A small win? Not to me.

One of the things I’ve been doing while preparing for release is writing letters to people and organizations I respect. Some respond. Most don’t.

A few months ago, I wrote to Team ROC, the social justice division of Roc Nation founded by Jay-Z.

Recently, I received a response.

They didn’t promise me anything, and that’s okay. What mattered was that someone took the time to read my letter and write back. They also sent information on organizations and resources that may be helpful moving forward.

I want to thank Team ROC for taking the time to respond.

To me, this isn’t really about getting a letter back. It’s about proof that the effort is worth it. Every letter I send, every conversation I start, and every person I reach out to is another step forward.

Progress doesn’t always look like a breakthrough. Sometimes it looks like a response, a new connection, or simply knowing that your message reached the right desk.

I’ll keep writing, keep building, and keep moving forward.

One step at a time.

Xavier Lee of Elkton, MD

“Mizz Debbie’s Boy”