Dear Dean Magazine: October 2022

A Talk with Premio
by Steven Evangelista
Lost in Translation
by Katya Juliet Lerner
"The Squeaky Wheel Shouldn’t Be
The Only One To Get The Grease"

THE GOODS
3
8
10
20
22
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Hello from Myron
Featured Essay
"The Squeaky Wheel
Shouldn’t Be The Only One
To Get The Grease"
by Eliann Rodriguez
Dear Dean Featured Blog:
"Rappers & Republicans
Sittin' in a Tree"
by Myron J. Clifton
Myron's HIT or MISS
Featured Spotlight
Lost in Translation
by Katya Juliet Lerner
Featured Spotlight
A Talk with Premio
by Steven Evangelista
33
TOTM
by Candidly Tiff
37
My Favorite Things
Streaming Right Now

HELLO!
FROM MYRON J. CLIFTON
Happy October, Dear Readers! I don’t know if
your weather has changed, but if it has or hasn’t,
it is good to be entering a new season that
promises so much as we head to elections, new
weather, new focus, and plenty of opportunities
for growth, reflection, and changing energies.
Speaking about voter confusion, our Twitter Thread of the
Month talks about different roles of the DNC, DSCC, and
DCCC and how they fundraise, who they can help and
cannot help, and what roles they play or don’t in State and
Federal elections and fundraising.
Democrats look to win races in Florida, Ohio, Arizona,
Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and
elsewhere so knowing who is fundraising and what/who
for will help you direct your support and donations
appropriately.
Dear Dean Magazine continues to grow, and with our
growth comes exciting opportunities for novice writers
just starting out, people with something to say, and
professional writers who want to expand their
audience and perhaps write something different than
what they normally write.
In politics, we are ever closer to critical midterm
elections in many states, and both Senate, House, and
Governor seats are up for grabs.
With elections comes ads, emails, text messages, and
story after story about the candidates, their policy
positions and, unfortunately, bad-faith actors who
work to suppress votes, confuse voters, and to muddle
up the process for known and unknown reasons.
As always, the issue includes a personal essay, this one by
Eliann Rodriquez, that tackles the need to extend our
support beyond the “Squeaky Wheels” in our lives. Eliann
writes about checking on your strong friends and family
who always seem to have it all together. A quick and
important read you shouldn’t miss.
All your other favorites are here – Hit/Miss, What’s
Streaming, and Book and podcast recommendations and
more.
We will continue to publish articles written by
contributors from a wide spectrum voices, and cover
domestic politics, entertainment, sports, family, travel,
and other topics contributors want to share.
If you want to contribute, please do!
Our feature article addresses the issue of Black male
rappers working to suppress democratic voters and
how the tactics deployed by Steve Bannon to siphon
Black male voters away from democrats and to vote
for republicans or not vote is still in effect with famous
rappers.
We require:
500 – 1k words
Fully edited
Include 1–2-line bio, photo of yourself/headshot, email
address and/or social media handle
Any photos appropriate to your article
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.3

W E L C O M E F R O M M Y R O N
Send via WORD or Goggle Doc to:
myronclifton@gmail.com
No “not safe for work” articles will be accepted
In addition, if you wish to place an ad – also free – for
my ad page, please send to the same email above.
Advertise your new book, podcast, or your business.
We appreciate you as a reader and we thank you for
sharing the magazine to your social media network,
friends, and family.
And we look forward to seeing YOUR contribution
soon. Happy Halloween!
Myron

M Y R O N J . C L I F T O N
Myron J. Clifton is slightly older than fifty, 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.
W E B S I T E | B O O K S H O P | T W I T T E R
I N T E R E S T E D I N A D V E R T I S I N G ?
Send an email to
words@deardeanpublishing.com
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
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 !
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.5

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.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.7

F E A T U R E D E S S A Y B Y E L I A N N R O D R I G U E Z
“fine” is we’re also appointing ourselves standardbearers
of what that constitutes. Who are we to
decide what ‘being fine’ means to another person?
They’re the ones always smiling, laughing, and telling
jokes. They’ve always been able to weather tough
times in their lives without seeming to break a sweat
(or at the very least, they come out unscathed).
They’re the kids the teacher never has to keep their
eye on; the ones who are consistently under the
radar. The “good” one a parent doesn’t have to worry
about. The friend who always seems…OK.
We all know them. I suspect many of us ARE them.
The people who we often call the “strong” friends. In
the daily maelstrom of our lives, they are the friends
we don’t worry about - as much. It’s not that we don’t
love our “strong” friends. It’s that we feel confident
they’re always going to be okay. When it comes to
our limited time, our “strong” friends aren’t the ones
that get our immediate attention.
How do we judge the way another person exhibits
signs of ‘being fine’ or of ‘going through something’?
Our strong friends may be doing well, or they may
not. We don’t know - and that’s why we’ve got to
check our assumptions.
Another problem with the assumption our strong
friends are doing well is that we often miss the times
they’re struggling. People who are able to handle
struggles or challenges (in our perception) tend to
become accustomed to doing things on their own.
They rarely ask for help. They’re usually the ones
greasing squeaky wheels.
There’s an old saying - the squeaky wheel gets the
grease. In our increasingly hectic lives (work, family,
possibility of losing our voting and reproductive
rights, a global pandemic!), it’s easy to have our
attention focused on those who are the squeakiest
wheels in our lives. It only makes sense. If you have
ten free minutes today, are you going to check in on
someone who always has it together, or someone
who seems to always be in crisis? Now, I’m not
coming from a place of judgment - I myself have been
guilty of doing the same.
One problem with assuming our strong friends are
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.8

