Inspiration Rediscovered
Inspiration has been scarce. This year, the climate of 2020 has left Quietly Dope as whole quite stagnant. How do I speak about style, NYC living, self image…in the midst of some of the most challenging, scary, emotional, and dark times of my adult life? It’s felt so un-needed, so unimportant all things considered.
Within trying to hold my emotions together amid a pandemic overshadowed by racial injustices left and right has left me spinning. I've been more unsteady, emotional, confused than I can recall being at any point in my adult life…but this isn’t a sad post. Inspiration always strikes when I’m least looking for it, but that seems to be how life works right?
This time it struck extra close to home when I wasn't looking.
Marlon was my very last Style Spotlight, in November 2019. I’ve known him more than half of my life and his story is nothing short of remarkable. I’ve watched him work in admiration of the light he exudes most humbly. Attempting to put his accomplishments, energy, passion and drive into words is something I do not feel equipped to do accurately, the adjectives I reach for seem to fall short of painting a valid picture. When he contacted me to help style him for one of his biggest accomplishments to date I didn’t hesitate. I was happy to play a role no matter how small , and as humble and as grateful as he is, he had no idea that he would be the source of my returned spark. He’s unaware that he will grace my pages a 2nd time, but he deserves his flowers while he's here to smell them. With that said, trying to tell you “who Marlon is” is no small feat.
He’s my high school buddy, a son, a brother, a friend, an activist, a change maker a WARRIOR…and I am so blessed to know him, even more blessed to have a front row seat in what has to be one of his proudest moments.
This post is to bring to life back into Quietly Dope, and to thank a man that had no idea he was doing so, to thank a man that had no idea he was helping me as much as I was helping him. I needed to shine an ever so deserving light on my passionate, driven, powerful, stylish , humble friend…and to thank him. I hadn’t felt the desire to write, to style, to do much of anything that brought me joy and unbeknownst to him, I have some of that back. That being said, before his birthday comes to a close, amid this very special and life changing announcement. I want to say Happy Birthday and thank you Marlon, I’m more proud of you than I can convey. Watching you brings tears to my eyes, proud is an understatement. You are meant for greatness.
To my readers however many of you there are, please enjoy some images of my friend turned AUTHOR that I styled for his memoir Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionists’s Freedom Song. Available on Amazon.
