JOY in world means something completely different to me now. Not just one day, but every day doing or finding something that brings me joy, being intentional with providing joy to others too. Not going to let these times get me down. No way. Wishing everyone some joy, whatever that means for you.

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT, one of my greatest artistic heroes—visual arts, all art forms—would have turned 65 today, DEC 22. He lived just 27 and a half years but what an impact through time and generations and centuries.

It is Racism 101 and deep cultural illiteracy to leave SINNERS out of any best films of the year list. It is not only one of the best films of 2025, but one of the greatest American and world films ever made. Want to understand America past and present? Watch and absorb SINNERS.

DICK VAN DYKE is 100-years-old. I remember hoping, hard, artists I grew up admiring, like Cicely Tyson, like Betty White, would make it to that landmark. But they still lived long, incredible lives, and so has Mr. Van Dyke. INSPIRING to read and watch his very recent interviews about life.

CHURCH HAT SHOPPING WITH MY MOTHER. Today is a great adventure with my ma trying to find her two new church hats. We are hitting malls and mom and pop shops over here in Jersey. No luck yet. Help us Lawd. Please…. :)

SARAH VAUGHAN is my peace medicine tonight. Playing her live album from Japan in 1973, on the record player. Few things as beautiful and engaging as the sound of vinyl. I am in heaven, y’all.

THELONIOUS MONK. Sometimes you just have to start your day and week and rest of your year with the music of pianist Monk on shuffle. That be me. His life was wild, not a game. But his music some of the most peaceful and beautiful ever. Namaste….

HAPPY FOUNDERS’ DAY to my brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. We were founded this day, December 4, in 1906, at Cornell University, by group of brothers known as the 7 Jewels. And here we are 119 years later, with Alphas like Dr. King, Dick Gregory, and Paul Robeson part of our story.

PEACE EVERYONE! NO WAY my first doc film, WHEN WE FREE THE WORLD, about manhood in America, would have been made, over 6 years, or been on tour this year, without donations. Asking you to please make TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION, any amount. Here is link to do so: www.paypal.com/donate/?host...

I FEEL GOOD. A long and beautiful weekend with my wife, family; my therapy session and yoga practice; and very first virtual screening of my new doc film, with talkback. All healing experiences. And writing what I want to write, too, including new poetry.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! IN JUST ONE HOUR we will be hosting our very first VIRTUAL SCREENING of my new doc film, WHEN WE FREE THE WORLD. It is a deep dive about MANHOOD IN AMERICA. We will have talkback immediately after. Get your ticket(s) at this link: gathr.com/events/52b00...

“Thanksgiving in America” is my newest short essay for NEWSWEEK. I explore real history of the holiday, and what it has meant to families like mine; I also touch upon American events of 2025, LINK TO READ: www.newsweek.com/thanksgiving...

TINA TURNER. Musical force and gigantic legend. Survivor. Winner. Today, NOV 26, is her 86th birthday. May she continue to rest in peace and power, may we continue to learn all the lessons she taught us.

THIS IS A MUST-READ/MUST-SHARE by V (formerly Eve Ensler) >>> “If Epstein’s victims don’t receive justice that is a ticking timebomb”: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

RADCLIFFE BAILEY. Late, great visual artist, one of my closest friends in this here life journey, has a birthday this week (NOV. 25th). He been gone from physical plane two years now, and I miss him profoundly, but I hear his voice often. Keep resting, brother.

“You’ve got to stop dividing yourselves. You got to organize.”—H. RAP BROWN

VIOLA FLETCHER, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa, Oklahoma race massacre of 1921, has died at age 111. May her soul be blessed and protected in all ways. And thank God she lived as long as she did so the many truths could come out.

JIMMY CLIFF, one of Jamaica’s finest, legendary singer, and star of the landmark Jamaican film THE HARDER THEY COME, has died. He was 81.

SORRY TO JUST HEAR THIS NEWS. ALICE WONG WAS AMAZING >>> Disability rights activist and author Alice Wong dies at 51: www.npr.org/2025/11/15/n...

“My life is only important if me can help plenty people… My life is for people.”—BOB MARLEY

Hey y’all! Hope all is well! Here is the new Issue 5 of THE GAME, the new newsletter about the game of life, gaming, so much more, that I am currently producing with legendary visual artist Glenn Kaino. HERE IS THE LINK: thegame.visibility.art/p/issue-five...

WHAT AUDRE LORDE SAID, PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED GRAPHIC. ASE….

SINNERS is one of the most nominated movies ever at The Grammys.

APOLOGY. Sometimes I wish I could go back and apologize to any and all I have ever hurt in some way, and indeed I have given quite a few apologies. And I wish I could receive some apologies too. But I have learned to also apologize to myself, to forgive myself. And, God willing, be better, wiser.

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE/PHILADELPHIA! TONIGHT we open the Diamond State Black Film Festival, in Wilmington, with our new documentary, WHEN WE FREE THE WORLD, a deep dive about manhood in America! 6pm. Get tickets for reception and screening and conversation at the festival website.

So my wife and I were blessed to see Michelle Obama in conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross in Brooklyn tonight. Mrs. Obama is supporting her new book, THE LOOK, about her life with fashion and hair, including White House years. The conversation between them was excellent, empowering, invigorating.

