Young Simba Motivates

One of my favorite lyricists dropped an album last week, and it's as good as I thought it'd be! J.Cole had no catchy radio single, next to no promotion, no guest features, no publicity stunts, and no gimmicks...and his album is still expected to move about 250K units in one week. Proof that if you put out a good product, it will sell itself--especially if you've established a worthwhile brand that people trust.


Inspirational for me in my nascent writing/publishing career...that if I can build a loyal following and fan base by creating and writing quality material, the rest will take care of itself...

Media Power

I normally hesitate to comment on current events that make national headlines, as many people hold fast to their passionate opinions without even considering any others... However, I can't say that I was shocked by the Ferguson verdict when it was announced last week for a number of reasons, but I do know that looting and rioting solves nothing. The Black Friday boycott that was suggested and promoted via social media rang was about as dumb and myopic as boycotting the state of Florida. I can't think of one beneficial thing that would come from such a boycott, but what do I know...


What truly bothered me however, is my observation that the media has so much influence over people without them even realizing it. I tend to look at things differently than others. I refused to get caught up in the brouhaha of the racial agenda the media would have loved. Unlike most black people who fell into that trap, I prefer to take a step back and look at the bigger picture and ask the questions not being asked, such as "why is this story news?"


It's no coincidence that a case with a racial angle was in the national spotlight. And no, it's not because a cop shot someone. A video of a black cop beating the hell out of another black guy in here in Baltimore in September raised few if any eyebrows. And I'm old enough to remember a black kid surrounded by cops and getting shot dead in broad daylight in front of a crowd at Lexington Market back in like '96 or '97 by a black cop--also captured on video--that didn't produce any national attention or outcry like this. Killings in America are never an issue until the shooter doesn't look like the victim! Black on black, white on white...same race crimes don't garner attention or ratings! The media preys on anything with a racial angle because of the ratings it will generate. A story like the Mike Brown shooting will generate interest in people who are young, old, male, female, Republican, Democratic, Baptist, Catholic, rich, poor, educated...all those demographics are touched when they have one thing in common--their race.


It's sad, because it only generates this attention it's not what's "supposed to happen," outer-racial crimes that is. When it DOES happens, an uproar ensues only after the MEDIA decides to make it news. Like the Joker said in The Dark Knight: when you upset the established order, everything becomes chaos.

Article Published in The Review

As some of you may know, I still freelance write for various newspapers on occassion. It's one way I try to keep my skills sharp. I mean, ballas ball, playas play, singers sing, writers write...right!? :)

In any case, one of those newspapers is The Catholic Review, a paper here in Baltimore published by Baltimore's Archdiocese. I've published quite a few articles for them over the years in fact. Maybe I'll post some of them on here one day, or at least some of the other articles I've published over the years. This latest piece however, is more essay than article.





My alma mater, the school on a hill

I recently attended a Black Alumni Reunion at my alma mater Loyola Blakefield High School, a mostly white all-boy Jesuit prep school in Towson, MD. I was asked by The Review not necessarily to cover the event, but more so to give my take on my experience at Blakefield, as well as talk about the experiences of the black men who attended the school when America was, shall we say, not as racially tolerant as it is today. I used the opportunity to compare and contrast my time there with theirs. I like to think it makes for an interesting read, though I wish it could've been longer.


For your viewing pleasure, the article can be found here: Black Dons Roll Back Home.

Of course, thoughts and/or feedback are welcomed as always.

-Kyle

Black Alumni of Loyola Blakefield Reunite

I HOPE YOU VOTED!!!

I remember reading about "free elections" in Iraq like 10 years ago or so where Saddam Hussein "won" 100% of the vote. We live in a country where many of us take for granted so many of our liberties. Hell, the fact that some choose not to vote is a freedom in of itself--at least we can choose not to vote. Don't trust politicians? Fine...vote on the many other referendums and amendments on the ballot: repairing schools, improving the local commercial economy, improving the city's fine arts and recreational facilities... Don't complain about there being more jails than schools or that there are no programs to keep kids out of trouble when you didn't go vote for those things when you had the chance. It's your city, own it!!



#vote #election #Ivoted

Book Update!

Was running into some technical difficulties earlier, so I couldn't post an image of the cover. Below is the cover image for the book. Thanks again for your support and interest, and I will make sure to post more developments as they come!

-Kyle

Welcome!

So.....I'm definitely not used to doing the blogging thing. BUT, since I'm right on the verge of publishing my first book, I figured this would be essential in getting the word out about it.

With that said: WELCOME TO MY WORLD!

I will update this blog on a regular basis, especially when it comes to my writing, which is probably why you're here.

Speaking of that, I've completed writing, editing, proofreading my novel titled Fate's Destiny. I recently finished having it formatted as an e-book as well as a print book, with a stunning cover to go along with it.

Fate's Destiny will soon be available on popular book retailer websites such as Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, and available in the iBookstore and the Google Play Store as well. You will also be able to download it on e-reading devices including smartphones, Apple iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.

Be sure to preorder Fate's Destiny. Not only will you get it for a discounted price, but you will ensure that you will be one of the first to have it.

I'm pretty excited about this, and thank you for your time! More info to follow as the process moves along, so stay tuned!!


-Kyle