Click Start: Editor’s Preview
Welcome to patio life! It’s where some might sit-back outdoors, dine on the Ave, or lounge at the beachside bar. That’s what summertime brings us as “school’s out, cookout’s in!” Maybe you’re heading off to your vacay getaway for some R&R and to refresh the batteries. Meanwhile, America just celebrated its 250th birthday but there’s mixed feelings as to what that’s gonna all mean.
In this month’s edition we loop in the annual summer kickoff of the Roots picnic as Jay-Z makes an appearance in our Celebrity Row column. We also feature two new families, one in the Lead Story and the other for the ‘Tap-in the Afterglow’ column which celebrates their daughter as a PsyD graduate. Visit the About page to learn more on how this portal of ‘Family Line Influencers’ came to be.
There was a sad story from the south about the disappearance of Nolan Wells who went missing after partying with friends and was later found dead. Many are mad that this stuff keeps happening in America. Elsewhere, we saw hip-hop get put in the spotlight as a hot topic on what’s best for the culture. In this season of America’s next chapter, these stories are reminders of how we still need to ‘level-up America’.
If you’d like to be among the families covered each month, then link-up by dropping your email below. Hope you’ll enjoy the stories and feel free to leave your comments. Thank You!
The Family Line Mission/Purpose Statement
“Joining hands and hearts across old-timers and next gens to make family connections feel more real, with courage to change and humility to heal.”
Celebrity Row: Here for the Culture – “A Clash Between the Culture and The Cultured”
It was another chance to celebrate music hits and dance moves at the annual BET Awards. As expected, the pre-show scene was on and fashionable where stars of all stripes showed up for the fun. At these events, fans and onlookers love watching the entry parade for who’s with who, and who’s wearing who. As they say, after the pre-show is the party, and after the party comes the afterparty.
On another front, Flood Magazine covered the surprise performance by Jay-Z at the annual Roots picnic. He was in freestyle form with a new look there and at his Yankee Stadium 3-night blowout concert. Fans raved on social media as there were moments folks were rocking and popping. With all the special guests, maybe he’s looking to level-up hip-hop for its next chapter, just like we need to level-up America.
A ‘crowd favorite’ moment at the awards was the tribute to Lauryn Hill and her journey from the early days of hip hop. Sometime after the show there was some rumbling on what ‘the culture’ represents. Is it based solely on arts & entertainment, or also other aspects of black life? Things got interesting when India Arie shared a comment on aspects of today’s music and message, which became a hot topic.
We’ve had these moments before that are like a clash between the culture and ‘the cultured’. It’s often when old-school gets new competition with new-school artists in sound and style. Nothing wrong with being creative or pushing the envelope. But even Jay realized from looking back on his track ‘Big Pimpin’… don’t allow the music to sell your soul since all that glitters isn’t gold.
Lead Story: “A Reminder of How History Was Made”
Something happened on the recent Juneteenth that made history. Former U.S. President Barack Obama invited some family, friends and guests for the official opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center. It took many years in the making, almost as a reminder of the eight years he served as president over two terms in office. Now he’s proud the center will remind us of how history was made.
As opening approached, some key community partners and media officials got a sneak peek of the center ahead of things. Among them was long-time colleague and friend Shawn Dove, who visited with his wife Desere for many reasons of reflection. He was part of a select group that President Obama enlisted when brainstorming the My Brother’s Keeper initiative. Shawn prob had flashbacks from the tour.
One reason for his involvement was as Founder/CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement. You might remember the press conference president Obama had to address the shooting of Travon Martin and how he saw himself in Martin. Similarly, Shawn’s background and backstory hit in a similar way. He decided to spearhead that campaign not simply as a job but as a larger calling.
Recently he took some time off to do what he described as ‘pruning and cocooning’. Maybe he was also drawing on inspiration from his favorite team, the NY Knicks, in stepping up his impact game. His life’s work has deep connections with his life’s walk. When he isn’t speaking to the hearts and minds of black males or other wider audiences, he’s hanging with his fam at the ‘Dove Nest.’