MAMDANI. A group of us NEWSWEEK writers, including me, are featured in this package of short essays titled “What does Mamdani’s Election as Mayor Mean for New York? Newsweek Writers’ Verdicts.” Here is link to read and share: www.newsweek.com/what-does-ma...

VOTED! LET’S GO NEW YORK CITY!!!

TORONTO. I have visited and have much love for all of Canada, especially the city of Toronto. The Blue Jays could have won that Series. Easily one of the best World Series ever, right up there with Reds-Red Sox in 1975 and Mets-Red Sox in 1986. Just sheer drama and nail-biting whole way.

YES!

I met a fan after my show with a DJ in Brazil who said that she would love to see me perform with a band. I told her if she was ever in an American city that I was in with my band, I would put her on the list. She said no thank you. She explained that she is scared to come to America because of ICE.

@talibkweli.bsky.social HAPPY BDAY MONTH GOOD BROTHER. Sorry I missed the celebration in New York. Was with your beloved mother Friday for her award and honoring at Schomburg. Dr. Greene is a true treasure to us all.

A VERY PUBLIC THANK YOU TO THE COLUMBUS, OHIO CHAPTER of my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, and a truly beautiful screening and community talk back around our new doc film, WHEN WE FREE THE WORLD. There a couple of days back, still on high from it.

I WAS IN ATLANTA LAST NIGHT to be keynote speaker, as a straight ally, for annual gala of The Counter Narrative Project, an amazing organization that supports the lives and stories of Black queer/same-gender-loving men. Attached photo is of iconic actor TC Carson getting an award.

DEEPLY HONORED to be the keynote speaker Friday night at 75th anniversary celebration for the Harlem Writers Guild at historic Schomburg Library. Doubly honored they named the gathering after my new doc film, WHEN WE FREE THE WORLD. Such a great and spiritual turnout.

With the arrival of a new biopic and new boxed set from the legendary BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, Newsweek presents “Bruce Springsteen, Manhood, and Mental Health”—the latest article from Kevin Powell. HERE IS LINK to read/share: www.newsweek.com/bruce-spring...

TONIGHT IN HARLEM! Join Kevin Powell in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Harlem Writers Guild and the 100th birthday year of the Schomburg. FREE, all welcome, seating on first-come basis. Doors open 6PM. RSVP HERE: HWG75thAnniversary.eventbrite.com

“Annie Leibovitz’s Updated ‘WOMEN’ Is ‘Homage’ to Original” via Newsweek, by Ramsen Shamon: www.newsweek.com/entertainmen...

TONIGHT IN COLUMBUS, OHIO! I will be there THIS EVENING for a very special screening and talk back for my new doc film, WHEN WE FREE THE WORLD. FREE. All welcome at 6:30 to the historic Lincoln Theatre. Get your FREE tickets at alphas.myle.com

NOW: @karinejean-pierre.bsky.social joins @africanacarr.bsky.social and @mrlamontking.bsky.social to reflect on her time as President Biden’s spokesperson and discuss her new book “Independent” on #UrbanViewMornings Listen LIVE on Channel 126 or stream on the SIRIUSXM app🎙️

TODAY wife and I were honored to be invited to street naming ceremony for JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT. The location is Great Jones between Bowery and Lafayette in #nyc. And we also were blessed to be inside 57 Great Jones Street, now Jean-Michel Basquiat Way, where he lived and painted for part of 1980s.

COLUMBUS, OHIO! I will be there THIS THUR OCT 23 for a very special screening and talk back for my new doc film, WHEN WE FREE THE WORLD. FREE. All welcome at 6:30 to the historic Lincoln Theatre. Get your FREE tickets at alphas.myle.com

must read by @poetkevinpowell.bsky.social : www.newsweek.com/dangelo-and-...

“D’Angelo and the Million Man March 30 Years Later” is newest short piece of writing by Kevin Powell for NEWSWEEK. The images of the great photographer Rod Terry, who, like Kevin, was there at the march, are included with the piece. READ/VIEW/SHARE VIA THIS LINK: www.newsweek.com/dangelo-and-...

D’ANGELO. I AM SO VERY SAD TO HEAR ONE OF OUR MUSICAL GREATS IS GONE. Only 51. I am praying for the son he shared with the equally late, great ANGIE STONE. Both his parents now gone. What a loss, what losses, MY GOD….

HAPPY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY. We know the assignment. Celebrate life and people, not the opposite.

Great piece 👏🏽 @poetkevinpowell.bsky.social Thank you, Brother. As I listen & read about ur relationship with your mom, it hits home in the best way. Watching my mom @76 and the changes that I see...challenge & scare me simultaneously. Yet, she's here. I'm grateful & blessed 🙌🏽.

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, I would agree, is right up there with SINNERS as one of the best films LIKE EVER. Incredible writing/directing, beyond timeless movie about America, stellar ensemble acting. But Sean Penn’s master class in character development, down to the little body quirks? YO….

COLUMBUS, OHIO METRO AREA! We will be there THURS OCT 23 to premiere our new documentary film, WHEN WE FREE THE WORLD. FREE, all welcome, details on attached flyer, including how to get your free tickets. See you all there!

DIANE KEATON. Wow. Just hearing about her passing. There are folks you grow up with, come of age with. I have seen so many of her films, always been a fan. May she rest, peacefully.