Hurricane Katrina 15 Years Later...

15 years ago, Hurricane Katrina impacted my life as it did for so many countless others. My story is more positive than many, whereas I was not in Louisiana when the storm hit. But as a child of Caribbean parents and a native resident of Florida I was watching intently as the storm formed, grew, and hit New Orleans (while it could have hit any place that I lived or cared about - hurricane season is always stressful). And as a Black American, I watched in horror as thousands of Black Americans died… As a city was wiped out… As a mayor was misled and then further misled… As a governor and President just sat on the sidelines… As people clung to roofs… As people suffered on the bridge… As people wept in an overpacked Superdome… As the loss of life, culture, and the property was incalculable…

At the time, I was a sophomore at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida which is an HBCU with a student population that included residents from New Orleans. I also was serving in the Student Government Association. After watching the devastation, and Kayne’s remarks about it, an article came out in the local newspaper praising the local traditional university regarding their recycling efforts while noting that my school, full of Black students, did not have an equivalent program in place. I was furious. Here the next generation of Black leaders, at one of the leading institutions of the nation, was noted to be not contributing (or even leading) to the solution that will help lessen the impacts of another Katrina. See I understood that Katrina, and future storms like it, were going to continue unless we did something about climate change and one of the most impactful things you can do regarding climate change is recycle. The more we reuse, the less we create, and the less that sits in landfills or (worse) appears in oceans.

So I went into action. I took the article to the President of the Student Government and asked him what were we going to do about the disparity? And he informed me that I could be appointed to a newly formed FAMU Green Coalition which was comprised of faculty, staff, and students who wanted to work on the University’s green efforts. So I went to work with the Green Coalition. And we did great work! We increased awareness, had events, and even gave out Compact Florescent lightbulbs to replace fluorescent lightbulbs to local citizens. I loved making an impact on the local community and student body regarding the impact of climate change on minority communities.

My care of the environment has been something I was raised with as a child. The sensitive ecological system of South Florida and the Caribbean islands my family came from was always something I considered. And when I saw Greta Thunberg’s student-led protests about climate change, I remembered how much fire I had about climate change as a young person. It’s so important that the next generation sees beyond the gridlock that our current leaders are in with their unwillingness to honestly address and create real action regarding climate change. We only have one planet and it’s all connected. Each ecosystem, each ocean, each life. What are we going to do about what type of planet we are leaving our children? What can money give you if you do not have access to clean water or air? And worse what about those who cannot afford to purchase clean water or move to clean air?

While at FAMU I realized that minorities and low-income populations will be the ones most impacted by climate change and have the least amount of resources to deal with the consequences. The people of New Orleans lived in a low laying area. They did not have the resources or insights to evacuate. They did not have the resources to survive the aftermath of such devastation nor to rebuild. There’s a theory that we need to fight climate change before we hit a critical tipping point if no return. I do not believe that. I believe we are already suffering from the impacts of climate change and that it will only get worse. And the people who will be impacted are not the ones who are in control of the decisions.

P.S. I do have one positive note about Hurricane Katrina. My cat Lilo was born during/after the storm and was rescued from New Orleans after the storm by her previous caregivers. I adopted Lilo after they had to move and we’ve been together ever since undergrad. She’s such a sweetie and a great reminder that great things can come from horrible situations.

Boundaries... A Learning Process...

One of my mentors has been teaching me about how to set and enforce the proper boundaries in my life to ensure that people do not walk all over me but also I do not put myself (or businesses) in harm’s way. The book she recommended on the topic, defines boundaries as, “a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are and who we are not. Boundaries impact all areas of our lives: Physical boundaries help us determine who may touch us and under what circumstances -- Mental boundaries give us the freedom to have our own thoughts and opinions -- Emotional boundaries help us to deal with our own emotions and disengage from the harmful, manipulative emotions of others -- Spiritual boundaries help us to distinguish God's will from our own and give us renewed awe for our Creator.” Well growing up, I was never taught this concept. Actually, in some areas, I was taught the exact opposite of this concept. I’m not sure if the issue is related to being Black, Caribbean, or even just generational but these concepts were not addressed. Yes, people had boundaries but the proper communication of them was very lacking. Further learning how to set up healthy boundaries was never modeled. And that’s ok! That’s why we have books, podcasts, and mentors!

