Dear Dean Magazine: December 22, 2022

REPARATIONS 

A 3-part series by Myron J. Clifton 

WWW.DEARDEANPUBLISHING.COM 

SPOTLIGHTS 

"The Merry" 

"Forgiveness 101" 

"The 2022 Odyssey of Brittney Griner""

THE GOODS 

3 

Welcome From Myron 

8 

22 

The Reparation's Issue: 

A 3-part series 

by Myron J. Clifton 

Myron's HIT or MISS 

24 

30 

34 

40 

44 

Spotlight: "Forgiveness 101" 

by Katya Juliet Lerner 

Spotlight: "The Merry" 


Spotlight: "The 2022 

Odyssey of Brittney Griner" 

by Mark Lerner 

TOTM #repubsolazy 


My Favorite Things 

Streaming Right Now 

D E A R D E A N M A G A Z I N E , W E B S I T E , 

B L O G S A N D B O O K S A R E D E S I G N E D B Y 

K A T Y A J U L I E T L E R N E R

HAPPY 

DECEMBER & 

EARLY HAPPY 

NEW YEAR! 

 

2022: The year that saw the beginning of the end of all 

Covid restrictions. The year that we saw the economy 

take a dip due to greedy corporations and oil 

companies gouging consumers in their attempts to 

damage the president ahead of the 2022 midterms. 

This issue also dives into the “popular with some, 

hated by others” topic of Reparations with a deep 

dive that looks at the history of reparations, how 

reparations could be done, and if reparations were to 

happen, how distribution *could work and how 

oversight *should work. The feature article also links 

to ongoing reparation efforts being undertaken by 

California. 

That tactic failed miserably though as the democratic 

party scored resounding wins across the nation, 

flipping five governorships, and expanding their 

majority in the Senate following Senator Raphael 

Warnock defeating Herschel Walker in a runoff in 

Georgia. 

The President and Vice President are stronger than 

ever and the nation – and many western nations – are 

better off because of them. 

Something we are always proud about are the 

number of submissions we receive and publish from 

people like you. We love offering a platform to 

people who have something to say and who are 

looking for a platform to get their thoughts out to a 

wider audience. 

Similarly, we provided a space for small and selfpublished 

authors to showcase their books and 

projects – for free – in keeping with our mission to 

“Provide art for free.” 

The World Cup brought the world together to cheer, 

love on the favorite players and national teams.. but to 

also lavish hate and wish for wins against former 

colonization nations. There was unified condemnation 

of host country Qatar for their brutal restrictions 

against women, imported “workers”, the LGBTQI 

community, and…. Beer. 

The year in entertainment brought us hit movies, 

television shows, and music -we covered movies and 

television here but not music! So, we will add music 

and music reviews to our monthly recurring topics in 

2023. 

Take a look at final Movie Reviews, What’s Streaming, 

and the always popular Hit/Miss. 

We recognize and thank the artists who have helped 

the magazine grow in its first year. (We should use 

their thumbnail and name I think) 

Finally, a thank you to all the readers, folk who 

purchased my books, and those who’ve read the 

threads, listened to the podcast, and who shared our 

little unique corner with family and friends – thank 

you from all of us! 

The year is ending but our job of sharing, caring, 

helping our democracy, and helping each other goes 

on. And so, until next year, we bid you.. goodbye, 

happy new year, and until we read together again – 

-Myron 

DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.3

December can be a hard month to practice 

self-care. Here is a little help if you need to find 

the words for respecting personal boundaries. 


Website | Bookshop | Twitter 

Myron J. Clifton is an author of novels Jamaal’s Incredible 

Adventures in the Black Church; Monuments: A Deadly 

Day at Jefferson Park; BLM-PD: Revenge was Inevitable; 

Her Legend Lives in You: The Untold Story Honoring the 

Goddess & Our Daughters; and short story collection, We 

Couldn’t Be Heroes, and Other Stories. Also check out his 

weekly podcast, Voice Memos, his FREE digital magazine, 

Dear Dean Magazine, and his weekly blog at both Medium 

and DearDean.com. Myron lives in Sacramento, California, 

and is an avid Bay Area sports fan. He likes comic books, 

telling stories about his late mom to his beloved daughter 

Leah, and talking to his friends. BOOKS ON AMAZON 

New! 

New! 

Loving Myron J. Clifton's Content? 

S H O W Y O U R S U P P O R T W I T H 

A C O N T R I B U T I O N T O D E A R D E A N ! 

Advertising / Contributions 

words@deardeanpublishing.com 


You’ll discover: 

How to have difficult conversations 

about white supremacy, racism, and 

white privilege 

How to listen to criticism without 

defensiveness 

Why it’s harmful to ignore race or 

claim to be colorblind 

How to expand your racial justice 

circle by joining groups led by Black 

women and cultivating a group of 

like-minded allies 

Racism can only be defeated if white 

people educate themselves and actively 

engage in antiracism work, especially in 

their inner circles. 

With this book, you’ll learn how to 

change from someone who defends and 

protects racism to someone who fights 

against it. And you’ll become an example 

to others that true allies are made, not 

born. 

LECIA MICHELLE 

Lecia Michelle has been a librarian for over 15 years, working in both universities and 

public libraries. She is also the founder and leader of “Real Talk: WOC and Allies for 

Racial Justice and Anti-Oppression.” Lecia is a writer w, an avid reader, and pursuer of all 

things related to anti-racist work and activism. 


P A R T 1 : A M E R I C A 

S U P P O R T S R E P A R A T I O N S 

As American cities, industries, and individuals newly 

grapple with the comprehensive effects of systemic 

and blatant racism, many are again surfacing the 

question of reparations. 

Reparations for Black Americans is not a new concept: 

Newly freed former enslaved Black people sought it 

immediately after becoming “free” people. 

Free people who were without land, money, wealth, 

income, or purchasing power or the right to vote. 

People whose free labor had enriched America and 

the western world, were now set adrift with no means 

of recouping their wealth from the country used their 

free labor to build the wealthiest country in the world. 

And no way to even earn what they could in a socalled 

free enterprise country. 

They could not even ascertain seed money or loans to 

start something building their wealth like they had 

built wealth for white people. 

It is worth noting the newly freed Black people did not 

want free money or land, although they certainly were 

entitled to demand compensation and reparations. 

They wanted what they worked for and what had been 

uncompensated for generations. And though money 

was needed and should have been returned, the 

biggest ask was for land. 

The freed Black citizens had farmed the land for 

hundreds of years and they knew how to work the 

land, sell their goods, feed their families, and take care 

of one another. 

Our ancestors wanted a chance. They wanted a fair 

shake. They wanted the opportunity to be full citizens 

who worked to feed and care for their families – the 

same as what we want today. 

And they wanted what the former slave owners got: 

Reparations. 

Reparations is a word that requires a “trigger warning” 

for some people, so we are going to start by reframing 

how we talk about reparations. 

Change: 

“U.S. Government paid reparations to ...” 

to 

“Black Americans paid reparations to….” 

Using “Government” causes people to mentally 

substitute “White people” because people assume the 

owners of America and America’s money as being 

exclusively white people. 

In fact, Black people are co-owners of the country and 

the country’s wealth, even if that wealth is not in our 

bank accounts. This simple change, I believe, will help 

most people understand one part of our demand for 

reparations while also working to change the incorrect 

assumption that Black people are merely riders on the 

wealth contract in America. 

They knew how to build wealth and communities. 

They were not asking for “free money,” they were 

asking for the return of what their labor had given to 

America — and what America stole. 

DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.9 

Who Owns America? 

Now that we have changed how we frame and talk 

about reparations. Let us look at all the people and 

entities who have received reparations from Black 

Americans.

M Y R O N J . C L I F T O N 

Black Americans paid reparations to former 

slaveholders. 

