Mr_Spann's Blog

OK, so I'm at home after a really long day at work, and I get to my computer to check up on some of the stuff I missed online for the day. I log on to Facebook, and off to the side listed under highlights, was a video, that a friend of mine was tagged in. So I click on it, to see what's to the video, and here is what I saw...

That's a damn BABY!!! Three years old, winding, and grinding like a woman old enough to be her auntie. Now let me say that my friend of course, does not appear in this video, and the person that tagged her probably only did so to make sure that my friend would see the video. But for the life of me, I can't understand why anybody would put this baby out there like that.

If you listen to the video, whoever is behind the camera genuinely thinks this is cute. That it's sweet and innocent fun. And for the child, it more than likely is. But at the same time, this child doesn't know exactly what she's doing. And it's clear that she's only doing what she's seen others do before, whether that be on the television, or in her own home. Now if this was my daughter, I'd be ready to kick the azz of whomever taught this to my daughter, and I'm sure most of the brothers would agree with me on that, and quite a few sisters as well. But there seems to be far too many instances of people thinking that this is acceptable to have children behave in this way.

It's not enough that you have shows like "To Catch A Predator" on TV? It's not enough that you pretty much have to do criminal background checks on some of the people that you date? It's not enough that you hear on the news all the time about some sick fuk that does something unmentionable to a defenseless child? But to BROADCAST the hoodratification of your child is about as MINDLESS as it gets. Some people may say that I'm being judgmental. That it's none of my business, and look, the baby is having fun. But those people that say that are exactly what's wrong with our people.

What's funny about a child tooting her azz up in the air? What's funny about her pulling up her shirt, so that you see how well her hips move? What's funny about that? AND WHERE THE HELL DID SHE GET THAT FROM??? And we wonder why our children are in the state they're in. Nobody seems to be willing to step up and say. Don't do that. It's wrong, and if I see you doing it again, I'm whooping yo azz. Too many kids are already having kids already, and to add to that, they seem to want to be FRIENDS to their kids as opposed to being their damn parents.

Now I don't know this little girl. I don't know her people. And it's very well possible that she will grow up to be a facinating young lady. I pray that she does. But shyt like this just makes me shake my damn head and wonder, what the hell is this world coming to, when we are looking to 3 year olds to carry the strippers mantle.

By now unless you've been under a rock for the last 12 hours, you've heard the news of the passing of a music GIANT. Michael Jackson, one of the biggest singers of all time, if not THE BIGGEST left us today. Honestly I'm feeling kind of messed up about it. It's like one of those you know exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news of it kind of things. My cousin sent me a text about it, and I thought it was a joke, because the actual text was 'FWD Ur idol Michael Jackson has died' I thought he was joking.

I had been without a phone for the last 24 hours because of a freak accident at work, and had just got my new phone when the message came through. So I was just trying to get everything back in order when he sent me that. . But I got on the internet, and went to the BP News section as I always do, and I saw all of the conflicting reports about him being in a coma, about him being dead. Nothing really reliable. So I went to CNN.com, they didn't have anything on it at the time. So I went to MSNBC.com and they had it confirmed that indeed Michael Jackson had passed away. I just like the rest of the world was stunned.

So I turn on my TV, and on the NBC Nightly News is Brian Williams confirming again what I had just read on my computer screen. The death of Michael Jackson.....

When I was a kid, before I knew anything about basketball, 'Being Like Mike' meant being like Michael Jackson. I'm 29 now, but  I remember as clear as day watching Michael on the Motown 25th Anniversary special. The flooded pants, the glove, the moonwalk, the penny loafers. I remember that shyt man! I remember when my mother bought me and my brother our 'Thriller Outfits' The Thriller Jacket, with the leather pants to match. I also remember me getting jacked for that same Thriller Jacket at a liquor store in Chicago while walking home from a family function with my uncle back in 84. It's funny you remember things like that. Things that seem to mean so much to you.

I remember hearing stories in my family that my grandfather's brother Uncle Pervis 'discovered' the Jackson 5. I never really believed the story by my uncles and my mother swore by it. My uncle Pervis at the time was a big promoter of shows in Chicago back in the day, and the show that the Jacksons supposedly got discovered at was supposed to be a show that my Uncle promoted. I don't know how true it was. But that story has gone around more than a few times at Spann get togethers.

I remember there always being a 'Michael Jackson Contest' at birthday parties. I remember my mother always putting me in them damn contest. I also remember winning them joints too! LOL I remember being highly upset with my mother for not getting me 'BAD' concert tickets, I mean come on I was 7 I thought my mother was Super Woman.

I remember all of these things, the music, the allegations, the changes in his apperance. As I got older, I, just like numerous other folks made jokes about him, wondered what was he thinking sometimes, thought some of his latest efforts were a bit lackluster. But at the same time, that was the greatness in Michael Jackson. The man controled his image in ways that most stars now try to emulate. (Imagine if MJ had TWITTER)

The man had hits that spanned 3 DECADES! How many of you tried to learn how to moonwalk? How many hustle dances have Detroit people made up off of a Michael Jackson song? How many times have you watched that Thriller video. Hell, how many times have your kids watched it? It's truly a tragic day today, and I'm saddened for it, and I will always remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard this news.

So as I sit here and listen to 'The Lady In My Life'(My favorite Michael Jacson song) I'll say this. Mr. Jackson, you will sorely and truly be missed, your legacy in music is unmatched, and you left us all with indelible memories that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. So long GIANT.

A FAN

Antoine C. Spann