Written by Dennis Harvell The Secret Sovereignty of Jonas Bronck: The Edge of the World The “End Place” Before it was the Bronx, it was a rugged, untamed frontier known to the Lenape as Ranachqua — the End Place. To the Dutch in New Amsterdam, it was simply the wild north. But to a sea… Continue reading The Bronck’s River: Where The Name Began
Tag: Sovereignty
Black HERstory: Toni Morrison
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Written by Dennis Harvell The Architect Artist of Words: Toni Morrison The Lorient Legacy in Lorain, Ohio. Growing up in a household filled with African-American folktales, ghost stories, and songs, she developed an early reverence… Continue reading Black HERstory: Toni Morrison
A Bronx Winter Revelation
Written by Dennis Harvell A Bronx Winter Revelation That sharp Bronx air and glorious afternoon sunshine were calling my name today. At a bracing 34°F, it actually felt like a heatwave compared to the 5°F deep-freeze we’ve been white-knuckling over the past few weeks. It’s the kind of day that demands you bundle up, lace… Continue reading A Bronx Winter Revelation
The Journey of Looking Back
Written by Dennis Harvell The Journey of Looking Back I was scrolling through old photos recently and saw a version of myself who didn’t know his own worth. For years, I carried the quiet belief that I wasn’t enough — not lovable, not deserving, not whole. That didn’t begin to change until my 50s, when… Continue reading The Journey of Looking Back
The Weight of the Gavel: A Reflection on Jury Duty and Sovereignty
Written by Dennis Harvell The Weight of the Gavel: A Reflection on Jury Duty and Sovereignty For many in the Bronx, the journey of sovereignty doesn’t begin in the jury box — it begins on the sidewalk, lost in a sea of granite and glass. To the system, 161st Street is a “judicial corridor.” To… Continue reading The Weight of the Gavel: A Reflection on Jury Duty and Sovereignty
The Forge of Leadership
Written by Dennis Harvell The Forge of Leadership Your Foundation for Leadership Starts Now To every young person out there in the Bronx navigating what feels like the bottom of the ladder: I see you. I’ve been there. Do not mistake the weight of your struggle for a ceiling. It is your foundation. You are… Continue reading The Forge of Leadership
The Work That Built My Rise
Written by Dennis Harvell The Work That Built My Rise My rise didn’t start in an office. It started in the South Bronx, where work wasn’t optional — it was survival. My first job was as a bag boy, the kind of work where you learn quickly that effort matters more than pride. From there,… Continue reading The Work That Built My Rise