The New York Experience (Pt. 1)

No VH1, but I did LOVE New York.



Maybe because I stayed in Times Square for 10 days.

Or because the good people at the Lilly Endowment and Fund for Theological Education paid for it, and this awesome camera.

Or because it wasn't Grand Rapids, which was about as fun as balancing a checkbook.

Definitely because moms and lil bro came for the first 4 days. We realized at dinner one night that we had NEVER been on vacation together before. That's what hustling and raising two big head yellow kids will do to you. So it was good to see her have fun, better to be treated to dinner (anyone who pays for my dinner, and it's not ramen noodles, is my BEST FRIEND).


(Moms outside Mesa Grill, where Bobby Flay made us Mango bacon)

Yes, MANGO BACON.

Anyway, this was an opportunity not only for me to put in some work on the PureMusic side while fellowship'ing with wonderful young people across the city, it was a chance for me to BE STILL, DO NOTHING, and Hear from God in some new ways (when is the last time you were STILL?) Between the final year of the Master's degree, huge decisions looming, and the general hustle of LIFE, it was necessary for me to chill out and reflect, LEARN and not DO for a few days. That's what happened. Below are a few thoughts, some that came about randomly, others more specific, all crucial to development...IN MY OWN VOICE

1 - "Giving kids popsicles in the projects CAN'T BE all you do" (I get it, ministry is about meeting immediate needs, but what white folks don't get about urban youth is that they need pizza -AND- Care (i.e. an opp to confront the confusion, fear, and anger that is a part of their daily existence). They actually need that MORE than pizza and popsicles.

2 - "Sometimes You Gotta Tie Loose Ends" Long ago I met a wonderful woman named TC. Long story short, TC was great, I did her wrong anyway. We made up, but not officially (saying "sorry" via email doesn't work, no matter how long that email is), and she moved to NY. Mature adults tie loose ends, period. We met up and did that. Should I ever become worthy of an autobiography, I'll say MUCH MORE about LOOSE ENDS, and not the group.

WHAT LOOSE ENDS DO YOU HAVE OUT HERE? Anyway...

3 -"Mothers are ALWAYS right." She wanted to take one of those double-decker tour bus joints. I refused and went to sleep. She said I'd regret it. I did, and they had so much fun I went on one the next day. It strikes me how RIGHT mothers usually are. Her intuition scares me. Yall gotta feel me here. Sometimes she's wrong, but she's always right. Call your mother right now and thank her.

4 - "That Harry Potter movie sucked" No I didn't read the books, so No I don't get how I was supposed to so I could enjoy this movie. Any movie that requires a book is not a movie, it's a VISUAL AID. If you like watching Teenagers kiss, you'll LOVE this movie. Other than that, cop this in the barber shop.

(dressing like characters from movies? NO SIR)


5 - "Where is @Leighdav?" We finally met up, the DAY before I left. Also, shouts to Torian and @Jovizi, and all of SPELHOUSE.

6 - "HOW/WHY did I do that?" I need to leave that there. Suffice it to say, being a MATURE ADULT is sometimes about NOT doing something you really want to do. Believe it or not you can learn great lessons without experience too.

7 - "@Clarknyss should be standing here RIGHT NOW" And by "here," I mean next to Cornel West, Eddie Glaude, and David Kim. All brilliant minds and looking to pick young brains.

8 - "THIS ORGANIZATION IS A MESS" I'm talking about the NAACP now, which turned 100. I should say more here, but I'll wait for a moment. They deserve their own post. I have never had more "SMH" moments than the limited time I was around the NAACP. Love me some them though.

That's ALL for now. PART 2 of this will include some details about my time with Cornel West, as well as two great convos with Dr. Gary Simpson (Brooklyn) and Cliff Simmons (Harlem). You NEED to know about them, and you need to know "MORAL CONSTIPATION" and "ETHICAL DIARRHEA." Those belong in the pantheon of great images. Like THIS one, between West and my namesake, Julian Bond.

and THIS one, with Tonex (@T0N3X)...collab in the works AS WE SPEAK.
OR THIS, with me, Dr. West, and He Who Runs Morehouse

We had fun. It seems surreal reflecting, but in the words of Braille, I'm a "blessed man." More TOMORROW. Love.