E L I A N N R O D R I G U E Z
Our “strong” friends are so accustomed to being the
second, third, fourth on the list of friends we offer
support to, that they’ve learned to stop asking for
help. They attempt to handle the pressures and
challenges of life on their own. That would eventually
take a toll on them - and too often the outward signs
of their struggle would go undetected. We know all
too well the effects of neglect on mental health.
Unless we’re mind-reading superheroes, we don't
know what people are going through, or how they’re
dealing with it. But we shouldn’t assume some people
need more (or less!) support than others. We have to
check in on our “strong” friends, too. They do a great
job of handling everything on their own, but should
they always have to? We all need support, at different
times, and in different ways. So let’s do a better job of
spreading the love more evenly. Because the squeaky
wheels aren’t the only ones that need grease.
It's Like This
Rodwarton Productions
Follow Eliann Rodriguez
Welcome to It's Like This, we're glad you stopped in.
Grab a beverage and make yourself at home (This is a
shoes off household, by the way), because we're
talking pop culture this week... And every week. Join
Eliann, Brandon, and Greg as they dive deep into all
things pop... Culture that is! Follow us on Twitter,
Instagram, and TikTok at @itslikethispod1 to see
behind the scenes of recording and to get our takes
on pop culture news that doesn't make this show!
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.9

DEAR DEAN
featured
B L O G

F E A T U R E D B L O G
There is a reason it is said “Vote like Black women” but
there isn’t a similar saying about voting like Black men.
Black women are the most loyal democratic voting
bloc. The group doesn’t fall for GOP tricks or
shenanigans, and who will wait for hours to vote, drive
seniors, family, and friends to vote, and will volunteer
to text, phone bank, and write letters/postcards for
candidates.
And when Black women candidates do, those events
are not broadcast to the nation as they are when
candidates meet with other voters.
Black women will vote in local and State and Federal
elections without having to be begged, pleaded with,
or constantly reminded of what is at stake.
When the media does decide to cover Black women
running for office, they do so awkwardly, ignorantly,
and with so much racism and misogynoir, the shows
Black women vote the most but get the least return
from the political process. What benefits them is
and news segments are often offensive, focused
mostly on crime, and are mostly unwatchable.
seldom specific to them, but usually part of a larger
benefit to many communities.
Recall then candidate Kamala Harris’ many
celebratory events with her sorority sisters that
Black women will help their kids register to vote when
their kids turn eighteen and will call/text or drive their
young adult to vote.
showed her marching and singing as she entered and
spoke at events, and the news anchors and online
media mocking her while showing their ignorance of
Black sororities customs and rituals. Not granting her
Black women vote for harm reduction for everyone,
though virtually no other voting bloc votes for harm
reduction that is exclusively designed to benefit Black
audience the same respect as other common campaign
setups such as soccer moms or truck drivers in coffee
shops.
women.
There is a reason traitorous blowhard Steve Bannon
Candidates target suburban white women with
specifically targeted Black men and not Black women
massive advertising campaigns, talk about their issues
on every morning talk show and every cable news
network every day during campaign season, while
they may spend one brief segment on issues that
impact Black women — and then they will only focus on
Black women who live in cities. Major media almost
never highlight rural or suburban Black women and
to hurt democrats and help the republicans: Black
women didn’t and don’t have time for his or the GOP’s
bullshit and they can’t be swayed by candidates or
their “strategists” who’s lies are not only easy to
detect, but even easier to ignore. That is why the
constant complaint about “Democratic messaging” is
squarely directed at white voters and Black men
their voting habits and what they want from
voters. Black women never have issues understanding
candidates. And with the exception of Black
what the issues are, what the needs are, and what the
candidates, especially Black women running for office,
assignment is.
candidates rarely visit Black women to hold town halls
or listening sessions.
Bannon and his cohorts knew not to fuck with Black
women, so they set their eyes on Black men.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.11

M Y R O N J . C L I F T O N
And they made inroads and continue to do so.
Especially with Black men.
How did they and how are they doing it? By appealing
to the worst natures of the Black men they are
targeting: Those who want to stand side by side with
white supremacy as long as they too are allowed to
control women.
prominent Black men who told us all to “Calm down and
They started with popular and wealthy Black men
give Trump a chance.”
who were already comfortable among wealthy white
people. Those Black men who could easily proclaim
And they found inroads by using Black men’s own brand
their disdain of democrats because of the issue
of toxic masculinity as they spread anti-Hillary news
easiest for wealthy people of any race or ethnicity to
stories across social media that focused on her race,
bond over: taxes.
gender, and looks, and the same toxic hatred to Kamala by
twisting her exemplary record as District Attorney and
Just taxes, Bannon knew, because he correctly
Attorney General to be anti-Black man because it was
determined how wealthy Black men would find it
decidedly pro-Black woman and girls, and pro-woman.
easier to identify with wealthy white people over
And apologist radio host Lenard Larry McKelvey, who
money issues versus people issues. The focus on
absurdly calls himself “Charlamagne the God” constantly
taxes also helped wealthy republican benefactors
pushes lies and anti-Kamala Harris stories, while giving
accept certain wealthy Black men into their folds.
airtime to anti-Black woman clowns like Killer Mike and
others.
We saw the strategy take hold during Trump’s first
campaign as certain famous Black men flocked to his
Lenard has no real convictions or original thoughts,
side, loving his bluster, tough-guy image, open
preferring to parrot whichever lackluster, conspiracy
misogyny, and proclamations of being above and
spouting guest he has on his radio show. But whenever
outside the law.
he’s confronted by an intelligent person with facts, he
backs down and tries to quickly change subjects or crack
That approached reeled in Black men who love to
passive-aggressive and award jokes because he cannot
bluster, promote their tough-guy images and open
speak as an equal with anyone who has facts, science,
misogyny, and who loudly proclaim themselves above
data, or firsthand experience.
and outside the law: Wealthy rappers, athletes,
entertainers, and Black conservative preachers.
And all the while Lenard will push republican talking
points to his broad audience without providing analysis,
Trump snagged Kanye, Killer Mike, Tiger Woods, Ice
facts, or counter opinions. He is a cancer on Black political
Cube, Luther Campbell, “Pastor” Eugene Scott, and
thought and famous people who support him know
others who either supported him loudly, like Kanye
exactly what they and he are doing — working to harm
did, or took the route of vote suppression as Ice Cube
Black politicians, especially Black women.
did. He got Dave Chappelle, Steve Harvey, and others
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.12

