Dear Dean Magazine: April 2024

DEAR DEAN 

APR. 22, 2024 

MAGAZINE 

COWBOY 

CARTER 

CONFRONTING

The Goods 

Table of 

Contents 

03 Welcome From Myron 

Dawn of an Era 

page 06 

10 

Cowboy Carter 

by Myron J. Clifton 

14 Blaming Black People 


18 

Hearing & Confronting 

Race Misinformation 

by Steven Evangelista 

24 The Juice Is No Longer On The Loose 


30 

34 

38 

42 

Myron's HIT or MISS List 

Hot Take! x4 

My Favorite Things 

Streaming Right Now 

Our Wedding Day 

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 & 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 

Dear Dean Magazine | Apr. 22, 2024 | Page 2

DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE 

Welcome 

April 2024 

April Showers bringing more country music, 

more championships for Dawn Staley, more 

political garbage from cable news, more jobs, 

more inflation, more federal taxes, more 

Meghan Thee Stallion, and of course, Vice 

President Kamala Harris. 

Check out our feature stories that include a 

review of Cowboy Carter, Beyonce’s country 

album that is blowing up music charts, 

generating lots of online content, and because 

we are in America, surfacing long held contempt 

from some people. A sobering look at the reflex 

too many Americans have to point fingers after 

every disaster, Blaming Black People. 

Frequent contributor, Steven Evangelista, is back 

with his continuing series confronting racism 

with a longtime friend. 

All your favorites are here, too, of course. Hot 

Takes! What’s Streaming, and books, books, 

books! 

We publish thought-provoking articles on 

government, gender, race, and politics, while 

also providing space for movie and television 

reviews, poetry, short stories, food, pets, fun, 

and a welcoming platform for independent 

authors and writers. 

And we provide this space for free – because our 

motto is and will remain: 

Some Art Deserves to be Free. 

So don’t be shy – submit your article! 

Myron 



About Me 

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 

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 



Part 2 

Coming 

Soon! 

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. 



Feature 

DAWN 

OF AN 

ERA 

Dawn Michelle Staley is not new. 

Her South Carolina Gamecocks just completed an 

undefeated season, going 38-0 and winning the 

national championship for the fourth time. 

Even though most national media focused on 

player of the year Caitlin Clark, and thus missed 

the chance to respectfully cover what was the 

story of the college basketball season – women or 

men. 

Dawn Staley is not new. 

Staley won three gold medals with the U.S. 

Women’s Olympic team as a player, and another 

as the coach of the team. And she was selected 

with the honor of carrying the American Flag 

during the opening ceremony during the 2014 

Olympics. 

celebrated. It is an event that is watched closer 

than any other in every sport where it is 

achievable – College Basketball and NFL 

Football. 

And in leagues where being undefeated isn’t 

achievable, the next most celebrated team event 

is Win-Loss Record, Winning Streaks, and 

Winning Percentage. 

The South Carolina Gamecocks have won three 

national titles with Dawn Staley as coach, winning 

in 2016, 2021, and this year, 2024. 

An undefeated season in any sport is extremely 

difficult, extremely rare, and universally 

In every case in American sporting history, each 

of those are watched and reported on daily, with 

the intensity of the reporting coverage 

increasing exponentially the closer the team gets 

to achieving the nearly impossible record. But 

outside of South 



Myron J. Clifton 

Carolina media that wasn’t the case with run up 

to Dawn Staley’s achievement. 


As a player Dawn led Virginia to three 

consecutive Final Fours. She was a two-time 

National Player of the Year, and Most 

Outstanding Player of the 1991 Final Four. 

After a tough Sweet Sixteen game where they 

beat a tough Indiana team by four, Dawn’s team 

lit up Oregon State by 12, and NC State by 19. 

Then they had to face Iowa, which was led by 

college player of the year and college 

basketball’s all-time leading scorer, Caitlin Clark. 

Most of the media coverage went to Caitlin Clark 

and her attempt to end her career with a 

national title. She and Iowa had made the finals 

last year only to be beaten by LSU and 

manufactured rival, Angel Reese. 

This year Iowa got revenge, beating LSU and 

Angel Reese handily and sending national 

media into a tizzy and online racial rivalries 

into battle mode and revenge mode. 

Because sports media is full of mostly white 

men and they decide the narratives that will be 

covered the most, the stories that led every 

sports and news network was about Caitlin 

Clark. 

To be clear, Caitlin Clark is a generational 

player, a flat out baller who can shoot the lights 

out, and the biggest star in college basketball – 

men or women. Anyone doubting her skills 

simply do not know basketball or just wants to 

be contrarian. 