Former slave owners petitioned the government 

for reparations, demanding compensation for 

losing “their property” and they won. 

Most reports say slaveowners received $300 per 

lost enslaved person but that number is 

incomplete when factoring in what they *really 

received in the form of free labor from the 

enslaved – men, boys, women, and girls, for 

generations. (We will assign monetary value in 

In each of these cases Black people were either 

parts 2 and 3.) 

explicitly denied or prevented by force and 

intimidation from participating and receiving a fair 

Enforcers of slavery also often received free land, 

share of our land. 

reduced or no taxes, and profits from enslaved 

labor… for generations. 

These acts contributed to individual white people 

and white owned corporations to build wealth using 

Black Americans gave away millions of acres of 

Black Americans tax dollars and labor to do so. 

free land 

Almost simultaneously, as America wanted to 

Black Americans paid Reparations to Europe Twice 

populate the western states, Black people gave 

Black Americans gave Britain and France around 

massive amounts of western land to settlers 

$10b to finance their World War 1 efforts. 

(colonizers) as the nation expanded its footprint, 

while needing to encourage eastern and southern 

Then in what is commonly known as The Marshall 

people to go west. 

Plan, Black Americans bailed out Europe after World 

War 2, to help them rebuild after, let us face it, white 

Black Americans gave white settlers 160 million 

people went crazy and tried to enslave or destroy the 

acres of land under the Homestead Act starting 

world. 

around 1862 for the nation, but it started earlier 

in Washington and Oregon. 

The money given from our taxes was $22b or close 

to $200b in today’s dollars. 

And there were other land giveaways including: 

Southern Homestead Act of 1866, Timber Culture 

Black Americans paid Japanese Americans 

Act of 1873, Kinkaid Amendment of 1904, 

reparations 

Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909, Stock-Rising 

The U.S. government flexed its racist muscle at home 

Act of 1916, Subsistence Homesteads provisions 

during World War 2 by placing eighty-two thousand 

under The New Deal of 1930, and the Small 

Japanese Americans in concentration camps. After 

Tracts Act in 1938. 



the war, Black Americans paid Japanese 

Americans $1.6b, which equal to $3.5b in today’s 

dollars and was not enough then to make up for 

the atrocity our fellow citizens endured. 

In addition, Black Americans also gave Japan 

$2.2b dollars after World War 2, or $15b in 

today’s dollars. 

Black Americans gave Iraq $36b in reparations to 

rebuild after the war and gives them $3b annually. 

Black Americans have given Israel roughly $160b 

since the end of World War II, the largest number 

of reparations to any country. 

share. 

Black Americans give homeowners $70b a year in 

reparations for mortgages – reparations mostly 

given to and used by white Americans. 

Black Americans subsidize middle class and 

wealthy Americans by paying more for food, 

goods and services, gas, insurance, interest on 

credit cards, car purchases, and home loans. 

Finally, and to bring reparations back to the 

beginning, 

Black Americans have been underpaid from 

Juneteenth, 1865 to right now, in every job we 

ever held. 

Black Americans gave the auto industry $80b in 

reparations. 

Black Americans gave Wall Street an estimated 

$1.9t in reparations during the most recent tax 

cuts, after giving them over $700b in the one 

prior, and trillions more over the course of history. 

That is 155 years of backpay. 

Black people have given America and the world 

tens of trillions of dollars in reparations that 

America turned around and gave businesses, white 

people, colleges and universities, farmers, and 

dozens of foreign countries. 

Black Americans gave veterans reparations, 

called the G.I. Bill, or Serviceman’s Readjustment 

Act, close to $15b – without initially being able to 

get any of our own money for Black veterans. 

Black Americans gave wealthy people $2t in 

during the most recent 2016 tax cuts. 

The bill is past due and as co-owners of this 

country, we are not asking the government or 

“white people” for a handout or a loan. 

What we are demanding is that we receive OUR 

money back. The bill is past due, and the interest is 

growing. 

Black Americans gave Small Businesses $700b in 

reparations in the recent budget, and trillions 

since the SBA started in 1953, though Black 

people are least likely to get SBA loans. 

Now that we have established that America does in 

fact love and support reparations, by whatever 

name we chose to use, next week we will look at – 

How the Money Will Be Allocated. 

Black people subsidize State Universities, private 

colleges, and charter schools, Black Americans 

give farmers $20b per year, and Black farmers 

have decades long lawsuits trying to get their fair 

We now continue with part 2: Systemic 

Reparations and next we will conclude the series 

with part 3: Governing the Money and How Much 

Money 


P A R T 2 : S Y S T E M I C 

R E P A R A T I O N S 

400 years of systemic racism demands that 

reparations are also systemic. Too often the most 

common association with the word “reparations” 

is “cash payout.” 

And though there will be a cash payout, systemic 

racism demands systemic reparations to address 

hundreds of years of racism throughout all 

segments of society that specifically targeted and 

harmed Black people and which continue to 

prevent Black people from being fully actualized 

citizens. 

People who are against reparations are often 

quoted saying “Money can’t solve all the problems 

in the Black community.” 

They are partially correct. Money “alone” won’t 

solve centuries of systemic racism. 

We will further explore the “Governing the Money” 

in next week’s post, but for now we will look at 

reparations from the areas of society that have 

harmed, are harming, and which will continue to 

harm Black people if present inequities are not 

addressed. 

Black citizens have been targeted in every way 

imaginable in America, from where we live, home 

loans, credit interest rates, and public-school 

funding, to wages, healthcare, small business 

loans, and of course enforcement of the laws. 

It is for these and other reasons any talk of 

reparations must involve aggressively addressing 

the inequities designed into society that have 

harmed Black people’s ability to earn money, raise 

standards of living, and to build generational and 

transferable wealth. 

The comprehensiveness and thoroughness of 

racism necessarily invites remedies that address 

the inequities we’re all familiar with and which 

We know Black labor enriched America and much of 

the western world. Labor that was free to white 

people, but which exacted centuries of wealth and 

life from Black people. 

What is the value of the wealth Black people created 

during centuries of enslavement, a century of Jim 

Crow, and another sixty years since the Civil Rights 

Act was passed when we were and are underpaid? 

And it is not only free labor that demand reparations, 

but also lost lives, low and underpaid wages, lost 

land, and of course the cost of violence perpetrated 

on women, men, and children. Violence that includes 

rape, lynchings, and stealing babies/children, among 

other atrocities. 

have negative value that can be immediately 

corrected to provide relief and reparations to 

Some experts have theorized enslavement alone 

Black people who have long suffered the 

could be worth $10-15 trillion dollars. But as 

indignities the policies were designed to harm. 

mentioned above reparations demand far more 



schools remain unequal for students, teachers, and 

administrators. 

considerations than only enslavement. 

We will factor and address the past, current, and 

future reparations, areas of society that require 

reparations, and in some cases provide dollar 

value approximations. 

SYSTEMIC REPARATIONS FOR THE PAST, 

PRESENT, AND FUTURE 

PAST – Addressing Historical Systemic Racism 

Free Healthcare that’s been too often denied us 

even when we work but also because working 

Americans mostly depend on employer-sponsored 

healthcare. And due to racism Black people 

continue to have the highest unemployment and 

thus the fewest covered individuals. As a result 

Black people have specific health issues 

associated with poverty including lack of access, 

shortest interactions with medical professionals, 

high misdiagnose rates, and of course worse 

outcomes for all ages and ailments, including 

infant mortality and maternal mortality. 

Healthcare reparations then will include new 

health clinics in Black populated areas as a 

requirement to healthcare providers as a 

condition of receiving federal funds. 

Fully Funded Preschool Through Grade 12, 

including majority Black private schools. Per child 

spending must equal per child spending averages 

for majority white kids in same/nearest district 

and/or within State, whichever is highest. 