What I’ve learned is that while setting up personal boundaries is a priority, business boundaries are also just as essential. I was so focused on learning how to set the correct standards in my family and friendships (which seems to be a never-ending process) that I never even thought about how to set up the correct standards with business partners, contractors, and clients and was suffering for it. See most change comes from suffering. Hopefully, you do not have to endure repeated long-term suffering to examine what needs to be changed and get the tools to do so.

So this year while working on my businesses in my own little Pandemic bubble I realized I needed clear, written, expressed, and enforced boundaries in my personal AND business life! What are the requirements to partner with one of my businesses? What kind of character is required to become one of my independent contractors? What type of clients and customers will I not work with - regardless of money or fame? See not having boundaries not only leads to suffering but also ONLY benefits those who want to use you. You will NEVER be the hero for wanting to be “nice” because their motives are never pure. And letting people use you for their ill intentional gain was never the intention of the one who created you. Yes, we are to serve but not slave…

I am still working towards cleaning up the mess that is left behind by living a life without boundaries… It’s a process… But I did want to share the basic concept to help set another captive free!

90 Days to Discipline...

As I stated in a previous blog post, I had a 90-day goal that started in February and ended in May but was greatly impacted by the Pandemic. So I decided to continue with my original goal and add some new components for a second 90-day cycle that ended in August. I was able to complete some of the original goals and the additional goals and was so happy to be moving forward and getting things done! So when the time came to consider starting a third 90-day cycle I wasn’t sure what to focus on. Yes, I could pick another business thing but I was kinda over those types of goals and wasn’t sure if that would be the best use of my focus. (Besides, once you start working on your business goals you just keep going!) Some of the original 90-day goals were still being impacted by the Pandemic, but at least I had a plan to overcome (which was part of the main focus of the challenge), so what else should I try to accomplish? Then I saw this post by Danya Bolden about her 75-day challenge and I knew that was my new goal - Daily habits for success. See prior to that moment I had been struggling to master waking up at a certain time to read my daily devotional. In the past, I could wake up easily but just like most habits, if you do not maintain them, they will disappear and I was on the struggle bus. Further, the Pandemic was bringing on a level of liturgy and stagnation that I was desperate to resist. Yes, I understand that we are allowed to take mental health days and should, but I refused to allow external issues (a Pandemic, global recession, systemic racism, civil unrest, looming election, etc. etc. etc.) to stop or slow my forward momentum! So let’s work on keeping momentum and what better way to do so then a 90-day challenge!

The original 75 Hard Challenge was really about mental toughness. The founder promised by focusing for 75 days and cutting excuses you would become unstoppable. Your confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, self-belief, fortitude, and grit would increase exponentially. The external changes (weight loss) were just a byproduct of what was happening internally. But above all, you would tap into your inner strength and discover exactly what you can accomplish when focused. The challenge was to be followed DAILY and if a mistake occurred you were to start over. The original challenge consisted of the following:

• 2 - 45-minute workouts (one must be outdoors)

• Follow a diet - No alcohol or cheat meals

• Drink a gallon of water

• Read 10 pages of a book

• Take a progress picture

For my 90-day version, I (and one of my close business friends) made some adjustments but kept with the spirit of the challenge:

• Workout for 30 minutes - I had fallen off from my earlier Pandemic workout plan and with the Houston Summer upon us, I needed to be intentional about moving indoors and keeping up the momentum!

• Follow a diet - Mine was no excess sugar (I’m looking at you chocolate).

