She just stood there and cut a Dusty Rhodes promo, y’all. She was spittin. And this is the type of energy I’m on these days. https://twitter.com/bleacherreport/status/1391848122897235968

As often as I take not-so-thinly veiled shots at those who have mocked, dismissed, & written me off, I owe a debt of long-overdue gratitude to @JoyAnnReid. She was the FIRST person to give me a real chance when I ironically met her here in Philly at the 2011 @NABJ Convention.

Not knowing eff all about me, she along with David Wilson, took a chance on me — a 31-year-old guy who had just finished his Master’s and hadn’t done any writing on a major level outside of Detroit — with the original NBC iteration of @theGrio.

I made the most of it and I finally had my foot fully back in the journalism door. 10 years, 5 gigs, 4 cities, 6 Awards, and countless tough times, I’m here. Still standing, stronger than ever, and completely loopy from the journey

It’s always fun to dunk on haters, doubter, clowns, and suckas. And I’m still gonna put you on a poster. But I’m not here if Joy doesn’t think I’m worth the shot while standing in that hotel ballroom in Center City 10 years ago.

She has gone on to become the megastar I knew she would be and I’m just thankful she shared a little bit of that light with me when she REALLY didn’t have to. So, thank you @JoyAnnReid for what you did & have done for me. That Murrow Award is 10 years in the making.

And also shouts out to David Wilson for introducing me to Joy and keeping me in mind for a damn year (I met him in San Diego the year before at NABJ). And shouts out to @DoctorTy — Tyeese Gaines — who I met at Grio in 2011 and has become one of my closest friends. Y’all made me.