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Community venues and expression have been a part of my DNA for years. Before there was a Facebook, I was pounding the pavement with my daddy in my hometown, Kinston, NC, registering people to vote, praying for the sick, giving food to the hungry, and singing off key for Jesus. Wondering back then what I would be loving the diaspora and all of its counterparts, ccompassionate for people, feeling the pain of social ills, and an advocate for social justice.

Moving from my hometown was different ballgame, moving to a college campus feeling like a fish in a fishbowl, I was unsure what I would be having lost my mommy and daddy, I asked 5%ers, Muslims, Weedheads, and Intellectuals to tell me who I am and what I would become searching for an identity. Do you know what that feels like to want to know and crave to know who you are, the essence of who you were while growing up and knowing the constant affirmation that you were accustomed to has been wrapped up in death. Asking my Daddy at his funeral, “Tell me who you thought I’d become”. I sat in silence.

While getting my Masters, I was favored and a professor adjunct at the tender age of 25. Perfecting education but swimming in an identify crisis. Ever been there? Things are coming together but you’re still feeling as an orphan–moving on up like Wheezy and George but still living like you’re in isolation of identity. Thank God for the aha moments of sweet surender to the knowledge that we were created with an internal download of purpose and identity.

There were some things that I wish I never knew and I knew all the while that many of the people guiding me were attempting to find themselves too. The blind leading the blind until one wakes up and opens up to a whole new world filled with wisdom. Extracting the mess and recycling it into a message. I thank you for the space in which you were placed in my life to lead me to the place where I am now.Still growing, not yet perfected, not a Freak, just totally in love with Jesus! Whereever you be, get to the one that set me free from myself and the message of WE. At the end of the day, the Coalition of WE must cease and desist.

Like Tupac, one of my favorite poets once said, ” I Ain’t Mad At Ya!

Six years ago marked a transitional time in my life. Growing into womanhood, Like Jill Scott full of uncertainty yet knowing there was a journey with my name on it. I bought a bible and began to read it. Like light it illuminated. I felt like a shirt agitated in a washer machine,,,,,being cleaned and renewed.

My life guardians Djakarta Solomon, Brian Hood, Stacia Smith Solomon, and Dontae Solomon counseled me and led me into the arms of life to tackle every situation with the peace and wisdom of God. As I walked, my college friend since ’98, Darcy F Ogandaga resurfaced like a recycled wind, only this time, rather than us talking half French/half English about the Diaspora, Tupac and Biggie, he was illuminating and full of the wisdom and knowledge of God with a custom solution for living life on this place we call Earth.

History is the rest, He proposed and six years ago I said YES! Today is our Engagement Day! Celebrating the essence of LOVE all day! Mwah!

Courage and compassion fill my heart for the families that are re-living the terrible tragedy that happened on September 11, 2001. I remember my family hysterically calling me to figure out if the plane came on my side of town in Pittsburgh. I remember our professor telling us that after today our lives would never be the same. Tragedies have manifested themselves on our soil yet in my lifetime, I had never imagined this unimaginable situation.

Hate rooted so deep for the price of 3,000 to pay yet the “price is unpaid” because the residual effects are causing people to still fade away- extroverted turned introverted recluse, cancer due to the ingested chemicals, post traumatic stress disorder at the sound of a threat, and orphaned children and widows without their loved ones.

I Google searched the “jumper” famous, yet sad image of a man who jumped out of the building due to increased heat. Wondering what he must have thought to do what he did. I immediately interceded for his offspring and family as well as everyone who was there that day and those who witnessed it on standby or on TV. I hope this weekend of remembrance does not set you back in your journey to healing. Rather, the balm of peace will be so thick that you will still have sweet sleep. As Sunday and the days after approaches, I pray that we don’t storage this tragedy and take it out like a Christmas tree, but that we will continue to go through the healing process as we move towards the serenity to accept the things we can not change, change the things that we can, and have the wisdom to know the difference.