I’m going to let you in on a secret.  I once saw this documentary about Maya Angelou.  You know….that amazing African American female writer.  (Or did I read a book?  I don’t know.  Doesn’t matter.) 
All I remember is hearing about Maya getting up for the day, perhaps doing a little writing from her back yard, [...]

Social Darwinism (C) 03/2005 Angela K. Mack
    Social Darwinism contends that the human race is comparable to the animal world in that we are in constant competition for domination.  Herbert Spencer proposed that social “evolution” should be allowed to take its course and that “only the fittest would survive”.
    I have seen the forces of [...]

“An Interview with Skip James’ Cousin”

(c) Angela K. Mack 2006
How are you related to Skip James?
Skip married my second cousin (my mother’s first cousin).  He’s related by marriage.  Skip’s wife’s name was Lorenzo Hurt.  I’m really a Hurt.
How are you related to Mississippi John Hurt?
He’s my grand uncle.  (My grandfather’s brother)

Do you remember meeting [...]

Harlem Renaissance writer, LANGSTON HUGHES
“The Weary Blues” From the Eyes of a Musician
(c) Angela K. Mack 2/05
    Langston Hughes is a fascinating African American writer who has written many poetry books such as The Weary Blues, Fire Clothes to the Jew, Shakespeare in Harlem, Montage of a Dream Deferred, and Ask Your Mama: Twelve Moods [...]

Mistakes happen….it’s OK
August 10th, 2008
(c) angmack

Mistakes are a part of the creative process as well as the human condition. The first artistic mistake that I remember making was when I was in grade school. I was doing a paint by number of the cartoon character, “Underdog”. I was working on the nose and went outside of [...]

Let her rip!
August 12th, 2008
(c) angmack

There is that place in any artist’s life whether it be the performing, visual, or literary arts when there is the time to “let her rip”.
The toughest thing for me as a musician is that I barely have (or make) time to create. I am teaching others how to play (to [...]

The arts: Organizing v. Creating
August 19th, 2008
(c) angmack

I was having a discussion with my husband tonight who is very visually artistic. He works in the computer field as his occupation and longs for the day when he has more time to create. I, too, have books to write and songs to compose.
However, right now, we have [...]

Why I love being around creative people….
November 30th, 2008
(c) angmack

So the question came up this weekend at a Thanksgiving family gathering…..
“So….how are the people that you work with?” I thought about it and smiled. (I work in an arts academy (dance, drama, theater, music, modeling, visual arts, literacy, etc…..)
With a big grin I answered, “I [...]

“Living My Life Online” (c) Angela Mack 2004
December 4th, 2008
(c) angmack

Several years ago, I took some online college courses. I was amazed at how convenient it was and how I was able to connect with classmates and teachers more efficiently than in a classroom setting. It was then that I began contemplating a new shift….
It began [...]

The Anticipation is Everything
December 8th, 2008
(c) by angmack

I have come to the conclusion that the anticipation of something is usually much larger than the actual event. For example, when you know that you are to get a shot at the doctor’s office or have work done at the dentist, the anticipation of pain is usually [...]