Damn, He Got A Point

November 1st, 2019 marked the release of the highly anticipated Nike Uprising sneaker created by Ruth Jean-Marie . The Nike Uprising celebrates Haitian heritage as being the first Black republic. I had the opportunity to sit down with the multifaceted Ruth Jean-Marie . We spoke about her love of sneaker culture, how in the hell she was able to design a signature sneaker, and what significance the colorway has among other details. Check it out below! How does one get the opportunity to create a signature sneaker Ruth? I won a competition with We Are Cultivator x Nike to express gratitude. I, of course, am grateful for the audacity of my ancestors. Winners got to design a sneaker commensurate with what we're grateful for.  I designed the sneaker after the uniforms worn by Haitian revolutionaries .  Our sneakers launch 11/1 and are limited edition; they'll be available for ten days. So now we know what influenced the actual colorway for the sneaker. ...

Courtesy: Kamdora This past weekend I came across a Youtube show called Pass The Bluntness . It's a lighthearted interview show that asks people to speak on millennial type taboo subjects. The latest episode is centered around sex after a first dat e. Of course there's a litany of ideas on it and I thought the show covered it all rather well. One subject that I think isn't spoken on enough is sexual health.  During this episode the question was asked as to if there is a conversation with a date as to their sexual health status. The participants were very honest about whether or not they have those conversations and why it can be difficult at times. One gentleman in particular said that he tries to go off of a woman's "vibe" more than anything. He felt he needed to protect himself more with someone who he deemed as being more promiscuous than "normal." I applaud that transparency. It's understood in matters regarding sex that m...

Courtesy: Single Black Male Listening to podcasts is something I have grown to enjoy doing. I know that I'm not the only one. My tastes vary from dating and sex podcasts to  politics and sports. One of my favorite shows to check out sometimes is called Room For Relations . In the latest episode called "Are You Married or Just Dating?" the gang discusses when the right time is to begin handling duties that are associated with marriage. Among some of the tasks or behaviors mentioned were things like making a plate for your partner, cooking for your partner, washing the dishes, taking the garbage out and even taking their car for oil changes. The discussion was surprisingly eye opening for me, because these are tasks I haven't given much thought to in regards to when the right time was to carry them out. It pays to remember that you have to take yourself out of your own thought pattern to try and understand these things. So I did, and it's obvious that it's...

Courtesy: Washington Post By now we've all read several pieces about the Rocnation and NFL partnership . It's the 180 degree spin heard around the world, and at the center of it is Jay-Z . It threw us all off to a degree. Not because Jay made a deal, but because Jay vehemently disassociated with said league. He vociferously backed Colin Kaepernick , to then magically feel like we're past kneeling now. I had a short conversation with my friend Lisa last week regarding Jay-Z and how he brings his comments across sometimes. She said quite plainly that Jay seems to speak to us many times as if we don't have any sense. That's probably a big reason as to why there has been so much backlash with the announcement of this deal. Courtesy:Page Six Jay-Z's partnership with the NFL is a business venture that will allow Jay-Z's entertainment company Rocnation to help provide entertainment for such marquee events like the Superbowl . There will b...

Courtesy:USA Today Black people in this country have heard it for long enough that the systems in this country were not built for us to thrive. I consider us to be at the top of the most resilient groups of people in this world.  You have no choice but to be resourceful in this world when places like the United States continue to marginalize you. This brings me to Rich Paul . A childhood friend of Lebron James who was given opportunities to learn the business of being an agent via Lebron's resources. What Lebron did for Rich Paul, Maverick Carter, and others is what all of us in this community are called to do. Lebron was able to be put in a fortuitous position. He saw it fit to bring his fellas along with him. But he didn't want to mimic any sort of "posse," rather  he wanted to equip his friends with tools to become sought after businessmen of their own. Quite frankly, they continue to exceed I'm sure whatever their own expectations might've ...

                  Credit: Hellobeautiful We are currently in the middle of a podcast boom in 2019. Podcasting has proven to be a useful and lucrative medium for many. In the pantheon of great podcasts, I think it can be challenging to find a show that sets itself apart from the others. The Talk to Your Mom Podcast sets itself apart from its premise. Two strong, insightful, and beguiling Black women who speak on the Black woman experience. They present a mother/daughter dynamic that is unique and special to say the least. Tarawoner Lyles-Kelly is a Life Coach and the founder of the TYL foundation. Her daughter is Keyaira Kelly who is a Writer, Producer, and a women's advocate. Together, they co-host Talk To Your Mom in which they share experiences with one another. Quite frankly, they put each other on. They give each other game. As you listen, you hear two women who actually listen to one another. There isn't any condescension ...

      Courtesy: 11alive In February of 2018 I first learned who Robert F. Smith was. I was freelancing and covering social media for PBS ' premier of their "Pioneers" documentary series. The event emanated from The Harvard Club in Manhattan and was in tribute to Reginald F. Lewis who is recognized as the first Black billionaire in history. Robert F. Smith served as one of the key speakers of the evening. As he spoke, he certainly seemed like someone with a strong sense of self. He had a conscience that reached beyond his own surroundings. He got "it." He looks out, he encourages, and as of late, it's evident that he puts his money where his mouth is. As someone who  worked along Reginald F. Lewis, there is just no shortage of business acumen and social awareness that Robert F. Smith possesses. On May 19th, 2019 Mr. Smith took a stand that will always be remembered and appreciated. He vowed to grant the graduating class of 2019 forgiveness of t...