Joy itself is an act of resistance, but they hope we'll never embrace the rebellion of staying curious.

Talking about how doom-and-gloom these times are is like beating a dead horse, so I will save you all some of the dramatics for now and share a moment from recent weeks that gave me a glimmer of hope.

You know that saying, “curiosity killed the cat?” Well, I’d argue that maybe factors beyond that feline’s nosiness led to their demise, and I’m speaking from experience—being curious has quite literally saved me time and time again.

As someone who grew up daydreaming about becoming a magazine editor for VIBE, EBONY, JET, ESSENCE, or any platform centered on Blackness and our unique experiences in this world, I have always believed in the power of storytelling. Although God has had other plans for my dream, including many delays and denials, I choose to hold steadfast to the fact that my inquisitive nature keeps me chasing what feels like a forever-expanding goalpost.

So yes, curiosity saved this cat, and let me tell you how being at the center of Black joy saved me earlier this month.

I did not attend an HBCU; however, I am rooted in one. The school is Virginia State University, and I could write a novel about how their TRIO Upward Bound program catalyzed the woman I am today, both professionally and personally.

Kicking off my high school summers as a temporary VSU student quickly became the highlight of the season off from school and preparation for what college life would be like, having us experience everything from having a roommate to attending classes, working on coursework in the library- you name it — we were subconsciously being molded to enter the world, young, gifted, and Black.

Beyond the fun times on campus during the summers of our formative years, Upward Bound also showed me there was a world beyond the Tricities area where I grew up in central Virginia. Thanks to the organization, I was able to visit my new home of Atlanta for the first time and watch some of the hottest HBCU bands during the Honda Battle of the Bands – which came full circle when I attended the new and updated version of the event as a guest of Honda on the media front.

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I say all this to say I don’t miss an opportunity to pull up on the yard for VSU’s homecoming, and though I was absent last year, returning to sit at the center of Black joy was just what the doctor ordered.

Each year my family tailgates at the event. Though my time on the yard was cut short this year (for a great reason I’ll get to later), I still got to enjoy a good plate, do a few laps with my sister, an alum, and our nana, and catch up with familiar faces.

I didn’t realize how much I needed that moment, but thank God the stars aligned, and I made it.

And if that wasn’t enough Black joy for the day, I also got to attend Richmond’s first citywide tribute to D’Angelo since his passing on October 14, 2025.

The night before the event, I connected with Kia Bennett, the GRAMMY-award-winning singer who helped organize the Richmond Folk Festival performance on Saturday, Oct. 10, and served as one of the lead vocalists.

“We’re from Richmond. We’re from Virginia. It’s an unapologetic, soul, head-knocking thing,” she told me ahead of Saturday’s showcase. “D’Angelo, even though he’s soul and has a little bit of funk and jazz, he has undertones of hip hop. You know, in Virginia, we kind of thug it out a little bit. We like booming systems. We like rims. D’Angelo had his cornrows, his timbs, his baggy jeans, wife-beater, chain, his jerseys; he was just from around the way.”

She added, “He did a music video in Southside Plaza, a music video up the street from my house and the 99-cent movie theater. I’m talking about the ‘Lady’ video. When you watch this video, you’re him because you see him in your space. You understand? It was familiar to all of us because we all grew up on the same soil. You come from the same place. We grew up eating the same food. A lot of people, you know, we grew up in church. He grew up in church. The thing is, he was relatable because he grew up in church, but he also smoked weed. You’re from around the way, so that’s what we do.”

As someone who sang backup for D’Angelo during his promotional tour for Brown Sugar, the album that put him on the map, Bennett and I were able to spend a little over an hour that Friday night bonding over a shared love of music that comes from the soul, and with a person who had a profound impact on our community. She recalled meeting D’Angelo, shared details about feeling the spirit in preparation for the event, and more. Of course, I was right there to soak up every word. I find so much joy in listening to others share details of their lives and the passions that keep them ticking, and I’m grateful for the chance to do so.

Furthermore, I wrote about the event for a Richmond outlet, The Auricular, and the story was published on the first anniversary of D’Angelo’s passing. Keep reading, and you’ll find a link below to check it out. It would mean the world to me if you read it, because for the first time in the 10 years I’ve been a working journalist, I got to contribute to an outlet at home.

To round off the weekend, I spent late Sunday afternoon talking with jazz legend Lonnie Liston Smith at Spacebomb Studio in Richmond, Virginia.

In December, Smith will turn 86, and though he no longer drives, he is still as sharp as can be. I don’t take it lightly to have been in the presence of jazz royalty, and it’s no small feat that he is the first person to willingly sit down with me as I begin work on a second documentary centered on Black musicians who come from the same soil as me.

I’ll let you all in on a secret – I have no clue what I’m doing (haha). It was just me, my DJI Osmo Pocket 4, my cool, creative cousins, and a dream. While this isn’t my first rodeo as the executive producer and creator of a documentary, it is the first time I have truly had to be a one-woman band to put plans in motion and grow this project from the ground up.

The feelings I had after speaking with Smith for about 30 minutes are indescribable, but I will say this—creativity and a thirst for knowledge have the power to heal the world.

I’ve felt heavy and a bit burdened by this dream for much of the latter half of the year, and this weekend at home really helped me shift my perspective. As long as I am alive and have breath in my body, my curiosity and love for sharing stories, especially our stories, will keep me going.

God didn’t give me this vision for no good reason, and with an assignment this huge, it was never going to come with ease.

As I continue to dream out loud, create, and exist for the world to see, my only request is that you all keep finding it in your hearts to support me.

What does support for me look like?

It’s reading an article, becoming a paid subscriber to this Substack (if you can), or simply sharing resources to help fund my latest documentary, including barters for your time and expertise. At the same time, I continue sorting out what all of this will look like. Right now, anything helps, and I appreciate you coming along with me on this journey so far. It’s gotta get better from here.

Oh, and one more thing: I am still in the running for the Top Host contest with iHeartMedia and Ryan Seacrest. Click HERE to vote, and keep in mind that today, Oct. 21st, each of your votes counts TWICE until 9 PM.

Read my D’Angelo tribute coverage for The Auricular HERE.

Aside from “Mother to Son,” one of my favorite Langston Hughes poems is “Dream Deferred.”

The state of the economy- hell, the world has felt a little too heavy to bear for my liking for the past week, and I feel like I’ve been drowning in a sea of emotions, grieving a life that I thought I’d have just as I crawl upon the threshold of age 34.

This year, my birthday falls on a Tuesday. An election day, much like the day that God saw fit to bring me earthside by way of my mother, carrying parts of my father within me.

November 3, 1992. That’s the day I made my debut. My mom says I didn’t cry at all. Ironic, given that almost anything makes tears form in my eyes. I’ve always been labeled a crybaby, and I used to hate that term. Now I embrace it, because what a blessing it is to feel something in a world that is conditioning us, one scroll at a time, to feel nothing. How tragic?

Hell, I’m crying from the coffee shop I am writing this from. I have been crying every day for the past 5 days, a new record for me this year. I’ve been trying to pull myself out of this perpetual state of sadness that I’ve been in for just about a week now, but I think I would rather just feel it all.

To be honest, this is supposed to be a happy post, and I promise I’ll get there, but if you need to stop reading for a bit, I understand.

On the day I was born, Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush and independent candidate Ross Perot to become the 42nd President of the United States. Carol Moseley-Braun became the first Black woman to hold a seat in the U.S. Senate, and James Clyburn was elected as the first Black congressman from South Carolina since Reconstruction.

In hindsight, it reminds me of that verse in the Book of Esther, “perhaps I was born for a time such as this.” It was really never in my destiny to be ordinary, yet here I am, sad because things feel unbearably hard.

Life was never meant to be easy for me, though. I’m a Black woman from the South living in a country that hated my existence before I even arrived.

So, back to that dream deferred.

I love this poem so much, because yes, Langston, what really does happen to a dream deferred? I don’t think we’ve ever found out.

What I do know is that each and every time I want to throw in the towel, the Lord extends a life raft to bring me back to the reason I believe he put me on this Earth. A purpose that I was fortunate to discover before crossing the threshold into womanhood. I was born to tell stories.

And I have the opportunity of a lifetime to do so as one of the contenders for the next Top Host competition.

If I win, I will have the opportunity to lead my own podcast produced by iHeartRadio – I already have three of those episodes live on my YouTube, so in my case, this is the chance to continue something that I’ve already started, and have had on my heart to make happen for a number of years.

Additionally, I could win $25K, which would be life-altering for me right now. In 2024, I packed up my luxury apartment. My things remain in storage today, and I’m late on the payment as we speak, but still I rise, I suppose. In short, I’ve been living on my friend’s couch for the last two years, and every time I think I’m finally out of the hole, a contract gets cut, hours are scaled back, you know, typical industry standards for times like this.

Lastly, I would be a guest on an episode of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, which would be just the visibility I need to take my career to the next level.

I say all of this to say – if you’ve made it this far on this post, I would greatly appreciate it if you would vote for me at the link below. You can vote every 24 hours, and the first cuts of the competition occur next Thursday, October 15.

Asking for help is still a very foreign concept for me. Maybe it’s my eldest daughter syndrome. Maybe it’s pride. Or it could be fear, and my mind playing tricks on me, telling me that no one cares about me – I’m fighting against those lies, though, and trying my hardest to show up for myself each and every day.

Thanks in advance for voting me into the Top Host position HERE.

And, for those of you who need a reminder of Dream Deferred, check it out below. I wonder what Langston Hughes did when he felt like the odds were stacked against him? Apparently, he kept going, so in the spirit of our ancestor, I’ll do the same.

Dream Deferred x A Poem By Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

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September isn’t over…yet, so I still have time to bring you all up to speed on my trip home in the all-new 2026 Honda Accord, just in time for the third annual Cousinz Fest.

There is something kismet about returning to where it all started for you, and although my home in Virginia is by way of the 804 area code because of my Dinwiddie upbringing, that 757 area code certainly means the world to me.

Home Is Where The Heart Is.

The road trip from Atlanta to Virginia and back was no joke, but it’s ingrained in my memory because I have taken it at least once a year since I moved to Georgia 7 years ago. This time, I was solo, which meant there was nothing but space and opportunity to put on my favorite tunes, sing at the top of my lungs, listen to an audiobook, and (my personal favorite) yap with friends to help the time fly by.

Much like home, the Honda brand feels familiar, especially when it comes to the Accord. A lot of Black people, including myself, know a family member who once drove an Accord or Civic (I don’t make the rules), and it likely was passed down through generations, much like the reason for my trip.

The Power Of Dreams!

I’ve mentioned this in many past newsletter posts, but the Honda tagline “Power of Dreams” has long resonated with me, even before I became as acclimated to the brand as I am.

I come from Dinwiddie County, Virginia. When I was born in 1992, the population was about 21,630. Nearly 34 years later, it has risen to 29,005.

Personally, I believe growing up in a small town is why I have such a vivid imagination. There was nothing to do except dream big!

Today, those dreams have taken me all over the world, but there is something special about returning home to do the work I set out to do when I took the leap of faith to move away almost a decade ago.

On September 5th, a host of fans, including myself, descended upon the Norfolk Scope for Cousinz Fest, the one-day music festival created by Pusha T, Antonio Dawes, and Fam-Lay, in 2023.

This was my second time covering the event as media, and the first time I could do it under my own As Told By SLY brand.

