"The struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose."

— Chadwick Boseman

THE OPENING

Honest, heartfelt conversations; new connections and beginnings; saying what you feel without remorse; Reconnecting with friends; Releasing expectations; Enjoy this week’s Manifesto…

🏀THE GAME—SPORTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS

Queen Serena is Back

Serena Williams ‘aka’ “The 🐐” is back. And if you know anything about what she represents, you understand why that matters beyond the scorecard.

After nearly four years away from competitive tennis, Serena returned to the court at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club in London, playing doubles alongside rising star Victoria Mboko. And in true fashion, won her return outing. There was never any doubt.

She said it herself —”Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter.” But this isn’t just about a next chapter for Serena. This is about what her presence does for the sport and the next and current generation watching her do it.

She came back so her two daughters could see her play. That says more about a woman, who with everything she has accomplished, felt the need to show her daughters what it means to step away from your profession and return for a bigger purpose. The greatest women’s tennis player to ever pick up a racket isn’t coming back for validation, for rankings, or for another trophy. She’s coming back to show her daughters what it looks like to still show up, still compete, and still be yourself with all that life hurls towards you. That is true power.

What this means for tennis is bigger than one tournament. Serena’s presence commands attention, changes narratives, and reminds the world that women’s tennis has always been must-watch television — it just needed the right reminder. Now the biggest question will be, how she chooses to use her knowledge to expand the game beyond her greatness.

23 Grand Slams. 319 weeks as world No. 1. The only player to complete a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles. The resume speaks for itself.

But what Serena Williams returning to that court really says is simple: greatness doesn’t have an expiration date. And neither does she.

🎵THE SOUND—MUSIC AS MEMOIR AND MOOD

Mr. Lovebomb or Mr. Truthful

Now this album has been out for a few months now, but one album that I have sat with recently is Isaia Huron’s “Mr. Lovebomb.” Every song that I have heard on a playlist or when I did my quick scan, sounded amazing. And of course, live instrumentation can elevate any song, especially when the band and artist are in sync. But the theme is also what caught my attention.

The ups and downs of a relationship are on full display here. The way love never seems to be enough when you have exhausted all avenues to full a person unrealistic, insatiable desires in the song, “the girl wants everything.” Then you go a record like, “breakfast and matcha” and it examines the man who has immersed himself in the chase so much that he falls victim to it.

What Isaia Huron did with this album is here is provide agency to the things most men feel but rarely say out loud about love and relationships and the missteps. This isn’t just an album. It is a mirror. And depending on where you are in your own story, some of these songs are going to hit closer than you’re ready for. That’s exactly why it’s worth the listen.

📡THE DOWNLOAD—TECH THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE

SpaceX IPO Debut Worth Noting

SpaceX opened at $150 per share on its Nasdaq debut, vaulting past a $2 trillion market capitalization and making history in the process. But beyond the numbers, what does this actually mean for the rest of us?

It means the space economy is no longer a conversation reserved for billionaires and aerospace engineers. It’s now a publicly traded reality that everyday investors, professionals, and communities can participate in. The IPO was oversubscribed with institutional investors placing orders of over $10 billion. To me, this feels wild, and also telling.

What this signals for technology is bigger than one company going public. SpaceX's Starlink is quietly doing what the tech industry has promised for years but consistently under delivered on — closing the digital divide. Black and Brown communities, rural towns, tribal nations, and developing countries have historically been the last priority for traditional internet providers. The infrastructure never came because the profit margin wasn't there to justify it. Starlink changes that equation. It doesn't need a cable in the ground or a tower on the corner. It needs a dish and a clear sky.

And that simplicity is revolutionary. When a student in a rural community has the same internet access as someone in a major city, the playing field shifts. When a small business owner in an underserved zip code can compete digitally without limitation, the ceiling rises. This IPO represents more than a historic market moment — it's the commercialization of technology that has the very real potential to reach the people who needed it most and have been waiting the longest for it. And although this sounds very promising, I still remain skeptical.

The real question is whether we’re paying attention to what SpaceX is building and how they are planning to change our everyday lives, while everyone else is watching the stock price.

❤️THE REAL—LOVE, GRIEF, GROWTH, COMMUNITY

Start Takin’ Care of Y’all Mentals, Black Men…

Black Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month takes place in June. While this topic has been circulating the internet and stratosphere for some time now, we still struggle with how black men perceive mental health. It has been taboo in the black community for as long as we can remember. Now, with more education and knowledge around the subject, more black men are starting to realize the importance of health and started to embark on the journey that many of our grandfathers, fathers, uncles, and cousins, were chastised for even considering.

This ever-spoken narrative that seeking help is weakness has been one of the most damaging lies ever told to Black men. And honestly, we have been the ones telling it to each other. It has cost us relationships, opportunities, and in far too many instances, our lives. At a very young age, we were taught through watching our patriarchs push through, pray on it, and keep it moving. Often, seeing that invoked the phrase, “Ain’t nobody coming to save you!” That in and of itself, can tarnish one’s faith, not only in the world, but his own support system.

And while faith and resilience are embedded in who we are, they were never meant to replace the work of healing. Pushing through without processing is not strength — it’s survival. And there is a difference. Faith is more than just a backdrop, it should be the guiding force used to properly navigate us through the hardships, the emotional outburst, and the losing of oneself.

What therapy, counseling, and intentional community gives us is the ability to show up differently. For our Black women who have carried the emotional weight of our unhealed parts for far too long. Let’s be honest about what that has looked like. Black women, have and STILL DO, love us through our walls, our silence, our emotional unavailability, and our inability to communicate what we couldn’t even identify within ourselves. They have absorbed our trauma while managing their own. They have stayed, supported, and poured into us even when we didn’t pour back — not because they were supposed to, but because they are the only ones who know us better than we know ourselves.

When we heal, we love differently. We communicate with intention rather than deflection. We stop weaponizing our pain against the people closest to us. Our relationships become partnerships instead of transactions. Our marriages become safe spaces instead of battlegrounds. The way we see, honor, and protect Black women transforms when we do the internal work — because you cannot fully love someone else when you are at war with yourself. They deserve the version of us that has done the work. Not the version that is still avoiding it.

Our children need that version of us even more. Black male leadership in the home and in the community is not optional — it is foundational. Our sons are watching how we handle adversity, how we treat the women (grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts, etc.) in our lives, how we communicate when things feel difficult, and whether we ask for help when we need it — or just asking for help period. They will become what they see. What they experience. Our daughters are watching too. They are forming their understanding of how a man should love, lead, and show up based on what we demonstrate. The standard we set in our healing becomes the standard they carry into their own lives, careers, and relationships. That is the legacy. Not just what we build financially or professionally — but who we raise emotionally.

Showing up for each other as Black men is equally as important. It is perfectly okay to check on your brothers — Not just the ones who need it more, but even the strong friends who often suffer in silence and ego. Not just when things are visibly falling apart, but in the ordinary moments when everything looks fine, and nothing ever is. Because some of the heaviest burdens are carried in silence behind the strongest faces and the brightest of smiles. Lee Thompson Young, Marshawn Kneeland, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, and Kyren Lacy just to name a few.

We must normalize being the person that creates the space for another Black man to exhale. To say “I’m not okay” without the fear of judgment, ridicule, or having that vulnerability used against him. That starts with us deciding that the culture of silence ends here — in our friendships, our brotherhoods, our barbershops, our group chats, and our everyday interactions. We need to become the safe harbor we never had.

