Way Makers Over Gate Keepers: Living with an Open Heart and a Light Mind
The world has always been what it is — and it will continue to be. Our call is not to be consumed by its chaos, but to transcend it. Now more than ever, it is important to be a Way Maker and not a Gate Keeper.
This past weekend in Columbus, Ohio, visiting studio spaces of artists I hold as family, my sister April Sunami corrected me when I referred to "gate keepers." She said, “Way Makers.” That struck a chord in me so deeply I told her I would carry that forward into this week’s writing. In the spirit of honoring the inspiration and acknowledging the seeds others plant, I credit her for this powerful shift in thinking.
The world will always spin with its cycles — some light, some dark — but you, you are called to be different.
You have a unique opportunity to be a light and a guide, not just for yourself and your loved ones, but for those who are quietly searching for a way through the noise and confusion.
Many people are trapped in cycles they don't even recognize as traps. Their convictions about their own hardships can be so powerful that, unknowingly, they attempt to pull others into their turmoil. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once feared — that he might be leading his people into a burning building — we must now exercise discernment without condemnation. We must remember to speak life.
Being a Way Maker means:
Leaving the doors open once you have walked through them.
Welcoming others with genuine hospitality, not political performance.
Speaking the names of those not yet in the room so that others can recognize and uplift them.
As my brother and fellow artist Yrneh Gabon discussed, too many of us reach milestones and then close the door behind us. Another brother, Bamazi Talle, wisely reminds us: we have a responsibility to mention others’ names in spaces of opportunity.
True access is welcoming.
It’s not about optics, spectacle, or societal approval — it's about creating an environment of genuine love, safety, and mutual growth.
In these recent months, I have also been doing deep introspection and restructuring my life. As a creative, it became necessary for me to limit access to myself in order to replenish. Being visible, whether physically or digitally, can drain you. You must prioritize your own soul's health first.
A few guiding steps:
Guard Your Soul First.
You first have a responsibility to God and to the soul you carry. You are entrusted with this vessel for a reason: to live rightly, to do good, and to walk humbly.
Discern Without Condemnation.
Understand that everyone is going through something. While you must protect yourself, do it with respect and kindness, trusting that you need not overextend yourself beyond righteousness.
Be a Door Opener, Not a Gate Keeper.
If you find yourself blessed with opportunity, open the door wider for others. Speak their names. Share their works. Celebrate their talents.
Lead with Lightness.
Keep your heart open and your mind light. Don’t be weighed down by the world's troubles. Maintain discernment, but also levity. Joy and creativity are revolutionary forces.
Release What You Cannot Control.
After explaining your decisions with politeness and clarity, release attachment to the outcomes. You cannot carry everyone's expectations. Trust that goodness was your intention and move forward.
Reset Regularly.
Take time for stillness. Detach from the constant demands of public life and realign with your personal purpose.
Move Through Life Artfully.
Every choice you make can be an act of art: the art of living well, loving deeply, and making ways for others.
The punches of life will come. Losses will happen. People will misunderstand. Still — continue doing your best. Continue showing up as the best version of yourself. And make ways for others to become the best version of themselves too.
This is the art of living meaningfully:
With love, discernment, and an unwavering commitment to being a Way Maker.
Stay encouraged. Stay artful.
— 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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