On Community Not Cults

May 13, 2026

The night before Mother’s Day, I was in Utopia.

Logistically, I was at Leimert Park dancing with my husband and kiddo.

Well, I was the one dancing—they were mostly just watching me (LOL).

Now in its fifth year, Utopia—the annual house music event hosted by Utopia Tribe—was in full swing. Flex Alexander had just stepped off the wheels of steel, and the bass was pulsating through the courtyard. In that moment, I felt pure joy. Dancing with hundreds of strangers felt like church on Sunday morning. Something spiritual was shifting inside and around me. A cleansing of sorts. I looked up at the night sky and thanked God and my ancestors for the capacity to feel that deeply. It was sublime. I have always thought of dance as another form of prayer, and that night, we were summoning the collective power we will need for the days ahead.

My husband pointed out that random people kept approaching me. One young lady just walked up and hugged me. I told him it was because my energy was operating in its purest form. I knew I was safe. I was in my community. Amongst my people. An elder, a woman with lush grey hair walked by. I told her she was beautiful. She looked me in the eye and said, “I’m just a reflection of you.” My heart fluttered. Tears welled up. She was right—beauty recognizes beauty.

We can generate positive energy at any time, but we must first feel safe enough to let our guards down. Why else would I be dancing my heart out at 9 p.m. in the middle of South Central? I felt safe. I felt loved. I felt held. Most of all, I felt peace. Music, community, and good people do that for me. That night, I think that we all wanted to create an energy so massive that the rest of the world could feel it. I am 100% sure we succeeded—a force field of good sent with love from South Central.

Together, we are unstoppable. No racist systems or unjust laws can strip away our beauty or our ability to see it in each other. That purity, that love, and the power of our ancestors have always belonged to us. The land speaks it. We just have to tap in.

When I look at America right now, it is giving cult vibes. The energy of capitalism, racism, violence, greed, stupidity and stolen power has never been this palpable. Yet, too many people continue to willingly comply. Confession time: I was once in a cult. For a good minute. I didn’t get entirely swallowed by it, and I didn’t even realize what it was until years after I left. Hindsight is always 20/20. It all makes sense now. I used to be fascinated by how smart, everyday people get caught up in cults. Now, I stand corrected on the other side of my own judgment.

Cults focus on the need to belong to something else, rather than belonging to yourself. That is where the wrong turn happens. In a cult, you surrender yourself to a leader or a dogma because you want what they are preaching. In a true community, you belong to yourself first. And because you belong to yourself, you bring your fully realized gifts to the collective to create real change. There is a massive difference. I won’t go deeper into community versus cult right now—some things require personal exploration. I’m just calling it like I see it based on my lived experience. Thank God I now know the difference.

I’m grateful that I listened to my spirit and went to Utopia on Saturday night. I needed a form of healing that only community can bring. I’m so grateful I got to dance the night away with people who belong to themselves and still believe in the true beauty of humanity.

Last night a DJ saved my life... and it was all love.

Medusa, a hip hop legend!!! (IYKYK)