Seeking help is not a contradiction of who we are — it should be the fullest expression of it. Healing is not a destination you arrive at and unpack your bags. It is an ongoing, premeditated, and at times a very uncomfortable process of confronting the parts of yourself that were shaped by pain, absence, neglect, and environments that never taught you how to feel safely or be seen properly. It requires you to sit with things you were told to suppress, because “No one cares anyway.” To name things that were never given language. To grieve versions of yourself and relationships that didn’t get the benefit of who you’re becoming now. The version of you that shrunk because it kept the peace.

But on the other side of that discomfort is a version of you that leads with clarity instead of ego. That loves without conditions rooted in fear. That communicates without shutting down. That can hold space for others because you’ve learned to hold space for yourself. That is what healing produces — not a perfect man, but a present one. A conscious one. One who understands that the work he does internally ripples outward into every relationship, every room, and every generation that comes after him.

It takes more courage to sit across from a therapist and speak your truth than it does to pretend everything is fine. That is not weakness. That is the most powerful thing a Black man can do — choose himself, his healing, and the people who need him to be, HIM, unapologetically.

WESS RECOMMENDS — 3 LINKS THIS WEEK

SUBSTACK

IAMQUINNEE

This piece was very well written and explained, and I will always support my VSU alumni. Hail State!

SONG

Yussef Dayes — “Chi Ave/A Love Letter to Salvador”

Yussef never misses and this new song does not disappoint.

READ OR WATCH

World Cup 2026

It is going to consume the world for the next few weeks, enjoy it!

“Courage has nothing to do with our determination to be great.
It has to do with what we decide in that moment when we are called upon to be more.”

— WESS

The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former. We are desperately lacking in the latter.

— Malcolm Gladwell

THE OPENING

I realized a lot of things about myself this past week. Confidence is undefeated. Body is aging, gracefully. Wisdom and love live within me. Intentions remain pure. Purpose being defined and manifested in real time. And with all of that said, I am trying to figure out why Jay-Z did not do Encore as the final song on his Roots Picnic setlist…

🏀THE GAME—SPORTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS

Orange and Blue Skies

I am making this week sports section super short, but more of an ode to one of the most loyal, fanatic, fan bases in modern sports. The New York Knicks are on the verge of winning the NBA Championship, with the last one being in 1973. A 53-year drought for one of the most iconic franchises in sports. I am, for one, will be happiest for the legend, Spike Lee and the great, Patrick Ewing.

🎵THE SOUND—MUSIC AS MEMOIR AND MOOD

We Are Surrounded By Cry Babies

This past week, Vince Staples released his first project void of the Def Jam label titled, “Cry Baby.” The album is a masterpiece in expressing the feelings and thoughts of what we are enduring in this current climate called life. For his core fans, this is typical Vince Staples, sonically differentiated production being the platter for riveting, truthful lyrics. I recall seeing people say, “Oh, Vince is doing a rock album.” Well, he has always had rock/alternative elements in his songs since the days of ‘SummerTime ‘06’.

This not intended to be a review of the album. I reverse the right to tell you to please do yourself a favor and listen to the project with an open ear and heart. The lyrics and songs on this new project expound upon the black experience in America and how we are viewed. Also, Vince having the reflection points of certain moments in his life and correlating it to OUR collective thoughts about the safety we lack in this country called the United States of America.

This is one of Vince’s most captivating, and gut-punching bodies of work to date, and I believe this is one project we will look back on with a different appreciation years later.

📡THE DOWNLOAD—TECH THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE

Smart TV Apps Hustlin’ Your Data

Skynet is upon us. Well not entirely , but that sentiment could change depending on who you speak with. I came across an article that explained how A.I. proxies are using the Free Apps preinstalled on our Smart TVs to pass data through. Now that might not be alarming as it sounds — but think of it in this order, how would you feel if your TV provided companies a way to market products or content to you unsolicited? What if your data stored on your TV was being sold to third party companies for research purpose?

Now, just to be clear, that is currently happening today, just look at the device you have in your hand as you read this article or computer you are sitting in front of. We have sold our data more times than we will ever realize, and willingly at that. All under the guise of “Privacy”. This dynamic haunts my community more than any others just because we are one of the — if not the largest consumer of technology, but have the least footprint for decision making. That is another talking point for another time in the near future.

Just a few pointers for to help curb this in the future for the readers: Please make sure you are doing a periodic review of the applications installed on your TV. You can delete them, do not let anyone tell you different; Also, review and carefully accept permission requests from applications and review and read all monetization disclosures presented by free applications. It will save you time, money, and your data.

❤️THE REAL—LOVE, GRIEF, GROWTH, COMMUNITY

Missed Opportunities

This past weekend I received a visit from my old friend, grief. You know some friends, will at least give you a heads up before they arrive. So, you know, you can prepare for them. Grief is stubborn motha fucka. Does what it wants and always shows up uninvited. But weirdly enough, it always happens to be at the right time.

When my father passed, I was fortunate enough to receive his Gold Citizen Eco Drive Watch. Timeless classic piece. I do have an affinity for watches and have for some time now. I have been trying to get that watch fixed for the past 4 years, as it only needs 3 additional links added. The parts from Citizen are on backorder for the foreseeable future, which is disappointing to say the least.

I picked my watch up from the jewelry store I attempted to get it fixed with. I asked the salesperson with a bit of defeat in my voice, “Hey man, do you of anywhere else in this mall I can possibly get this sorted out at?” The clerk gives me a recommendation of a kiosk on the lower level. I make my way down there and to no avail, another strikeout. I make my way down to another jewelry store in which I believe, knowing my father, he would have purchased the watch from there.

I enter the store, and a young lady greets me and asked if I needed help. I was almost hesitating to answer, but I eventually was able to produce the watch that was stored in my pocket and ask if there was any way I get this watched extended here. She goes, “Unfortunately we cannot do anything with that watch.” Already looking at watches while waiting said, “I am going to buy a watch today.” Already knowing what I was looking for, I treated myself to a milestone watch, to celebrate, in my best Taye Diggs voice, “MY DIVORCEEEEE.”

I get home and sit with a little bit of deflation in my sails. The goal was not to buy a new watch, it was to get the one received fixed. To find a way to stay connected to a person who brought me in this world, but was so closed off, I never truly knew. To by chance, hopefully, understand the man, who I called Dad, through all of the actions that I witnessed and remember, to piece the puzzle of this complex individual together.

My little brother called me during the late afternoon. We had a great conversation, and our father came up in the conversation. He made a remark that sat me down but also hit me directly in my heart, “We have so many unanswered questions, and I hate that we will never get that opportunity again.” In real time, I acknowledged that sentiment, but it was not until later that night where is really showed up.

Going through my stuff in my study and trying to downsize, I started going through old birthday and Christmas cards. I opened one card, that looked special, thoughtful even. I read the words and say the signature in the card, and low and behold, it was my Dad’s.

There was no valve that could have stopped the tears from my eyes in that moment, but it brought home a revelation I subconsciously have avoided.

I missed my father. Not his presence, but the ability to correct years of stubbornness, ego, and unspoken love that was never communicated. The watch meant more than just another timepiece to my collection. It was a reminder that not everything in life is meant to be fixed. Some things are meant to exist exactly how they are—not to be worn, but to be cherished for the imperfection they present. To remind you that life is not perfect, but your ability to see the purpose, beauty, and difference in everything shapes who you ultimately become and who you avoid becoming.

