Dear Mama-- A Reflective Piece

 

I just had the opportunity to watch an amazing docuseries about the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur and Afeni Shakur—Tupac’s mother titled Dear Mama.  Dear Mama was directed by Allen Hughes who also directed the cult classic film, Menace II Society (Tupac was originally supposed to play the character Shariff).  I love documentaries, docuseries, biographies and the like about musicians.  That said, I have watched many interviews, documentaries, movies, etc. regarding the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur.  One thing I learned from watching Dear Mama is that you cannot speak of Tupac’s legacy without first speaking about his mother, Afeni Shakur.  Their lives are inextricably tied together.  Dear Mama did an amazing job crystalizing this relationship—the good and the bad elements.

 

I do not want to spoil the surprise for you if you have not watched Dear Mama.  But, after sitting through over five hours of interviews, footage from shows, and the like, I have had time to think about my key takeaways from Dear Mama.  Because Tupac and Afeni lived incredible, yet troubled lives, there was much to cover.  But for the sake of brevity, I narrowed my takeaways to five (but this could have easily been ten). 

 

1.      Tupac was very young when he passed away.

 

When you think about what Tupac accomplished, it is difficult to fully appreciate that he did it all by the time he was only 25 years old.  When you really dive into the details a bit more, Tupac did not come onto the national scene in a meaningful way until he was about 20 years old.  That means that his music (excluding posthumous releases, which is a massive body of work) happened during this abbreviated period. Tupac’s studio albums include 2pacalypse Now, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z, Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me.   Tupac was also a movie star during this window.  His filmography includes classics such as Juice, Poetic Justice, Above the Rim (my all-time favorite Tupac film) and several other movies. The legal trouble that fell upon him essentially happened during this brief period.

 

Tupac was truly a special talent.  And, from interviews and other information I have read/seen over the years, it is clear Tupac knew his time on this earth was limited.  And, this realization seemed to drive him to create like there was no tomorrow. To put this into perspective, ask yourself what legacy you had established at the age of 25.  Or just think about what you were doing when you were 25.  Were you operating in your passion?  Were you making a difference in the space you occupied?  If the answer to these questions is no, I do not believe you are in the minority.  Most of us start to find alignment and purpose later in life. Tupac was just different and special.  He was much more than a rapper.

 

2.     The Apple does not fall too far from the tree.

 

From Dear Mama, you will also learn about Afeni’s experiences with the Black Panther Party.  You will learn that she was pregnant with Tupac while she was on trial along with the “Panther 21.”  She was a revolutionary leader.  She was a freedom fighter.  She was an intellectual titan. And when you learn about her history, it is easy to understand why Tupac was so militant, outspoken and, in many respects, controversial. 

 

As stated earlier, Afeni was on trial for her life.  And, while she did not have the financial resources to retain legal counsel, she took her fate into her own hands.  She appeared pro se (meaning she did not have an attorney) at her criminal trial where she was facing many years in prison should she have been convicted. Afeni successfully represented her own interests at trial. At the end of the trial, the jury found her not guilty and within a month or so, Tupac Shakur was born.  So, Tupac was forged in the bowels of an earthly Hell.

 

Tupac had multiple high profile run-ins with law enforcement.  He was involved in a shooting of what turned out to be two off duty officers in GA.  However, he was acquitted in that case.  Then, a few years later, he was involved in a lawsuit he filed against police officers in Oakland, CA who brutally beat him after he was cited for jaywalking.  Then, while Tupac was working on the film, Above the Rim, he was accused of raping a woman (a charge he denied until his death).  Ultimately, he was not convicted of rape, but he was convicted of a lesser charge.  But the part that really stood out to me was his speech to the judge.  His speech was very similar to his mother’s speech during her closing argument of her criminal trial in 1971.  You will have to watch the documentary to hear the speeches, but it is uncanny to have two individuals display such courage in the face of utter doom with the same matter-of-fact approach.   

 

3.     Activism was in Tupac and Afeni’s Gene Pool.

 

Tupac’s mother was an active member of the Black Panther Party.  Afeni was a trailblazer because she was not just a member, but she occupied a leadership role in the BPP.  That is quite a feat for a woman during the tumultuous 1960s. That she held a leadership role is a testament to the respect she garnered from an organization primarily led by men.  Afeni fought for equal rights for Black people; she helped with the BPP’s Free Food Program, as well as many other acts of activism. 

 

And, not only did Afeni live this life, but she taught Tupac to be an activist.  She taught him to always speak up and never to let himself be censored.  From my perspective, this character trait was the source of his strength, as well as the cause of many of his problems.  The duality of life is like that I suppose.  The very thing that makes us strong can also be the thing that brings us down.  It is very ironic, indeed.

 

Although Tupac’s biological father was not involved in his life, he was connected to other strong male figures through the BPP.  These men were activists and revolutionaries.  Sadly and unjustly, many of these men ended up dead or locked up in the penitentiary.  But, when you think about these men, you see why Tupac was militant and why he refused to “bend the knee” to people and particularly when he knew he was right.  He was not built to be weak or to be pushed around.  I truly believe this is because of his gene pool.  His people were warriors—literally.

