Photoshoots=necessary evil for introverted creatives.
New website coming soon, and even BLACKER titles on deck for the babies.
Book bans be damned.
#excellenceisthestandard #meetmeatthetop #GodGotMe #protectedbythemosthigh
Our second eldest son, Solomon Matthew, the Lieutenant, the heartbreaker, Willie Wings, Solo Shutdown graduated with honors from @utep_miners yesterday.
Saying I'm proud of this young brother would be a gross understatement. Noone works harder, or shows up more prepared. Keep building on all of the things that got you to this point in your life. Keep making plans, stay curious, keep setting astronomical goals for yourself, and apply all of those qualities that I love...and watch what happens.
Big things, my son.
I was going to fix my mouth to say , "Two down. Two to go." But this parenting thing is ongoing, with no age limit for when they wont require something from you, whether it be resources or wisdom. I would guess to say that even when they are adult men with their own families, that they'll still call on me during these transitions in their amazing lives, and if I can help it, for as long as I can...I'll be here for them.
Salute, brother Solo. God will always be with you. Just reach out your hand, stay humble, stay grateful, be helpful, and continue to expect good things to happen in your life.
I love you. Always.
#BarnesBrothersForever #meetmeatthetop #excellenceisthestandard #soloshutdown
In honor of the 2026 NFL season schedule being released this week, we’re excited to share our upcoming book WHO GOT GAME? FOOTBALL from Derrick D. Barnes and John John Bajet! 🏈 The newest addition to the widely loved middle grade sports series gives you the names, games, stats, records, and far-out facts that you couldn’t possibly get anywhere else. Coming August 18th!
Twenty. Five. Years.
May 12, 2001.
We've been friends for thirty, but today we celebrated the 25th anniversary of our wedding. Best day of my life, and God knows I've had a few. The audience was filled with family and friends from every stage of our lives. It looked like the UN in that piece. It was beautiful. The drums. The dancers. I had hair. And Tinka looked angelic. Still does.
If someone were to ask how weve made it work for so long, I'd have a different answer today than I did five, ten, fifteen years ago. But the throughlines have always been effort and grace. Life and love will change you undoubtedly, numerous times, the both of you. You have to be each other's 'person'. Be their safe space. Know that theyre not going to always get it right, say or do the right things, and they are just trying to figure this life thing out the same as you are. But if theyre trying, if they are making you a priority, continuing to see you, change right along with you, give them grace and allow them to be fallible from time to time. That is what forms the bond. Allow them to be themselves. Celebrate who they are. Have and maintain mutual respect and appreciation.What also works for me is being verbal about the ways you make each other feel, the little things, and all the ways you love them. Say it. Make eye contact and say it right before you kiss. I need that.
Now, I never want to be one of those guys that post marriage and parenting advice. I am no expert. All I know is I love this lady, and these boys, with every ounce of my being, plus...I'm still just trying to figure this life thing out the same as you. And for a quarter of a century, ever since I laid eyes on her, I've tried to impress her, be a consistent good thing in her world, wanted her to love me as much as I love her, because I adore her so much, and I suspect I always will,
in this lifetime and the next.
Happy 25th Anniversary, Queen. ❤️
Where stories begin 📚✨
Join us May 9 at The Sheldon Concert Hall for a special event with bestselling author Derrick Barnes!
🕚 Event: 11 a.m.
🕘 Pre-show activities: 9:15 a.m.
🎯 For preschool & kindergarten students + caregivers
📚 Free books (while supplies last!)
Don’t miss this fun, inspiring literacy experience. Registration required—scan the QR code to sign up!
#SLPS #LiteracyForTheLou #EarlyLiteracy #StLouis
Reposted from @slps_info
Wow!
Watch @garychambersjr vivisect these 'representatives' as they try to erase an office because a Black man won it, while their state stays poor and struggling, with little more than prisons as industry. Shame on them and good work, Gary. Let them hear what the Bible actually says and look you in the eyes while you read them. #reiders
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Repost from @garychambersjr
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Look at their faces. What do you see?