Whether she is the best women’s player of alltime 

is a fun debate because as respected 

national sports journalist and reporter Terry 

Biggs writes: “Before y’all get too far with Caitlin 

Clark being called the greatest woman’s NCAA 

player ever, remember that Breanna Stewart 

did the following: 

4 straight national championships 

3x NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player 

3x National Player of the Year. 

148-5 record in college.” 

For this year, Caitlin was “that woman” and was 

standing between Dawn Staley and another 

notch on her championship belt. 


After an accomplished career in the WNBA 

where Dawn helped push the league forward, 

helped keep it afloat, and diligently play games 

in near empty or near full stadiums, Dawn was 

elected to the hall of fame. If we lived in a 




society where women’s sports were covered like 

men’s sports Dawn would be celebrated hall of 

famers in other sports who upon their 

retirement are celebrated, honored with statues, 

and who make the rounds of television and 

magazine features and interviews. 

Dawn went straight to work as a coach at 

Temple where her teams went Virginia, setting 

the stage for her dominate run at South 

Carolina. Her teams won 172 games in eight 

years at Temple before she was hired at South 

Carolina. 

Success at did not come fast but Dawn never 

wavered from her commitment to doing the 

work honestly and with energy. Just like when 

she was a player. She knew that building a 

program the right way took time, patience, and 

honest recruiting. After losing seasons her first 

two seasons, she saw the proof of her methods 

in year three with her first winning record. She 

has not had a losing record since, and has had 

a season with double digit losses only once in 

twelve years since. 


The first half of the national championship 

game was intense, with Iowa jumping out to a 

ten-point lead and star Caitlin Clark scoring 

eighteen points in the first quarter – the most 

ever in the tournament. 

Dawn adjusted her defense by shifting Raven 

Johnson to guard Caitlin Clark. Raven had been 

dismissed by Clark last year because Raven was 

not a good outside shooter. Raven worked on 

her game and improved her shot, while getting 

even better at defense which was always a 

strength. Dawn knew Raven wanted the chance 

and challenge of guarding Caitlin. A good coach 

knows when to challenge a player, when to 

protect a player, and when to depend on a 

player to step up into the moment. 

Dawn’s move proved to be genius as Raven 

made four steals against Caitlin, caused her to 

miss more shots than normal, and limited her 

from taking over the game as fans were used 

to, and as Iowa needed. 

In the end, South Carolina won the game, 87- 

75, winning their third national championship 

with Dawn Staley, and causing the national 

media to redirect their coverage, belatedly, to 

the record-breaking hall of fame coach and her 

team. 

Dawn Staley isn’t new. She was undersized as a 

player in college and the pros, she could not get 

across the finish line to win the title as a player, 

but she collected accolades and achievements 

every step of her incredible journey until finally 

reaching the highest heights in her sport. 

Americans deserve to know about Dawn Staley 

and her career, accomplishments, and her 

championship achievements. 

She is one of America’s best active coaches, and 

she is a great role model for girls, boys, women, 

and men. She is a leader and the best that 

college sports have to offer. 

The coverage next year should meet Dawn and 

the Gamecocks where they are – at the top of 

the sports mountain because Dawn Staley is not 

new, she is the Era. 



Feature 

Cowboy 

Carter 

Beyonce's latest album is excellent, showcases her 

love of southern, country, and "chitlin circuit" music, 

instruments, and vocals. Beyonce long ago moved 

on from traditional Pop, R&B, Soul, and Global 

dance. Moved on, but not left behind. 

She has grown. 

As most artists, in any genre, will do as they 

experience life, love, loss, heartbreak, & success In 

that way this album is perfectly experimental, 

wonderfully executed, and intricately challenging to 

her, the guest stars, and her old and new audience 

This album is a challenge. Artists like Stevie, Dylan, 

Michael, Prince, Tina, Aretha, Miley, Cher, Diana, 

Patty, Taylor, Janet, Lennon, McCarthy, George 

Michael, Earth, Wind, Fire, Whitney.. all moved from 

industry-designated category to their undefined 

category. Beyonce demands and gives more of 

herself. 

Is it Country? To "me" it is. But it is more as well. It is 

southern. It is Texas. It is Houston. It is the sound we 

heard our parents listen to, the sounds our 

grandparents lamented was lost, & the sound their 

parents heard in various southern states in various 

degrees of hell. 

The names include singers and musicians Tanner 

Adell, Willie Jones, Tiera Kennedy, Linda Martell, 

Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Robert Randolph, 

and Shaboozey. 