 

4.     A Passion for Life.

 

Afeni was passionate.  In Dear Mama, when they played videos of Afeni during her trial, you saw her passion on full display.  When she talked about Tupac and her love for him, her passion was on full display. When she talked about Tupac’s legacy and how she wanted to further advance it, you could hear the passion in her voice and you could see it in her eyes.  People who have powerful voices and who speak with passion are often misunderstood.  And, to be clear, they are feared, which makes them subjects of attacks as well.  I believe Afeni experienced both.

 

Tupac was passionate.  Tupac was passionate about his music.  He was passionate about his movies.  He was passionate about protecting Black people.  He was passionate about rebuilding the Black community.  There are several videos in Dear Mama showing Tupac at a very young age speaking with zeal about many of the issues that were on his mind.  And from the videos, you could tell that his remarks were not rehearsed.  It appeared that he spoke, almost in a stream of consciousness, about issues that were on his mind.  And although his use of profanity may have been off putting to some, I chose to focus on what he was saying and why he was saying it.  And when you listen, you will see that he was passionate.  Also, in retrospect, Tupac was barely 20 years old while delivering those speeches, so he was probably equally as immature as he was passionate.  Again, the duality of life on full display.

 

5.     The Mind Never Rests.

 

Through Tupac’s 25 years of life, it seems he never rested.  From his unearthly work ethic to legal issues, and several attempts on his life, Tupac did not find peace on this earth.  When you think about it in those terms, although he lived a life where he blessed the world with his talents, I feel that he was probably incredibly unhappy (at least at times) and stressed.

 

And, when you listen to other people who loved Tupac and who were around him, it is pretty clear that they held similar views.  In fact, Shock G from the group Digital Underground and the person who gave Tupac his first opportunity to rhyme on a big song, said that he believed that Tupac found peace and rest when he died.  Also, when you listen to Afeni and understand the life that she lived, it is also clear that she did not have much peace on this earth.  I am happy to know that they both are finally able to rest. 

 

 

I could write more about Dear Mama, but I will stop here.  I happen to think that Dear Mama is the best documentary I have seen.  In every facet, from the rare interviews of Tupac and Afeni to the perspective of Afeni’s big sister (and Tupac’s aunt), to Shock G’s perspective, the documentary is amazing.  If you are a Tupac or Afeni fan, without a doubt, this documentary will make you an even bigger fan. 

 

The documentary is exclusively airing on HULU.  Go support!

 

Peace

Nine Years Later: Preparing for the Bar Examination

 

Over the years, friends, family members and law students have asked me about my experience preparing for the North Carolina Bar Examination (“Bar Exam”).  Since today – August 25, 2020 – marks nine years to the day that I learned I passed the Bar Exam, I thought this was a good time to provide a high-level view of my bar preparation journey.  

Passing the Bar Exam was truly a culmination of my dreams.  But, in order to truly appreciate the triumph, it is important to understand that “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”  There was more than enough struggle to last a lifetime in that summer.

 

I remember summer 2011 like it was yesterday.  I thought about all of the events I would miss because I would be devoting my entire summer to preparing for the Bar Exam.  My fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, was celebrating 100 years of existence.  I knew I would not be able to attend the celebration. I knew my friends would be enjoying the summer by going to pool parties, day parties and generally doing whatever they wanted to do.  I knew I would be unable to do so.  There was so much work to be done and the stakes were incredibly high.  I was blessed to receive an offer of employment prior to graduating from law school from a Raleigh law firm.  But my offer was contingent upon me successfully passing the Bar Exam in July 2011.  And although firm leadership made it clear that you could take the test again in February should you not pass, I knew that I did not want to have that stress on my back.  I knew that I had to pass on my first attempt.  I was prepared to give everything I had inside of me to accomplish this goal.

 

So, what is the Bar Exam?  It is an entrance examination administered by states to students who have graduated with a law degree.  It tests most of the subjects learned (or should have learned) during law school.  The Bar Exam is offered two times per year – in July and February.  The July examination has historically been administered on the last Tuesday and Wednesday in July.  In North Carolina, it was a two-day examination with 12 essays and 200 multiple choice questions.  Overall, the exam lasted for 12-hours over the two-day period.  It is a beast of an examination.

 

What is bar preparation?  It is exactly what it sounds like.  It is the period of time you spend studying to take the Bar Exam.   Law schools typically advise students to enroll in a formal bar preparation course.  But, as with most services, it comes with a pretty hefty price tag.  Luckily for me, the firm who made a contingent offer of employment to me was invested in my success.  So, they paid for my bar preparation course, which cost a few thousand dollars.  But for the firm paying for the course, I would have either had to borrow the money from friends/family, apply for loans, or not enroll in the class at all.  Of course, some students studied independently without taking a formal class. Some students willingly chose this option, while others were forced to do so because they did not have the funds to pay for the preparation course.

 

The bar preparation class started the Monday after I graduated in mid-May 2011.  The class was prerecorded, so you reported to a classroom in the law school to watch a three-hour video on a legal topic such as Torts or Criminal Law.  The preparation class provided each student with an outline for each subject to be covered, which you could fill in as you watched the lectures.  At the end of each session, the goal was to have a nice condensed outline of the subject you studied that day. Some of the topics we covered were: Criminal law, Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, Evidence, Torts, Contracts, Business Associations, Property, Real Estate Finance and a host of others.  I want to say there were about 25 topics that could potentially be tested.