M Y R O N J . C L I F T O N
dating history, her parents, her family, and her
audacity to think she could.. do anything.
In addition to rappers, entertainers, and misogynistic
radio hosts, Bannon and company reeled in “soft”
support from far-left Black men by focusing on many
of the same topics — men such as The Daily Show’s
Trevor Noah and Saturday Night Live’s Weekend
Update anchor Michael Che who even now continue
to direct their particular brand of toxic “humor” at
both women.
The other tactic Bannon’s company utilized was to pay
his Russian ops to target Black voters online via
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. It has been
reported that Facebook was the number one platform
used to spread anti-Black hatred, racists memes that
sought to exploit America’s real racism, and with
campaigns promoting fake and negative news about
Hillary and VP Harris.
The list of Black men who earned their attack Black
women honors badges is too long to list. But you’ll
know them when you encounter them online because
they always show up when Black women are receiving
praise.
The most vocal attacks are now being directed at
Georgia Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams,
saying she “Hates” Black men. The hate is being led
Michael Santiago Render, stage name “Killer Mike”
who has relentlessly attacked Stacey Abrams while
simultaneously constantly slathering praise to her
opponent, Governor Brian Kemp. It is worth noting
Michael Render was anti-Kamala Harris, saying Stacey
Abrams should be vice president. But now he’s against
Stacey in favor of a governor who has worked to
prevent Black people from voting.
They also distributed memes to Black churches from
fake accounts posing as Black people who spread lies
and encouraged Black voters not to vote.
The result is still evident as we now have a small vocal
group of Black men online who continue to attack
Black women who are running for office.
We saw them attack then candidate Kamala Harris so
much, so it has been determined she was the most
attacked person in the world on social media. Not a
president, dictator, athlete, or entertainer. It was the
candidate for president who was then running to be
the first Black woman vice president.
Along with the national media, republicans, and every
day racists, Black men were right there on the front
lines attacking Harris about everything she is, what
she had accomplished, and what she wanted to do.
They attacked her laugh, smile, hair, skin color, her
choice not to have children, her Jewish husband, his
kids, her shopping choices, her cooking style, her
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.13

F E A T U R E D B L O G
Let’s be clear: It wasn’t about VP Kamala, and it isn’t
about Gubernatorial candidate Abrams – it is about
Michael Santiago Render’s hatred of Black women.
And Michael Render isn’t actively helping Rev. Ralph
Warnock in his Georgia Senate race against Herschel
Walker.
So Killer Mike is actively working to harm not only
Black Georgia citizens but Black folk across the nation,
especially Black women since the GOP will unleash
hell on women should they regain control of the
Senate.
Though the Bannon-backed tactics failed to deter
Black women in the last two presidential elections,
they saw progress increasing the percentage of Black
men who voted for the republican candidate in both
2016 and 2020. The numbers are small, 6% in 2016
and 8% in 2020, but they are significant because
Democrats need a broad coalition to gain and maintain
seats and cannot afford to lose additional small
percentages of Black male voters.
It is important to note that Black men continue to be
the second most loyal democratic voter and that those
who run for office, support candidates, and help
others to register are instrumental to the party’s
short- and long-term successes.
And it is equally important to note that the democratic
party needs more white voters and Hispanic voters if
it is to remain viable and wants to grow and preserve
democracy.
But we must acknowledge there is a strategy to target
Black men voters and to try to understand why, when,
how effective their tactics are, and what they may be
planning even now.
Understanding helps democratic voters develop
counter strategies that will only make the party
stronger. So it is not about blaming but about working
to strengthen the party by attending to the base.
And we can interrogate the whys without resorting to
stereotypes or racial tropes like the GOP uses toward
Black people.
The battle being waged isn’t about substance because
if it were, democrats would not only keep Black voters
but would grow its share of Hispanic and white voters
as well.
Democratic policies create jobs, grow the economy,
expand healthcare, clean the environment, build
wealth, equalize taxing, reduce nation and personal
debt, make food safer, reduce the cost of schooling,
and provide for improved infrastructure for everyone.
The GOP? Their policies start and stop at: reduce
taxes for the wealthy and make living in America
harder for everyone else.
And the “in-between” of their policies seek to close the
borders, control women, allow child marriage, force
their religion on society, defund public schools, and
maintain minority rule by preventing access to voting
for Black and Hispanic voters.
But to the few but vocal Black men who are pushing
the GOP agenda, none of that matters. All that
matters is they want to be equal to white men in how
they control and dominate everyone else. They don’t
want equality or equity for anyone but themselves.
Black voters, women, and men, continue to vote for
democrats at a higher percentage than other
They want next.
demographics and that fact should not be overlooked
when looking at tactics deployed by the GOP to
siphon away Black voters.
Next to control women’s and girls’ bodies.
Next to be above and outside the law.
Next to be exempt from being held accountable for
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.14

