Everything Has Its Season

It’s been a literal season since I’ve shared something Dwntwn. I won’t lie and say it hasn’t felt like it because it has, and yet I am thankful for the spaciousness. Fall 2025, I was ramping up, or rather winding down, for the year and into the winter season. I’ve made it my business to be in step with the seasons, and the Great Winter Wind Down has always been one of my favorite times of year. Writing wasn’t on my ‘not to do’ list, but my spirit knew what it needed. It’s a new year, and I am refreshed and looking at the space we share and the practice of learning, writing, and sharing in a whole new way.

At the time of this writing, it is only my third day into Black History Month, and the vibe is feeling different(?). This celebratory and reflective month feels very personal this year. I want to delve more intentionally and integratively into Black art, culture, history, media, thought, ritual, and practice. Just earlier, I said to no one and everyone, “I should watch The Jacksons: An American Dream” because why not? My most recent book club with a dear sister-friend of mine reminded me that slave narratives are very much not on my to-watch list, now or in the near future. I told her how I watched Twelve Years a Slave in the not-so-distant past, and I had a damn hard time answering why. You would have thought that with a move like that, I would have asked that before pressing play. She asked a question I’m sure has been raised a time or two: “Should slave narratives be put to rest?” I’m sure that’s not the exact verbiage she used, but the question is the same and the answer is “yes, unless.”

An emphatic yes because enough ‘slave narratives’ have been made as a point of reference and education to current and future generations regarding Black and American history. However, if storytellers could re-envision a very real truth in our country’s sordid past, say with an Afro-futurist, sci-fi, fantastical lens, we might be cooking with grease. I reference Ta-Nehisi Coates’ first fiction book, The Water Dancer, as a great example. If only the writing and execution were better, Antebellum (Janelle, you deserved more, cousin) would have been another good entry. I hated to say it on many points, but give Jamie his things, cause Django Unchained is another example of a ‘slave narrative’ that I would run back over and over again. It has to be said, cause we say the words around here, but there are mannnnnnnny other eras, time periods, and historical moments in Black x American history that are deserving of screen time and the printed press. But until all do right by me and my desire for fresh voices, faces, and stories, The Jacksons will see me!

Now to get to the business of Dwntwn Brwn, I have a few ideas I’d like to test out in my corner of the internet. More information soon come but we have some thoughts to share, some community to cultivate, and some more tables to shake.

We going through changes, y’all— but we AREN’T going with the motions.

I’ve been reflecting a lot on the importance of knowing where you stand; standing for something, and in that regard, standing on business. It’s been interesting to see various businesses speak on the current state of militarized affairs in our country. In various moments throughout our lives, telling the truth and standing for something means saying it aloud. I have recently recognized the echo chamber that is my group chats and one-to-one convos with friends and family. You’ll never see me going back and forth in any comments or sub-Reddits but here, Dwntwn, the soapbox is rooted in the square, and I always have time. It would take much more effort to ignore our collective reality while actively shaping my own world. My hope is to cultivate balance both personally and professionally. Balance in what I give and what I save, in rest and action, in sensing and responding, in the time for collective action and the time for self-care.

A year ago, I recall being tangled in the web of overconsumption, particularly of the news variety. Fresh into a new presidency, fires ravaging the West Coast, and planes falling out of the sky (planes that I soon would have to be on quite regularly), the concept of balance felt more or less like walking a tightrope. It was that phone, y’all! I had to put her down and tap out. Bad news was going nowhere, and there is power in knowledge. There’s even greater power in discernment, awareness, and agency. How quickly we can lose the plot and our balance when the noise of life drowns out what we know we need to be well. Some lessons I only need to learn once to do better, and getting off the tightrope and on solid ground was one of them.

In the coming seasons, my hope is to share this practice of balance, of truth and courage, and most importantly, ease with you. And you with me, I have lots to learn.

That’s it for now, friends. Time to go dedicate the next four hours of my life to two of my childhood crushes—Michael the Jackson, and Jason Weaver! Y’all really in my business now!

ACTUALLY! I had to come back, friends. Would you know that not one streaming platform had The Jacksons ready for me to play??! It’s blasphemous, and my feelings were and still are hurt. What makes this sting a little longer than it would any other time is the fact that I just and I mean JUST went through this trying to watch Brown Sugar. Elon and nem don’t want me to have joy, but the joke’s on you, cause I know both movies like the back of my hand.

I can’t be held down, so I took a bath and watched the Luther Vandross: Never Too Much documentary on HBO Max. HA! I had to write in my journal about that viewing because, what a life! Luther was beautiful, personable, talented, revered, demanding, and tormented. That man could write, sang, and arrange like nobody. Rest in peace, King! Here’s what else I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, and thinking about lately, and trust me, it will carry on well beyond Black History Month.

I’m watching old Diahann Carol interviews, what a force! Shoutout to Whitley’s mama. I can’t tell you how many times I say “Just die” a week. If you know, you know.
I’m thinking about Arsenio Hall. I remember seeing him on my TV screen as a child, either as a host/personality or an actor. He has such a commanding presence that is also very gentle. Masculine and memorable cause I’m still whooping my fist around, hootin’ and hollerin’ around my apartment on the regular.
Jamie Foxx, THE Jamie, cause put some respect on my cousin’s name, showed up in the Luther documentary, and it jogged my memory how I often see him in documentaries that spotlight Black artists, musicians, actors, and entertainers, including the recently released Number One on the Call Sheet on Apple TV—I highly recommend you watch it. I love his love, reverence, and dedication not just to his craft but to that of so many other Black creators. Gone head and watch Ray again this Black History Month!
I love Patrice Rushen and got the internal nudge to find some live performances and interviews of hers, and I was not disappointed. I loved this interview/jam session she did with Roland. Give Patrice her flowers now because the talent is astronomical, and I will be dancing to “Number One” forever!
At the time of this writing, I am reading Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. Would you believe me if I said this was my first time reading James Baldwin? I know, I know, but I’m here now, and I am entranced. More on that later!
I’ve also been kicking it with bell hooks, Bone Black: Memories of  Girlhood, shout out to my sister friend mentioned above, we DNF one book and started this one, and what a beautiful decision. I’m also in cahoots with Miche, you may know her as Michelle Obama. I picked up Becoming last year for about two bucks at my local Goodwill, and I’m just cracking her open. What a woman! I, too, am in a season of becoming, Miche!
I have recently jumped back into the gated community with my cousins over at The FriendZone on Patreon. The new tech setup gagged me, and it’s been so long that it felt good to see them back on my screen. Sounds like we’ll be getting more in-person connections this year? I’ll be there!
Last but certainly not least, I broke my social media break to run to Durand Bernarr’s Instagram to 1. see his Grammy looks and 2. hear that acceptance speech. I had no business doing this two minutes before a meeting because I was on the verge of tears!! Congrats, cousin. Very well deserved, and I could go on and on about what a luminary Durand is, a storyteller! See for yourself.

Let me go pick up one of these books. Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Disney can never deprive me of the written word!