• Drink at least a half-gallon of water

• Sleep - Going to bed on time to do what we needed to do the next day and truly embracing rest! (This was the key to me getting up to tackle my devotional, workout, and me-time BEFORE client work and business responsibilities)

• Daily Reading/Learning - I was going to tackle that morning devotional time again and make sure I was reading the Bible every single day (You are what you eat!).

• Daily Journaling - Not too hard for me, but I still wanted to be intentional about capturing the journey.

• Daily photo - I called mine a Self-Love Selfie! No matter how I feel about my skin or hair I was going to celebrate being alive!

Let me tell you! This challenge has performed everything it promised! From Day ONE my friend and I saw changes and challenges to what we thought we knew and what we were doing in our daily lives. See as I stated before discipline is essential for wealth and we both had multiple businesses to set ourselves up for generational wealth. Well, to run a healthy business(es) you have to be disciplined and this challenge really showed us our weak spots! What I also realized was the challenge would take us right through the election which I thought was a real blessing so I would have something productive to focus on while the shenanigans intensified. I finally feel like I have a real and comprehensive system for success in life and then business that makes sure everything that is important is being considered with intentionality and action! Here’s to crushing it!

Back to School Blues...

It’s Back to School Time in America, but this year like so many things, nothing is normal… I always loved Back to School time! The weather is changing, you get new clothes, and new supplies (and as an only child for many years I always got great supplies - I actually started my first business by selling extra school supplies to classmates!). Then school starts and you have a new teacher maybe even a new school. You get to introduce everyone to the “new you” and share your summer stories. I usually went to the Caribbean during the summer so I always came back with a cool adventure to share! However, this year, students are not going back. And their summers were not filled with trips or camp but rather isolation and lockdowns… And the pandemic impacts students of all ages. Collegiate and post-graduate students are having graduation plans derailed, externships canceled, and required courses canceled.

As a former educator, I really feel for the teachers having to go completely virtual or even worse and do a hybrid approach while still worrying about their own safety and families. School budgets are already thin, so how will school districts provide the necessary PPE and testing to keep the risk of infection low? Further, many children are not engaging online and falling behind. Or worse because their parents have to return to work, children are being left alone to fend for themselves.

Another layer is the impact on student-athletes. Many attend school on scholarships that are dependent on performance in their given sports, but with all sports canceled what happens to their ability to attend class? Or even more important, what if they refuse to perform due to health and safety concerns? Some schools are so dependent upon their sports programs canceling may mean losing big and unfortunately, money and student health seem to be on opposite ends of the scale... Further, some colleges so are fearful of losing their ballooned budgets that they make from students, that some are offering online solutions with in-person tuition prices… And if a student wants to (or has to because of international residency issues) attend in person how will the college keep them safe?

However, as with all things in 2020, there is an opportunity. 2020 CONSISTENTLY exposes every single underlying issue, dysfunction, inequality, and loophole that existed in the fabric of our society. And our ENTIRE education system is in need of repair and probably complete overhaul. Instead of rushing back to business as usual our leaders should examine the system, the holes, and the unnecessary parts and make education more accessible, safer, smarter, and more useful for future generations.

Time by yourself to be with yourself...

With all of the time home alone, isolated, separated from all that we associated with, the question arises… Do you like what you see? Do you like you? Now, we’re with ourselves all day and if you focus, you will start to see things that you didn’t notice before. Habits, reactions, thought patterns, etc. It’s like the apps that run in the background of your phone. They can either be helpful or harmful. Are the things running in your unconscious helpful or harmful? Are your habits, reactions, and thought patterns taking you where you want to be or not? Are they aligned with who you want to be or not? Do you even know?

