Performing Live Again. No Zoom.

This weekend, catch me at the Capstan Brewery in a monthly showcase hosted by Comedian Donna Lewis. Saturday, October 17th at 7pm.

Your Complaints Reveal Your Privilege...

Think about the things that get under your skin. Arguing over what to eat tonight. Amazon being sold out of Chromebooks. People not liking your posts. These are things that show the privilege in your life. Someone in a third world country would look at you and your spouse/significant other arguing over what restaurant to go to as... ridiculous. You not only have a choice of what to eat, you have SOMETHING to eat. A child who never gets the opportunity to go to school will look at your frustration over sold out Chromebooks as, “rich people problems.” Your child is entitled to an education, and you have the means to help them get their supplies.

In America, the debate over race, and political affiliations have reached a tipping point. One of the main issues we have is the denial of a difference between the lives lived by whites versus everyone else, especially black people. If you are white and reading this, ask yourself this, “Would I want to switch places with any black person that wasn’t a person of fame, status, or influence?”

If the answer is no, it’s probably because of the differences that in your heart, you know exists. And, if that is the case-don’t be a part of the problem by denying that things like privilege exists. Everyone has some sort of privilege. Again, just listen to what you're complaining about. Wearing a mask? People protesting? Why does every thing have to be about race, "all of a sudden?" Having complaints like these reveal your privilege. And having privilege isn't a bad thing, unless you use it for bad reasons. Like denying that you have it, or stopping other people from leveling the playing field so everyone gets a fair shot. White privilege doesn’t mean you didn’t have to work hard, or life didn’t deal you a bad hand in some way. It does mean that the system is designed to help you more than someone who doesn’t look like you. It would be great if the new normal would include the same opportunity, the same liberty, the same justice for all. If everyone had a chance to complain... about the same things.

Why I Quit Social Media

So I deleted my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. And, what’s the one thing most people do during a big life change? They post about it. You know I actually had to call somebody up on a "telephone," and tell them about this?

When I realized I couldn’t, I was like, “Let me use this blog I’m paying for right quick...” And here we are. So far, it's been a week without social media, and it’s a little weird. Phone addiction is a real thing, and I didn’t like that I was showing the symptoms. Checking the phone like the refrigerator when you know all your snacks is GONE. Distracted during conversations with friends and family. Resisting the temptation to check a text while you're driving.

Here's what I didn't like about social media specifically: It was changing me. It was in ways that I think maybe only I have noticed so far, but it was changing me. The negative thoughts... the shade that would come into my mind when scrolling through a news feed. My brain was like, "New personality. Who Dis?" Normally, I don't like "Hater-ation." Even before Mary J. Blige told me I didn't need it, I knew I didn't need it in my dancery. But, here I was inviting hater-ation to come hang out when I logged in (bars). I was accepting friend requests from people I ain't know for real (because of the standup). I felt obligated to like ish because of relationships built through these platforms. I don't have the bandwidth to care ALL THE TIME. I mean, I can care some... but all the time? Social media you doing too much. I can't do it no more, fam. Matter of fact, I've been cutting back on as many things as possible that are keeping me from being me. Keeping me from peace of mind.

So, if you followed me on any social, no I didn't unfriend you, or stop following you-I stopped following the present day conventional wisdom that this is the only way to do things now. If it is, maybe I'll go back later. But, for now-Nah fam, I'm good. My only question is-PEOPLE W/O SOCIAL MEDIA: Do you just go to the bathroom now, or take tangible reading materials? Just going to the bathroom seems so weird. Who does that?