My oh my it has been a long minute since we’ve seen each other, and I apologize for that. But let me explain, what had happened was:
- I got a chance to be apart of a fascinating first by joining the first 24/7 news organization that was culturally specific to the Black community
- Moved to a new state
- Built an entire website
- Covered COVID-19
- Covered Civil Unrest
- Went viral
- Single-handedly hit 74 thousand views on a national website
In all that, my baby, my pride, my legacy was put on “hiatus” to further someone else’s dream.
WTH is wrong with me?
Where do I get off thinking that its ok to not follow my calling, to tell the stories of the South, to make a platform for artists to thrive, to build a legacy as strong as the South? I have had to shrink myself in order to fit into someone else’s narrow, yet honorable, dreams.
Where did that dream big like Texas (my home) swag, still tippin on fo fo’s, capris classic, DJ screw mentality that has been engraved into my chest? I have gone from fighting governor’s over protecting HBCUs, nursing homes mistreating people in need, and inspiring the masses to do better and be better…to some desk/digital assistant towing the lines.
I won awards for investigating mismanagement of funds, made a New York Times copy chief of 20 plus years cry because of how “beautiful” I wrote but where is that now?
Where did my power go? Where did my drive go? Where did I go?
I am sorry…
You all deserve better than what I have done these past couple of months. Ten20 deserves the unstoppable force I should be. Today is a new day and there is a brand new me.
So let me reintroduce myself:
I am the son of Man and An’lettes baby boy. Proud graduate of THE Southern University and A&M College where I found my voice. Oakcliff, Highland Hills, and Lancaster (Lane-cuh-stuh so put some respeck on the name) is where I’m from where we swang and we swang to the left while you check our Dougie Swag. Where we bout good times, cars, and chill livin till you cross us. And oh yeah, keepin it as real as possible.
I have put up with a lot of things in the name of something bigger than myself…but now its time to step back up and get back to rolling. It’s time to breathe life back into Ten20 and do what we do best…say what’s real.
Let’s keep it real,
Already.
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