We have all been given the ultimate re-boot! Everything before quarantine seems like another age. Like BC is Before Christ, we now have BQ, Before Quarantine or BP, Before Pandemic…. Which gives the unique opportunity to review and make changes and come out of this even better than before. You have to know that you are the most important and impactful person in your life. Read that again. You are the most important and impactful person in your life! So if you do not like you, Houston we have a problem! But with every problem, there is a solution and here it is - Grace. Maybe in BQ, you were just running on fumes trying to make it all work but now you can take the time to define and align your identity, values, and actions to create the person and life that you’ve been called to live. Take the opportunity!

Millionaire Habits...

So I’m a huge fan of the business consultant and podcaster Amy Porterfield (another system lover), and during one of her podcast episodes, she was discussing something that really struck her as she was listening to the audio version of the book Atomic Habits. The book is about what habits are in place for the results you want and how to examine your current habits and implement the ones you want and the question that she asked herself was “What habits [does] a person who was making $10 million in their business … have every day?” Well, I’m not at that level yet but I did ask myself what are the habits of millionaires? Thankfully I have some wealthy mentors in my life so I asked them that very same question. What are millionaire habits?

What I got in response is discipline. See, often we think huge financial success comes from hitting the jackpot like the lottery but it does not have to be so rare or extreme. There are everyday millionaires all around us who lead basic lives and have huge financial success. However, no one becomes a millionaire without discipline. It is absolutely required for huge and long-lasting financial success. Unfortunately, discipline has become a dirty word… It brings up memories of childhood or makes people feel restricted from “having fun.” But none of that is true. You can be disciplined to whatever you want and most of us are, we’re just not disciplined in the habits for success.

So how does one get started in being more disciplined? Easy start with one area of your life and one habit in that area. Again as the book discusses he uses the word atomic habits because they are small changes that over time make huge impacts. When I heard the episode I chose to start becoming more disciplined in my health and to start the habit of walking. And what I realized is discipline begets discipline. If you master one area of your life you can master them all and vice versa. And you will not master financial success without some level of discipline in all areas of your life. So chose your atomic habit and get to work!

Health is Wealth...

I know many of us may have heard that phrase before but our current crisis has really brought the reality of the value of health to the forefront. For me, I always said I valued my health but I did not have the correct habits in consistent practice to match my values. I did not exercise enough or consistently. I ate what I wanted. I did not make sure I was taking the right vitamins. I did not get enough massages, facials, or beauty treatments. I did not get enough rest. I was not taking care of my mental health and was very passive in my spiritual health. I did not have healthy relationships nor even knew what that meant. But like most things, one small catalyst can lead to big changes.

As an entrepreneur, I became very aware that as I was building an economic stream, I needed to build all the additional benefits that I would have if I was working for someone else. That included retirement, health care, and any other benefits that I deemed necessary. So in 2016, I decided to get a life insurance policy and a ROTH IRA. Small steps but the beginning of a health check that I didn’t know I needed. When I was being examined for my life insurance policy the nurse told me my weight and I was floored. I immediately thought, “Oh no her scale must be broken! That cannot be my weight. Yeah, I put on a couple of pounds but how did it go so far?” I could not believe that I let my health get so far away from me. I immediately started to figure out what I can do to make some changes. I am not a fan of diets because they are not sustainable, so I started to figure out what I need to do to change my eating, to help my weight, and I started walking. I started being intentional about my sleeping and resting habits because that leads to unwanted gut growth. And I started to examine other areas in my life that were leading to stress and weight gain.

I would love to report that after that I lost 50 pounds and you can too if you follow my plan… but that is not what this story is about. What I am telling you is that I got started. I started being intentional about my vitamins. I started to walk (inconsistently but hey). I started to eat more salad and make that my main go-to for lunch. I started looking at my portion size (hello Texas portions). I started to realized that my post-graduate school habits would not lead me to the life that I wanted. I was going to have to be intentional and consistent. I also started to examine my personal relationships and create distance or utterly remove anyone that was causing unnecessary stress because stress kills. And it has been a journey.

