The PBS Blog

When the Truth is Stranger than Fiction

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September 9, 2025

An Artist’s Duty

I was sitting here thinking about how I got to this place of advocating for the restoration of Black history. If it were solely up to me, I would have chosen a less taxing, less unrewarding cause to advocate for. However, in the words of Nina Simone, “I have no choice in the matter. An… Continue reading

creative writing, General Topics

#TuesdayShares, art, artist, artist duty, blog, blogger, blogging, community, creativity, goal, life, mission, purpose, wordpress, writing
August 11, 2025

Breaking From Tradition Can Be a Good Thing

Some families keep their history alive around picnic tables, their roots watered each summer by laughter, shared meals, and stories that stretch back generations. Mine did not. On my mother’s side, there were no great migrations back home for a weekend, no sea of matching shirts declaring our kinship, no annual roll call of who… Continue reading

creative writing, General Topics

#MondayBlogs, black family, black family reunions, blog, blogger, blogging, community, family, family reunions, laugh, life, love, memories, new beginnings, rest, reunion, tradition, traditional, traditions, wordpress, writing
July 14, 2025

Community Can Be Healing

I spent the weekend before last wrapped in the embrace of family down in Shreveport and Keithville, Louisiana, and it felt like medicine. We rode horses, walked barefoot through the grass, played with dogs, danced like children to country songs (which was hilarious…them country songs a lil freaky, lol) chased chickens, and kissed the soft… Continue reading

creative writing, General Topics

#MondayBlogs, blog, blogger, blogging, community, healing, life, mental health, rest, wordpress, writing
April 30, 2025

Avoiding Bad Publishing Advice

Self-publishing can be overwhelming for various reasons, including the limitless number of people who offer advice. The problem is that counsel is not universally applicable. Even the word “Bad” in the title is subjective. Who determines what is bad? Is there any advice that works for us but not for others? Here is a quick… Continue reading

creative writing, General Topics

authors, blog, blogger, blogging, books, class, course, indie, indie authors, Indie Korner, masterclass, publishing, self-published authors, self-publishing, wordpress, workshop, writing, writing tips
March 10, 2025

You Are Missing Out

“If growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat. It is an unnecessary insult.” – Maya Angelou I am excited to have reached my substack goal of having the first ten subscribers! Actually, I have eleven, so I have… Continue reading

Articles, Audience Participation, General Topics

blog, blogger, blogging, courage, My Story, strength, subscribe, substack, testimony, wisdom, wordpress
February 21, 2025

If We Were Having Coffee Right Now

Please, come in! I know it’s been a while since we last spoke. Here, let me get your coat. Shake the chill from your bones and leave the weight of the world at the door. Speaking of the door, there is a shoe rack next to you. Go ahead and remove your shoes. I have… Continue reading

creative writing, General Topics

#FridayBlogs, blog, blogging, coffee, Coffee Date, creative writing, love, moments, peace, relax, soothing, tranquility, warmth, welcome, wordpress, writing
January 23, 2025

A Historical Moment: Meeting Michelle

I am no longer surprised to find purpose in the people I meet. I am being guided to certain people for a reason. When I complimented Michelle on her Afro at the She Wins Conference last year, I had no idea she had such a rich backstory. When I did a video about the real… Continue reading

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black history, black history 365, black history everyday, blog, blogger, blogging, historical, history, Marshal, Marshall Texas, Politics, travel, Wiley College

About Me

My name is Yecheilyah (e-see-li-yah), and my work confronts historical erasure and advocates for a more inclusive understanding of Black history. Through book reviews and poetry contests, I uncover and preserve the rich, often underrepresented stories of African Americans.