Category Archives: Popular Culture

Long Live the King

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Tom Simpson

It’s hard to put into words what Chadwick Boseman’s massive talent and radiant light have meant to me, my family, and my students. In 42, Boseman brought Jackie Robinson to life for today’s youth in one of the best baseball … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Film, grief, Humor, Media, Popular Culture, Race, racial justice, SNL, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Masculinity’s Evolutions

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Tom Simpson

I was planning to write sooner. After my second round of chemotherapy ended last Sunday, I thought — based on my experience with the first round — that it would be just a few days before I’d feel like myself … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Bosnia, cancer, Gender, Health, Peacebuilding, Popular Culture, Sports, Teaching, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

My latest interviews: Stacy Mattingly, Mitchell L. H. Douglas, and Ricky Ray

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Tom Simpson

Recently I joined the masthead of American Microreviews and Interviews, overseeing its interviews. So much gratitude, so much respect for my predecessor, Melissa Studdard, who entrusted me with the job as she took on more responsibilities with VIDA: Women in Literary Arts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bosnia, Poetry, Popular Culture, Race | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Color of Christ

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Tom Simpson

Edward J. Blum and Paul Harvey’s The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America (UNC Press, 2012) offers an essential and extraordinary history of the American racial imagination. It focuses on the explosion, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Mormonism, Popular Culture, Publications on Religion and American Culture, Race, Religion and Politics, Religion and Spirituality, Social Justice, Teaching | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

2013: A Blog’s Life

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Tom Simpson

This New Year’s Day, gratitude for all of you who followed Wayne Street Soul in 2013. Thank you so much! Here are some highlights from the past year: “Viva Bosnia” — on the stirrings of hope in a shattered land … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Bosnia, Christianity, Ethics, Fatherhood, Higher Education, Human Rights, Humor, Islam, Judaism, Mormonism, Parenting, Peacebuilding, Photography, Politics, Popular Culture, Publications on Religion and American Culture, Raising Boys, Social Justice, Sports, Teaching, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are Moral Courage and Clarity Going “Incognito”? Bullying, Hazing, and Abuse in American Sports

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Tom Simpson

This week, increasingly graphic and sickening reports of alleged abuse by Miami Dolphins’ lineman Richie Incognito against his teammate Jonathan Martin have emerged. I haven’t been able to get this report from espn.com, which I first saw yesterday, out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Football, Popular Culture, Race, Raising Boys, Social Justice, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

You’re Killing Me, Jabari

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Tom Simpson

BYU basketball fans got their hearts ripped out yesterday when Chicago high-school phenom — and devout Latter-day Saint — Jabari Parker announced that he will be going to Duke next year.   I’m not a Mormon or a big BYU basketball fan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Mormonism, Popular Culture, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hip-Hop: Past, Present, and Future

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Tom Simpson

This week I had the great pleasure and honor of sitting on a panel at Phillips Exeter about the past, present, and future of Hip-Hop. Erik Wade moderated the discussion; we were joined by Stephany Rose and John Daves. Beautiful … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Hip Hop, Media, Popular Culture, Race | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fall Classic

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Tom Simpson

Images from a spectacular fall weekend in New Hampshire, as I sit down to watch my beloved San Francisco Giants take on the St. Louis Cardinals. Game 7, winner goes to the World Series. This one goes out to my … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Humor, Photography, Popular Culture, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why Winning Just Might Make You Stupid

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Tom Simpson

A Buffalo Bills fan living in New England endures various kinds of torture. For instance, New England fans think it’s been a “long time” since their team has won a Super Bowl. Today, the two teams met in Buffalo, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Football, Humor, Popular Culture, Sports | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments