22/07/2025
Last summer, Judah and I spent time at Playa Cocles in Limón, Costa Rica. It was beautiful, raw, and untamed — still untouched by heavy development. We literally had the beach to ourselves that day. The ocean greeted us, the trees murmured to us, and the air caressed us with a charged chill.
I chose to visit because it’s a growing destination for Black expats.
This is where Malcolm-Jamal Warner passed away. I didn’t know him personally, but like many, I grew up watching him. I admired his transition from child star to adult artist.
Standing at Playa Cocles, I felt the presence of the ancestors who had been there before me — those who sought the ocean’s peace after long days on the railroad or coffee farms; those who came to this Caribbean shore in search of better wages and community; and more recently, those seeking escape from the daily grind. The presence was powerful, palpable — watching and welcoming. I know they have embraced him.
In Costa Rica, people use the phrase Pura Vida — “pure life” — to greet, to thank, to say goodbye, or simply to acknowledge the beauty of being alive.
So to Malcolm-Jamal Warner, I say: Pura Vida, Brother. Rest in peace and power. May you walk in beauty among the elders. 🌊🌿🕊️
