Out & About - NYC

Today I finally close the door on the New York chapter that has been my life. These last 5 years have shaped me in ways I couldn't even begin to imagine. What started off as a pursuit of higher education turned into a voyage of self-discovery, and the people I've met and lessons I've learned here will resonate with me for the rest of my life; and I'm all the better for it. It's been trying and exciting, frustrating yet fulfilling, but most of all, it's been a blessing. And even with all the places I've been, things I've seen and done, I can still say, "New York, I hardly knew thee." Until we meet again... #Humbled #EndOfAnEra #NewBeginnings #LessonsLearned #OnwardAndUpward #BigApple #NewYork #NYC (at New York, New York)

A bit of inspiration for the daily commute... #NewYorkCity #NYC #MTA #Subway #Poetry #PoetryInMotion

Out in Central Park enjoying live music at Ozy Fest! #Summertime #Summerstage #CentralPark #RumseyField #OzyFest (at Rumsey Playfield)

Ran across some street art today while out and about in Brooklyn. #NYC NewYorkCity #Brooklyn #Bushwick #StreetArt #Graffiti #BlackGirlMagic #OutAndAboutNYC (at Bushwick)

Because it wouldn't be New York without a stray piano randomly placed in Times Square. #NYC #NewYorkCity #TimesSquare #SingForHope #Piano #Random #OutAndAboutNYC (at Times Square, New York City)

I think it's safe to say, there's no art quite like Brooklyn street art. #Brooklyn #Bushwick #Art #StreetArt #Graffiti #Animals #Turtle #Bee #NYC #NewYorkCity #OutAndAboutNYC (at Bushwick)

As the story goes, 1,612 New Yorkers stopped, mid-commute, to paint these circles. Each one with its own unique flaws because no one is perfect, but pieced together as a reminder that we're all in this together. #TheOculus #NYC #OutAndAboutNYC #Art #Installation #Commute #Positivity #HappyFriday (at The Oculus at the World Trade Center)

Oh the things you can find on an NYC rooftop... #NYC #WestVillage #Rooftop #Buddha #Shrine #PeaceBeWithYou #OutAndAboutNYC (at West Village)

Yes, NYC is the King of the $1 slice, but every so often one must splurge on the good pizza. Pro tip: Ask for the end slice. #Eataly #Foccacia #Pizza #Foodstagram #Foodporn #Foodie #OutAndAboutNYC #NYC #SundayFunday (at Eataly NYC Downtown)

A small taste of the crazy hats and outfits at this year's Easter Parade. This never gets old. #Easter2017 #EasterParade #HappyEaster #NYC #OutAndAboutNYC #FreeCheapClearance (at St. Patrick's Cathedral)

Stopped by Radio City Music Hall for the Fate of the Furious World Premiere with the stars and the cars. #F8Premiere #FastAndFurious #Tyrese #VinDiesel #PaulWalker #MoviePremiere #RadioCityMusicHall #OutAndAboutNYC #FreeCheapClearance (at Radio City Music Hall)

Barack Hussein Obama II made U.S. history by becoming the 1st African-American to be elected president of the United States. As a black candidate, the road to #44 was racially charged (complete with claims of inexperience and ineligibility), however Obama and his administration managed the office with such grit and determination that he served two consecutive terms. For 8 years the nation watched him and his family bring a level of unmatched poise and a taste of urban culture to the White House, serving as the perfect role models to young black people everywhere, and proving to them that even the highest office in the nation is attainable. BlackHistory (28/28) #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #BHMChallenge #Barack #Obama #BarackObama #WhiteHouse #President #44

Alex Haley was an African-American author and Pulitzer Prize winner for his 1976 book Roots: The Saga of an American family. In this book Haley traces his lineage back to Africa, providing a rarely seen interpretational view of slavery from the perspective of a slave. The following year, Roots was broadcast as a T.V. miniseries to a record 130 million viewers, bringing the stark brutality of slavery to the big screen and sparking a strong interest in genealogy among black people nationwide. Today you can view A&E’s 2016 Roots remake at roots.history.com. #BlackHistory (15/28) #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #BHMChallenge #AlexHaley #Roots #PulitzerPrize #History #AmericanHistory #Slavery #KuntaKinte #Kizzy #ChickenGeorge

No one in history has made a greater impact on education equality than Thurgood Marshall. Supported by the NAACP, he took on and won the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court case. That ruling ended segregation in schools nationwide, allowing blacks the invaluable access to quality education. #BlackHistory (5/28) #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #BHMChallenge #ThurgoodMarshall #NAACP #BrownVsBoardOfEducation #CivilRights #Education #FightForEquality

The Oscar nominated film Hidden Figures brings to light the unseen impact that some of our best and brightest black women had on the NASA space program in the 1960s. It features Janelle Monáe as NASA’s first black engineer Mary Winston Jackson, Taraji P. Henson as mathematician Katherine Johnson, and Octavia Spencer as mathematician Dorothy Vaughan. These talented actors paired with the incredible untold stories of these historical figures make this the most inspiring, influential and #BlackGirlMagic filled movie I’ve seen in my lifetime. #BlackHistory (4/28) #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #BHMChallenge #HiddenFigures #JanelleMonae #TarajiPHenson #OctaviaSpencer #MaryWinstonJackson #KatherineJohnson #DorothyVaughan #BlackGirlMagic