That watch sits as a monument to everything unsaid between us. A physical representation of a relationship that had more potential than it ever fully realized. But instead of letting that define the weight I carry; I’ve chosen to let it define the intentionality I move with. The love I make sure to express. The words I refuse to leave unspoken. Because the greatest thing that watch taught me is that I still have time—and I refuse to waste it.

WESS RECOMMENDS — 3 LINKS THIS WEEK

SUBSTACK

The Culture Communiqué

Enjoyed reading this article and also gaining another Jazz lovers’ perspective and understand of genre and its importance to our existence.

SONG(S)

Butcher Brown, Nicholas Payton — “Resolution”

With the album being an Ode to Miles and Coltrane, this song encapsulated both sounds beautifully from two of the best entities in Jazz today.

GIVĒON f/ Leon Thomas — “FOOL ME ONCE”

This song does not need a thought, just a true listen.

READ OR WATCH

Netflix series, “Man On Fire”

The movie is one of my all time favorites, and although the show is different, the essence of the movie is alive well.

Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.

— WESS

“I will not lose, for even in defeat, there's a valuable lesson learned.”

Allure — Jay - Z

THE OPENING

Writing this from Philly this week. Decided to once again embark on the annual Roots Picnic, expecting a different result from last year’s fiasco. A cousin’s trip is sometimes all you need to get your mind back settled and focus locked in. And of course, just a good time hanging with people you love and taking in a set by one of the best rappers to ever do it, Shawn Carter.

We do not know how much longer we will be able to witness our legends perform, so this festival will always be a special memory for me. Reconnecting with family, making new friends, and realizing, I am getting entirely too old for this shit. A recipe for a great, memorable weekend.

My other biggest takeaway from this weekend, is just noticing how much my people love each other, and how much we do not. It was so much consideration for each other. Women taking care of each other from adoration for each others styles, to holding space for each other when exhaustion strikes. To the men who showed respect and acknowledgement in the most subtlest of ways.

What I also noticed was the way we fought each other in lines when just exhibiting a bit more patience was necessary. To men not protecting women when they can visibly see their uneasiness in a large crowd. I think we can do better, and we should do better. These festivals are celebrations and should be treated as such not just for the artist and businesses, but for us as a community.

🏀THE GAME—SPORTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS

Damn, We Can’t Celebrate Each Other Over Dinner?!

Typically, social media outrage is not my thing. I do not engage or condone the nonsense because people want clicks and views. But one thing I hated to see was Naomi Osaka’s name in the trending section. Only because I feel like she has been become the ire of the media and public, for just existing at times.

So, imagine my surprise and fury — when I discovered what she was getting ridiculed for. Taylor Thompson and her, decided to host a dinner party with their fellow black tennis players who are out in Roland Garros for the French Open. Her main intent was to celebrate each other and support each other in an industry that thrives off their divisiveness and in her words, “isolating.”

That fact that she had to explain herself further to the masses is disheartening, because her intentions were pure. I am sure this is not out of the ordinary for tennis stars, but they are probably not as openly documented for the world to see either. But the main point is celebrating your people should never be questioned — whether done out in the open or in the privacy of an intimate setting.

And furthermore, leave women be. Especially the ones like Naomi and Taylor, who are trying to combat narratives the media, internet, and public continue to construct to keep us divided.

🎵THE SOUND—MUSIC AS MEMOIR AND MOOD

Subject To Change

I have been a fan of India Shawn since 2020. First time I heard her was the hit record, “Movin’ On, that featured the incomparable Anderson .Paak on guest verse duty. In a moment of transparency, I did get her confused with Victoria Monet — which if you listen close enough, they do sound eerily similar. As she progressed in the industry, her pen became her secret weapon and allowed her to carve her own lane.

That said weapon is very heavily present on her new EP, “Subject To Change”, that provides a glimpse into what her next full-length LP will sound like. The project navigates a relationship from the highs and lows through a 70s/80s R&B sound that has D-Mile’s fingerprints all over it. With standout records like, “Cotton Candy Blvd”, “Marmalade”, and “Kill Switch” it begs the question, when will her star finally ascend in parallel to her contemporaries like Alex Isley and H.E.R.?

Only time will tell, but if this EP is any indication, I believe it will be very soon.

📡THE DOWNLOAD—TECH THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE

I like my Taxi’s Non-Autonomous

We were supposed to have flying cars by the late 20th Century. I think most innovators have taken that as a personal challenge to get there now that the time frame has passed. But they first must conquer the Autonomous vehicle. So far, they have failed in persuasion of the public that the cars are safe. There are a few instances that prove, it is the way of the future, but we have just as much evidence that we are still a way away from it being the standard.

The Taxi industry has taken several blows over the years with the rise of Uber and Lyft. The taxi industry by some was seen as very predatory from their accountability of wait times, difficulty hailing a cab, and fare discrepancy. Now there seems to be an innovation that is threatening both, the Robotaxi.

Robotaxis are trying to stay but there are more issues than promise. Waymo recently halted operations in several cities as their fleet cannot handle the simple pearls of flooded roads and construction zones. Their presence is conditional on the environment being optimal, but what happens when it cannot adjust and improvise on the fly.

We are a long way away from Robotaxis being a thing of the present — but there will be a lot of drivers who will be without work when their livelihood depended on getting a customer from point A to point B, safely.

❤️THE REAL—LOVE, GRIEF, GROWTH, COMMUNITY

Stop Ignoring Your Heart

I had a very in-depth conversation recently that activated something dormant inside me. My heart has been trying to tell me something. The question is whether I’ve been truly listening or just hearing it.

There’s a difference.

Listening requires you to perch with what you feel long enough to act on it. Hearing is just acknowledging it exists before your mind steps in and starts formulating a case against it. And boy oh boy, is your mind good at that. It will rationalize, negotiate, and talk you out of the very thing your heart has already confirmed.

The same prayer, God answered for you.

That feeling when something is right—when a person enters your space and despite the newness, despite the uncertainty, something in you already knows—that’s not coincidence. That’s not naivety. That’s your heart operating at a frequency your mind has not caught up to yet. Stop penalizing yourself for feeling it.

The same can be said for the thing you’re supposed to be doing. That goal. That passion. That purpose that feels so immense, it almost scares you. The divine doesn’t show up loud. It shows up as a feeling that won’t leave no matter how many times you try to logic your way out of it. That persistent pull is not an accident.

That is God talking to you.

Here’s what I’ve learned about feeling lost: most of the time you’re not actually lost. You know EXACTLY where you need to go. What you’re really doing is resisting the trajectory your heart is pointing because the outside dissonance got too deafening. Other people’s opinions, timelines, and expectations started to cloud what you already knew to be true about yourself. The fear of the unknown starts to roar louder and more intensely.

Feeling disoriented is sometimes just your mind’s refusal to accept what your heart already knows.

Stop letting your mind win the battle and the war.

The heart doesn’t speak often. But when it does, it’s rarely wrong.

Trust it.

WESS RECOMMENDS — 3 LINKS THIS WEEK

SUBSTACK

Tiny News Cafe

Being a creative can feel like an uphill battle even with a ever-changing industry.

SONG

6LACK, AZ Chike & Leon Thomas — “All That Matters”

All that matters is the only one you truly love & care about. Good to have 6LACK back active.

READ OR WATCH

Sky Full of Elephants - Cebo Campbell

My current read and I have enjoyed diving into this literary oasis.

Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week…

— WESS

Do not host or call your festival a jazz festival, without a majority jazz acts on the lineup.

