Sorry for the delay
Hey everyone, I’m terribly sorry for the delay in newsletters. My last post was November 28th and in that time a lot of things in my personal life caused me to take an unexpected pause from the newsletter. My apologies.
Last year was a lot for me professionally and personally, so I had to take a break. I got burned out, got really out of shape, lost out on some projects, and dropped the ball on others. But the most detrimental being that I lost a few people close to me, all unexpectedly, including some family members and friends. In addition to being a 24/7 caretaker for my aunt for the last 7 years, which has been more difficult for me in 2022, compared to the other years.
All of these things have been amplified because of the pandemic, which for some people ended on April 24th, 2020. But for people like myself is a daily reminder to protect both myself and someone I love when the rest of society has largely moved on, despite the reality of the situation. Which at times can cause some challenges, challenges I’ve overcome.
I’ve learned to lean into the challenges and embrace the change. And in the process of learning (and mostly failing) at trying to find balance + get back into my professional groove, I’ve decided to make 2023 ‘Jordan Year’, named after the GOAT of basketball Michael Jordan of course (lol).
Expect this year to be a completion of some long-gestating issues (Why do Black people vote for Democrats?; Policing in America, for example) + really doubling down on being a source for contextual news. It means really pursuing my personal best with the expectation that this time next year, this newsletter and my additional works have really been some of the best things produced.
And since November, I’ve been getting back up to speed on everything, including bridging the gap between Atlanta news + Atlanta history.
So what does that mean for this newsletter?
So for the next few weeks, the newsletter will be a combination of top news stories, outside projects with other Atlanta media orgs + articles and podcasts that didn’t come out but were supposed to in 2022. Plus some cool new things, like meetups, historic visits and walks (fwiw, keep an eye out for February!)
My apologies. But thanks for hanging in there with me!
-KJW
King, your writing consistently tackles difficult issues our communities face and your approach and passion opens doors and minds that few other writers are incapable of doing or even dare try.
You've inspired me to start my own newsletter and community.
I know 2023 will be a successful year for you and if you ever need a soundboard or collaborative energy, don't hesitate to reach out!
-Matt