With Gratitude to My Readers: 'The Best Is Yet To Come'

In the words of Langston Hughes, “I’m still here.” I’m still winning and the best is yet to come. I promise. Subscribe today for free. I look forward to you joining me with "tiptoe anticipation"

Dear Subscriber,

On the six-month anniversary of “50 Cent A Word Substack,” I want to say, “thank you” to each and every one of you who has taken the time to read my work. A special thanks to subscribers, especially to paid subscribers and founding members whose financial support helps me to continue my writing as a truly independent voice. But please know that I am grateful for all of you.

Most of our subscribers are free subscribers. Indeed our content is free to anyone to read as we rely on the benevolence of supporters and my own commitment of time and resources to continue to produce at 50 Cent A Word Substack the same kinds of thoughtful, insightful and compelling award-winning columns, stories and projects I have as a more than 30-year journalist for some of the nation’s most storied newspapers. Nothing’s changed. Only my address and the name of the vehicle of delivery.

I look forward to continuing this journey, and to you taking this journey with me as we explore in the coming weeks and months critical issues and events, both local and national. In fact, I could use your help in helping to grow our base. To that end, please help spread the word about 50 Cent A Word and invite at least one friend to subscribe. For free!

Please subscribe. It’s as easy as clicking on a button and signing up with an email address. That’s it! You’ll receive 50 Cent A Word by email every time we publish and access to forthcoming workshops and exhibits.

If you’re not a member, please join today. If you’ve been a supporter of my work at the Sun-Times, the New York Times, Washington Post and Chicago Tribune or other writings and projects, ranging in topic from murder in Chicago, to the Unforgotten 51, to the mysterious death of Jelani Day, to life in Ghana and reflections on the Black Diaspora, to other stories on about life on the other side of the tracks, please subscribe. Your support, even solely as a reader, means the world to me. It always has.

When I “resigned” from the Chicago Sun-Times last November as a freelance columnist, some readers told me they canceled their subscription. Some bid me farewell as if this meant an end to my voice and writing, like the fate of the impending dinosaur called a print newspaper, which I still enjoy inhaling and pressing between my fingers. In the words of Langston Hughes,:

“I been scarred and battered.
My hopes the wind done scattered.
   Snow has friz me,
   Sun has baked me,

Looks like between 'em they done
   Tried to make me

Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin'--
   But I don't care!
   I'm still here!”

Indeed I’m still here. I’m still winning. And the best is yet to come. I promise.

No need for sad goodbyes. Please join me. Subscribe for free today!

In addition to my Substack (which is my online publishing arm), I have launched of FountainWorks NFP, a federally tax-exempt not-for-profit organization focused on telling the untold stories of marginalized or underrepresented people like the stories of Jelani Day;  the Unforgotten 51; Hear Africa Calling; Invasion of Faith; People of Accra; and many other stories and forthcoming independent journalism projects in print, multimedia and film as well as essays and columns by others in the FountainWorks team. Much of the work produced will also appear here on this Substack forum.

I look forward to you joining me in this journey, as my father-in-law would say, “with tiptoe anticipation.”

Please subscribe. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Peace & Blessings,

JOHN

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