Statz Don't Lie

Disclaimer: This essay steps into complex and uncomfortable territory. I’ve linked key terms and claims to reputable sources for readers who want more context. You may not agree with every conclusion, and that’s okay. My aim isn’t to provoke anger but reflection—to help us think more deeply, especially when we differ. If you find anything I say here to be problematic, I’d like to encourage you to...

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, breakdancing made its debut as an official sport, to the excitement of older hip-hop heads like myself. Some of the best breakers in the world competed on a global stage—a huge moment, though one that won’t return in 2028 or 2032. Yet what most remember isn’t the exceptional creativity of b-boys and b-girls like Canada’s Philip Kim (Phil Wizard), who won gold. Few can n...

The Problem With Boxes We all do it. Across the spectrum, it doesn't matter where you stand—we've been conditioned to categorize. Putting a vast group of different people into the same box because of one shared label is obviously problematic. So why do we do it every day? America is a country of roughly 340 million people, and we're no monolith. I would argue—and often do—that diversity is our gre...

We live in a culture that celebrates independence, but I’ve learned the hard way that independence and isolation can coexist in unhealthy ways. During my decade in prison, I found the most authentic Christian community I’ve ever experienced — one forged in chaos, diversity, and desperation. Ironically, eight years into my freedom, I sometimes feel lonelier than I did behind those walls. This is ab...