Author: taylor.walker

Juneteenth 2020 is something else

We’re living in the foreshadowing of what really happened during the time of our ancestors. For two years, Texan slaves didn’t know they were actually freed by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. Today in 2020, we have the president of the United States taking credit for making the holiday famous in the midst of rescheduling his first 2020 presidential campaign in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Though there could be some truth to that statement for many Americans, Trump is not the reason why I know about Juneteenth and also many other people who are fortunate to be educated on the true history of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Did you know this artist was offered a job after sharing his 2019 Google Juneteenth Illustration?

Juneteeth 2020 was more proactive because of the current social climate of our country. Since the death of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police department on Memorial day, daily protest bringing attention to police brutality and excessive force has remarkably surged throughout the nation. People are making it their duty to protest in support of their stances against systemic racism and support or police reform. Every day there are new updates around the country changing legislation and proposed laws. It’s liberating to see.

But it was a first for me to see black people telling others how to celebrate Juneteenth. Entertainment site xoNecole shared a series of infographics encouraging how people could celebrate their Juneteenth. While I am a black woman, I have never had a tradition for this day. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that there are many black people who honor it.

I felt like I needed to do something to bring more awareness of my history, especially currently with what’s happening. Until June 19th, I’ve remained in my home social-distanced, and my only knowledge of what’s occurring in the outside world is met through the Internet. I needed to get out of my selfmade COVID-19 dungeon. So Juneteenth, I thought of doing something safe that could give me an escape and purpose. 

After George Floyd, my boyfriend and I talked about our feelings about our current social climate in America. Both of us expressed a desire for wanting to do more with our brands in support of the Black community. I don’t know what it was, at that moment we felt like we weren’t doing enough. It’s like a kick of activism sparks in your spirit when something you know that isn’t right eludes in fairness. So boom I had an idea. Taking pictures of BLM signs, morals, businesses in support of #BlackLivesMatter while driving around Baltimore could give us that oomph we were missing. We can still do this and remained social-distanced.

Defund the Police. Need I say more?

I don’t think it’s necessary. We haven’t kept quiet since Floyd. I think people are fed up and won’t keep quiet.

CtrlMyCamera takes the credit for all these photos. That’s why I want to bring attention to supporting this talented black artist.

It’s always fun to catch an artist at work. It’s even more fun when you can get a class from it. Haha. Akeel is the most skilled photographers that I personally know in Baltimore city. So if it came down to finding the perfect person to coach me during a photo walk, no doubt it would be Ctrlmycamera.

A nice night hanging by the fire with friends in our blackness 12 am on Juneteeth.

Akeel Shabazz is the owner of the photography brand CtrlMyCamera. CtrlMyCamera specializes in portrait, event, wedding, landscape, and nature photography. Check out more from Akeel found on his Instagram @ctrlmycamera.

When did you first hear about Juneteenth? Leave your comments below.

So What Are We Doing Now? I thought the topic was police brutality? Where to donate to Support #BlackLives

Let’s talk about how the world is moving after the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmed Arbury. 

http://www.instagram.com/p/BasTi9WBtul/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

We’re now near to a month in with bringing police brutality to the forefront of the media. Almost every day, we’re hearing new stories of someone getting killed or abused by cops. Just this week, former Atlanta Officer was charged with the murder of Rayshard Brook, a black man who was fatally shot in an Atlanta Wendy’s drive-thru after running away with the officer’s taser. We’re also seeing multiple petitions for many other cases involving social injustices being revisited. Mom of Kendrick Johnson, the black Georgia high school student that was found dead in the high school gymnasium in 2013, held a “Justice for Kendrick” rally on Saturday. Even Kim Kardashian shared her sentiments and support for signing a petition to reopen his case. The world looks like it’s making a turn for a change.

There are hundreds of companies and organizations making public stances in support of ending police brutality, supporting police reform, defunding police departments, and so on. The world is looking like it’s making a breakthrough. It really is. As a result of all these changes happening, we as a society look like we don’t know what we should be focusing on because there are lots of organizations making PSAs that aren’t directly focused on police reform but systemic racism in general. I log online and feel like my brain is being pulled from one breakthrough on one side of the country to the next breakthrough on the other.

And like any hot topic, there are so many inquisitive people pondering why we are making so many changes. Questions I’ve seen being asked: 

  • What should be our main focus in the media?
  • What should we have our attention emotionally, spiritually, and physically?
  • What’s good for our mind during all of this?
  • What does this tell me about my frame of character? 
  • Are the changes we’re making moving us in a positive direction? 

These are all very good questions to ponder. But I also see people arguing about why we are fighting when they thought racism ended? What are we trying to change? Honestly, I can sense their frustration. If you’re now truly beginning to see how messed up everything is, I’m sure you’re finding out how much more fight we have left to right a wrong system. 

Source: Facebook

Ultimately, all of these questions show us how much we don’t know how structured a systemic racial society has shaped how we live our daily lives. So we’re confused. It’s good news one minute to hear people talking of police officers walking out in Atlanta after the charges were made against the cop accused of murdering Rayshard Brooks. “Because this is what it all started from. Police Brutality is the topic.” It’s labeled off-topic the next minute people celebrate the rebranding of breakfast delicacy Cream of Wheat, which if someone was educated on the history of the image on the package, they’d know the chef name is Rastus – a pejorative term and considerably offensive as it’s associated with a depiction of a stereotypically happy Black Man in a plethora of minstrel culture in the 1920s. 

