Creating content in the center of grief can have a huge impact on what you create. This is very true for authors like Michael Arceneaux, who published his third book while coping with the loss of friends and family and the devastating pain that comes with it. As Arceneaux noted, “Sadness sends the mind into many different spaces.” These experiences made him wonder how people would receive the book.

“I was really worried that I was missing the point, that this book wasn’t meeting the standards I wanted to set, because I was writing it under tremendous duress and in so much pain,” Arceneaux told Andscape. “Some people think it’s one of my best books and biggest work. I appreciate it and it was very nice to listen to it from people. It makes me feel good.”

In Arceneaux, she touches on a number of topics, equivalent to finally having enough money to take care of herself (hence the Jordans within the book’s title), writing about (and being blocked by) celebrities previously, coming to terms along with her relationship along with her family, and complicated feelings about money and coping with sadness. Overall, this is a clever, honest, and heartfelt book that invites readers to explore the various facets of Arceneaux’s world. From razor-sharp political evaluation to multi-layered stories about parenting, the bestselling writer once more challenges readers to think deeply about family, popular culture, politics, and the journey to greater economic stability.

Andscape caught up with Arceneaux to discuss his work, grief, and what he hopes all of us take away from his latest book.

You capture serious historical moments on this book while being your witty and funny self. For example, in a single chapter you wrote about (former Democratic candidate for Florida governor) Andrew Gilliam with great nuance, and in one other you mentioned your dissatisfaction with (performing oral sex). So what exactly was your review of this book and what was your standard?

The book is very different from what I originally intended, but I carried a lot of sadness with me while writing it. I lost one friend to suicide. I had one other friend with brain cancer – all this stuff were happening, and then the pandemic hit and I discovered myself in Harlem. When I finally found the space to focus and shape the book the way in which I wanted, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. At the time, I used to be ending the book and rewriting every thing, so I needed to be sure that that my writing activities would not interfere with spending time with my mother. My priority was spending time with my mom, but my mom insisted that I finish and really give attention to the book and my work. So when writing this book, I needed to be really honest about where I used to be at. I took the pressure off myself to be funny, which ultimately made the book what it was presupposed to be, and not necessarily what I had planned.

Taking the pressure off may be hard enough, considering the multi-layered grief involved in ending a book, and it just sounds brutal. How did you navigate all of this?

I needed to lean on some of the things my mother taught me. My mom all the time emphasized the importance of doing all your job, being responsible, and having a strong work ethic, so I had to construct on that and really have a lot of discipline to write down the book and really be honest about where I used to be at. , which wasn’t where I felt like being particularly funny.

Working through grief is often like showing up at book events and conducting interviews on particularly emotional days. How do you take care of it?

The love people show me during these events has truly validated me. I also enjoyed going back to bookstores – which I wasn’t in a position to do with my second book since it was published when the plague began, so every thing was closed – and connecting with readers. There was a lot love within the room at every event. Even though it is not one of the best time, I’m lucky that individuals understand my pain and show me a lot love.

Shortly after my book was published, my grandmother and two of my mother’s sisters died. One of them helped my mother raise me. I quickly learned that I needed a set of different coping mechanisms to assist me get through each moment. Is there something concerning the way you captured your mom or the stories you shared about her that offers you peace now?

One day my aunt texted me and jogged my memory of one particular chapter. I used to be in Texas during a freezing cold spell when the facility grid went down. I used to be there without water or electricity, in an Airbnb that I rented to be near my mother. (While frozen) I felt trapped within the Airbnb. My (cellphone) battery was dying and there was no electricity. I used to be on the Airbnb for about two days and my mom hadn’t heard from me. One day, once I was attempting to use the toilet without water, I heard a banging on the door. It was my mother with a flashlight saying stand up, we’re leaving. She said she got here to select up the child. Her power had returned the night before. She wasn’t going to let her son freeze to death. This chapter jogs my memory of who she was since it is the quintessence of my mother. No matter how old we’re, my mother will do anything for her children and grandchildren. She drove through the streets without electricity with a large flashlight, on the lookout for her child. This story encourages me and jogs my memory that my mother truly loved us.

