I was watching an episode of Law & Order and I thought of my cousin Walani. Walani was murdered 24 years ago. She was stabbed to death in her apartment in Bushwick. I stayed in her apartment when I first moved to New York. She helped me find my first place in BedStuy. She introduced me to ceviche. She was a middle school teacher.
I have lost three cousins since then. Walani’s brother Malcolm died from cancer in his 40s. Last year my cousin Durrel died from a rare lung disease. He received heart and lung transplant, but he was never able to leave the hospital on his own. He was 52. Three months ago, my cousin Dwayne died from a sudden heart attack. I spoke at his funeral.
All posts by Nichelle Stephens
November 2016 Standup Set
I have been performing stand-up comedy for over eight years. This is the only video that I have of me performing a set. This was at Foxy Loxy Cafe in Savannah. Currently, I host a monthly comedy here in Savannah called the CV show. It is a comedy variety show but mostly comedy.
He Is A Nihilist Pretending To Be A Patriot
Yes he lies. We know that.
I just came to the conclusion that DJT is a nihilist pretending to be a patriot. Yesterday he desecrated an American flag by signing with a Sharpie.
Trump continues to push the idea that this country in is collapse. This is so contradictory to American exceptionalism. Any real Republican can see that he has more in common with nihilists than patriots.
What is Nihilism? Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy.
At his rallies, there is extreme pessimism. He is always talking about how terrible everything is in this country.
He has no loyalties. Look at what happened to former VP Mike Pence.
He has an impulse to destroy. His advisers can’t get him to stay on message.
Southern Foodways Alliance
I have been wanting to go to the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium for well over 10 years. This annual event celebrates southern food and attendees include culinary professionals, historians and food writers. This year it is happening in Raleigh, North Carolina. Speakers include Dr. Blair LM Kelley, Kat Kinsman and Hanna Raskin. Tickets are $500. I am asking friends and strangers to help me go. If I am able to go, I will be writing about it on my Substack, Nichelle Newsletter.
So Much Has Happened
My last post was on July 1st. So much has changed in two months. Let’s recap.
On July 21st President Joe Biden dropped out the presidential race and endorsed VP Harris.
On July 30th, VP Harris held a rally in Atlanta, GA.
On August 6, Kamala Harris picks Minnesota governor Tim Walz to be her running mate.
On August 22 at the DNC, Harris accepted the Democratic nomination.
On August 29, VP Harris held a rally here in Savannah, GA.
On September 10, Harris met Trump for the first time at their first presidential debate.
Whew! It has been about six weeks of political punditry and polls. I just can’t wait to early vote and get this done.
Friend Of The Pod?
The opinion pages calling for Joe Biden to resign after a bad debate people are like the Red Wedding episode of Game of Thrones. People are canceling their subscriptions to The New York Times. Some folks are absolutely apoplectic.
I was most surprised by the Pod Save America guys, John, Jon and Tommy. I saw a clip of their podcast after the debate and they turned on a dime against Biden. I can’t imagine this is playing well with everyone working at the podcast company. The three worked on campaigns. They know that it would be nearly impossible to get a new candidate less than six months before the election. Almost everyone who wants Biden to quit doesn’t want Kamala Harris either.
This is not a new problem. Biden said he would be a one-term president, but he and the DNC have had four years to come up with a succession plan. If Kamala isn’t the one, then they should have made another plan. There should have been plans b, c, and d. In fact, there should have been a succession other than Hillary Clinton in 2016. It seems like we as a country were too naive back then. I am frustrated, but it is not a new frustration. There are people who are experts, political strategists who knew this could happen and did nothing. Now we are stuck like Chuck.
Old School Blogging
I never thought I would want to go back in time, but I could go back to 2012 and be totally happy. 2013 was financially difficult for me. 2015, I could also do. I was broke back then, but I was thinner and had less gray hair. Blogging is the easiest way for me to go back in time since I started blogging in 2003. I am not new to this. I am true to this. It’s 2024, and the world is hot. People are trash. Everything is so off track. The accumulation of money and power to a few people and corporations has a ripple effect. Hustle culture has people looking at every stranger as a mark. Can we look at people as humans? I want to make sure that I respect people and I receive respect in return.
On a totally unrelated note, I took a fantastic photo of myself and I had to share. I look like an art girlie because that’s not just a regular Yankee fitted. It’s a Yankee fitted from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) gift store. The scarf/babushka is from the Met. It was designed by Sheila Bridges of Harlem Toile and it inspired by the AfroFuturism exhibit at The Met.
Are Famous People Obsessed With Stats?
Lebron James could retire.
Bronny James could have been drafted by another team.
However, the goal is to have this historic event by having father son play for the same team.
Taylor Swift has released countless versions of her albums. First it was because of Scooter Braun. Now it is because she just wants to. She likes running up the score, I guess.
I don’t get it. I am suggesting that people should dim their light, now it seems like people are accumulating stats like Pokemon or Beanie Babies.
Bronny James could have been drafted by another team.
However, the goal is to have this historic event by having father son play for the same team.
Taylor Swift has released countless versions of her albums. First it was because of Scooter Braun. Now it is because she just wants to. She likes running up the score, I guess.
I don’t get it. I am suggesting that people should dim their light, now it seems like people are accumulating stats like Pokemon or Beanie Babies.
Nichelle Newsletter Substack February 2024
Here are the newsletters that I posted in February 2024. February is full of food with Superbowl, Black History Month, Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day.
When I read or hear funny quotes about food, I like to post them.
“I have been shrimp and gritted to death” -Laiken Love.
Nichelle Newsletter January 2024 Substack
I had a lightbulb moment this morning. I have been blogging/writing online for twenty years. However, I have lost content because I have moved from Blogger to Typepad to WordPress with stops to Tumblr and Squarespace. I pay good money to maintain this site so I better use it.
I have been posting weekly over at Substack. Here are the posts for January 2024.