 

After the first couple of days of class, I knew I needed to maximize my time.  So, I developed a strict study schedule.  I arrived at the law school at 7:00 a.m. I started reviewing the material from the previous day from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., which is when we could watch the pre-recorded lecture for the day.  From 9:00 a.m. until about 12:00 p.m., I sat in the class, took notes, and tried to absorb all of the concepts that were being thrown at us.  At times, I felt that the lectures were a review of material I learned during my three years of law school, but other times the material was new. 

 

I usually ate lunch from 12:00 p.m. until 12:30 or 12:45 p.m.  Around 1:00 p.m., I went to my private study location in the law school.  So, this is where I have to show some love to one of my wonderful professors and acknowledge the importance of building strong relationships.  I had one professor who gave me a key to her office.  She told me I could use her office to study because she would be away from the law school for about a month.  When she returned, however, she knew I would not have a silent place to study, so she gave me the keys to another room in the law school library.  This room was secluded.  There were no windows or students to offer distractions.  The room was equipped with a small couch, good lighting and a nice desk.  I spent all of my time in this room.  I took naps on the couch.  To keep it 100, I even took naps on the floor, since the couch was so small.   

 

While studying, I still wanted to take some time to laugh and try to have some semblance of normalcy.  The best way to do this was through social media.  So, I instituted a very strict break routine.  If I started studying at 1:00 p.m., I would work until 1:50 p.m.  Then, for ten minutes, from 1:50-2:00, I would either take a quick nap, return text messages, or browse social media.  But no matter what, at 2:00 p.m., I would get back to studying.  I repeated this cycle until I finally left the law school at 7:00 p.m.  Once I got home, I immediately went to the gym to hit the weights and then I would eat dinner.  By 9:00 p.m., I would sit back down to review topics for another hour or so.  Finally, by 11:00 p.m., I went to bed.  I repeated this cycle every day from mid-May through  July 23.  At that point, I stopped studying all together.  I knew I would be taking the examination on July 26-27.  I knew that I was ready. And, if by chance I was not ready, there was nothing I could do, so I decided to relax my mind.  

 

In hindsight, I believe I over studied for the Bar Exam.  I believe I could have passed the examination if I had studied for 10 hours per day instead of 12-14 hours per day.  I’d be lying if I said this period did not challenge me in just about every conceivable way.  There were times when I felt that I was not doing enough. There were times when I felt incredibly confident.  There were times when I was just in a bad mood because my entire summer was spent holed up in a room with just my thoughts, faith and books.  In an odd way, being able to endure this process in 2011 has helped me cope with the solitude and stress of the global pandemic.

 

To those who are interested in a career in the law, I would encourage you to really think about the benefits and the sizeable costs of pursuing a legal career.  Not every lawyer is wealthy.  The truth is, the legal field is hard, time consuming and particularly difficult if you are a minority.  African-Americans only make up 5% of the legal field.  But if you want to do it, or want to speak to someone about this field, I am happy to share my experience. 

 

Peace  

Politics as Usual: Focus on the Goal at Hand

2020 has been a strange year.  From the untimely deaths of icons, to COVID-19, to earthquakes in North Carolina.  Despite the strangeness of the year, for those politically inclined, we have an opportunity and obligation to vote 45 (and others at the state levels) out of office.  Politically inclined citizens must choose a side.    That said, publicly besmirching candidates at this point in time is counterproductive.  Some time ago, I read a book regarding leadership.  It stated that leaders should praise in public, while criticizing in private.  This principle can be applied to the political world.  Supporters of 45 will defend him at all costs—despite his inability to lead. You know why?  They recognize the power in the Office of the President and do not want to lose that power.  Now behind closed doors, I find it hard to believe that the educated segment of his base of supporters are not criticizing his administration.  To get him out of office, however, Democrats will need to unify behind the Democratic nominees for President and Vice President. 

The time to openly criticize (potentially dividing the party) was during the Democratic Primaries.  This was the time to point out inconsistencies in a candidate’s record, or in their personal life, or to otherwise express a grievance.  That time has passed. Despite living in the information age, many people have not educated themselves about the candidates or the political process.  So, they are more impressionable and politically naïve than those who are more informed.  When informed (or semi-informed) folks make Facebook, or Instagram posts or share negative articles besmirching nominees, or suggesting that people not vote, the impact will hurt the Goal of voting 45 out of office.  At this point, Biden is the Democratic Presidential candidate.  And, as of August 11, 2020, Biden selected Senator Kamala Harris as his Vice-Presidential candidate.  They may not be your first choices, but they are what we have.  Again, for the sake of winning, this is not the time to criticize candidates for decisions made 20 years ago (at least not publicly).  The goal may not be divisiveness.  Some believe criticizing candidates will help them reach a euphoric state of “wokeness.”  Some believe it is helpful to the Goal, but it most certainly is not.  It detracts from the Goal.

Biden’s selection of Harris as his VP candidate is historically significant.  Women have been ignored, for many years, and are still underpaid and treated unfairly in many areas of life.  In fact, women (of any race) were not allowed to participate in the democratic process until August 18, 1920—almost 100 years ago to the day.   Sure, many women have had successful political careers.  But the White House has evaded women.   In 1972, Shirley Chisolm, a Black woman, became the first African American woman to campaign for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.  Although unsuccessful, she was a trailblazer, nonetheless.  Her campaign moved the needle for women, even if just a hair. In 2016, more than 40 years after Ms. Chisolm, Hillary Clinton moved the needle even more as she won the Democratic Party presidential nomination. However, she lost the election to 45.  But a short four years later, we are only three months from potentially having a Black woman in the White House as VP.  Politics aside, this would be a huge win for women.  And, with her relative youth (55 years old), she could be well positioned for a run at the top spot in a few years.

