Lights, Camera, Action!! It's New York City!!!

Yes, it's happened, I've finally moved to Manhattan, New York and I could not be happier. Born and raised a suburban New Jersey boy, with what I would like to call a little street cred, I've made the trek across the river and in just over a month in a half I can honestly say I've fallen in love with it; the city, the people and the atmosphere. It's everything I imagined it to be and more. But wait, let me clarify. Technically I live in Manhattan, but by every other stretch of the imagination I live in Harlem, New York, or as I call it the "heart of the NYC". Beyond the glamour of midtown Manhattan, drive a little uptown and you get to see all the lights and cameras and action you want; but by this I mean NYPD patroling every other corner, people being arrested for God knows what and shady business going on all around you. Sounds a bit much huh, but why not? I live for the action and excitement of what if. And yet I can't help but think it's only the winter, I cannot wait until summer.

There's is so much I want to accomplish here and yet so little time as I see it. I want to explore my neighborhood, my borough, go over to Brooklyn and even make some trips out to Queens where one of my best friends graduates from St. John's University with a Pharmacy degree in the spring. The food of course is one of the things that New York is known for and if you know me, one thing that I love to do is eat. Whether it's fried, baked or grilled or maybe dropped on the floor for under 5 seconds, I will eat it.  The places to see, experiences to be had is all apart of the journey that I am ready to embrace. I may spend so much I may not be able to eat a few nights, but I'm all for it. 

While the tangible things I can't wait to grasp and take advantage of have me salivating at the bit, it's the things that I can't see that I think I will cherish the most. In my short time being in Harlem I have had the best time interacting people and getting to know them on a personal level. From my two roommates Stephen and Alex who have completely different interests than me to the local shop owners like Omar at the deli across the street to Karen in the dry cleaners right next door to my apartment (she never did fully get that stain out of my white pants). But it's the good relationships, the bad ones and ultimately the ones that will change my life forever I am looking forward to growing with and through. Love and relationships seem to always find me in due time so I'm ready for it all. I am here for the foreseeable so in the famous words of Michael Buffer, "Let's get ready to RUMMBLE!!"

When I think about my life and some of the things that I have accomplished thus far, some of the things that I've experienced and other things that I've seen I can't help but laugh a bit. In so many ways I wasn't and still am not supposed to have done any of it. I was born into a suburban town of predominantly white people in New Jersey, attended a high school of 1,000 students where I was 1 of 7 blacks and attended a private university with over 70% white population. In addition to this, I did not have to play a sport to get any of my accomplishments, but I've traveled the world to see Australia, New Zealand and Costa Rica just to name a few countries/continents. And while, I would like to take credit for it all, there is a large part of me that knows I had very little to do with it at all. Of course, without God nothing is possible, but even God needs a vehicle here on earth. That vehicle was born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. His name was Michael Luther King. Yes, Michael. It wasn't until a 1934 trip to Germany, did Dr. King Jr.'s father change his son's name to Martin in honor of the German reformer Martin Luther.

But from seemingly his birth until his assassination Dr. King made it his life's purpose to fight for the civil rights of all people so that one day we could live out many of the opportunities that I have been able to do myself; go to school wherever I want, eat wherever I want, travel throughout the world wherever I want, and ultimately be whoever I want to be. 

On this day I remember Dr. King for his legacy and his commitment to the struggle. It was a battle with no end in sight much of the time; a long, harsh journey that was new and uncharted. Dr. King wasn't afforded the chance to see it through but he fought for it anyways knowing he may not see its fruition. Today, is our day because of him. It's not a day to sit back and relax, but instead a day to fight on and push forward in our own ways. Your method may be to get out in the street and march. Or you may be able to move the masses with your words in writing.

Today I am inspired by Dr. King because he had a vision and wasn't going to let anyone tell him any different. In many ways he is glorified and seen as perfect, but his method was not always so easy. Dr. King was not so popular in the '60s. In fact, 2/3 white Americans at the time had an unfavorable view of him. The FBI wanted to shut his marches down. Senators wanted to get rid of him. But he fought on. Dr. King knew what his purpose was and he knew it wouldn't be easy. It's funny how time heals so much. In a time where America has an unfavorable view on anyone with an opinion I remember Dr. King because his purpose wasn't to please man, but instead change man even if man didn't realize what was happening. Dr. King made it happen and today I remember him and thank you.

 Salute, Dr. King -- today I continue your fight for a better tomorrow.