I kept sporadically exercising and testing different things but there’s nothing like a global health crisis to put things in perspective. One of the biggest factors of the Pandemic death rate in America was underlying conditions, especially amongst people of color. These underlying conditions included weight, asthma, heart conditions, high blood pressure, etc. All things that many people know someone with or have themselves especially in the South where “thickness” is celebrated. But now that very issue you were tolerating or even worse ignoring may be the catalyst to take you out prematurely. It has gotten really scary to be unhealthy. So I got serious about my health, and all aspects of it. Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual, and Financial.

I started walking multiple times a week. Like many who were home, I started being more intentional about my meals. I started shopping differently, prepping differently, and cooking differently. I started examining my habits and routines and completely overhauled my schedule. And I kept doing it - consistently. Because now I was starting the consequences of not doing these things in the face. Being overweight was not an option. Touching high blood pressure was not an option. Not having a healthy schedule for success was not an option. I choose my health and ultimately wealth and I cannot wait to get my return!

This is a Marathon not a Sprint...

As I mentioned in my last post about all the changes we are experiencing seemingly all at the same time, I want to remind you (and myself) this is a marathon, not a sprint. In other words, you are not expected to nor should you expect yourself to have it all together overnight. We are dealing with challenges on every side - health, financial, and societal. You will have to make adjustments and while you are doing so give yourself some grace and perspective…

Like I referenced, in the previous post, we are now settling into the “new normal.” The old way of doing things is gone! And the adrenaline of temporary survival is now giving way to the stamina of restructuring for long term success. Sprints are short runs that take a burst of energy and then are done. You don’t need much prep and can pull on all your energy to make a quick victory. But marathons are a whole other endeavor. You must train for a marathon. You must prepare. You must have stamina and endurance to make it to the end. However, to build stamina or even momentum you have to slow down. You have to make some changes to your routine. You have to focus. And you have to rest. Not just sleep, but actual rest. Rest in your mind, body, and spirit. These requirements are not easy to achieve nor maintain in a 24-hour news and entertainment world that gets such pleasure in keeping you captive in distraction and chaos, but they are not impossible.

Let’s start with rest. In the Bible, we are mandated to take the Sabbath and keep it holy by resting (Exodus 35:2). It is to teach discipline, trust, and sustainability. Unfortunately in the West, we don’t always honor that command and instead encourage a go, go, go mindset of “productivity” and stress. In America, the Puritan/Protestant work ethic has evolved into a competition of “busy.” We judge ourselves and each other by work and status - Consequently the first thing you ask someone new is “What do you do?” We determine someone’s value (and even our own) by monetary gain. Hence why the most important aspects of our society - teachers, nurses, and those whom we now realize are essential - are underappreciated and therefore underpaid. These mindsets and habits lead to lives full of stress, anxiety, and illness. And now that we all had to stop entertaining those notions because our routines were interrupted by Coronavirus, there’s a growing resistance to going back to the toxicity and bondage of the past. And that’s great! If we are looking for ways Coronavirus has impacted us positively, this is one. It gave millions of people worldwide the opportunity to examine their lives, families, and work and make some necessary changes. And one major component is rest. How we are choosing to spend our time and take care of ourselves needs to change and we have to sleep, and rest better and with more intentionality.

Next is focus. What you are choosing to focus on has to shift. At the beginning of the pandemic, we all were glued to the news to figure out what the virus was, how it spread, and how to combat it. Several months later that level of attention is unsustainable as we are all realizing life is happening and moving on. There are bills to pay. Children to raise. And responsibilities to manage. But how do you change focus? By re-prioritizing your values. Examining what you profess to value versus how you spent your time and resources. Then deciding what you will do moving forward? For example, I may prior to the virus, say I really value my family. But an analysis of my time showed I spent the majority of it hanging out with friends or at work. Now, the interruption that Coronoavirus gave allows me to re-allocate my time and give more preference to time with family, as we ease into our “new normal.” Focusing on how you will better utilize your time and resources will allow you to build up the necessary energy and stamina to sustain.