We are capable of focusing on more than one thing at a time. Still, while these are two separate stories, racism is the dark cloud that overcasts each. Systemic Racism needs to be addressed from every angle. We don’t have to erase it. But let’s REVISE our history to include everyone in it. Let’s have our story told with the inclusion of the people it’s about. Let’s hear the dialog of those who find that this is wrong. This is one reason why we diversify the people sitting in the seats at big tables at large corporations…AND actually, listen to their input, then implement it. We include them so we don’t have to say oops.

Change is good. Social evolution is a good thing. If you have a problem like NASCAR’s Truck Series Driver Ray Ciccarelli who quits racing because of the confederate flag ban, and if you don’t see how innovative such change can be for NASCAR to move forward from allowing this in the first place, it is your complacency to racism speaking from within. You’d better check it. Because we must knock out every single angle of this racist ass circus:

Though…I agree, there are some people making stances for change that are a little questionable. I’m seeing how desperate during this political season candidates make statements in hopes they sway voters in their favor. I question how genuine Joe Biden really feels when he makes public his opinions about wanting reparations for blacks as long as it’s expanded to Native Americans, too. Sounds like you itching for my vote buddy. If you mean it, I’m with it.

As I mentioned before in my blog “Is this the Revolution I talked about not being Televised? My #BlackOutTuesday Protest Against Racism in the Wake of the 2020 Minneapolis Riots,” it is time for people of color voices to be heard. Everywhere there are injustices there should be someone trying to address it. Society is evolving with many breakthroughs because people are sharing their stories with white allies who are listening. We have to be ready to receive it.

It still blows my mind people complain about good changes.

Why should corporations and companies change their company stances and political stances in supports of #BLM matter?

Because the “black” dollar has weight.

Black people spend money. Everyone should know black people spend their money. As stated in the Black Detour, “Though Black America makes up a small portion of the US population, Black buying power is approximately $1 trillion with estimates placing it close to $2 trillion by 2020, making us [black people] one of the largest economies in the world according to the World Bank, the 15th largest economy in the world in terms of GDP.” This means black people have an influence on what defines mainstream simply from decisions made from their wallets. This is important to everyone else because this tells us black spending is why you’ll see that item in the isles at the stores, on your television screens, and even down to the place you choose to purchase your crabs in Maryland. It’s crazy how you can find a GoFundMe account created for a Maryland crab shop after it opted to shut down all four of it’s Maryland locations because BLM protests emerged at the Middle River location for the owner and his family’s choices of words and viewpoint in response to 2020 Minneapolis riots and looting.

Screenshot of Vince Crab’s GoFundMe

The weight of the black dollar matters to these corporations. What we see here is our country facing an economic crisis from the coronavirus crisis, too. When the stores open back up, the black dollar matters, right? I’m cautious knowing that my wallet has weight. I’m aware of this power. Companies are changing policies and making public stances also because they know this power, too. Especially in the wake of a pandemic where we’re desperate to not fall into an economic depression. So now I’m choosing to use this power to continue to expand on with conscious shopping, investing in what I feel is worth my money. I’m researching the company and its product. Does this give back to the issues I care about? Hmm…and is it blacked owned, too?

Humans know right from wrong. But our issues are layered and capitalism is corruption. We have to put back into what matters in order to live a better life. So putting money into communities that matter to me is important.

Finding a motive that you’re passionate about. It doesn’t have to be specifically for the BLM organization.

I read everything. I’m not naive to claims of people who opt-out of paying money directly to the BLM organization. Speculation of where the money that’s donated to BLM is always questioned. Speculation for why #BlackLivesMatter protests emerge during the political season, too. Why is it? Who knows? Is it the assumption that it’s a black organization? People could argue. I research where my money is going, too. So often when speaking to someone about supporting black lives, I hear their doubts about donating money to an organization like #BlackLivesMatter. 

You can still donate to something else…🙄

Source: Curators of Hip-Hop Facebook

The Curators Of Hip-Hop hosted a zoom panel discussion “The Organized Culture” on Facebook live discussing issues in the current climate like what we should be doing next from protesting and what needs to be done to see changes when it comes to injustices. Five community leaders in Baltimore had this open discussion on Facebook live sharing what they do as their contributions to helping support the community around them.

[Watch the Facebook Panel Of The Organized Culture hosted by the Curators of Hip-Hop via their Facebook Channel.]

It’s important that I shared this entire panel because each speaker shared points worth considering when taking on supporting a cause against injustices like #BlackLivesMatter. But there are many more issues that require attention because the injustices are interchangeably relatable to each other when it comes to the challenges that plague an oppressed and disadvantaged culture. As crime is directly linked more to poverty than race or any other factor. We should be looking to support and find ways to better improve these communities and neighborhoods. We can find roadblocks to almost every avenue of social interaction. Causes that could be addressed for inner-city communities are unemployment, poverty, drug, and alcohol addiction, homelessness, it is not only police reform that needs fixing. Because there is a connection to high crime rates in a system that embellishes all of the above, racism is a plague that is weaved within all of it, and a privileged group that rarely experiences it at all needs to know what’s going on.

Will you make a stand to donate to a cause to change systemic racism in its entirety? What are some causes that you know that fight against injustices? List them in the comments below.