When watching the founders appear on The Breakfast Club ahead of the event, I found it super dope that they are committed to legacy acts for the lineup each year, and the headliners for this year have cemented their place in the music space, which is why it was such a treat to watch them live out the fruits of their labor during the event.

Who Headlined The 2026 Cousinz Fest?

The weather tried to hold us back, but I made it to Norfolk just in time to enjoy Bryan-Michael Cox and Friends before Plies, The-Dream, Keyshia Cole, and T.I. took the stage.

Music Is A Portal

I have always loved music. It's exhilarating how a single verse or chord from a song can transport you to a whole different world. Sometimes it takes us to the future; other times, it invokes a specific core memory. Both times, I can attest that I changed as a result.

That’s why hearing the soundtrack of my childhood at the 2026 Cousinz Fest means something to me, even nearly a month after the event.

There is no reason that I should’ve been listening to songs like “Bust It Baby” or “Becky” from Plies in late middle school and early high school, but I did, so seeing him tear down the stage brought that version of me out. And let’s not forget how much of a classic his song “Shawty,” featuring T-Pain, is.

Then, it is a rarity to see The-Dream hit the stage these days, so being there for his performance felt like a bit of a good luck charm.

I’ll probably age myself with this next memory, but my mom used to take me to Circuit City after I got good grades on my progress report or report card, and I can recall our trip there to pick up Keyshia Cole’s debut album, “The Way It Is.”

Hearing her perform deep cuts like “Love, I Thought You Had My Back” did something spectacular to my brain cells, and I'll cherish these moments forever.

Last, but certainly not least – T.I. was my introduction to trap music. “Rubberband Man” received unlimited plays on my MP3 and iPod.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to not only attend the 2026 Cousinz Fest, but to immerse myself in the experience as a journalist on the scene.

The icing on the cake? In 2019, just a few months shy of my life-altering move to Atlanta, I attended the first-ever Something in the Water Festival in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Enamored that some of the biggest names in music had found themselves on a beach pivotal to my existence as a Virginian, I vowed that the next festival I attended at home would be one where I worked in some capacity in media.

Fast-forward to the 2025 Cousinz Fest, and that dream became a reality. A year later, it is still manifesting in real time.

My goal is to make this a yearly tradition, with each year being better than the next. Thank you so much to the Cousinz Fest team for believing in me and for the opportunity to attend an event that is for us, by us! See ya next year!

Hello! I am so sorry for neglecting you all. Life has been life-ing in ways more unusual than usual, but I wanted to check in and let you all know I am alive and well, and feeling more creatively inspired than ever.

Okay, so my last post dropped on June 27th, when I stopped avoiding writing down some personal thoughts about maintaining my free-spirited, childlike approach to a world inundated by capitalism, layoffs, the decline of media, and, since then, food that is a gamble to eat (IYKYK).

Today, I’ll keep things brief and give you a fast-charged update until I circle back with more thoughts on the amazing things I’ve had the opportunity to experience this summer. From Martha’s Vineyard to another Essence Festival of Culture run, Chattanooga, and everything in between, I have things to say and stories to write, and I won’t let life’s twists and turns stop me.

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In the meantime, here are some ways that you all can support your girl as I continue to ebb and flow through seasons of uncertainty.

I Need Stability

I’ve always heard of the September surge, when jobs supposedly do the bulk of their hiring, but I have never been able to take advantage of those opportunities.

If you or someone you know is hiring in the media field, please reach out and let ya girl know. I thank you in advance!

Beyond editorial writing, I have skills and years of experience in digital and social media management, including time at T-Mobile’s T-Force, where I assisted customers through social media engagement. Additionally, during my time at aspireTV from 2019 to 2022, I ran and operated all of their digital and social media channels, including launching virtual programming during the pandemic, writing for their website, engaging with fans/viewers on social media, and now, in a freelance role, I serve as the host of their Black Culture in Motion imprint, a weekly digital news segment that is dedicated to sharing positive and uplifting news within the Black community.

I’ve done so many odd jobs in my rise to where I currently sit in the field of media, including serving as a chauffeur for talent, doing coffee runs, serving as a community manager for Hulu’s UnPrisoned, and even media training one of the culture’s newest comedians of the last 5 years. I am a Jill Scott of all trades (ha)!

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Right now, I am looking for ways to increase my income so I can finally stop crashing on my friend’s couch. While I am preferably looking for something remote, I am based in Atlanta, Georgia, and willing to do some on-site work if the right opportunity aligns.

Leaning Into The Journo-fluencer World

This next point is all about the pivot. Yes, I have seen the uproar on social media about influencers taking journalists’ jobs, and I’d like everyone to relax, because that simply isn’t possible.

Even if that’s what it looks and feels like at the moment, journalists are uniquely trained to serve the people with the facts, which means, naturally, whether we want to or not, we serve as tastemakers with a pulse on the culture, especially Black journalists.

That said, I am no stranger to a pivot. When I started studying journalism at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011, they encouraged me to switch my major to Broadcast Journalism rather than print, which I was adamant about pursuing to eventually become the editor of Vibe or Essence magazine.

In the famous words of Langston Hughes, I’ll ask: “What happens to a dream deferred?”

For me, that’s always looked like carving my own lane. I have never simply applied for and landed a job in the media field; it’s always come through knowing someone who knew someone, even down to my internship at WRIC 8 and my first media job at WWBT 12 back home in Richmond, Virginia.

I say all this to say that I am completely open to partnering with brands and entities to create digital-focused storytelling. I’m currently doing this in a small capacity with aspireTV (check out my Barbados clip below), but I am open to stretching myself to do more on-camera, immersive content, but still storytelling-led work, so if you know someone who is in need of this, let me know!

I Want To Hear From Y’all!

Lastly, because I said I would keep this brief, and here I am just click-clacking away from my favorite local coffee shop, I really want to connect with you all.

Since launching my As Told By SLY newsletter in 2024, I’ve garnered the support of 113 subscribers, and I am internally grateful.

I am also extremely filled with gratitude for the 5 of you who have a paid subscription, because in this economy, you really don’t have to spare your extra coins for little ol’ me, but you do.

Please let me know what you would like to see more of from me on here! Whether it is audio, video, or more consistent writing, I want to be of service to you, and this newsletter gives me the opportunity to get a little less informal with my writing, which makes me feel like we’re really forming a bond here on the World Wide Web!

Again, thank you so much for reading and rocking with me over the past 2 years. I look forward to all that is to come!

Taps mic and dusts off pen, is this thing on?

Writing is one of the few things that truly makes me feel alive. Yet, I have been avoiding it lately. Maybe I’m afraid I won’t say the right thing. Maybe I’ll disclose too much. Oh, and my favorite internal mental battle — “Does anyone care enough to hear what I have to say?”

I don’t mean writing in the sense of what my day-to-day, or in this case, week-to-week looks like through listicles like my Women Crush Wednesday column that lives on iONE digital’s Madamenoire, but truly baring my soul for the digestion of others. Sometimes it can feel a bit too personal, and I lean all the way back.

Oh, but when I lean in, I feel unstoppable.

Recently, my spark was reignited when I wrote an Op-Ed about my visit to Barbados to learn more about Crop Over and its culture and significance, not just on the island but around the world.

Let’s back up a bit as to why this was such a meaningful experience. At the end of April, I learned that my time as a contractor for Blavity was soon coming to an end. When my final day at the company rolled around, the first week of May, I was on a boat in Barbados. It was a beautiful Friday. I swam with the fish, soaked up the Caribbean sun, and had one rum punch too many, and it was all on someone else’s dime.

You see, my life is often proof that two things can be true at once.

Yes, I was mentally freaking out about the unknown, tormented at the thought of not having a steady flow of income coming in on a bi-weekly basis, but at the same time, I was embracing my freedom as a Black woman, making a conscious decision to “feel the wind on my skin,” because, quite frankly, life is already hard enough.

I’ve cried more days than others, but one thing has remained constant. I can almost hear God asking me, “Sweet child, do you not trust that I won’t let you fail?”

A part of me feels as though I was embracing this sadness because I thought that was how I was supposed to react to the news. Deep down inside, however, I knew this day would come someday, given the doom and gloom of the current economy, especially as it pertains to journalism, media, and simply navigating the world as a Black woman.

Since the call came down that I was affected by the cuts, God has been reminding me that purpose triumphs over any move made by man, and it has been in the smallest of ways.

Shortly after learning that my time at the outlet was coming to an end, I connected with a former manager and picked up a story local to Atlanta for Capital B News.

I’ve been operating on the motto that closed mouths don’t get fed for over a year now, and because I spoke up, Ida invited me to resume my role as a contractor for Black Enterprise.

I worked one full weekend.

By the following Wednesday, we were informed that the media company had made the tough call to axe their contractors.

Shocked and in disbelief, I had to laugh and look toward the sky like, “You’ve gotta be kidding me, right? God, please tell me this is a joke.”

Just as soon as I thought I was in the clear with something that could hold me over financially until I landed the next thing, it was pulled from under me.

Here is where signs of growth come in.

For the last year, I have been heavy and consistent with two things: the gym and time with God. In hindsight, maybe my spirit knew what was ahead and wanted me to be physically and emotionally equipped to handle it all.

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While I still have my moments (and shoutout to my inner circle who gives me the space and grace to sort through those messy feelings), because after all, I am a dramatic girl, there is an underlying inner peace that comes with knowing that my Father will always provide.

Everything from random checks when funds were getting low to being able to disconnect and spend time with family and friends, chance encounters, and beyond gives me all the hope that I need to just keep swimming.

I’ll leave you all with this one thing: a day after I heard the Blavity news, I still had to show face for a set visit with a major production company (I cried the whole way home), and then I attended a Rooted in Care dinner for healing, culture, and wellness leaders.

We opened with a meditation, and I cried before the first sentence was completed.

My seat mate took a moment to hug me and share kind words that they said were placed on their spirit about me being the blueprint. The words reminded me that I chose to take the path less traveled, and that there is so much uncertainty that comes with doing something that has never been done before.

Additionally, I pulled some cards and was given affirmations that hit so close to home that I just allowed myself to ugly cry out in the open, lashes ruined and all. Take what you need, I know that I did!

“All that I need flows to me with ease.”

“I see you trying, and I’m proud of you. Keep going” - We The Urban

“You know who You are. You are the shining star.” -Rumi

(PS: I am very much in the job market. Actively looking for more opportunities for writing, hosting, moderating panels, red carpets, etc. so if you have any leads feel free to give your girl a shout.)

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My very first Sundance was made possible by Acura, and it honestly was one for the books (I’m still processing, if we’re being honest).

It’s amazing how, when you set an intention that is in alignment with God’s plan for your life, things begin to take off. At the end of 2025, I casually journaled about wanting to take my interest in documentary filmmaking more seriously. That same week, my good friends at Acura invited me to join them at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Fast-forward to January 2026, and it was quite the experience. From sitting at the table with legends like Nia DaCosta and Ava DuVernay during the Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute To Robert Redford gala to bobsledding at the same facility that trains Team USA, my first time in Utah was one for the books.

Here are my takeaways from the experience.

Storytelling can be life-altering.

Friday night’s gala began with a video narrated by the late activist, actor, director, and champion of independent film, who shared his love for storytelling.

One moment that stood out to me was his reflection on his love of books, which transports him to places around the world. I, too, developed an affinity for reading in my childhood because, no matter what was going on in life, nothing better helped me escape than a good book.