Outside of obvious political slights, Black women in particular have been mistreated, underappreciated and overlooked in every facet of life.  Yet, Black women move forward as leaders of households, business, sports, law, medicine, education and every other area.  And the Federal Government has been on notice of this disparate treatment for years.  Lest we forget about the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Although it is widely considered a civil rights bill to help level the playing field for Black folks in employment, it also includes language aimed to level the playing field for women.   

The truth is, women have to be more qualified, experienced and have to walk and talk a certain way.  They have to dress a certain way.  They are criticized for being too emotional.  A woman who is passionate and firm, is often labeled and called derogatory names.  Sadly, many of the unfair critiques come from other women, not just chauvinistic men.  For a quick, high profile example of this theory in action, think about the 2016 Presidential Election.  Some people criticized Hillary Clinton, clearly one of the most qualified candidates—male or female—to ever enter the Presidential race simply because of her gender, not based on any legitimate, non-gender related reason.    And others refused to consider her because they believed a woman could not effectively operate in the highest office.  Seriously, she lost to an unqualified, uncouth, racist, reality star.  Now, if that same qualified woman is “Black,” her struggle intensifies tenfold.  Regardless of your political affiliation, Senator Kamala Harris is a Black woman.  She attended an HBCU and is a member of a Divine nine organization.  You cannot lose sight of the forest for the trees.  Remember the Goal, which is to unseat 45.

I still remember when Barack Obama was elected as the President of the United States in 2008.  I was so proud of him.  But I was also proud for us, as Black men.  For members of the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers who lived through the Civil Rights Movement, I could only imagine how they must have felt.  In the years since his election, Obama has become an even bigger symbol of hope for the Black community, and particularly Black men.    There was a time not too terribly long ago that a Black man becoming the President was not possible.  Hell, we were fighting to just be able to ride on the same buses as White people.  Post-Obama, Black parents can tell their children that they can be anything they want to be—even holding the highest office in the U.S.  

Should Senator Harris succeed in November, I have little doubt that her impact would be just as big for Black girls and women.  This event would unequivocally move the needle.  During a time when Black Women are under attack by law enforcement (RIP Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland and many others), this would be a nice win for Black women.  Lord knows they deserve it.  In the meantime, those who are politically inclined should remember that she will be under attack from 45.  So, at least for the next three months, we should think twice about the impact of “woke” posts regarding Harris because of the impact the divisive comments could have on the ultimate Goal: Unseating 45.

 

Peace 

To Vote or Not to Vote: That is the Question

 

The year is 2020.  And for many citizens, this has been one of the most challenging years in recent history.  Due in large part to a global pandemic, millions are without jobs (and many without hope!).  2020 also happens to be a general election year (150 years after the passage of the 15^th Amendment).  So, some citizens will be heading to polls to vote for political candidates. But everyone who is eligible to vote will not be doing so.  There is a wide schism amongst citizens regarding whether participating in the democratic system makes sense.  Some believe casting a vote is an exercise in futility.  They believe total withdrawal from the system is the answer.  Others believe the political system is flawed, but it is the only system we have to govern our country. For those who are undecided on this critical issue, it is important to understand—at least at a high level—the historical context encapsulating the issue of voting.  This is particularly important for Black folk because people have literally died for us to be able to have a voice. 

Maybe the most fundamental tenet of democracy is voting.  The framers of the U.S. Constitution ensured the right to vote was included in the Constitution.  But, as we know, fundamental rights have not always been afforded to everyone.  In fact, the white men who drafted the Constitution only guaranteed these rights for one segment of the population: White men.  Black people and women (of any race) were not part of this group, and thus were not granted this right.  And were not able to participate in the voting system (at least in theory) until many years later.  But, let’s take a quick look at the ideal of democracy. This is a system where citizens elect representatives to represent their interests. In theory, this is a much better system than a monarchy where one man has unfettered power to make all decisions.     

So when did Black folks gain the right to vote?  On February 3, 1870, Congress ratified the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  In part, it provided: “rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous conditions of servitude.”  This ushered in a time when Black folks voted and held positions in Congress.  However, this period of progress was short-lived.  By 1900, states discovered ways to work around the law, including literacy tests and poll taxes.  Remember: Many of the Black folks who could suddenly vote after the passage of the 15^th Amendment were former slaves.  Thus, it was illegal for them to learn to read and write.  Many were destitute.  So, how the hell could they pass these voting tests?  And, the shadow of the KKK loomed in the background for many would-be voters in the South.  They terrorized Black folks in every conceivable manner.  That begs the question.  If there is no power in the vote, why were there so many people trying to keep Black folk from voting? 

I want to focus your attention on the 1960s.  This was a transformative period. This was years after Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the doctrine of separate but equal (Segregation) in 1954.  But, the federal government refused to enforce this ruling on the states.  So, many states simply ignored the ruling and continued with their Jim Crow segregation practices.  This meant that Black people continued being relegated to second class citizenry.  We still had to sit in the back of buses.  We were required to watch movies from the balcony of movie theaters.  We could spend money at some businesses, but could not receive food from lunch counters.  I cannot even imagine how our ancestors must have felt.  But, one thing I know about Black people is that we are resilient.    