You did a great job of capturing the love your mother had for you. You also perfectly captured the nuances of a complicated relationship with a parent, and for you it is your dad. What has helped you grow to a place where you may recognize his unconventional ways as a form of love?

It’s funny because now he actually says “I love you.” But I needed to learn that you’ve to fulfill people where they’re. Sometimes in your individual healing you could not achieve the result you would like, but you could achieve a result that may offer you peace or something near it. For me, I needed to learn to actually understand who my father was and how he became that person. This helped me get rid of all of the anger I had towards him. Thanks to this, I used to be in a position to observe my father’s development. If you really need to interrupt the cycle, it is advisable work out what a room might appear to be.

I do know many deeply personal stories have been shaped by your grief, but how did you choose which stories from popular culture and politics to incorporate within the book?

Some of the essays covered topics that I had not been in a position to return to in some of my online publications, so I desired to return to them on this book. I also wanted the stories to return from a real perspective of what was happening on the time (equivalent to the coronavirus pandemic). Some things I didn’t even mean to be super political, like my essay on my disdain for the mistreatment of service staff or the way in which politicians demean working-class black people. However, I used to be concerned about whether some of the events that occurred in 2020 would still apply.

Experiencing long periods of economic hardship and finally attending to a place where you may breathe financially is a very close call. A number of years ago my automobile was repossessed and once I hear a large truck slowing down near my house my heart skips a beat. Do you continue to have similar moments?

Yes, I still have those moments. I keep having to remind myself that I deserve nice things, irrespective of what I would like. Yes, I actually have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but I feel higher now.

After reading Is there one thing you would like readers to sit down down for?

I often have easy goals. I would like people to laugh. I would like people to think. Plus, I hope this book helps people not feel alone because a lot of people need to forget that 2020 even happened. And I would like to remind those that in the event you can, call your mom.

Even for probably the most elite athletes, qualifying for the Olympics is just one a part of the battle. The next step is to find funds to take part in international sports events. What most U.S. Olympic teams do not know is that they’re largely privately funded – and sometimes that funding comes from an unlikely source, like hip-hop icon Flavor Flav.

After Maggie Steffens, captain of the 2024 U.S. women’s water polo team, recently make clear how difficult it might probably be to raise money to compete, the “Don’t Believe the Hype” rapper promised to help her within the comments .

“Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a second (or third) job to help chase their dreams (myself included!) and most teams depend on sponsors for travel, lodging, dietary support, rentals/lodging and easily technique of living nowadays,” Steffens, 30, began along with his signature post from May 4 on Instagram.

She continued: “Especially women athletes and girls athletes. We have had firms and amazing individuals support our sport together with donors, USAWP and USOPC, but we at all times need more help.

In response, Flav wrote: “AYYY YOOO,,, as a father of a girl and a supporter of all women’s sports – I’ll personally sponsor you, my girl, whatever you would like. And I’ll sponsor the complete team.

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Flav is the daddy of eight children, including 4 daughters. He has daughters Shanique Drayton, Karren Drayton and Karla Drayton with ex-girlfriend Karen Ross, daughter Da’Zyna Drayton and sons Quanah Drayton and William Drayton with one other ex Angie Parker, and son Karma Drayton with wife Elizabeth Trujillo. In 2022, the daddy came upon that he also has a son named Jordan, 4 years old.

In a response to Steffens, the truth star added that his manager can be contacting her agent to see how he could help, and reiterated his willingness to use his resources to provide the team with all the things they may need.

“That’s the promise of FLAVOR FLAV,” he said.

The United States women’s national water polo team is preparing for this yr’s Summer Olympics and has already won three gold medals – in 2012, 2016 and 2020. However, as many athletes, including Steffens, said competing at a global level is a costly endeavor. In addition to travel costs, hundreds of dollars are spent on advance training alone.