THE OPENING

Holiday weekends feel a lot different when you work in corporate. You look forward to that “free” day off. Memorial Day is usually the first holiday to jumpstart us right into the summertime. Weather permitting, relaxing is always the backdrop for 3 day weekends. Coffee shops have always been a thing I loved to sit and observe the atmosphere, but I have found it to be a place for focus and backdrop for great writing/reading days.

🏀THE GAME—SPORTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS

Racism, Chemistry’s Kryptonite

I remember a time where athletes were advised not to speak on politics — Because they are a brand, not role models. Legends such as Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell, Jesse Owens, spoke out against the injustices that they saw but more so, the ones they endured, publicly and privately. Then once the newer generation of sports stars came along, they made activism apart of their brand, but were still told to, “shut up and dribble.”

Well there is a specific kind of duality they comes with that. When you empower athletes to speak out, you are also opening up a subset of ones who align with a different side, more divisive ideology, to also be breed. Now that side is making it apart of their brand, their stance to be seen as “understanding” on both sides. That is a brand I can never be a part of nor will I ever subscribe to.

Jaxson Dart was the most recent athlete to come out in support of the current POTUS. Going as far as to introduce him at his most recent rally. It started circulating on the internet and his teammate, Abdul Carter, saw it and said, "Thought this s--- was AI, what we doing man?" Boy did I get a laugh at this. Now what is the one thing that can destroy chemistry in a locker room? Knowing your QB supports a larger humanistic ideological belief that does not value your community in which you are from.

Athletes will never say it out loud in the moment, but these situations ruin seasons before they even get started or wipe out all momentum while in the midst of one. Athletes are engrained to believe that the person you are in ‘battle’ with values the same thing that you do, not just on the field, court, or diamond, but in life as well. You can be different but what you cannot refute is the fact episodes like these ring a little bit louder then we are led to believe.

What I am looking forward to most is the lovely photo op with Carter and Dart, with the caption, “That’s my brother; we talked about it as men” — Let this be a lesson to all fans and people alike as well, stop inviting people to a non-existent cookout that was never going to take place.

🎵THE SOUND—MUSIC AS MEMOIR AND MOOD

SMIL - 9ICK

One song — That is all it took for me to what to engage and dive into this album. This was my first foray into a full album of his. I have heard him featured on songs from Soul Food Horns and Søren Søstrom previously. But what I loved about this album was the hip-hop producing element that he provided in the backdrop of a jazz instrumental album.

Instrumental albums do more for me today. It allows me to visually see music and life from the lens of an artist without words, which is what music does. It invokes emotions. It promotes sensitivity. It gages your mood. It provides a glimpse into where you are mentally. A good album to check out if you see fit.

📡THE DOWNLOAD—TECH THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE

Data Centers Are Here To Stay?

This past week, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, during a congressional hearing with the EPA, she shared a sample of the contaminated water from a Georgia area Meta Data Center. This is what sparked a lot of outrage from the masses as some would so, we have another Flint, Michigan on our hands. She was able to secure a study to permit the research into the rising cost of utilities in said communities, health impacts and conditions caused by the power consumption of the data centers, and how this rush is impacting the working class in this country.

I believe there are many people who are opposed to the rush of data centers being built. I also believe the public does not realize the computation power used for A.I. is what is driving this demand. But that is also being used as a front for the real vanity the Big Tech CEOs are pushing for — who can be the “first” to advance society with their specific A.I. platform while also saving the most money eliminating jobs. Now, the Elon Musk and Dario Amodei’s of the world have spoken in favor of a pause of the construction of data centers, but only if other countries also paused development.

Communities across the US are voting and making it known that they are in opposition of the forced altering to their home. Cumberland County, NC recently voted against the development of a data center, which is now in limbo. Prince George County, in Maryland is another recent community that has voted against data center construction.

We do know the history of these stances, but one can hope that they listen before it is too late.

❤️THE REAL—LOVE, GRIEF, GROWTH, COMMUNITY

Trusting Yourself is a Skill

Trusting yourself is a skill. And like any skill, it must be developed, nurtured, and honestly, protected.

It is a skill that many people talk about, but in ways does not know exactly how to teach you. Especially when you are young, your decisions are at times made for you. It lands now when you are old enough to make your own choices and understand the gravity of each. You figure it out the hard way, usually after you’ve ignored your own instincts one too many times and paid the price for it. After you’ve talked yourself out of what you knew to be true because someone else’s opinion carried more weight than your own. After you’ve shrunk yourself to fit spaces and people that were not once designed for you in the first place.

The hard part isn’t learning to trust yourself. The hard part is unlearning the habit of second-guessing every instinct you have. That habit was built over years—by people, by experiences, by systems that benefited from your doubt. It doesn’t disappear overnight.

What I know now is that self-trust isn’t about being right every time. It’s about having the courage to bet on yourself anyway. To move with intention even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. To stop waiting for external validation before you believe what you already feel internally. Self-trust is the belief that you know precisely who you were yesterday, who you are today, and who you want to evolve into tomorrow.

Your intuition has been right more times than you’ve given it credit for. Always start there.

WESS RECOMMENDS — 3 LINKS THIS WEEK

SUBSTACK

VONN

The most recent piece about her concerns for the black community around AI and Finance spoke to some of the same fears I have as well. Very well written.

SONG

Like, Phonte — “Washed Gang”

Some days, I feel washed like a motha fucka….

READ OR WATCH

“all about love” - Bell Hooks

Love is and has always been a verb.

Self-trust is a choice you live into — not a feeling you wait for.

— WESS

“When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching — they are your family.”

THE OPENING

Tough weeks should breed fruitful weekends. That is what I can say that I had this past weekend. From gathering items for the house, to working on a few personal projects, to playing a long overdue round of golf with my good brothas. All in all, everything is working out exactly like it is supposed to. Prayer produces, being present is essential, giving love unconditionally is the standard. Life will send subtle reminders that if you have a faith system, rely on it when times are difficult — when you feel the loss of control slipping through your hands. Faith is not only a foundation, but also a catalyst to better outcomes, better yet, earned blessings.

🏀THE GAME—SPORTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS

World Cup of Capitalism

When the US wants to flex its muscle, often sports it the first option. So, when it was announced that the US was going to host the world cup, I laughed. This must be a joke. That was until the host cities were named, which were not a surprise, but this thought came with a swift declaration from the Owners of the NFL stadiums, that they would be changing their surfaces to premium grass and replacing turf to accommodate FIFA.

At the time a lot of NFL players were quiet on the topic, but this came off the request of some players of increased number of lower leg injuries on artificial turf surfaces. That dispute is now a labor point as if the NFL Owners can make this change for 2 months, to host the World Cup, it can be done to support the players for your organization and league, but capitalism. You roll out the red carpet, or in this instance, the grass carpet for when one of the most financially corrupt organizations wants to get in business with you for their prized possession.

Money will always win out in these situations. The increasing hotel prices during the time frame is outlandish. If I remember correctly Bomani Jones made a great point on his podcast, “Right Time with Bomani Jones”, that people have not considered. The appeal to the World Cup in most of the previous cities was the accessibility to the venue and that public transportation is widely used for these events. The US is used to public transportation, but this will test the magnitude of its validity.

There was will be a large number of other factors that will be considered such as ICE and their policing of immigrants. What does that look like with 48 countries and their citizens embark on the US to watch this event going to feel like. The host countries use this moment every 4 years to display their economic growth. What the world will see from this years’ World Cup, is just how America truly operates, and one must wonder, it will either change or affirm what people already think — maybe it is not as great as it claims to be.

