This week’s newsletter is a little bit out of sync with my normal schedule, pero, here we are. This newsletter is also sponsored by one of my favorite things: black boy joy. I’m coming at it from two different avenues however - victorious joy and bird like joy.
Let’s start with the victorious joy in the form of ESPN’s The Last Dance.
You guys, I’m really sad that this was only ten episodes, but I understand it’s just covering the three championships but I loved it. I found myself on the edge of my seat several times, and tearing up other times as if I didn’t know what was going to happen. I grew up as a Michael Jordan fan. He was my favorite player aside from Chris Webber - because fine, and Gary Payton - because I went to his camp and Oakland. Yes, I used to have hops… or no hops but aspirations which is why I ended up as a dancer and cheerleader (we pick the lanes in which we best fit over here). I remember watching Michael’s games on my parents big screen when my grandma would make Wings and Red Beans and Rice for games. I was always amazed that he rarely missed a shot.
Watching the documentary, I felt the same amazement that I felt for him as a little girl. He’s iconic and easily the GOAT, always and forever. I also learned a few things about him and from him that I never knew:
The media is a lot. This we know, but the scene when he played the Father’s Day game and won, and went to the back to cry in honor of his dad. I’ve always seen the picture, but never heard the cry. It was painful to watch, but shouldn’t necessarily be something that we watch. The media is great for giving us access to our favorites, but also extremely evasive.
Dennis Rodman is more fascinating than I thought. The way he discussed how he got really good at rebounding and studying the players was fascinating. Also, he also has a great work ethic.
You are your own biggest competition
You can always pivot and end up where you started if you want - this is in response to how MJ left basketball, and went to baseball and came back to basketball. For some reason, because I’m really smart, this also reminded me of one of my favorite poems Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.”
You can be an asshole if you want, but you need to be able to back up ALL the shit you talk.
Now, on the other side of black boy joy is the biggest bird of them all, the problematic Future.
Yes, that Future. I am fearful that social distancing has turned me into a bird because I actually like his new album, High Off Life, and I’m both flabbergasted and astonished. Typically I have nothing but palm tree amounts of shade for Future. Here are some of my quotables:
“He doesn’t really make music. He’s just making annoying sounds on produced songs.”
“He doesn’t really make music. He always sounds like a lost Orca whale.”
“He doesn’t make music. He sounds like a tribal drum.”
“You have to be really high, or confused to really enjoy Future’s music.”
“You have to be really, really, drunk to understand what Future is saying.”
I could go on and on about this, but it’s true. Yes, I was part of the Future Hive back in the day because of the black boy joy that it sparked. This was really back in the day - the summer of 2015 when DS2 came out, but ever since I’ve been over him. I say all this to say that his new album is the perfect soundtrack for social distancing. I’ve been listening to it before meetings to get hype, and when I’ve been cooking. Listen to it and let me know what you think.
That was a lot. Here are some other things that are on my mind this week.
I feel more like myself because I’ve been reading a lot lately. I recently read Glennon Doyle’s Untamed, and Jessica Simpson’s Open Book. I have three books that are on my list now: Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld, Andre Leon Talley’s The Chiffon Trenches and Blake Gopnik’s Warhol. What’s on your list? Let us know.
Jemele Hill had two really good podcast episodes back to back - our Insecure favorites Natasha Rothwell and Jay Ellis.
Speaking of Insecure, here’s a ranking of the guys from the show. I forgot there were so many men on the show to be honest. Dro is definitely the bottom of the barrel, and I love that Thug Yoda is at the top. “You bute and you thick,” will always be my life mantra because… look at me (tahaha).
Since we’ve been social distancing, I’ve been doing this annoying thing of watching all these “What’s on My iPhone” videos. My boyfriend made fun of me about it and said that maybe I’m a little overly organized. This could be true. I’m also super productive (def tooted my own horn here) and this read spoke to my heart in particular, “Being focused and having a to-do list makes the chaos disappear because you’re creating your own reality.”
Loving the new Nick Hakim, Will This Make Me Good. I’m also extremely excited for Jessie Ware’s album next month and love her new single “Save a Kiss.”
14 ways we’re finding joy in spite of everything.
Loved this wedding. So much love. So much joy. So beautiful. I may have teared up somewhat.
Until the next time,