M Y R O N J . C L I F T O N
their actions.
Next to ignore #metoo, cancel culture .
And the needed pushback against vile homophobic
and misogynistic words and phrases.
They want to be begged, catered to, and believed no
matter how wrong they are about any conspiracy they
are sharing. Whether flat earth nonsense, their desire
to confirm their daughter’s virginity, or siding with
covid conspiracies, those men want to live free of
social norms and social contracts that govern public
and private behaviors for the rest of us.
They want to dictate the terms of reparations to
exclude who they decide to exclude, and they want to
hold democratic officials accountable for not only
their own work, but the work – or lack thereof – of
republicans. You’ll notice them on the news and on
social media because they will demand answers and
solutions from democrats while remaining silent about
republican policies and actions that are actively
harming people.
They side with republicans on xenophobia,
transphobia, homophobia, and antisemitism. And they
will loudly criticize Black women in media, sports and
entertainment – you’ll see them spew hatred about
Lizzo, Brittney Griner, VP Harris, Meghan Markle,
Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson, Stacey Abrams, Karen
Bass, and just about every Black woman creator who
are creating and minding their own business.
Black women understand the assignment, work in the
system to change it for the better for themselves and
everyone else, and work to make the nation a better
place for us all. They march when Black kids are
murdered by police, and they work to hold police and
politicians accountable. They do substantive and
symbolic work with equal energy, force, and flair.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.15

F E A T U R E D B L O G
They are not a monolith by any means, as we saw
during the past few presidential elections going back
to President Obama who had to earn Black women’s
vote. But once he earned their trust, his campaign
took off.
Black women did not automatically transfer their
loyalty to Senator Hillary Clinton or to VP Kamala
Harris. But each of the women did more than visit a
church or a barbershop, though they did those actions
as well — substantive and symbolic, remember?
Senator Clinton and Senator Harris created specific
plans that addressed the issues most important to
Black women that went beyond crime and justice.
They championed wages, student debt, access to small
business and homeownership loans, climate justice,
medical equality, daycare and preschool,
infrastructure, and childcare.
In short, the two expert politicians treated women the
way other politicians treat men.
And Black women rewarded both with recordbreaking
numbers of votes.
The policies also benefited Black men, of course, and
each women won significant shares of their vote. But
there were and are the same loud minority of Black
men who refuse to follow women and who decidedly
went against both exemplary candidates.
You will know them by their republican talking points.
Those points always lack substance and data from
reputable sources. Siding with them isn’t just harmless
contrarianism because those policies will have real life
consequences.
Folk who tell you not to vote as a form of protest are
actively working to harm you and others so that they
can prove a point – the point being to harm Democrats
and democratic voters.
We are seeing vicious and sustained attacks spreading
They surface right before elections and work hand in
beyond VP Kamala and Stacy Abrams, they are now
hand with republicans to convince you that Democrats
going after candidates Val Demings and Cheri Beasley,
will not help you. What will they not do? Is tell you what
joining with right-wing media being aided and abetted
republicans will do for you. They won’t tell you
by a cadre of Black men who will just as quickly slink
republicans will harm you and the nation because they
away once the midterms are over.
believe they will be taken care of and/or because they
are already wealthy, believe they are exempt from
The key then is to know them when you encounter
“everyday politics.”
them in real life or online.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.16

M Y R O N J . C L I F T O N
We have gotten to the point that is it republicans
pushing rappers as representatives of Black and
brown people’s political wants and needs.
Where it used to be republicans were all over media
saying:
Rappers are thugs, druggies, absent fathers, and anti-
Americans who are destroying Black families and
communities.
Now republicans are loudly proclaiming you should:
Listen to Rappers who “they” support.
Counterpoint: Don’t listen to anyone, rapper,
entertainer, radio host, or podcaster who tells you
republicans are good for Black voters.
The data is empirical, historical, and easy to find via
your search engine of choice.
The saying “Vote like Black women” isn’t about being a
monolith or not questioning party policies and actions.
It is about voting like the majority of Black women
because that demographic has proven to be the most
reliable democratic voting bloc over decades of voting
and they more than anyone else consistently vote to
help everyone and not harm anyone.
And in America in 2022, 2024 and beyond, harm
reduction might be the most important voting
differentiator we have that will save the democracy.
Featured Blog written by
Myron J. Clifton
Blogs published on www.deardean.com
every Wednesday
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.17

CLICK TO MEET
THE HOSTS!
MYRON
JENN
Two longtime friends have informative, yet
brief discussions about multitudinous topics.
NEW EPISODES ON FRIDAYS!
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.18

MYRON J. CLIFTON & JENNIFER VANLAANEN'S PODCAST
VOICE MEMOS REVIEWS
Listen Now!
Stay
Shallow!
Like listening to your BFFs
June 2, 2022
kjlerner

MISSlist
MYRON'S
HIT OR
HIT
Rhianna announced as the half-time entertainer at the
Super Bowl. No better choice, no better mystery, and no
better entertainer needed to entertain the global
audience and share her global brands.
MISS
The Justice Department continues to beg, cajole, and
politely ask that former president Donald trump return
stolen documents.
HIT
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.20
President Biden and VP Kamala Harris make Federal
weed laws go up in smoke. They dynamic duo
expunges Federal weed convictions, takes marijuana
off schedule 1 offence so it is no longer worse than
cocaine, as crazy as that sounds. The sound you hear
are smokers lighting up and celebrating the President
and VP following through on her campaign promise.

