Black Creators and Commentary
7 things worth sharing this week: Rest + relaxation = taped mouths, 10 Black Creators and Joe Rogan's apology, and more...
Hey! What’s Jazzin’?
Welcome to Issue #2 of 7 things I think are worth sharing. Last week, I celebrated my 46th birthday. Usually, there are balloons and cake, but this year I was snowed-in and away from friends and family, so the festivities were minimal. Not that I minded. Instead, my friend Paula sent me a personalized birthday song which I incorporated into a video where I received a personalized birthday jazz, piano improvisation by my friend Stephan. I ended up eating at my favorite diner and arrived back home to some cool wall-art from my bestie.
Productivity is always on my agenda, but rest and unplugging are becoming increasingly necessary with the digestion of all news and social updates. The world is changing rapidly, things are still trending and people are taping their mouths shut. I’m going to start taping mine shut, too.
One of my favorite new composers released a new single and hinted that he’ll be releasing monthly singles instead of a full-length album. He has no complaints from me. What are you listening to these days? Share those tasty selections with me! I’m taking requests for the return of Taste Test, my self-produced, music mix show. I would love to incorporate your selection(s) into next month’s two-hour program.
I’m always hungry for a good recipe, but this has to be one of the best recipes I’ve seen in a while. I may or may not make it, though since I resubscribed to HelloFresh. I’m giving away $120 off your order. If you haven’t tried their service. What are you waiting on?!!
This week, I’m highlighting my Top 10 favorite Black creators that keep me inspired. Go follow them on Instagram and stay inspired: Tabitha Brown, Issa Rae, Terrell Davis, Tobe Nwigwe, Queen Po, Mitchell Young, Alex Isley, Kezia M. Williams, Ulysses Owens Jr., and Ernest White II
Another of my favorite creators is @swiry_nyar_kano, who educates the masses weekly with her fact-filled TikToks. This one is worth watching. You may learn a thing or two (or three).
I never listened to a Joe Rogan podcast and that won’t change. As a black man, I took no offense to his comments, but in case you haven’t heard, here’s the skinny: Singer/Songwriter India.Arie and other artists recently began removing their music from the streaming service Spotify to protest that company's support of controversial podcast host Joe Rogan due to his racially charged remarks in the past. After being under fire from the music community, Rogan issued a public apology, where he tried to “clean” up how he and why he use the word on his podcast. In my opinion, the “N-Word” should never be used (even in the Black community), especially by a non-Black person. Period.
Black History Month is never long enough. To quote one of my favorite unapologetically-Black singers, Erykah Badu during an interview with Tobe Nwigwe last year, “Well, there you have it. We black. They gave us a lil’ funky month, but, you know, we’re gonna stretch it out because that’s what we do. We’re resilient, we’re beautiful, we’re from the other Sun, and we’re growing every day.” Like many of my gifted black brothers and sisters. We are still black. We are still apologetically black. Even if we’re barely (publically) celebrated for one month out of the year.
Let’s all go enjoy the departure of Mercury Retrograde (which is still in its shadow period until February 23rd), but please do stay enlightened, encouraged, and uplifted while there are no other planets in retrograde until April 23rd! So, go get those tasks completed and manifest, baby!
I appreciate you taking my “7 things”, and most of all, I am grateful for your support and patronage over the years! The best way to support my work is to buy my music, hire me for digital content creation or voice-over work, or become a paid subscriber.
Let’s keep creating an adventure of a lifetime.
Until next week!
Damien Lamar