Education for Black children has never been 

equal or fully funded at any level. This is perhaps 

the most lasting and disgraceful application of 

racial harm to Black children. Linking school 

funding to local area property taxes is inherently 

racist and one of many ways Black majority 

Schools Modernization As part of fully funding 

majority Black schools, money will be designated 

for modernization of facilities, classrooms, and 

grounds. And allocations will be made for current 

books, computerization, art, music, gardens, science, 

field trips, after school programs and childcare, and 

advanced education counselors, nurses, and social 

workers. Defund policing in Black majority schools. 

Teacher and Administrator Salary Averages and 

class sizes to be equal to white teacher salaries in 

same/nearest district and/or within State, 

whichever is highest. 

Redeveloped Curriculum by Black educators and 

historians, instructors, teacher and Black parent 

representatives as part of national review & 

overhaul of textbooks to fully incorporate all 

aspects of Black history and achievement for all 

disciplines into classrooms. 

Colleges and Universities that receive federal 

funding will be required to “adopt” local/closest 

Black school and/or district (s) and in partnership 

with district, administrators, teachers, and parents, 

contribute educational assistance for k-12, including 

providing teacher recruitment, training, and 

credentialing and recruitment courses for Black 

teachers. 

Eliminate Black Student Debt which 

disproportionately affects Black college students 

and graduates. Free community college for older 

adults as part of continuing education and skill 

enhancement. 

PRESENT – ADDRESSING TODAY’S SYSTEMIC 

RACISM Eliminate Black Debt which is estimated to 

be ~$2t – or about $50,000 per person. 


P A R T 2 : S Y S T E M I C 

R E P A R A T I O N S 

Return $50,000 to each Black person 16+ in the 

form of a check. 

Income Tax Hiatus for Black individuals & families 

for five years so that Black people are not funding 

our own reparations. 

Raise Wages for Black workers to match wages 

for white male workers in all industries and 

establish national five-year review/correction. 

National and/or Regional Grocery Store Chains 

must either place grocery stores in majority Black 

communities or finance Black owned grocery 

store that provides same variety of fresh fruit and 

vegetables, and at pricing not to exceed pricing 

averages at partner store that serves white 

community. 

Same requirement for banks, gas stations, car 

dealers, and other goods and services that are 

typically higher in Black areas, i.e. the Black 

tax/poor tax, which the companies use to 

subsidize lower prices and rates in white areas. 

Early Release for nonviolent weed and drug 

offenders, plus addiction recovery services; 

elimination of for-profit prisons; end bail bonds for 

nonviolent offenders; and end majority white juries 

for Black defendants. 

FUTURE REPARATIONS FOR WEALTH BUILDING 

Reparations for both past and current needs and 

issues solve many historical racist-designed 

roadblocks that prevented Black Americans from 

fully participating in the promise of America. 

Small Business Loans for majority Black owned 

small businesses with approval rates that match 

Now we look at building wealth so Black people can 

establish generational and transferable wealth in 

regional approval rates for white-owned 

terms of stock, bonds, real estate, and other 

businesses, and at the same interests’ rates. Make 

investments. 

available for current loans and refund the 

difference. 

Establish Savings Account for each newborn Black 

baby over a two-year period, with deposits of $10.00 

Credit Lenders required to offer loans for homes, 

per month per child for eighteen years. 

credit cards, and cars at rates that match interest 

rate of white people with same credit score. make 

available to current loans and refund the 

difference. 

There are approximately 570,000 newborn Black 

babies each year: 

570,000 x $10.00 = $5,700,000 per month x 1 2 

months = $68,400,000 annually x 18 years = 

Law Enforcement – Implement Kamala’s Justice 

$820,800,000 x two-year period of Black babies 

Reform Plan 



representation on the board and in management and 

managed by Black asset manager teams. 

born = $1.6t investment. 

With the power of compound interest we will build 

generational and transferable wealth, while also 

having a cash fund for investing in Black 

communities, families, school, housing, and small 

businesses, all without tapping into the principle. 

For reference: 

Annual US military spending = $858b x 18 years = 

$18t 

We will explore oversight next as we dive into 

GOVERNING THE MONEY 

Now we continue with part 3, Reparations: 

Governing the Money. 

The state of California under Governor Gavin 

Newsom has been studying reparations and the 

special panel has determined that Black Californians 

are owed about $223, 000 per person. (See more 

here) 

Annual police spending = $115b x 18 years = $1.3t 

Annual pet spending = $72b x 18 years = $1.3t 

Annual mortgage deduction = $70b x 18 years = 

$1.4t 

Some of the most common responses to the question 

of reparations are who will manage the money, who 

will provide oversight, and what checks and balances 

will be in place to ensure the money isn’t wasted and, 

most importantly, reaches the people it is who 

supposed to reach. 

Top 15 American’s net worth is about ~$1t 

Proposed reparations savings accounts for Black 

babies = $1.6t 

Securing generational wealth for Black babies 

ensures a future financial health for the next 

generation, who will also be born into a society that 

allows access to all the other wealth-building and 

financial supportive programs. 

Setting aside the money in standard growth 

markets will ensure there is a safety net that can 

withstand market swings over the long-term, while 

also creating a fund that can be used to invest in 

Black communities, colleges, small businesses, and 

so forth. 

The fund will be overseen by dedicated wealth 

management companies with Black 

The questions are important for many reasons, not 

the least of which is the united states government 

history of not honoring treaties, its own laws, the 

constitution, and court orders- including from the 

supreme court. 

We know the history of how the federal government 

reneged on paying formerly enslaved folk for their 

labor, i.e. 40 acres and a mule. And we have hundreds 

of years of Native treaties and subsequent lawsuits, 

highlighting government malfeasance. 

At the Native American section at the Smithsonian 

there is an entire section that is solely dedicated to 

treaties broken by the U.S. Government and the 

subsequent lawsuits that continue to this day – see 

last week’s supreme court ruling that wide swaths of 

Oklahoma are actually still tribal land. 

When considering oversight we know we cannot 


P A R T 3 : G O V E R N I N G T H E 

M O N E Y 

leave it up to the Feds, Wall Street, or non-profit 

agencies. And we certainly cannot leave it up to 

well organized billionaires though many currently 

have large organizations who manage – 

successfully and otherwise – their own charitable 

organizations. 

What I propose, short of a separate branch of 

government, we need comprehensive, dedicated, 9. Training & Development – Dedicated to posthigh 

skilled, and national oversight that includes the 

school, job retraining, skill development, and 

following areas of discipline that will be led by career changes. 

Black people following a national search. The 

persons filling the roles will be paid commensurate Community Investments – Oversee community 

to level and experience and with federal funding development for single family homes, senior living, 

that is protected from politicians: 

preschool, enterprise zones, parks, multi-use 

1. Investments – Govern market investments developments. 

based on guiding principles developed in 

tandem with board of directors, public polling, 

and long-term stabilized growth strategies. 

2. Distribution – Govern individual & family 

distribution 

3. Taxes – Individual & Small Business – Required 

Board of Directors – Board to govern all aspects of 

reparations and reflect expertise in each area, while 

also including expertise in all disciplines. In addition, 

board to have rotating political representation, and 

representation from seniors, community leaders, 

pre-distribution resource for scholars, historians, sociologists, young people 

individuals/families, & small businesses 

(16+), and marginalized people within our 

4. Money Management – Required postdistribution 

community. 

resource for individuals/families, & 

small businesses for monthly moneymanagement 

10. Office of Reporting, Audits, and Accountability 

5. Financial Planning & Wealth Management – 

– A fully independent group who audits all other 

groups and provides public reporting on all aspects 

Required post-distribution resource for of reparations. 

individuals/families, & small businesses, with 

long-term focus 

6. Banking – Establish national bank and a 

The above is a template that can be modified after 

feedback from the Black community. 

national credit union for Black communities 

7. Legal – multiple areas of expertise to represent 

the Reparations committee and resources for 

The key takeaway is that reparations in any form 

must be governed and managed by Black people. 

recipients. 

