Tonight at 8pm I'll be on PBS/Lake Shore Public Media's Counter Point with Garrard McClendon! Had a GREAT conversation about the importance of poetry and Dear Father. Be sure to tune in. Much LOVE!!
UPDATE: In case you missed it, check out the video below.
I'm SO excited for everyone to see this!! In celebration of my Mother and all Mothers everywhere I wanted to put something together to show my deep appreciation for all that you all do. Some times we limit ourselves to celebrating our Mothers on Mother's Day and birthdays, but with all that I've been through and the undying love and support that my Moms shows on the daily, I'm convinced that Every Day truly is Mother's Day. Please check out the video below and pass to along to someone you love or who this song reminds you of. I put a lot of time and love into writing, producing, and recording it, but I also directed, shot, and edited the video. A special thanks goes to Khari Lemuel for blessing this record with his amazing gifts of song and musicianship and to Tarrey Torae for helping with the vocal arrangement, production, and filming shots when I couldn't do it myself...you're the BEST baby!!
Again the poem is from my book, Dear Father: Breaking the Cycle of Pain, which I adapted into a song for my upcoming Dear Father Audio Book and album titled, My Daddy's Records. The book, audio book, and album, which are centered around the theme of my next book, The POWER of Forgiveness, have been created in effort to promote healing through letting go of our past and the art of writing. That idea sparked the Dear Father Letters writing campaign. The theme is "One Million Letters Written, One Million Hearts Healed." Please visit www.DearFatherLetters.com to submit your letter if you already haven't. And for those who are still fighting with writing your letter, know that there is so much joy waiting for you on the other side of that challenge. Love Y'all Much...Happy Mother's Day!!!
Photo by: Sergio Richardson
In celebration of National Poetry Month, this past weekend I had the pleasure of presenting the Dear Father Book Concert at Freedom Hall in Park Forest, a South Suburb of Chicago. To begin the energy felt in this beautiful, intimate theatre was so electric, so warm, so pleasant. It felt like home, so with the help of Tarrey Torae (vocalist), Marshall Knights (bass/musical director), Brandon Collins (drums), Jason Jones (keys), Ferrer White (saxophone), Spike Rebel (guitar), and Tyrue "Slang" Jones (live art) we kicked our feet up and poured our souls out on the stage. This story centered around The Power of Forgiveness has grown so beautifully and it was a true blessing to have the opportunity to tell it on this night. Thanks to everyone who came out to support. Thank you to Freedom Hall for the amazing hospitality. And thanks to all of y'all who sent messages, love, and well wishes for a great show...It TRULY WAS!! And remember to submit your Dear Father Letters to www.DearFatherLetters.com "One Million Letters Written, One Million Hearts Healed... We're getting closer. MUCH LOVE!!!
Photo by: Sergio Richardson
Photo by: Sergio Richardson
It's been one of those years!! My video #DreamBIG that I filmed w/ @chrisp1 @joshsr @mikemarasco @darrenmillerfilms @cubanq__visuals and recorded w/ #RichSancho @hectordelgado @gregmagers @grahamdogg for my book #DearFather #BreakingTheCycleOfPain just won a @tellyawards in the Book Trailer category!! It's always a blessing to be honored for your work. It's especially honoring to be surrounded by AMAZING people that will put in the work to help your work, message, and art SHINE BRIGHT!! BiG S/O to @tarreytorae @myssmoxie @beyond_words_books @atriabooks @simonandschuster!! LOVE Y'ALL!!!
#poet #poetry #NationalPoetryMonth #FindYourPoetry #award #TellyAwards #TellyAwardsWinner #Book #BookTrailer #DearFatherLetters #OneMillionLettersWritten #OneMillionHeartsHealed #dearfathermovement "...after that dream even BIGGER!!!"
SO HYPED & PROUD of this moment!! #MuhammadAli #ThePeoplesChamp just won an #NAACPImageAward for Outstanding Documentary (Television)!!!!!!! Coodie & Chike have been visionaries and trendsetting creatives for such a long time!! So PROUD to call them brothers and partners!! It was a dream working on something for the GREATEST OF ALL TIME MR. MUHAMMAD ALI!! THANK YOU for all of the INSPIRATION!! THANK GOD for the gift that guides my dreams!! THANK YOU Coodie & Chike for giving me the call about working on this film!! MUCH LOVE!!!!!!!!!! #NAACP #ALI #CreativeControl
I'm truly PROUD of my heritage. Our grand legacy is such a large part of my make up. And because of that I celebrate who I am and the greatness I come from as much as possible. Black History Month has always been a special time to reflect on where we've been but also a reminder to look ahead to future possibilities. We all have so much potential. And with all the progress left to be made it's important now more than ever that we tap into that potential and make it a reality. We were put here to make marks. We were put here to do something special. We were put here to make change in the lives of others. We were put here to make history! MUCH LOVE!!
