How I marveled at the television… It was a breakout performance – if that made any sense – for a young man who had come full circle. He’d gone from childhood sensation to “one to watch” as the charismatic front man of the adult version of the Jackson 5. He’d overcome Papa Joe and all that came with the move from Gary to LA… from small town hero to national icon, he did it and shone bright as a million light bulbs.

On this particular night, he went from “coming into his own” to raising the bar until he was on another planet. I’d seen the videos, which were great, but to see him moonwalk onstage for what seemed a mile – in a matter of 7 seconds – was amazing! I thought he was going to fall off the other end and then suddenly, he stopped, turned and spun for what seemed 720 degrees or more. He then promptly topped it off with the ‘toe lift whatchamacallit,’ basically paralyzing me ’cause I knew there was no way I was doing that in my mama’s kitchen.

I remember the time my stepfather told me he was ‘a natural’…

I don’t know how true it was and never thought of investigating whether or not Mike’s dancing abilities were learned, but he always seemed to move with a lot more fluidity than his backup dancers. Jerry (RIP) continued to tell me that all the other dancers had formal training and that blew my mind all over again.

I remember the time I saw the video debut of “Thriller”…

We were in the living room, my best friend Franco (RIP), his cousin Mila and I. We’d been counting down the days to the video, as it was being promoted around the clock. I think I had already seen the making of “Thriller,” so I was pretty much prepared. I don’t think they were though… (continue reading…)

Balance & Options
Words: N. Ali Early

Jimmie Reign is truly a ‘different person.’ When most would have folded under the pressure of having a child, she looked at the birth of her son as an opportunity to push harder. In and out of the industry for years as a writer and part-time performer, she weighed the options and decided to give it one last shot.

“After you have kids, it pretty much shuts things down and I wanted to say that I at least tried,” Jimmie lends, noting how much a joy raising her 3-year-old son has been. “It made me want to try my dream at least one more time and see if this is what I was supposed to be doing.”

In opting not to cower, Jimmie’s reign officially took its course and soon after, Mprint Music & Management stepped in to help guide her career. With their influence and some help from key players at KMEL, the Bay Area started to pay attention. And The First Lady of the Bay hasn’t looked back since.

(continue reading…)

INNOCENCE INTERRUPTED
WORDS: N. ALI EARLY

Over the course of the next four years, Malia (10) and Sasha (7) Obama will open their own doors. As members of the prestigious Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C., they will be walking examples of what it means to be African American – whether they like it or not. They’ll be exceptions and they’ll be spokespeople just the same. They’ll represent an entire race before they hit puberty fully and they’ll be just fine.

All things considered, one would think Malia and Sasha Obama will adjust in good time as their father settles in as the leader of the United States of America. They’re obviously the products of a good, wholesome, forward thinking family. Their mother is a devout supporter of the most powerful man in the country and they’ve watched their unflappable father repel the best the Republicans had to offer, without so much as a bead of sweat falling from his brow.

They’ll walk in normal and hopefully, they will stay the course as long as the people of America believe in Change. (continue reading…)

This Ain’t No Dream

I was at my homeboy’s apartment when the numbers jumped, that effective moment when we all realized it happened. The Electoral Vote had been stuck on 207 for what seemed an eternity and no sooner than I went to pet the dog, it leaped to 283. It was over. I shouted, I danced, I jumped and I’m all but sure I woke up my nephew. In my gleeful display I managed to look at my lady, who was sitting there, smiling from ear to ear, seemingly happy as I. At that point I took in a satiated gaze at her growing stomach and all I could think about was my son, who will make his grand entrance between the end of January and the beginning of February.

My phone soon became inundated with emails and text messages, all of which expressed reasons why each respective person was happy for “The Victory.” (continue reading…)