8. Real Estate/Loans – Establish national real 

estate company w/local branches & agents that 

serve Black buyers. 

Black buying power is already over a trillion dollars 

and reparations will significantly enhance buying 

power while ensuring Black people have the 



and prominently wrote The Case for Reparations. It is 

worth your time to read. 

resources and tools necessary to benefit shortand 

long-term spending, savings, and 

investments. 

There are Black experts in all the fields listed 

above and it will be critically important that our 

own people are in charge of the end-to-end 

process – with proper governing, audits, public 

accounting, and standard financial, investment, 

and tax laws considered and followed. 

One more thing that must be mentioned. There 

are more Black women than Black men in 

America, more Black women lead single-family 

households, more Black women are small 

business owners, and Black women on average 

have more formal education than Black men (or 

any group). 

This then is a layperson’s view on an implementation 

strategy template. What is also important to 

remember and what parts 1 & 2 present: It is past 

time for reparations, reparations must be systemic, 

and we need to start now and not wait another 150 

years to return what is rightfully ours. 

For more information, see AB 3121: Task Force to 

Study and Develop Reparation Proposal. 

Originally published on www.deardean.com 

Black women though are underrepresented in 

positions of leadership in corporations. 

As part of addressing reparations we should 

factor that Black women have born an unequal 

burden due to gender, and therefore gender must 

be accounted for in all facets of reparations and 

reparations governance. 

The board should therefore be required to reflect 

Black women equal to their percentage of the 

Black population, which is currently 52%. 

Everything proposed in this post and the other 

two can be starting points for discussion and 

deciding on a path forward. What is important to 

remember is that we have patiently spoken about 

reparations for 150 years and to this point we 

have not made it no further than discussing. 

There are books and scholarly works that deep 

dive into why – Ta-Nehishi Coates most recently 


NEW! 

ON SALE 

NOW 

A cup of coffee or tea paired with interesting company is an unbeatable combination. We learn 

and share so much through this simple social ritual. Nuanced origin stories. Brow-raising 

secrets. Good news. Bad news. Hopes and dreams, insecurities and fears. Sip by sip, we do 

business, catch up, plan our lives, and discover common ground. 

To gain a better understanding of his friends, Myron went on a mission to try their favorite 

drinks. He was struck by the complex flavors and simple pleasures that characterized their 

personalities. Sweet. Spicy. Bold. Bewitching. Optimistic. Ostentatious. Practical. Perfectionist. 

In Coffee, Grounded, Myron reviews these drinks and brews up a perfect blend of culture and 

caffeine. He examines the history of various ingredients and coffee-growing regions, painting a 

vivid picture of faraway lands and hometown haunts. 

Pour yourself a cup and curl up with this tasty collection of stories steeped in friendship and fun. 

Order & Indulge! 


CLICK TO MEET 

THE HOSTS! 

MYRON 

JENN 

Two longtime friends have informative, yet 

brief discussions about multitudinous topics. 

NEW EPISODES ON FRIDAYS! 


MYRON J. CLIFTON & JENNIFER VANLAANEN'S PODCAST 

VOICE MEMOS REVIEWS 

Listen Now! 

Stay 

Shallow! 

Like listening to your BFFs 

June 2, 2022 

kjlerner

MYRON'S 

list 

HIT OR MISS 

HIT 

Reverend Senator Raphael Warnock, winning his 

runoff election with Hershel Walker, giving him a 

full 6 years in the Senate, and giving the surging 

democrats a 51-49 command of the Senate. 

DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.22

MISS 

Republicans pulling Hershel Walker’s strings and 

insulting Black Georgian voters (and other Black 

voters) intelligence thinking they can trot out a 

person who is violent, who abandoned his out of 

wedlock kids, who paid for multiple abortions 

despite saying abortions should be illegal, and who 

didn’t even live in the state -and think Black people 

would vote for him just because he’s Black. The 

republicans deserved the loss, and they deserve 

the scorn. 

MISS 

Oil companies having to lower gas prices after 

being called on the carpet by the president and 

other democratic leaders who showed their spike in 

prices had nothing to do with supply/demand, but 

everything to do with gauging and greed. 

MISS 

The US men’s soccer team made it to the round of 

16 and celebrated before losing to the Netherlands. 

The US team only scored two goals and only won 

one game. It is far past time for US soccer to 

compete with the best teams and stop being satisfied 

with barely making it to knockout play. The money 

and resources the nation has and wastes on poor 

teams is an embarrassment in 2022. The men should 

ask the US Women’s team for help since they have 

been among the best in the world for going on thirty 

years. 

MISS 

The War on Christmas… because it has never 

happened no matter how often Fox News promotes 

the dumb story that they use to keep their viewers 

angry. 

HIT 

Peppermint mochas. Don’t knock them until 

you try one - or eight - of the seasonal delight! 

MISS 

Leaf blowers. Please go away! Or, use electric please. 


G U E S T S P O T L I G H T 

FORGIVENESS 101 

by Katya Juliet Lerner 

Forgiveness 101 should be a class taught in grade school. 

We are so impressionable at those young ages and 

experience so many hurtful moments between friends. 

When you are not prepared to handle conflict and 

resolution, budding relationships full of passion and 

emotion can leave emotional scars for many years to 

come, thus directly affecting adult interactions and 

communication habits long term. 

With the many close relationship we will encounter over 

the course of our lives, conflict is inevitable. But, while it 

takes two people (egos) to fight, it only takes one to 

forgive. 

However, with forgiveness, it is a different story. 

If you say you forgive someone without genuinely doing 

so completely, unfortunately, you are the person who 

suffers. 

Forgiveness is often hard to do because it can make you 

feel like you're giving the other person power; asserting 

they were somehow right or helping them to feel better 

and not ourselves. Countless times I have heard friends 

complain they wish the other person, just once, would 

apologize and forgive them first. But instead, feel like 

they always have to be the one to initiate the process. 

Forgiveness can be a natural tendency for some, but it is However, apologizing and forgiving are two very 

otherwise a developed communication skill that many 

never have the chance to learn. For some relational 

behaviors, you can try to “fake it till you make it." 

different things often lumped together in one broader 

category of conflict resolution. So, lets sort them out a 

little. 


Within the textbook Close Encounters, Apologies are 

defined as “admissions of responsibility and regret for 

undesirable events.” (45, Communicating Identity: The 

Social Self) In other words, taking responsibility for a 

behavior and not avoiding the consequence of your 

actions. 

not enough. That is where the next two characteristics 

of forgiveness come in. 

Emotional Transformation: “Forgiveness involves an 

emotion transformation that allows hurt individuals to 

let go of negative feelings.” 

Generally, when you apologize, it is you who has done 

something of harm to another, whether it was physical 

or emotional. When you are unwilling to apologize for 

your actions, you leave the relationship in a state of 

distress and the only option other than destruction is 

for the other person to be willing to forgive you. When 

neither takes place, a cycle of denial and avoidance will 

inevitably become a force for further conflict. 

A normal reaction to being hurt is to seek revenge, 

restitution or avoidance, which can lead to ending a 

relationship. But in order to forgive you move beyond 

that impulse, letting that desire fully dissolve and 

instead act with positivity and compassion towards 

yourself and the other person. This could be summed 

up as “killing with kindness” or “taking the higher 

road.” 