To have a seat at the table in the center of it all was a true honor, and I am filled with immense gratitude for the opportunity.

Even more, I cannot believe that Ava DuVernay slipped into the empty chair at our table a few minutes late and introduced herself once the dinner intermission began.

Moreover, Boots Riley came and greeted me as if we were old pals, and unbeknownst to him, reminded me that I can consider myself a filmmaker. Although I have one short film, a documentary titled Voices Unheard: Family Ties, out in the world, it doesn’t stop the many that I hope to share someday.

Although some of the biggest stars filled the room, such as Ryan Coogler, Ethan Hawke, Woody Harrelson, and a host of others, it was such an intimate night, and a reminder that a lot of those people’s initial vision that led to their success today is a product of their love for storytelling in some form or fashion.

Making room for adventure is a necessity.

The recipe for living a fulfilling life, at least in my view, is always to make time for play.

On Saturday, after soaking in and rubbing shoulders with folks across film with Thursday night’s Buddy premiere party, and Friday evening’s tribute dinner to Robert Redford, we took a bit of a detour from Sundance. We had the opportunity to visit Utah Olympic Park for a personalized Team USA Bobsled Experience.

The ride was made possible by the 2026 Acura ADX, the gateway Acura SUV intended to attract young, premium buyers to the Acura lineup with a fun-to-drive spirit, youthful styling and premium features including the panoramic moonroof, a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system (the Beosonic Sound Wheel is hands down my favorite feature, and why this vehicle is in the running for my next whip), ventilated front seats, and too many dope features to name!

As a kid, the movie Cool Runnings was my introduction to the sport of bobsledding. Additionally, there was a ride at our local amusement park, Kings Dominion, that let riders experience what it was like to bobsled.

At the age of 33, I made the moment my own by getting suited up and embarking on a bobsled journey where they train Team USA for the Winter Olympics!

Thanks to Acura serving as the Official Automotive Partner of USA Bobsled/Skeleton (USABS) as part of a technical partnership announced in 2025, it wasn’t long before we were on our very own bobsled, ultimately coming in at 46.70 (not bad for first-timers).

In addition to Saturday’s fun ride, Sunday’s Pilates class hosted by Peleton’s Emma Grede and the opportunity to have my Aura read were other special moments that transpired – I wish I had recorded my aura reading, because babyyyyyyy it answered A LOT of questions that have been swirling around in my head lately.

I also met my colleague, Michealei Graham, for the first time, and got to sit in on a pretty powerful panel that included CultureCon and The Creative Collective CEO and Founder, Imani Ellis, Bleecker Street President and CMO, Tyler Dinapoli, and Topicals Founder and CEO, Olamide Olowe, powered by Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business. It was titled “The New Hollywood Hustle: Building A Creative Career in the Digital Age,” and the gems dropped were exactly what I needed, right when I needed them.

Another discussion I attended just moments before featured one of my favorite Scorpio women, Erika Alexander, who discussed her return to sitcom television in an intimate fireside chat about NBC’s The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.

“You have to be seen to have power,” said Alexander at some point during the conversation, and it was something that I needed to hear, as I often tremble at the thought of putting my work on full display to be perceived.

Dreaming big comes with great reward.

When the Honda Motor Company launched Acura as its luxury and performance vehicle division in 1986, it resonated with the company’s slogan “Power of Dreams” in remarkable ways, especially as the first Japanese premium brand.

Here we are 40 years later, and Acura remains committed to the values of its parent company, particularly as a Sundance Film Festival sponsor for the past 16 years.

The Sundance Institute is where so many greats have gotten their starts, and where some of our favorite films, like House Party, Sorry to Bother You, Precious, Summer of Soul, and countless others, have won awards before being made available to the masses.

In addition to my work on the ground as a guest of Acura, I found my way to the lobby of the Pendry in Park City to interview the Turner Brothers, Justen and Julien Turner, about their Sundance premiere with FreeLance. (Read more about that here.)

My first time at the Sundance Film Festival was also the last time the event will be held in Park City, Utah, in its 48-year history. As it moves to Boulder, Colorado next year, I hope I’ll attend again in some capacity – who knows, it could be to premiere a project of my own.

Read my additional Sundance coverage below.

Tessa Thompson And Nia DaCosta Honor Robert Redford’s Lasting Impact Through The Sundance Institute: ‘A Stunning Human’

How The Turner Brothers Brought Their Major Filmmaking Ambitions To Sundance With ‘FreeLance’

It’s amazing just how far your dreams can take you.

I’ve always been a dreamer. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by dreams. Whether it’s to make my goals come true or when I lay my head to slumber, I am deeply inspired by its ability to transport us to a whole new world, sometimes literally and figuratively.

Along with dreaming, another of my pastimes as a kid was learning. My parents could not get me to put a book down for the life of me. In fact, one of my favorite memories from my childhood was when they brought me a new dictionary and encyclopedia set – I was in a whole new world, surrounded by words that would soon be mine for the taking, and I guess you could say not much has changed for me as an adult. Although I am slowly but surely returning to my love of devouring books during my downtime, I am floored by how much information is out there waiting to be uncovered.

This brings me to why I’m here. On the third Monday of every January, we honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The holiday was first observed on January 20, 1986, which is just about six years before I made my debut in 1992. In my research, I found that many people opposed the holiday, including President Ronald Reagan, who eventually signed it into law in 1983, though it wasn’t recognized until three years later. What’s even worse is that some states resisted it when it became a federal holiday, giving it other names and even combining it with other holidays, until the official observance in each state’s law and federal law took place in 2000.

In the history books, Dr. King was revered for his nonviolent approach to the fight for Civil Rights in America for Black people, which of course is a part of the revisionist history that they want us to focus on (I’ll save that deep dive for another time) however, what intrigued me the most at that time was just how his dream managed to manifest itself after he was no longer here with us in the physical realm.

Moreover, there was something about his intellectualism and ability to command a room through words that sparked something in him. In many ways, I can thank Dr. King for planting a dream in my heart as a kid. One where I could use my words to influence and inspire the masses.

In third grade, I participated in my first oratorical contest, and, of course, I used a quote from Dr. King to support the speech I had written. While I did not place, this placed a love for public speaking in my heart, which ultimately led to the work I do as a journalist today.

In my Scorpio nature, even as a kid, I became obsessed and began listening to, watching, and memorizing as many of Dr. King’s speeches as possible. I thought that if I imitated him, it would make me a better public speaker, and it did!

For my millennial readers, do you remember Our Friend Martin? I played that animated film until I couldn’t, even getting into mounds of trouble for attempting to swap out the rental copy my dad had let me pick out on a Friday night at Blockbuster (sigh, the good days) for a personal VHS that I didn’t care for. When that missing rental bill came in, let’s just say my rental privileges diminished.

But back to the story of how Dr. King helped foster my own dreams as a kid…

By the time I got to middle school, I was competing regularly in oratorical contests and, in most instances, taking home the first-place trophy. The irony is that I had a stuttering problem as a kid. I would get so excited that my brain would sometimes move at lightning speed ahead of my mouth, and before I knew it, my words would come out all kinds of discombobulated.

Fast-forward to the present day, as a young woman in her 30s living in Atlanta, Georgia, the very place where King once resided, preached, and led people on a daily basis, I am so floored by that sentiment every time I take a ride down Auburn Street.

During my 20s, I was also still obsessed, often taking day trips to D.C. to see the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, which was unveiled the year I graduated high school. For my 24th birthday, my friends thought we were coming down to Atlanta just to turn up and eat good (and that we did), but I had other plans in mind when I took us to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, the gravesite to Dr. King alongside his wife Coretta Scott King, for a quick history lesson before the festivities. They wound up really enjoying themselves, by the way, which is another story for another day, of the importance of having friends who accept you for you, quirks and all.

Okay, so I kind of rambled here, but the main point of this story is to highlight just how much Dr. King influenced my life and the career I am blessed to have today.

What’s even more wild is that last year, I wrote a story for aspireTV about Dr. King’s connection to Dinwiddie County, Virginia, the place where I was born and raised.

When my nana, Sharon Yates, was a child, Dr. King attended her church, Mount Level Baptist Church, due to his connection to their former pastor, Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, who also served as King’s campaign coordinator and chief of staff. He also played an integral role in ensuring that his Letter from Birmingham Jail was published for its intended audience.

Today, January 19, 2026, my nana facilitated the installation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Marker Commemoration and Dedication at Mount Level Baptist Church.

So, maybe there’s a reason why I was so drawn to Dr. King as a child, and have a deep respect for him even as an adult, outside of his contributions to the forward movement of our race, either way, I am grateful for another chance to honor and recognize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr on this 39th observance of MLK Day, and to be a part of his legacy of the dream.

(Click HERE to read the aforementioned to the aspireTV story)

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2026 is beginning with beautiful endings.

This may be wild to say, but I have never initiated a breakup, whether it be a platonic ending of a friendship or a parting of ways with a lover. Today, roughly 10 days into the New Year, that changed.

The irony in all of this is that last month, I was a guest on The Portia Show, which airs on Fox 5 Atlanta, where the topic was “Holidating.” Alongside three other beautiful singles, I spoke about the highs and lows of dating in this city, especially during the holidays.

Specifically, I honed in on this constant hamster wheel of situationships I’ve been on for years, noting that I was ready for a change.

Oddly enough, I have never had an official boyfriend as an adult, and I’m three years into my 30s. It’s not something that necessarily comes up often in conversation. If I’m being honest, it’s something that I have been humiliated about over the years.

Still, in reflecting and preparing to be vulnerable on our episode of the show, it dawned on me that, technically, my last boyfriend was a guy that I briefly dated the summer before college, the definition of a lying Libra (ha!).

I met my first boyfriend, a chaotic Gemini, at a Walmart in Colonial Heights, Virginia, when I was around age 15 or 16. As a matter of fact, I remember it like yesterday. He and his brother were in the electronics section, and I believe I was there with my younger sister. Before I knew it, we were having a conversation, and it wasn’t long before he asked me to be his girlfriend.

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It was so fun, until it wasn’t, and since we’re here, I’ll tell you – we broke up because he ended up hooking up with my bestie (at the time), because I wasn’t ready to have sex. I think the relationship lasted all of maybe one year and some change. I kind of blurred that out of my mind, and rightfully so; it was my first love, and those aren’t supposed to end on a high note. Or, are they?

Anywho, back to the present day. After willingly telling my business on daytime television, it dawned on me that I have not had a boyfriend at this big age. For most, if not all of my 20s, I found myself desperately clinging onto situations I had no business being in for the sake of that feeling of love, which was never the case in those instances, by the way, so I guess I was holding on to this illusion of love.

A beautiful part of aging is that it becomes increasingly more complex to engage in the same things in the hope of achieving different results, or at least this has been the case for me. What I am saying is that for the past year or so, I have grown quite tired of placing myself in the same dead-end situation after another.

My heart desires more.

Can you imagine? Me? A self-proclaimed lover girl who hasn’t really been showing up in a loving way for myself as I should. It has become something that has kept me up at night, even haunting me in my dreams (IYKYK).

To give myself some credit, dating in 2025 was pretty promising for me. Given my track record, I didn’t crash out behind anyone who (technically) wasn’t mine, and I went on quite a few fun dates, getting to know some incredible, and not so interesting, men.

This brings me to why I was compelled to write more of my business for you all to consume here today.