I wanted to look them in the eye and say, on the record, that they are attempting to reconstruct this government to undo Black progress. Their targeting of @calvin4clerk is rooted in that reality, and it needed to be called out plainly.
I showed up speaking for myself. No organization in Louisiana sent me. No party asked me to come. I say that to make clear much of this work is being done independently, without formal partnerships, and without the budgets, staff, or institutional backing many established organizations have.
I came because what they are doing is wrong. The court reconstruction happening in New Orleans has been done in different ways already in Baton Rouge and across this state—especially in the largest, Blackest cities—to dilute Black political power.
I started Civics for the People because I know many of us don’t know what is happening inside government or how these systems are used. It’s my way of teaching the game and helping our people move with knowledge.
Their elections are in 2027. We can send them home to frown and chew as gum as they please.
If you believe this work matters, support Civics for the People at the link in my bio so I can teach the people and send some on these people home.
Share if you care
Reposted from @joyannreid
It's the collab you didnt know you needed!
We're like the Gangstarr of children’s lit: Guru and Preemo would be proud.
One of my children’s lit idols, one of the GREATEST illustrators in our business of all time, master artist @frankmorrison and myself will make our first appearance together at this year's @littleshopbookfest
On Saturday, May 2nd 10:45 am EST, we'll be at the Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore Street
Decatur, GA 30030.
Shout to our dear brother @drchristiangregory Frank and I will hold it down for Team Seven Million Steps. ✊🏿👟❤️
Solo’s heading to the Saints‼️
🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿
#PicksUp | #WinTheWest
Reposted from @utepfb@saints@solo_shutdown
#BarnesBrothersForever #meetmeatthetop #excellenceisthestandard
See you soon, St. Louis. 🤞🏿
Saint Louis Public Schools - Early Childhood Breakfast Event with PreK students and families.
*600 free autographed copies of THE QUEEN OF KINDERGARTEN and THE KING OF KINDERGARTEN
*Activities for the babies to make crowns and decorate them as well as coloring pages.
*45min presentation, photos, and book signing in the morning.
I dont know what's going to happen over the next three days...but for the past two weeks, I've been so emotional. I leave the house, so that he wont see me crying. I dont want him to put anymore stress and pressure on himself than he already has. It just feels like the past fourteen years, and everything that got him to this point, all comes down to this weekend. I know that's not the case, but it feels like it. I start thinking about fixing his uniform in flag football, playing for the Eagles in the South Suburban League in KC...I remember the smile on his face after every game, his very first season as a Dawg/Gryphon. He'd sit in the backseat and say the same thing, especially after a win, "That was fun."
I remember when I couldnt pay for his league fees in Charlotte, but brother Kennedy told me to not sweat it and pay him when I could...I think about that season when I couldnt afford the nice cleats so I bought him a pair of baseball cleats from Ross...The runs to the ER for various injuries...Staying up late to help him with his math...I think about how he iced his ankle every day from his junior year to the end of his senior year so that he wouldn't miss a game because of a surgery he needed...I remember him not getting enough anesthesia after the surgery and it taking all of my strength and about eight other people to hold him down to keep him from damaging his ankle permanently...I think about him not having any stars or D-I offers coming out of high school.
...I think about those long and quiet car rides to the game, after the game in little league...when it was just us two...All of the training, the wins, the losses, moving from a great opportunity playing Division II to finally playing FBS division I ball.
It's all been rushing back to me, and I'm more nervous than he is. I've just been praying that whatever happens after these three days that I'll be equipped to help him greet this next chapter, whatever the Most High has planned for his beautiful life. He'll end up right where he's supposed to.
God is the greatest.
#NFLDraft2026 #SoloShutdown #BarnesBrothersForever #MeetMeAtTheTop #ExellenceIsTheStandard
