REFLECTION & REASON

Real Lambily members rejoice. If you know, you know. This fall has been a significant one for those who have been relishing in and swooning along with singer and Song Writing Hall of Fame inductee Mariah Carey since the early nineties. It's been now thirty years since we first watched "Vision of Love" sky rocket to the top of the charts, since we saw a young Mariah grace the stage of the career-defining Arsenio Hall show, and takeover the radio airwaves. If you're a true, true Mariah Carey fan, the ups and downs along the way have meant little to nothing, because of simply how much power the music itself has had along the way. At the end of September, Mariah Carey's memoir " The Meaning of Mariah Carey " was released, and decades worth of stories, context, and perspective were confessed. For many, the albums of Ms. Carey have served as soundtracks to our adolescence, to teen years, our twenties, and now even in our middle ages we are blessed to still be ...

Once again, Seattle-based children's author Jeffrey Lee Cheatham II has created a charming tale of life's most significant messages and lessons, through some of the most loveable and charming characters. His personality shines through the pages: if you know Jeffrey, you know the jovial spirit of lightheartedness, kindness, and a thoughtful-yet-quiet intelligence. You know that he is always thinking of his community, and observing his surroundings. He is nurturing the young around him, and serving as a supportive and encouraging professional to his peers. For his third book, " What Happened When Charlie Met Claire ," he brings all of the feel-good sentiments and impactful lessons of his previous stories " The Family Jones and the Eggs of Rex ," " Why is Jane So Mad? " and " Hi Blue Sky ," and introduces us to the curious bird Charlie, and the cool and collected bear Claire, brilliantly illustrated by Johanna Puukila. Through this encounter...

Stories like More Than Enough are so important. Voices like Elaine Welteroth's are crucial. This book was an exceptional narrative about a young woman with a dream, and her journey towards realizing that dream. We need to hear stories like this, because it reminds us that not only are our aspirations acceptable, but that they are also attainable. There is a quote from Entertainment Weekly on the cover of the version I purchased that says this book is "the millennial Becoming ," and I have to agree. While I was equally as inspired by Michelle Obama's autobiography, I can definitely see the parallels in their experiences, despite their different industries. One thing that is consistent, is that both women remained true to themselves, and it was their authenticity and strong family support that often led the way. It was their personal truths, and understanding of themselves, that allowed them to break ceilings and influence millions. I love a good biography, because it ...

I love a good story, particularly from folks who have harnessed their experiences into powerful message, careers, actions, and examples. The life story of Bakari Sellers was a very timely and inspirational read. It outlined his personal journey in social and political context, and also highlighted the power of community and the beauty of family in one's development. Like many, I became familiar with Mr. Sellers through his CNN appearances, as he spoke to political affairs. A young, pleasant Black man, I automatically gravitated to his intelligence, his demeanor, and his intention. Many of the folks I was introduced to through CNN have become my go-to commentators and opinions I deeply value when the television is turned off. Through their words, social media discussions, and through their additional written works. Bakari's Harper Collins publication was just released a few weeks ago in May, and I was eager to receive my copy, particularly in the midst of the current...

Authenticity resonates with me, and even though I haven't always been an avid listener of trap music (and I'm proudly stuck in the 1990s when it comes to hip hop) I have always liked Gucci Mane. Before I came to appreciate Gucci Mane the artist, I was actually just drawn to Radric Delantic Davis the man. Something about him. He was real. He was grimy...but he was real. Full disclosure: I was also quite drawn to his wife  Keyshia Ka'oir , and their story. Their connection intrigued me. As an entertainment news buff, admittedly, the main narrative I took in over the years was about Gucci and Keyshia, how she held him down, how Gucci lost all that weight, and of course how she maintained and "flipped" his millions while incarcerated. That was a part of the story that was fascinating. But there was so much more to Gucci than sitting courtside at NBA games in matching furs with his beautiful (and extremely entrepreneurial ) Jamaican boo. The story was deeper t...

This book did exactly what I hoped it would do for me, when I purchased it from author N. Marie at the Seattle Urban Book Expo a little while back. It was my first time visiting Seattle, Washington, and my first time taking a look at the culture, the vibe, and the overall personality of the city. After my inaugural weekend in the town, I was so impressed with how laid back, how mature, metropolitan, and clean the city was. It felt pleasant. And although I was about 2600 miles (3300 km) away from home in Toronto, there were elements of it that felt very, very familiar. When reading " Love & Dance ," N. Marie's first novel (completed in 2015), I got that uniquely Seattle vibe that I was looking for, and truly felt like I knew the main character Daisha, her intentions, her standards, and her dreams. It was a complicated story, to say the least. A woman mourning the loss of her husband, who failed to return from time spent fighting with the military in Iraq. She...

Cleveland author Jameel Davis is not normal. I mean this in the most respectful, and endearing, and celebratory of ways. After reading his book " In Between These Sheets " (that I drove all the way to Cleveland, Ohio to pick up hot off the presses in the summer of 2019), it only reinforced my positive opinion of this brother. He is not normal...he's definitely outstanding. The thoughts, the wisdom, the insight, the honesty, the maturity, the social awareness...none of this is standard. The sheer volume that he is able to produce as a writer: also not normal. In the pages of this book, Jameel Davis touched on topics, themes, personal anecdotes, and a range of subjects that make him not only a significant contributor to the ongoing cultural dialogue surrounding these topics, but also a damn good writer. I know Jameel personally, so it's hard to not be impressed by this 30-year-old African-American young man. He's educated. He's kind. He's insightfu...

I was born in Scarborough, and returned to live in the eastern part of Toronto about ten years ago. I chose to live here because I love it here and therefore I definitely wouldn't miss the opportunity to read a novel exclusively dedicated to the community I walk and drive through every day. Written by Catherine Hernandez--also a Scarborough resident--a theatre practitioner and writer of Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, and Indian heritage. She has carefully captured the voices of a community of characters who also represent a range of nationalities, in addition to various ages, experiences, and stages in development. Our little town doesn't always get a good rap. In fact, residents of any other part of the Greater Toronto Area from Brampton straight through to Oshawa most likely have a different perception of this part of the city than the actual residents do. I won't even repeat any of the stereotypes circulating for years about Scarborough (because it's safe to say t...

I almost didn't read Kevin Hart's book "I Can't Make This Up" because of his recent infidelity scandal. I have been a die hard fan for a few years now, have even traveled out of country (OK, so it was just Buffalo, NY) to see his stand up show, and I'm definitely a follower of his social media profiles. Eniko is a Jamaican girl (brap brap), so I was thrilled to learn more about her, about them as a couple, and live the hype Hollywood life through their photos, interviews, and Insta-stories. That's what they are there for, right? Our entertainment! I was 100% invested into the Kevin Hart story, and loved to see him hustling his book "I Can't Make This Up" earlier this year. As a writer, and publisher, and urban cultural enthusiast, Kevin Hart hit all of my favourite things this year. He's a media mogul now, an author, he's a great actor, funny as hell, AND he has a Jamaican woman on his arm! What's not to love? The cheating s...