Week 3: Sunday Service Announcements
"I've had my share of ups and downs, times when there was no one around, God came and spoke these words to me, praise will confuse the enemy, so I started singing, I started clapping"
Everybody, look at your neighbor and say “Neighbor”
Congregation: Neighbor
You are about to experience your miracle today so you better act like it!
Congregation: You are about to experience your miracle today so you better act like it!
There is a miracle in this room with your name on it and I was told to tell you that today you better move about the day like you KNOW everything is working out in your favor. Don’t question it but embody the energy that your blessing is right around the corner!
Let the church say Amen!
Congregation: Amen! Amen! and Amen!
Welcome to another week of Sunday Service Announcements!
Let’s give a round of applause for consistency in showing up each week to share the word and gospel with the congregation. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of each one of you!
I want to send a special thank you to
and for becoming the first paid subscribers. Also to and for their generous offerings in the collection plate. I believe in this community so much that I didn’t mind paying for the Zoom membership so we could have unlimited time and host up to 100 people. With the support of these family members, the balance for the first month of Zoom is covered. Thank you again!
I want to break character for a second to say that I really appreciate each one of you for subscribing, liking the posts, sharing, and commenting! This has been a personal mission of mine for many years and I gave up on trying to accomplish it, but this formed organically and is growing into something I once only imagined experiencing.
I guess what I’m trying to say is this community is very personal to me, it has taken a tremendous amount of work and effort behind the scenes to keep things flowing consistently. My reward for starting this community and being consistent with it was moving into my home. It’s not a forever space but it’s the perfect space for me and my family while we find our forever home here in Oakland, California.
This community means a lot to me, some of you come from my substack and many of you come from the world of substack. We are united here. We are one here. We are represented here. We can grow here.
New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down
Let the congregation say Amen. I love my city dearly. Every borough of NYC has something beautiful to appreciate. Even certain neighborhoods in Long Island, Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and the folks across the water in Jersey are extended family to me. I love everything about my city and what surrounds it. New York has always been known for its diversity and its culture. But, my absolute favorite thing about this city, is the beautiful Black culture.
From our natives that have family going back generations in those Bed-Stuy brownstones or St. Albans townhouses. To the brothers and sisters in the projects on West and Southside of Queens, and all over Brooklyn and Uptown. We create beautiful lifestyles through our art, cuisine, family gatherings, street politics, and bashments. If you’ve never been to a baby shower / birthday party in a Project building “family room” I can’t vouch for your New York experience as a Black person. If you’ve never been to the West Indian Day parade on Eastern Parkway, ice cup in hand and scuffs on your sneakers from running from gunshots you might not understand what this Black New Yorker life is really about. But what I’m here to discuss on this good Sunday is my disappointment with the dilution of Black culture in this city. So many of us are headed back down south and other cities because of the economic strife this city is under. You can’t do shit with $1 in a corner store nowadays. That $1 saved my life growing up after riding my bike all day and being dehydrated and hungry. So I completely get why so many of us have fled. And then with the influx of non-Black people taking over our neighborhoods and immersing themselves in a culture they don’t understand as they participate in its destruction. It makes me sad. I feel like the city is losing its color. I feel as if New York isn’t New York anymore. Too many white folks feel comfortable in places where we regularly get robbed. They walk through the streets of Crown Heights and Harlem as if they are invincible. And in some ways they are. The system is designed for them to be that way. For the toughest gangsters in the community to fear them. Because they fear the white man. This is beyond gentrification now, it feels that outright extinction is happening to Black folks in the 5 boroughs.
Even in Southeast Queens, a neighborhood with longstanding Black roots since the Jazz era. Where Black folks with resources were able to buy homes and build some stability in certain neighborhoods throughout the borough. Even in areas that were known for crime and that still have folks living in poverty I always felt we had enough status and strength in our community that we would never deal with what’s been going on in Brooklyn and Harlem. I was completely wrong. An area that has notoriously been the Blackest part of Queens my whole life is now becoming a hub and city center for the larger Arab community. The same Arabs that own stores in our hoods that sell laced weed, tobacco to underage children, and many of the times hard drugs. That overprice their goods in Black communities facing intense poverty. They are now following the blueprint of many of the religious white folks throughout New York. Coming into our communities to use us for commerce, and infiltrating our adjacent communities to make them their own.