There are more, and more samples from The 

Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and a favorite of 

many already, Paul McCarthy’s Blackbird. There 

are so many influences and respectful homages, it 

is hard to imagine anyone being upset with 

Beyonce’s latest creatively written, produced, sung, 

and marketed work of art. 

I think Beyonce's 20-year discography is among 

the best in music history. 




There's always hate when women artists break out 

and do what they hell they want, with whomever 

they want, and on their own schedule. Beyonce 

generates traffic, like Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, 

Janet Jackson, Miley Cyrus, and others before them 

including Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Cher, 

Karen Carpenter, and Tina Turner. 

The industry and critics be damned though. 

As is said online, sometimes it is perfectly okay to 

just scroll on by. If her music isn’t for you, that’s 

fine because not all music is made for every 

person. Beyonce and those who appreciate her 

creativity, inclusiveness, and artistic growth will be 

just fine without you. 

If her music isn't for you, ignore it and move on. 

That's what Beyonce has done to those trying to 

force her into a category: ignoring them and 

moving on. 

But of course in America that is seldom the road 

taken and it is no different than with the 

numerous awful hot takes about Beyonce’s 

country album. 

From the “You’re not really country” to the “Black 

people are trying to appropriate country music” 

the ready stupidity of bad takes are all over every 

social media app. 

Never mind that country music – like Jazz, Soul, 

Gospel, Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Hip 

Hop, and Disco, all are creations of Black 

American culture, and never mind that Beyonce 

Knowles is from the South – as most Black 

Americans still are, and no matter that she has 

dabbled in multiple musical genres since going 

out on her own twenty-plus years ago, America 

will always America and try desperately try to 

confine Black excellence to a small uninteresting 

box. 

You know who doesn’t have an issue with 

Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter? The artists. 

She has received praise from Paul McCarthy, 

Nancy Sinatra, and of course Dolly Pardon who 

loved Beyonce’s re-interpretation of Jolene. 

“Wow, I just heard 'Jolene,'” Dolly wrote in a March 

29 Instagram post. “Beyoncé is giving that girl 

some trouble and she deserves it!” 



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? 

Dear Dean Magazine | Mar. 22, 2024 | Page 12


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. 



Feature 

BLAMING 

Black People 

Foreign Cargo ship accidentally crashes into & 

collapsing bridge, killing immigrant workers. 

None of the crew or workers were Black. 

Republicans blame Black Mayor & Governor & DEI 

Mass & Social media pushes the message, even 

asking Mayor & Governor if DEI caused crash I just... 

Disasters happen, there’s a national effort to rally 

around the locations affected. The cities, businesses, 

states, the people This disaster in Baltimore? 

Nah, fuck them, republicans and online mostly WP 

loudly yell. 

Is there nothing that can happen in proximity to 

Black people that WP won’t blame us, ridicule us, 

mock us? Why is there a reflex that immediately 

turns to “Blame Black People” no matter if it had 

nothing to do with them? I know it’s racism... but 

goddamn. 

Can you imagine always being blamed for 

everything wrong with this country? And having 

the least amount of power to correct the bullshit 

the folk with actual power forces on us? Every 

day. All day. Every instance. Then have wealthy 

dickheads like Elon Musk join AND encourage 

more? 

We’re here catching strays for no reason other than 

the nearest shore is a city with a Black mayor. 

Fucking younger Andrea Mitchell, Dana Bash, had 

the white privileged gall to ask the governor if DEI 

played a role. What the absolute fuck was that and 

why is she still employed? 

The daily armor we have to put on just to survive 

work, school, online, watching television & 

movies, reading books, and worst of all - 

watching/reading the news.. Is armor enough to 

withstand daily global attacks on our existence. 




Yes, global. The Middle East war is blamed on 

Black folk by those dumb ass protestors. The 

100-border sieve is blamed on VP Harris The 

inbred royal Fucking family bullshit is blamed on 

Meghan Markle. Donald dumb-dumb Trump 

blames Tish James, Fani Willis, and Obama. 

And if you have a Black friend or coworker.. 

or neighbor.. Don’t ask them about the 

latest fuckery in this country. They KNOW 

and maybe they don’t want to talk about it 

with you or anyone. Just let them exist in 

peace for the tiny moment you’re around 

them. 

They’ve earned it. 

It’s hard to explain the process of always being 

attacked & blamed, rarely being listened to, and 

seldom being apologized to when the things we 

warned about come true. It’s beyond exhausting. 

It’s debilitating. It’s the fuel that creates a villain 

origin story. 

We don’t do it. 