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My latest lover was a handsome young man from South Carolina who lives out west. We met at a concert, and our first date was an electrifying walk along Venice Beach. At one point, we even joined a drum circle, letting the sounds of music and the waves compel us to dance the night away with the sand between our toes.

If you’re reading this and we have a personal relationship, you know this is the kind of stuff I live for. Actually, the word “hopeless romantic” should have a photo of me beside it in the dictionary.

Between the dates, romantic (and I’m learning bare minimum) gestures of ensuring that I never touched a door, and even surprising me with flowers during one of my work visits out west, this had the perfect ingredients to be a relationship, except, he’s focused on chasing his dreams right now, and rightfully so because capitalism is attempting to kill everyone’s right to do so by the minute.

Since I’m trying to be more intentional this year, I made strides last year, but, like anything in life, there’s always room for growth. I broke it off with him last night, and this morning he sent a kind note of understanding, reassuring me that he also enjoyed the relationship and noting that he was proud of me for being clear about what I want, with actual well wishes that I find it.

I type all of this to say – what a way to start the New Year. The breakup was successful, and it was quite a fun ride getting to know him over these past few months. Still, it would be a disservice to myself, especially after going on television (meaning there’s hard evidence) and saying that I refuse to place myself in another situationship, to continue seeing someone who has no intention of taking it to the next level with me.

It would seem that endings don’t have to be so painful after all. Who knew that putting on my big girl panties and telling people my needs, wants, and heart’s desires would be so liberating? I look forward to more intentional dating this year.

More than anything, I love who I am, and who I am becoming - a woman who knows what she wants, and I’m not willing to compromise until I get it.

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There’s no place like home, and Clipse has never shied away from being hometown heroes.

As many Virginians wrapped up their Christmas (and/or) holiday celebrations, Pusha T and Malice were the gift that kept on giving, thanks to their Home For the Holidays shows at The Dome in Virginia Beach on Dec. 26 and 27.

The five-time Grammy-nominated duo has quite literally revived the rap genre in a way that hasn’t been done before, continuing to be the trailblazers they were when this all started in the 1990s.

Now, this isn’t my first time seeing them perform, but there was something so magical about seeing brothers Gene and Terrence Thornton at night two of their show in our home state of Virginia.

What was even more remarkable was their opening with a performance of “Chains & Whips.”

Not to take it there, but our people were quite literally brought over to this land in chains and whips. If you know anything about Virginia’s history, you know just why this was a moment that took my breath away as a concertgoer.

Moreover, them bringing out their longtime collaborator and brother from another mother Pharrell Williams was just one of those moments that I wish I could bottle up, the energy was out of the this world, but what really struck me was Pharrell taking a moment to remind all fans that no matter where fame and success take them, home is always where their heart is.

“I haven’t performed that song in like twenty years,” said Williams as he concluded a live rendition of “That Girl,” featuring Snoop Dogg, from his debut album, In My Mind, which was released on July 25, 2006, joking that he was grateful for the crowd participation because he had forgotten some of the words.

“So just want to thank ya’ll,” he continued, pausing to respond to a few “I love yous” from the crowd. “No, I love you guys, man. Actually, I remember some of it, but not enough of it. But look, what I am remembering is how much this state and this city, all these seven cities, mean to me and mean to Clipse. You guys have no idea. Whether it’s Chad [Hugo], myself, Pusha, and Malice. We had dreams. We never, ever, ever dreamt that we would make it here, and you’re in our facility tonight. It’s literally our house.”

Williams is referring to The Dome, renovated and reimagined inside of his new Atlantic Park year-round district that, along with its “state-of-the-art live entertainment and events venue, includes creative office space, urban-style residences, and a curated mix of unique shopping and dining.”

At the heart of the new, large-scale mixed-use development in Virginia Beach is the world’s first oceanfront Wavegarden surf park, claiming its title as the birthplace of East Coast surfing.

As a major investor and one of the key visionaries behind the development, Williams made it clear that none of this would be possible without the community’s support.

“We wouldn’t have none of this if it weren’t for you,” said Williams. “We love LA. We love Texas, but I’m just tryna tell you that VA made Chris Brown. Made D’Angelo. Made Missy [Elliott], Timbaland. Made Fam-Lay. It’s just different.”

“Every time you see me,” he concluded. “It’s okay if you forget my name, just see VA everywhere I go. From Paris to Tokyo. VA.”

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Immediately after, Clipse official DJ, Yoo Q! posed the question – “You know what else was made in VA?” before dropping the beat to “Grindin,’” the Neptunes-produced track that served as the massive breakthrough single from Clipse’s 2002 debut album, Lord Willin’, putting the rap duo on the map and establishing Virginia as significant source in hip-hop, forever changing lunch tables across the country (you know the beat).

Last night was filled with many heartwarming moments, but this one takes the cake because it’s a reminder that no dream is too big, and there’s nothing like experiencing it with people who have been there from the very beginning.

I, too, was once a little Virginian like Pusha, Malice, Pharrell, Chad, and so forth, with a dream, and just like them, I’m living in it.

Being able to attend last night’s show as a guest, alongside my best friend Ebony (who has quite literally been here with me through all phases of my life thus far), thanks to my career as a journalist, is proof of that very matter. Though I feel like I am just beginning to hit the tip of the iceberg, I understand entirely how awestruck Pharrell, who has achieved the unthinkable, felt in that moment.

It’s one thing to imagine a world where your dreams come true, and another thing to live in it.

Another heartfelt moment was watching Malice and Pusha T pay homage to their parents, Mildred Thornton and Gene Thornton, Sr., who passed away within four months of each other.

At the conclusion of “The Birds Don’t Sing,” which featured a montage of memories shared with their parents on the screen behind them, the brothers turned to face images of their loved ones, which left quite the impact on me from the crowd, leaving me to think that they may have felt the energy too, performing that track at home, during the holidays, when we often miss our ancestors who have transitioned from the earthly realm the most.

I can only imagine how proud they must be watching their boys back together, dominating the music scene, yet again, and with such an otherworldly force.

After remaining inactive for over a decade, following a hiatus after their 2009 Til the Casket Drops album, fans rejoiced when the pair, now 48 (Pusha T) and 53 (Malice), reunited to release Let God Sort Em Out, with Pharrell as the executive and sole producer, on July 11, 2025.

I have a strong inkling that even more dreams will come true during the 2026 GRAMMY Awards where Clipse have been nominated five times, including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance (“Chains & Whips”), Best Rap Song (“The Birds Don’t Sing”), and Best Music Video (“So Be It”).

My career has taken me many places this year, and I’ve seen many of my favorite artists. Still, there’s something about my final concert of 2025 in Virginia, with hometown artists like Pusha T, Malice, and Pharrell, that serves as a beautiful reminder that there is truly no place like home (word to Dorothy).

It’s the last day of November, one of my favorite months (for obvious reasons, Nov. 3rd to be exact).

Outside of this being the month that I am allowed to celebrate my solar return, the transformation that November brings is uncanny. It’s when the leaves really start to turn, you get to see autumn at its peak, and I don’t know, something about the crisp feeling in the air provides an air of certainty that, in my opinion, helps with preparing to close out the year.

I am writing this from a coffee shop in New Orleans. My flight was delayed earlier today, and actually it was pushed back twice, and at first I was annoyed because I’m ready to get home. Still, God often places delays in our lives as a means of protection, or at least that’s the perspective I’m taking away in this moment.

Thanks to the flight change, I was able to have a slow start, which Sunday mornings are made for. I tried out a new breakfast spot, despite wanting to go back to my regular, because, as free-spirited as I appear, I am still very much a creature of habit. After that, I stopped by this spiritual shop, Selah, that I stumbled across last year when I was here for the same event, the Bayou Classic, and instead of calling an Uber to pick up my bags to head to the airport, I opted for a stroll through the NOLA streets, with some Solange blasting through my headphones.

My heart is filled with immense gratitude, for the opportunity to experience life this way. Every day is an adventure, and sometimes my emotions and the lows of life can get the best of me, but any day above ground is indeed a blessing.

I know a few of you are new here, but this blog is a place for me to share some of my most intimate thoughts with hope that it’ll leave an imprint on you, even if it’s just because you can relate. It’s often that I refer to writing as my first love. Still, really it’s reading, because without my passion for devouring a good book as a youth, who knows if I would’ve ever had the courage to put a pen to paper and begin this writing journey that has brought me quite solace throughout the course of my life.

Okay, so the point of this entry is to reflect on the month at hand. I made 33 years on Nov. 3, and it’s something about the alignment of 333 that leads me to believe that this will be a year like none other, one where I’ll witness a lot of my dreams continue to come full circle.

According to Dictionary.com, this angel number is “said to represent creativity, good luck, positivity, growth, and good communication.”

Moreover, this number is an omen of a person’s creativity flourishing, succeeding at tasks that require communication, and experiencing growth for themselves and/or their relationships.

Personally, I entered chapter 33 with rest. After a morning yoga workout, I opted for a nap before ending the day at Poetry on Peter with my friend. It’s something about that stillness that makes me excited for what’s to come. I learned so much about myself at age 32, experienced a lot of highs and a few lows, but I came out victorious and stronger than ever. Here are some life lessons I’m carrying into this season, and random thoughts that come to mind when I think of 33.

Thank you so much for subscribing to my blog. I look forward to sharing even more thoughts, reflections, stories, and the whole nine, but I would love for you to let me know some of the things you’d like to read from me, too, so don’t be shy.

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No permission is needed to live a life that is fulfilling to you.

My whole life has been centered on making others feel comfortable or happy. Thankfully, that notion no longer serves me because this is my life, and how gracious is God to allow me to co-create with Him to make all of my dreams come true?

Establish a routine; it lays the foundation for everything else.

I am not going to lie: 2025 is the most consistent I’ve been with maintaining a gym and morning routine. A typical day for me begins with a devotional, a journaled prayer, and a workout class, setting the tone for the day and helping clear any brain fog, bringing clarity to make it productive.

Rest is essential; it’s not up for debate.

I’ve officially embraced my early 30s and have quickly learned that this body doesn't operate the same way it did in the early 20s. Rest is a sacred practice that informs literally every part of my life. I no longer subscribe to the notion of running myself ragged for the sake of achieving goals, because actually, getting some good shut eye and free time to do *nothing* is the perfect layup for the motivation and energy needed to not only make things happen, but sustain them.

Speaking up and telling people what I need works way better than suffering in silence.

Maybe it’s the mental clarity that comes with rest and moving my body, but the past two years, as uncomfortable as they’ve been have brought a welcomed change of me operating my throat chakra in a way that I’ve never done before. Plus, speaking up for myself is what little Shanique needed, and that’s what it’s all about, honestly.

Letting my inner children steal the show makes life worth living.

For a while, I forgot just how much my imagination is a superpower. Additionally, I’ve always felt like there was one inner child, but I have so many of them. Baby Shanique is different from teenage Shanique, but they both deserve acknowledgement and help me to shine in various ways.

Romance is essential to my well-being.

I’m embarrassed to say how much I’ve tolerated for the sake of connection, but you know what? You really do live, and you really do learn (ha). Although I’ve kissed my fair share of frogs this year, it has truly been a great one for dating. I think a massive part of that has come with this newfound confidence I keep finding as I embrace my womanhood. Still, it also has everything to do with dating people who know how to communicate and know when to leave a situation that no longer serves me. Aside from lovers, I’ve also been romanticizing my life in a way that isn’t rooted in escapism, which I believe has opened me up to receive so much love within my relationships, whether they be platonic or romantic.