Forgiveness can be defined as “a relational process” and 

not one single act like an apology. Forgiveness can be 

something one does for himself or herself or another 

person, but it is generally in dealing with harmful 

behavior done by someone other than you. The 

process of forgiveness is comprised of four different 

characteristics: acknowledgment of harmful conduct, 

an extension of undeserved mercy, an emotional 

transformation and relationship renegotiation. (322, 

Hurting the ones we love: Relational transgressions) 

It is important to note that when we don’t allow this 

third step of emotional transformation to occur, we 

are not hurting the other person back. It is truly 

ourselves who suffer the most. Therefore, forgiveness 

becomes an act of setting yourself free from the 

continued emotional burden. 

4 Characteristics of Forgiveness 

Harmful Conduct: “For forgiveness to even be 

necessary, one or both partners must acknowledge 

that there has been a wrongdoing.” 

Note that behavior that may be okay in one 

relationship may require forgiveness in another. Not all 

relationships are the same 

Extension of Undeserved Mercy: “The hurt person 

must make the decision to extend mercy to the 

partner. There is a paradoxical quality to forgiveness as 

the forgiver gives up the resentment, to which he or 

she has a right, and gives the gift of compassion, to 

which the offender has no right.” 

This starts with saying “I forgive you,” (explicit 

forgiveness in its clearest form) but simply saying it is 

DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.25p.19

Relationship Renegotiation: “Forgiveness entails 

renegotiating the nature of one’s relationship, 

including rules and expectations for future behavior.” 

There was a study here that found around “28% of 

participants indicated that the relationship had 

returned to ‘normal,’ after forgiveness was granted, 

around 36% reported their relationship had 

deteriorated and around 32% strengthened. Thus, 

forgiveness does not guarantee reconciliation.” 

It is here we find the power and importance of the 

renegotiation process and desire to do so by both or all 

individuals involved. If the newly negotiated areas of 

the relationship are not sufficient or one person is 

unwilling to move forward, the relationship will 

continue to struggle. 

Connected to the renegotiation process is also how 

one communicates in the aftermath of conflict. 

From an interpersonal communication perspective, 

active listening is just as important (if not more) as 

effectively communicating your own feelings and your 

non-verbal behaviors play a role in the process and 

outcome as well. 

During conflict, a tendency is to focus more so on what 

you are trying to say – the point you are trying to prove 

in order to be right – rather than to communicate for 

the purpose of resolution and listen, in order to really 

understand what the other person is attempting to 

convey. 

It has been found throughout various research studies, 

that colors, sounds and lighting can affect moods and 

therefore, effect interactions. These are elements 

which we often have control over, so it may be worth 

evaluating your environment to see if initial mood and 

positive energy can be improved prior to conflict 

initiating all together. 

Relationships are a process of give and take. Trying to 

be right all the time can be detrimental and thinking 

there is a right and wrong can set couples off track fast. 

Sometimes, the best resolution is a blend of ideas that 

come out of tension and initial conflict. Take the time 

to communicate and try not to give up in moments of 

fluster and frustration. 

Conflict can play a positive role if you let it help you 

If we learn to be better active listeners, we may realize 

boost your communication effectiveness and propel 

that there are common grounds we agree upon, more 

your relationship to new heights. Just like failures 

so than disagree. Also, it may give you the ability to 

along the road to success, conflict can aid as a new 

“walk in their shoes,” if only for a moment, to best 

birth for discussing greater ways to live in harmony 

understand why they may feel as they do. 

through the process of renegotiation and in better 

understanding the people you love the most. 

Extending forgiveness non-verbally can be in the form 

of positive facial expressions, offering a smile, a hug or 

This holiday season, consider your relationships and 

nodding that you understand and have compassion in 

whether there is an opportunity to practice 

the moment. Also, if we lack awareness of our facial 

Forgiveness within your life. It can be a life-changing 

expressions and bodily gestures, it can translate as 

process for yourself and others. 

aggression and cause even more conflict to occur. 


BLM-PD 

BLM-PD 

BLM-PD 

BLM-PD. BLM-PD. BLM-PD. BLM-PD 

BLM-PD 

In the not too distant future, the US has been taken over by white nationalists, and 

the institutionalized racism that has underscored the country’s entire history has 

once again been codified. California has seceded from the US, and a band of strong 

women plan to start the next civil war following the death of their friend at the hands 

of the police. This is BLM-PD.

LIFE, LIBERTY, 

& SOMETHING 

LIKE HAPPINESS 

Rory Dexter looks for love in all 

the wrong places, will working on 

a Presidential campaign change 

his luck or is all fair in love and 

politics? 

GREG HOWARD JR 

Comedian, podcast presenter, author, actor, entrepreneur, and political commentator, 

Greg Howard Jr, is best known as the host and creator of the hit podcasts DON'T MAKE 

THIS WEIRD, THIS IS NOTANENDORSEMENT, 30 Questions With..., and Your Life the 

Mixtape. Greg's forays into the world of writing include the best-selling memoirs HI, I'M 

THE UGLY FRIEND and DON'T MAKE THIS WEIRD: A YEAR IN THE LIFE, and the 

recently released work of fiction: LIFE, LIBERTY, & SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS. 


FOOD + POLITICS 

BY CLAUDIA RENEE WALTERS 

This recipe journal is a short collection of dishes that helped Claudia cope with unbearable 

grief, American politics, and personal radical change during an unexpected pandemic. Each 

chapter features one recipe and personal story designed to warm the heart, provoke 

thought, and invite the reader to recall their special memories with food. 

Claudia Renee Walters is an independent consultant living in California. Before becoming selfemployed, 

she worked as an administrator within some of the nation's largest institutions. She 

holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre and a Master's Degree from NYU in Education & 

Theatre. 

Follow 

Renee 

Order Online

THE MERRY 


The Merry is here to remind us that it needs attention so 

that this season extends to all the other seasons. 

I love the season of the Merry because of the time with 

friends and family and the gift giving and gift receiving. 

There is something special about that moment, the Merry, 

that brings such joy. 

But years of receiving gifts have given me the facial and 

emotional muscle memory to react properly and as 

expected. It is usually days after Christmas when I get 

alone time when I can look at each gift and really 

contemplate what the gift — and the person who gave it to 

me — really means. Those powerful moments of quietude 

are precious and full of quiet joy. 

The Merry can be heartwarming and lovely. I don’t want to 

wish anyone a Merry Christmas anymore because I don’t 

wish that for anyone, I want that for everyone. 

The Merry isn’t a rejection of the Christian holy day that 

celebrates the birth of their savior, and it isn’t about 

substituting Kwanzaa or Hanukkah for Christmas. 

The Merry can be a lovely event, a wonderful time of 

cheer, fellowship, friends, and families remembering and 

creating memories in festive joy. 

The Merry isn’t a religion, isn’t a holy day, and isn’t 

sponsored by a company. 

The winter holidays can be a time of overwhelming 

loneliness, sadness, longing, and hurt. The time of 

Christmas can be hurtful for outcast family members, and 

those in irrevocably broken relationships. The time of 

festive cheer can dredge up memories of loss, of harm 


and pain, and of the memories of inadequacy and one’s 

inability to purchase gifts. 

The Merry is so often missing that many don’t even 

realize it is not present. 

The Merry many long for remain unreachable in this 

land of immense wealth. The Merry as seen on 

television is imaginary and can be harmful. Giving up 

careers and time away from toxic family is seen as bad 

and worthy of giving up to return to a small rural town 

where resides the only family values that matter — free 

of different opinions and viewpoints, and missing life’s 

wonderful diversity. 

Those shows traffic in Christmas, but leave out so 

much Merry. 

Christmas is seasonal and fleeting. The Merry is all the 

time and never leaves us. We experience it with every 

kindness we give, every “please and thank you” we 

utter to service workers and kind strangers. 

The Merry-algorithm will always defeat the other 

hateful algorithms. 

