There’s no one, uncomplicated road to doing the right thing if you respect the consequences enough and if you trust your own judgement more.
My mother was a female rapper in the late 80s. My grandmother an entertainment manager. I became a writer myself because of the unsung legacy that contributed to these women, and many other Black Americans, who were wronged by circumstances that should’ve been handled better if we applied essential human compassions.
Respecting the legacy of unity in creatives, I joined a network of writers building their careers from the ground up using social media. We mostly shared writing opportunities and discussed our frustrations with one another. I got close to a few of its members, even having phone calls to offer writing help to a few of those just breaking into the field.
I mentor a lot of kids floating to the end of Gen-Z. They’re obsessed with viral culture. They see it as a form of celebrity in itself. Many adults can’t imagine the digital world impacting anyone too much, but there is a number of dangerous things that can happen to others based on any conflict. It’s always what you put energy into which can use that energy against you.
When my career really hit its upward momentum at the start of 2019, I had high hopes for where my network might take me. Months later, I had my work stolen by a large media company with reach in both the U.K. and here in the U.S. Ironically, it was a profile on someone I immensely respected for his open nature, compassion and understanding.
When speaking to the wronging party,I wanted to find a criminal mastermind capable of destroying my future – an adversary to stand against, or at least a villain that I could despise. Instead, I just found a soft-spoken kid who was on the edge of a suicidal break.
I wanted to find a criminal mastermind capable of destroying my future – an adversary to stand against, or at least a villain that I could despise. Instead, I just found a soft-spoken kid who was on the edge of a suicidal break.