I don’t think it’s studied or written about enough 

that part of the reason it’s so hard to get *some 

Black people to vote.. is being involved requires 

knowing vile details, endlessly being attacked & 

mocked, and having to deal with wishy washy 

allies. Who wants more of that? 

The only way out is voting. Let me get that on this 

thread before some chuckleheads scold me. 

I wish I could grant Black Americans a break. Just 

a month, a week, or even a day. Just a break from 

America so we could relax. Let our guards down. 

Feel safe. Be safe. Just a moment. We’ve waited 

400 years and my god we’re still waiting with no 

light in our dark tunnels. 


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


Feature 

Hearing & 

Confronting Race 

Misinformation 

It was time for my weekly video chat with 

Premio. His face, usually bright with optimism, 

was downcast. 

“Hey. What’s wrong?” I asked. 

“I was just reading another headline about 

DeSantis. They say he’s backtracking. It’s a 

shame what they did to this man. He should be 

the next president.” 

Here we go, I thought. 

“Really?” I responded. “And what do you like 

about him?” 

“Well,” said Premio, “he’s very strong. They tried 

to make him look weak, with all these doctored 

videos, but he took on Mickey Mouse and won. 

And he stopped indoctrination in the schools! 

Woke, CRT and all that. Someone has to stand 

up.” 

“Yeah, it’s making everything about race. It’s saying 

that white people today - like you and me! - have to 

pay up for the past sins of racists and all the stuff 

they did back then. Making little white kids 

uncomfortable because they are told racism and 

slavery are their fault. When slavery has been over for 

hundreds of years! 

“And what about me? What about my family? My 

ancestors came over here from Italy with nothing. We 

didn’t do anything, but we get lumped in with the 

plantations. That’s CRT. That’s woke. 

“My ancestors earned everything they got, and no one 

was handing out anything to them. Where’s my 

reparations?” 

“So what is CRT?” I knew how to play this game. 

“Do you know?” 

Premio’s confidence was overwhelming 



Steven Evangelista 

Where to even start with countering this fusillade 

of misinformation? Once again, as in almost 

every conversation with him, I wondered 

whether presenting facts would even make a 

difference. 

But I had to try. “That isn’t what CRT is. It’s a 

framework for understanding the law and its 

impact on society. Not the nonsense you are 

describing. And CRT is not being taught in K12, 

has never been taught in K12, not even in 

college. It’s a law school theory!” 

My speech was just beginning, but Premio cut in. 

“What do they know about law school in 

kindergarten, where they are teaching CRT? They 

are making little five-year-old white kids feel bad 

about slavery. They had nothing to do with it! 

Thank God for Ron DeSantis, and they 

demonized him.” 

Once again, it seemed hopeless. I didn’t have the 

energy to fight this fight this week. And, I 

reasoned, DeSantis is out of the picture anyway, 

so it would just be wasted effort. 

“Pay rent?” Something between a guffaw and a 

sneeze escaped Premio’s contorted face. 

“Anyways, my mom’s always up in everybody’s 

business. She keeps me informed about what’s 

going on in the family. 

“For example,” he continued officiously, “my 

second cousin once removed the other day. 

Thank God she had a white baby!” 

“What are you talking about?” I asked, 

incredulous and intrigued. 

“Well, my cousin Annina,” Premio began. “She’s 

the one who’s my Aunt Giuseppina’s 

granddaughter, not the one in Brooklyn, but the 

one who moved out to Ohio because her 

mother, Felice, had this whole thing with her 

husband. She is dating a Black guy.” 

“Ok,” I said, trying to keep up. 

“You know, I guess he is lighter skinned, but still, 

when they come out, they might come in all 

shades of color. And it’s so much harder for 

them if their skin is dark than if it’s light.” 

“Can we change the subject?” I asked. “I haven’t 

asked about your family. Everything alright with 

your mom?” 

“Oh, she’s just got an attitude,” my new friend 

Premio replied. “Always in my business.” 

“Well, it is her right, is it not? You are under her 

roof and now a fully grown adult. I’ll guess you 

don’t even pay rent, but it’s her prerogative to 

charge you.” I glared into the phone, 

remembering Premio’s lack of employment. 



Steven Evangelista 

“So, the cousin, this one is Annina? She had a 

baby with her boyfriend,” I clarified. “And you 

are happy that he is lighter skinned?” 

“Not just lighter skinned,” Premio said. “That 

baby is white! I mean, if I didn’t know my cugina 

and how devoted she was to this Black guy, I 

would say that baby belonged to a white side 

piece!” His eyes grew wide. 

“But no worry about racism for now,” Premio 

continued. “Unless this little baby boy’s skin 

changes when he grows - sometimes it’s like 

that, you know - he won’t have to deal with all 

that shit Black people deal with.” 