🎵THE SOUND—MUSIC AS MEMOIR AND MOOD

Mumbo Sauce and ACGs

Saturday night drives usually have an album or playlist that accentuates the temperament for the duration. Spotify, with its penny-pinching ass, normally does a great job of curating a rotation of songs that fit the sound you accustomed to. I heard one song, that albeit, one that I probably skipped when I listened to the album, that sounded different but appropriate for the mood.

Wale’s “More Love” came on and the melody and Shawn Stockman’s voice grabbed my attention. Then once I heard Wale introduce his newfound calling card, vulnerability, I shook my head. Not in disappointment in him or the song, but in the fact that I have not given him just due more. But the next thought, really shocked me until I posed it to a few of my friends. Wale’s discography is better than J. Coles’.

We give J. Cole the label of being able to put his feelings on records — while inserting punchlines that deserve a eyebrow raising. But this same energy should be given to Wale as well, because he has been better and more consistent. Both artist first two albums can be considered a tie if we are into the comparison game, but after Forest Hills Drive, we have seen a decline in the ability for Cole to put together a cohesive album. Wale’s ascension could be seen after his, “The Gifted” album.

Pondering on this gave me the thought — a typical one if you read between the lines, Wale gets crucified for embracing his trials, his heritage, when he should be celebrated. J. Cole gets championed for trying to understand his own identity in real time through public acceptance. And both of their catalogs reflect exactly where they are in life and how they see themselves.

📡THE DOWNLOAD—TECH THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE

Less Layoffs, Less AI… More Black Women Employed

Facebook announced more layoffs are happening soon. More than 8,000 employees will know their fate. Which seems like an all too familiar theme for many professionals in today’s time. The reasoning and rationale are baffling but one that has been at the center of every press release, a shift of focus towards A.I. Baffling in the sense, companies still have no clue how A.I. cannot be your foundation, the human element is and will always be.

What is even more alarming is the rate at which black professional, specifically black women’s employment rate has fell by 1.4% since 2025 — the largest in the past 25 years. And I know some personally, who were let apart of the layoff waves that started in 2024, that remains unspoken about. With the termination of many DEI programs, black women have taken the brunt of this dramatic change to their livelihood. What is encouraging is seeing black women pivot in miraculous ways by starting their own firms/businesses that compliments their skills and knowledge. All while also educating and providing the blueprint for others to follow. What is needed now, more than ever, is support and opportunity.

❤️THE REAL—LOVE, GRIEF, GROWTH, COMMUNITY

My Brothers’ Keeper

I had the pleasure of receiving a phone call from my little brother this week. We do not talk as often as either of us would like — we are working on that. But when we do talk, the conversations are never short and always have so much meaning to them. This one was different. The feel of it, the timing, the energy we both put off during the call. I felt my little brother’s lightness, pierce through the phone like a ray of sunshine.

His first words to me were, “I was sitting here, and I said you know, let me call my big brother. I have not talked to him in a while.” That made me smile. He was right. It had been a month or so since our last conversation via phone or text thread. He informed me with an answer to a question that I often thought about calling him to see, but glad he shared it without me prying. It is funny, how two people can go through the same things in life at different ages with difficult circumstances.

The next part of the conversation, admittedly, I was not prepared for, but so glad it occurred. He tells me about a horrific situation at work, that forced him to look into the eyes of his own mortality. It was at that moment he explained is when he rediscovered his faith in God. Very often we must go through things to bring us back home and centered. He says, “Bro it was wild, I closed my eyes, and everything turned white, and I did not know what was going to happen next.” I replied, “God shows up in the most interesting way!”

He explains to me how in every which way he acknowledges God from eye opening in the morning to closure of said eyes at night. His communication is of his own volition. There is no blueprint in how you talk to God, but there is favor is what you speak to him about. This is the part that stuck with me and him during our conversation. I told him about the week that transpired and how much praying for others just seemed to be working recently. Not asking for what I want, but just asking to protect others, to give covariance, grace, and mercy. When people ask me to pray for them or their loved ones, I send it up. And when those prayers went up, the answer came back positively.

He mentioned the scripture he saw on social media that jolted his core and gave him the epiphany he needed. Micah 7:7 - “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” It was one scripture I was not familiar with but learned rather quickly. Before we disconnected, I told him how proud of him that I was for his resilience but also his heart. How his lightness, can be seen and felt, without his mere physical presence.

We always end our calls telling the other that we love them. But the most important piece that I will take away was a valuable lesson my little brother reframed for me, Thank God for Everything.

WESS RECOMMENDS — 3 LINKS THIS WEEK

SUBSTACK

Black Music and Black Muses

Her most recent piece “The tragic mulattos of singing/ rap” is great and worth a read.

SONG

Like, Phonte, Terrace Martin — “Partywitcha”

Like’s nasally voice blended with Phonte’s superior bars and a Terrace Martin Sax in the background is a recipe for a brillant record.

READ OR WATCH

‘The Boys’ Final Season

A wild ride for the past few years as one of Amazon’s best TV series comes to an end.

I am and will always be, my brothers keeper…

— WESS

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them”

— Maya Angelou

THE OPENING

Insurmountable — is the word sits in my chest as I write this newsletter, looking to keep the theme prevalent throughout. Coming to you this week from my childhood home, it feels appropriate to frame this under the code of transparency. Coming home feels daunting until I am present in its air. There are great, loving highlights blended in with rare, but frequent occasions of despair. As I age, my understanding of these emotions are lucid and my respect for them multiply.

🏀THE GAME—SPORTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS

Personality is Currency in Sports Media

With 24 hour news cycles in sports, there will never be a dull moment. One story that has transpired recently for far too long was Draymond Green’s comments towards Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA Tip Off show this week. Draymond uttered, “the goal is to not look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform, ” as a response to Charles’s comments towards his Warriors team having "‘older’ stars. The irony here is what Charles exclaimed was true, what Draymond said was not true in its entirety.

The last two seasons in Houston, Barkley was often injured and his body was starting to fail. He literally rehabbed the entire final season to play his very last game and go out on his own terms after rupturing his quadriceps tendon. As someone who is older than Draymond, I remember those Houston years. Were they great — compared to the days in Phoenix, absolutely not. But were they better than any of Draymond’s best years in the league? By a country mile. Recently, Charles went on to say that he would not trade his career for Draymond, and I believe a lot of people would say the same. What bothers me is the lack thereof for Charles Barkley and his playing career. It feels like a footnote for now what we all know Barkley to be, a larger than life media personality. Sir Charles has gotten away with a lot of ludicrous commentary — demonstrative to say the least, but his claim to fame is being glaringly adamant against being a role model.

That type of transparency can buy you social equity most relinquish willingly. Draymond is very honest and transparent with his rhetoric however, he tends to use it at the expense of others or to validate his own skills. Most people do not want to HEAR that. Draymond has since apologized to Charles on his podcast. Draymond hopefully learned a valuable lesson here, no matter how successful you are, if you are going to relish in the media space, it is perfectly fine to give some love and appreciation mixed in with the truth, because the public will turn it in to hate — quickly.

🎵THE SOUND—MUSIC AS MEMOIR AND MOOD

Why Lawd?!?

