11/27/2025
THIS RISING — A MESSAGE TO BLACK MEN🖤✊🏿
This rising, I woke up inside my momma’s house — the same house I restored in McGehee, Arkansas with my own two hands.
It’s humbling to be here during the holidays.
Normally I’m traveling, working, visiting family… moving nonstop.
But this year God told me to sit still.
A few things needed my attention.
Working on the house. Starting a new position. Traveling back and forth.
Life slowed down in a strange way — everything came together and scattered at the same time.
It felt like standing over a table full of puzzle pieces.
Not chaotic… just open.
For the first time, I can look at the pieces and see where they go.
The puzzle looks easier now.
Peace is in the room, even while the story is still being written.
And I realized something:
When you lack information, you react out of emotion.
When you get too emotional, you flip the whole table —
not knowing you needed some of the things you just threw away.
Later you have to crawl back, fix it, repair it, undo what you did out of anger and ignorance.
So if I can say anything to Black men this rising:
Heal.
Work on yourself.
Face what hurt you.
Take accountability.
Stand in the mirror and point at yourself — not the world.
Put your foot on your own neck.
Push yourself.
Correct yourself.
Discipline yourself.
Because we can’t give up.
We can’t make excuses.
We don’t have time for pity parties.
We have people depending on us — children, elders, people who can’t carry what we carry.
It’s on us.
But we’re built for it.
Remove the emotion.
Think with clarity.
Move with purpose.
Lead with love.
This rising — I love you, Black man.
Keep going.