Changing my relationship with alcohol has made me a better woman.

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By any means, does this mean that I don’t enjoy a good cocktail or glass of wine now and again, but boy oh boy, I did not want to accept how much I’ve used alcohol as a crutch to ignore some of the really real sh*t that has been taking place in my life. When I went 40 days sober, I had to really face very uncomfortable life situations that, quite frankly, alcohol would’ve put a band-aid on.

Shoutout to the ladies at Sensori, and my support system for not pressuring me into drinking when I quietly opted out of shots. This is still something I’m very much working on, but I think the fact that I’ve acknowledged needing to change the relationship in the first place says a lot. Also, it reminded me that I’m lit with or without the booze.

Reading is fun(damental).

Every year I set a reading goal that I never revisit by the end of the calendar year because I’m too ashamed that it hasn’t been met. Still, in 2025 I’ve lost count of the number of books I’ve manage to knock out, and boy, how did I ever allow myself to get too busy to remember how much of a fun pastime this is for me!

Not only has reading helped to sharpen my vocabulary, but it’s allowed me to escape in a way that is way healthier than doom scrolling before bed.

Surrender is necessary for what God has in store for me.

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I’ve fought tooth and nail against some of the life lessons that have been presented to me, and guess what? They just came back around in another way. It’s safe to say that I finally said “enough is enough,” and have surrendered in a way that I never knew was possible. The funny thing about life is that often we think (or at least I do) that we’re in control, but the truth of the matter is, we are not. Facing some of my unhealthy patterns, and learning to let go to things and people that I thought I wanted to stay forever has changed me for the better. Also, who knows what God will have me surrender in this next chapter, but I can say that placing my trust in the ultimate Creator is truly helping me to create a life rooted in purpose, planted in peace, and entrenched in a love of self that cannot come from earthly pleasures.

Maintaining a spirit of gratitude opens the door to more blessings.

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Circling back to writing being my first love, it only took me this long to realize that writing love letters to God on the daily feeds the very personal relationship I’ve been fostering. Each day, I try to thank God for at least one thing in my life through written prayers, and I truly believe it creates space for things I don’t even recall praying for. Again, I’m so grateful to be able to co-create this life of mine hand in hand with my Creator.

I look forward to whatever this next chapter holds ✨

The loss of D’Angelo feels insurmountable, to say the very least, at least that’s what I have as someone who hasn’t been able to find the words to describe how colossal a loss the news of his death feels like.

Much like the loss of forces like Michael Jackson, Nipsey Hussle, Whitney Houston, Kobe Bryant, and DMX —I mean, the list goes on… The moment I got the news will forever be ingrained in my brain, and I’m thankful that I didn’t have to learn the news through social media. Instead, a friend shared it with me, and I was able to avoid the internet altogether for the rest of the day because it truly floored me. I’m still devastated. Fifty-one is such a young age.

It’s human nature to feel a unique connection to artists when you’re a big fan, but my connection to D’Angelo feels different, because it feels like home. In a lot of ways, he was that for me, and probably so many others. Firstly, as someone from Dinwiddie, Virginia, where the area code is 804, and he being born and raised right up the road in Richmond, Virginia, of the same area code, he was a hometown hero—someone to be proud of and call our very own.

His music was something like soul food, but for the ears.

Moreover, as a kid, when I realized that he was from Richmond, a place I had frequented often during my childhood thanks to my cousins who lived on the Southside, it solidified that anything was possible if you just dared to put yourself out there, chase your dreams, and believe that they could become a reality. I grew up listening to D’Angleo, so his music helped shape the type of music lover I’ve become. As a kid of the ‘90s, born in 1992 to be exact, I had no idea what he was talking about in those songs at the time. Still, I knew that it sounded good, it was soothing, just like my late great-grandmother’s fried chicken and rolls (I can still remember what it tastes like despite her passing in 2006). I guess you could say his music is like soul food to me in a way — soothing and comforting (without some of its unhealthy side effects, of course). I find a sense of comfort when listening to him, I always have, and always will.

When I moved to Richmond for college and stayed during my early 20s, I continued to listen to D’Angelo, but this time, I understood what those lyrics meant. Many songs became a soundtrack to my emotions and feelings around love, desire, and overall connection. I read somewhere that someone said he was Black romance personified, and boy, that hit the nail right on the head.

Now that I think about it, there hasn’t been a time in my life when I didn’t listen to D’Angelo, and for that, I am very grateful.

In July of this year, my friend Christian Carter and I held an event at Le Cache Dulcet, a Black-owned coffee and vinyl spot on Broad Street in Richmond, owned by Patrick Weaver. For a few hours on a rainy Wednesday evening, we jammed to Brown Sugar alongside avid music lovers. Locals even shared stories about their personal connection to the Virginia legend, something we called him then and will continue to refer to him as until the end of time. We chose that date, just a few days after the 30th anniversary of his debut album, which was primarily written and recorded on a four-track from his bedroom in Richmond, VA.

That night was filled with so much joy, community, and love. It also hits very differently now, knowing that he was fighting a private battle with pancreatic cancer. I hope that his spirit felt the love circulating throughout the walls of that space that night; it’s definitely a core memory for me.

We not only listened to the music, but had an honest discussion about his artistry, with me doing that thing I have a habit of doing and sharing every fun fact that I knew with hopes that those on the receiving found as fascinating as I did when I first landed on little nuggets of information like the fact that D’Angelo was once a member of a hip hop group named I.D.U. (Intelligent, Deadly but Unique) or that his first significant success came by “U Will Know,” a track performed by the all-male R&B super group, Black Men United, which was featured on the Jason’s Lyric soundtrack. He was a co-producer on the song and wrote it alongside his brother, Luther Archer.

As I was doing further research for the night, it dawned upon me that I was all of two years old when Brown Sugar came out, which means, again, D’Angelo’s music is very much a part of my DNA, and that has helped me to find solace during this time.

Though I never had the pleasure of meeting him, I’d always hoped that a chance encounter would happen back home and our paths would cross. Even more, now that I’ve grown up to be a journalist, he has always been at the top of my dream interview list; maybe that’s another part of the reason why I’ve had quite some difficulty processing his passing.

There are so many life lessons we can draw from him.

Beyond just music, in my eyes, D’Angelo has always served as the personification of self-preservation. A man of such mystery and allure, never conforming to the current ways of the world, where every single second of a person’s life is often shared across social media, especially if you’re a celebrity. I find his ability to remain under the radar despite being a force to be quite admirable. It serves as a reminder that people can enjoy what we offer without needing the intimacy required to be a human being navigating life's highs and lows. We saw and heard from D’Angelo on his terms, not ours, and there’s a valuable lesson in that.

Maybe that was also the Aquarian in him, but Aquarius (my moon sign btw) being his sun sign makes so much sense because they’re referred to as “the water bearer,” the symbol for the zodiac sign, which includes an image of a person pouring water from a vessel, representing the water of knowledge, ideas, and emotional support being bestowed upon the world.

He channeled the Black experience.

If you’ve listened to any of his music, interviews, or had the liberty of watching his Devil’s Pie documentary around the making of his sophomore album, Voodoo, like I did. You know that this is eerily accurate of our brother D’Angelo. Born to a Pentecostal minister, the late Luther Archer Sr., and the grandson of the late Elder Linberg Cox of Refuge Assembly Church in Richmond, Virginia, there’s a reason why D’Angelo’s music and presence were otherworldly and often deemed a spiritual experience.

“D’Angelo was the truth, plain and funky,” said funk legend and pioneer, who the “Lady” singer cited alongside his bands Funkadelic and Parliament as a significant influence on his music.

He penned a heartfelt tribute to the singer, saying that “He didn’t just make music – he channeled the ancestors, he bent time, and he put that soul on wax like nobody else. That cat had church in his chords, grit in his groove, and funk in his DNA.

“We lost more than a musician — we lost a vessel of vibration, a brother who carried the torch for everything raw, real, and rooted,” Clinton concluded. “Rest in Power, D’. The Mothership’s got a seat for you and me, and I know you’ll keep the jam going up there. Funk eternal. Love eternal.”

There’s a reason why D’Angelo was given the gift of not only being able to sing a song the way that he did, but there isn’t a single song in his catalog where you cannot feel all of him on the track. If you pay close attention to the intricacies of the music, it seems like he didn’t end a song unless he’d bared his entire soul – if that isn’t the definition of vessel, channeling something greater than self, I don’t know what is.

I could go on and on, but I’ll leave you all with this — on my flight back in from New York this morning, I couldn’t hold back the tears when “Send It On” came on my shuffle. I let them flow because I’d like to think that as he completes his transition to become an ancestor, he would be happy with the outpouring of love and knowing just how much his artistry touched those who loved him in many ways.

He never allowed anyone to put him in a box; instead, I confidently say that he gave it his all across three brilliant bodies of music and countless other tracks. He never wanted to claim the role of being a pioneer in the neo-soul music. In fact, he told The Guardian in 2014, “I don’t want to disassociate, and I respect it for what it is, but any time you put a name on something, you put it in a box.” To huge applause from the audience, he added, “I never claimed I do neo soul. When I first came out, I said, I do black music.”

D’Angelo had the kind of soul that lives on forever. Peace to his family, loved ones, and the countless fans he made feel at home through his raw, honest, and damn good expressions of the Black experience. Job well done.

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As someone who tends to overthink her way throughout the world, this is a message to you and me: do like Nike, and just do it!

Often, I find that I am awaiting the perfect moment to start the thing. Recently, I had a revelation (as I so usually do) that it is better to start somewhere, even if I don’t think it’s perfect. I find myself sitting on so many ideas, worrying about where the resources and time will come for me to put them in motion.

Today, I am reminding us both that it doesn’t even take all of that — it can be something as simple as just getting started.

This morning, I attended a sound bath meditation by my good sis, London Franklin. Not only did it add to the peace I’ve been feeling lately, but it also brought me a sense of clarity. I have always been sure of what I’ve wanted; however, life’s circumstances (and people) have made me shy away or second-guess what I believe my purpose is.

While it has evolved beyond my dream of being a sideline sports reporter for the NFL, the goal remains the same – I want to help others tell stories. I’ve always loved how a good narrative makes me feel, even if the message isn’t heartwarming each time. There’s such beauty and power in sharing our truth, and I thank God every day that I get to wake up and help others do that.

During the summer, I learned that I am six generations removed from a free woman named Lettie Ampy, and that none of my ancestors really settled beyond Dinwiddie County, Virginia. It was a powerful discovery for me, and something that makes total sense, because if you ask my bestie Ebony, she’ll tell you from the moment we met, I uttered “I’m Shanique Liz Yates. I do what I want,” (true story), and it’s always been matter-of-factly.

The whole reason I was able to make this connection was through a woman, Shelby Stewart, who just so happens to be an editor at ESSENCE. I met her during the 2024 AfroTech Conference in Houston. We exchanged pleasantries at the event and went about our separate ways, but fast-forward to just a little over a month later, and her Beyoncé Bowl tweet about Bey’s nod to her relatives went viral. Pictured in her post were two women named Martha Yates Jones and Pinkie Yates. When folks saw the last name, they started tagging me, asking if there was any kin.

It sparked my curiosity, so I eventually reached out to the team at Ancestry, and the rest was history. I’m still sitting with the story, and one day I hope to make more of it. I have so many questions, and I want to do a lot more digging. The amazing genealogist I worked with, Nicka Sewell-Smith, also a Black woman, noted an infrequent occurrence where they were able to trace my lineage back six generations on my father’s side.

