One thing you cannot do is... knock the hustle. Firstly, thank you for being here and listening to me for an hour. I end every episode with "I love you" because I mean it. Now on to today's episode, I discuss Reasonable Doubt (the Jay-Z album and the recent Hulu series) and Black Entertainment Television (from the network to what it's supposed to represent). I recall being in second grade, and the girl I had a crush on told me she wasn't allowed to watch B.E.T. I can't say that seven-year-old me was a B.E.T. fanatic, but I was aware of the channel and its offerings. Aside from the notable difference in cultural upbringing, I always wondered what separated the media I was allowed to consume from someone like Lily (listeners of this show can conclude what answers likely best fit that question). The theme you'll continue to see runs its thread through this show, my life, and every project that comes next is an elevation of black excellence. One thing I know is that this process does not and will not happen through the natural order; it takes an intentional effort to do more than shift the narrative, but to create an entirely new one for us and by us. Representation and opportunity are the keys to starting the engine, but a free expression of creativity and relevant storytelling drive the car. The concept of Black Entertainment Television has the power to be a unifier and a machine for positive propaganda, but it takes conscious output and healthy intake. The onus is on us because the power is with us!

Links to connect with me:

Twitter: @m_hendricks27

Instagram: @marcus_hendricks

TikTok: @marcushendricks27

Intro & Outro Song:

Hennything Is Possible by Elijah

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