For some reason this album has been in my eardrums for the past couple of years now. I have songs that I go back to and listen for on occasions. Music can at times, for the most part, reflect your mood and mindset. An appropriate album for where I am mentally. In a state of gratitude and reflection. Songs such as ‘MoveOn’ and ‘Thank You’ can put a lot of emotions and thoughts into perspective. Just acknowledging the time space, you were once in and how you felt in at the present time.

‘Battlefield’ albeit a personal reflection from Paak, can allow you to sit with everything that you witnessed growing up and how you become what you saw, to only as you age now have the wherewithal to choose wisely. Will I be the victim of circumstances or will I choose the correct side to align with? Regret forces you to reevaluate how you moved and should outline a new direction, should the path is to be followed. A song like ‘HereIAm’ navigates this beautifully with the underlying theme of redemption. A certain level of appreciation is earned from Knxwledge and Anderson Paak with this album.

📡THE DOWNLOAD—TECH THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE

Google’s Race to #1 in A.I.

The Alphabet company, Google, has been in the news for their progressions in with realm of A.I. With news coming out that they struck a deal with Anthropic who will invest more than $200 Billion dollars into their cloud services while also overseeing chip development is significant. Also, with reported news that the Google Threat Intelligence Group released their latest threat tracker, which just so happened to document how they were able to stop an A.I.-generated zero-day attack that was not derived from stolen password, but more so an attack on a vulnerability, should alarm Cyber professionals everywhere.

A.I. is not going anywhere and it sucks that the mass unemployment rate is due in part, not entirely, to companies wanting to utilize a technology they have no knowledge of. Google has had several issues with their security being exploited in the past, so my cynicism here is warranted. If — and I do mean IF, Google has made strides of detecting intrusions generated from A.I., this is a huge victory, but it also means we are in for an even wilder next few years.

❤️THE REAL—LOVE, GRIEF, GROWTH, COMMUNITY

Innocence in Admiration

There is something to be said when you admire someone. Admiration can be seen. The feeling can also leave a person in shock, but also bashful to the point of blushing Admiration is beautiful when done properly. That is what I witnessed innocently watching the Daily Show clip from Josh Johnson and Ali Siddiq this past week. Josh Johnson is a very mellow character with a distinct voice. What I noticed when he was interviewing Ali, was a tone in which I have all embraced many times before. Sitting down with someone that you admire when you have the time and opportunity and admiring them through information. He started off by telling Siddiq he admired him and thanked him for being an inspiration.

Seeing that from one black to another is not as far-fetched as society would like to think. Even with that said, it is something I inherently believe needs to occur more often. Just in general. Our time here on earth is has a limitation, one that is undefined to all. Time should be spent admiring the people that make us who we are, people who carry themselves in a manner that looks alluring but attainable. Having a purity within your truth telling is entrancing.

When the chance arises now, I get I tell the people that I love and care about that I admire them. Not to gain anything but the feeling of them knowing I how I feel about them. It was something that I took for granted earlier in life, thinking if I had time as a younger person, so did my elders. Truth is, they do not. And even more truthful, you do not either. So we endure this tumultuous period of time we are in, right now feels like an appropriate juncture to express your admiration to those who you marvel at their talents, in awe of their aura, and laud their heart from which they maneuver.

WESS RECOMMENDS — 3 LINKS THIS WEEK

SUBSTACK

the Undoing

Going through my saved articles, I was finally able to dig into this one and it hit home on a variety of different levels.

SONG

NxWorries — “MoveOn”

The song fits where I am in life presently, perseverance, appreciation, and transformation.

READ OR WATCH

Imani Thompson - “Honey”

Her book was released last Tuesday and I have heard amazing reviews about. Definitely looking forward to diving into this book.

Hate is just masking unaccepted love & admiration.

— WESS

E'rywhere I go, I'm good 'cause I know the codes, huh
I open up my soul and then it opened doors - JID

THE OPENING

Familiarity — this is one thing I want to bring into this new week. After spending some much needed time with myself, it provided me with a sense of purpose and revitalization to carry into the coming weeks. The older I get, moments like these become increasing vital, but difficult to find as life tends to pull us in several different directions. Life will move you at a rapid pace, but it is super important to slow down when you feel yourself losing control. Because if you do not, life will have a way of forcing you to slow down.

🏀THE GAME—SPORTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS

I use to REALLY love this game…

The NBA playoffs are getting into high gear as the second round approaches this week. This time of year was always my favorite growing up as a kid. The NBA playoffs, the NFL Draft, and the NHL Playoffs all being on within one weekend, gave the sports fanatic in me growing up a overload of sports greatness. The NFL Draft was my way to build my chops in team building that Madden could not do after several years in Franchise Mode and that I actually aspired to. The NHL playoffs were always fun to watch but it never kept my attention.

The NBA Playoffs in the 90s were a time because of the greatness of Michael Jeffrey Jordan. Of course other stars such as Charles Barkley, Penny Hardaway, and Reggie Miller. I do not know if there will ever be a moment for me that lives longer in lore for me than seeing Michael Jordan play in his last NBA Finals and leaving on top, only for him to come back and take up roster space in Washington. I grew up marveling at the chance to see Jordan win, to being a teenager and rooting against the Lakers and their dynamic duo of Shaq and Kobe. To then, as a young adult, praying that the prodigal son of Akron, LeBron James, would be the new saving grace of the league only for his failures to exploited for media coverage and consumption more than his successes.

As I watch these NBA playoffs, I find myself back in the same frame of mind when we were coming up on the end of the era of MJ, only to see that his successor was already in the league and on the accession. Today, I look and notice, LeBron has no successor and that I believe will be the beginning of the end. Victor Wembanyama is the future face of the league. His talent and stature is just to hard and lucrative to ignore. It is in fact so impactful, that the league has proposed new rules to evolve their Draft lottery system, which we will see if it “actually” benefits the smaller market teams to stay competitive. The addition of two franchises (Restoring the franchise in the Seattle Sonics and a new one in Las Vegas) that seems long overdue now is more growth for the league, but curious if it will catapult the league into a better media rights deal in another 10 years. LeBron’s longevity has done something that the NBA felt like they had figured out, we will never have another star like Lebron, so lets get 10-20 guys that are talented to mold the league around. It never translated, and Wemby is probably going to be that guy in the next two years, but I truly feel like the NBA will not be the same once, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James era, comes to a close. Greatness is hard to replace and lighting only strikes in a bottle twice, if you are lucky.

🎵THE SOUND—MUSIC AS MEMOIR AND MOOD

Perfect Your Formula

Record Store Day 2026 presented me with an opportunity to explore music in a completely different way. This is the first one I can remember I actively participated in. Within my crate diggin’ that day, I happened to stumble across a infamous (to me) body of work that was being released for the first time on vinyl, Big Sean’s “Detroit” mixtape. Now why I call it infamous, I have been known to have wild music takes and this project is no exception. I notoriously have said this is not a classic, to disbelief of some of my brothers.

Picking this album up for one of my brothers, had me revisit it with a different ear. What I discovered was my ears are still great, because this mixtape still falls short, with the exception of two songs, “Higher” and “More Thoughts.” I noticed there was a common denominator in both tracks, Key Wane produced both of them. Baffled by hearing the difference in the lyrical aggression and flow from Sean, I really pondered why we have not gotten a full project with just the two of them locking into a studio until magic happens.

