Fly. Forever. | Washington D.C. | 2015
Precise Science | Tubman City, Maryland | 2010 (R-L; Freedomwriter, Ruffmic)
You passed on my birthday. Sometimes I forget that you're an ancestor. Man, Reggie Ruffmic Logan, you and Heru Meritef were so necessary to my development. Thanks for rockin with me as I learned how to become a photographer. As I learned how to become a man. Ya'll gave me a safe space to practice. To see how making a life with art was possible. All of the road trips leaving Tubman City (Baltimore); Atlanta, D.C., Rust College in Mississippi, Memphis...
Thanks for introducing me to Ká'Bá Akíntúndé. For making it possible to rub elbows with Fred Hampton, Francis Cress Welsing, Patricia Newton, Greg Carr, Kavon Shah, Dead Prez, De Cliff Jared Jackson, Seun Anikulapo Kuti, the Last Poets, Maimouna Youssef, Gregory Brown, Rabb Love, Senghor Jawara Baye, Chokwe Lumumba, Bomani Armah, Amosu Awoyemi, Kelly Love Jones, Broj Xclan, Richard Raw, Stephen Marley, Jahiti Brownfish, Ama Chandra (I JUST realized that I first heard berimbau from you at a show ya'll did in like 2009!!), Mwalimu Baruti, Kalonji Jama Changa, Dhoruba Bin-Wahad, Tenisio Seanima (I met you before I knew you, lol) and so many others. I got to walk on land that Ida B. Wells grew up on, thanks to you.
You were on the first flier for Black Power Media!
I remember walking down North Avenue. I'd just linked with my then (and, happily now again!) partner. Hot summer day, headed to Everyone's Place. I was proud. She looked amazing... I remember turning my head as my ear had already picked up on your praise-laden voice. I caught your green van in my periphery...
I learned to talk shit from you.
The jokes. The impersonations. The British Accent.
Mannnnn the jokes! Hurani Mwanza Fatiu, remember the jokes?!
, remember when he told you to go straight (which meant stay to the right) as you were approaching a fork in the road on the highway?
Ruff, you were unrelenting.
That's a good word for you.
Unrelenting.
You always wanted to build. I never knew you to not build. You always saw a way towards growth... Even when it wasn't anyone else's path... even when others (including me) weren't quite interested in walking the path you saw.
The you I knew loved our people. You loved us well... You loved me well. I never told you this, but I think I learned how to have fun with my artistry through you.
Thanks for that.
I didn't agree with you on everything -- and I think through my occasional distance you knew that. But that's not what this post is about my friend.
I'm finally able to grieve you not being here. I was sad when you left... I didn't know that I had more grieving to do, but now it's flowing through. I appreciate the memories this reflection is bringing me -- You were often the cause of infectious joy... You are again right now!
Fly. Forever.