HIT
The President extends his tour of areas hit by
hurricane Ian by visiting Puerto Rico and pledging
millions in relief for Island people who are still
struggling to recover from prior hurricanes.
MISS
Gas prices are up again as Saudi Arabia aligns with
Russia to decrease oil production and drive-up
prices for oil, gas, and goods – just in time for the
midterm elections. The move leaves people
wondering why the US sells military weapons to
the Saudi regime.
MISS
The NFL again for botching the response to
concussions. Again, because the league knows what
to do, but they work very hard to do the least. This
time, Miami Dolphin QB Tua Tagovailoa took a blow
to the head on Sunday, came back in the game, and
then on Thursday he was hit again and his brain,
spine, and back short-circuited and the quarterback
went into finger locked spams on national television
before being carted off.
MISS
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis inept handling of the
latest hurricane in Florida lead to 125 deaths (and
counting). The deplorable governor momentarily lost
his faux bluster and antagonistic approach to the
President who visited and showed the governor,
Florida residents, and the nation how a real leader
acts during times of natural disaster.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.21

LOST IN TRANSLATION: OUR HUMAN
TOUCH IN TODAY’S DIGITAL WORLD
by Katya Juliet Lerner
In a sea of digital technology and mobile apps, are we
missing vital opportunities to communicate with others in
more meaningful ways?
Have you ever had an amazing connection with someone
through a dating app and then met them face-to-face and
feel totally turned off? Or love spending time with
someone but talking on the phone just doesn't ever flow
right? How about sending a funny text to someone and
having it be completely misunderstood?
Social media, text, email, dating apps and smart watches —
they keep us connected — with access to data we want
and need 24/7. But when it comes to more meaningful
relationships, digital forms of communication still lack the
ability to convey critical aspects, such as tone, expression
and other non-verbal qualities including basic body
language, energy and chemistry.
But what about Emojis? Bitmojis, Gifs and Memes!? Yes,
we have bridged some of the issue by implementing
digital icons that represent feelings with emotional
expressions, but we are still light-years away from being
able to replicate the art of human communication and its
subtleties in digital form.
Advances in technology are becoming more and more
integrated at work and at home, and this is having an
impact on how people interact and connect with each
other. It is also having an impact on how people feel
about themselves.
I recently read an article that said “there are around 7.62
billion humans on our planet…and by the year 2022 with an
increasing graph of IoT devices, there may be around 20
billion IoT smart devices up and running with an increase in
the demand of 5g network."
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.22

The article continued to explain that the typical
person in North America now averages 10 smart
devices. Devices such as smartphones, tablets and
laptops, smart watches, Ring doorbells, smart
thermostats and security systems, digital assistants,
cloud storage and more - and that these devices are
now significantly out-numbering our human
population. These numbers are even more staggering
when you consider that just 75 years ago in 1947, the
idea of Dick Tracy having a 2-way wrist radio was
considered pure science fiction.
Technology today is woven so deeply into our lives
that it is affecting our physical health and behaviors.
We know that "radiation from wireless technology
affects the autonomic nervous system and increases
anxiety and stress." [Source] But it is more than just
our physical health - it has crossed over into
negatively impacting our mental health and the pace
at which we can thoroughly study and support people
through this shift in behaviors and communication as a
result of rapid technological advances is too slow.
This is important to realize as the majority of our daily
interactions now happen using digital technology and
smart devices as middleware and we are just now
starting to scratch the surface of how this immediategratification
-- mostly emotionless and electrified
form of communication -- impacts different people
physically, emotionally and over time.
Digital technology gives us the ability to communicate
around the world with the tap of a finger, but with
such advances, we are losing out on the meaningful
bonds and relationships our DNA craves. We want to
feel understood, seen, loved and whole. We want to
feel our human connection. But with the exponential
increase in "smart" technology around us, those
natural cravings remain unfulfilled, and over time, it
will change us. With our mindset and expectations, our
self-talk and self-esteem, will we start to lose our...
human-ness? How will we begin to cope and what
impact will that bring to our lives in the future?
often unconsciously -- when they spend too much time
behind a screen. Such loneliness creeps up slowly and
many fail to realize the signs - or misinterpret them -
pouring a glass of wine when they are really craving live
company, or starting a fight with their partner when
they really just want more love and attention.
Our most meaningful bonds are witness to our
sensations and that sensational energy builds a sense of
interconnectedness and deep understanding with
others. In person, we receive each other in space and
sound and energetic wavelengths, which is what gives
us the ability to “vibe” off one another and experience
butterflies in our stomachs. Alternatively, when we
communicate online with those sensory aspects amiss,
we are forced to use our logical mind to fill in the "gaps"
and this results in confusion, miscommunication and
reduction in patience and listening skills since our twoway
communication model becomes disrupted. This can
be detrimental for your relationships and friendships,
professionalism, and overall mental and physical health.
More and more studies are now showing that spending
too much time online and social media use is linked to
higher percentages of depression and suicide among
young adults. Further, it disrupts a healthy life
perspective, and lowers self-esteem. Too much time
online also runs the risk of people forgetting decent
manners and empathy, forgetting that behind the fancy
banner, profile and username is in fact a living,
breathing human being with an entire life, family,
friends and raw emotion.
So while we should surely embrace the exceptional
innovation of our digital world and what possibilities it
brings, we must consciously seek a strong balance of inperson
interactions with others.
Because communication is more than just words,
people can feel such a strong sense of loneliness --
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.23