As a fan of hip-hop, there are often times we were given glimpses into greatness from a rapper/producer duo that just made sense. Chemistry is hard to come by in general, let alone within the musical realm. Once the synergy has been established, it should be fostered, but at times, life happens or fear takes over. It was a great point to reflect over after reviewing NxWorries “Yes Lawd” and walking away with the census that Knxwledge and Anderson .Paak have a perfect connection that anyone can argue might be one of the best we have heard in music. The hope is before Sean decides to walk away from Rap altogether, Key Wane and Sean can lock in the studio and architect their magnetism into an LP.

📡THE DOWNLOAD—TECH THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE

GameStop makes a bid to purchase eBay

Now this headline shocked the hell out of me. The once beloved GameStop company who had gamers and nerds alike a place to go and was the stake out grounds for many midnight releases for popular gaming titles. They were the one stop shop for all things gaming and allowing gamers to trade in their games and Playstations and Xbox for upgrades or store credits with the hopes to use it to enhance their gaming arsenal with the latest games and consoles. That feels so far away now as the reality after console makers started to produce digital editions and also started to go direct-to-console downloading, it presented the option of life without physical media, which is one of the prominent business strategies of GameStop.

Now their way to combat that, while also expanding their footprint is to purchase a much larger company, eBay ($46BN in market share), to help revitalize the companies promise. GameStop’s CEO, Ryan Cohen, has huge plans to turn eBay into a true Amazon competitor, which I am not at all opposed to. eBay has been a staple in the resell market for a long time but I am very curious to know how GameStop and its CEO plan to turn eBay into an Amazon competitor without the relationships with big box brands. Or will the marketplace solely tied to independent entities be the new innovative way they accomplish that. So many question to be answered, but the bid sounds lofty and from the looks of it could become hostile, so this is a story I will be keeping my eyes on as time goes on.

❤️THE REAL—LOVE, GRIEF, GROWTH, COMMUNITY

Understanding

There is a particular kind of loneliness that shows up in the middle of connection. Not isolation. That other kind. The kind that settles into a conversation with someone you love and makes you realize halfway through that you are both speaking different languages. I have felt versions of that loneliness. Most people I know have.

What changed wasn’t the people. It was me. Time has a way of showing you who you’ve been performing for and why. Life events—loss, relocation, heartbreak, the kind of failure that makes you question everything—have a way of stripping that performance down to nothing. You start to see the shapes you bent yourself into. The silence you kept. The version of yourself you offered because you thought it was the only one worth keeping around.

The emotional overhead of being loved conditionally doesn’t show up on anyone’s balance sheet. But it shows up in your chest. In the way you hold your breath before you tell someone what you actually need and require. The people who love you will adapt. The people who love the idea of you will resist. And that resistance will tell you everything you need to know. Love is not a feeling you fall into and coast on. It is a decision you remake every day. To see someone clearly and choose them anyway. To let them see you. To stop performing and start trusting.

But first, you have to choose yourself. To see yourself clearly—not who you were, not who you’re supposed to be, but who you are right now. The version of yourself that you barely recognize when you glance into the mirror. When you decide that version is worth protecting, you stand firm in it. The distance between knowing someone and understanding them is the work. The distance between who you were and who you’re becoming is the same work, just pointed inward. When you finally close that gap, everything else starts to make sense.

WESS RECOMMENDS — 3 LINKS THIS WEEK

SUBSTACK

Active Listening

I finally had a chance to review my saved articles and thoroughly enjoyed this one in relation to one of my favorite rappers, Busta Rhymes. Read it for yourself.

SONG

The Yussef Dayes Experience — “Mountain Steppa”

The song feels like a climb up Mount Monadnock, but the live visuals, give off a sunset drive off the Malibu Coast.

READ OR WATCH

Daredevil: Born Again

One series that Marvel has gotten correct since it’s inception on Netflix and now on Disney+.

In a world full of Klay Thompsons’, be a Grant Hill….

— WESS

Only go in depth with individuals that live and breathe depth…

Procrastination is the thief of time. I just happen to be the criminal robbing myself blind. With that being said, I decided, with some help from a special someone to revamp this newsletter with a different format and release date. Mondays will be the backdrop for these going forward and my thoughts and opinions on set topics will be easily digestible with clever wordplay. Do yourself a favor and enjoy the ride.

🏀THE GAME—SPORTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS

Different Rules for Different People

It never fails around NFL Draft season, that a story or stories come to light that brings a level of drama not even a soap opera can script. A few weeks ago, there was a report of NFL reporter from the Athletic, Dianna Russini and New England Patriots Head Coach, Mike Vrabel, photographed together. The report was tied to rumors of NFL trade talks between the Eagles and the Patriots that felt like gamesmanship. The jokes flew and during that, people dug up very old tweets and clips of Russini to paint her as a bad spouse for joking on her husband. The internet never fails to miss an opportunity to tell you I told you so or provide proof for their own theories to be proven true.

I hate to be that guy but forgive me if the first thought that came to mind was, she is catching a lot of heat for a two-sided situationship. Vrabel caught and is still void of any heat of reprimand from his organization nor the league. It is laughable but he claimed he had tough “conversations” but decided that he will be available for the NFL draft on night 1 but will seek counseling1 during the weekend, LOL. But Dianna had to resign from her position at The Athletic and has essentially lost her trust and credibility for which will take a lot of work to rectify.

And the second point—the one that really matters—is this: if Jemele Hill, Cari Champion, Kristina Pink, or Taylor Rooks had been in the same compromising situation, it would've been chaos. Social media would've erupted; news cycles would've spiraled for days. Black women don't get the benefit of the doubt, especially in circumstances such as this one. No matter how credentialed, how excellent, how undeniable they are at what they do, they'd carry a burden they'd never fully shake. That's the difference. That's the double standard that never gets talked about enough. Now with newer reports surfacing of more revealing photos, my hope is that accountability can now be placed on both parties.

🎵THE SOUND—MUSIC AS MEMOIR AND MOOD

Butcher Brown’s Premium Select Cuts

One of my current favorite things to partake in is watching live jazz performances on YouTube. I stumbled across Butcher Brown’s “Select Cuts” videos and feel into a trance of rumination. “Ibiza” and “Hold You” f. Mia Gladstone have been the muse for my current frame of mind. Marcus Tenney’s playing of the saxophone painted delicate yellow brick road of sorts that guided me back to a place of familiarity from a dark fog. I gathered more inspiration from these select videos then actually listening to the music, which I have done ad nauseam. There's an intimacy in how these videos were directed and shot that elevates the music to another plane. The visual beauty doesn't just complement each song—it transforms it, pulls out layers you might've missed. Hopefully you grasp what I saw.

📡THE DOWNLOAD—TECH THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE

Tim Cook stepping down as Apple’s CEO

Leaving so soon? For some that is a viable question to ask Tim Cook, who has anchored the helm of CEO since Steve Jobs untimely passing in 2011. Tim has taken a lot of flak for the evolution or lack thereof in comparison to Jobs’ innovative successes. I believe that he led Apple into a great position with the shoes he had to fill, and he has the first $1 Trillion dollar company milestone to boot. His accomplishments include: introducing wearable tech like AirPods and the Apple Watch, investments made in diversity and inclusion initiatives, blossoming their services segment (Apple Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud) into a $100 billion dollar revenue stream, and we also saw the transition from Intel chips to Apple developing their own processors, Apple Silicon, which companies are currently trying to replicate for their ecosystem. Tim Cook has had more triumphs than tribulations, and that should be appreciated. The biggest question for Apple now will be how the next successor is, John Ternus, going to pilot Apple further into the 21st century.

