Roses For Charlamagne Tha God
He’s the greatest of our time and all time. I would follow that up with, “and I don’t care you say.” But I do. Because if you say he’s not I’ll tell why he is — to me.
Like now.
He has gems.
In 2009 when I followed Charlamagne on Twitter I had no one idea he would become a person I’d grow to admire. To be honest I didn’t even know who he was when I followed him. I just did because everyone else was following him and he had great tweets. Like the one below:
Personality and Character.
Not only do I love him for his Tweets, but his outgoing no-barred-hold personality. Especially, during “The Breakfast Club” interviews. Example, he recently told Lil Yachty that he is the poster child for wack rappers. Although, I’m not as harsh as Charlamagne I love his personality because it’s slightly similar to mine.
I get called everything from mean to a**hole. At one point it started to hurt my feelings that I was unintentionally hurting other people’s feelings. So, I became tactful. I started to watch what I say, not calling people out on their bullshine, just keeping my mouth shut, and so on. That didn’t last too long because it felt like I wasn’t being truthful to the people around me, and most importantly being truthful to myself. I wasn’t.
One thing I admire about Charlamagne is that I’ve never seen him compromise who he is for no one. It doesn’t matter whose presence he’s in and vice versa — whether they like it or not. This teaches me that I shouldn’t and don’t have to compromise who I am for NO ONE.
Spreads knowledge.
In the above picture is Author Malcolm Gladwell on the “Brilliant Idiots” podcast hosted by Charlamagne and Andrew Schulz.
As Charlamagne ascends in his career he gets the opportunity to rub elbows with influential people in their respective fields. I feel like he takes me along with him and introduces me to them. He uses his platform to teach others what he’s been taught or would liked to be taught. He goes beyond Hip-Hop. That’s why I consider him one of my virtual mentors. If it wasn’t for Charlamagne and The Breakfast Club I probably would’ve never heard of people like:
Gary “Gary Vee” VaynerChuk
Angela Rye (She’s going to be the reason I start back watching CNN).
Dan Rather
Stacey Tisdale
Nina Turner.
Dr. Boyce Watkins
…and probably would’ve never been reintroduced to people like:
Minister Louis Farrakhan
Dick Gregory
Malcolm Gladwell
Sister Souljah
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The list goes on. I’ve pulled something from these individuals both personally and professionally.
Open minded.
Charlamagne also goes on other people’s platforms — even if they’re opposite in their thinking and beliefs.
Like that time he went on Tomi Lahren’s show to properly educate her on The Black Panthers and Beyonce’s Super bowl performance. First, I commended Tomi for opening up her little mind and allowing Charlamagne to come on her show and debate with her.
Secondly, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like watching a live Twitter debate. You know how that one woke person shut downs a twitter troll with a couple of fire tweets? Yeah, that’s what it felt like I was watching.
He also met with her a second time in NY’s Times Sqaure. Which had people mad. I was confused as to why people were so mad. I felt the same way he felt when two people disagree:
“America has to learn to do that more. You have to learn to have discourse with people you don’t necessarily agree with, because I’m not going to learn about her world, she’s not going to learn about mine if we don’t have conversations.”
Make it plain for the people, Charlamagne! I don’t think they understand.
He’s black and wears it proudly. Literally.
I’ve seen Charlamagne wear HBCU apparel and shirts with political statements on them plenty of times while on “The Breakfast Club.”
But during his second appearance on “The Late Show” he wore a shirt that read “Resist Or Comply You Still Die.” That raised my eyebrows. It made me feel happy and proud. Because most “celebrities” don’t openly display and aren’t open about what they believe in; especially politically.
I perceived that as Charlamagne being audacious, and again, uncompromising on who he is and what he stands for. He’s unapologetic with it too.
When I seen him in that shirt and on that platform it reminded me of this Sister Souljah quote. She said, “Souljah was not born to make white people feel comfortable. I am African first! I am black first! I want what’s good for me and my people first.”
No limits.
Charlamagne doesn’t limit himself to just one thing. He has pivoted from an aspiring rapper to a successful radio personality, podcast, and television host. By the way this season of “Uncommon Sense” is superb. Have you seen that new setup? Dope!
Back to the topic.
He’s a philanthropist. During Thanksgiving he gives back to his community in South Carolina by giving away Turkeys, offering free health screenings, and a coat drive for the kids.
Goals!
Charalmagne is also an author now as well. His first book “Black Privilege” comes out Tuesday, April 18th.
I can’t wait to read it. He said, “Black privilege is spiritual. White privilege is systemic.
Whew!!
Charlamagne always say, “Give people their roses while they are still around to smell them.”
Well, this writing are my roses to him in written form with a card attached that reads:
Thank you Charlamagne for exhibiting greatness. Thank you for all you’ve done, all you’re doing, and going to do.
- Toya