Being human and our ability to
connect and communicate is our gift!
Phone calls, hand-shakes, fist-bumps, big hugs — all of
this physical contact is essential in order for us to
remain effective communicators with healthy mindsets.
Especially now, post Covid-19. We saw the damage
physical isolation did to families and communities
during the 2020 pandemic, yet with lock-downs lifted,
we continue to barricade ourselves behind networks of
screens and devices: Couples text each other from the
other room in the same house instead of visiting with
one another. Parents go days and weeks at a time
without hearing their grown children’s voices as text
becomes the #1 preferred method of communication.
Babies watch coco melon instead of listening to the
sound of their mother’s voice talking or singing. Kids
watch other kids play games in YouTube instead of
playing together themselves. It doesn’t feel weird when
life is moving fast, it’s just the new normal. But pause a
moment to consider how much has truly changed in a
short amount of time.
Because our society has not prioritized how to
effectively balance and support our human emotional
needs simultaneously as technology advances soar, we
face a delicate and potentially dangerous future. A
future where people feel less remorse or no guilt at all
after disparaging someone online, for example, because
being accountable for how you behave online is still
mostly optional, unregulated and not taught in schools.
Escaping the responsibility of "cyber bullying" is as easy
as turning off your device or switching apps. Playing a
few rounds of Candy Crush and acting like nothing
happened. The truly unfortunate thing to note here is
that online forms of communication do not yet
positively support people the way they need to be
supported emotionally, but it does still hurt people
emotionally all the same, and often without witness.
So what's the bottom line? Don’t get lost in cyberspace
and seek balance. Enjoy and appreciate the abundant
ways digital technology has enabled us to do more great
things than ever imagined. But also, proactively find
more ways to form meaningful bonds in the flesh and
seek daily human interaction. Even for only a few
minutes extra every day. Schedule it if you must. Don’t
wait for weeks or months to meet someone you’re
interested in online, learn who they truly are as a
person in real life sooner than later. Don't settle for
some extra heart emojis in a text when what you
actually need that day is a real hug. Don’t just email or
text your family to keep in touch — pick up the phone
and hear each other’s voices. Share stories and laugh
together. Learn how to use the voice tools that your cell
phone offers so people can hear the sound of your voice
at the very least. And even if you consider yourself a
more introverted person, that’s okay! It’s not about
how busy your "social life" is or what functions you
attend, but rather, the hard-coded fact that your
physical body craves physical human connection as a
part of its survival mechanism regardless of your social
tendencies. Feed that craving! Be a giver and a receiver
of energy and vibration in this world.
Being human and our ability to synchronize, connect
and communicate is our gift! Let us never forget how
important a gift that is and always continue to use it
with great impact and intention. Technology shines a
bright light on our collective future but it can never
outshine the nature of our human spirit.
Katya Juliet Lerner
Website
This widening gap between the saturation of
technology in our lives and absence of face-to-face
interactions and bonds formed will have long-term
consequences.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.24

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.

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 RELEASE!
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.26

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.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.27

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

G U E S T S P O T L I G H T
A Talk with Premio
By Steven Evangelista
A lifelong New Yorker, I traveled to the South to
campaign this fall. I could only process this experience by
writing a fictionalized account. In this story, I encounter
an all too familiar character—all of whose words came
from my real experiences talking to other white people on
this trip.
It had been a long day of conversations, between voter
registration appeals at the community college and
knocking on doors for the local Democratic candidate.
Some people didn’t even know there was a Senate race
going on, never mind that they were living in a swing
state in one of the most polarized times in American
history.
I was eager to slake my thirst and noticed the sign for
Farm Town: “Butcher and Beer Garden.” I had stopped
in just wanting a drink before heading back to my
family; I wasn’t expecting more conversation.
But my Yankees hat gave me away as a northerner, and
so it was that another New Yorker, this one recently
moved down South instead of visiting like me, slid over
one stool to make conversation.
I felt an immediate affinity for him, even a sense of
fatherly care.
I looked this stranger in the eyes and said, “Hello. Yes,
I’m just visiting family. They just moved down here.”
His handshake was mild, more timid than the New
York I knew. “Premio. Just came from Staten Island
myself, a year ago. Isn’t it better down here? The air is
fresh, no mask mandates. A person can live their life.”
Indeed, I noticed that for a “butcher and beer garden,”
Farm Town was bright and clean, smelling almost
antiseptic. We were sitting at the bar, an impossibly
shiny wooden platform separating us from at least
two dozen taps. And the familiar strains of home were
in the air; instead of country music, we were
entertained with “How Deep Is Your Love?” on the
speakers. I had noticed as I walked in, despite the
interesting racial diversity in the area I experienced
over the past few days, Farm Town was stocked with
only white customers and workers.
“Ho! You from New York? Welcome to the South.” My
new acquaintance had something of an inscrutable grin.
I had the sense from his Staten Island accent that I was
in for nostalgia…and judgment. He couldn’t have been
older than 25, and there was an air of innocence and
even confusion about him. Maybe it was the accent, but
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.29