Lastly, your routine has to change. To run a marathon you have to make adjustments to your daily routine to be prepared. I am working on this part a lot right now. Some of the habits I had prior to the virus were fine. The habits I picked up during the initial stages of the virus - Nextflix and chill - are not going to help me as much now that we are shifting to our “new normal.” I have to reallocate my schedule to prepare for and sustain success (bye-bye Netflix!) And that is just one example. I also picked up a better eating habit and better exercise habits those will stay and evolve. Examining your routine is something you should always be doing but in the mindset of a pandemic, it’s easy to forget the basics. And that’s ok.

You are surviving a multi-tiered crisis that has no clear end in sight. But to keep surviving we have to change our perspective from short term (sprints) to long term (marathon). What will your life look like at the end of 2020? How can you leverage the rest of the year to achieve it? How can you position yourself so that your family can be in a better place in spite of all that has happened? What about future generations? Keep going and keep growing! You can do this! We can do this! Let’s go! The marathon continues!

Ch-, Ch-, Ch-, Changes...

We are living in one of the biggest times of influx and uncertainty I have ever seen. With a President, that is highly unpredictable and a pandemic that is uncontained, it has been a wild ride! Looking back at January when there were so many predictions and visions of what 2020 would be, no one saw this! Nevertheless, this is where we are four months into the pandemic, on our way to an interesting summer, and tumultuous election season, I reflect on all of the changes that have brought us here...

Yes like everyone else, I was on lockdown from mid-March until my state started opening up in late May (hello Texas). So my first set of changes was to learn how to survive in one of the most stressful times I’ve ever lived. Unfortunately, I’m not unfamiliar with stress - I went to law school and started my company in law school - but this was different. This was survival. I bulked up on supplies so I could avoid going to the store and seeing the virtual wasteland and fear that prevailed on every trip outdoors and to avoid unnecessary exposure when masks and gloves were hard to come by. It was particularly challenging because I observe the Biblical Feasts so this all started to occur during Passover and the Feast of Unleaved Bread and I couldn’t stock up on things that I would then have to throw away (leaven) but the fear/stress of not having enough was real.

The second set of changes was publically and privately observing all of the deaths caused by this horrible disease. Even regular deaths (old age, heart issues, terminal illness, etc.) had a bitter sting because we couldn’t mourn with our friends or families for the risk of catching another illness and being the next to go. At the time of this writing, I have not personally had anyone pass due to COVID-19, but I have had too many friends have people pass, and watching over 132,000 Americans die (524,000 worldwide) is horrible.

Another change was watching the economy go upside down. Whatever plans you may have had got a radical change when this virus hit our shores. And to be honest we really don’t know what the financial future holds (and we never have). I fortunately have always worked from home. I recently moved and intentionally set up my home office in a better way so I was “prepared” to stay home and keep working. Thankfully, I received more business, than I originally expected this environment to create and for that I am grateful! And being a savvy entrepreneur I have made some adjustments to address the future changes to the economy and position myself for success.

But now it is July. On the cusp of one of our biggest national holidays, we as Americans are coming to a new change. This is our new normal. We will be living with this virus for a long time. It hit me in June that, “we were not in Kansas anymore.” I celebrated my birthday but had to do so with a lot of intentionality and prayer. I wanted to celebrate and not let the virus steal my birthday but I could not just be willy nilly about it. Every location and activity was carefully chosen, monitored, and done alone. I purposefully chose restaurants with outdoor seating. I wore my mask. And I sanitized everything! This is how we will celebrate moving forward. This is life. There will be no large gatherings. There will be no sharing of food. There will be as little opportunity for the virus to get you as you can possibly put in place or suffer the consequences.