Is this the Revolution I talked about not being Televised? My #BlackOutTuesday Protest Against Racism in the Wake of the 2020 Minneapolis Riots

I started writing this blog last week. I revised and deleted it a few times. I’m still weird about publishing this now. But to tell you the truth, I feel the same feeling of word vomit eroding my mouth today as I did 5 years ago when I wrote “#OpinionEssay: The “Real” Revolution Will Not Be Televised. #ILoveBaltimore” during the unrest in Baltimore resulting in the Baltimore Uprising. I don’t care how the blog comes off because it is another protest about what is happening around me. I just asked God to use me as he did before.

On Memorial Day, May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a black American man was executed on video by Officer Derek Chavin of the Minneapolis Police Department. The video went viral like a plethora of other police brutality videos that surface online. But this one…this one might just be the video that dropped a major bomb into white people’s reality. Do we actually have white people on alert as to what happens to Black people in America? Because a week later after this horrific image was shared countless times on our feeds, America also has seen protests and riots in cities across the country calling for justice for Floyd. 

Credit:Nick Oxford/Reuters

When I wrote my Opinion Essay about how a revolution and revolt would not be televised, it was to send a message to Black people to come together and educate their families on the realities of being black. I wanted people to talk to their children about Black history. I needed black parents to take the time to teach their kids about a culture and a reality that has led their children to face a different lifestyle than those of other backgrounds. I wanted black people to heal in their black pride by sharing themselves with each other. It wasn’t my intention to tell black people to seek help or compassion from anyone who is white. When black people feel betrayed, that is the last thing they’re thinking of doing. I really believe many black people, like myself, took the time to immerse themselves in their blackness and grew in their pride because I saw so much uplifting and positivity living in the midst of the 2015 Baltimore Uprising. But the revolution was not going to be televised and all the positivity Black Baltimoreans experienced was short-lived. 

Source: Vice ID

Today I feel different about this revolution for Black America. I mean, the revolution is definitely on TV lol. There are so many black people who are already strong, having pride for themselves and culture. Black people live in their blackness daily. We don’t need to keep being reminded of why we go through these harsh realities. We’ve even gotten accustomed to healing each other whenever we’re knocked down with each release of a new video or news story. Though so many people yell #AllLivesMatter or Black on Black crime -blah, blah, blah- that is absolutely irrelevant to what attention we want. Black People are faced with injustices that people are deliberately ignoring. The revolution we’re watching for sure needs to be televised but this part of it is not for our spectatorship, it’s for our voice.

This revolution needs our labor at this moment to be a voice in our pure authentic blackness. This revolution needs for us to share our black stories, our black experiences, our black pain, and our black hopes. We need to share these things with our white friends so they can empathize with them. We need them to find some way to feel how we feel so that it can provoke them to fight for their allies because when white people care, they fight. It’s liberating to see more of my white friends, co-workers, and acquaintances speaking up after seeing this video. It’s amazing seeing white people taking the initiative to do the things that I asked of from Black people.

June 2, 2020, is a unique day in history particularly because #BlackOutTuesday will mark a day when industries and companies around the world chose to stop what they were doing to stand in solidarity against systemic racism. It’s the day America is literally acknowledging the bullshit. It might not be the whole country because there are still many doubters. But America today looks like it wants to listen to what we have to say. Black people have been screaming for such acknowledgment since forever ago. I’m a little overwhelmed with America lending an ear to Black folks, but goddammit about time. It’s the first time in all my life that I’m seeing white guilt on such a huge magnitude. I watched a video on Baltimore Fox 45 Facebook Live of hundreds of white people kneeling in solidarity on Northern Parkway and Roland Ave. We’re nowhere near the endpoint of racism but at least I’m seeing white people just as outraged as we are.

Several hundred protestors are kneeling for 9 mins on Northern Pkwy and Roland Ave.
Eddie Kadhim WMAR is on scene (Source: Facebook WBAR-2)

It’s not over. We still need our white allies. But we need this issue to be in their faces constantly. That’s the just reality of it. Once George Floyd’s investigation dies down in the media, will white people stop trying to learn what’s really affecting people of color? When I think of the answer to this question in general, it’s no because it’s a really uncomfortable subject. People do not like facing being uncomfortable. A huge part of me believes that once we stop talking about it, we’ll fall back into this being black people’s reality, and I’m not being a narcissist when I think this because this is my reality. I’m black and there are a lot of wow factors about my daily escapades of being a black woman I often gaze over as just another thing I’m used to.

This is the new challenge that I would like white allies to face now that we’ve got a lot of their attention. I challenge them to continually diversify their mind while learning black culture because many of us have concerns about what’s genuine. All these awesome stances are being made, but will they make an effort to continue to learn about systemic racism and seek ways to help fight it? Will they deliberately seek moments that may make them uncomfortable with the intentions of it helping them grow? The country needs unity and in order to get there, we need collaboration and understanding that will not expire once the next headline takes the lead, I’m just saying.

Credit: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

I’m tired. So are a lot of other black people. Are white people truly tired?

Have you read What You Missed at the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March… (Four Main Points Minister Farrakhan Shouted at Us)?

WFH: It’s Your Essential Right. 100 Work From Home Jobs During #Covid19

Everyday the statistics of unemployment reach astronomical levels with billions of people laid off globally while we await for the reopening of a global shutdown. People are getting antsy to leave their homes for survival. As people label even the minuscule of tasks as essential in order to escape their homes, they’re ignoring precautions to keep everyone safe. Ain’t nobody got time for that! So we need to push the alternatives.