According to the Olympic Games website, International Olympic Committee (IOC) uses money generated throughout the Olympic Games to help athletes and sports organizations world wide. Meanwhile, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee it also raises money to offset the financial burden of athletes.

Flavor Flav is one other star and rapper who showed support for the American team before July. In a recent campaign for NBC, Cardi B got a manicure with Olympic runner Sha’Carri Richardson and stated that she was only there to see the track star.

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will start on Friday, July 26.

It looks as if each time Lewis Hamilton does anything for the culture, it triggers a wave of racism. His performance at this 12 months’s Met Gala was no different.

On May 6, the annual Met Gala took place in New York, with the long-awaited theme of “Sleeping Beauties: Fashion Awakening.” Hamilton’s outfit for the evening was designed by Burberry and inspired by the work of an 18th-century gardener, which fit perfectly into the “Garden of Time” gala dress code.

The Formula 1 star pondered long and hard about his outfit for the evening, telling Vogue: “I did a lot of research and came across an 18th century gardener who came from Africa to Wales during slavery and became the first black gardener in Wales. And so, despite the odds, we truly triumphed. So that’s really where we get our inspiration from.”

Hamilton accessorized with an attention-grabbing spiked necklace, which he believed symbolized the pain the black community had to endure during times of enslavement.

“I like that the thorns are meant to show pain during the times of the slavery trade,” he added.

Inside the jacket was a poem by the black English poet Alex Wharton.

Hamilton’s appearance is supposedly a nod to John Ystumllyn, considered considered one of the first known black gardeners in Britain and the first well-known black resident of North Wales. It is believed that he got here to the Ystumllyn estate as a captive.

The one-of-a-kind, hand-embroidered Hamilton set took several weeks to create.

But Hamilton’s tribute was met with some controversy.

“What a clown, the most privileged attention in the world.” one person wrote on X

“Lewis can’t do much without being an insufferable racist, it’s true,” one other X user he wrote.

Another person raised the difficulty of Hamilton’s biracial heritage: saying“His mom must be very disappointed in the fact that the guy completely ignores the fact that he is half-white. But do we expect something different from a PR salesman?”

“He always acts like he’s not half white. his ancestors were partially responsible for black slavery. makes my blood boil,” added one other commenter.

Hamilton plays a predominantly white sport and has previously spoken out concerning the racism he faced on his way to the highest of Formula One.

“I heard racist insults being called” – after which – said 12-year-old Hamilton when he talked about his experiences as considered one of the few black people in the game when he first began racing. “When it first happened I felt really upset, I told my mum and pop and felt like I had to get back at them. But these days, if someone says something to me, I just ignore them and get back on course.

Young Lewis Hamilton talks concerning the racism he encountered within the karting world. pic.twitter.com/60VvzwXZ8L

— AFRICAN AND BLACK HISTORY (@AfricanArchives) May 7, 2024

In 2020, Hamilton, who currently drives for Mercedes, got here under fire from the German company past interests have been examined.

“Lewis Hamilton. You are funny. He preached against slavery while being paid by a German slave trading company during World War II. What an idiot” – User X wrote in 2020.

Little did his critics know that in a couple of short years Hamilton would make the shocking announcement that he would go away for Ferrari in 2025 after 11 years at Mercedes.

Seven-time winner of the Drivers’ Championship announced the change in February.

“I have spent an incredible 11 years with this team (Mercedes) and I am very proud of what we have achieved together,” Hamilton said. “Mercedes has been a part of my life since I used to be 13 years old. This is where I grew up, so the choice to leave was considered one of the toughest I’ve ever had to make. But the time is true for me to take this step and I’m excited to tackle this latest challenge.

He continued: “I will likely be perpetually grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially (Mercedes team principal) Toto (Wolff) for his friendship and leadership. I would like to finish the race on a high together. I’m 100% committed to delivering my best performance this season and making my final 12 months with the Silver Arrows a memorable one.