I might have had too much fun in Chicago last week, so it’s going to be another short issue. Keep reading for this week’s pop culture recommendations that I actually re-arranged because of what happened last night to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Separately, next month is the unveiling of the historical marker that I’ve been working toward for just over five years. It’s going to be in Georgia, and I’m short on funds to make the trip. If you want to learn more about what I’m talking about, click here.

If you’ve been looking for a reason to throw some money my way, let this be it → venmo or cash app. Thank you to the moon and back.

Thanks for reading,
Dakotah

Truly, I managed to dig up a basketball-themed album and everything. If you’re wondering how I found one, it’s only because he’s mostly a nerdcore rapper. Next time. Until then, none of these have anything to do with basketball, if you’re looking for at least a temporary distraction.

Named in honor of John Boyega’s viral speech after police murdered George Floyd, STL GLD’s 2022 album, Rock Boyega, features songs calling out injustice such as “Resisting,” “Colors” feat. Oompa and “Thug” feat. Brandie Blaze. There’s also a bunch of Star Wars references, if you like that kind of thing. 

Rock Boyega is another album that just needs to be listened to from beginning to end. It’s layered and pretty damn cool from a bunch of independent (mostly) rappers in Boston. I love a lot of the songs for different reasons, but “Caterpillars” feat. Najee Janey saved me a bunch of times over the last couple of years and is extra special in my opinion.

Listen, Infinity Train has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. I don’t typically care, but it’s so frustrating when a show is this good and gets canceled. Released in 2019, the show ran for four seasons, though it was planned for eight. The series aired its final episode in 2021. Less than a year later, it was removed from HBO and you still can’t find it streaming for “free” anywhere, though you can buy it on YouTube. 

Anyway, Infinity Train is an animated series about a teenager named Tulip and her journey through what feels like an infinite amount of train cars. It’s dark with big “let’s resolve our trauma” energy, so don’t go in expecting a super upbeat time. She has hilarious sidekicks, such as a talking corgi and a cute robot called One-One. If you liked Over the Garden Wall or metaphors for trauma, jump on the Infinity Train.

If you can handle crappy pop-ups, you can watch it for free here.

Last week, I had the chance to catch author and activist Bill Ayers at Haymarket House in Chicago. I read Ayers during my juvenile justice capstone in college, and had the chance to meet him at Powell’s Books in 2013. His story is a pretty wild one, but in the best way.

During the event, Ayers indicated optimism about the future. He reminded us that on some issues, we’ve actually come a long way. He cited the protests and narrative change work around Palestine, an issue he’s been passionate about for years. It has been a miraculous change in about three years, in terms of more people speaking out against Israel’s occupation and ongoing genocide in Gaza. 

The talk was pretty much about where we go from “here,” and something Ayers hoped for was to see more people come together and identify a “North Star.” He thinks it’s easy to get lost in the weeds, and that anti-violence movements need to regularly talk about the final goal. 

I bought Demand the Impossible! last year when I was feeling particularly down about the current state of things. It’s a book I want to return to again and again, and have been waiting for a friend to finish up with my copy. The book reminds us that the impossible only seems impossible until it happens.

“A manifesto for movement-makers in extraordinary times, Demand the Impossible! urges us to imagine a world beyond what this rotten system would have us believe is possible,” according to its publisher, Haymarket Books.

You can read the PDF of the book for free here, though I prefer having a hard copy.

Is anyone keeping up with Culinary Cup or Top Chef? I’m also watching the new seasons of Drag Race: All Stars and would love to share thoughts.