We can defeat not only online hatred, but real life hate 

that infect our all areas of our lives. So use Merry as a 

guard against and counter to the worst that we see and 

encounter throughout our year at work, school, 

shopping, and sadly, at home. 

We’re not going to end hatred by spreading Merry, but 

we will bring joy and happiness, even for a moment, to 

someone who at that moment may need it in ways that 

we cannot see. 

As the year winds down I hope your end of year is 

wonderful, filled with love and laugher, and that you 

spread joy, happiness, and all the Merry you can now and 

all next year. 

And I hope the memories you build today will bring you 

and yours joy and all the Merry you want, need, and 

desire. 

The Merry is what we bring on a regular day in the year 

when we visit our senior family, help a neighbor, 

respond to someone in need no matter how small or 

seemingly insignificant. The Merry honestly 

congratulates and spreads joy not steals joy. 

The Merry prevents us from fighting online with people 

we don’t even know. And it makes us smile seeing a 

friend celebrate something and anything that is 

important to them. 

The Merry algorithm is more powerful than all the appbased 

algorithms put together that attempt to 

overwhelm your online life with hate, insults, and lies. 

That is why the apps and websites code so hard to 

drive the Merry away from you and drive the hate and 

ugliness to you and everyone who follows you. 

But the Merry needs nurturing or its power can be lost 

and forgotten, so that is the merry-algorithm we 

cultivate and spread every time we are kind online. 


Jamaal's Incredible Adventures in the 

Black Church by Myron J. Clifton 

Before Jamaal's seventeenth birthday, he’s appointed as his preacher uncle’s 

designated driver and unwilling personal confidant. Behind the fine outfits and 

hats, behind the delicious cooking, Jamaal is exposed to crazy aunties, sexy church 

sisters, corrupt pastors, and predator deacons. A good kid who just wants time to 

finish his homework and kiss a girl his own age, Jamaal is dragged through the 

strange world of the Black church. You best pray for him. 


NEW! 

ON SALE 

NOW 

Sometimes, when you’re at a crossroads, a door will open and what enters will inspire you. Other 

times, what enters will make you gag. These stories by a ride-share short-timer might have the 

same effect on you. A man, recently laid off from his job and intrigued by the people he might 

meet (and the money he might make) decides to drive ride-share while looking for a new 

professional management position. 

Don’t want to drive drunk? Well, then, by all means, plug in your location and get your friendly 

neighborhood ride-share driver to ferry you to your next bar. Need to move but can’t afford 

movers? There’s an App for that! Tired of waiting for tricks on the corner? Wait—I’ve got an idea. . 

. 

The behavior and stories of folks who call on ride-share turned into a unique anthropological 

study for one man who decided to drive ride-share while looking for a new professional 

management position. Recently laid off from his job and intrigued by the people he might meet 

(and the money he might make), the author unwittingly became the anonymous confidant for 

men, women, nonbinary people, and children. Unfortunately for him, he also became the innocent 

target of people who couldn’t hold their liquor, others who couldn’t hold their temper, and at 

least one who couldn’t keep his hands to himself. 

Little did they know they were in the Prius of a writer, who would be able to look in the rear view 

and tell their stories. 

This collection of anecdotes is non-judgmental, full of irony and dry humor, and may help 

someone else decide: Is driving ride-share for you? 



The 2022 Odyssey of 

Brittney Griner: Part 1 

by Astrologer & Publisher, 

Mark Lerner 

Dateline: December 12, 2022 Every so often, an athlete 

or a team of athletes transcends a sport and becomes a 

larger-than-life presence on the geopolitical global 

stage. That’s what just happened to WNBA Superstar 

Brittney Griner in 2022. 

degree of Sagittarius and soul-sister Vesta at 30 

degrees of Taurus. When any or several of the four 

main asteroids — Ceres, Pallas Athena, Juno and 

Vesta — are strongly-aligned in a birth chart, the 

individual born at that time will be very influential in 

feminine issues. 

Brittney Griner was born on October 18, 1990 in 

Houston, Texas (time unknown as of this writing and 

the horoscope presented is what is known as a Sunrise 

chart). She not only has the Sun in relationship-strong, 

artistically-creative and socially-motivated Libra, but 

the planets Mercury (mind) and Venus (heart) as well 

and possibly the personality-ruling, psychic and 

nurturing Moon depending on the time of day she was 

born 

It is also noteworthy that the largest planet, 

providential and usually gregarious and optimismboosting 

Jupiter, was in the regal sign of Leo at 

Brittney’s birth and making a profound and mysterious 

Pythagorean 3-4-5 Triangle along with slow-moving 

far-distant planets Neptune in Capricorn and Sedna in 

Taurus. (Sedna was discovered in November 2003 and 

has an 11,400-year orbit around our Sun. Sedna is 

named after a great goddess in Inuit mythology who 

ruled the deep-sea creatures of the ocean.) 

Brittney Griner’s horoscope is very closely tied to 

several planets in the USA horoscope from July 4, 1776 

and she is also born with a nearly-exact polarity 

between peace-and-harmony advocate Juno at 1 

It is also very significant that another far-distant 

planet in our solar system Eris — the sister of Mars in 

mythology, discovered in January 2005, associated 

with strife and discord, and which has a 559-year 

cycle around the Sun, more than two times longer 

than Pluto and currently in late-Aries in 2022 – is now 

exactly opposing Brittney Griner’s Sun in Libra. 

This is definitely associated with her “trial by fire” in 

autocrat Vladimir Putin’s foreboding Russia as Eris 

moves very slowly which helps to explain why it took 

so long for the trade to be made between her and the 

notorious “Merchant of Death,” Viktor Bout (born 

January 13, 1967) who had been serving 10 years of a 

25-year sentence in an American prison for 

conspiracy to murder Americans and providing 

weapons to terrorist organizations. 

We can make comparisons between the prominence 

of Brittney Griner in 2022 (she has received dozens of 

honors and awards over her illustrious basketball 

career) with the spectacular rise of Babe Ruth in the 

Roaring Twenties as a Home Run Slugger who had 

been sent at age seven to a reformatory/orphanage in 

Baltimore, Maryland only to wind up changing the 


M A R K L E R N E R 

course of Major League Baseball and its influence 

around the world. And let’s remember his younger 

mild-mannered teammate, the Iron Horse first 

baseman Lou Gehrig, who played in over 2100 games 

in a row for the NY Yankees only to be felled by a 

mysterious paralyzing illness of the nervous system 

(ALS) that eventually became known as “Lou Gehrig’s 

Disease.” 

Think also of the Great American Track & Field Star 

Jesse Owens, who achieved what no Olympian before 

him had accomplished - winning 4 Gold Medals at the 

Berlin Summer Olympics of 1936 which was staged 

by the Nazis to celebrate supposed Aryan race 

supremacy. Then 36 years later, at the 1972 Munich 

Summer Olympics, there was the slaughter of 11 

Israeli athletes and coaches by a Palestinian terrorist 

group known as Black September. And a few years 

earlier at the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics, 

Black American athletes Tommie Smith and John 

Carlos, who won gold and bronze medals respectively 

in the 200-meter run, shocked onlookers and the 

world press by raising black-gloved fists during the 

playing of the U.S. national anthem. (Note: The year 

1968 was when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and 

Senator Robert F. Kennedy had been assassinated 

earlier that year in April and June, and the apocalypse 

of the Vietnam War was raging in Southeast Asia.) 

Consider also in connection with Brittney’s 

remarkable destiny on the Global Stage, the rise of 

Martina Navratilova, a Superstar of professional 

Tennis, who left her home country of Czechoslovakia 

(under Soviet control) to become one of the greatest 

tennis players ever. She was born as a Sun-sign Libra 

on October 18, 1956 — exactly 34 years to the day 

before Brittney Griner. 

