Writer Ellen Morris Prewitt Blog

Happy New Year’s, NOLA

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on March 3, 2022. Posted in Featured, General, LOVE. No Comments on Happy New Year’s, NOLA

There’s a softness in the New Orleans air. The littlest birds make the loudest flutter of wings as they fly into the cedar next door. The white pup down the street calls his barking hello from his balcony, the door behind him open to let in the soft air. The sun slants. The man working on his house speaks, nodding. Black garbage cans dot the...

“Oh, No!” Godzilla: Mardi Gras 2022

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on March 2, 2022. Posted in Featured, General. 8 Comments on “Oh, No!” Godzilla: Mardi Gras 2022

I removed my hat. The priest’s thumb against my forehead was warm with oil, the ashes gritty. Afterwards, he urged us during Lent to take a step—maybe two steps—Godward. The quiet service with no singing, no Alleluias ended quietly. But before that, for a solid ten days, up and down the streets, day and night and into day again, the city...

Reparative Work

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on February 25, 2022. Posted in Featured, General, Racism to Reconciliation. 2 Comments on Reparative Work

A scene from our reparations journey: We sit in the office of Dr. Ebony Lumumba, the Chair of the English Department at Jackson State University. We’re discussing the amazing conversation the night before on the stage of the McCoy Auditorium between Dr. Lumumba and Imani Perry. Dr. Perry was discussing her new book, South to America. (as soon as...

What We Owe to Black Women

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on February 17, 2022. Posted in General, Racism to Reconciliation. 6 Comments on What We Owe to Black Women

In honor of Black History Month, I’m letting you in on something I’ve learned. America owes a debt to Black women for moving us toward democracy. You might already know this. I didn’t. I learned about these heroes reading the excellent book, “She Took Justice,” by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall. She Took Justice Browne-Marshall...

Clothes: A Love Affair

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on February 14, 2022. Posted in FASHION, General. 12 Comments on Clothes: A Love Affair

Standing behind me, looking at my reflection in the full-length mirror, the store owner whom I had adopted as my role model for aging regarded the clothes I was contemplating buying and said, her hands on my shoulders, “Enjoy your body as long as you can.” In my early 50s, I did not understand what she meant. Won’t it always...

Take That, Facebook

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on February 5, 2022. Posted in General. 10 Comments on Take That, Facebook

It’s not often you have a major impact in the world. So it is with great pride that I announce Facebook is set to lose $10 billion this year. Sure, I appreciate the help of the other 499,999 users who left the platform in the last quarter of 2021. I could not have done it without them. Particularly, I want to thank the young people. The...

Reparations Warnings

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on February 1, 2022. Posted in General, Racism to Reconciliation. 4 Comments on Reparations Warnings

Before we get into reparations warnings, I want to thank y’all who’ve contacted me to let me know you’re reading or were intrigued to read The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. I truly loved this collection of stories (as you can tell from my review), and I’m glad to have successfully shared my joy. Next we continue my reparations...

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on January 29, 2022. Posted in General, Writing. 12 Comments on The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

Life is circuitous. I follow a list serve put out by Jackson State University professor C. Liegh McInnis who wrote about an interview between Kiese Laymon (Heavy; Long Division) and Robert Jones, Jr. (The Prophets) wherein they recommended, among other titles, THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES. And just like that, I have a new favorite author. It’s...

Reparations: the Real Me Facts

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on January 28, 2022. Posted in General, Racism to Reconciliation. 15 Comments on Reparations: the Real Me Facts

In my first post of this reparations journey, I didn’t tell you everything you need to know. The next part isn’t easy, and it would be simple to ignore it and leave it out. But it goes to the heart of the question: why am I making this journey at all? So. The Salacious Part My dad died when I was three years old. If you’ve...

Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on January 21, 2022. Posted in General, Writing. 2 Comments on Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda

This is a gorgeous book. I understand I’m probably not supposed to lead with that. I can’t help it. It’s a beautiful cover on a hefty book that promises—actually shouts—adventure ahead! The book, a collection of short stories, doesn’t lie. Don’t shy away from Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda if you’re not a...