But people love Hip Hop though. They love taking pictures in front of Marcy Projects, or at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, or in front of the Jam Master Jay mural on Hollis and 205th. But they don’t give a fuck about the people still living in these communities being pushed out by white, Asian, and Arab folks. Every day this city is losing its color. Our culture being diluted by white girls from Kansas wearing Air Force Ones and baggy jeans. And all of the cool underground safe havens we always had are now becoming too dangerous for most of us to even frequent. As we get pushed out poverty is getting worse in some areas. And no-one is seeing it. Our youth treating the city like a game of Grand Theft Auto. It’s like if you aren’t participating in the bullshit, or financially comfortable enough to not care then this city is ultimately depressing for a Black native New Yorker. There’s a showing of Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee in Prospect Park Saturday. I’ll report back to you with how many white folks are in attendance. Peace.
Stay rooted in your peace…
Microfiction
Be like a tree.
I don’t see the sun every day, but I’m still growing. When the storm pushes against me, I’m still standing. The snow is heavy, but I don’t break under pressure so easily. When the rain is pouring, I’m not drowning. When the weakest parts of me are being pruned, I’m still thriving. I’m deeply rooted and standing in my peace.
I’ve come a long way from who I used to be - the shy girl that dealt with the disgusting battles of anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and people pleasing. I magnified “issues” that had no business being magnified and struggled to address my problems and take accountability. I spent so much of my life drowning in my woes and countlessly asked myself “Why me? Why am I like this?”. Life was whooping my behind and winning! Words of encouragement from friends and family didn’t always connect. I was exhausted from climbing this mountain of misery. Something had to change and I was ready this time.
It would be years later when I hired a life + business coach, Karen Williams-Thompson, that would say it loud and clear for me to understand. Just when I thought I had done the work, resolved my problems and scared away my demons, I’m smacked in the face again and frustrated that I had only scratched the surface of my shadow work. When I initially hired Karen, I needed assistance with how to manage my art business but I gained more than an effective business strategy. Karen wanted to help me overcome the obstacles that were affecting my life and my business growth. Trying to be a successful artist + writer would be difficult if I couldn’t close the doors of my past and get to the bottom of my imposter syndromes. She wasn’t just another coach that wanted my money and spoke a lot of useless fluffy words. She was sincere and allowed me to express myself without downplaying my feelings. Karen had me take an assessment of my imposter syndromes and when I saw the results, I wasn’t surprised. They were true and I felt embarrassed and uncomfortably exposed. Someone else could see my flaws and how I’ve been abusing myself since I was a kid. I shed a lot of tears in front of this woman but I was desperate.
In these sessions, we addressed the past so I can move forward towards a better future. Writing and vocalizing what I’m grateful for as a daily or weekly routine. Celebrate big and small accomplishments. Practicing positive affirmations and to remember to bring my awareness back when dwelling too long on negative thoughts or things that don’t matter.
Here are a few motivational quotes that I always keep on my heart:
“S–t happens.”
“Misery loves company.”
“Be kinder to yourself.”
“Love yourself more.”
“It’s ok if you make a mistake, that doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.”
Like a tree, I can handle the weather better than before. I’m not collapsing under the weight of a heavy snowstorm. I’m not withering away in the dark if I don’t get a lil sunlight sometimes. I’m rooted so well to the ground and deep in my peace that the storms can’t completely uproot me. When I need some love and self care, I regularly prune myself so I can continue to thrive.
I pray that these words reach the minds and hearts of those that need them the most. Stay blessed, Saints. Protect your peace always.
Come on in this room as you are! We are all here to grow together, but we each bloom uniquely.
