A few days ago, while I was at the summer love picnic in Brooklyn, a few adults decided to have a relay race. Immediately, I thought of childhood. In our neighborhood, you got respect for being able to run the fastest and so relay races was the opportunity to “come up”. But relay races was also so much more. They were fun, full of teamwork, and of course just a short distance so no need to have a heart attack.
While watching the few bold adult souls decide to race the other day, I recognized that we are in a different race as adults. We are constantly running around life and rarely getting rest. We are competing with others to get ahead and the means of doing that just sucks at times. A lot of us sometimes do not even get a good start due to the real inequities that exist. And the majority of us fail than succeed.
But while in that park, we all forgot about the real relay race that we are in. Instead we returned back to a time in life, where running was actually fun, where falling was Ok and even funny, where victory regardless of who won was still awesome, and where standing on the sidelines cheering, was just as sweet than participating.
So I met a few of my friends at a Beach in Queens a couple of nights ago around midnight. I had never quite been on a beach at night before. It felt great to be the only group of people there. It was peaceful. The water sung to me. The stars smiled at me. And the wind summoned me to return again around the same time. I will, asap!
Yesterday we celebrated Michael Jackson’s Birthday here in Brooklyn. Thanks to Spike Lee, Thousands of New Yorkers headed to prospect park for a day of dancing, dancing, picnic-ing, and more dancing. It was HOT but we had a great time. Al Sharpton was there. Impersonators were there and Snoop Dog was there and performed Gin and Juice over Michael’s “Butterflies”. Great Times!
So I’m back from Vacation. I went to Martha’s Vineyard for 7 days and definitely got the rest that I needed. A few months ago I was talking to my best bud, Jason Reynolds. We were talking about how usual vacations are just another word for work in a different state with a beach. You end up coming back not rested and in debt. So this vacation I wanted to go somewhere and really rest, a cabin in Pa, upstate, or a island resort. Thanks to my bud, Tahira, I had a combination of both in Martha’s Vineyard.
I had a great travel partner too. We simply rested. We went to the beach, explored the local scenery, and did I mention rest. On our first day, I decided to count black people. But then I realized that there were too many, so I stopped. (Note: It feels to good to not be the only black people in a unfamiliar place.)I also saw some familiar faces as well. I bumped into my my good fellow AME preacher, Tony Lee, at Lola’s. He has an awesome ministry in Maryland. And while chilling by the water, I saw D-NICE taking pictures. I was hoping we would bump into the Obama’s because they were vacationing there at the same time but that didnt happen. But we did dine at the restaurant that we was barred from the night before because the Obamas were there and I must say it was sooo awesome. Its name is Ocean Club. Simply perfect!
Sad thing is the day we were to leave, it rained like crazy so the ferries stop working. As a result, we had to wait 24 hours to leave. But everything worked out for the good. Now I’m back in NYC, back to the tall buildings, massive people, smelly streets, and doing what I love. And if I ever need to retreat again, Im heading back to the vineyard, minus the rain.
I went to the New York Liberty, Washington Mystics game this weekend with one of my buds at Madison Square Garden. The Liberty Won. We had a blast. I think I will go more often. I think you should too. A WNBA game night is pretty good entertainment. If you dont believe me, ask Obama or you can just believe me!
Last year I attended the She’s So Dope Show in Williamsburg and had a blast. This year I decided to return to the fundraiser to view lovely art, hear awesome music, chat with friends, hear some great performances, but most importantly to take a stand against violence. This time it was held in Bed-stuy, Brooklyn. We not only had a good time, but they were able to meet their fundraising goals. AWESOME!
Saturday I enjoyed the work and persona of two of my favorite artists: Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. (View this post for Proof of my obsession.) The Film Forum in New York City has a new awesome documentary that I once blogged about here called Radiant Child. Every show has been sold out so the theatre has extended it until August 10, 2010. Please go and see it. I also know it is playing at other theatres in the country as well.
I also went to the Brooklyn Museum to see the Warhol exhibit which chronicles the work of Warhol in the last decade of his life. The exhibit goes into September. Its a true beauty.
I was truly inspired and took so much from both of these events. One of the things that will stay with me is that I was really inspired by the the large and diverse work they left behind. It just inspires me to keep creating, keep creating, keep creating so that when Im gone, my work will not be.
I have a new article that I recently wrote for BustedHalo.com called “Outsiders For Christ: An Open Letter to Anne Rice”. For those who do not know, famous novelist, Anne Rice, has just announced that she is leaving Christianity and the reasons why. My article is a response to that decision.
It is not only a letter to her, but a letter to anyone who has thought about not necessarily leaving Christ but the Church in general.
I would really appreciate it if you READ it, please SHARE a comment and thoughts about it on the article page(please), and also FORWARD/facebook it/twitter it to everyone you know!
Played a group game of Taboo this weekend. Of course, my team won. 28-24. I love the game and what it does to people. Taboo always brings about laughter probably because of the pressure to guess, to use ones mind within a particular time frame, the buzzer threat that’s beside your ear, and the ability to make you feel unintelligent despite the many degrees you may have. Here’s a look into our game for an example of what I mean. Did I mention, my team won. (Go Team MyishaAkila)
THEM:
Brandi: He’s on a twenty dollar bill.
Meli: Jefferson.
Brandi: First name?
Meli: George Jefferson
Us: hahahah, No point!
US:
ME:A few weeks ago, I called the cops because of this guy as I layed on the couch
Akila: Peeping Tom.
Point!
THEM:
Brandi: Packed like…
Where anchovies come from
Meli: Huh…
(2 min later) Us: Time Up
Correct answer: Sardines
hahahah
US:
Me: You may receive an evite. You reply on facebook. What are you doing?
Akilah: R. …
Me: Ok continue
(2 min later) Time!
Correct Answer: RSVP
Fun—expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one’s body or mind.
Friendship-cooperative and supportive relationship between people, or animals; connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, affection, and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis.
Every weekend I hang out with the girls and I seem to come to a deeper understanding of what fun and friendship really means everytime.
Pictured above is my 2010 summer school class full of 20 brilliant students. For 8 weeks (4 days a week), I challenged them to think critically and introduced them to some awesome theological, philosophical, political, and literary work. I hope it was as good for them as it was for me. They in turn, gave me plenty to think about and helped me to become a better teacher and person.
Today was final exams. I must admit, I will miss them. But I welcome 30 days of summer before the fall begins. And as I prepare for the fall, I give these guys the credit for keeping my brain active these summer days and for showing me that there still exist students sincerely concerned about hard work and education’s instrinsic rewards.
