Habib Apo-oyin
What would you give the person who has everything?
Something appealing
What challenge did you overcome this week?
A pattern you've noticed in the world
Something you're curious about
How do you feel in the Armory break room?
What is your final form?
A manufacturer of memories and joy.
How do you feel in the Drill Hall?
What are you a LITTLE too old for?
He wonders where it went. That feeling of looking at the world as your oyster. The feeling that anything can happen the minute he steps out his front door. The feeling that you’re allowed to make mistakes with no repercussions. That feeling that everything is out in front of you. The feeling where a decision he makes affects him and himself only. He remembers where he had dumb dreams. Unrealistic dreams, but dreams you can put on the top shelve of the dresser. He reminisces on his younger self. The immature, childish self who wouldn't recognize the current iteration of himself. But damn it, that kid had the time of his life. That kid had a water balloon fight and took 2 trains home soaking wet. That kid was a walking firecracker of personality. That kid who passed these life checkpoints, awkward albeit, but had a story to tell. That kid no longer exists. That feeling isn’t there anymore, and probably will never come back. Because you want to know what that feeling is?..............
Innocence.
What is more valuable than everyone else thinks?
What is your final form?
Life checkpoints are things I’m truly taking note of. I just transitioned into my ‘roaring 20s’ just a couple of weeks ago, and I had a realization. My life checkpoints kind of fell on off notes in my teenage years. The barrage of firsts that occurred in my teen years were either not very memorable or downright not what I expected. When these first occur, you usually expect a high that comes with a sense of accomplishment, and a feel that you’re taking life by the horn. The reality is I felt none of that. Maybe that’s just because of the way I’m built up personality wise. Maybe it's because these things happened at the wrong time. Either way, I can’t really turn back. But now, I’m staring the 20s right in the face. The prime of a human existence. The time period where you can still bullshit with the cushion that you’re just figuring things out. The time where you’re no longer babied by the world, and you take full opportunity of it, for better or worse. I’ve heard so many tips and stories on how to handle my 20s. I’m stepping into a life checkpoint, and I want to truly make sure I make the most of this one. Does it mean I’m going to make stupid choices just for the idea of having a story to tell? Perhaps. Does it mean I’m going to ignore my adult problems until they slap me right in the face? Maybe. Does it mean I’m going to dive head first into relationships ill-advised and find myself crestfallen at the idea of relationships? It’s a possibility. This might truly be the most chaotic period of my life. And in a weird way, I’m anticipating it. Because after all, it's just another life checkpoint I’ll have to pass.
What is the sky trying to tell us?
Something Intriguing
Life at a crossroads. I’m excited.
Music You’re Listening To
Something appalling
Blurred Lines
When it comes down to it this nation full of blurred lines
All that red white and blue creates that murky grey
Institutional genocide done to brown bodies for centuries
But this institution allegedly serves the public
That freedom liberty and justice looking a little blurry
So what am I supposed to do with that?
My grandmother protested for this
My father protested for this
Is my grandkids going to be protesting this?
In a funny way I dream of not feeling attached to this issue
Because it wouldn’t hurt as much every time it happens
As far as I’m concerned
If we don’t capitalize on this moment right now
That would be a generational failure on our part
So we’re protesting like we always do
But we’re also looting
And while I don’t necessarily like it
I damn well understand it
Decades of peaceful protesting didn’t break the chain
Using an elevated platform for peaceful protesting got you blackballed
Simply because corporate’s pockets were hurting
So if this is what gets your attention, so be it
On the 6th day of rioting after MLK’s assasination
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed
So the looting falls under the many blurred lines
This nation has profiled us under
Am I speaking out of anger?
Perhaps
But I’m sick and tired of the same cycle that’s been there long before my existence
Of loss, hopelessness, and confusion
As to how me and my people
Are classified as less in every conceivable way
And innocently killed by police at the highest rate
So come hell or high water
We gonna bring change
Change that is long overdue
And make that blurred line a little more clear
A pattern you’ve noticed in the world
What is more valuable than everyone else thinks?
Black Diamond
Everybody loves the end result
But they don’t want to know how you were made
But I know you’re the ace of spades
Black Diamond
I know the pressure they put on you
To work twice as hard just to get a seat at the table
And when you don’t enable they call you crazy and unstable
Black Diamond
You’re ready to go twelve rounds with the oppressor
You take the worlds bullshit and move in stride
Prejudice and bias you’ll fight and never abide
Black Diamond
I know what the masses want me to believe
Loud, angry, alone, felonious stereotypes perpetuated
But your internal beauty and intellect counters the uneducated
Black Diamond
Despite everything you’re put through it maintains a perfect facade
Scratches, blemishes never penetrate the surface
And I stare in admiration as you march the world with purpose
My Black Diamond
I aspire to possess an ounce of the strength you encompass
For that your battle has become our war
As all I want to see is for my black diamond to soar