I have friends and relatives fortunate in finding quick fixes in hard times. Like turning on a switch to active “hustler mode,” they are fast at coming up with plans to tackle the changes that could come up physically, mentally, spiritually, and even financially. It’s a talent that I can admire when people put in the hustle during times of adversity and tragedy.

The benefits of living in the digital age and smacked in the middle of year 2020 is the ability to remain connected in so many different ways while remaining so far apart. Distance isn’t a factor anymore if we need to get things done. So when trials appear, if there should be any during this pandemic, financial stability is everyone’s essential right. 

It’s recorded that over 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment within a six-week rolling period according to an article on CNBC. To measure this pandemic’s impact on a more local level, Maryland received over 37,000 unemployment claims within the last week! New approaches are necessary since we cannot determine when the country will go back to normal.

I saw a solution on my Facebook timeline. One of my friends shared a post of 100 companies that are currently hiring for work from home positions. I think this is useful for anyone. Take a look.

I pray anyone that is in need will find something in the list below. 

“Laid off during #Covid19, or looking for a 2nd stream of income? Do you have stable internet access? Here’s a list of employers who are hiring for remote positions.

NOTE: You will need to copy and paste the entire post (not share it), otherwise you will only see the DOI link. 😉 I hope this helps those in need. 

WORK FROM HOME POSITIONS

LIST OF REMOTE/WORK FROM HOME EMPLOYERS

1. Live Ops- http://www.liveops.com

2. TeleTech- http://www.localjobster.com/company5?company=teletech

3. Amazon- http://www.amazon.jobs/en

4.Teleperformance- http://www.teleperformance.com/en-us/work-with-us/

5. UnitedHealth Group- http://careers.unitedhealthgroup.com/

6. Dell-http://jobs.dell.com/north-America-jobs

7. IBM- http://www.ibm.com/employment

8. U.S Department of Agriculture – http://www.usda.gov

9. Working Solutions- http://workingsolutions.com

10. Humana- http://www.humana.com

11. Aetna- http://www.aetna.com/about-us/aetna-careers.html

12. Intuit- http://careers.intuit.com/

13. Kaplan- http://kaplan.com/work-with-us/our-culture

14. Kelly Services- http://careers.kellyservices.com/

15. Cactus Communications- http://www.flexjobs.com/jobs/telecommuting-jobs-at-cactus

16. Westat- http://www.westat.com/careers

17. Salesforce- http://www.salesforce.com/company/careers

18. PAREXEL- http://jobs.parexel.com

19. CyberCoders- http://www.cybercoders.com/?logo=1

20. American Express- http://jobs.americanexpress.com

21. Vmware- http://careers.vmware.com/main/

22. SAP- http://www.sap.com/career

23. Xerox- http://www.xerox.com/en-us/jobs/work-from-home

24. First Data- http://www.firstdata.com/en_us/about-first-data/careers

25. US-Report- http://www.us-reports.com/jobs

26. Oracle- Oracle-http://Work.Jobsgalore.com/Jobs

27. CACI International- http://careers.caci.com/key/work-from-home-jobs.html

28. A Place for Mom- http://www.aplaceformom.com/jobs

29. Anthem,Inc- http://careers.antheminc.com

30. DellSecureWorks- http://www.secureworks.com/careers

31. World Travel Holdings- http://www.worldtravelholdings.com/careers,work-home

32. ADP- http://www.adp.com/careers.aspx

33. Aon- http://jobs.aon.com

34. University of Maryland University College- http://www.umuc.edu/visitors/careers

35. Allergan Inc.- http://www.allergan.com/careers

36. K12- http://www.k12.com/careers

37. U.S. Department of Transportation- http://www.transportation.gov/careers

38. CSI companies- http://thecsicompanies.com/candidates

39. Robert Half- http://www.roberthalf.com

40. Nielsen- http://sites.nielsen.com/careers

41. Red Hat- http://www.redhat.com/en/jobs

42. Adobe Systems- http://www.adobe.com/careers

43. Overland Solutions, Inc.- http://overlandsolutionsinc.com

44. BCD travel- http://www.bcdtravel.com/get-to-know-us/careers

45. Connections Education- http://www.connectionsacademy.com/careers

46. Deloitte- http://www.deloitte.com/careers

47. Apple- http://jobs.apple.com

48. Mckesson Corporation- http://careers.mckesson.com

49. Thermo Fisher Scientific- http://corporate.thermofisher.com/en/home.html

50. Precyse- http://careers.precyse.com

51. Haynes & Company- http://www.haynesandcompany.com

52. Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc- http://www.ppdi.com/careers

53. IT Pro Philadelphia- http://www.phillymag.com/property/2013/10/22/live-work-homes

54. Cigna- http://www.cigna.com/career

55. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt- http://careers.hmhco.com