“So you are aware of the racism that is all over 

society?” I asked. 

“Oh, there’s racism,” he replied. “Sure, and 

there’s anti-white discrimination too. But why 

should he have to grow up in a world where he 

has to deal with both? At least that’s one thing 

off his list of lifelong challenges. I always say, 

give me a challenge, but not too much at once!” 

“Anti-white discrimination,” I said. 

“Oh yeah, you know, affirmative action and all 

that shit. It’s almost better to be born Black than 

white these days.” 

“Almost,” I said. 

“Almost,” Premio repeated. 

“Thank God for passing!” 


Vernon L. Andrews 

Policing Black Athletes 

Racial Disconnect in Sports 

O R D E R 

T O D A Y !


Marcus A. Banks-Bey, M.Div 

Gathered experience and elevation gained from years as an Army & hospital chaplain, mental health worker 

and clinical psychology doctoral student, equips Marcus A Banks to aid in journeying the reader to 

intelligently question their past belief systems and future creative visions of thought and identity as a 

purposeful means to developing their own personal reality for establishing their “true identity.” 

Within Dig Deep lies practical language, developed to help the reader grow the relationship with themselves, 

and understand why nurturing the relationships we have with our Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness and 

Finances will support our Purpose, Planning, Patience, and Persistent-Perseverance. This system helps one 

establish their own 5×5 Side by Side Guide through life. Dig Deep was written following a series of extremely 

challenging life occurrences, including the suicide of the author’s brother, Iverson; divorce; and war 

deployment. From this place, the author engaged in the process of self-discovery, self-awareness and 

meaning. 



Looking back on the Before and the events leading up to the After, it was impossible to say precisely 

when everything went to shit. Understanding the importance of human connection, a lone trader braves 

the Weeps and an emerging cult to unite the survivors of a shattered world. The Before and The After is a 

tale of loss, acceptance, and finding one’s truth in a barren future. 

Catherine Sequeira 

Catherine Sequeira is a veterinarian, author, and teacher. Originally from California, she has lived in 

Switzerland, New York, Oklahoma, and Scotland. She is an avid tabletop gamer and was all verklempt the 

first time her older son kicked her ass at Lords of Waterdeep. She would live in the garden if she could, 

pretending to be Snow White or channeling her inner Poison Ivy. When the weather chases her inside, you 

can find her reading sci-fi and fantasy or binging horror shows. She lives in Northern California with her 

partner, younger son, cat, and rescue dragon (the bearded kind, that is). 



Feature 

The Juice Is No 

Longer On The Loose 

Nicole Brown Simpson’s 

accused murderer is dead. 

Orenthal James Simpson, O.J., is dead. O.J. died 

on April 11 at age 76 from prostate cancer. 

O.J. was found “Not Guilty” in the murder of his 

ex-wife and Ron Brown in 1994. He was later 

found responsible in a civil trial for both 

murders. 

The divide was seen in colleges, workplaces, 

neighborhoods, police stations, courtrooms, and 

sports fields, as some Black people celebrated the 

not guilty verdict and some white people cried and 

blasted Black people for celebrating it. 

The trial was “The Trial of the Century, and kicked 

off the twenty-four-hour news, true crime TV, 

journalists as entertainers, and lawyers as guest 

commentators. 

The trial and the murders crossed many of the 

American racial lines – sports, mixed marriages, 

crooked cops, unfair justice system, domestic 

abuse, celebrity worship, wealth, white woman 

murdered syndrome, and murder as 

entertainment. 




The verdict and trial weren’t done in a vacuum. 

Many Black people saw the trail as a repudiation 

of generations of violence and corruption by the 

Los Angeles police department who terrorized 

Black neighborhoods while unleashing horrific 

violence and murder on Black and brown men. 

And many saw it as a fuck you to the justice 

system that was (is) unfair in how it sentences 

Black and brown men. The LAPD horrific and 

filmed beating of L.A. resident Rodney King was 

still fresh on the minds of Black citizens 

everywhere but especially in Los Angeles where the 

beating took place in 1991. 

All the cops were found innocent which led to 

protests that LAPD used as another opportunity 

attack citizens, some of whom resorted to rioting. 

So it was against that backdrop O.J. the murders, 

and the trial takes place. 

because then, as now, domestic abuse and 

violence is handled by police departments as an 

opportunity to protect men, first, last, always. 

