I too am an American
As America struggles to identify its true children on a global stage, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on my own experience coming of age in the land of the free, home of the brave.
As America struggles to identify its true children on a global stage, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on my own experience coming of age in the land of the free, home of the brave. My name is a good place to begin—French by way of Haiti plus three disciples: Stephen, John, and Peter. One word, no dash. Deal with that as you will. It may not be immediately apparent but I am also Puerto Rican, although it feels like I’ve been undercover most of my life. Being called a gringo while visiting the island some years back was only confirmation of what I already felt inside, that I too am an American.
English is the only language that I can truly speak fluently, but various Spanish, Haitian Creole and French phrases were used situationally in my childhood home in the predominately white suburbs of New York’s Capital Region. Trips to visit extended family throughout New York City were cultural exposés while school presented the unique challenge of navigating black identity in romantic relationships, classroom dynamics, and athletics. I was more Lil Dicky Professional Rapper or Childish Gambino Camp than the suave Fresh Prince.
You have heard it said, "You're an Oreo."
But I actually think I'm more like a Reese's
Processed, pre-packaged, and pocket-sized
A chocolatey peanut butter twist with ridges all around my circumference who
Looks slightly firm but is pretty soft and
relatively flat on the inside but filled with something sweet
The perfect chilled treat
The Queen of Charn
She was its head, its heart, its song, a constant rhythm in a sea of progress and promise.
Was anyone else fascinated with the world of Charn mentioned in C.S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew? The exercise below is the beginning of my search for answers.
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Any word of the Traitor? No, my liege, quipped Captain Tibor.
She was not worried—the Queen of Charn did not worry. She was its head, its heart, its song, a constant rhythm in a sea of progress and promise. The kingdom had blossomed under her rule; at least, that's what the Loyalists assured her. Besides her father has been too old and too preoccupied with his pearls and string of lovers to bring the kingdom into its golden age. He didn't feel a thing when she split his throat in the middle of the night. This was, of course, the way of Charn.
Find her.
Why Pixel Art?
It felt like the next step in a string of creative endeavors. It was poster design before this and (film) photography before that.
Why pixel art?
It felt like the next step in a string of creative endeavors. It was poster design before this and (film) photography before that. I was grateful to learn on YouTube that I could make pixel art in Adobe Photoshop Elements, a program that I am fairly comfortable using as a creative tool. The work of Brandon James Greer was an early inspiration as well.
And the one-bit style?
It matches my preference for clean, minimalistic design.
How did the trading card motif enter the fray?
There was this animation on the Channel 15 block of Saturday morning cartoons called Xiaolin Showdown that I enjoyed watching as a child. At some point in time, the network held a card design contest for a soon-to-be-released game, and I believe that my artwork was selected. I’ve been unable to verify this fact online, but I do remember receiving some decks in the mail. I also grew up in a Christian household and recall raising some eyebrows for bringing my Yu-Gi-Oh! cards to Sunday school while visiting another church. It was not time to duel.
I don’t remember which YouTube video got me back into trading cards after so many years, but I ended up ordering a twenty-pack mystery lot of non-sport trading cards from eBay back in March and haven’t stopped buying since. And at a certain point, I just decided to revisit the medium.
What is your work about?
Longing, regret, fear, shame—it’s basically a public examination of self. I don’t often make happy art but the creative process itself brings me joy.
Anything else that you’d like to share?
If you would like to explore pixel art further, I highly recommend checking out the work of ripcache and Michael Alexander, also known as MEK.txt.
Keep Steady, Keep Stylin’
August 2025 marks the ten-year anniversary of my romance with breaking—ground zero, the second-floor flag room of the University at Buffalo’s Student Union.
August 2025 marks the ten-year anniversary of my romance with breaking—ground zero, the second-floor flag room of the University at Buffalo’s Student Union. Hours were spent dusting the floor with a pungent mix of funk, sweat, and style with some of the finest b-girls and b-boys this side of the Niagara River. Friendships were forged while some friendly callouts went unanswered—that’s on me Jay C. Truth is I was too nervous to even enter the cypher circle 99.999% of time, but this fear ironically birthed Outer Circle. You can probably guess who was the sole member of that crew.
Time has passed, relationships have faded, but the beat goes on. 518BREAK is the new stomping ground for a dancer still trying to scratch that creative itch, repaired Achilles tendon and all. As the old creed goes: keep steady, keep stylin’.
Breaking Trading Cards