And then most recently, in sync with the presidency 

of Donald Trump, kneeling at professional football 

games and other sporting events during the U.S. national 

anthem (to protest racism and police brutality) became a 

major controversial action beginning with San Francisco 

49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. 

Brittney Griner was arrested in Moscow in February of 

this year as she was about to play for a Russian 

basketball team in the off-season from her American 

home team the Phoenix Mercury. Brittney Griner’s 

shocking treatment (supposedly because she had a small 

amount of hashish oil in her luggage and something for 

which she had a prescription in America) stunned 

athletes and everyone worldwide. 

Her arrest coincided with the brutal regime of Vladimir 

Putin launching the unprovoked war against Ukraine and 

as the planet Pluto in Capricorn made its first-ever 

return in the USA birth chart since our nation began at 

The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. 

Among its many themes and archetypes, Pluto is 

connected to the underworld, death and rebirth, 

catharsis, willpower and enormous wealth, deep-seated 

transformation and extreme behavior patterns as this 

planet is 3 billion miles from the Earth and the Sun. 

Now fast-forward through the 9+ months of her ordeal, 

including her being sent to a notorious prison camp to 

potentially endure a 9-year sentence, until last week 

when at the enlightening Full Moon of Sagittarius and 

Gemini on December 7 - 8, the Sun in Sagittarius made a 

potent and illuminating polarity to the red planet Mars 

retrograding in Gemini and Brittney Griner was released 



in the prisoner exchange with arms dealer Viktor 

Bout. Mars has always been associated with both war 

and sports/athletes and Brittney Griner was 

experiencing a Mars Return which can only occur 

around every 2 years for any individual. However, a 

Full Moon, coinciding with an opposition to Mars, is 

exceedingly rare and Brittney Griner was also born 

when Mars was extra-strong because it was 

motionless and about to turn retrograde just as Mars 

is still doing now. 

In fact, my main astrological mentor over the past 50 

years, Dane Rudhyar, wrote in one of his brilliant 

masterworks, An Astrological Study of Psychological 

Complexes, that Venus and Mars had an unusual 

cycle of 32 years when these two key planets of the 

feminine and masculine principles would return to 

where they were 32 years before. Brittney Griner just 

turned 32 on October 18, 2022 and just as Rudhyar 

had investigated decades ago, Brittney Griner was 

experiencing a simultaneous return of Venus in Libra 

and Mars in Gemini at her most recent birthday while 

she was enslaved in a Russian prison camp. Plus, in 

what is known as her Solar Return horoscope for her 

latest birthday, the Sun, Mars and the asteroid Vesta 

were in a nearly precise and auspicious Grand 

Triangle formation in air signs while another unusual 

pattern known as a Pythagorean 3-4-5 Triangle was 

also simultaneously happening with the involvement 

of Neptune in Pisces. 

In a future Part 2 of this feature, I will explain the bigger 

picture of how Vladimir Putin, born on October 7, 1952 

as Saturn united with Neptune (a deeply-meaningful 

and profound cycle that only occurs every 35-36 years) 

is totally connected to the destiny pattern of Brittney 

Griner born at the following Saturn-Neptune union in 

1989-1990. Not only did the Soviet Union begin to 

falter in 1989, but KGB-agent Vladimir Putin, working 

in Soviet-dominated East Germany, found himself 

completely losing his personal power and career stature 

as the Berlin Wall that had been erected in August 

1961 fell in early November 1989 — leading to the 

eventual collapse of the Soviet Union on December 25, 

1991. 

In a remarkable example of synchronicity – and in tune 

with the ancient adage of astrology As Above, So Below 

– Brittney Griner, the Soul/Spirit entering the profound 

and chaotic geopolitical world situation of 1990-1991, 

experienced the start of her life coinciding with the 

bewildering odyssey of Vladimir Putin who was then 

turning 39 and on the verge of going through what 

professional astrologers call the Mid-Life Crisis years 

(from approximately age 39 to 45). 

In many ways, if we see the geopolitical world of 2022 

as an international and cosmic chess game, the Vladimir 

Putin Russian pieces, with Putin being the King on his 

side, are arrayed against the NATO nations, with 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the King on the NATO side 

and American Basketball Superstar Brittney Griner as 

the Queen who can make all kinds of deft and assertive 

moves — unless that Queen is falsely captured and held 

as ransom in an illegal act outside the rules of how 

chess is played over the centuries. 

In closing, Brittney Griner is recuperating in Texas with 

her wife Cherelle Watson and Brittney will certainly 

need weeks or even months to recover from her ordeal. 

She had the first of three Mars returns in Gemini in 

mid-September, is having the second Mars return now 

as I write this story, and the third Mars return will occur 

in mid-February 2023. Instead of Mars going through 


M A R K L E R N E R 

Gemini in approximately six weeks (the usual timeperiod 

for sports-and-war energized Mars), it is currently 

in Gemini for nearly 5 months. 

Let us all hope that Brittney Griner makes a full recovery 

from what became a senseless, mean-spirited action by 

the world’s current number one villain Vladimir Putin 

who clearly has a serious mental-psychological problem 

with people having the right to be free to express their 

personal feelings, beliefs and attitudes. Brittney Griner 

has stated that she intends to play in the upcoming WNBA 

Season. Link 

Copyright 2022 by Mark Lerner. All rights reserved. 

(Mark Lerner publishes GPS Astrology Magazine, began 

the Daily Cosmic Kalendar 41 years ago in 1981 (now 

the Astrology Cosmic Kalendar App for iPhones and 

Android Phones), has created over 100 podcasts in the 

Mark Lerner Astrology Radio AstroScope, and you can 

visit his website at www.greatbearenterprises.com for a 

wide variety of astro-educational services and products.) 

+ 


Bunny Pancakes for Ari and Nino 

It's time for Bunny Pancakes! A new day for Nino and Ari is about to begin...but 

before the sun comes up, and as the rest of the family sleeps, Mama is busy in the 

kitchen preparing a yummy breakfast for the ‘early bird’ twins! 

In her first children's book, Isha Lerner, best-selling author of Inner Child Cards, 

ventures into the exciting realm of children’s books. A researcher and teacher of 

myth, fairy tales, and folklore, Isha has a deep relationship with nature, the magical 

world of flowers, and all things enchanting. 


Her Legend Lives In You: 

The Untold Creation Story Honoring The 

Goddess And Our Daughters. 


Available on

Dear Dean Magazine TOTM 

TWEET OF THE MONTH 

TOTM 

#repubsolazy 

I’m very happy that the republicans are so lazy. They 

watched Rev Warnock win last year and instead of 

learning why he won, deconstructing his win, then 

developing a strategy to take back the seat, they and 

their high paid consultants said: Get a “small b” black 

guy. 

And everyone is mentioning how disrespectful it was to 

Black people to choose Herschel Walker .. but what does 

it say about how the GOP think about white Georgia 

voters? It says they *know they’re racist and stupid 

enough to be the dumb sheep they always prove 

themselves to be. 

they are. The old “you keep doing what you’re doing 

you’ll keep getting what you got.” They’d rather court 

super minorities like Killer Mike and Kanye because 

they think we listen to those buffoons. Or Van Jones 

for fuck’s sake, who is best friends with Jared and 

Ivanka Kushner. 

I don’t think there’s a bigger political story than 

republicans’ inability to get Black voters. We have 60 

years of them being lazy and refusing to try. And then 

we they faux try.. it’s Kanye, Herschel Walker, Uncle 

Luther Campbell, Marcel, Tim Scott, Candace, 

Diamond/silk, & other minstrels. GOP outreach: 

There are tens of thousands of folk like me in Georgia 

and instead of working for their vote they just picked 

Hershel like they used to make us pick cotton. 