Knowing my x6 great-grandmother’s name has empowered me in a way like never before, and I want to help others do the same. I’ve been asked a lot lately what my end goal is in all of this, when it comes to my work as a journalist, and while I have yet to really land on an exact answer, one thing I am sure of is that I want to continue telling stories, but on a broader level. My priority is to inform, uplift, and inspire. Of course, I want to host my own music history show (think VH1 behind the music), but I also would love to utilize my platform to help others discover the history that lives within their own backyard.

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It started with Voices Unheard, a short documentary on the farming legacy of my great-grandfather, John Moses Bonner, who played an integral role in the Black Farmers’ Movement in the Southeastern America. Still, I have so much more in mind.

That project was completed in 2021, and it’s found its way to the back burner because, for the past few years, I’ve been living in survival mode. Wondering if my next check (abolish net30 please) will be enough to cover my expenses, let alone live off of. Although the money still isn’t flowing in as much as I’d like, my mindset has shifted, and by God’s grace, I always have what I need.

I’m releasing myself from a victim and scarcity mindset one day at a time, and am ready to get back into creating, not only for myself, but because I believe that each story, each project is yet another opportunity for me to be the vessel that God has called me to be.

I don’t know how soon I can get started on some of these ideas, but this is a good stepping stone. If you enjoyed reading this, please check out the link to Voices Unheard: Family Ties below, and leave a comment, letting me know your thoughts.

September, starting on a Monday, feels like the perfect time to start something new, so here I am, ready to begin my latest side mission – getting a little more intimate, sharing some behind-the-scenes thoughts and moments from my day-to-day that don’t always make the cut.

In this week’s edition, I’m going to bring you all beyond the bylines from two interviews conducted on Tuesday, August 19th, to be exact. Both came at the spur of the moment, but wound up being the highlight of my month.

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Okay, so my interview with the icon, Kyla Pratt, was already scheduled for that day, but on Monday, my editor messaged me and asked if I could add Chance the Rapper to the mix. Of course, the answer was an immediate, yes, however, I was shook because the weekend prior, literally two days before, I was listening to a bit of his new album, Star Line, with a friend who asked if I’d had the opportunity to speak with the rapper yet, I casually responded with, “Not yet, but maybe one day,” and didn’t think anything else of it.

Fate would have it that, because of his campaign with Adobe, I’d get to chat with him for 15 minutes about the process of making his album and how he used their new Adobe Acrobat Studio tool to do so.

Let’s back up a bit…

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I started the day with a journaling session, my normal devotional and prayer time, and a workout, all of which I had set aside before jumping into the day. I then got all glammed up and ready to kick off my first interview.

When I entered the Zoom, Kyla Pratt looked as joyous and beautiful as ever, and we hopped right in to discuss her latest film, Girl in the Cellar, a Lifetime film based on a true story of a mother who locked her daughter in the cellar (it’s a wild ride, y’all should definitely watch it). Of course, I had to dig a bit deeper beyond just her work in the film, while also giving her much-deserved flowers for portraying so many characters rooted in my childhood.

Whether it was Breanna from One on One, a younger Monica in Love & Basketball, Maya Dolittle in Dr. Dolittle, and, obviously, Penny Proud in The Proud Family, as well as The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, along with countless other roles, Pratt is a national treasure to Black boys and girls worldwide. I had to use the time during my interview to remind her.

The biggest takeaway? Have fun with your craft!

Pratt revealed that when she was in it, she never really looked at acting as just work, but more of a blessing that she gets the opportunity to do what she loves to do, a mindset that remains with her today as she prepares to step into the last year of her 30s with an upcoming birthday on September 16.

“I was never the girl who really realized that people were watching. I was just like, ‘Oh, this is acting. This is fun. My mom was an actress. I want to be like my mom,“ Pratt told me during my interview on behalf of Blavity. “I would literally film One on One and Proud Family, and be like, ‘Alright, I’m going to go hang out with my friends. It’s homecoming this weekend.’ I didn’t realize that people were actually watching the things that I was on. And then as I got older, it was hard, because after One on One ended, that’s my childhood. And I was like, ‘Oh, this is so sad, and I want to work. How old am I? How old do I look?’ I went through all these different emotions. But then, as I got older and I met people, and the things that they say — I wasn’t able to recognize that I was growing up with so many people, and it’s an amazing feeling.”

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I don’t know if it’s because I am a Scorpio, and I believe in the magnetic forces at hand in my life, but closing out the day, speaking to Chance the Rapper was quite kismet.

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Firstly, what are the odds that just two days before our chat, my friend would ask if I had ever interviewed him, and then, voilà, here we were speaking about Star Line on Zoom (audio only, at first)?

I had listened to the album several times before our call. I was immediately impressed by the word play, production, and simply the way that Chance was able to paint pictures sonically, while simultaneously taking listeners on a ride down memory lane of the Black experience from his perspective as a native of Chicago, with roots to Pilot Hill, North Carolina by way of his mother, and his family’s ties to the motherland by way of Ghana.

What I loved the most, though, was how he interwove Black literature throughout the songs and the historical lessons it provided along the way. During our chat, I joked that this album is for people who love words, but more importantly, it’s also a love letter to creatives and those with an affinity for learning.

Inspired by Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line, a steamship company rooted in Black liberation and utopianism, the album’s title alone sets the tone for the journey that it takes listeners on.

When we started our convo, Chance admitted that he felt a bit tired from the rounds he was doing to connect face-to-face with fans at pop-ups in various cities, including Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and his hometown of Chicago, among other stops. By the end of our call, however, there was something reinvigorated in him it seems, as I posed questions about the process of making the album, and particularly fangirling over his decision to include a nod to Langston Hughes’ Mother to Son, a poem that I know all too well, reciting it in a few speeches that landed me awards in oratorical contests I participated in throughout my grade school year, in his song “Tree.”

At one point, Chance even came on camera to show me the happy dance he was doing as a result of my questions, and little does he know, it empowered me to really pat myself on the back for the expertise, knowledge, and breath of fresh air that I bring to the journalism space.

The key takeaway? Returning to yourself is art.

A lot of folks have referred to Chance’s second studio album as a redemption project; however, I view it as a man’s journey back to himself, while taking a glimpse into the future, because truth be told, Black people have always been futurists, using our imagination as a form of radicalism to survive the unthinkable.

“It’s been such a beautiful process, and I’m glad that it showed in the music. I think people are getting a rich understanding of who I am, how I see the world, what the world is like, and what and how they see themselves through the album,” Chance told me during the interview, again, on behalf of Blavity. “That was exactly what was happening with me: conversations with my grandmother, where she just explained her involvement with the movement, and getting to go to my family reunion a couple years ago.”

As someone with a big imagination and the ability to speak and write things into existence, I can’t wait until we can have more than 15 minutes to chat about Star Line, and prayerfully, it’ll happen in person.

The same goes for Kyla Pratt., I would love to have a deeper, in-person link-up to discuss her artistry, but until then, please check out the full video of my conversation with Kyla, linked below. Stay tuned for more of Beyond the Bylines with SLY.

I’m holding on to the remaining days of summer for dear life.

Summer 2025 has been a complete 180 from my norm during last year’s summer solstice. I’ve been more open about my experiences in previous posts, but today I felt compelled to write about some of the lessons/observations I've had over the past few months.

Let’s start with the fact that I am still a digital nomad. Sometimes it is exhilarating, other times it is exhausting; it just depends on the day. I’m still a work in progress, so I’m learning some very valuable life lessons along the way. The one that has had the most positive impact is learning to put God and myself above everything else.

Okay, let’s talk Zodiacs for a minute. I’m a Scorpio, so my relationship to devotion is pretty intense. My loyalty to the people I love, the things that I hold dear to my heart, and the experiences I am blessed to encounter are not something that I take lightly at all. It’s been tested in more ways than ever this summer, but here’s what I am learning about myself in the process.

Baby steps are still steps.

It’s funny when I actually verbalize how much of a shell of myself I felt like last summer, because from the outside looking in, I was living the life. Always out with my friends, partying it up, living young, wild, and free, but deep down inside, I was miserable, and very few people noticed.

I spent so much time outside, rather than in, because sitting still meant facing some pretty harsh truths. It was just me and my vices against the world at that time, and sometimes it baffles me how much of it went unnoticed for a really long time.

The breaking point, or the moment when I felt I needed to make strides toward changing or getting my act together, came crashing down on my 32nd birthday. My friend held me as I cried profoundly, and I will forever be grateful for that.

We’re a little under three months until I kick off my 33rd lap around the sun, and I’m still working to stay sane, and a lot of what has helped me is my daily time with God. Since January, I’ve made it a part of my morning routine to write him a prayer, as writing is the best way for me to communicate. It brings me great joy to have open dialogue with my Creator through my daily journaling, and I aim to maintain this practice for as long as possible – it has genuinely changed my life.

I feel like, for the first time, I’ve been consistent with evolving, because I stopped rushing it, and I don’t beat myself up on the days that I fall short.

Discipline really is a girl’s best friend.

There’s an illusion about being a free spirit that most people, including myself, have. To me, it has always seemed like a means to do whatever I want, whenever I want. Like most things in my life, I definitely had the wrong impression. I stopped running from discipline, but I really had no choice as someone who has been moving around a lot, staying in different places, adapting to people’s various house rules, and trying to maintain a spirit of gratitude along the way.

I didn’t want to leave my apartment last summer, but it is something that had to happen. I have no regrets, but I do miss having my own space to decompress, let my hair down, and just be. On the other hand, I am very grateful to the people who welcome me into their homes with open arms because it is not something that I am entitled to at all; it’s a huge blessing, and I do not take it for granted. At all.

My reality, however, is that, in exchange for living a life where I get to live out my dreams, I’ve had to sacrifice some things, and making a significant amount of money is one of them. Honesty is the best policy, so I will say I am still working toward better money (and time) management, but I say all of this to say that there are many times when I must go without, and there’s still some shame associated with that.

Thanks to a routine that I can take with me on the road, I’m still able to eat clean and get a workout at least three times a week, and up to five times on a good week. I am so proud of myself for maintaining this lifestyle since the beginning of this year. Temptation is still an MF, and there are still times when I fall short, but I’ve come a long way, and I’ll clap for myself when it comes to that.

Facing my ego has been no easy feat.

What is an ego? According to Webster’s dictionary, it is a noun, and one definition states that it is “the self, especially as contrasted with another self or the world.” At the same time, another says it is “one of the three divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory that serves as the organized conscious mediator between the person and reality, especially by functioning both in the perception of and adaptation to reality.”

The truth, whether we wish to admit it or not, is that all of us wear some mask. Something that prevents anyone from knowing our true nature and desires. This summer, it feels like I have been on a long journey to uncovering who I am when no one is watching, and doing myself a favor by showing up as just that.

As a retired (and still recovering) people pleaser, I can say that I’ve been guilty of wearing various masks to appease different people in my life. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have an identity, because I’ve always been this emotional being, just trying to get through life being sweet when it hasn’t always been that kind to me. Still, it does mean that I have spent the majority of my life working to make and keep everyone happy, leaving myself with only breadcrumbs and sometimes the worst parts of myself.