The Civil Rights Movement was an ugly time.  So many Black people lost their lives, freedom, and endured inconceivable torture from racists—including politicians, law enforcement officials, the system of government (all levels) and regular citizens.  This was a time when Black folk in Nashville, TN (and other Southern cities) aggressively protested segregation.  They staged sit-ins at department stores, movie theaters and other public facilities where the Black dollar was accepted, but we were not allowed to work in these stores, or even to purchase food from counters in these locations.  The folks who participated in these protests often were spat on, struck with Billy clubs, punched, kicked, hosed, attacked by vicious dogs, repeatedly thrown in jail, and even murdered.  They demanded that the government tear down all tenets of Jim Crow.  They were tired of waiting patiently.  They wanted fair treatment in all areas.

By the mid-1960s, SNCC (and other Civil Rights Groups), focused on voting rights.  Of the many southern states where voter suppression was a problem, Mississippi was likely the worst of the lot. Historical context is important here.  The battle for voting rights occurred after: The Freedom Riders, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the March on Washington.   Mississippi was a particularly vile place where many cities had less than 1% of Black folks registered to vote.  To effectively fight this battle, SNCC moved its headquarters from Atlanta to Mississippi.  SNCC and many other groups and individuals staged protests and other nonviolent efforts to ensure that Black folks could vote.  This included voter registration and voter education.  Of course, many people were killed, imprisoned, harassed, and the like.  But, these efforts, along with many other efforts, finally led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which more clearly prohibited racial discrimination in voting.  This passage attempted to fill in the gaps left by the 15^th Amendment.  However, even to this day, there are racists who are hell bent on suppressing the Black vote.  If the Black vote were not important, why would they be so opposed to it?

Democracy is an imperfect system.  Many people are tired of empty promises from politicians.  Managing expectations of the government is imperative.  That is knowing that there are multiple layers of government.  There is a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government.  Unfortunately, some people focus only on the Office of the President.  This kind of thinking completely underestimates the power and importance of local and state politics.  So, you know that racist district attorney who prosecuted your cousin for a crime he did not commit? You can vote him out of office.  Hell, you can become that district attorney.  What about the judge who unfairly sentenced your father to 10 years in prison for possession of marijuana?  Well, you can also vote her out of office.  What about the senator who ignores issues that affect your life?  You get the point.   The system is not perfect.  Voter suppression still exists.  But, some would say that withdrawing from the democratic system without having a tangible plan to replace it is akin to spitting in the faces of the people who died for us to have a voice.

 

Peace

 

Lessons From a New-Ish Father: The Importance of Competition

Learning how to compete is a vital life lesson. I have known this for many years, but on May 6, 2019, my life changed forever.  On this day, my young King was born. To say that the birth of my son has been a life changing, mind altering experience would be an understatement.  From the moment I laid eyes on him, a feeling of immeasurable love consumed me.  And, at the same time, I knew that I wanted to do anything in my power to protect him (and ultimately to teach him to protect himself). During the last fifteen months, these emotions have grown with each passing day.  I will teach him many lessons as he grows.  He will learn that our history does not begin with slavery.  Instead, our history is filled with kings, queens, conquerors, mathematicians and philosophers.  But I want him to also learn the importance of competition. 

 

Prior to playing organized team sports in the second grade, I played throw-up-tackle (football) in my neighborhood.  We certainly did not have pads or helmets, but this did not stop us.  In the second grade, I started playing football for an up-and-coming pop warner football team in my hometown of Winston-Salem, NC.  My team was full of kids from different neighborhoods, different socioeconomic backgrounds, different races and religions. 

 

Back to the importance of competition.  Although we were young, the pop warner football league was full contact.  We wore helmets, pads, mouth guards and the like.  If you have ever played football or have children who have, you likely know that you do not receive your football equipment on the first day of practice.  It usually takes a few weeks, but once the pads arrive, you know it will soon be time for full contact.  Depending on how you are built, this could be a good or a bad thing.  Either way, when the pads arrive, there is nowhere to hide on the football field.  If you do not embrace the physicality of the sport, your peers will not respect you and you might end up being labeled as “scary” or “soft,” which is a reputation that can follow a person for many years.    

 

I remember the first day of full contact practice.  Although I had played football in my neighborhood and on the playground at school, I had no experience with pads.  I remember hearing about a drill called “Bull-in-the-Ring.”  I was not sure what this drill would consist of.  However, it did not take long before I learned that this drill would require you to stand in the middle of a circle of your teammates.  While in the middle, the coach would randomly call out the name of a player to charge at you in the ring.  Your goal was to meet whoever was called out head-on in the middle of the ring.  When called into the middle, you usually had to stay there for a few rounds before the coach called someone to replace you.  This drill taught you to become comfortable with physical contact.  And, if you had never experienced this kind of contact, it would help you see what your fight or flight reaction would be because failing to “fight” in a game could lead to serious injury.  This drill made you compete, even when you were too young to necessarily understand what that meant or how it would affect your life moving forward.  I played football for a few years.  I believe playing football helped me begin forming my competitive spirit, which I carry with me today on and off the field.

