What Would We Lose by Defining Who We Are As Men?
The Barbershop Chronicles: Pause
It was supposed to be a routine visit to the barbershop. A bi-weekly beard appointment that’s always an experience, to say the least. My barbershop is no different than the average black male safe space I've known since childhood. A Dutch oven of homemade stew made...
Maverick YouTubers You Need To Follow
My love of YouTube is strong and well-documented. I lose myself most weekends gouging on travel vlogs, creative lifestyle brands, and documentaries just to name a few. I have, however, become frustrated at the lack of representation of content from black male...
DRTAKEOVER: A Story of Resilience and Community
Your vacation has been approved. You’ve packed a luggage full of fits, toiletries, and a pair of crisp, non-creased Jordans. Your direct flight from JFK was on time and chartered a seamless journey from New York City to the shores of Bavaro, a beach in Punta Cana...
The Evolution Of My Pride
The long, narrow, wooden staircase led me to my personal hell. How did I get here? Why am I here? These are the questions I asked myself while trapped at the Ugly Mug bar in Washington DC. It was Memorial Day Weekend, Black Gay Pride, and to quote the amazing Loretta...
I’m Back Baby!
Hey you! It’s been a minute. My last post was September 7, 2021. I made a conscious decision at the time that I was going to focus on starting a new chapter. Ruelon.com would have to take a backseat to my peace and overall mental health. What have I been doing? I’ve...
The Unicorn In The Family
You have no control over the family you're born into. I was fortunate to have an amazing childhood with loving and supportive parents. My sister, to this day, is one of my best friends. We're cut from the same cloth and our similarities are uncanny right down to how...
Pride: Who Are We Now?
The world is slowly reopening. I'm fully vaccinated and the mid-Atlantic states have already experienced their first heatwave of 2021. Now that Covid-19 and her oppressive hold on how we live and connect appear to be lifting, everyone I know is breathing out a...
The Haunting Of Aaron Hernandez
A former acquaintance asked me to write about him three years ago - I declined. There was no evidence whatsoever at the time that he was gay. I heard the rumors, but outing anyone regardless of proof was then, and still is - unacceptable! There was, however, something...
What Are You Wearing?
Twitter isn't the most forgiving place. Whenever I see some poor soul getting dragged over the proverbial coals on the fickle platform, I ask two questions. Is the dragging warranted? If yes then proceed with popcorn and sit back and enjoy the show. Is it...
Are You Husband Material?
To be or not to be husband material, that is the question. As a child, I can recall hearing my mother, and aunties talk about what constitutes a good man but I must admit, I never quite understood what it meant to them, nor its connection to potential marital bliss....
Why Aren’t You Following These Style Influencers?
I've been told on numerous occasions that clothes make the man. Before there existed a world of style influencers on social media, it was my father who inspired me to always put my best fashion foot forward and maintain an air of individuality. "Don't look like...
2020 Is Still Your Year
I'm so ready to put up the Christmas tree and ring in the new year. After surviving the first half of 2020, who could blame me? I know it's the end of summer, we're still in phase one of a pandemic and drowning in social unrest, but this year sucker-punched us all and...