It was a surreal moment.
I was standing outside the Michigan State Capitol watching Grand Rapids Hip Hop Coalition President Governor Slugwell and MI House of Representatives member Rachel Hood take pictures together. It gets better and even more surreal.
The two of them, Slugwell and Hood, were both holding a framed copy of the official declaration that named May 20th as “Hip Hop Appreciation Day” in the state of Michigan!
During my 23-year writing career, with my origins as a Hip Hop journalist, I’ve experienced and written about things that seemed to only exist on television, a stereo, and in magazines, my imagination and wildest dreams. “HipHop Appreciation Day” being declared a holiday in my home state was not one of those things.
But it happened! I was there! I saw it and felt it! It was rewarding, fulfilling, juicy, historic, and, also, incredibly surreal.
For Governor Slugwell, Representative Rachel Hood, and other Hip Hop pioneers and supporters from Michigan and beyond, it was probably all a dream. I imagine each of them used to read Word Up! Magazine. | By Mr. Joe Walker
A new entry of our weekly kindness column “Shining Example” debuts every Monday at 8am EST.
For today, if you’re in need of an inspiring pick-me-up, we’ve got 75 stories from 75 remarkable people that we hope will lift your spirits and warm your heart!
“Shining Example #100” will release on November 1, 2021.
Read them all if you’d like, or just the ones featuring people you recognize. When you’re done, please share them with anyone else needing a positivity boost. | Photo of Yolanda Rabun aka Shining Example #2|
We sincerely thank you for continuing to visit THISENT.com for our columns, podcasts, interviews, videos, reviews, eSports and gaming coverage, and special features.
Here’s our #1 most-popular attraction as determined by you and your views for the weeks of May 16 – May 22!
We have more great stuff for you throughout the week ahead too. Come back daily for all-things entertainment! |THIS.
THISENT.com is fun podcasts with honest discussions, unique columns that entertain and inspire, esports and gaming coverage that’s both exciting and encouraging, celebrity interviews that matter, and special features and videos that inform, uplift, and impress. THIS ENT is all things entertainment. Read. Watch. Listen. THIS is for YOU!
