Reflections on Cultural Criticism and Authenticity

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Reflections on Cultural Criticism and Authenticity

I unmuted Kendrick, Lamar, Drake, NFL, and Super Bowl and now I see why I muted them in the first place.

Many of you are deep in confirmation bias,

the tendency to search for and interpret information in a way that confirms your pre-existing beliefs while dismissing evidence that challenges them

This has become particularly evident in the ongoing discourse around certain artists.

THE EVOLUTION OF A DISCOURSE

& I've found myself increasingly troubled by the intensity of criticism directed at Drake, particularly in the context of this recent "rap battle" with Kendrick Lamar. What started as typical rivalry evolved into something far more complex; a referendum on cultural authenticity, racial identity, and the unspoken rules of belonging.

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Top Things I’d Write About, But I’m Tired

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Top Things I’d Write About, But I’m Tired

On Reflections of Cultural Criticism and Authenticity

I could write about why I muted Kendrick Lamar, Drake, the NFL, and the Super Bowl and what it means to unmute them. Many people are deep in confirmation bias;

The tendency to search for and interpret information in a way that confirms your pre-existing beliefs while dismissing evidence that challenges them.

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The Professor

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The Professor

If the third-grade teacher in the Honda Accord is the foundation, then the professor is the evolution. Someone who takes what is simple and gives it depth, who refines knowledge into wisdom. She is the kind of person who doesn’t just read the world but interprets it, who knows that the right question is often more valuable than the right answer…

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Listen With Your Ears And Not Your Mouf'

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Listen With Your Ears And Not Your Mouf'

My son, not-so-little Brian, is a sophomore in school and has shared concerns about the current state of affairs in these un-United States. He worries about how current policies will affect his ability to find meaningful work. I initially minimized his concerns by advising him to keep his head down and finish school. He will always have a place "at home," and he won't have the burden of student loan debt because The Tramuel (formerly known as) and I have covered his tuition. But his concerns are still valid, and it's important to listen and empathize…

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Saturday Morning Sensory Inputs

/ Salem Lake /
Saturday Morning Sensory Inputs

Seven miles around Salem Lake. No earphones, just foot strikes and…

The path ahead twists and turns, revealing the distant main entrance as I weave my way around the lake. Bare trees stand like sentinels, their fallen leaves creating a mosaic on the ground. The water is neither still nor restless; just moving, like me…

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Random Observations About Nothing #10,568,943

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Random Observations About Nothing #10,568,943

Life has a way of delivering its insights through the most random moments... a quick glance, a passing comment, or even the way someone approaches you at work. Lately, I've been reflecting on a few of these types of observations, and I can't help but notice how they overlap with larger themes about connection, perception, and grace…

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Sunday Afternoon Sensory Inputs

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Sunday Afternoon Sensory Inputs

The cold finds its way to the glass, pressing itself against the warmth inside. The couch cradles me, its fabric soft and unassuming, while my book rests against my chest—words both heavy and light. A lemon candle flickers, casting soft citrus notes into the air, sharp and sweet like a whispered memory.

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The Weight of Staying Connected

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The Weight of Staying Connected

I’ve often told myself that “you are not responsible for someone else’s feelings, only for how you advise them of your disinterest.” It’s a principle rooted in fairness and boundaries—a way to navigate relationships without leading anyone on or offering false promises. And in theory, it’s a reasonable and honest approach. But in practice, it feels much messier…

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The Unreality of Real

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The Unreality of Real

As I scroll through Threads, I’m intentional about what I interact with- liking posts that resonate with me without any expectation of a like or comment in return. I’m equally purposeful with my comments, avoiding engagement-bait questions or interactions with people who don’t seem genuinely interested in dialogue. More often than not, I use journaling or my blog to work through my thoughts in depth…

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Authentic, Balanced, and Rooted

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Authentic, Balanced, and Rooted

Social media often reduces us to curated moments, leading to misunderstandings about our values and interests. True connection comes from understanding the underlying reasons behind our choices, not just from surface-level observations. In a world full of noise, feeling truly understood is more meaningful than just being seen…

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Being Highly Aware Leads to Isolation and Solitude

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Being Highly Aware Leads to Isolation and Solitude

Well actually, the Virgo will overanalyze, and then conversations become layered with unspoken truths, societal systems reveal their flaws, and the little quirks of human behavior that once seemed charming now feel like rehearsed performances. It’s not that others are shallow, my point of view has 20/5 vision, and I can’t unsee what I’ve seen…

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My Super Villain Arc

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My Super Villain Arc

The Reclamation Artist

The two of you reading this know me well enough to understand that I’m not becoming an actual villain. I’m not abandoning my decency or planning to treat others poorly. What this means is that I’m done prioritizing the feelings, boundaries, and needs of others at the expense of my own…

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Square Box. Round Pizza. Triangle Slices.

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Square Box. Round Pizza. Triangle Slices.

When I began to prioritize my health, all of the healths: emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, financial, occupational, intellectual, and my favorite sexual... I noticed that some people started to fill in the blanks with their ass umptions and narratives. & by some people, I mean women, some would "Lol, I'm just serious" me to death, referring to my structured lifestyle as having a team, suggesting I'm juggling multiple situationships. The reality? I'm just at home, focused on my goals, in bed by 8 in the PMs…

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A Love Jones For Your Body and Your Skin Tone

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A Love Jones For Your Body and Your Skin Tone

Every time I see a “solo date” post on social media, I feel a bit… well, conflicted, like seeing a cat dressed as a pirate. I mean, it’s cute, but is it necessary? I’ve always believed people should use social media however they like. If something resonates, I’ll engage; if not, I just scroll past. But these solo date posts started to bug me, and I had to wonder why…

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Conversations About A Four Letter Word

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Conversations About A Four Letter Word

I don’t enjoy conversations about love. “It’s not because it’s an emotion… an abstraction that is hard to quantify and define.” It’s not because I tend to have more of a logical locus of control than an emotional one. It's because social media has profoundly influenced how men and women perceive and engage with each other, shifting the narrative from emotional connection to transactional expectations. Instead of love as mutual understanding and growth, we now often see a narrow focus on what men can materially provide and what women refuse to compromise on—

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Hangnail

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Hangnail

“Peeling away, yet I’m compelled to stay, cherishing you from a place between drawing blood & the gentlest touch.” - Hangnail

Hanging on by a thread…

I've been active on Threads and I'm enjoying it so far. However, I haven't fully figured out how the algorithm works. It shows me a lot of content from local users in Charlotte, with many threads about food, traffic, dating, fitness, and life in Uptown. 

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