When I show up, I want to be the best version of myself. Still, the truth is, no one is perfect, especially not me, and I’m becoming increasingly comfortable with not being the hero or the reasonable person in everyone’s story. As someone with a very public-facing job, I still have a fear of being perceived and being nervous about whether people like me or not. It’s safe to say, I am slowly but surely making peace with the fact that everyone won’t like me, or welcome (and keep) me in their lives with open arms, and that’s okay. I’m continuously breaking free from this, and it is hard, but this summer, there have been quite a few breakthrough moments where I’ve ripped the mask off, and had to be brutally honest with people that I love dearly – their responses always confirmed that I made the right decisions.

My intuition is everything to me.

Since I was a child, I’ve always had these remarkably lucid dreams, and they have yet to go away now that I’ve reached full-blown adulthood. I sense people’s energies, and sometimes I know their motives before they do, but who wants to live life with their guard up just because you see a person is about to be weird? Not me (haha).

I’ve run from my intuition for far too long, but now I hold it dear to me like never before. Instead of going with the flow like I’ve led myself to believe I’ve been fine with for forever, I’ve been facing a lot of things head-on, and it’s been the result of trusting myself. I don’t always know how things are gonna pan out, but when I know, I know, and boyyyyyyyy have I been knowing this year.

I’m grateful for every experience, big or small, good and bad, pretty and downright ugly that I’ve been able to withstand throughout this summer solstice. We have just under a month to soak up the final sun rays of the season, and I plan to do it with pride, because this has been a truly transformational one for me. I believe that each lesson brings me one step closer to reconnecting with myself.

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Often, I envy, yet empathize with, those who choose to stay the same. It’s the easiest thing to do, so I get it, but shoutout to the ones on this journey with me — may you continue to hold yourself to the utmost light as possible, and tend to your garden with the grace and attention you do for everyone else’s. You are not alone in this quest to become better, break generational curses, and step into the life of your dreams. I see you, and I love you.

Cheers to the next few weeks of summer! Leave me a comment and let me know how you plan to spend the rest of the summer.

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DISCLAIMER: If my truth is going to make you feel uncomfortable, stop reading this now. It has only taken me 32 years to figure out that having big emotions does not mean that I am hard to deal with.

From the outside looking in, one might perceive me as someone who has everything figured out. God has blessed me with a life that I genuinely love, a career that I look forward to pursuing every day, and loving friends and family who show up for me when I need them. The truth of the matter is, on days like today, I am a ball of emotions. A child who misses her father, who is still very much alive, but no longer feels the need to have a relationship with his children. It is not to be mistaken, my dad was never a deadbeat. He was present for every milestone, big or small, and I grew up with him in our home until I left for college. My dad, still, however, is the tell-tale sign of what it means to have a parent who is not emotionally present.

I didn’t realize it much when I was a kid. Maybe it’s because between the physical and emotional abuse he displayed toward my mother, she managed to overcompensate for what she might’ve known he was incapable of. I grew up with a mom who showered me with love notes, kisses, and random “I love yous.” I do believe that her big heart is something I inherited as the firstborn. I’m not saying that she doesn’t have her flaws, or didn’t have moments where she withdrew her emotions from me when she was in a fight with my dad. Still, I can say that, even though she hasn’t always understood why I am the way I am, she hasn’t at least tried to show up for me as best as she can – especially in these adult years, as someone who is currently in my third or fourth year of therapy trying to unlearn and heal from some of the traumas I’ve endured all of my life.

Why am I sharing this with you on Substack? I have no idea. What I do know though is that as I sit on this flight with the tears streaming at the flow of rivers down my cheeks, I felt convicted to take my thoughts from my journal (aka my saving grace), and share it with whomever may be reading this who may be able to relate in one way or the other. It takes courage to share these personal struggles, and I hope it inspires you to connect with your journey.

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From an early age, I realized how my emotions made others around me uncomfortable, which confused me a lot as a child who was just trying to be honest about how I felt, and often about the turmoil that went on within the walls of the homes we lived in throughout my childhood. I can vividly recall the many times I was lectured about “what goes on in this house stays in the house,” you know, the sentiment that has torn Black families apart for generations? I tried so hard to vocalize the pain and confusion that I felt in my heart quite often as a kid, and eventually, I learned to suppress those emotions out of fear of disappointing or hurting the people I loved who also claimed to love me.

This led to anxiety attacks that many would blame on my asthma, and I had no idea what that emotion was when I was young (boy, do I wish I had a movie like Inside Out 2 to help me understand back then). Moreover, it also led to the one thing people have always complimented me about.

“Shanique, you’re so intelligent for your age.” As a means of survival, I threw myself into books, devouring them one at a time, sometimes hardly coming up for air because the characters, worlds, and plots within some of my favorite stories became a form of escape. Something to silence the chaos that always seemed to be around me, within families who may have meant well and were trying to protect me, but often pretended like everything was sunshine and rainbows.

It’s all a blessing and a curse, because on one hand, I have always been able to be a glass-half-full kinda girlie, but on the other, it turned me into a people pleaser. Constantly performing to make others around me happy, usually at the expense of my sanity.

I can’t even begin to tell you the plethora of relationships I stayed in because I thought it was the right thing to do, both platonically and romantically, and how I endured abuse of my own from a very close family member that I still have only verbalized to a hand full of people out of fear that it’ll tear my family apart. I will share that it wasn’t my father who abused me. I can count on one hand the number of times I received a whipping from him, and the ones I did receive were more than likely warranted. I wasn’t a perfect child, but boy, did I strive to be. But I'm on a journey of healing, and I hope it brings you hope and optimism for your journey.

“If I just make straight A’s maybe my parents will get along,” is one of the many things I told myself, as I overachieved my way through grade school, consistently making Honor Roll, being inducted into the National Honor Society, among countless other accolades that, don’t be confused, I was very proud of achieving.

I just wish someone would’ve told me back then that I couldn’t gold star my way into getting the adults in my life to behave. And I’m not writing this to bash anyone or to point fingers, because I understand that coming from where I come from, my parents just didn’t have the tools themselves to know what it means to break generational curses. However, they managed to do so with my siblings and me.

What continues to help me maintain a soft heart toward them, specifically my dad, is that they grew up in a time when they weren’t allowed to express their feelings. I don’t know much, if anything, about what they may have experienced in their respective households that made them feel that way, but my heart aches for the wounded inner child that lives within them, still longing to be loved. I hope this acknowledgment of the complexity of family dynamics makes you feel understood and validated in your own experiences.

I also have never held any grudges or ill will toward my dad, whom I barely have a relationship with these days. My calls and texts often go unanswered, and many times it’s hard not to feel like he’s moved on to a life without me. Who knows? Maybe, he’ll read this and want to reconcile, and I’ll always welcome him with open arms.

However, I’d be lying if I said my heart doesn’t ache and shatter into a million pieces sometimes when I hear people constantly congratulating me for my personal and professional achievements, wondering where I’m traveling to next, or what big star I’ll be interviewing when the person whose DNA ruins through my veins won’t pick up the phone as I call, not because I want anything or need money, but simply to say “Hey dad, you’ll never believe how my interview with Eddie Murphy went today.”

Again, I don’t know why I’m sharing this with you, and if you’ve made it this far into this post, I don’t want sympathy or a pity party; I just want to lean into vulnerability. This superpower has saved me time and time again, as well as a relationship with God that was birthed out of pain at an early age. Thank you for reading.

Reminder: This is a safe space for me to share my truth; therefore, it is not intended to hurt or put anyone down in the process. Again, if you’ve made it this far, I’ve suppressed and internalized my truth for so long. As I continue to heal, I will continue to share - the good, the bad, and the ugly, and it’s all for Baby Shanique. If it makes you uncomfortable, please know that my feelings will not be hurt if you unsubscribe. I hope this helps.

Ironically, as I continue with my Bible reading for this year, the first time I’ve ever done a full in-depth read of the word, by the way, I’ve come to the book of Job, just as I’ve suffered a massive data loss on my iPhone.

I’m writing this to help me cope with the reality of hundreds (nearly thousands) of notes missing from the app on my phone, and the days of working with the folks at Apple and other people in IT are no longer. Everything from my personal dream log over the years to the speech I recited at my Gaga’s funeral is no more, and I’m human enough to admit that I’m pretty devastated.

This evening, it dawned on me that I also read the first three chapters of Job today as a part of the reading of The Bible in 52 Weeks: A Yearlong Bible Study for Women, gifted to me by my best friend, Courtney. God’s sense of humor and timing are something else sometimes, because the irony of this being the assigned reading for this week is truly something that cannot be made up.

Here’s what I am learning in the process.

Technology can and will fail us all at some point in our lives.

I hate to sound like such a Debbie Downer, but if ever a time I am more inclined to stick to the pens and the papers I am used to, it is now. I’ve always loved journaling, in a pen-to-paper style, but in recent years, when I don’t have the means to get to my notebook, I began dumping a lot of my thoughts into my notes app, and it’s helped me process things in real time.

Will I ever use the Notes app again? Absolutely, but moving forward, I’ll be a lot more cognizant of ensuring that things are backed up.

Don’t sit on your ideas.

While I don’t believe that I’m a person who chases perfection before doing the thing, I do know that oftentimes, I save my ideas for later, and losing a great chunk of some of my creative brain dumps by way of those notes has reminded me that there has to be an urgency with making those big thoughts, and dreams, a reality.

My friend Rajanie reminded me of this during our catch-up call today – it is truly now or never. Although I am truly upset, I am also inspired to get back to cooking on some of my creative pursuits.

It’s okay to grieve.

I want to think of myself as a happy-go-lucky type of person. I genuinely don’t aim to be down for long, but this is reminding me that it is okay to express my frustrations or disdain with something; in fact, it is the very thing that makes me human. This is something I never thought would happen, and not one of those L’s that I could’ve ever prepared for if I’m being quite frank, but it happened. Now that the deed is done, and I've cried many tears to my mom and bestie, I understand the importance of having people to run to when life doesn’t feel so great.

I haven’t lost my ability to create and dream big.

Did I lose what felt like a significant amount of material that stemmed from my creativity and imagination? Yes. Does that mean I cannot do it again? No.

You see, I would argue until I’m blue in the face that my imagination has been one of God’s greatest gifts to me. It has catalyzed where I am today, because dreaming is what has always been a source of my strength to weather life’s fair share of storms, and that comes directly from the source.

That said, as long as I am living and breathing, I have the power to create, and I’ll pick myself up by the bootstraps and start right back over again – that has never been a foreign concept to me, so why start now?

God knows what’s best in the end.

As I type this and reflect, from the loss of the data in my notes app to reading about Job losing it all in my devotionals for this week, and having a really scary dream about loss yesterday (Sunday) morning, I have a sense of peace at whatever God is trying to tell me about endings.

Yes, I am sad. Yes, I feel a little hopeless. But, at the end of the day, I also have a sense of satisfaction in knowing that I don’t call the shots, no matter how much I like to pretend or trick myself into believing that I am in control. One day, I’ll read this while I’m sitting in the newness that He has prepared for me, but until then, I plan to pay attention to what’s happening, so that I don’t miss all that is in store.

While I do that, and until I find the time to do a proper quarter two recap, here are some of my favorite stories from April to June.