Sistahs and Brothas, you do not need to catch the Holy Spirit THIS Sunday, it’s been CAUGHT!
Can you feel the Spirit?! 🎼🎼” Here we go now, Holla if you hear me though, Come and feel me flow!” 🎼🎼 Press play and read on.
As a black person, navigating through the complexities of our identities and experiences can be a challenging yet empowering journey. Each of us uniquely expresses blackness, shaped by our individual experiences, perspectives, and history. Our blackness is not a monolith, but rather it is rich, deep, diverse, and vibrant which reflects the beauty of the diaspora.
Growing up, I felt othered within our community, struggling to fit into preconceived notions of what blackness should look like. This pressure to conform can be stifling and isolating, leading me to question my sense of belonging and self-worth. However, it is important to remember that there is immense power in embracing my individuality and rejecting society's narrow definitions of blackness.
For me, the journey towards self-acceptance and self-love meant turning inward and finding validation from within. It required me to let go of the need for external validation and cultivate a sense of worthiness from my higher self. This process was not easy and often required support from therapy, yoga, my spirituality, and inner reflection, but it was essential in reclaiming my power and embracing my true self.
Finding community among people of color has been instrumental in my journey toward self-discovery and empowerment. In the shared experiences, struggles, and triumphs of those who look like me, I find a sense of kinship and connection that is essential for my well-being. Within this community, I see reflections of myself and draw strength from my people's collective power and resilience.
The beauty of the diaspora lies in the individuality and diversity of our experiences. Just like plants in a garden, we may share the same soil, but we each grow and bloom in our own unique way. By releasing the need to compare ourselves to others and instead connecting with our inner spirit, we can appreciate the magnificence of the entire garden that we are a part of. Each of us contributes to the beauty and magic of the collective whole.
In this season of life, what I am doing is rooting for everyone black because our individuality and uniqueness are what make us truly magical. By embracing our differences, celebrating our diversity, and connecting with our inner selves and each other, we can tap into our divine power.
Badiana at Trevi Fountain
Slowing things down now, with the eternal whisper of an excerpt from my poem Time Slow
'They change the narrative
so the magic of brown-skinned kin can be shrouded in shame
Watch us writhe
under the weight of never being treated the same
Until we collectively
come together and regain
Our Power
Our Voice
Our Glory
Find black joy
in the safety of uplifting each other’s stories' Love YOUR blackness, embrace YOUR uniqueness, and know that you are part of an endlessly powerful and resilient community. YOU are simply magic. We are simply magic.
Excuse me, pardon me, I just need to flow my way to contentment.
Have a seat let me have a conversation with you…
What would it take for you to feel content in your life?
What are you working for?
What is the end goal?
Do you have something that you are passionate about right now?
What is your greatest inspiration?
It’s okay, you can give yourself permission to enjoy your life now.
Life has shown me the only reason life was unenjoyable before was because I restricted myself from experiencing anything other than my hopeless reality.
My circumstances didn’t create my reality, I did. I stressed about things that never happened. I created chaos in my mind to avoid the responsibility of my life. I never tried to save myself I opted to play the victim in situations to gain sympathy or grace.
I wonder what life is supposed to feel like. How did the Creator intend for us to experience this beautiful planet? Have you ever looked at nature and wondered how it just flows in sync the way it does?
As humans, why aren’t we flowing like nature if we live with nature?
We are one with Earth. Nature is here for us and we are harming nature with our ‘societal necessities’. We should be flowing more like nature, we should look at nature as a teacher and we are the students. Students to life always.
As we flow with nature we find the beauty of life leading us to experience contentment in our own lives.
The definition of contentment is to experience satisfaction or joy. When was the last time you experienced that?
This year, I made a promise to myself that before I said ‘yes’ to anyone I needed to say ‘yes’ to myself.
This might have been the best promise I made to myself.
I don’t make decisions now without considering the effects it will have on me, no more does someone needing help outweigh my needs. I have said yes to others while depriving myself one too many times. And to think I couldn’t figure out why my life was so unfulfilling!
