#MNR: MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER

#MNR: MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER
 
“As I recall, I know you love to show off. But I never thought that you would take it this far. What do I know? (FLASHING LIGHTS) What do I know? (FLASHING LIGHTS) Know.”
Dwele (Yeezy)
 
“If we can take off now, we can catch the sun. Maybe watch it set, have sex, get some rest.”
Lil Baby
 
Good evening. How y’all? It’s Monday, your friendly neighborhood playboy. I’m higher than NY sales tax, you heard? That’s always a great thing, err umm, the me being high part. NY sales tax ain’t nothing but the Albany devil. I just finished talking to my ace and I’m pumping “Flashing Lights” through my soundbar. So much has changed since 210 E. 115th Street apartment 2A. But this song, this album...I miss those days. I remember a particular Friday evening. I just got back from work in the Wood: NJ Transit 186 Bus to the MTA M98 Limited Express Bus to 116th St and Lexington Ave to the weed spot to the [pick one] eatery to the bodega to the block. I hit the block. I dapped up whoever was standing outside the building. I walked my ass up the A-stairs because it’s shameful waiting for a pissy elevator to travel one flight; take the possibly pissy staircase. In all fairness, most stairway pissers prefer the B-stairs (see 100 Blocks Stories: “B-Stairs Prelude” for further context) out of whatever respect they do have for the building. Anyway, as soon as I get to the 2nd floor landing I can hear Yeezy and my nigga Dwele blasting through the hallway door. At that moment, the weekend officially began. I already knew it was Jose blasting the sounds. I already knew he was semi-litty. I have no idea what I ate for dinner that night. I have no idea how many blunts I smoked. I have no idea what alcohol I drank. I do know that those were some of the happiest moments of my life, all of us in one apartment. Aunt Betty had transcended, but my mom and dad were still alive and relatively healthy, living their respective lives in Virginia and North Carolina. The older I get, the more I embrace random memories that occurred while my mom and dad were alive. Innately, it makes my own mortality an afterthought for those fleeting moments of nostalgia.
 
Let me tell y’all something. I really love y’all and I’m dedicated to this blog, through it all. I have a prospective freelance position and need to produce one more article in short time. I also need to tweak my resume to only include my Communications experience. But fuck all that. I promised my folk that I was going to stay consistent. That’s what I plan to do. I hope y’all got y’all cheeba rolled in the finest paper. Light that shit up. We L riding in a low-low from Benny’s with all the Benny enhancements. I’m talmbout downtown Los Santos to deep out Blaine County...on the freeway by the casino...with the radio on Frank Ocean’s station. Crack rock, crack rock...
 
I really do love y’all. The very thought of people reading, accepting and appreciating my craft is so amazing to me. It instantly humbles me. To God be the glory.
 
Respectfully...I’m nice as [CENSORED].
 
Fuck is the censored word. I just didn’t want to put it directly under “To God be the glory.” I give all praises to Him. He blessed me with this craft. I’m not bragging. I’m merely asserting my brilliance and command of the lexicon and all dat, youknowI’msaying? You do? Well alright (Nipsey from Martin voice – RIP).
 
First things first. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VIRGINIA UNION PANTHERS, 2023 CIAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS! Coach Alvin Parker’s men defeated defending conference champion Fayetteville State, 21-10. VUU (10-1) was led by First-Team All-CIAA back Jada Byers, who found his way to paydirt twice during the contest. He carried the ball 40 times for 135 yards. His carries set the tone on offense and the defense brought their best to the field in Salem, as the lone FSU touchdown came on a kickoff return. The win also meant that the Panthers avenged their only loss of the season, a September game played in typhoon-like conditions. This is Virginia Union’s first conference championship since the 2001 team led by QB Jasun Thompson. As an alumnus of VUU, I’m very proud of this team. 1865 Panther Pride.
 
I would like to revisit a portion of the 3.22.2022 #MNR, titled “To the East, Blackwards.”
 
There have been seven military coups and conflicts on the continent of Africa in the past six years: Guinea, Mali, Chad, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. The last two are currently engaged in civil war. Cameroon is engaged in the Anglophone Crisis, and Ethiopia is engaged in the Tigray War. Each coup and conflict tears at the fabric of its respective nation, and deep humanitarian crises (including sexual violence) have developed. It comes as no surprise that the United States has done the bare minimum by way of direct support to many (or all) of these countries. tRump outright blocked aid to Ethiopia; Biden’s merely done a lot of talking. Look, I’m not saying America owes these nations a damn thing. I’m just seeing and recognizing the apathy when it comes to Mother Africa and absolute empathy when it comes to lighter skinned [European] nations in peril. It shouldn’t be and isn’t a surprise. America has already [REDACTED] the continent for all it wanted to plunder. What may come as an absolute surprise is that Russia has given aid to several African nations in peril. They’ve helped with infrastructure, amongst other things. This is likely the reason that sixteen African countries who are members of the United Nations gave a no vote/abstained from taking sides on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They’ve chosen to mind their damn business. And, in the most polite manner, they’re showing that they could care less about the Russia/Ukraine war. They’ve got more than enough on their own plates to deal with.
 
Why did I choose to revisit this blog from a year-and-a-half ago? Because I have inner visions. I see things before most eyes get the opportunity. I pay attention with soft eyes. Last week, the United Nations warned that violence amongst civilians in Sudan is “verging on pure evil.” More than half of the Sudanese population, or about 25M people, need humanitarian help and more than 70% of health facilities in the conflict areas are now out of service, resulting in outbreaks of cholera, dengue, malaria and measles, and high levels of malnutrition among children. The UN is targeting about 12M people for aid and has appealed for another $2.6B. There are numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violence and forced disappearance, arbitrary detentions and grave violations of human and children’s rights.
 
The war is nearly seven months old. My 3.22.2022 blog predates the war by almost a year. I spoke on the problems Sudan and several other African nations were facing way back then. Nothing has changed. The UN must do all the bidding because African nations in peril are not close friends or allies of the United States and its wealthy allies. I don’t remember any Sleepy Joe State of the Union Address where he directly appeals to congress for monetary aid to any of the previously mentioned nations. Not one damn dollar. Translation: he and America don’t give a fuck. But I do. The African nations are my people. Don’t mention anything about Ukraine or Israel to me, respectfully. My concern is with my folk. It always has been. It always will be. I stand with us. I always will.
 
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