12 Of My Favorite Things
1. The number 12
2. Jesus because He is love
3. Intellectual conversations
4. Shoes/High heels
5. Pretty & vibrant lip sticks
6. Nail polish
7. SUGAR (candy, cake, pie, brownies, cupcakes, ice cream, ANYTHING SWEET)
8. Arizona tea, Salt n Vinegar chips, and Pickled sausage (eaten together)
9. Erykah Badu’s music
10. Kickin it with my male homies
11. My journal
12. Poetry
These are the things I enjoy the most; not in any specific order tho
From Discrimination to Inspiration
So there I was, sharing a weekend in Miami with 4 of my girls because it was my home-girl Tracey’s birthday. It was a Saturday night when we decided that we were going to try this club on South Beach called Club Dream. So we’re in our hotel room getting dressed and ready; pre-gaming; doing what partiers do. We take pictures just knowing we are some baddies that are about to have heads turning. So we get in the car and head to Club Dream; turnt up as we want to be. Park the car, walk over to the club; we get in line like the rest of the women out there. An hour pass and we are still in this long line that probably only moved 2 feet from the time we got there. All of a sudden on of my friends spots a bouncer who graduated from our university. She calls him over and asks if he could, you know, hook us up and get us in the club so we wouldn’t be waiting in line. He looked at us, smirked, and walked away. Confused by his actions I shrugged it off and continued clowning in the line with my home-girls. So the bouncer comes back and pulls my friend to the side and started talking to her. Moment later she comes back and tells us that the club is very “shallow” and definitely will not let us in because one of our friends, as well as myself, are overweight and don’t “look the part” to enter the club. Baffled by what I just heard I laughed it off and ask my friend was she serious and to my astonishment she was. Disappointed, we eased our way out of the line confused as to what happened moments ago. With it already being 1:30 in the morning we weren’t left with many options on what to do. We walked down the street to a club called Cameo but they wanted like $40 for entry so we said F-it and went to see what was popping on South Beach since we paid for parking until 9am LOL. Riding in the car I immediately texted one of my good friends simply venting about the discrimination I had just experienced. Told her how I didn’t know how to feel about the situation because that has never happened to me, none of us for that matter. She gave me some words of encouragement that got me back together real quick….So, the 5 of us ended up going to Fat Tues Days right on the beach; feelings hurt and all. Get into Fat Tues Days and it is packed. I guess that’s where all the Dream rejects went after getting turned down hahahahhaa…… anyway, before finding us a spot to chill we go to the restroom. While I was waiting for all the girls to finish using the restroom, my mind began to focus of the old, seemed to be Jamaican or Haitian, lady who was there making a living by handing people paper towels to dry their hands and selling little things like toiletries and gum and candy. Looking into this lady’s eyes you can see the exhaustion she was feeling and my heart went out to her instantly. As I watched her, I watched so many people walk out of the restroom without even leaving at least a one dollar tip; some people didn’t even say thank you. It kind of pissed me off but I couldn’t be mad because I didn’t make that difference either…..the first time around. So after everyone finished using the restroom, we left and found us a table and some chairs then we ordered drinks *cheers*. Getting are drink and sitting down, one of my friends needed to go back to the restroom so I went with her. Watching this lady for a second time, my sensitive heart just melted and I opened up my purse and gathered all of the little bit of cash I had left. I told my friend how bad I felt and she started pulling out money too and we put it all together and I placed it into the lady’s basket. Instantly, with a bright, beautiful smile she said thank you and returning a smile I said, “You’re welcome.” I felt good walking out of that restroom because even though I didn’t have much, I was still able to be a blessing to someone else that needed it more than I did. The whole ride home, that scene kept replaying over and over in my mind because while I was upset about not getting accepted into a club, this lady was up all night doing whatever she could do to make a little change which changed my entire perspective on how I was feeling. It’s something about that night and that lady that was inspiring to me which is why I have to share this story.
-Deja Du.