56. Sungard Availability – http://jobs.sungardas.com/

Services- http://sungardas.com

57. Infor- http://www.infor.com/company/careers

58. Sodexo- http://www.sodexousa.com/home/careers-usa.html

59. About.com- http://www.dotdash.com/careers/

60. Altegra Health- http://altegrahealth.com/careers

61. GE- http://jobs.gecareers.com/

62. Western Governors University-http://www.wgu.edu/about_WGU/employment/work_remote

63. Grand Canyon University- http://jobs.gcu.edu/admissions-enrollment-jobs

64. Walden University- http://www.waldenu.edu

65. Vivint- http://www.vivint.com/company/careers

66. BroadSpire- http://www.choosebroadspire.com

67. Covance- http://careers.covance.com

68. Ellucian- http://www.ellucian.com

69. HD Supply- http://hdsupply.jobs

70. Perficient Inc.- http://www.perficient.com

71. Teradata- http://www.teradata.com

72. Wells Fargo- http://www.wellsfargo.com/about/careers

73. Symantec Corporation- http://www.Symantec.com

74. Real Staffing-http://www.realstaffing.com/en

75. Science Applications International- http://www.saic.com

76. AmerisourceBergen Company- http://www.amerisourcebergen.com

77. Appen- http://www.jobs.net/jobs/appen/en-us

78. Hartford Financial Services Group- http://www.thehartfordatwork.com

79. RetailDatat- http://retaildatallc.com

80. SYKES- http://www.sykes.com/Careers

81. CARA- http://www.jobbankusa.com

82. Citizens Financial Group- http://citizensbank.jobs/work-at-home

83. CVS Health- http://cvshealth.com

84. Healthfirst- http://healthfirst.taleo.net/careersec…/hf_ext_cs/jobsearch

85. American Heart Association- http://careers.heart.org

86. BMC software- http://www.bmc.com/careers

87. Hibu- http://hibu.com

88. inVentive Health- http://www.inventivhealth.com/careers

89. Rosetta Stone- http://jobs.jobvite.com/rosettastone

90. Erie Insurance Group- http://www.erieinsurance.com/careers

91. Deluxe- http://ww.deluxe.com

92. Clevertech- http://weworkremotely.com/jobs

93. Achieve Test Prep- http://www.achievetestprep.com

94. Worldpay- http://www.worldpay.com

95. DataStax- http://www.datastax.com/

96. CDK Global- www.cdkglobal.com

97. Teleflex- http://www.teleflex.com/en/careers/workingAtTeleflex

98. Aquent- http://aquent.com/find-work

99. Parallon- http://www.parallon.com/careers

100. U.S Department of the Interior- http://www.doi.gov/careers

There’s a Catador in Town. Doc Hosts 1st Ever Tequila Tasting in Baltimore 

Wine and beer festivals and tastings scattered  all around this country. A person could probably find over 25+ festivals in the DMV alone. When it comes to heavier liquor and spirits tastings, one would need to pay for the excursion on an exclusive vacation to attend one that’s worth experiencing. It’d simply be a waste of time, money, and gas to go to any local liquor store for a tasting. I know this so I decided to throw a tasting many of my friends would enjoy in a safe and comfortable environment.

Few people know that they can find tastings at their local liquor stores. They tend to be lackluster events. A tasting hosted in the average neighborhood spirits store would usually host a 2 hour tasting of a bottle sold in their store. They invite customers to taste small swigs of drinks housed on the shelves of their store as they shop. So most times these tastings aren’t formal or advertise for the public to attend. This could be due to Maryland liquor laws that prohibit many businesses from serving based on the type and class of a business.

Three stores you can visit for weekly tastings in Baltimore, MD: 

  • HoneyGo Wine and Spirits located in Perry Hall, MD, has weekly tastings in their tasting room on Friday’s from 4pm to 7pm.
  • Quarry Wine and Spirits, located in Baltimore, MD, often hosts wine tastings in their liquor store on Fridays from 3pm to 6pm. 
  • Wine Loft in Pikesville, MD does tastings if their wine collections on Saturdays from 1pm to 6pm.
http://www.instagram.com/p/B3KDCytAA9W/?igshid=1loi1qkizv0r2

These tastings are slim in their pickings of alcohol as they make the choice of beverage for you per the tasting. But if you are someone looking to buy a drink for later, such satisfaction is suitable in attending a tasting as such. But wouldn’t you want to really experience your drink? How will you know you really like it from just a sip? Why wait for later? Honestly the taste isn’t something great in any alcoholic drink, either. A spirits or wine tasting should let the drinker know what they’re getting themselves into.

That’s how it was for me at least. Wine tastings are best when you have them on cruise ships like how I’ve experienced when cruising to Mexico over the summer.

Doc and her dad in the Blue Agave fields in Mexico.

During my vacation cruising to Mexico, I did three tastings of my favorite drink, tequila. All the tastings educated its attendees about how tequilas are made, how many different types there are, and how to tell what brands are authentic tequila brands. I visited a field of Blue Agave Cactuses with my family and enjoyed exploring tequilas distilled into many different delicious flavors such as mango, coffee, and cream.

http://www.instagram.com/p/Bz4RO5ChdtX/?igshid=1ow7ydk4wbgsd

This experience was so fun to have I wondered if there were any tasting for Tequila in Maryland. It wasn’t a surprise to find the kind of tasting I would come across is the usual Wine and Spirit Store sample tasting. Really, where are the tequila tastings?! Not in Baltimore. The closest someone might find a tequila tasting is in a restaurant in Washington, DC. 

So I threw my own tequila tasting during the holidays and I had a blast!

I spent hours and days prepping to grant my friends and family an experience worth sharing with others. I wanted this tasting to be talked about for weeks, or maybe even months. I wanted people to experience something they’ve never done before. So I studied, studied, and studied long to really educate my guests on what they’d be consuming. I became Catadora, someone who specializes in tasting tequila, for the night pairing my holiday chocolates with a kick of tequila. Bien de salud (in sound health, of course.)