❤️THE REAL—LOVE, GRIEF, GROWTH, COMMUNITY

It’s Okay to Say I Love You, Black Men

I had the liberty of hosting my parents recently in my new place. They, as any set of parents would, came to check up on me after my divorce has been settled for some time. My stepfather was the one who was urging my mom to make this trip, but of course a mother is never going to pass on the opportunity to see her only son. The weekend was good as I was able to show them around newer developments in the area. Also got a chance to relish in some of my personal favorite restaurants so they can rave to their friends when they are back home.

A few things happened on the day they were leaving that forced me to reflect deeper than I have in recent memory. I overheard my stepfather tell my mom, “Yeah, we should come back in a couple of weeks and just drop in.” In my mind I am like, hold on now, you might want to ask first, I am shaking and moving these days, Ha! But the thought of him saying that shocked me, not because the gesture was not moving, but the fact that I had never encountered that side of him before at that level. They left and shortly after they got home, he texted me, which the words of wisdom/lecturing I have heard from him before. I responded in kind like I normally do to assure him, everything is fine, and the work is being done. His response is the one that shocked me, because it was a first. The first time he ever said I love you. Now to know my stepfather is to know he is not a man of many words of affection. A man’s man with bravado that is intolerant to the younger generations’ way of life.

As black men, we do not say I love you enough to the men that matter most to us. Our elder’s focus was always on providing for others and never for themselves. I know my grandfathers both counted on one hand, how many times their fathers told them I love you. I was grateful enough to know they expressed that through actions, but also with their words. What I do not want us as black men to do, is continuing to push through, without expressing the love we have for others, but also being avoidance of receiving it as well. I know my stepfather will not change who he is, but he has no clue, just how much that small gesture goes to evolving our relationship, but also for him healing those parts of him that yearn for appreciation that he will not acknowledge aloud.

WESS RECOMMENDS — 3 LINKS THIS WEEK

SUBSTACK

Tender & Trying2

Heather has a way of contextually evoking emotion, feeling, and reflection with her riveting articles. With each read, I unlock a new ratiocination to operate within.

SONG

Destin Conrad — “LALALALA”

For Destin to be able to transition from R&B to Jazz is amazing, but the fact he makes it seem effortless speaks immensely to his unrivaled talent. Check out the visual here.

READ OR WATCH

Human To Human Vol 1.1 Jill Scott x Tyler, The Creator

If you love introspection, music, and showing admiration to someone you hold in high regard, you will want to indulge in this conversation.

If you do not remember anything else this week, remember you are in control of your own happiness. Until next time…

— WESS

Recent Events & Reflections

I have to start this edition of my newsletter with an apology of sorts. It has been a little over a month since my last one, not because I did not want to write, but because well life. Life has a way of making you prioritize your well-being and trials before all else. Grief struck me like a 99 MPH fastball from the pitcher’s mound right in the rib cage. Dealing with the death of my old self as I close out a chapter of my life that I did not think would be ending, but knew it was time to finish it. Divorce is difficult but it can also be freeing. You not only lose the old version of you that harbors the guilt and responsibility of the marriage ending, you lose the version of you that you grew incoherently comfortable presenting to the world. You worry about entrusting yourself enough the second time around to choose better, choose who truly aligns with the man you are becoming and essentially evol…

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Reflections

This newsletter is going to be a chance for me to highlight some post and works that I have thoroughly enjoyed for the past week and some change.

Tickwanya's Substack

Reclaiming the Screen: The Political and Emotional Liberation of the Black Rom-Com 🎥🤎✨

Heyyyy cousins!!! 👋🏾 ✨…

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5 months ago · 3 likes · 3 comments · she is art.

Be Difficult, Darling

When life becomes incompatible with life

The sky looked burdened. As if I could blow soot from a cloud. A January morning set to greyscale, where people walking past stared down into uneven pavement slabs, as if the asphalt were an oracle. I felt something walk by, just to the side of me. It was around knee-height, so I assumed it was a dog. After all, I live in a part of London where banners …

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5 months ago · 46 likes · 16 comments · Giselle La Pompe-Moore

SNOBHOP

The Legend of J. Cole

9 million records. 6 albums. 2 Generations. 1 emcee…

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5 months ago · 23 likes · 3 comments · John Wright

ALLDRESSEDUPP

We talking bout authenticity?

There’s nothing more important than being yourself. It sounds like a lesson you teach children but let me cook. Authenticity can open doors you never thought existed, create bonds that’ll last a lifetime, and showcase your finest traits on the big screen. We often shield or shrink ourselves in the presence of larger-than-life figures or important organi…

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5 months ago · 10 likes · 2 comments · B4

TENTH

So...When Did You Fall In Love With Vinyl?

When I think about the ending to a perfect day, I immediately drift into visions of a hot shower, good food, and either dropping the needle on something smooth or sinking into my couch with one of my comfort movies. A comfort movie, for me, is one I could recite from front to back but choose not to– something that makes me laugh, doesn’t carry any traum…

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5 months ago · 6 likes · 3 comments · Ebanē Marquice and she is art.

Notes from Erin

last, current, next reads with bookwild

Hi friends …

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5 months ago · 3 likes · Erin Ashley

Sounds & Vision

I felt compelled by the brilliant musical minds of & in their collaborative post the for Music Directory and their submissions for Playlist for Love. I took that on as a challenge, that was graciously accepted.

The Music Directory

The Medley 009

Dear music friends…

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5 months ago · 27 likes · 4 comments · The Music Directory, Shanté, and Nielly

I have two playlist that I wanted to challenge myself to make surrounding love. A decent number of the songs on the list are my personal favorites, but also I wanted to try to paint a story through music for both sides of the coin we call LOVE. Enjoy the playlist and I challenge you to submit your songs/playlist to The Music Directory responding to the prompts they provided for the month of February.

When Cupids Arrow Hits

When Cupids Arrow Misses

Thanks for reading the latest installment of Mike’s Manifesto! Any and all feedback is welcomed and necessary, but don’t be surprised if I do not listen to it!

See you in two weeks with more thoughts, sounds, and discoveries.

— Mike

Recent Events & Reflections

I had a little bit of juice coming into this week knowing I had my newsletter this week, but also, I at long last get to talk about sports in multiple entries. One of the few topics that has escaped me since creating this publication, for which it was intended on covering. This week’s Manifesto is going to start off answer a question that was posed on Substack by the great and wonderful, . She asked when did the Gap Band’s “Outstanding” become the ‘washed’ NBA player anthem. I’ll be honest, this hurt to read out loud because, for one, it’s a favorite Gap Band record for me. Secondly, this trend has been going on since late 2024 and I am just now hearing/seeing this. Wild!

It turns out the original creator of the meme is wxrdia, on Twitter (I will never refer to that weak ass platform as X), in September 2024. The video came out of nowhere and it seems to piece together some of Kevin Garnett’s b…

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Recent Events & Reflections

Well this is a first, a first of many new things for me and this publication. I wanted to do something different for a change. We will see where this takes us and I honestly hope that you all join in with me as I take this to heights I have not even thought imaginable. Just like clockwork, the start of a new calendar year always brings this strange mixture of optimism and existential dread. Sometimes it can also present a rebirth or redirection. Everyone’s talking about resolutions, but I’ve been thinking more about what it means to actually show up intentionally consistent rather than making grand pronouncements about change.

Last week, New York swore in its new Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, which people rejoiced and celebrated the milestone as the first Muslim Mayor for the city. As I scrolled on social media, I encountered a lot of elation. Most of it was warranted, but the trend I noticed was that it was being championed by people…

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