#MNR: GOD'S FAVORITE

​#MNR: GOD’S FAVORITE
 
“We’re born to live a life to die. Life is so damn short, man I wonder why.”
O.C.
 
My brother Rev “St. Louis” (Louie) Glaspy hit my line late Saturday night and told me he went to see his folk and ended up running into one of our VUU big homies. Actually, he was more than just a big homie – he was MY nigga. He still is. I don’t want to put his name out, so I’ll refer to him as Big Bro. Big Bro had the biggest impact of any of the big homies my freshman year. He wasn’t just older than us, he was like fifth-year senior older than us (I could be lying, but I think so). I was still 17. Bro was 22-23 at the time. I still remember him pulling up to Huntley World one afternoon first semester. I was on my usual, coolin’ out on the bricks, dolo. Big Bro pulled up and told me to get in. I asked him where we were going. He calmly advised me to never ask “where to” when an old head told you to get in; it was a privilege and guaranteed to be worthwhile. He didn’t exactly say all that, but that’s basically what he said. A half hour later, I was on the southside smoking blunts in another big bro’s fully furnished basement. I was also introduced to Courvoisier, courtesy of the basement’s FULL bar. Getting wasted with the big homies on a random Richmond late summer/early autumn weekday afternoon is extra valid, especially when you’re still a novice to the university and Richmond culture. But I cherished every opportunity to see and explore. That was the best non-yard part of freshman year. Big Bro was one of the first to provide that opportunity. Technically, Ant introduced us to the southside, but he moved a bit different (IYKYK). Big Bro was easily the most consistent. He stuck around Richmond and became an educator. He randomly popped up on the yard throughout my Union experience. We broke bread as recently as 2017. He was the same old Big Bro: cool, calm, assertive, subtly demonstrative and very astute in diverse fields. His laugh was unique but fitting. Hadn’t a thing changed except damn near twenty calendars. Oh yeah, back to Louie. He told me that he ran into Big Bro. Big Bro is fighting a neurological disorder that has taken his ability to do much of anything. I don’t know the name of his affliction, and I wouldn’t disclose it if I did. But Big Bro is not able to be anywhere near what he used to be. He’s in the Lou because Louie’s folk is holding him down. I could go on and on about Big Bro and who he is, but I’ll simply sum it up like this: he had a heavy influence on my VUU experience and made an indelible impression on my life. My thoughts and prayers are with him. Big ups to my brother Louie and the entire Huntley World Family. Big ups to the entire 1500 North Lombardy St. Love infinite.  
 
In a week’s time, the Supreme Court has allowed for religious schools to receive public school funding, made it a hell of a lot easier to carry a concealed weapon (even in areas like tri-state and Cali) and struck down Roe v. Wade, ending the federal right to abortions. In less than 168 hours, the six conservative justices have effectively taken the country more than a half a century back in time. I don’t need to put my skis on to know that the slope is slippery AF. What’s next? Bans on interracial and gay marriage? Contraceptives? Will Times Square and your local shopping malls turn into the OK Corral when someone bumps someone else by accident? Who knows? What I do know is that conservative court packing has changed the landscape of America moving forward. We live in a land where, in certain places, it’s waaaaaay easier for an eighteen-year-old male to purchase an assault weapon than it is for a young woman the same age to receive an abortion. LGBT rights are next on the chopping block, and I mean way more than gay marriage. Rich, traditional, old money white America has spoken. They’re tired of minorities’ rights. It’s time they take it back to the “good old days.” It’s time they “make America great again.” This will definitely be a chapter in the novel of the downfall of the greatest dynasty in modern history. America is on the way down the toilet. C’est la vie.
 
I’m in the process of trying to elevate, career wise and financially. I have an opportunity to receive a certification that will boost the salary of one of my gigs. It’s going to require a month of vigorous work, so much that I probably will not be able to deliver a #MNR for the month of July. But rest assured that when I do complete my objective, I’m going to be on here talking my shit OD. Trust. For now, it’s time to go dark. See you children of God in thirty days.
 
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