Mike’s Manifesto .008
THOUGHTS ON SPORTS, MUSIC, TECH, AND THE LIFE IN BETWEEN - Captain’s Log .008
“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
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