S T E V E N E V A N G E L I S T A
I introduced myself to Premio and thought, ‘This is
the work. Here’s a potential voter. New to the area. If
I can grab this one’s vote, it will all be worth it.’ My
training came to mind—the aim was to Get Out The
Vote, with little attention paid to those who weren’t
already in support of the Democratic candidates and
issues. But here I was, a familiar face of sorts, with a
chance to do what I had been longing to do: engage
the reluctant or the non-voter, and swing.
I knew it would not be easy, if my assumptions about
Premio and his thoughtless conservative leanings
were right. Those assumptions were based on years
of experience not only in Staten Island but dealing
with the Trump People down South online, and
reinforced over the last few days visiting this Possibly
Purple, but Mostly Red, State. Could I convince this
Premio to vote Democratic?
“I’ve been registering voters and campaigning down
here for the last few days,” I said, an opening salvo
purposely not revealing my partisan slant.
“That’s great,” replied Premio, a mild condescension in
his voice. “We need people to do that kind of stuff.”
“Oh? Are you politically active?” I replied.
“No,” he laughed, nearly spitting out his beer. “That’s
not for me. I’m still searching for my purpose in life.”
My civics alarm went off. Score one for the
assumptions. “Not for you. So what do you do for a
living, that you’re searching for a purpose?”
“Well, I’m between jobs right now. Have been for a
long time. Not sure what I’m going to do next. I keep
putting in applications–UPS Store, Amazon
warehouse, Publix. But no one is calling me back.
“Not that I’m complaining,” he continued, leaning in
conspiratorially. “I don’t exactly need to work right now.
I mean, I’m not as bad as my little brother, who says
work is for suckers. But I have everything I need for
now, at home.”
I hoped my look of derision wasn’t evident on my face. I
quickly picked up my smartphone to avoid eye contact,
mindlessly checking email and Twitter. Here was a
young man in the prime of his life—what should be
productive and creative years—and he was throwing
away the main life lesson I took away from my years on
Staten Island: the value of hard work.
I realized that instead of being judged for my views, here
I was doing the judging. I composed myself.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.30

S T E V E N E V A N G E L I S T A
“What do you want to do?” I asked, plaintively. “With
your time? I mean, right now do you just spend the
day playing video games or what? How long do you
think you can do that for? I mean, how do you even
get money for beer, for food, for living?”
“My mom takes care of everything I need,” he replied
with a sardonic smile. “And I take care of her. There’s
a man around the house in case she needs something.
My brother’s no good. My dad is still in New York.
“But I have something to offer. I research things. Like,
did you know that there is a secret code in the English
language where a lot of the words we use every day
have ulterior meanings?”
“No,” I said with a straight face. “Tell me more.”
“Well, take the weekend,” Premio began. “Do you
realize it sounds the same as ‘weakened,’ meaning we
are weaker when we are supposed to have time off
from work? And why is it ‘good morning’? Mourning is
something we do when someone dies. People don’t
think about these things. I do. I research them all the
time.
“That’s how I knew about the vaccine, and I protected
my family from the jab.” Premio glared at me, unless the
look was my imagination.
He continued: “I want to bring forth these skills and my
curiosity to make the world a better place, I just don’t
know what that career is yet.”
I began my appeal. “It’s great that you have the
opportunity to think this through. Not everyone is so
lucky.” I was careful not to use the word privilege, since
I knew that would be an immediate trigger to turn off
the conversation and keep from learning more about
the target. “Some people need advocacy at all levels of
government just to be able to survive. Which is why I’m
so passionate about voting.”
Premio was silent. I went in for the kill.
“I mean, take abortion,” I said, nearly sneering. “The
Republicans have already banned it in a bunch of states,
kids who were raped can’t even get an abortion, and
now they’re going after contraception.” I raised my
eyebrows in urgent disdain. “If they get the majority,
they want to ban abortion all across the country.”
Premio did not look impressed. “Really? I thought it was
the Democrats who were against abortion.”
Just then, as the song was ending and George Michael
came on the speakers, the bartender presented a plate,
heaping with food, to Premio.
“Are you going to try a burger? It’s Farm to Table.”
I had to tread carefully, calling-in requiring the target to
direct the pace of the conversation. I dropped the
issues for now.
“Really?” I said. “I usually don’t eat meat out because of
factory farming but if it’s local, hey. But usually they
advertise that on the sign or on the menu. And no, it’s
Republicans who are against abortion. Definitely.”
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.31

S T E V E N E V A N G E L I S T A
I flagged down the bartender and asked, “Where does
the beef come from for the burgers? Is it a local farm?”
She hesitated. “Uhh, I guess so. I just started here. I
know we make our own sausage.” She smiled a Southern
“bless your heart” smile and moved back to presumably
less discerning drinkers.
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” I told Premio. “If they don’t tell
you, how do you know it’s ‘farm to table’?”
“How do you know it’s not?” he spat and took a huge
bite of his burger.
“It’s probably shipped in from a factory farm. That’s meat
today in America. And this”—I gestured past the
entrance to the strip malls around us and the gated
communities and mega-exurb housing developments
rapidly going up beyond—“is America.”
“It’s fresh food,” responded Premio.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I suppose I just can’t take anything
for granted. Like I was saying, some people aren’t able to
go through life just enjoying themselves.”
We sat in silence for a moment, me nursing my beer and
wondering whether I could penetrate Premio’s cheerful
ignorance without further attacking his character, and
Premio enjoying his fresh food.
“My parents came here from Italy,” I started, assuming
this tale might ring a bell with my new acquaintance.
“Came here with nothing, from the farms near Napoli,
and they made it. But they didn’t have to deal with racial
discrimination. They were able to get a mortgage where
they wanted, open a business, and on and on. I mean,
hard work, but without the obstacles like racism that so
many people face. That’s also why I’m engaged
politically. It isn’t fair.”
And with Premio’s response, I knew I had lost my
target. He rolled his eyes, gestured at the television on
the wall where Van Jones was being interviewed by
Sean Hannity, and said through a mouthful, “Give me a
break. Those people are taking over. They’re on TV
constantly.” He swallowed his fresh food and
continued. “It used to be we were the majority. Now
they are everywhere. I think the Blacks want to take
over the whole country. And it isn’t safe anymore. Look
at New York with all the crime. I’m glad my mom moved
us down here just in time.”
For the second time, I was speechless. I drank the rest
of my beer quickly and listened to the music.
People
You can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will…
My target had slipped away. I was not going to get this
vote for the Dems, and it felt hopeless to confront his
casual racism.
I finished the rest of my beer, aware of my own
privilege in letting those comments go, and settled the
tab. Get Out The Vote training returned to my
thoughts. ‘This is no way to govern, but they say only
way to win is with turnout. And not to waste my time
with this guy.’
“See you later, Premio. Good luck with your career
search.”
Premio flashed a smile and batted his juvenile eyes.
“Good luck? You know I’ve got it.”
Steven Evangelista is an educator who, with his wife,
co-founded and co-led Harlem Link Charter School in
New York City, serving as co-director and principal
from 2005 and 2022. He is the son of immigrants, a
nerdy little brother, a girl dad twice over, a sometimes
runner and a lifelong learner.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.32

