Clear Conscience. Deep Love. Real Trust.

In a world that spins ever faster toward the edge of reason, where hearts are often heavy and trust is worn thin, we must take pause and ask ourselves: Who do we really trust? Who’s riding with us all the way down this winding, sometimes bottomless road called life?

Let’s be real. Don’t be so forgiving that you forget when you’re being disrespected. Forgiveness doesn’t mean foolishness. Not all apologies are created equal, and some folks come back not out of love or regret—but out of convenience. You might just be the backup plan when their first choice didn’t pan out. Beware of those who are too quick to forgive without ever having had a conversation. That’s not peace—it’s avoidance. And their silence? That’s often a prayer for a window to ease their own guilt, not to make peace with you.

You need to know the difference between an honest mistake and a habitual pattern. Between someone who slipped—and someone who is slippery. There are people out there banking on your next mistake, just so they can justify what they did to you. That’s a twisted kind of justice they carry in their own conscience, and you don’t need to carry that burden.

This is where discernment becomes survival. Not everyone should be in your inner circle. Not everyone deserves access to your energy. Keep around you those who you’d go down the dark hole with—and better yet, those who would do the same for you, willingly and with a full heart. The truth is, life is hard enough. Don't make it harder by being surrounded by people who drain your soul.

Too many of us are navigating life without direction, morals, or honest communication. That's why it's crucial to move with people whose natural way of being is love, integrity, and truth. Love the ones who love you, not just the ones you love. There's a difference. That age-old wisdom still rings true.

So as the world keeps spinning, and it might feel like we're spiraling—don’t fall with folks you wouldn’t even rise with. Clear your decks. Remove the jagged edges. Make sure the ones walking with you are not carrying quiet knives. Because when the hard times come—and they will—you’ll need grace, space, and unity to face the storm. Without that, life can get real ugly, real fast.

But when you do find that kind of love—the kind wrapped in honesty, laughter, loyalty, and light hold on tight. That’s the kind of love that makes the fall feel like flying. That’s the air I breathe. It’s different. Like Aunty Anita said, “I’m giving you the best that I got.” Because love, on its own, some say might not conquer all—but I know unconditional love, with clarity and conscience, just might be the safest place on earth.

And in the spirit of love and unity, I invite you to ride with us. If you got a Fast Car like Tracy asked, or just the desire to roll like Norah and “Come Away With Me,” then this Labor Day Weekend, meet me in Downtown North Miami at the Annual Taste of AfriKin on Sunday, August 31st, 6 - 9 pm. It is where flavor, food, and family come together!

We’ll be eating, dancing, vibing, and celebrating the flavors of Global Africa and the Black world. From Rocking Away to Uncle Beres to Cruisin' with Smokey, from sweet reggae rhythms to the sounds of the diaspora—we’re building memory, family, and fire. More Fyah!

Jah, please know that I come to you always as I don't know anything, but I trust whatever your plan is and I am totally on board with it.

Because we are not going down without joy. We are not surrendering to doom. We’re resisting—with love, with art, with flavor, with soul.

This is AfriKin. This is who we are.

See you soon. Mark your calendar and—Give me Likkle One Drop!

— Alfonso Brooks, for AfriKin

CALL TO ACTION:
The AfriKin Art Fair 2025: Through Creation, We Find Meaning is now open for artist submissions. Be part of a historic movement. Tell your story. Share your vision. Heal through creation.

Visit Afrikin.art for more information and submission guidelines.

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