The PBS Blog

Truth is Stranger than Fiction

May 19, 2025

Mine

The way my “no” used to get scrapedoff the platelike it didn’t belong there. I used to think saying no was dangerous.That my voicewas optional.That my boundariescould be bentby someone else’s appetite. So I chewed and I swallowedsociety’s thoughts of what I should be.It lingered in the bite I didn’t want to takebut did anyway.… Continue reading

Poetry

#MondayBlogs, #Mondaythoughts, blog, blogging, boundaries, creative writing, history, speaking, voice, voiceless, 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
April 21, 2025

My Poetry

Black History does not just live in textbooks,but on the tongues of poets. Every stanza is a stepping stonelaid by those who came before me.It echoes of cotton fields, jazz clubs,freedom songs, and community. This is more than poetry.This is preservation.This is protest.This is legacy.This is poetic justice. These words be the revolution my ancestors… Continue reading

Poetry

African American History, black history, blog, blogging, creative writing, history, I am Black History, my poetry, National Poetry Month, poetic justice, poetry month, wordpress, writing
April 18, 2025

Echoes of Influence

I love Maya Angelou’s poetry, but it is not what drew me to her. What drew me to Angelou first was her story. When I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and discovered she had also written other collections of autobiographies, I was delighted by her strength and how it came out in… Continue reading

Articles, creative writing

blog, blogger, blogging, dislikes, Echoes, enjoyment, influence, interests, likes, maya angelou, mirror, National Poetry Month, passions, poem, poems, poetry, wordpress, writing
March 12, 2025

This Morning’s Coffee

This coffee tastes like simplicity and intimacy. Like slowing down in a world where grind culture’s got us in a headlock. This coffee tastes like my eyes on him and not the clock. It tastes like listening with intention, like people watching, and fresh coffee beans roasted just for me. This morning’s coffee tastes like… Continue reading

Poetry

blog, blogging, coffee, Coffee Date, creative writing, moments, peace, relax, soothing, tranquility, warmth, wordpress, writing
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 27, 2025

So, What’s Tea?

I take a slow, measured sip of my coffee, savoring both the drink and the moment before exhaling softly. “Now that you have your mug and are snug like a bug in a rug, here’s what I’ve been up to lately…” February has been full, starting with Hubby and I celebrating our fifteenth marriage anniversary… Continue reading

Articles, creative writing

blog, blogging, books, Coffee Date, fiction, life, life lately, moments, substack, tea, updates, welcome, wordpress, writing

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 my literature and poetry, I uncover and preserve the rich, often underrepresented stories of African Americans. I also host an annual poetry contest.