 

In the sixth grade, I started playing organized basketball.  But, before I discuss that experience, I have to provide some context.  One year prior, so my last year in elementary school, I had an experience on the playground that represented a crossroad for me.  Prior to this day, I had never played basketball—organized or otherwise.  I was a football guy.  But, for whatever reason, this day I decided to try my hand at playing basketball.  When I tell you I was terrible, I mean terrible.  The kids who played ball, who were also my friends, let me know that I was a terrible basketball player.  This was embarrassing, but I did not want anyone to know how bad I felt. I also knew that I would learn the game and become one of the best in my city.

 

That night, when my mom came home from work, I asked her to buy me a basketball.  I was determined to never be laughed at because of my inability to play basketball.  Without going into too much detail, I began practicing dribbling in my parents’ basement.  Soon, I asked my mother to buy VHS (yes, I’m that old) instructive tapes on ball handling, shooting, passing and dribbling.  By the next year, I was playing in the Youth Basketball League at the Central YMCA.  Although I was not yet the best player in my age group, I was a respectable basketball player—and no longer a laughing stock. I believe my previous experiences competing on the football field taught me how to compete in this new sport.    

 

Now, back to my son.  I intend to introduce him to sports as early as possible.  He is only fifteen months old, but we spend time most days shooting on a little tikes basketball goal.  He is still too young to really understand what he is doing, but I believe that kids emulate what they see from their parents.  So, I’ll keep working with him.  And, when he is older, I want to introduce him to martial arts or boxing, which are not team sports.  But they teach lessons of constraint and discipline, which are also very important.  They teach you that although you will be a teammate at times, there will be times when you will be alone. 

 

So why is competition so important to me?  When you learn how to compete, you necessarily learn to deal with disappointment through losses.  These lessons learned in sports are a microcosm for life outside of a sports field or court. People who learn to deal with wins and losses at an early age have an advantage over folks who learn this lesson later or never. These folks are also less likely to overreact to a bad result.  These folks also know how to dig just a little bit deeper because they are aware of what the competition is likely doing to prepare.  Thus, I do not believe in participation trophies once a child is old enough to understand competition.  In life, when applying for a job, you either land the job, or not.  There are no participation trophies in adulthood.  So, learning these lessons early in life prepares us to succeed in various aspects of adulthood.    I want my son to know how to deal with wins and losses, so that he will hopefully be able to maintain an appropriate demeanor whether he is winning or losing.  Afterall, nobody likes to be around a sore loser or a person who gloats about every win.  Balance is key.

 

Peace

 

 

 

NBA Restart, But What About BLM?

The NBA will resume play on July 30, 2020.  This is after more than four months of no games because of COVID-19.  As stakeholders of the NBA game—fans, players and owners have missed NBA action. But the players and owners have also lost millions of dollars during the pandemic.  During the stoppage, however, this country has experienced unprecedented social unrest.  And because so many folks are working remotely, or even worse, unemployed, millions of folks have had more time to pay attention to what is going on around us.  Before the NBA’s (players and owners) collective decision to return to the court, members of the media, leaders and folks from all walks of life expressed opinions on whether the NBA should restart its season.  On the one side are people who believe restarting the NBA season will slow the progress we (Black people and allies) have made in dismantling systemic discrimination, which certainly includes pervasive police brutality.  On the other side are folks who believe resuming NBA basketball is a sound decision. 

George Floyd.  Breonna Taylor.  Ahmaud Arbery.  Say these names aloud.  These are the names of three African American citizens who were murdered at the hands of law enforcement officers and/or by racist, gun-toting individuals who have a misplaced belief that their “right” to protect their neighborhoods (e.g., George Zimmerman) are more important than a person’s right to be free (and alive!).  In the wake of these untimely murders, big businesses have professed support for the Black Lives Matter movement.  Politicians have commissioned the painting of murals and removal of statues of known racists.  Some people now all of a sudden understand why Colin Kaepernick chose to exercise his First Amendment Right to kneel as a silent protest against police brutality, not as an act to somehow disrespect a flag.  Some folks believe that this “movement” in the right direction should not be interrupted by resuming NBA basketball. 

Livelihood.  Living check-to-check.  Collective Bargaining Agreement.  NBA players are one of the most well-paid collectives in the country.  However, just because a person makes a lot of money does not mean that he is wealthy.  The sad reality is that many of these players are living paycheck to paycheck, just like most non-NBA citizens.  Believe it or not, many of these young men need play to resume, so they can maintain their lifestyles and responsibilities.  Does anyone have the right to tell a man that he should be a martyr for any group?  Can I tell you that you should quit your job, neglect your responsibilities, so that a group you belong to can have more leverage?  I think not.  That Colin Kaepernick was willing to “die on the vine” for his beliefs, in the face of serious backlash is admirable.  It put him in the same group with Black men before him who “died on the vine” so to speak, e.g., Craig Hodges, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and many other athletes who opposed unjust practices or symbols.  The bottom-line is: Making a decision that will impact your ability to make a living is personal to each individual.  

