If I could hold my ambition in my hand, I would throw it away.
Not just in the trash. I’d toss it across the city, to a place far, far away.
Somewhere deep in Queens. Never to be found again.
My ambition would seize to plague me and I’d be free from the desire to “make it.”
If I could, I would have the ambition of an ant.
Ant-sized ambition.
Ants spend their tiny existence finding tiny amounts of food to support the
tiny bodies of their rather large tribe.
Their day-to-day life is built exclusively around survival.
No time spent dreaming, and certainly no time spent convincing others to dream.
That would be considered a crime that warrants capital punishment in the world of ants.
Nonetheless, perhaps the ambition of ants is actually quite large.
Those tiny bodies carrying those over-sized crumbs, day in and day out.
The tireless work effort to survive in a world that regards you as next to nothing.
It sounds like they are the most ambitious of us all.
The reality of it is, my ambition isn’t going anywhere.
It’ll still keep me up late at night; make everyday feel more urgent than the last; hi-jack moments that are meant for peace.
So if I can’t get rid of it, I suppose it couldn’t hurt to take on more; to embrace it like an ant in survival mode.
There will always be mouths to feed and hills to climb.
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Bed Stuy: Ride or Vibe || Rhianna Jones
The historic hood of Black culture and community, Bed Stuy is a vibe that echoes from its block parties and bodegas to its fairytale brownstones. This is Brooklyn at its flyest and finest. Bed Stuy’s not only Black-Owned and Beautiful, but plants seeds for its people to grow. Here, Shirley Chisholm taught us to be “Unbought and Unbossed,” hip hop speaks truth to the brilliant resilience of our hustle, and kids keep us dreaming and dancing in the streets.
This musical journey of Black joy and justice blends sounds from some of the hood’s most treasured talents, and beats to cruise to when you come thru. Keep smilin’ and shinin’ from my stoop to yours.
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After Ours || Good Produce
How much time do we have left together? Is our love based on availability or vulnerability? Is over ever really over? Do you still think about him? Will you still think about me? Did you ever love me? Were you ever in love with me? Do you hate me?
Okay. You guessed it! I’m insecure.
Love is arguably the most complicated aspect of life. It acts as the ever-evolving through line that connects everything and everyone.
You meet a girl. You buy a ring.
You have a kid. You buy a house.
You lose your job. You get divorced.
You cry at night. You meet another girl.
You have sex. You get remarried.
You have more kids. Broken Family.
And then the process repeats…
Idk. It is so easy to lose ourselves in the concept of “Ours”. Everyone has the same goal of finding love outwardly, without realizing it was inside the entire time. So we search for love in every place and never find it. Not for real anyways.
I’m praying for all us. That we all learn to love ourselves! Cause loving others… is a runaway midnight train.
After Ours.
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African Boy Joy || Asante Phenix
African Boy Joy is inspired by the people of Summer 21'.
I've been fortunate enough to enjoy powerful musical moments with my African brethren.
Afrohouse has been the soundtrack to a wonderful set of hangouts that has been instrumental in getting me back to "normal" after a COVID racked 2020. It has been the soundtrack to relishing my African roots and reconnecting with dance.
Overall, it has brought too much joy to put into words. Take a listen and return to the motherland!
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Flo w Bo || Bo Whitelaw
As a long, hot summer rolls on we often try to find refuge in whatever form that may be. Let this playlist keep your mind off the seemingly endless perpetual heat and in an attempt cool down with these melodic, transitory tunes.
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"An experimental poetry piece celebrating Black women who continue to thrive in a system that was not built for them. A study of culture, self-love and self-discovery through a string of vignettes that combine dance, folklore, modern culture and spirituality."
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"Centuries and Still” is a mixed media illustrated short film telling the history of anti-Asian racism and violence in the U.S. The film seeks to unveil how history took part in the birth and perpetuation of today’s surge of anti-Asian discrimination and hate crimes. The search for justice goes back to the Gold Rush era fetishization of Asian women, to today’s hate crimes targeting Asian elders."
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