Raqiyah Mays’ Post

Reposting this powerful testimony by the magnificent Danyel Smith for The NY Times Magazine. I posted a comment on her IG page, but I'm reposting some of it here with edits. I took a lot of deep breaths throughout this read. I thought I knew having worked at Vibe. But some of these accounts are from before I began as Danyel's assistant and after I'd moved on from Vibe to freelance and work in radio. I thought I’d seen some things while working there and in the music industry. Craziness that at this point I'd prefer to fictionalize in writing, throw in a script or book, rather than share as fact. Because that's where I still am in my journey of surviving the music industry. Surviving hip hop. Surviving the trauma. But Danyel's story right here? I didn’t know. And I am so sorry. I think the guilt and triggered memories that many of us women who were there during that time feel and have discussed privately all bubbled up cause of Diddy and Cassie. But these conflicted emotions have always been there. For me, it started with R. Kelly. "Surviving R. Kelly" by another great, dream hampton. Seeing that was the beginning of the personal reckoning for me. Watching "Surviving R. Kelly" made me leave radio. Shoot, I felt guilty, because I feel many of us knew and did nothing. I knew. But there I was hopping on the mic like, "Hey! I got tickets to see R. Kelly! Call now!" Nah... I got other talents. I couldn't do it anymore. No disrespect to those who still do. Sometimes I miss it. But that's their path. And I have so much respect for it because I know what it takes, especially as a woman. But I don't miss the music industry. As fun as it was, I don't miss ducking potential bullets at industry parties (or radio stations). Staying numb while at work to the consistent sexual harassment. The politics. Nope. I'm good. Not like I won't deal with that in the “real” world or in anything else I do, but it was on a different level of intensity in hip hop. And the Diddy crap? The convos I’ve had and memories I’d forgotten that popped up because of Cassie? Danyel's testimony and the reckoning many of us have had and are still dissecting puts a lot of it into words. I’m reposting this and sending so much love to the great Danyel Smith. I love you so much, girl. ❤️❤️ #MustRead Read it here: https://lnkd.in/g5Xcs4vc

Late post: Fun at this fundraising gala in Pasadena with the fabulous @VeniceDunn!

Happy Juneteenth. June 19! ❤️🖤💚 A new episode of my podcast “Real Black News” comes on Juneteenth, June 19! Five uplifting Black News stories from around the world. 30 minutes of feel good power. Podcast available wherever you listen to podcasts. Click this link to listen today: https://lnkd.in/gfmYyFgs #RealBlackNews #juneteenth #blackpodcasts #blackpodcastsmatter

Honored to have interviewed the fabulous Ms. Debra Lee , former CEO of BET, during her keynote at this weekend’s Black Owned Media Weekend 2024 in Detroit. She provided a room full of Black journalist, tastemakers, publishers, media owners, and marketing gurus with a glimpse inside her 20+ years - professionally and personally - at BET. Debra was honest, empowering, vulnerable, and full of so much wisdom she was eager to share with juicy, gem-filled, tidbits from her must read memoir “I Am Debra Lee.” Shout to BOMESI founders Rhonesha Byng and Devon Christopher Johnson for putting something so necessary and powerful together. #BOMW24 #bomesi24 #BlackOwnedMediaWeekend #DebraLee

Knicks jacket on the chair. Grin on face. I found this happy throwback from my very first industry job as an assistant at Vibe. This wasn’t my original dream. I remember canceling my subscription to Vibe in college. “This is not hip hop!” I said out loud, before throwing my magazine in the dorm room’s trash and calling up the 800 number to cancel. But my professors kept stressing me. I needed an internship. Coincidentally, there was an advertisement seeking Vibe interns posted on the jobs board outside of the college radio station I worked at as a jazz DJ by day/hip hop jock on weekends. I walked past that ad for weeks until finally, reluctantly, I applied. Until then, I’d built a short media resume without even realizing it. I’d originally majored in micro economics with dreams of being a corporate lawyer. In high school, I had an internship in Merrill Lynch’s Creative Services department where I learned how they designed brochures for financial clients. In college, I worked as a proofreader for a psychology professor’s book, and later for a military contractor proofing Army tech manuals. This early background was the right fit for Vibe’s editorial department. That internship later turned into me being hired as an assistant for then Editor in Chief Danyel Smith. That experience turned out being the most fun I’ve had at a job until this day. The parties, the perks, the drama, the late nights during production, being among so many legends in the game, people I still look up to until this day was so exciting. And to think that I almost missed this opportunity by consistently walking by that job post in college. Smh. Life is funny like that. #Blessed #Vibe

#BreonnaTaylor 🙏🏾

Been thinking about this beautiful sista, Dee Barnes. She is one of the first - if not THE first woman in hip hop - to publicly speak up and out against the violent physical abuse she survived by the hands of a powerful, now billionaire hip hop artist turned celebrated business mogul. Dee has never backed down. She has continued to speak out. And she is one of the first people who came to mind when I saw just a few triggering seconds of the horrific clips I was forced to watch - simply by scrolling through social media - of Diddy beating Cassie. 😡 On a brighter note, this pic is from the time Dee came to my house, back when I was still on the East Coast in Brooklyn. She stopped by to record an interview for my podcast. My memory is fuzzy, but I believe I made dinner. Salmon. Spinach. Baked potatoes. Her family was with her. It was all love. The same kind of love I will always have for Dee for never giving up. Always pushing back. And forever speaking up and telling her truth. #DeeBarnes #Cassie #Diddy #DomesticAbuse

We shouldn’t need to see violent physical evidence to believe a woman when she says a man has mistreated, hurt, and traumatized her. Believe women! Thankful to see a man publicly say and post this. #DomesticViolence

Mother’s Day started with the boy’s first official visit to Sunday service. We spent it in the nursery and he didn’t want to leave. Afterwards, we went to brunch. Crepes. Something I haven’t had since my care-free days on vacation in Paris. After naptime, I got to sneak in a little writing when dad took him to the park. I even managed to exercise when dinner was done. Mother’s Day was a great day. Grateful for the journey. Grateful for the fascinating experience. Happy Mommy Day!! #Mothersday2024