POINT & KILL
APRIL 1
6:14 AM
I woke up today to Adut Akech on another Vogue cover. She is that girl - simply put. Not to mention her unparalleled work ethic and ability to make any garment desirable. With the entirety of the fashion world enchanted by her, it’s not uncommon to see every stop brought out and legendary collaborations done in her name. This was my favorite one yet. For the April 2023 issue and her 6th (!) time on Vogue Australia, the South Sudanese supermodel paired with her baby brother to give us “Rising Up”, our formal introduction to Bior Akech.
Nepotism, a system in operation for centuries, is perpetual. That’s all there is to say. The stories I’d rather celebrate - the sweeter triumph - are of people who come from nothing, make a name for themselves, and don’t stop there. When everything is said and done, a new community and generation of success have emerged.
Don’t be fooled by your arrogance. On your come-up, there are always opportunities to bring up those you admire for their talents and capabilities. When God opens your door, your job is to go around the neighborhood and help kick everyone else’s door down. If for whatever reason you can’t, at least crack some windows or something - shit.
The King of this is none other than Keenen Ivory Wayans, who did everyone a favor by creating a platform for his friends and family. If he never informed us that the humor doesn’t end with him, the world would be robbed of substantial laughter. His determination cemented a new addition to Black Hollywood families while ushering in a wave of talent unlike anything seen before like Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, and David Alan Gier.
That is sustainable success. That is success without survivor’s remorse, which plagues us (Black people, immigrants, and refugees) too much.
Some circumstances and dynamics are more complicated than others, of course. The most critical variable in all cases is time, however. Do everything necessary to ensure that there aren’t any hiccups when the time is right. For some, it is more effective in the long run to help themselves first, and others immediately after.
Bior Akech, at any point, can decide he’s more interested in soccer and pursue that instead; just like some of the Wayans elected to move in different career paths. The beauty is in their right to choose between many viable options. That’s all I want for me and mine.
So don’t think only of yourself when you make that plan. Victory of any kind that includes a collective has better chances of achievement and longevity, more often than not. Work with your circle, support each other, and collaborate so everyone can move up together. None of it means anything if there’s no one to celebrate with alongside you.
In saying all this, I’m trying to give a fair warning. When I’m on, my people are getting put on - obnoxiously. Don’t be surprised when you see me dripped out in my mother’s designs, booty shaking to my baby brother’s mixtape with my friends’ art strategically placed in your line of view. The plugs can’t get any more shameless.
To end, I leave you with a fitting quote from a favorite internet orator: @fauxfresh
“It don’t cost nothing to show a nigga love. Wabble dee dabble dee.”
-JK