Simply having people taste tiny sips of tequila wasn’t enough. I needed to know that my guests were gaining knowledge from me lecturing them about my favorite drink. So I threw a pop-quiz using a spinning wheel that ultimately turned my tasting into the most exciting Tequila trivia game known to man.

The night was so lit, I slightly beat myself for not preparing to have people in my house until 4 am. But no worries, I enjoyed the company and knowing everyone was safe. They had fun learning about Tequila and I loved being the teacher. I’ll definitely throw more tastings in the future.

What’s your favorite drink? Have you gone to a wine or spirits tasting for your favorite beverage? Share your experience in the comments below.

2020 Vision Baby: Sharing My Vision Board

We’re going to conquer our dreams. We’re getting back to master planning and sharing vision boards.

Boom! I’m coming back to use this zombieland of a blog I’ve had for over a year in hopes of inspiring people to take on the new decade in high confidence! We’re going to conquer our dreams. We’re getting back to master planning and sharing vision boards.

I’ve been on a hiatus from blogging for numerous reasons that I promise I’ll update in a later post. Today I want to share the vision board I created while prepping for my Doc Castle return. My board is solely my vision for 2020. Though I did draft a plan for a better decade in my daily notebook, I chose to share only what I have in mind for this year so I will not bore you all.

Read: The Benefits of Creating A Vision Board on GoalCast.

These things are what I consider to be concrete and achievable plans. I’m sharing and posting my board online to solidify and make declarations for my desires. I’ve written yearly goals since attending college, and it has proven to be very effective for me because it helps me get things done. It helps me make steps toward becoming the best version of myself each year. In achieving my goals, my life feels more colorful and more meaningful, and more recently I’ve found that my writings about my experiences completing my goals are my greatest motivation when I’m not feeling 100%.

I’ve shared bucket lists on Doc’s Castle Media in previous years with follow-up blog posts of sharing what I’ve done. Those experiences lead to creating music with friends and being featured in fashion shows. I met amazing people who introduced me to exploring a bigger world. It might not be a bucket list but in sharing my goals for 2020, I hope I can see more vividly and continue living more meaningfully.

Just a few things on the 2020 board…

  1. Travel More
  2. #Thirsty30
  3. Living and Growing Happily with My Boyfriend
  4. Honoring Taylor University Hours
  5. Utilizing my office as a space for productivity and as box of inspiration for brewing ideas.
  6. Stop living in your what if’s and just do what it!
  7. Make Dozens upon dozens of Decorative Vases

When entering into a new year, do you make goals? Share some of the goals you have in the comments below.

Get in the Spirit of Halloween: 5 Halloween Costumes by Doc

What better way to bask in my return to blogging for Doc’s Castle than to talk about one of my favorite times of the year to be creative: Halloween. 

For the last few years, I have dressed up to participate in the festivities of Halloween off whim because I think it’s exciting to get in the spirit of any holiday. It gives me something to do and its conversation starter with a lot of people who also enjoy doing things around this time of the year. So let’s talk about it!

I’m not an avid cosplayer so I don’t go all out for my costumes. You probably won’t ever see me super decked out dressed like I’m Catwoman or Wonder Woman. But when I catch the spirit of Halloween, my creativity takes over and I let my originality seep through. Because I’m not an avid cosplay, found someone you can ooh and ahh over.  You can see previously feature hairstylist Shanae Thomas in all her awesomeness by visiting her Facebook page. 

Check out some of these costumes I’ve worn over the decade.

2012 Ratchet Girl

In 2012 there was the invasion of the Ratchet Girl. Not to be confused with the Hot Girl, a term originated by rapper Megan the Stallion generally meaning- in very layman’s terms- women who feel confident in who they are—and having fun and looking good while doing it. Boisterous, or very confident women, would be mislabeled as Ratchet Girl, which is defined on Wikipedia as a loud ghetto, real, gutter, or nasty female. But over time this term has evolved into a more positive connotative meaning due to its use in modern pop culture. Some African-American women have reappropriated the word and embraced the meaning. Which is why I believe society’s hot girl was originally society’s former ratchet girl, but now evolved.

Shoutouts to Megan the Stallion for the name change, though!

2014 Annabelle

It was my first year working on Halloween for Baltimore’s alternative rock station 104.9 HFS Radio for Ballyhoo’s Halloween Party hosted at Soundstage in Downtown Baltimore City. I didn’t have time to prepare for the night with a better costume. But the station provided me with my outfit for the night. We were promoting the release of Annabelle and there were extra masks laying in the company’s promotions bin. With the extra motivation of a $3 Chipotle burrito bowl waiting for me just blocks from the venue, I was quick on my feet to figure out a plan to dress up to eat a discounted meal from one of my favorite restaurants. 

*Side note: I never saw Annabelle The Movie.

2015 Tyler The Champion of Courage

Welcome the era of Caitlyn Jenner, winner of the 2015 Champion of Courage Award for her infamous gender change from Olympian star Bruce Jenner. She was labeled “woman of the year” for her courage to do the ultimate change in front of the whole world and it sparked many debates on the inter-web of whether she truly deserved to be honored with the title. I mean, after all, was Caitlyn truly a woman?

I wanted my costume to spark conversation because 2015 was full of lots of controversial topics. Bruce Jenner’s sex change was one of the events being talked about. So much so I felt it was the reason Caitlyn received such endowment. My costume to become Tyler and carrying a Champion of Courage certificate was an idea to poke some fun at the topic. I just wanted to reward myself for the decision to be confident enough to become a man for a day.

