2009: A Memoir

Yes, this is late, but what the hell. Everyone else is making list, so why not me? Taking my cue from Thoreau, I give you no broad statements on the best and the greatest. I can only tell you what shook me this year. Let's go.

My party of the year:

Africa High Five in Chicago. DJ spinning house from back home, and so many of the people I love around me.

From the "I've made a huge mistake" file:

A lot to pick from, but I think attributing a fake quote to Rush Limbaugh is king. Sloppy Coates. Very sloppy.

Personal quote of the year:

George Washington, father our country, and slaveholder, addressing his troops before the Battle of Long Island:

Remember officers and soldiers, that you are Freemen, fighting for the blessings of liberty--that Slavery will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men.

He lost. Had to Retreat to Harlem. No lie.

Most postracial moment of the year:

Driving with Kenyatta, my two favorite young black men (son and nephew, that's us in the picture) from Denver, across the Continental divide into Aspen. When we hit Leadville, we started fantasizing about moving there. I humorously noted that they'd be the only black kids in town. They did not care.  Man, how the world changes

A book that, I suspect, changed everything:

Paula Giddings awesome biography of Ida B. Wells. Now I find myself on a journey into the ancient South. Giddings sent me there. Her book has been totally slept on.

My favorite piece of criticism: 

Caitlin Flanagan on Alec Baldwin. Just lovely.

A song I love, but never blogged about:

Most Serene Republic, Heavens to Purgatory. "Gazookz, Gazookz, Gazooks, What have we got to lose." Love that line. Cool video too.

My pilgrimage to Mecca:

Went to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where my people toiled as slaves, to celebrate Thanksgiving. The whole way, I kept thinking about my lovely, departed grandmother, heading up to Baltimore, to raise three girls in the projects.

Proudest moment of the year:

No question. Watching my co-d head off to Columbia, and pull a B+ out of precalculus, after ten years out the game. So Awesome-sauce.

Elizabeth Kolbert's "The Sixth Extinction?" Beautiful writing aside--and it is a gorgeous piece--seriously, we're doomed.

A recipe I just about mastered:

Bananna bread

A recipe I repeatedly muffed:

Fried chicken. No, seriously.

Dinner of the year:

Cesca, hands down. We drank an incredible Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. Had great bread. Awesome tuna. Seriously, take your honey there. I'm telling you kid, stick with me. I show you how to do this son...

From the department of "Dude, we're so doomed."