From Blavity:

https://blavity.com/entertainment/jamie-foxx-never-had-white-boss-number-one-on-the-call-sheet

https://blavity.com/wale-performance-dreamville-blanco

https://blavity.com/dreamville-festival-kai-cash-niko-brim

https://blavity.com/twista-lil-jon-peanut-butter-jelly-time

https://blavity.com/black-western-culture-oklahoma-city-bill-pickett

From Madamenoire:

https://madamenoire.com/1438409/black-maternal-health-week-madison-star-brim-doula/

https://madamenoire.com/1438975/tashera-simmons-opens-up-about-memoir-and-healing-since-passing-of-dmx/

https://madamenoire.com/1440712/ledisi-opens-up-about-the-power-of-music-and-the-crown/

From xoNecole

https://www.xonecole.com/inside-tiera-kennedys-bet-awards-night-hanifa-dress-diy-glam-blackbiird-nomination/

https://www.xonecole.com/i-tried-szas-not-beauty-lip-gloss-heres-how-it-went/

From aspireTV

https://aspire.tv/tribe-talk/grand-national-tour-los-angeles-review-night-one/

https://aspire.tv/tribe-talk/mariah-careys-longtime-hairstylist-dior-sova-day-in-the-life/

From Refinery29 Unbothered

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/bet-awards-106-and-park-personal-reflection

Hey, my friends, I haven’t been neglecting you all, I pinky promise. Life has just been a whirlwind in the best way!

Where do we start? I’m writing this note from Los Angeles, and I wish I could say there are sunny skies, but lately, when I visit, it’s been all doom and gloom. But, as my girl Annie said, the sun will come out tomorrow, which it surely will, and I mean that both figuratively and literally. So let’s break down what has transpired since you last got an As Told By SLY newsletter in your inbox.

In March, I got a chance to rest.

I had the opportunity to attend the final stop of the inaugural Reporter Rest series led by the Highland Project in Atlanta. I truly had the chance to spend two days restoring, reflecting, and reimagining the collective future with like-minded Black women.

To kick off the two-day event, I attended an intimate dinner with Highland Leaders, including Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon. It was here that I met three time author Octavia F. Raheem and not only did she sign the copy of her book, Rest Is Sacred, which was one of the goodies that were included in the gift bag, but I learned that you can create the life of your dreams when she informed me that she works as a Chief Daydreaming Office. What is that, you ask? Raheem supports the Highland Project through resting and daydreaming, growth visioning, and future strategizing. I was FLOORED hearing this, and it inspired me to keep going to make these crazy visions of mine come true.

Day two was also glorious. We were hosted by The Rest Spot, a unique resort and co-working space designed exclusively for women in Smyrna, Georgia. During the rest practices, I was boohooing, tears streaming down my face because I needed that release and a safe space to be free about some of the things I’ve struggled with since childhood.

I could go on and on about this, but I am trying to fit a lot into this one catch-up (let me know in the comments if I should do a separate post on everything I walked away with at the event).

Honda took me to Puerto Rico, ya’ll

To end March, I hopped on a flight where the only passport I needed was Honda’s as I tested their 2026 Honda Passport, and got to do my first off-roading experience. I also drove the vehicle throughout the streets of Puerto Rico. It was the first time in a very long time (maybe even forever) that I turned a work trip into a vacation — I spent hours on the beach on a Friday with just a book, my journal, my thoughts, the ocean, and a heart full of gratitude.

In April, God did the unthinkable (nah, but what the heck, I did things I never imagined)

Kicking off the month, I had the honor of attending the fifth and final (but not really) Dreamville Festival as a guest of Visit Raleigh. My coverage on behalf of Blavity included interviews with Niko Brim, Kai Ca$h, Ludacris, B.G., Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, and the DMV’s very own Wale.

Here’s the thing: I attended the last three Dreamville Festivals as a media professional, which means I gained access to the event thanks to my work as a journalist, and still got to enjoy the experience with my friends, you know, best of both worlds type stuff.

When I left the festival in 2024, I set a very clear intention of attending in 2025 with the goal of putting my work ahead of the fun. I knew that I needed to lock in. This has been a year of locking in like never before, because there’s a very specific dream that God placed on my heart to do the work I do (more on that later). I did everything I set out to do this year, and I am so grateful for the stories that unfolded as a result.

The icing on the cake was that I got to bring my sister, my Sommertime, along for the ride, and we bonded like never before. She also circled back later and told me that she was left inspired and very proud of me. That was the real win for me during the weekend. Don’t let that go over your head.

So much transpired for me this weekend, and it’s important to note that I was also participating in my first full-fledged season of Lent, from March 5 to April 17. During that time, I fasted from alcohol, and I tried (the Lord is still working on me) to refrain from using curse words as much as possible.

That said, I was tested like no other that weekend, and when the time is right, I will share because it may help someone else. I will say this: Don’t let old energy and circumstance dampen all God has in store for you. That’s it, that’s all.

Because I refused to give energy to the negativity, the following weekend, I was heading to attend the 2025 Coachella Music Festival with YouTube (shoutout to my girl Candace McDuffie for lobbing me the opportunity, shoutout to the girls girlsssss)

Not only was that my first time in Palm Springs, but it was also my first time partnering with YouTube as their guest to do storytelling about them celebrating 20 years of the platform and 13 years of streaming Coachella live for fans at home.

To round out the month, I ended April in New Orleans at the Jazz Festival and Shorty Fest on behalf of my amazing folks at Acura. I first attended the media event in 2023, but coming back and doing it again two years later was bigger and better!

This time, I got to bring my videographer, Candace Christian, who most eloquently captured the weekend as a part of my SLY Diaries digital series, make sure ya’ll go run that up on IG and TikTok, please!

All in all, March through April, God was showing me just how good it could get, and as I’m writing this and it’s mid-May, I must say that this current month and season I am in is no different. This time, however, I promise I won’t neglect y’all and will work harder to carve out time for more entries because I am so grateful to the people who pay for a monthly subscription on this platform (and those who don’t as well because trust me, in this economy? is my response to spending a single dollar these days too).

I love ya’ll. I appreciate ya’ll. And I’m so happy to share my experiences with you all in this way – Know that God is moving, and it’s important to note that I have been sitting back and letting Him truly guide the way. As a writer, I don’t have the words to describe the feeling. I’m just so thankful.

In the meantime, check out my coverage on Dreamville, Coachella, and a few of my other favorite stories from March and April below.

Pharrell Williams Says 'The Greatest Gift Ever Is Turning Expression Into A Living' As 'All Day I Dream About Sport' Screens For HBCU Students

Jamie Foxx Revealed He 'Never Had A White Boss' Ahead Of 'Number One On The Call Sheet' Premiere: 'I've Been Very Blessed'

Wale Says His 'Gloves Still Work Perfectly Fine' After 'Blanco' Performance At Dreamville

Inside J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival's Powerful NYC Hip-Hop Moment From Kai Ca$h And Niko Brim

At HBCU Shaw University, Dreamville And For The Students Reimagine What Breaking Into Music Looks Like

'Government Cheese' Stars On The Joy Of Exploring Black Surrealism: 'We Are Magic'

Black Maternal Health Week: Misa Hylton’s Daughter Madison Star Brim on Music, Style, And Saving Black Lives As A Doula [Exclusive]

YouTube's 20-Year Run Is Shaping The Next Era Of Music And Culture At Coachella

My love for storytelling was born in my great-grandmother’s rocking chair. Sitting in Grandma Pearl’s lap was my favorite place as a kid.

Now, as a 32-year-old woman, I am continuing to grow and evolve into the person God has called me to be. I am so grateful for the seeds that were planted in me as a child that I now get to see bloom as an adult.

It’s hard to summarize last year's events in a highlight reel, but thanks to my amazing editor, Jessica Johnson, we managed to tell a story in just under four minutes.

Thank you for your continued support along the way, and if you feel so inclined, feel free to share — ya girl is still chasing the dream of someday becoming a television host, so each share, comment, subscription, etc., means the world to me.

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I love you all 🤎

Riding up and down the coast of San Diego is therapeutic for the soul – I don’t make the rules!

In early March, I descended upon one of my favorite California destinations to join Acura during a media drive for their Acura ADX, the luxury manufacturer’s gateway SUV for the next generation. With the stunning Alila Marea Beachfront Resort as our home base, the experience was the perfect blend of luxury, performance, and pure West Coast vibes.

As Acura's newest compact luxury-adjacent SUV, the vehicle is designed to be an accessible step into the premium car world. It combines high-end features with everyday practicality, making it the perfect “grown-up” car for millennial and Gen Z drivers seeking style, tech, and performance while ditching the full luxury price tag.

I am what one would call a seasoned millennial, so I understand that we all hit that point where it’s time to level up. Whether that’s through career moves, lifestyle shifts (the girlies are getting married and starting families), or, if you’re anything like me, you may be preparing to say goodbye to the first car you purchased with your hard-earned coins that are holding on by a thread.

Enter the 2025 Acura ADX, the perfect “I’m grown, but still making smart money decisions” luxury adjacent ride.

Acura said let’s give the people premium without the stress, and honestly? They delivered.

Here are my thoughts on what makes this baby one of the vehicles of the year that’ll be sure to turn heads.

The Sound Systems Gives You The Chance To Put On A Full-Blown Car Concert With Your Faves.

If you’ve been keeping up with my thoughts here on As Told BY SLY, you know that I live for a good experience, and Acura understood the assignment with the 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system.

My standout feature is the Beosonic Tone & Surround wheel, allowing you to adjust the speaker system to your presence through options like Bright, Energetic, Warm, and Relaxed.

Since I set off during the sunrise drive at 5 AM, I began my drive on Relaxed to align with the sounds of Cleo Sound and similar artists, thanks to my latest favorite station on Pandora. By the end of my drive, however, I moved the wheel to match my energetic mood provided by Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, an album that has gotten a spin in my rotation since it first dropped in November 2024.

Immense Energy in a Compact, City-Friendly Package

Nothing beats a whip that fits your lifestyle! For me, that’s something smooth enough to glide through the city but still has that edge when you hit the highway.

Thanks to the turbocharged 1.5L VTEC engine, the Acura ADX is punchy without being over-the-top, and the sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels ensure you feel every bit of that Acura performance.

Lastly, there was a running joke that I was the “worst parker” during our funny high school superlatives, but that is because I did not have the multiview camera system, equipped with front and rear sensors, to help guide me into parking spaces with ease—as an adult behind the ADX, I put those folks to shame by sliding into spots like a pro!

A Soft Life SUV with Features You’ll Actually Use

I’m just a girl, and although I grew up in a household with a diesel mechanic and within a family entire of some of the best service members North of the Mississippi, I do not always utilize all of the features (or are even aware) that my cars have come equipped with.

But baby, let me tell you, the heated steering wheel was in full use for nearly four hours, so I got to drive and play around with the ADX. Talk about a blessing, whether you’re dealing with the cool, crispy weather on the East Coast that I’m accustomed to or the abnormally low temperatures that we experienced in San Diego during the last of the winter in early March.

The hands-free power tailgate is clutch for my parents, who like to load their groceries into the crib in one trip.

And the panoramic moonroof just screams Main Character Energy for every drive!

Final Verdict? The Acura ADX Appears To Be A Solid Move for First-Time Luxe Buyers.

With an MSRP, or Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, of $42,000 ($46K with AWF and upgrades), the ADX is a no-brainer if you’re a buyer looking to step into a more premium space without overcommitting to a full luxury price tag (Chile, how in this economy?).

It’s stylish, smart, and packed with features that actually enhance your everyday life, so if you’re looking for a sign to make your next grown–up purchase, this just might be it—tell ‘em SLY sent you!