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Hi, Reader, Happy-nonetheless Tuesday!
Man! That one hurt . . .
In September 1984, when The Cosby Show aired for the first time, I was in 7th grade—slightly awkward, adjusting hormones, and terribly moody. But Thursday nights gave me something to look forward to. Like so many others around the world, my family tuned in to spend time with The Huxtables.
They were warm, funny, and familiar. The parents liked each other—even when they got on each other’s nerves. The fridge was always full. The kids squabbled like real siblings do. And for thirty minutes, we got to witness what felt like possibility.
There was the lone son in a family with 4 daughters, Theo who had a best friend named (of all things) Cockroach. In my world, the only debate that rivaled Michael Jackson vs. Prince was: Who’s cuter? Theo or Cockroach? In my swooning 7th grade heart, Theo always won. I loved him.
When The Cosby Show ended and Malcolm-Jamal Warner moved on to other roles, I loved him just the same. It was a girlhood crush. AND it was the way he showed up in the world - a decent human being - in my humble estimation. I don't usually get ultra invested in pop culture or elevate humans to pedestals of any kind - but I do remember getting more than a little excited when M-JW responded directly to one of my Tweets (when it was still cool to Tweet).
Yesterday, we learned of his passing—reportedly a drowning accident while vacationing in Costa Rica. My heart sank. He meant something to our generation. He means something to our generation. This loss is felt and we are sad.
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What Else I’ve Been Sitting With
Beyond the heaviness of that loss, I’ve been reflecting across other spaces this week—each one offering a different lens on identity, worth, and meaning.
On Image
On Substack, I started with a single word: Image. From its biblical roots—being made in God’s image—to its modern manifestations in branding, social media, and self-perception, I traced how this one word shapes how we see ourselves and how the world sees us.
Read “Image” on Substack:https://traciejae.substack.com/p/image
On Idleness
On Medium, I drew a line between the language of General Order No. 3—which informed enslaved people of their freedom—and the language used in a new Houston City Ordinance targeting the unhoused. What does it mean when idleness is framed as a threat in both 1865 and 2025?
Read “From Freedom to Offense: When Idleness Becomes a Crime” on Medium:https://medium.com/@thequietrebel/from-freedom-to-offense-when-idleness-becomes-a-crime-ad52c948610c
On Intention
On LinkedIn, I shared a reminder that I love what I do—deeply. This work feeds me in ways money can’t. But let’s be clear: love isn’t a business model. Energy deserves energy in return. And doing meaningful work should still mean being meaningfully paid.
Read “I Don’t Do This for the Money” on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/posts/traciejae_i-dont-do-this-for-the-money-very-little-activity-7353046166122450944-SJYc
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Here's a two-part invitation:
- Hug someone really tightly. Hugs are science-backed self-care. When we hug someone (for at least 20 seconds), our bodies release oxytocin—a hormone that fosters trust, connection, and calm. Hugs can lower cortisol (the stress hormone), reduce blood pressure, and even support immune function.Translation? A good hug can literally help you feel better, think clearer, and connect deeper. No app required.
- Read the Constitution. Yes, this again! If we’re going to build a future that works for more of us, we need to know what’s written, what’s missing, and what it makes possible. So don’t wait for someone to explain it to you. Be someone who’s read it. Then invite others to read with you. As a thank you for taking time to read the newsletter, enter the code QR2025 for special pricing through the end of July.
May we carry memory, meaning, and responsibility—with care, and with each other.
LOVE first. Always.
—TJae
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In case you're new to Tuesdays w/ TJae, you should know that you won't receive emails from me every Tuesday, or on any particular Tuesday - but always (well, normally) on a Tuesday. As a child, whenever we'd visit my Grandpa James, he'd end the visit by saying "See you Tuesday," no matter when we were scheduled to see him again. So this newsletter is part nod to James Rivers, and part nod to my love of alliteration.
See you Tuesday!
TJae
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