Shakin’ My Head

The more I interact with other individuals in my generation, the more I realize how ignorant so many people my age are to such classic history, music, and iconic figures. A lot of the people I randomly come into contact with tend to be very close minded and just brainwashed by popular music and trends. I’m not saying that all the music and culture out today is terrible, but there is so much stuff throughout history that deserves some solid appreciation. I can’t really blame a lot of other people in my age group( I’m 20) but I think it’s also part of the major ignorance can be attributed to the lack of parents actually teaching their children more than just basic essentials of life.

I’m really fortunate to have grown up in a household with a mother that immersed me in all things culture from the 20s,30s,40s,50s,60s,70s, and 80s. By the time I grew up in the early 90s and the early 2000s, I was already being described as an “old soul” amongst my peers. Many of my teachers would always talk to me during lunch or after school and I would be amazed at how much culture I knew. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for staying current, but I love being nostalgic. Sometimes I often find myself wishing I could go back into the future and actually see Count Basie perform, jump and jive with Cab Calloway, dance with the Nicholas Brothers, and be on set while Jerry Lewis did his usual antics.

Not to go on a rant, but seriously, who doesn’t know who Jerry Lewis is? Idk maybe I’m just super nostalgic, but I actually have met so many people who don’t know about Jerry Lewis. They don’t even know about Cab Calloway! Then they have the nerve to call me old and make fun of me. Seriously, I can’t even begin to tell you how many ignorant men this week have just pissed me off. First one guy says my callertune “Tom’s Diner” isn’t a good song, then another guy had the nerve to say that all those old movies on Turner Classic movies suck and why do I bother watching them? If that wasn’t enough, he even said I was an “old lady” because I like classic films. Wow, so rude! I don’t even see why I bother giving ignorant guys my age a chance. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m a nostalgic old soul and I need a man that is an old soul (still age appropriate of course, oldest I’ve ever talked to was a guy 28) or at least not ignorant and open to appreciating more than just Drake, Rick Ross, and other uber mainstream artists.

It’s such a shame how ignorant people can be, and then they treat you as if you’re some type of freak because you actually care about more than 2011 culture. I know complaining about it isn’t going to solve the problem, and it sure isn’t going to stop ignorant men from just being assholes to me and making fun of my interests. But hey, I’m not going to stop being myself, and I damn sure am not going to hide who I am or my interests. Not point in living life like some forsaken apology. Just because people chose to be ignorant to classic culture doesn’t mean I have to all of a sudden conform and like what everyone else likes. I’m such a diverse person. I can’t just like one thing or become confined to one mindset; that just isn’t the way my mom and dad raised me.

Being close minded is so not cool, and lacking some nostalgia isn’t impressive either. I can’t change the way people are, but it doesn’t mean I have to let people talk shitty to me and make fun of my interests. At the end of the day, the only person that matter is myself and my interests. So all I’m going to do is shake my head, walk away from the annoying ignorant individuals, and keep falling in love with my appreciation for the following: 90s music, 80s funk, 40s/50s movies & music, vintage fashions, world music, sushi, international cuisines, and so many other things that I find fascinating. I’m just being Jazz, so you truly either get me or you don’t. But at the end of the day, don’t try to tear me down and mock my interests. SMH…that’s not legit.

Below are some of the things I’m into, and I plan on posting more regularly.

One of my favorite scenes from Cinderfella.

Man, I so want to take up swing lessons! My mom first showed me the clip from Hellzapoppin’ when I was like 12 years old. I still love the scene below, so timeless!

It’s Howlin’ Wolf, need I even say more?

Nicholas Brothers+ Cab Calloway= Classic Dance & Music. I love the Nicholas Brothers, as well as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

I have so much more stuff to post, so I’m just going to devote some posts to some videos I find interesting. Stay tuned for more!

©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com