I am not a dog — It was 2016 and Donald Trump was just elected President. I couldn’t help but dwell on how we got here. Just eight years prior, I was sitting in my college dorm watching the polls come in; watching Barack Obama, the first Black person to be elected into the highest office…

You asked. Here’s your answer — Let’s take it back to May of 2011. I was proud, carefree, and for once, my walkthrough campus had nothing to do with anything remotely academic. Senior Week was a blur and rightfully so. It was a time to let go of past inhibitions and do everything that you missed…

And that’s God’s honest truth — Five minutes of vomiting followed by another seven minutes of groaning in agony. Twelve minutes in total, sitting on my mom’s couch, as she got ready for the day ahead. When she finally exited the bathroom, it was clear that I startled her. “Oh, Jay! I didn’t know that you…

I’m from Brooklyn, so I quote Jay-Z like pastors quote the Bible. I truly believe that there’s a Hov line for any occasion; if you can’t think of one, then your knowledge of his catalog isn’t deep enough. But, I don’t have that problem because I love rap. I’m a…

My privilege is showing — I’m not a planner, at least I don’t like to be. For most of my life, the plan has been in my mind, loose, and with opportunities for freestyling. I’m the kind of person that likes to leave the house with nothing but my phone, keys, and wallet. Anything else…

On writing, imposter syndrome, and the slap heard around the world — Last year, Will Smith slapped the hell out of Chris Rock at what will be remembered as the greatest Academy Awards Show of all time. I remember that night vividly. It was Sunday, March 27th and my family just returned home from a week-long escape to Grenada. The trip was…

And, I’m better for it — It’s 2013 and I’m 24. I’m staring into her eyes, damp from the freshly drawn tears, and I imagine they must have once been filled with light. I imagine that everyone’s eyes are filled with hope, like those of children, at least once. But, not now. Now, they are weary…

A guide to your first cookout invitation — If you’re here, then you may have read about my neighbor’s racist dog. Well, I hate breaking it to you, but we have another. I spotted little Donald in the building lobby as their owner was buzzing in. Before I could finish saying, “Goodnight,” the barking commenced, the leash was…

Thoughts on Parenthood — I haven’t returned your calls or texts, or messenger pigeons. There are forty-three of them circling my home, as I write this, waiting to be welcomed in. The sidewalk is covered in blobs of white, green, and brown, waiting to be washed away by the coming rain. Except, here, it…