s Westgate Entertainment District. Hernandez allegedly filmed himself on Snapchat as drunk beer on the way and referred to himself as ”The West Gate Shooter.” In the parking lot, he surrendered after policeContinueContinue reading “BREAKING: Another Mass Shooting, 3 Dead in Arizona”

A Child’s Murder Goes Unsolved: A Chicago Thing

In 2015, after 2-year-old Kyrian Knox’s dismembered body was found in Chicago’s Garfield Park neighborhood, the city was stunned. The ensuing manhunt led to the arrest of Kamel Harris, a Chicago caretaker. With seemingly no evidence tying Harris to the crime, police and prosecutors forged ahead in charging Harris. Last year, Harris was fully aquittedContinueContinue reading “A Child’s Murder Goes Unsolved: A Chicago Thing”

Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Rape

Today, renowned movie producer and Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of rape for performing oral sex on Miriam Haley in 2006. The charge carries 5-25 years. He was also convicted of assaulting an unnamed woman as well. He was found not guilty of predatory sexual assault which carries life in prison. The #MeTooContinueContinue reading “Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Rape”

Feel the Bern: Capitalism v. Socialism

Bernie Sanders is the answer that both establishment Republicans and Democrats fear. During this primary season, Bernie has been winning. Most recently, he took Nevada with nearly 50 percent of voters choosing him. Still, with his so-called “socialist” views, his critics accuse of him of wanting to rob the hard working rich and give theirContinueContinue reading “Feel the Bern: Capitalism v. Socialism”

The Audacity of Gayle King

For too many years, women have been objectified by men, raped and beaten by men and used for whatever sick purposes those men wish to use them for. Rape has been a constant stain on both past and present, but that doesn’t mean all men must be attacked by this suddenly woke culture more concernedContinueContinue reading “The Audacity of Gayle King”

Tyler Perry’s “A Fall from Grace” on Netflix is Quite Possibly the Worst Movie Ever

If you’re looking for a movie with poor acting, a horrible plot and an even worse storyline, look no further than Tyler Perry’s A Fall from Grace on Netflix. The movie stars Jasmine (Bresha Webb), a public defender known for getting plea deals for her client. She takes on the case of Grace, a churchgoingContinueContinue reading “Tyler Perry’s “A Fall from Grace” on Netflix is Quite Possibly the Worst Movie Ever”

Netflix’s American Son is an American Fail

Netflix’s American Son centers around an educated Black mother and her estranged white FBI agent husband and their son who is in trouble with the law. For the most part of the film, the audience does not much more about the son’s whereabouts other than he was pulled over by the cops with two otherContinueContinue reading “Netflix’s American Son is an American Fail”

Amber Guyger, Joshua Brown and the Thickening Plot

Days after testifying against murderous white former cop Amber Guyger in her trial for her slaying of innocent Black man Botham Jean in his own home, Joshua Brown was gunned down. So far, no one is in custody for the slaying of the witness who was also Botham Jean’s neighbor. This is how forgiveness iaContinueContinue reading “Amber Guyger, Joshua Brown and the Thickening Plot”

Amber Guyger Got Away With Murder

Much as I predicted, the Dallas, TX, white former cop Amber Guyger who murdered an innocent, unarmed Black man named Botham Jean in coldblood in his home allegedly thinking she was in her own home has been sentenced to just 10 years in prison. To put this in perspective, the girl who licked the iceContinueContinue reading “Amber Guyger Got Away With Murder”

Ex-Officer Amber Guyger Found Guilty: The Quiet Before the Storm

Today, a jury unanimously decided former officer Amber Guyger had committed murder when she killed an innocent unarmed Black man inside his own home, supposedly believing it was her home. Ironically, she claimed self-defense. After instances such as LaQuan McDonald and Philando Castille, I am a pessimist. Black lives in this country are undervalued inContinueContinue reading “Ex-Officer Amber Guyger Found Guilty: The Quiet Before the Storm”

Ex-Officer Amber Guyger Will Get Away with Murdering a Man in His Own Home

After a hard day of working in his community, Botham Jean, a 26-year-old Black man and pastor of a sort, was gunned down in his own home seven months ago by Amber Guyger, a former Dallas officer who had been distracted sexting with her married partner. In a rare move, Amber Guyger took the standContinueContinue reading “Ex-Officer Amber Guyger Will Get Away with Murdering a Man in His Own Home”

Dave Chappelle’s Hilarious “Sticks and Stones” Stand-Up May Break Some Sensitive Bones

Touching on the fiery issue of race, Dave Chappelle digs his heels into what he calls “drug-addicted whites.”

A Review of Emeka Ossai and How He Preys on Self-Publishers and Authors

During a recent search on YouTube while trying to find information on how to sell my self-published books, I came across Emeka Ossai, a charismatic young man originally from Canada who now lives in Mexico (I believe). In my opinion, Emeka is the last person you should spend your money with, if you take writingContinueContinue reading “A Review of Emeka Ossai and How He Preys on Self-Publishers and Authors”

The Chicago Police Have Failed Us, and So Will Lori Lightfoot

While watching Lori Lightfoot hold a press conference about gun offenders and weekend violence, I cringed. Part of the reason I cringed was because of the creature standing behind her, the failed Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, the same man who did nothing to punish the officer who shot Rekia Boyd in the head andContinueContinue reading “The Chicago Police Have Failed Us, and So Will Lori Lightfoot”

America’s Trash: The Average Black Man

​As the commander-in-chief douses with gasoline the racial fire that has consumed America and led to two recent mass shootings by at least one known white supremacist, this country’s judicial system continues to be tone deaf when it comes to the plight of Black men. This is obvious in the case of Gaston Tucker, aContinueContinue reading “America’s Trash: The Average Black Man”

An Ode to a Frenemy of Mine

Tom Deriggi and I came from completely different backgrounds, but, as the universe would have it, our paths intertwined. He was a heavyset guy with bright red flushed cheeks that seemed to accentuate his greyish blue eyes. Politically, we were on two opposite spectrums: Tom on the far right, arms folded, chest out; me onContinueContinue reading “An Ode to a Frenemy of Mine”

Your Manuscript Has Been Rejected. Now What?

You’ve spent 100 million hours writing, rewriting and editing and proofreading your novel and then BOOM! every agent and publisher you sent it to rejects it. Now what? That question could be a hard one. Some writers would just move on to the next project. Before doing that, I ask, what did the rejection lettersContinueContinue reading “Your Manuscript Has Been Rejected. Now What?”