And where are the media demanding the GOP have a 

strategy for getting Black people to vote for them? How 

many interviews did you see in Atlanta or the Black 

suburban neighborhoods? 

The media spent a week crying about not being invited 

to White House weddings when they should have been 

in Georgia. 

But their laziness fueled by racism will keep them where 

We’ve all heard those southern strategy words from 

leading democrats of the day: “We’ve lost the white 

vote for generations”… but the unsaid corollary is 

republicans lost OUR vote for generations. 

But unlike democrats who relentlessly court white 

voters, republicans refuse to even try- to their 

detriment. 



TOTM 

Many others deep dive into the reasons we are here 

but I don’t know if any look at it from this specific angle. 

I don’t believe the country or parties can “merge” and 

find detente until the two dominant political factions 

“reconcile.” 

It’s not Black men vs. white men. 

It’s Black women vs white men. That relationship is 

*thee defining broken relationship now and since day 

one. The most loyal democratic voter and the most 

loyal republican voter. Their separateness best defines 

this nation’s eternal struggle. 

It is founding father vs founding mother in a national 

historic scale. Black women birthed and raised two 

separate and unequal nations. Her children remain at 

war with one another. The founding father refuses to 

accept her as equal & actively works to block, prevent, 

destroy her. 

Because she reminds him of his failings and his inability 

to control her and her and his offspring, many of whom 

are a constant reminder of his lust/love/hate 

relationship with her. She reminds him through us in all 

our shades of blackness that HE helped bring about. 

All these colors are initially because of him. And he 

hates the reminder, so he hates her and us. He refuses 

to acknowledge their offspring, hides their history, and 

like divorced fathers on Jerry Springer, denies he IS the 

father. But our DNA is littered with his forced sperm, 

like the sample below from my own DNA profile that 

shows all the European DNA that I am millions of 

African Americans have but which affords us...nothing 

because our skin color and features masks the raping 

of our foremothers. 



TOTM 

I guess our task is not to continue to fall for the false 

binary struggle of Black men vs White men. That ain’t it 

no matter how we men scream it is. 

It is Black women vs. white men as the actual 

combatants. Jobs, healthcare, education, pay, crime, 

politics, women’s rights, abortion, housing, and all 

versions of what constitutes power in this nation. 

This doesn’t mean that all other demographics are not 

important to the health and future of this nation, they 

are, and all are needed to force the incremental and 

occasional monumental shift forward the nation 

undergoes. The broad coalition that delivered all of the 

progressive programs that helped everyone, that 

elected Barak Obama, Rev. Warnock, Nancy Pelosi, 

Lauren Underwood, Jon Ossof, and of course, VP 

Kamala Harris. 

Every solution will remain out of reach for resolution 

until we can solve the great gap, as I like to call it. And 

every advancement will come slower and with more 

fight and anguish that necessary until we can solve the 

great gap between Black women and white men. 

Follow Myron J. Clifton on Twitter! 


We Couldn't Be Heroes 

Short Story Collection: We Couldn't Be Heroes And Other Stories What if a Black 

man could control the weather, God called 911, or aliens took our souls? Would 

we notice? Would we care?... Enjoy the entire collection, seven stories in all, on 

earth and in space and in any order. 


MY FAVORITE THINGS 

streaming right 

now...

M O V I E R E V I E W 

Christmas Movies 

Whether on Hallmark, Lifetime, or any of the streaming 

services, they are basically the same. Nobody watches 

them looking for sophisticated cinema, artful moviemaking, 

or top notch acting. No, these movies are made to 

be easy viewing where you don’t really have to pay close 

attention because the plots are the same. 

Successful working woman returns to her small-town 

home following the death of a family member or after 

breaking up from long-time boyfriend. She no longer loves 

Christmas and is initially annoyed at the small-town 

simplicity until she meets a laborer with a red truck who 

through a series of homely events – ice skating, snowball 

fight, hot chocolate, a special ornament or sweater – helps 

her remember why she loves Christmas, her small town, 

and her new five-o’clock shadow having beau. 

All she has to do is help her city create an app that notifies 

the locals about an art show at the hotel/inn/café/art 

school, so they can raise enough money to keep the 

business open. 

Fifteen minutes before the movie ends, the couple will 

have a very slight misunderstanding that will cause her to 

break it all off and return to her big city job at The Firm, 

until she is reminded that she was really in love all along. 

Coincidently her new beau is usually standing a few feet 

behind her when she gains this understanding. With a few 

minutes to go in the movie, they kiss. 

The end. 

Here are a bunch you can watch..... 

https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/movies 


S T R E A M I N G N O W 

NETFLIX 

Wednesday, Season 1 

Wednesday Addams, the daughter of Mortia and 

Felix Addams, is kicked out of public school which 

forces her to attend the private high school her 

parents attended. Wednesday, played wonderfully 

by Jenna Ortega, delivers the deadpan, deadly, goth, 

sour, and nuanced performance that makes the 

series very fun. An excellent supporting cast that 

include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, 

Gwendoline Chrisie, Emma Myers, and Christina 

Ricci each gives their role what it needs. 

The plot is fast but lingers long enough for you to 

dive into characters, try to solve the same mysteries 

Wednesday is solving, and to hope for a second 

season. 

Tim Burton was a good choice to helm the series – 

despite his history of either not using Black actors 

or, when he uses Black actors, invariably makes 

them the villain without a real character arcs or 

purpose. There are not enough Black cast members 

and there are a few issues with the few he brought 

to the school, and perhaps a season two will correct 

those issues. 

Or not. Because Tim Burton doesn’t care. 

Don’t let that stop you from watching and enjoying 

the cast who are there and who deliver a fine 

version of Wednesday that holds up well against the 

1990’s Wednesday and the original 1960’s 

Wednesday. 


What are you 

watching? 

Let me know! 

HULU: Abbott Elementary – Seasons 1 & 2 

This is the best sitcom on television and if you’re 

missing it, you’re missing out on great writing, 

fantastic characters, and television comedy that bites 

but also lands softly. Quinta Brunson, creator, writer, 

and lead-ish star of the show, is fantastic as the 

optimistic Philadelphia teacher doing her best to 

deliver that same optimism to her elementary aged 

kids. Her peers are equally entertaining with their The lead actor and protagonist is thought to be 

various degrees of being frustrated with public school dangerous because she can intuitively “read” an 

challenges. The thirty-minute episodes are a delight instrument that may be able to tell the future. And 

and you will find your favorite teacher among the that future is damning to the Magisterium in ways that 

excellent cast. 

are life – and earth – changing. The series has a type 

HBO/Max – His Dark Materials 

Seasons 1-3 

of magic and because we are on an alternate earth, 

animals, souls, travel, and just about everything else is 

different. But is it connected to the earth we know? 

This fantasy series is rich, deep, and a bit subversive That is the unfolding mystery and adventure that finds 

storytelling wrapped in young adult fantasy series. the characters uncovering the biggest secrets across 

any earth. The ramifications of which have 

n an alternate earth the government and religious consequences for.. everyone. This is a series that 

organization are one and the same, and they control challenges many assumptions about life, soul, religion, 

all aspects of life. The Magisterium is what they are and even creation so be prepared to be entertained 

referred to and people fear them but also respect and presented with thought-provoking ideas about 

them as part of their lives. 

who we are and where we come from. 


Robin Martin, Editorial 

The Joyful Warrior 

Podcast Network 

Music App 

Mark Lerner Astrology 

Katya Juliet's Jewel Box 

Great Start Initiative

Hubble Views a Star-Studded Cosmic Cloud 

Dec. 16, 2022 

 

A portion of the open cluster NGC 6530 appears as a roiling wall of smoke 

studded with stars in this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

Dear Dean Magazine: December 22, 2022

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