2016 Tina Belcher Bob’s Burger

Obsessed with watching Bob’s Burgers, I took more of a cosplay approach to dressing for Halloween this year. In 2016, I started embracing celebrating Halloween with attempting to dress as anything I felt stood out the most about pop culture to me during the year. Bob Burgers was it!

Bob’s Burgers was all around me. Every time I watch TV and saw that Bob’s Burgers was on, I tuned in. If I saw it streaming live on YouTube, streamed it too. I wore socks that replicated Louise’s rabbit ears. I purchase coloring books with all the characters. I became a Bob’s Burgers fan. I still am.

I wouldn’t consider Tina Belcher to be my favorite character. Though I love all Bob’s Burgers characters equally, I shared with Doc’s Castle readers three reasons why Tina Belcher was the perfect fit for a 2016 Halloween Costume.

2018 Squinty Eye Meme Girl

People get recognition for some of the simplest things on the Internet. Memes are no exception to crowning our very next sensation. Literally, anyone can steal our attention with their charm, wit, and even stupidity.

Last year, I chose to highlight a basic meme I saw being shared numerous times throughout 2018. I chose to be this lovely young lady in the picture above. I don’t know her personally but I’ve seen her associated in plenty of hilarious memes across social media. I wanted to be something I knew anyone who’s on social media as much as I would understand. People go it because my photo was shared multiple times with laughs.

My Halloweens are “lit” with a creative desire to just be in the spirit of it. I know I’m not the only person who does it just for this reason. So many others come up with awesome costumes. I loved scrolling my timelines on this day. 

Did you see any costumes you enjoyed? Let us know about it in the comments below.

The Lost Kings Series Premiers at Baltimore’s Charles Theater July 24th

Has Baltimore found it’s new Wire series? It’s possible to say after viewing the premiere of the Lost Kings Series this week at the Charles Theater July 24th.

Terrence Smalls, director at 89 Crowns and writer of the independent film, may be onto something with his new series because it’s been a long time coming since Baltimore had such rich production embedded with its culture. In Lost Kings, Smalls shares his perspective of the city trenches, finally giving a glimpse of the inside from an insider of Baltimore City.

Any Baltimorean can tell the world is ready for more insight into how we live our lives whenever our radar flashes anytime tourists compare the lifestyle of the residents in Baltimore City to actors in the phenomenal HBO Series The Wire. Watching the Lost Kings at its premier made me realize it could have the same potential. From people’s accents to the infamous dirt bike riding in Baltimore streets, this fictional story portrays our city life artistically instead of, in recent years, the common factual documentary.

Through Smalls’ enactment of Max, played by Baltimore’s dirt bike Wheelie Queen, we watch her journey to avenge her brother’s death and thrive in an arena full of corrupt men. According to the premiere’s Facebook e-vite, Lost Kings’ purpose is to “bring Baltimore Culture to the forefront, while also highlighting and examining factors that contribute to psychological trauma.”

The film did great in portraying its purpose. Many artists throughout Baltimore’s art scene had a part in the production of the film. So it was easy to pick up on the city’s culture naturally as we watch the native actors. The film also highlighted characters having Post Traumatic Stress in situations highly aggravating and aggressive.

The series premiere is broken into 3 chapters in a total length of 30 minutes. It didn’t feel like 30 minutes at all with its many break in-between scenes acting as identifiers for the audience to refresh their attention on a new direction the story will take lead. We can see Smalls create a signature of his artistry while implementing this playwright style into the first episode. It also sets the series apart from independent “hood films” of its time, labeling a little more cinematic than that of what I can find “googling” indie hood films or come across on YouTube. So let’s say in three chapters Baltimore’s rawness is indeed depicted authentically and successfully in a swift 30 minutes.

I also did my part as I was a production assistant for the film, which is always great. Woo! I enjoyed having met many of the cast a crew since last year in 2017 at the start of shooting. Other participants in the production took to social media to share that they felt the same.

Terrence Smalls shares his appreciation for the turnout of the Lost Kings Premiere:

Justin Moten posts a picture with other cast members.

 

Hell of a time last night with my cast mates @bmore_lucky_lilman @justcallme_smoove

A post shared by jmo1305 (@jmo1305) on


Ramona Rideout shares a scene of her character at the premiere:

 

OMG 😯…..seeing myself on the screen in the #movie #theater for the VERY FIRST TIME!… Was thee #BEST feeling in this whole world !!!! Lol I can’t even type the words on this screen to explain … there’s only one way from here to go…👆🏽UP ….I pray I work and I don’t give up 🙌🏽 #thankgod #alwaysbegrateful This project involves so many AMAZING people but @tonyasays you are the real #MVP and @4th.eye.diaries there’s no other like you… you guys are the epitome of #friends turned #family #lostkings #2018 Annnnd @smallroomzsuck @36seagulls this project is so freaking dope Annnnnnnd I couldn’t have done it without @bmore_lucky_lilman guidance and greatness! And I had awesome scene partners @jmo1305 ! Lol this was just so great !

A post shared by Ramona Rideout (@rideout365_) on

Does the Lost Kings series look like a series that you’d tune into? Leave your comments below.

If you missed out on the Lost Kings Series first premier, you have the opportunity to check it out really soon. The producers are expecting for the Lost Kings Series second premier to be held this August 2018.

