RAJUWORLD

I was in Chicago and it was raining. Me and my brother (T-MAC) were walking and looking for a cab. When we found one it was an UBER cab, and the cab driver asked us what our names where. Then he refused to escort us because he was looking for someone named Roger. My brother and I found another cab, and when he asked what my name was I told him, “Roger,” he said, “Get in.” 5 minutes into the ride, the cab driver disclosed to us that he was born and raised in Timbuktu and he proceeded to educate us on what my name meant in his native tongue. He said, “Where I am from your name, RAJU, means a KING WITH NO KINGDOM.” Even though I said Roger, RAJU, spoke to my experience as an African born in America; and the rest is history.

My birth name is Alan Joshua Patterson, but most people call me Josh. My title at my W-2 job is Business Attraction Coordinator, I work for an economic development organization. I grew up in Zion, IL, a town of 25K, 45 minutes north of Chicago. I went to college at Lu