So how does one deal with so much change in such a short amount of time? I learned it takes a combination of resilience, mindset, and faith. You have to lean on your past ability to overcome to believe you can do it again. Look you made it from one grade to another. From one job to another. Maybe from one state or even country to another. You can handle change. It will not kill you. However, sometimes it feels like it will. That’s where mindset comes in. It is futile to try to resist change. It is a constant as gravity. Instead, embrace it and learn how to navigate it. In other words, don’t ignore gravity but learn how to leverage it (come on rockets). Most resistance to change comes from fear. The fear of the unknown is real. But guess what, even if “something bad might happen,” also, “something great may happen.” The fear of having to be in the grocery store made me meal prep like a master chef! And now my home cooking game is on another level! The fear of how to celebrate my birthday, made me intentionally create a fabulous experience that I will cherish, and that was not overshadowed by a virus. These challenges can create great results. Lastly, you have to have faith. You must believe the future will be better than the present and that you can contribute to it being so. I know that I can create revenue from any economy. I have faith that I can use my experiences, tools, resources, and network and make money. I know that one day this virus will not grip our country and the world and we will move forward. One day, we will tell our children or grandchildren about how we overcame and made something better.

Embrace the change and let’s make a better “normal.”

Your Voice Matters...

We are still witnessing an international movement about the experience and treatment of Black people that was sparked by the death of Geroge Floyd. As a Black person who has witnessed the generations of Black people who have been killed by the police or extrajudicial forces (slave catchers, the KKK, lynching, Trayvon Martin, and Ahmaud Arbery), I was wondering what made Floyd’s death the tipping point?

Was it the video?

Was it calling for his mother?

Was it the superiority and boldness of the officer?

All of these factors have happened before so what different this time?

I recently listened to a podcast about the same question and they noted that the combination of the increased amount of people being home, the increase of racial and inflammatory remarks by the President, and the “newfound awareness” of the disparity in the health care system (and other systems) towards Black people, made the perfect storm… the perfect storm for change. For outrage. For grief. For action. But for how long?

What was even more profound than the physical protests were the digital movements that were happening as well. As I mentioned in the previous post, numerous brands participated in acknowledging Juneteenth and now several have committed to holding each other accountable, donating profits towards causes and ways to help the community, and intentionally diversifying their organizations. But one of my favorite ways the movement has shifted is the sharing of platforms.

It’s not that these problems are new but now we (Black people) are being heard. Believed. And acknowledged and that is the best thing I’ve seen from the tragedy of Floyd’s death. George Floyd’s dying words have lead to an international shift, awareness, awakening, and proof that every voice matters.

Your voice matters.

Your experiences matter.

Your challenges matter.

Your purpose matters.

Your life matters so keep livin’! Sharing! Being! Loving! And let’s push the needle forward!

A Discussion about Juneteenth...

Juneteenth is on June 19. And this year (like many things) it has taken on a different meaning and significance…

While still in the midst of a global pandemic, newly declared economic depression, and continued social unrest about police brutality and injustice, we came upon a relatively unheard of but quickly polarized African American holiday called Juneteenth. The History of Juneteenth is myriad with the truth of the atrocities of the Civil War. As a historian, I know that what is taught in high school history classes is a very watered down and easy-to-digest version of events for young minds to comprehend. Unfortunately, that is where most Americans end their understanding of American history and their pursuit of knowledge about American history (except the often dramatized versions of History Channel specials - basically everything is due to aliens…). So the detailed version of how the Civil War ended and the challenges African Americans faced are lost to most Americans. Further, if you were educated in the South you may have been taught a revisionist version of events due to the United Daughters of the Confederacy’s impact on education. So it is easy to see how Juneteenth slipped through the cracks between “the Civil War ended” and “we had Reconstruction.” However, this year due to growing interest in understanding systemic racism and the challenges faced by African Americans and the President’s original Tulsa rally date, Juneteenth was trusted to the forefront.