Words of Affirmation: “The bigger life you’ve been quietly longing for cannot coexist with the smaller life you have been comfortably inhabiting.” – Shawn Dove
Island Vibes: With Scoops of Roots & Culture from the Diaspora
World history as seen through World Cup soccer.
https://www.threads.com/@mistergilmore/post/DaQBImwEQOi?xmt=AQG0ayT2i75Fg7nMV4W8bWH8lxBuefUA5t8Y4RSkxlUCOQcEG10WBDpNJ3Z_LZJmU5l3asPf&slof=1
The World Cup is the closets we’ll get to world peace?
https://www.threads.com/@revolt/post/DZtQwv4jN4e?xmt=AQG0UXZ2ouXXl6qPn0LoY4GH_O3dF2SvfAhBoSer6L7gAEwWSPxerSZXkHu9fuBc4P8L6ZFa&slof=1
Curacao pilot on the tarmac before flying team to the World Cup.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZaS7xdxOCo/
Tap-in the Afterglow: Friends and Family Who’re Good to Go!”
Provided by: Wayne Dawson
My daughter Kai, now lovingly known as Dr. Kai, graduated with her PsyD in Psychology from Kean University, and the whole village showed up. Spouse, parents, siblings, stepparents, friends, and extended family were all there to celebrate her. But more than that, we were there to honor the journey. We saw the struggle, the anxiety, the laughter, the fears, the frustration, and the wins.
At the end of it all she ‘landed’ the plane. As she walked across that stage and was hooded, it felt like we all walked with her. That weekend we also celebrate her husband, our beloved son-in-law, Jon, who received his Master’s as a Nurse Practitioner from Yale University, his second master’s degree. A powerhouse couple, indeed. What a moment for them and for us as a fam.
Recently had the chance to think about how it took 27 years to see the Knicks back in the NBA Finals. As fans, we lived through losing seasons, rebuilding years, coaching changes, injuries, heartbreak, and endless jokes from fans of other teams. And now there they are. Her graduation and the Knicks championship run are reminders that sometimes the biggest victories come after the longest waits. Don’t quit on what matters to you.
Don’t quit on your goals. Don’t quit on your dreams. Don’t quit on yourself. Sometimes success takes longer than expected, but that doesn’t mean it’s not coming. In this season of my life, I’m celebrating more than basketball, I’m celebrating perseverance. We give thanks to the Most High for giving them faith, strength, and perseverance. Biggups Knicks and Congrats, Dr. Kai!
Turn Up Tips: Notes on Trusting the Process
“If you work hard on your job, you can make a living. If you work hard on yourself, you can make a fortune.” – Jim Rohn
“Confidence is not noise, it is alignment. Step into your power and let it unfold.” – Wayne Dawson
“The world is changed by your example not by your opinion.” – Paul Coelho
Good Stuff: “Will the Real History Stand Up?”
The Ten Million Names Project and the American Ancestors team in Boston took a deep dive in history as a lead-up to America’s 250th Independence Day celebration. Without giving too much away, ABCs Good Morning America tracked down a living descendant of a slave that helped build the White House. The documentary is called American Story: The Hands That Built the White House.
While it’s not ‘good stuff’ that free labor of the enslaved built the White House, the story ironically involved someone named…John Freeman. It’s like what we saw in the World Cup. The first goal scored by the U.S. in the tournament happened on Juneteenth by Alex Freeman. It’s as if our ancestors wanted us to know that they’re still watching over the affairs of a nation that wants to erase some aspects of history.
Checkout the big reveal, in their own words: https://youtu.be/LCjXclRclZ8?si=LffREGBezvnkBxCP
Book Brief: Page Notes, Thumb Scrolls & Screen Clicks
Public Good Sense: Rebirth in Voice of a People and Soul of a Nation
Ever had a conversation with a friend, then after it was done you thought, “Wish we had taped that?” Well, that’s how this came about with Yasmine, who’s from one of our founding families. Just before she headed off to Togo Africa for the next edition of the “Dream Africa Cultural Exchange”, she mentioned some of what was planned. Then the idea took shape to record the convo.
We made two takes, one where she was being asked questions about Dream Africa. Then the second time she was asking questions about my book ‘Public Good Sense.’ Just like that we were showing mutual support and doing reverse marketing. This might be another way for folks to share their review of the book. Plus, we’ll spread the word on what they are doing in their lane and what we’re doing in ours.
If this concept connects with you, maybe next time we’ll have a chat with another friend on how we get this generation to pick up a book (put down their phone). There’s a song by a popular artist that literally says, “I can make you put your phone down.” So holla back if that’s a conversation you’d like to help get started or be a part of as a ‘friend in convo’.