Dear Dean Magazine TOTM
TWEET OF THE MONTH
TOTM
@tify330
What do National
Democratic
Committees do?
There seems to be some confusion as to what our 3 main
National Democratic Committees do. Jaime Harrison,
DNC Chair breaks it down perfectly in this tweet what
the DNC does to help campaigns.
The DSCC helps Democratic Senate Campaigns ONLY
and is run by Gary Peters. He helps raise money for
candidates, can fund candidate committees and assists
with ads and my provide organizational assistance.
The DNC like he said does not give money directly to
candidates so anyone saying “why doesn’t the DNC
give money to candidate XYZ” you are misinformed.
There are also laws he has to follow.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.33

TWEET OF THE MONTH
TOTM
The DCCC helps Democratic House Campaigns ONLY
and is run by Sean Patrick Maloney. He helps raise
money for candidates, can fund candidate, assists with
ads and can provide staffing to candidates.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.34

TWEET OF THE MONTH
TOTM
The DNC, DSCC and DCCC all have different roles to
play. The DNC may help more in specific states (swing
states) to provide more resources, but the DSCC and
DCCC are the two arms that help get federal candidate
elected.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.35

Her Legend Lives In You:
The Untold Creation Story Honoring The
Goddess And Our Daughters.
by Myron J. Clifton
Available on

MY FAVORITE THINGS
streaming right
now...

S T R E A M I N G R I G H T N O W
HULU | Hellraiser
Pinhead and the Cenobites are back, and they are as
creepy, violent, and full of pain for themselves and
their helpless victims. The young cast are swept up in
the mystery of the artifact puzzle that entices holders
to solve it so that it can extract blood and thereby
attract one or more of the vicious Cenobites.
Hellraiser isn’t so much scary as it is creepy and full of
painful – pun fully intended – scenes that viewers
know are coming and that is part of its appeal to
longtime fans. This version expands on the Cenobite
lore, and it is a welcome addition that promises to give
viewers access to “the other side” in future sequels.
HBO/Max / Amazon Prime
Texas Chainsaw Massacre – The 1974
Original & Sequel
A re-look at the classic horror movie that set off a genre
that desperately tried to meet the standards of this low
budget nightmare, but never quite made it. A weird start
shows a van of teenagers pick up a hitchhiker who turns
out to be crazy and in love with blood. Soon thereafter
the teens, looking for gas, find a lonely mansion and
decide that is the place to seek help. One by one they
meet Leatherface and his hungry family. The pace is quick,
the acts of Leatherface are swift, brutal, and best of all,
not played up for the camera. Though it was perhaps due
to budget constraints, it makes for worse horror because
the viewer is left to imagine what happened to the person
Leatherface struck down. There are other scenes that are
beyond awful and horrible, making it understandable that
people were running out of theaters when it first came
out. The sequel is the opposite and, like its predecessor,
set the stage for how awful sequels to horror movies
would be. It is that bad, and remarkably, stars Dennis
Hopper. Watch it to laugh at how bad it is, not to be
scared. It ends, is the best that can be said.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.38

What are you
watching?
Let me know!
Netflix – Old People
(German/Dubbed/Subtitled)
Don’t let the dubbing or subtitles scare you away from
this excellent horror movie that sees old people violently
turn on their families, nursing home caregivers, and
other folk. It is creepy, gory, and there are frightening
scenes that are both jump scares and slow and tense
horror. There is a central family and extended family
that we follow as they attempt to retrieve their
father/grandfather. Bad move because pawpaw ain’t
what he used to be.
DISNEY+
Werewolf By Night
Disney+ again mined the Marvel Comics Universe –
MCU for material and once again they deliver in a
creative, fun, and kid-appropriate monster movie made
in the styles of classic 1950’s creature-feature.
Shot in black and white with very little CGI – even for
the title character and other monsters, the series
follows a gathering of renown but secret monster
hunters as they seek a powerful artifact left behind by
the leader of their order who recently passed away.
Once the hunt begins, the hunters are each open game
for one another, in addition to a secret monster that
will delight Marvel fans. The movie is brief, fun, and
appropriate for kids ages ten and up. It is certain
destined to be a Halloween sleepover mainstay
because Disney+ knows who their audience and their
parents are.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.39

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.
DEAR DEAN MAGAZINE | p.40

Robin Martin, Editorial
The Joyful Warrior
Podcast Network
sayeYO App
Buzzword Consulting
Katya Juliet's Jewel Box
Great Start Initiative

Happy
Halloween!
GO VOTE!