In May 2020, the NBA and the Player’s Union agreed to extend the window in which the NBA can terminate the Collective Bargaining Agreement in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.  That said, shortly after the NBA season ends, the parties will begin negotiations regarding a litany of financial issues, including salary caps, and luxury cap thresholds.  The owners have lost a lot of revenue during the pandemic.  They will be looking to offset some of these losses onto the players.  So, had the players collectively decided not to play, there is no doubt that the owners would have taken an even harder position during upcoming negotiations.  As it stands, the NBA Players’ Union has been able to negotiate at arm’s length with the NBA owners. But the upcoming negotiations will likely be very challenging.  The current NBA salary cap is one of the best in professional sports because of the amount of “guaranteed” money included in many contracts.  So, the players decision to resume play or not will likely have a large effect on their lives well past this NBA season.  Players are far more than athletes; they have strong representation and know what is on the line. 

The NBA has invested millions of dollars into the “bubble” model.  Essentially, the NBA required NBA players and staffers to submit to COVID-19 testing before resuming the season in Orlando, FL.  The NBA has reserved multiple resorts to serve as the players living quarters.  Players will be unable to leave the bubble without explicit permission from the NBA.  Should a player leave the bubble for any reason, he will have to submit to additional COVID-19 testing.  Although on a smaller scale, we saw the “bubble” model work well for The Basketball Tournament (“TBT”).  This was a nice test case for the larger-scale NBA bubble.  It worked well although fans could not attend games, we could watch the games of the television.  If you have ever played basketball, this gave me AAU vibes.  At this point, sports fans miss live sports and are desperate for a return.  Most of us will take the NBA games, in any form, over the absence of live basketball.

I see a number of issues to consider when choosing an eventual champion.  Fans will not be allowed at the games.  So why does this matter? Well, it means that none of the playoff teams will have “home court advantage.”  For teams (and individual players) that feed on the emotion and passion of their fans, this could be problematic.  Which players stayed in shape during the layoff?  For those who did not maintain optimal health, will they be able to turn it on during a quick ramp up period?  Which teams will quickly find their collective rhythm?  Because no team will have home court advantage, the seedings may not matter nearly as much.  Which star players have the mental fortitude to carry a team, while dealing with not seeing family or friends for months?  And as much as I hate to even utter these words, injuries are part of the game.  Will any major stars or contributors be injured?  Afterall, playoff basketball is far more intense than regular season basketball and these players have been away from competitive NBA basketball for more than four months.  There are other issues, but for the sake of brevity, I will stop here.

I’m a Lebron James fan, so I want to see the Lakers win the Championship.  I believe they are well-positioned to do so, but they are far from a lock.  Avery Bradley’s decision to skip the restart is more important than some might think.  Although he is not a star player, he brings toughness to every game.  Either way, Lebron and Anthony Davis will have to carry this team. And they will need a consistent third scorer (paging Kyle Kuzma!) every game.  The Clippers are tailor made for a deep playoff run.  They have a fantastic coach.  They have scorers on the first and second units.  And they have gritty players who bring energy and grit to every game.  Assuming no major injuries (or untimely COVID-19 positive tests), the Clippers are the only team that can beat the Lakers four of seven games in a series.  I do not believe in the Bucks.  And I believe there are other teams that can potentially beat them in the Eastern Conference.    

Regardless of who wins the championship, I believe this will be a very exciting postseason.  It will give us all a reprieve from the monotony of day-to-day life “DC” (During COVID). 

Peace

Incredible Hip Hop Verses - 2020

There was a time, not too incredibly long ago when lyrics were the currency of hip hop.  Without this currency, many true hip hoppers did not respect an emcee.  However, despite this lack of “respect” some emcees still experienced tremendous commercial success without this currency, e.g., Nelly.    It seems, that hip hop culture has gradually moved from this practice.  It is almost as if the value of lyrics as currency has decreased, but there are still many emcees who care about being lyrically sharp.  I love words and admire those emcees who can use metaphors, double entendre, similes and other literary tools to craft a perfect line.  Each year, I look for these perfect verses and every year, I find a few.  This year, I want to highlight two incredible verses.

Royce Da 5’9 is an incredible lyricist.  He once served as Eminem’s hype man, but he is not your typical hype man.  He is a lyricist who can hold his own with any emcee who has ever touched a microphone (and I mean from any era).  Rapping is easy to Royce.  Earlier this year, on his song, Black Savage, he pinned an unbelievable verse on an incredible song with great verses from Cyhi Da Prince and T.I. He unpacked a lot in this short verse, but the overall theme was about Black excellence.  The way he went about doing so was creative, so I want to point out a few of my favorite lines.

Right out of the gate Royce raps: “I place value on brothers who never had justice/I am the Black savage/Ali and Foreman in Zaire fighting for black magic.”  I love how he flipped the word “savage,” which, in certain circles, has a negative connotation.  But he uses the word to underscore several examples of Black excellence.  In 1619, when our African brothers and sisters were yanked from their homes in Africa, shackled, and placed on ships to America, slave owners called them “savages.”  This term was meant to signal that our African family were uncivilized and not worthy of any sort of respect.  Yet Royce juxtaposes the negative connotation with a reference to Muhammad Ali versus George Foreman—a display of Black Excellence in the boxing ring.  I read this line to be a jab at the racists and bigots who called us savages, yet look how far we have risen, and continue to rise.  Everything about the Ali versus Foreman fight was Black—including the promoter, the location, the audience, and of course, the fighters.     