The racial aspect was complex as well, with Black 

husband, white, mixed kids, touching on one of 

the most sensitive and foundational racial issues 

that the country still grapples with. And within the 

Black community, it had long been established 

that O.J. “didn’t fuck with us” and he had made 

that abundantly clear for most of his adult life 

after he became an NFL star. All those competing 

issues surfaced again when news of O.J.’s death 

hit the airwaves, proving that though we’ve come 

far, we still have so far to go. 

Perhaps the most important aspect about news 

of O.J.’s death is that "Prostate cancer, 

unfortunately, is common. It affects one in seven 

men, making it the second most common cancer 

among men worldwide. The good news is that 

prostate cancer can be curable, especially when 

identified and treated EARLY." 

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer 

globally among men, and it is the most treatable 

when detected early. Black men are 7 times more 

likely to die from prostate cancer, so if there’s 

anything Black men specifically take away from 

O.J.’s death, is get your prostate checked 

annually. 

Hopefully Nicole Brown Simpson can rest 

peacefully, her kids can live full lives, and America 

starts to do better with fairness in the courts and 

justice system, police brutality, and of course, 

domestic abuse. 

But there was more. There was the national 

awareness of Domestic Violence – O.J. was an 

abuser who escaped accountability because he 

was famous and wealthy, but mostly 


EXTRA! 

Meghan Thee Stallion 

Meghan Thee Stallion unleashed a group of Instagram videos 

that gathered tens of millions of views and likes. All she is doing 

is dancing. But also, all she is doing is dancing in that way that 

only she can. 


EXTRA! 

EXTRA! 

VP Kamala Harris 

VP Harris attended multiple formal events over the past few 

weeks, here are a few of her looks (She did not take a break 

from hosting world leaders, visiting college campuses, fighting 

for women’s rights, and campaigning for the November election) 



Coming Soon! 

Dr. Josie Harjo is used to cutting up dead bodies. As a veterinary pathologist at a state diagnostic lab, it’s her 

job to figure out the cause of death in a never-ending parade of various non-human species. Most cases are 

cut-and-dried, and rarely will a carcass roll in that gets her racking her brain. 

When a rancher shows up with a dead horse, Josie thinks it’s going to be a typical day at the office. She 

quickly learns that this is the third suspicious death in as many days, and the clock is ticking to figure out 

what’s going on before any more lives are lost. 

The necropsy is frustratingly unremarkable, and Josie is forced to follow all leads no matter how 

implausible. Tensions rise as the rancher starts pointing a finger at a disgruntled employee and an assault 

charge forces the cops to start asking questions. With a hefty insurance payout on the table, Josie realizes 

that she can’t ignore the possibility that the rancher might be involved. As the pathologist leading the case, 

Josie has to wonder, is it just coincidence or is there something more nefarious killing horses at JW Ranch? 


New Children’s Books! 

by Katya Juliet Lerner 

Now Available on 






MYRON'S 

HIT OR MISS 

list 

HIT 

The eclipse of the sun happened and millions of people in 

Mexico and the United States enjoyed the spectacle of 

seeing the moon block the sun and sunlight during the 

morning and afternoon. 


HIT 


MISS 

Despite all the usual religious nuts who predicted 

doom, gloom, the rapture, aliens, and worse, 

nothing happened as per usual. 

Math, physics, and astrophysics were all on 

display as people enjoyed the eclipse. 

HIT 

James and Jennifer Crumbly became the first, and 

hopefully not the last, parents to be held criminally 

responsible for a mass school shooting committed by 

their son, Ethan Crumbley, were each sentenced to 10-15 

years in prison. He murdered four students after his 

worthless parents ignored his clear mental health issues, 

gave him guns and access to more guns, and sent him to 

school to murder Hana St. Juliana, 14 Justin Shilling, 17 

Tate Myre, 16 Madisyn Baldwin, 17. 

MISS 

CNN and other media outlets over-focusing on 

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and missing the historic 

undefeated season by Dawn Staley’s South 

Carolina Gamecocks women’s college basketball 

team. 

MISS 

Emmanuel Acho Ne-Lo, Stephen A. Smith P-Diddy 

Larry McKelvey aka Charlamagne the g*d, Kanye, 

Killer Mike, Luther Campbell, Byron Donald, 

Charles Barkley, Minister Darrell C. Scott, Larry 

Elder, and North Carolina gubernatorial 

candidate and maga fool, Mark Robinson – Are 

the Black men recruited by Steve Bannon to 

siphon away Black men away from voting for 

Democrats. These dumb dumbs are working 

hard to end women’s rights, harm Black folk and 

other POC, and to get their place atop a 

Christofascist patriarchy. 

HIT 

University of Connecticut’s men’s basketball team 

won the national championship for the second 

consecutive year. Congrats to the Huskies from 

Storrs, Connecticut. 

