My Cousin Terrence Just Wants More Instagram Followers - Take 1

JJ: Hi, Terrence. Terrence Carter. TC Carter. Do you mind if I call you TC Carter? Sounds like a gospel artist.

TC: I do not mind...but I also do not mind if you call me @Terrence_89...Just thought I should throw that out there now...

JJ: Never mind. I’ll just stick with Terrence.

TC: Cough Underscore eight nine cough

JJ: I take from your cover photo on Facebook that you identify with the unicorn, a mythical creature. Do you know what else is a mythical creature?
Pegasuses.
Or is it Pegasi? The Pegasus. A horse with wings, yo. I feel like the unicorn is completely stealing the Pegasus’ shine these days. Unicorns can’t fly. They are basically rhino-horses. What is the appeal of the unicorn v. Pegasi – the Pegasus?

TC: Unicorns are pretty...That is basically it. Unicorns are the Kim Kardashian of the mythological universe… some say they are talentless...but immensely popular. Just something to look at...And I mean really, sounds like a pretty sweet gig. Low expectations and great admiration.. Pegasi are put to work. Super talented...but the working class of the mythological creatures..unlike bourgeoisie Unicorn.

JJ: Now, I have known you all of your life, but you cannot say the same for me. Why is that?

TC: I am not sure...I would have to blame my parents on that one. They were slacking when they did not make me older than you. smh

JJ: Who is Terrence Carter?

TC: Terrence Carter is just a black gay boy from the burbs who sometimes listens to Gangsta rap to make him feel less sheltered.

JJ: Where are you from?

TC: I am a Virginia boy. I would call Gainesville my hometown. Even though, all of Northern Virginia and DC is my playground.

JJ: You went to George Mason University, correct?

TC: Shhhh dont say that too loud...Sallie Mae... might hear you…Just because they go by Navient now does not mean that they gave up their bounty hunting ways...But yes, GMU is where I became learned.

JJ: What did you study? Or not study?

TC: My degree was in Criminology. I originally wanted to go to law school...but the more I thought about it I was like mmmm...maybe not…

JJ: On the spectrum of partier to studious scholar, where did you fall?

TC: Well Definitely not a partier. I was too lame to get invited to parties. Plus I did not live on campus, I just went to class and came home. It was very much “High School: The Sequel”. But with that said, I was not really a book worm either. School kind of came easy. I just went to class and paid attention and that was about all the effort I put into it. Did well though. That is really all that matters.

JJ: Where do you work – or not work – these days?

TC: Right now I am a Document Specialist/Technical Writer for a credit union. Writing and testing procedures, learning aids...that kind of thing...I know, I know...NOTHING to do with Criminology.

JJ:Now, I remember many years ago – possibly in the 1990s (Dinosaur Times) – we got into a conversation as you were showing me your visual art about the late singer, Aaliyah. We realized we shared an immense love for her. It’s been almost 17 years since her tragic accident. How are you coping?

TC: I am not coping well. I can’t believe you would bring that up ::ugly crying face::

JJ: I’m still a mess when a song of hers comes on. I think this would be a great place to insert a picture #MomentOfSilence:

JJ: Now let’s get down to business here. Is it true you are only doing this to get more Instagram followers? Because that’s what the title of this segment seems to suggest.

TC: Yes, that was initially how this came about...but I think it has the potential to grow and unthought of goals can flourish and become accomplished.

JJ: What are your IG goals?

TC: To gain followers and have strangers tell me that I am pretty.
OK that is the light hearted answer. Should we keep it light hearted or go into the nitty gritty?..Lets just be vague and say my instagram goals are to add representation to a minority group within a minority group.
Jk I lied. What is the point of an interview if I will be vague? When I said that I wanted to add representation to Instagram, what I meant is, while I am extremely happy that the LGBTQ community is gaining more recognition and becoming more mainstream, I still feel underrepresented. When you think about LGBTQ celebrities or social figures, they are all white men, or Ellen Degeneres. The main influence I had growing up as a gay black man was RuPaul. And while I appreciate all that Ru has done for the community, I do not identify or relate. So I just ended up feeling isolated, even with the LGBTQ community becoming less taboo. Feeling like being gay was ok...if you were white. So I guess the goal of my instagram is to hopefully reach those who see these LGBTQ figures and still feel alone. They are not alone. I see them. And I am them.

JJ: Is there a through-line or story thread to your IG? 100 years from now, scientists uncover your IG in a dystopian rubble. They see your pictures. What would they deduce?

TC: They will deduce that I am the Beyonce of my page. 90% of my pictures are of me. But not like basic selfies, because Beyonce would not have basic selfies. But then every now and then I throw in a picture that is not me so that I don’t look conceited...So maybe the scientist will say, “wow...he is the Beyonce of his page...but look at this, there are some pics that are not of his face..whew, he was not a narcissist.”

JJ: In conversations with friends and colleagues of mine who are gay, I have often heard stories about their “coming out.” Did you have that moment? If so, when was that for you? How was it?

TC: So bad...So very bad. All I have to say is Internet history is a freaking snitch.

JJ: Now are there times during the day when you are not gay? Like when you are asleep? Or eating lunch? Or you blink and you realize for that nanosecond that you failed to be gay?

TC: Well I do not watch RuPaul’s Drag Race...and then I go on Instagram and see the memes...That makes me feel like a failed gay, a poser. But in all honesty, I do not think of it that way. I am just me. I feel like being gay is just an aspect of who I am, but not who I am. So maybe I do not necessarily feel gay...or maybe I am less aware of it.

JJ: What are some common misconceptions that you face from people about being a gay man, from the hilarious to the maddening?

TC: THAT WE ARE ALL WHORES. Like even within the gay community there seems to be a common misconception about how easy it is to bed someone...and I just can’t. My mother raised me better than that (thanks mom!). I think another misconception that I find funny at times an maddening at times, is the fact that when people try to fix you up with their other gay friend. And you are like...ok tell me about them, why do you think we would be a good match…”Well….you are both gay...sooooo”. Like oh yup, you nailed it. That is all I look for in a partner.

JJ: I thank you for doing this, Terrence. You have always been a light and a delight. To know you is to love you. I can already feel your IG follow numbers increasing.

TC: Fingers Crossed

JJ: Speaking of which, what is your IG handle again?

TC: @Terrence_89 (https://www.instagram.com/terrence_89/)

JJ: This is starting to feel like a dating profile.
Now you have a cousin, named Terrence. He also happens to be my brother. Like you, he has an older brother who is married.
What do we older brothers have to do to get The Terrence’s married? Is there something in the name “Terrence” that predestines one to the single life?

TC: Well I cannot speak for the other Terrence, but as for me, I just haven't found the right guy yet. I am open to love, I would welcome it. So if there are any single guys reading this...Follow me on Insta and shoot me a DM!

JJ: Shout out to your brother, Anthony! Much love to all of your family. You got any shoutouts/tags?

TC: OH! Yes! @Nadaproblem! She is my ride or die Instagram buddy. We will go mural hunting and seek out locations only to take pictures for instagram. So she is as extra as I am...worth the follow!

JJ: Let’s do this again soon, Terrence!

TC: We Should! It was a lot of fun!

#BHM2018
#BlackHistoryMonth
#CommUnityBHM

My Cousin Terrence emanating light.