When I made that promise to myself something within shifted. And the more I continue to say yes to me and my dreams and goals, the more that shift transforms me. I am unstoppable now.
How could I not speak highly of myself after the things I have accomplished?
How could I dim my light because someone from my past is irritated by my light after being pressed and crushed like a fucking diamond?
Excuse my language but I need y’all to feel what I am saying right now!
How could I make myself small to make the smallest person in the room feel giant?
When I am the REAL giant?
Moving to California was the best thing I could have done for myself. Not only because a new environment is always inspiring, but the process of going through with the action is empowering within itself. The journey is tough at times, and also equally amazing.
We don’t talk about the amazing enough.
We don’t celebrate the amazing joys of life in a normalized way.
We talk about the joys of life like rare occasions that weigh as much as a miracle in value.
I’m no longer waiting until I am in an ideal position to go after my dreams. What if I can’t reach that position without taking action toward the dream first?
California is showing me what contentment feels like. Well…Oakland specifically.
Saturday morning I walked from 11th to 12th Street with my daughter to our manicure appointment and then caught a $7 Lyft down Broadway to DapperDan’s Barbershop Loft for my first professional haircut since I shaved my hair. I am saying all of this to say - our house is not yet home, and our bank account balances may not be where we desire. But I am not letting that stop me from experiencing contentment in the reality alone that I moved to the place I once dreamed of being able to move to.
I did the thing I once thought was impossible.
The impossible for me became possible, this motivates me to continue going after my dreams. My book Un-Trap da Hood serves as a milestone, this community, BlackStack, is the community I wanted to have the conversations about the topics discussed in my book. Things are organically working out so I just need to flow, like nature.
How can you flow more this week?
Prayer Hotline
I pray when you look in the mirror you love the person you see. I pray that you no longer feel like you are not enough, but that you see you have always been more than enough!
I pray for financial abundance in your life this week. Money flowing from places you didn’t even know were available to you. I am speaking of an overflow in your financial situation this week.
I pray your wildest dreams take your mind to places you can’t shake and you wake up one day this week with the spark to take action that will bring you closer to your dreams.
I pray you face your fear and doubt this week and transmute that emotion into your fuel to conquer that thing you fear and doubt.
I pray that this week no matter what you say yes to you.
I pray you acknowledge when it’s time to change your environment if you have been putting it off for the right opportunity.
I pray you save yourself and stop waiting for someone else to do it.
I pray you own your Blackness this week and wear it proudly like a badge of honor that nobody can't take away from you.
I pray you stop being shy and hiding behind your perfectionism and allow yourself to make mistakes so that you can learn and grow. You can’t do life wrong unless you stop trying to give up.
I pray you stop dimming your light to make others comfortable and shine bright like a diamond in the sky!
I pray this week after our Writers Circle today you go throughout the week feeling like Kendrick Lamar when dancing in the living room with his family in the They Not Like Us video.
Let’s let the praise and worship team take us out from here…
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SSA strikes again!
Ason came out with the real real on NYC. I never lived in NYC but I was there every summer and multiple times a year running the streets with my college roommate who was from Brooklyn. Our house, her grandma’s 👵🏾 apartment, my honorary grandma, lived on Nostrand Ave. The corner stores were life giving when we had been endlessly running around NY and wanted sustenance.
I watched that city transform with a different lens. Each summer shit just kept changing. The corner stores were gone and they became organic fruit markets or whatever the F, all the nail shops that my friend would get her fancy tips done for pennies were shuttered, soon replaced with like some indie micro brewery.
Needless to say summers in NY don’t exist anymore. Grandma passed away and with her the heart of NY went with it and it has never been the same since.
Another great SSA! I've never been to NY but I can only imagine what that looks out there. Detroit is facing a very similar situation with more gentrified neighborhoods and price hikes on even the smallest things. Bring back the $1 chips and sodas! Badiana mentioned finding community and sense of kinship amongst the people of color and I couldn't agree more. 🖤