Police brutality is, unfortunately, alive and well.  In 2020, it seems that Black men are dying far too often at the hands of law enforcement.  And they are not receiving any justice.  The murder of George Floyd is a case-in-point that seems to have motivated people from across the globe to stand together in opposition to this brutality.  So again, Royce is emphatically declaring that he gives credence and reverence to the Black men who have never received justice.  To me, he is saying that we must honor the fallen and not forget them.  They are the heroes.  They are kings who will one day receive their crowns – in this life or the next.

The next standout line is “Hopping up out the Chevy, Pac, Biggie, Machiavelli/OG like Nas or Reggie/culture like Ox in “Belly”/ Vulgar like Akinele/ focus like Dr. Sebi.”  Royce sticks to his theme of flipping the meaning of “savage.”    This technique is nothing new, however.  Black folks have had to turn negative labels into positive affirmations many times over.  For example, some folks have flipped the word “nigger,” which has a visceral meaning and instead turned the word “nigga” into a term of endearment.  In one quick line, Royce named some of the biggest figures in Black pop culture and keeps laying waste to the negative term “savage” and making way for Black hip hop royalty. Pac, Biggie and Nas are hip hop royalty.  Ox from Belly is one of the most recognizable characters in a Black movie.  If you don’t remember Akinele, do you remember the song with the chorus “just put it in your mouth?”  This might be my favorite line from the verse.   

The entertainment business would not be what it is today without contributions from Black people.  Long before we were receiving credit for our creativity in the arts—music, movies, dancing, etc., the “powers-that-be” were appropriating our talents as their own.  In the next line, Royce speaks to this as he raps: “We did it your way, but now the culture is boppin to our Sinatra Medley.”  It was not that long ago when journalists described hip hop as a passing fad.  They did not believe an artform founded in the Bronx by Black kids would ever be accepted and would not endure.  Boy were they wrong, as it turns out that hip hop culture is pop culture.  People from all walks of life purchase hip hop music, want to live the lives of hip-hop stars.  Hip hop is here to stay.  Royce’s verse is just a friendly reminder.

Freddie Gibbs is another underrated lyricist.  I must admit, I first learned about Gibbs a few years ago from one of my law school classmates.  If you are unfamiliar with his work, check him out on YouTube.  The song that is the focus of this post is titled Scottie Beam. 

I’ve heard the phrase “the revolution will be televised” several times during my life.  But in 2020, revolution seems much closer than it did 20 years ago.  Think about the events of the past few years—the election of a reality star as President; a Pandemic that is ravaging the world; and continued murders of Black people at the hands of law enforcement.  Yea, I’d say we are on the verge of a revolution.  Gibbs raps: “Yeah, the revolution is the genocide/look your execution will be televised.”  I interpret this line to address how, as history supports, revolution requires sacrifice.  In years past, the sacrifice was not always televised, but nowadays, due in large part to technological advancement, people record almost everything.  During the George Floyd Protests, which could be described as part of a revolution, we saw literal and figurative genocide.  I mean, police officers abused protesters, agitators incited unrest, and people lost their lives.  So, figuratively, this could be seen as a genocide.  And lots of the carnage was captured on iPhones and broadcast on television. 

Gibbs also helps clarify the plight of being a Black man in America.  He focuses on interacting with law enforcement whilst being a Black man.  Gibbs raps: “He pulled me over, I asked him, “yo, what’s the problem, sir?  I swerved to duck the potholes, man, I had no option, sir/ Just let me go cause my license, insurance, proper sir.”  I try to avoid having any interactions with law enforcement.  I do not want to do anything to draw attention to myself, such as swerving to avoid a pothole or speeding through a yellow light.  Think about the number of Black men stopped by the Police for a minor infraction, but ended up in jail or the morgue?  This happens far too often, and we are all tired of it.

Gibbs also speaks to this generation’s obsession with recording anything, even someone’s death.  I recall seeing videos of terrible events, but not anyone trying to assist.  Just wanting to record it, so it can be posted to social media.  When you really think about it, it is sickening.  Gibbs raps: “Yeah my execution might be televised/Cross niggas like Bubba Chuck/I never gave a fuck.”   This line is dope to me because of the reference to Allen Iverson and his famous cross over move and how he was unbothered by the media’s portrayal of him.  He is saying that even if his execution is televised, he does not care.  It is almost as if he is saying if it is televised, the people will be able to draw their own conclusions, rather than relying on how the media might otherwise paint the picture of his death.  I believe that but for the video footage showing Mr. Floyd’s death, his case would have never emerged to the masses. 

I am a big Michael Jordan fan.  I still remember playing basketball in my backyard as a child.  I cannot count the number of times I practiced moves as if I were MJ.  The recent MJ documentary brought back feelings of nostalgia for me and millions of other MJ fans.  Gibbs raps: “Shit was different when Mike left and it was Scottie team/ex won’t take me back, without me, the bitch would not have a ring.”  If you are a basketball aficionada, you likely know that MJ retired for a couple of years, making Scottie Pippen the leader.  You also know that, although Scottie Pippen played well, in fact, the Bulls were not quite the same.  They did not win the Championship again until after MJ came back into the fold.  So the reference to his ex and the “ring” is clever.

Some say that hip hop is dead, or that hip hop is not what it used to be.  I would disagree with the former, but agree with the latter.  Also, as with most things, over time, they change and evolve.  Hip hop has done so, but it is very much thriving.  You might just have to dig a little deeper to find the lyrical bars we enjoyed during the 90s and early 2000s.

Peace