HIT 

Israel’s military methodically bombed World Chef 

workers even though the renowned relief workers 

were approved and given a specific route to drive to 

deliver food. Chef Jose Andres expressed sympathy 

for his workers, and anger at the Israeli military for 

the devasting attacks. 

MISS 

Arizona’s Supreme Court decided to re-implement a 

160-year-old abortion law that was in effect before 

they even became a state. Not to be missed is the law 

was in effect in 1864 – one year before the 

emancipation proclamation, showing exactly where 

republicans want the nation to return to 

MISS 

Hamas was seen stealing food from relief trucks and 

shooting Palestinians who were trying to get too much 

needed food and medicine, then Hamas refusing 

another ceasefire while admitting they “May not have 

enough hostages to negotiate with.” Meaning, they’ve 

killed more of them than that have previously 

admitted. 

MISS 

Election year and pre-summer price gouging is going 

strong in various industries, especially oil and gas. Gas 

prices around the nation are up, and California’s 

prices, always among the highest in the nation, are as 

high as $5.30 per gallon in some areas. 


Download the App Free! 

Music and Audio Cloud Storage 

made for Music Artists! 

sayeYO - A simple and secure cloud storage 

app made with the music world in mind!


F e a t u r e d M o b i l e A p p 

Finally! An app made for music artists, music producers, 

musicians and music fans that encourages 

communication and collaboration! Access the sayeYO 

music storage app on your laptop, pc or mobile device 

with a free download! 

You can experience peace of mind knowing your song 

files are safe and can easily be played, shared and even 

promoted with just a few taps. Download the app now… 

sayeYO’s in-app messaging and communication 

features, built-in compression tool, analytics and 

discovery page unite the music world in a way that 

supports a music artist’s craft like no other — and 

bridges the gap between music sharing on different 

mobile devices, and challenges users face now in file 

size, sharing, access and exposure peer to peer and with 

fans. 

All sayeYO users enjoy up to 2 free GB of storage for 

music, photos, videos and links - and all files that can be 

shared seamlessly using sayeYO's in-app messaging 

features regardless of what kind of phone they have. 

No phone plan? No problem! sayeYO works on WIFI only 

anywhere in the world — no phone number required! 

Life is hard enough - storing, sharing and playing your 

music should be easy! We believe that the world is a 

better place when people who make and share music 

don’t have to worry about the challenges of technology 

and can instead focus on their craft and new 

connections. 

Meet the Founder, Kevin Linney 

My name is Kevin Linney, I also go by the name Crucial 

Point. I have tons of friends that make music and we all 

have the same issues regarding storage and sharing 

our music. As an underground/independent Hip Hop 

artist, I wanted to create a platform where we could 

store and easily share our music with people around 

the world. 

Dear Dean Magazine | Apr. 22, 2024 | Page 33 

Even as an amateur artist, I had close to 200 song files 

sitting on Google Drive and DropBox, none of which 

were being promoted or heard by anybody other than 

myself. I needed a place where I could simply store my 

song files and easily share them when I want and with 

who I want. 

I created the sayeYO app with music artists in mind. I 

added features like the discover page, where artists can 

share songs made public with other app users. In the 

discover page users can play songs, like songs and click 

on any shared links. Our in-app text messaging allows 

users to share full-length songs, media files and much 

more for improved communication and collaboration. 

I also added a business directory so that sayeYO app 

users can connect with people who offer services within 

the music industry. Some of the categories include DJ’s, 

record labels, mixing and mastering, music blogs/news, 

podcast, marketing and promotions, management and 

consulting, dancers and choreographers, plus much 

much more. 

The sayeYO app is truly one of a kind. It is not your 

typical cloud storage app. I know there are millions of 

song files sitting on various storage drives around the 

world that have not been listened to in months or years. 

I know from personal experience with my music that it 

is easy for artists to create songs and not ever put them 

out or promote them. 

I want music artists to think differently about music and 

audio storage. Songs don’t have to be stored and 

forgotten about. Music artists can upload all their songs 

to the sayeYO app and have a place to privately store 

their music or share their music publicly with a global 

audience. 

Don't let your music files get lost in storage. Join 

sayeYO and invite your music friends! 

www.sayeyo.com


Myron's 

HOT TAKE 

#1 

Seems like Kate Middleton might have been 

raptured because she has all but 

disappeared from public life despite the 

royal family and British media continually 

producing fake photos and videos that 

purport to show her. 

#2 

Another eclipse, another failed rapture. Nothing 

but two-thousand years of fearmongering and 

disappointment for folk who want to go, and for 

folk who want those people to go. 