I’m sure when I originally learned about Juneteenth at FAMU, I probably thought what a mess (come on Union army!), but when I came to Houston back in 2009 and realized it was a big celebration, I was a bit taken aback. I understood that Black people are great at re-appropriating things that are painful into things that are joyful, but I was confused about the celebratory nature of the holiday. I understood that we celebrate independence days all around the world but this didn’t seem like an independence day celebration nor an appropriate “replacement” for Independence Day. My initial thoughts were of how sad it was that it took two years for the Emancipation Proclamation to reach all Southern enslaved people (please note the Emancipation Proclamation did not free every black in the United States) and wondered what are the lasting economic and psychological impacts on Blacks in Texas due to the delay. With the current conversations about Juneteenth, I also wondered what should the appropriate acknowledgement of the now “recognized” holiday look like? Should it be celebratory or sorrowful? Should it be a federal holiday that requires employee compensation or not? And now that the “big brands” wanted to jump on board did that mean commercialization and therefore exploitation was around the corner? And honestly, is there a “right” or “wrong” way to acknowledge any holiday?

In our current set of circumstances, I believe that Juneteenth should become a nationally recognized holiday (I’m reserving judgment on what it means to be a federal holiday and therefore the economics associated with that). And on that day, all cultures should reflect on the history of slavery in this county. Juneteenth is the only day that can do that and with the issues of whitewashing history in America, we need something that tells the harsh truth of how America was built. However, we can also take the day to have conversations and healing about where were are and what yet we have to accomplish as a country towards equality and justice for all. Then communities can choose however they want to acknowledge or celebrate whether its cookouts or shopping sprees.

This year I exercised my freedom by launching a new business venture! Although I come from a different cultural history than some of my Black brothers and sisters, I still believe that economics will lift us all up and I plan to contribute the best way I can. And with all holidays I try to position myself as a producer and not just a consumer, so I wanted to contribute something positive in our ever-changing 2020 landscape. While I do not celebrate or acknowledge most holidays, due to religious reasons, I wanted to give a nod to this day’s current relevance as a marker of the shifts in our society ever since the lockdown and the acknowledgment that the future will be brighter.

Celebrating in a time of Coronavirus...

I’m a June baby and my birthday was June 11th, but as of June 11, 2020, we were still in an international crisis called Coronavirus (in addition to an economic depression and massive protests and civil unrest #funtimes). So how does one even celebrate in times of crisis? Should you even celebrate when 100k+ people (in the US alone) have died and people are struggling financially and emotionally to deal with all of the issues that are facing our country? Do you even want to?

The answer is thoughtfully, yes, and you better! One thing for sure this time has taught me is life is precious! And I am thankful for every breath, every opportunity, and every moment I’m alive, and I will celebrate. See celebrating is a form of defiance, of protest, of love. It says I will not let the present troubles of this world overtake my joy, peace, and happiness. I will not let what I cannot control, control me. I have a place in the world and I will celebrate every step along the journey.

So I took myself out. I put on something cute, did my hair, and put on makeup. I actually left my little radius of home and grocery store and went beyond the bubble. I went to a restaurant. I wore a mask and I sat outside on the patio and socially distanced myself. But I went out again. I felt the sun. I saw cars. I saw people. Yes, many did not have masks. Yes, many were not socially distancing. That’s out of my control. I contributed to the local economy. I went gallivanting! I went to the boardwalk. I saw the ocean. I saw the birds. I remembered that I am a person in this world outside of all of the noise. I ate and drank all kinds of deliciousness! I listened to my music loudly. I talked. I listened. I thanked all the people who reached out. I laughed on the phone. I lived!

And that’s what it’s all about. Celebrating is another form of living. For month’s we’ve been surviving but not living. Don’t stop living. That is what makes the human experience memorable. However, you choose to celebrate life’s many moments during these challenging times go for it! Whether it’s virtual proms, virtual graduations, drive-bys, or Zoom parties, live baby live!