born original.
thoughts on not riding the wave + reads & vibes for your weekend.
I’m back after taking a week off to enjoy New Orleans and all things Essence Festival. It was definitely a time! I ate well, had great laughs with my girls, and saw some really great performances.
I have plenty of thoughts about the festival itself, but I’ll summarize by saying this: it’s essential to know who you are, whose you are, and who you’re serving. Doesn’t matter what industry or activity you’re participating in. If you can’t clearly articulate a response to each of those categories, you need to go back to the drawing board.
That being said - I needed the break and I’m excited to be back. The question is…
I know, I know. Let’s jump right in.
thoughts at large.
I have been thinking a lot lately about the importance of being original, and what that looks like in a creative space. It’s hard to assess whether you’re having an original thought when it’s so easy to access the thoughts of others. I mean literally, we’re exposed to so many ideas on a daily basis thanks to social media, that sometimes it can be challenging to differentiate our opinion from the opinions of others, and that’s a dangerous place to be in.
This week, for the first time in what feels like many years, I opened two new social media accounts. I’ve been on Facebook since 2006, with the same account. I’ve been on Twitter since 2009, with the same account. I’ve been on Instagram since 2013 with the same account. I’m not new to it, I’m true to it, and I’m somewhat selective about joining new platforms. I mention this to show you that I’ve been an early adopter for a long time. I’m curious and I like to stay ahead of the game with the latest tech advancements. As a communications professional though, and someone who understands the psychology of communication, I can also see the toll that social platforms are taking on real creativity.
It seems like everyone is looking for that formula to help them create a viral moment. People say things online that they would never say in real life, simply for the shock value. People pull stunts on video for clout. And unfortunately, some people have been on Twitter for so long that they’ve developed one homogenous personality.
Who’s even creative anymore? We’re seeing the same things all the time - even all the way up to Hollywood. I don’t know about you, but I could do without yet another reboot. Are there no more new stories, or are we just too scared to be different and break the mold?
When I’m in a rut I watch Insecure. Specifically, I watch season 4, episode 8 “Lowkey Happy” - to me, it’s a perfect episode of television. It told a full story - beginning, middle & end. It’s funny. It’s frustrating. It’s romantic. It’s sexy. All in one 30-minute episode. It reminds me that there is space to be creative and that if I allow myself to really tell the stories I want to tell, I too could see my work come to life. It also reminds me that in order to create something great, you have to be two things: true to yourself, and bold enough to be different.
As I go into this weekend, I’m excited about the prospect of stepping into the boldness of creativity. I’m reminding myself of the “why” behind the things I’m creating, and worrying less about “how” things get accomplished. For me, it’s about getting out of my head with it and just DOING, rather than taking forever to PLAN.
To help myself, I’ve been intentional about making good use of my Summer Fridays at work and developed a sort of creative residency for myself. If you’re interested in hearing more about that, DM me, leave a comment, or if you’re reading in your inbox, just respond to the email. I’d love to hear from you.
Here’s my challenge - do something for you this weekend that brings you back to you. Each and every one of us has a gift, skill, or talent that is meant to be shared with other people… we do ourselves and the people who need them a disservice by hiding them. Let’s let our originality shine, friend.
Love you, mean it!
need you to know.
Yusef Salaam, member of the exonerated 'Central Park 5' now elected to office in NYC
After gutting affirmative action, Republicans target minority scholarships
reads & vibes.
Layover, cramped seating, security lines: A day with players on a WNBA commercial flight
Britney Spears says Wembanyama’s security struck her in Las Vegas, Spurs rookie says he was grabbed
Keke Palmer's Boyfriend Tried To Publicly Embarrass Her And Ended Up Embarrassing Himself
Summer is here and so are the invitations to all-white parties.
The most recent season of ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ was officially the last. It won’t be returning for a 5th season, a mutual decision between HBO and the show’s creator, Robin Thede. Read more at Variety.
A new movie about the life of Bob Marley is set to hit theaters in 2024. It’s called ‘One Love’ and you can watch the trailer below:
Kelly Clarkson is featured on the latest episode of The Terrell Show. Kelly is the OG American Idol, they literally don’t make ‘em like her anymore. Honestly… these competition shows haven’t really launched a career of a star since Adam Lambert. American Idol was a phenomenon at its peak, that can’t be replicated. This episode was fun but super chaotic. If there’s one thing that Kelly’s going to do though, it’s sing her face off. Enjoy!
This Sunday at 9/8 Central catch a new documentary about the history of Black television called “See It Loud”. It was co-produced by LeBron James & Maverick Carter’s company, SpringHill. Trailer below:
There’s new PartyNextDoor & Kenyon Dixon on The Update Weekly Playlist! You can grab it on Spotify or on Apple Music. Enjoy!
That’s all for this week, fam. Have a great weekend!