Video Chat: https://youtu.be/z8bb3BB2x5I
Direct Buy: https://www.publicgoodsense.com (More points of sale being added in-store and online)
Other Mentions: Added Touch Like Gravy
Something special just happened to one of our family members. He got a Championship ring from the Indiana football team for his past performances on the team in the late 80s. But it gets better as he decided to donate it to his high school so that the next generation might be inspired by his journey. https://www.instagram.com/p/DavbpjHuDmK/?igsh=MW1iejR4OHFvb3Jpdw==
How’s your summer vibing going? Wanna show us your new breakout dance moves? This hot track got even hotter with these ladies making it do what it do.https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EW6N68A2K/
Speaking of cruising, it looks like Serge (in red) and Emilie (in black) got back from their Celebration Cruise trip for their respective milestone birthdays. Here they are huddled with family under the Independence Day fireworks show in their hometown.
Wished you had a little bubbly to raise a glass? Well, the J5 Legacy Blend from The Family Line’s ‘Jackson 5’ fam might just be what’s missing. Every bottle tells their story. Every toast honors the journey.
Was that a family backyard bash that came together with the Washington family? Big bro Jarvis was the master chef, seen here grilling for the occasion. Dude, that chicken looks ready to go from grill to plate!
Here’s Annetta on a summer afternoon out for some mini golf. Maybe the rest of her fam was warming up with some practice swings, while she was checking out the sites.
The original ‘Jackson 5’ visited Jamaica back in 1975 and had a chance to meet-up with Bob Marley. Here they are perched on a fallen tree like birds lying across the road. https://www.threads.com/@mindingmyblackownbiz/post/DaPO8WllI0Y?xmt=AQG0_MFbUZAO7lfG7w2wWyVArB-wajddhy00oA6e-TFGZLdkcWWIua1S22teLF-4LNf6Ig6W&slof=1
For those looking for a little Caribbean ‘jump-up’, here’s a peak at upcoming Jamaican Independence Day celebrations. There’s something for every social taste and favorite ‘get-up’. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1PTAEJbpwe/
The 2031 hosts of the Women’s World Cup soccer will include Jamaica. Here’s a look at what the proposed National Stadium upgrade will look like. https://www.instagram.com/p/DaXpC1HFTUR/?img_index=4&igsh=bDQ2cm11YzFrMXN0
A flashback photo as wifey stumbled on this gem of her mom and dad back on their wedding day. Her mom just celebrated her 88th birthday. Next to that is my dad who would have been 90-years old this past June.
Lastly, had a great time with my fam at the Father’s Day rooftop brunch. My daughters picked the location which gave us an almost 360-view of the area, while the a-la-carte menu did the rest.
Smile Emoji
Is this your pet after getting busted?
https://youtube.com/shorts/rGklg26vFuk?is=Y5EDJgdF4xHyB2Zu
Teaching a child to play baseball has its own kicks and giggles.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EE38NsbJxbE
Life & Times Flava (Chill Sauce for the Grind): “Chip on Your Shoulder”
World Cup Soccer matches have been exciting to watch! So much to be inspired by, from the human-interest stories to last-minute scoring. Of course, there was some drama with the U.S. team when Folarin Balogun was suspended for a red card penalty, even after VAR (video assist replay). He was re-instated to play the next game, but the U.S. still lost. It’s as if Belgium showed up with a chip on their shoulder.
While that was playing out, the competition rolled on. Beyond having VAR to help get the calls right, we learned that the soccer balls have a chip inside. This technology helps with confirming if a player was offside, since the chip gives real-time data on where a player was before the pass was made. It’s amazing that we have this ‘smarts’ for sports, but with issues of our time we get lost in the sauce.
Maybe we need a different kind of chip on our shoulders. Not one based on bluster and pushing our weight around, but more like a brightening in our mindset and attitude on things across family and country. Some might remember the song ‘total eclipse of the heart’ which tells the story of love that feels so good but falls apart so fast because ‘light’ gets blocks. That’s some of what’s happening in America.
We need a chip in the heart that will give us real-time data on our emotions during moments of drama and controversy in the social space. America just celebrated its 250th birthday and some folks wondered why in some ways it felt more like a funeral than a festive occasion. Well, like a mountain climber, we should consider that a milestone isn’t just a celebration but also a re-calibration for the next level.
(For a deeper dive on the issues of our time, checkout https://SeeAmericaInColor.com).
Line Jams
Buju Banton and Haitian friends – On the Go (World Cup Anthem) – https://youtu.be/BOLl5ISqFv0?si=JcghkM5xapKyJtSW
Protoje – In Your Corner – https://youtu.be/WvBKKvfDvZg?si=DGJvZgBDH3WNkZv-
The Family Line Motto: “Open Door to Good Cheer.”
The Family Line 