CEDTalks

"You’re just a f*ck n*gga who THINKS he’s a good guy..." -Actress Dominique Perry as "Tasha", on HBO's 'Insecure' Yikes.  I vividly remember the chills that traveled through my arms upon reading this quote. Do I consider myself a...what she said? No, but in reviewing my bad habits, people could easily make certain determinations. Oddly enough, I didn't even see it live, but Tasha's words painted a clear and colorful portrait of how far off we can be from how people actually perceive us. While that episode may have been missed, the reason for the success of the hit show Insecure and producer Issa Rae is quite obvious to me. Insecure (and its predecessor " The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl ") captures the hearts of African American Millenials with oddly realistic storylines and characters submerged in relatability. Issa, Molly, Lawrence, Tasha, and the others are just like most of us; each is seeking some form of a...

If you were shopping at a store and their customer service was lousy, you'd stop shopping from them. Makes basic sense, right? If a restaurant gave you fish when you ordered steak, and the steak was tough when they gave it to you, overcharged you and underperformed, they would most likely lose your business. Unfortunately, when it comes to our emotions, we are not the same sound investors that we are with our money. Sometimes we want certain situations and people to work out so bad that we don't know when it's time to cut our losses; more importantly, we miss out on opportunities and people that could result in big gains. Before pursuing my writing and entrepreneurial goals, my first job was working at mutual fund powerhouse Vanguard. Vanguard taught me priceless principles on investing, portfolio building, and monitoring the market. Coincidentally, some of the same tactics it takes to keep a successful portfolio apply to our daily lives, including our relationshi...

With July coming to an end, we are nearing the last few weeks of summer. The issue? These dog days are the final days to get everyone together for one of my favorite events, the cookout. Cookouts (not picnics) are the pillars of  summer  fun in the African American community; in addition to the endless laughter and fun, they temporarily dismiss the stress and evils of the daily grind. They offer incredible food, great music new and old, and of course, provide the platform for which we can "invite someone to the cookout". "Inviting to the cookout" is a rising phenomenon in which a person of color invites someone (often one void of color) that would not usually be in attendance at our backyard barbecue. Though a fairly recent trend (because  Brother Malcolm  would've never "invited" ANYONE to the cookout), it is quickly becoming a national Black pastime. The invite is usually based on their impact on Black culture; past invitees include Michael ...

"Why you bother me when you know you don't want me? Why you bother me when you know you got a woman? Why you hit me when you know you know better? Know you know better" SZA, "Love Galore" Wish I could tell you, SZA. We don't know what we're doing. Relationships. It's the hardest and most rewarding job a man can ever have. King Kong...ain't got sh*t...on relationships. Last week, I finally got around to watching the recent Denzel Washington film Fences with my family. It was signature Denzel; with the help of fellow stars Viola Davis and Mykelti Williamson, the movie delivered a strong depiction of the challenges and sacrifices of family life. The crazy thing was, it simultaneously reinforced yet redeveloped my perspective on family and committed relationships. Davis and Washington's relationship identified the unique layers of love. It spoke to the beauty in fantasizing of days past and enjoying each other's company; conversely, i...

Hov for President...too soon? Earlier this morning, the world and Black Twitter stood on end as we received  4:44 , the 13th studio album release from hip-hop legend and business...man Jay Z. As done with his last release, "Hova" caused a stir with initial stipulations to obtain his album, requiring a subscription to Tidal and/or phone subscription to Sprint to stream immediately. This was of little concern, however, as fans turned into military strategists working to gain access to the album. As evidenced by the initial coverage by both social media and traditional media, 4:44 is a nother example of a conscious, thought-provoking album setting the music world ablaze. Following the recent leads of Kendrick Lamar's DAMN (and To Pimp a Butterfly ) and A Seat at the Table from sister in law Solange Knowles, Jay tackles socioeconomic, cultural, and even personal battles and creates what all initial signs show as a commercial and intellectual success. Whichever nick...

To stay in shape during my days off from the firehouse, I've decided to work my way back onto the basketball court. While my jumper needs work, I still have my handles, my Tim Duncan fundamentals, and actually, have learned a few new tricks. I felt like vintage D. Rose. Unfortunately, so did my knees the next morning. Asking my fiance for the Icy Hot was just another sign of my graduation to...lord..."Old Head" status. The true O.G. Upon the age of 26, we reach a qualifying age for the 4 tier chart of old head status, also known "O.G.". Ironically, the lower tiers appear to be young bucks to the higher members, but they are considered...more "mature" in the grand scheme of life. Like sports, age is a taboo point of discussion; experience is required to achieve the ultimate success, but we often attempt to cast away our elders at the first sign of Father Time. Despite this, growing old is a wonderful thing. If done strategically, we all ...