After 35 days of a government shutdown, the furlough finished on a Friday. Which was truly a bittersweet moment for me. I was in no rush to get back to work, and there wasn’t a sense of urgency for me I had a little saving account that served as a cushion to get me through the next few months. To be honest, I just wasn’t motivated. During the shutdown I felt that I was really starting to understand my purpose a bit more and the things that make me happy, I haven’t felt that way since living in Malawi. In addition to, I felt encouraged to pursue goals by friends and family, they made me really feel like I can do anything even when my back is against the wall.. The level of support I received from my tribe was unmatched and really unexpected. It came in various forms. My best friend Preston gave me $150.00 disguised it as a birthday gift. My Line Brother Gregory Forge sent me $150.00 on a Sunday and gave it in form of tithing. A old co-worker of mine Mark Thomas, Western Union $100.00 as a sign of solidarity, faith, and friendship. My current co-worker and furloughed friend; Byron L. Williams gave me various toiletries, when he has a family of four to support as well.
I understand that I am truly blessed with community and comraderie, so much so, that on the last day of the shutdown coupled with missing two pay periods, I managed to take a day trip to NYC and Philadelphia. I didn’t want to roll solo, so I asked my really great friend T.J. to accompany me. He not only obliged without hesitation but he asked his mom to open up her house to us, to have a place to crash while in Philadelphia, she took it a step farther and cooked a good ass Sunday meal true to her South Carolina roots, plates fit for Kings, it made me feel really at home, in a true Southern hospitality fashion.
This weekend trip was everything I needed and was a hell of a way to wrap up the shutdown, we explored the boroughs of the Bronx and Harlem, and paid our respects to fallen rap soldiers and celebrate the success of Black businesses and be inspired by the old Black renaissance and the new Black renaissance. In addition to, walking down the streets of West Philadelphia where rapper/actors were born and raised, while also visiting and patronize soon to be cornerstone of a literary community for Black people. It was a great way to celebrate life and moving through life obstacles and the perfect precursor for Black History Month.
While in NYC, took a quick trip to the Bronx to get my photo taken by Photographers Rog and Bee Walker; they are the creators of Paper Monday. “Paper Monday is to create timeless portraits to document stories that define our world, exploring identity via image”
The Photo… Super Wavy..
Harlem Hops is a Black owned brewery in heart of Harlem World, USA. The owners are also HBCU graduates from Hampton and Clark Atlanta
I met one of the owners, and she and I engaged in conversation. This conversation would eventually lead to her giving me a free drink because I was a furloughed employee.
Fallen Soldier Big L… May 30th, 1974- February 15th 1999.
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. As a research division of The New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center features diverse programming and collections spanning over 11 million items that illuminate the richness of global Black history, arts, and culture.
Mean mug with literary great James Baldwin at the Schomburg Center.
Ms. Romaine in the kitchen putting in work! God Bless the cook.
T.J. and I waiting on the food to get done.
Sweet sweet swine.. Ms. Romaine prepared pork chops, spare ribs, green beans w/ neckbones, rice with gravy, and cracklin cornbread!!! Amen.
Made it out to Mark Lamont Hill coffee shop called Uncle Bobbie’s. Cool People, Dope Books, Great Coffee.
