Amazing time with family during this weekend’s gala at the Harlem Hospital Center for The Bomb Shelter, an amazing non profit offering free arts programs for talented youth. I’m honored to have been chosen by their members to receive the very first Spirit Guide Award. :+)
Posing with my proud mother
My son Kalel played 12-year-old personal photographer for the event.
My kid took this pic :+)
Gave a speech on an artist’s responsibility to use their art to speak truth and improve the world.
A few weeks ago, I walked into Wells Fargo, projected my voice and said, “I’d like to close my account.” Faces dropped. A Latino brother took me to his desk. “Can I ask why you’d like to close your account?” “Because of their support of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Aside from the fraud situation, I should have closed my account then. But it’s taken longer than planned.” He shook his head with understanding. After my account was closed, he looked up. “I don’t agree with DAPL either. And we’ve lost a lot of customers because of it.” He slid me his card. “Can you send an email about why you’re closing your account? They read all emails from current and former customers. And know that there are discussions at the top. They’re trying to figure out how to get out of it, but they’re stuck in a contract.” I stared at his card. “Yeah, well economic protests tend to make people at the top pay attention. But it might be too late for them at this point. Just like what happened to Uber.” #NoDAPL
I had the honor of meeting NYC’s first and only black mayor, David Dinkins, at Mayor De Blasio and 1st lady Chirlane McCray’s Black History Month reception. I had a wonderful moment speaking to Mr. Dinkins about what the next generation of leaders should be doing now. He said they should find an organization to partner with and do the work within. He said, “See that turtle over there on that fence? That turtle didn’t get there alone. That turtle got there by standing on the shoulders of those who came before it.” #BlackHistory
Raqiyah Mays 