#3 #4 

New Jersey and New York had an earthquake, People surprised that Black artists created 

and it was a “good size” shaker at 4.8. Enough country music are the same people surprised 

so that the tough east coast folk were 

that Black people live in rural communities. 

momentarily panicked before begrudgingly 

That we are farmers. That we are cowboys & 

appreciating what Californians have long 

cowgirls, that we hunt & fish, that we call, ski, 

known – earthquakes are frightening. 

ride horses. That we own guns. Turns out, we’re 

humans and Americans, too. 



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.


Her Legend Lives In You: 

The Untold Creation Story Honoring The 

Goddess And Our Daughters. 


Available on


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. Browraising 

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!


MY FAVORITE THINGS 

streaming right 

now...


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

Apple TV - Constellation. A science-fiction drama that 

will play tricks with you as you try to figure out what is 

going on with an astronaut recently returned from the 

International Space Station. One self-contained season. 

Netflix - Three Body Problem. From the acclaimed 

novel, Netflix tackles a far-reaching story that goes to 

the past, explores the now, and contemplates what is 

promised to be a very interesting and possibly 

frightening future. 8 Episodes and season 2 already in 

development, Three Body Problem is worth the watch. 

Netflix - Ripley. Limited Series. It is slick, slow, and 

eerily creepy watching a loser American man pretend 

to be a wealthy son he was tasked with finding in Italy. 

Netflix - Physical. Season 2. The Korean show again 

brings together 100 people from different professions, 

sports, and physical endeavors and tests them in a 

variety of extremely physical tasks to determine who 

has the “best physique.” 

Paramount+/Showtime - Three Body (Chinese 

adaptation) is different than the Netflix series. For 

one, this adaptation is the full book, so it is 30 

episodes. That is presumably what Netflix will do 

with multiple seasons. But if you want the entire 

thing now, head over to Paramount. The adaptation 

is more cerebral than Netflix’s, and the pace takes 

some getting used to, but once you’re in it, you’ll 

enjoy this different interpretation of the source 

material. 

Netflix - Blown Away. Another season of the fun show 

that showcases glass blowing experts competing is 

multiple glass-blowing tasks in hopes of being crowned 

the champion. It is fun and fast – the episodes are only 

about thirty minutes – and you get to see really cool 

artwork. 



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

Disney+/Hulu - Iwájú. Another Disney+ animation win 

as they continue to showcase artists from around the 

world. This series is from Nigeria and is Afrofuturism at 

its best. It is set around Lagos and the island just off its 

coast where technological advances are common, as 

are those who would exploit them and the citizens. The 

kids caught in the middle form the heart of the series 

and the comedy. It is lighthearted enough for kids 6+, 

with enough cool technology and madcap adventures 

for older kids. 

Disney+/Hulu - Renegade Nell. This is a fun series for 

kids and teenagers who like superheroes, medieval 

times, and magic. Nelle has powers, sometimes, and 

only in given situations, and they are granted by 

something or someone special. We find out with Nelle 

what is going on and as we do, there’s plenty of action, 

danger, comedy, and coming of age adventures for 

young Nell. 



Pre-Order 

NOW 

The Empire Wars 

A powerful YA debut set in a world where survival and magic are a deadly mix. 

Coa, who was born feral in the North Transatlantic wilds, has just been captured. Now, Coa 

is subject to public humiliation and execution in a gruesome spectacle known as The Great 

Hunt. 

If participators die in the Great Hunt—their entire family will be executed. In front of 

everyone. The nationalist regime, known as the Allied Force, will not rest until all foreigners 

are exterminated. Her best hope might be Princess Ife, born of privilege, but newly married 

into the authoritarian lineage. 

Her riskier choice is an alliance with a gorgeous, cunning participator—marked as a traitor 

to his militarized nation. Soon, Coa entangles herself with the captivating, deadly young man 

who could be her ultimate downfall. 

Akana Phenix is a recent Harvard alum who researches 

genocide. The Empire Wars comes out on July 30, 2024. It is now 

available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible, Apple 

Books and more. On social media, she is primarily on Twitter, but 

she can also be found on Instagram and TikTok. She is located in 

the United States of America. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/akurephenix 


March 23, 2024 

New York Academy of Medicine Library 



Robin Martin, Editorial 

The Joyful Warrior 

Podcast Network 

Music App 

Mark Lerner Astrology 

Katya Juliet's Jewel Box 

Great Start Initiative

Location:NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field 

Photographer:NASA/GRC/Jordan Salkin

Dear Dean Magazine: April 2024

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