Author Archives: Cheryl_McCourtie

About Cheryl_McCourtie

Baldhead Empress, Cheryl McCourtie, has been a magazine editor and writer, and a nonprofit fund-raiser and communications specialist. Raised in Liberia, Malawi and Swaziland, she is avidly interested in women across the globe, in particular and people in general. The Baldhead Empress site is one of affirmation. Cheryl looks forward to sharing her positivity with as many like-minded people as possible. One Love!.

A Sexual Assault Survivor Gets Angry

In Massachusetts, sexual assault is defined as any crime in which the offender subjects the victim to sexual touching that is unwanted and offensive. The unwanted sex act is one that is forced upon someone, whether it is penetration orRead the Rest »

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With the Immigration Debacle, I Ask: Collaborator or Member of the Resistance—Which One Are You?

Several years ago, a TV ad that featured a young white boy abandoned by his mother in a train station caused worldwide condemnation. The stunt was for an anti-smoking campaign calling attention to the children left behind by deceased smokers.Read the Rest »

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Lowering the Bar on Barr

Roseanne Barr should not have been sacked for her racially prejudiced tweet yesterday. Her firing now makes her a martyr in Trumpville, and there will be repercussions—more micro-aggressions and outright violence—meted out on people who the resident of the WhiteRead the Rest »

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An Open Letter to Meghan the Duchess of Sussex

Dear Her Royal Highness Meghan the Duchess of Sussex, I have been following your whirlwind romance with England’s Prince Harry since your relationship went public last year. I admire your humanitarian work. I admire the steps that you took toRead the Rest »

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Nomzamo Means Trial: Remembering Winnie Mandela

I celebrate the life of Nomzamo Winnie Mandela, Sep 26, 1936 – Apr 02, 2018 . I once wrote a piece about her called “Nomzamo Means Trial,” because that is exactly what her life had been from the time sheRead the Rest »

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They Just Don’t Get It: the Sexual Harassment/Inappropriateness Epidemic in Real Time

When I really want to see a movie, I go to the screening first, and then read the reviews after. Recently I was stunned to see a line in a review of The Shape of Water by Dani Di Placido,Read the Rest »

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Barbados for the Geographically Challenged Jamerican Couch Potato

Once upon a time Barbados was the destination of choice for slavers peddling in human cargo. Africans shipped to Barbados for exploitation were seen to be malleable, even docile, according to local lore.  Jamaican lore boasts the complete opposite:  TheRead the Rest »

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Birth of a Nation

I reject the liberal notion that in today’s fraught climate we have much more in common with those who are across the political aisle than we don’t. I am a Black female feminist  from an immigrant family. I have nothingRead the Rest »

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An Open Letter to O’Shea Jackson (Ice Cube)

June 23, 2017 Dear Brother, I must start off by praising you for the longevity of your marriage and your beautiful children, one of whom you proudly introduced to the world when he portrayed you on film in 2015. IRead the Rest »

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Not That Kind of Person: Black Women and Suicide

In one of my favorite Superman movies, the superhero (played by the hunky Christopher Reeve) catches Lois Lane (the doe-eyed Margot Kidder) before she plunges stories to her death.  “You’ve got me,” Lois says, wild-eyed and incredulous, “you’ve got meRead the Rest »

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