What's up Good People!! I hope your year is off to a great start. Things have been moving beautifully on my end and I'm very excited about the things to come. I was especially moved to see this video from my Broad Run High School visit down in Virginia and wanted to share it with you. We're working towards getting One Million Letters Written. I hope this video moves you to write yours. Please share it! And have a GREAT one!! LOVE!! www.DearFatherLetters.com
B.E.T.'s Ali: The People's Champ Directed and Produced by Coodie & Chike poetically narrated by Yours Truly was nominated for an NAACP Image Award!! SO PROUD to be a part of this AMAZING film which honors The GREATEST OF ALL TIME Muhammad Ali!!! #ImageAwards #NAACP #naacpimageawards #CreativeControl #BET #MuhammadAli
My Brothers @TheTwiliteTone & @Common along with @ChicagoIdeas have started a much needed movement called #PutTheGunsDown...I've added my voice to this cause in hopes that it will help with the positive change needed in #Chicago and cities alike... Hit my FB page for the link to my video and visit musicvsgunviolence.com...
Tomorrow is the day!! Be sure to tune to BET to check out the newest Muhammad Ali documentary directed by my brothers Coodie & Chike. I had the honor of performing the narration I wrote for this project which was beyond humbling. Set your DVRs!! Can't wait for you to see it!!
I am EXTREMELY PROUD & EXCITED to be a part of the upcoming @MuhammadAli documentary directed by @coodierock & @cozah which will be premiering on @BET and it's the opening film at the @UrbanworldFilmFest Sept 23rd!! As an artist it's always a rush to find new ways to create with your gifts but to be able to lend my talents to someone who means so much to me and our society and culture is beyond humbling. This GIANT of a figure that we call ALI has opened up so many doors and has inspired so many. I could go on and on but I'm just going to say tune in!! I can't wait for y'all to see it!!! #MuhammadAli #Ali #CoodieAndChike @Variety #Variety #BlackFilm #OpeningFilm #History S/O to @mistyonpointe #MistyCopeland #Art #Poetry#Film #UrbanworldFilmFestival #BET
Today I had the esteem honor of paying homage to #EmmettTill at his 60 yr commemoration ceremony at Burr Oak by performing with @TarreyTorae. It's sad that we're still dealing with the evils that haunt the good of the world but it's so important that we keep fighting. My grandmother took my mother, aunts, and uncle to Emmett's open casket which was seen worldwide. At a young age she was taught and shown what we were up against. She raised me and my brothers with prayers that nothing like that would ever come of us but so many of our brothers and sisters have fallen to senseless hate and violence. We have to continue to lift up love. We have to continue to fight for justice.#BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesHaveAlwaysMattered
This week I had the pleasure of rocking for #DrEdithMitchell, the new President of the @NationalMedAssn!! Such an honor! CONGRATULATIONS!! #Detroit #NMAdetroit2015
THANKS again to the #Chicago #WESTSIDE Chapter of the #NAACP for having me speak this past Saturday about #DearFather!! The LOVE was immeasurable.#DearFatherLetters #OneMillionHeartsHealed @dearfatherletters
I can't begin to put this feeling into words. Thanks to the #Chicago #WESTSIDE #NAACP for implementing the #DearFather Curriculum!! To walk in and see a wall filled with #DearFatherLetters was beyond INCREDIBLE. It really touched my soul. Let's keep this movement moving!! #ThePowerOfFogiveness#OneMillionLettersWritten #OneMillionHeartsHealed
A special thanks goes out to @pointsoflight @citi and @IAmServiceWorks #ServiceWorks for having me host their #Pathway2Progress @VistaBuzz Celebration in #Atlanta at the AMAZING @Ctr4CHR!! If you haven't been to the museum it is A MUST that you visit!! And to all the inductees CONGRATULATIONS & MUCH LOVE!! Your service is more than appreciated!!
No trucks...
Just planes,
Ivy vines,
And the clouds that windsurf the sky...
So fly!!
MUCH LOVE @JessicaStrawser and @WritersDigest! #DreamBIG #DearFather #ThePowerOfForgiveness #DreamsDontComeTrueTheyAreTrue
A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to @BlackDoctor.orgfor presenting myself and my company #IvyousEnt the #ChampionOfChange Award for the work we've been doing with #DearFather and #DearFatherLetters... @TarreyTorae I couldn't do it without you... We are both humbled and beyond grateful for the support you have extended and the light you have shined on this movement. MUCH MUCH LOVE!!! @blackdoctororg#Baltimore #ThePowerOfForgiveness #OneMillionLettersWritten #OneMillionHeartsHealed #BreakingTheCycleOfPain
Earlier this year my younger brother Sergio Richardson aka Ser Rich captured this amazing photo at the 1st #DearFather #BookConcert in #Chicago. For me it was more than a DOPE DOPE shot of me and our Dad, it represented how far one can come when the heart and soul surrender to #ThePowerOfForgiveness. I can't tell you how AMAZING the #DearFather journey has been this far. This book has taken me far and wide and I've been able to have some very transformative experiences. Tomorrow, in celebration of the #FathersDay season, we will be having the 1st #DearDadDialogue in Chicago at @TheChiBureau. I would love to see you there as we continue this beautiful walk of healing and forgiveness. Tag your people, spread the word, see you there, and to the Fathers, Grandfathers, GreatGrandfathers, Brothers, Uncles, and Mentors #HappyFathersDay!!!#BreakingTheCycleOfPain #DearFatherLetters#OneMillionLettersWritten #OneMillionHeartsHealed
