My Word for 2020 is “Meghan Markle”

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Forget “manifest” or “growth.” My word for 2020 is “Meghan Markle.” _ No more suffering and enduring in spaces filled with negative energy and people who do not respect or support me. Instead, I will be Meghan Markling to spaces where I’m wanted, respected, and celebrated.

***Merriam Webster needs to hurry up and add “Meghan Markle” to the dictionary.

Beyonce Gets in FORMATION and Tells the World She #StayWoke

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Unless you were living under rock or you passed out upon hearing about this surprise drop, you have encountered (and I do mean encountered because it was an event) Beyonce's new song and video, "Formation," which dropped Saturday, February 6th, a day ahead of her scheduled Super Bowl 50 performance.  

I have to first say that I hate Beyonce for doing these kind of surprise music/video drops. It is killer to my nerves. Makes me feel like I always gotta be ready for an immediate purchase (and the way my bank account works, Navient, Perkins Loan, and ACS gotta get their coins first before I can do anything).  

With that said, I loved this video. It was SO BLACK! Unapologetically black! And, you know I am all for it. The images were so powerful: 

  • A young black boy dancing in front of a line of police officers in riot gear, next to a wall with the words "stop shooting us" graffitied on it.

  • Beyonce on top of a sinking New Orleans police car in the middle of flood waters.

  • Beyonce decked in all black and flanked by black men in all black, looking like a junk joint jazz band.

I could honestly watch this video over and over again (on mute). Yes, I said mute. The song...well...I am not sold on it. On first listen, it did nothing for me. I like some of the lyrics such as "I like my baby hair with baby hair and afros" and "I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils."It does not get any more pro-black than that, especially for the straight, blonde haired, chick-o-stick pop star former manager Matthew Knowles groomed (his daughter/cash cow) Beyonce to be. But the rest of the lyrics just sounded like a bunch of lines strung together. The New Orleans "bounce" beat really adds a thick layer of triple chocolate cake-type blackness to song. Makes it sound gritty. The song almost sounds like it is growling at you, "stop and listen to me." I just wish the all of the lyrics were as strong as the beat and the video. But, unfortunately it is not. 

"Formation" is definitely the most "woke" song and visuals Beyonce has ever produced; and I am so happy that she decided to step up and out. 

Keeping it coming, Bey! #StayWoke #VeryBlack #UnapologeticallyBlack

Dealing With A Frustrating Day That Develops Into a Frustrating Week

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Have you ever had a week that you wish you could skip? Just erase it from existence. For me, that week is this one. My professional frustration and personal relationships apparently had a secret meeting and decided that they were going to fuck with me this week, starting with what was supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable Sunday that turned into a two hour sob and hid under the covers fest to a long frustrating Monday that refused to let me go home and rest to an emotionally charged and hair pulling Tuesday that is barely over. (I can't wait to see what Wednesday brings). 

With all of that said, I am pushing through and looking forward to bright spots that I know are coming later this week (i.e., getting to go backstage at Monica's Code Red concert on Sunday and laying on a Florida beach next Wednesday). What I am going through this week is all part of life. Life is full of ups and downs. I cannot control the feelings or actions of others. I cannot will good things to happen. I cannot make people stop hurting their own family members in the name of loyalty and family. 

What I can do is allow my anger, hurt, and frustrations their due time to work themselves out (side note: if you have seen the Pixar movie Inside Out, then you know that you need all of these emotions to function "normally.") Cry if I need to cry. Sigh if I need to sigh. Curse if I need to curse.  Let those emotions have their minute, hour, day, week, or month (but not year....not again). 

When all that is said and done, and I have gotten everything out, then I must get myself together and move forward.  

My Top 5 Jill Scott Songs

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It is the first day of the last month of 2015. YAY!!! Praise baby and grown Jesus! And I am ready to end this year with a bang.

Tonight I am going to see the amazing Jill Scott perform (for the 2nd time in my life) at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston. After recently watching her perform on the 2015 Soul Train Awards (where she was honored with the Lady of Soul Award), I am so so so excited about seeing her live and in person.  

So, in anticipation of my Jill Scott experience tonight, I have compiled a list of my top 5 Jill Scott songs (in no particular order) to get me through the day. Sit back and enjoy the smooth sounds of Ms. Jill Scott aka Jilly from Philly.

Album--The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3

Album--Who Is Jill Scott? (Words and Sounds, Vol. 1)

Album--The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3

Album--The Light Of The Sun

Album--Woman