The Summer Solstice Gathering: Food Truck Rally in The Rotunda Baltimore Showcases the Food Truck Festivals are Becoming A New Wave

The Rotunda Baltimore threw a mini block party in front of Cinébistro for food truck lovers at The 2018 Summer Solstice Gathering. Over hundreds came out showing their support for their favorite caterers while many were also there being introduced to new cuisines.

Click here to view the office Facebook E-vite.

It’s not foreign for me to spot a food truck anywhere in Baltimore City during the summer months. I’m always attending entertainment and art festivals because of the nature of my job. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s basically THE season for celebrating festival dishes. So I had to do a special blog dedicated to what I catch myself getting involved in supporting every year.  

I’ve eaten from a number of the food trucks present while attending other festivals. But I have never seen such presented as if I was entering a little community full of nothing but mobile eateries. It was like going to a food court at your local mall except it was outside. People could walk straight to the counter at the window, view all the choices on the menu, and order away.

I had a smorgasbord of delicious delicacies of all sorts. If you mesh a bunch cultures together in one space, you’ll run into people of all different backgrounds enjoying tastes from around the world in a small cul-de-sac. Just to name a few of the trucks at the gathering were Deedle’s Mini Donuts, Taco Bar, Bistro Lunch Box, Mexican on the Run, Greek on the Street, and many others.

Even in the rain people came out to get what their taste buds couldn’t resist. The gathering was scheduled to go on through both rain and shine. Tents were set up to fit any occasion. For this day, it was to shield people from getting wet. The turn out remained notable and people continued to show their satisfaction with what was happening.  

The food was great! I had Bistro Lunch Box Old Bay fries, which is exactly what it states it is; a basket of french fries smothered in Old Bay seasoning and Vinegar. Also, I ate some delectable Curry Lamb from Bombay Kitchen. My best friend who came along with me to the festival had Shrimp tacos from the Taco Bar and Fruity Pebble Donuts from Deedle’s Mini Donuts.

Overall the food truck festival was great! Since this is a season where independent mobile caterers can thrive, there will be more Food Truck Festivals to come. That includes festivals like the Nextival Food Truck Festival held at the Anne Arundel Fairgrounds July 12th through the 15th and  Trifecta Food Truck Festival that will be held at the Maryland State Fairground on July 28.

Support the Food Truck Wave!

Support a young Black Baltimore Artist today with her dreams to open her very own food truck! Chef Kierra is an aspiring local culinary artist seeking donations for her food truck start-up! Help Donate to her Best Mobile Catering Service Campaign “Food Truck In Atlanta” via her GoFundMe.

Chef Kierra has awesome food. I tried a few dishes while attending collaboration events with the Mini Hip-hop Museum. One of her delicious meals I’ve had the pleasure of taste testing was fish nachos. Mmm, mmm good.

Have you ever attended a Food Truck Festival? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

Remember when I attended Baltimore’s First Ever Fashion Truck Rally? Read “” on Doc’s Castle Media.

Light City Baltimore 2018: A recap of its 3rd year exhibitions (Gallery)

Light City Baltimore came back bigger and better for 2018. I’m so glad to say that I decided to be apart of everything, too.

I volunteered my free time to be a social media volunteer for Light City and it was quite an experience. Instead of spending one night looking at the exhibits, I spent four nights seeing how different people interacted with each crevice and corner of the popular light festival.

My job along with numerous other volunteers was to capture the evenings’ glory moments. Whenever we saw people enjoying the night, we’d snap photos to share on the Light City social media channel to encourage people who weren’t in attendance to come down. I believed it was a strategy that worked because the outcome was phenomenal. Opening night attendance was so overwhelming, there were rumors of physical altercations swarming the Internet before the night was over.

A long line for Funnel Cake

Last year’s Light City was rainy for me so a lot of pictures were hit and misses. But this year, I had enough practice and sunlight to get a little bit of everything going on.

My favorite spot to shoot was Club Light City, which was the designated area for House, EDM, and Hip-hop artist and dancers to perform throughout the night. So many talented people showed up at this stage sporadically and unannounced. The idea of it being majority freestyle acts made me more intrigued by the area. The section was a party. I spent a lot of my time in the area.

Local DJs, like DJ Who and Kariz Marcel, had the party started. I posted via my Instagram a video of Baltimore dancers performing to music producers Kariz Marcel. I also got some great photos of DJ Who jamming to his own mixes.

http://www.instagram.com/p/Bh_v5SeHEZp/?taken-by=docscastle

DJ Who mixes at Club Light City

My favorite exhibit would have to be awarded to As of Now.

I loved the message behind this art piece because it pays its respects to the history of Baltimore’s black urban community and what it’s like being black owning a row home. In As of Now, Elissa Blount Morehead screenplays a three-generation Black Owned household in a sum of 3 acts. We see a black father, a black mother, and a black son live throughout multiple decades and giving us an idea of an average day-to-day living.

Other exhibits at Light City 2018 were eye-catching, but those that can provoke a deep resignation feeling were big in their presentation like Kelley Bell’s The Herd. A community of inflatable floaties in the not so healthy Baltimore Inner Harbor aims to represent the harbor being a no-swim zone because of its toxic state. What’s supposed to bring folks attention is the fact that the floaties are empty. Nobody is swimming in them.

I took photos of other pieces from artists. View the gallery below.

Did you get a chance to visit Light City this year? Share some of your experiences and photos in comments!

Check out the gallery of Light City Baltimore 2017 on Doc’s Castle Media.