I accompanied NGF to his aunts house for a family dinner and all I can say is Oh My Word !! I don't think I have eaten like that since my visit to the Dominican Republic. The food was all types of island scrumptious. Curry goat, jerk pulled pork, oxtails, fried talapia (with the head still attached), fried plantains, avocado, rice and peas, fried and baked chicken, etc., etc. And let me not begin to talk about the dessert. It was an actual ceremony when the cakes were brought out. It took so damn long I actually wondered if they hadn't start baking the cakes until we finished eating dinner.
They presented a coconut, red velvet, black (rum) and a red velvet cheesecake. YES MA'AM !! An actual cheesecake with a red velvet cake ON TOP of it. I was in hog heaven !
Anywho while we were there, John Legend was initially playing on the IPOD and everyone was conversing, laughing, giving me the "one over" since this was my first time meeting the elders, speaking a language I couldn't for the life of me understand, you know, just enjoying the Sunday evening. That was until this one particular man came on over the speakers.
It was as if Moses showed up to recite the 10 Commandments, as if Jesus came in the room and said "Peace, Be Still". Every last person in the room grew silent and introspective. I have to say this frightened me because from experience, I have learned that when niggas get quiet, something is about to pop off. Mouths closed, heads bowed, bodies started swaying....just quiet. Beres Hammond was playing.
I had never heard of such a man until this summer. NGF almost had a holy fit that I had never intentionally listened to him. He had been described as the Jamaican Luther Vandross by some, and the Jamaican Al Green by others.
As I sat there, in the space of all these Jamaicans and their culture of food and music I began to think about who in "my culture" of African American rhythm and blues renders us silent. I began to think of all of the family gatherings, fish fries, graduation celebrations, barbecues and I gathered that it wasn't Luther. Luther made my aunts dance and sing along. "Never Too Much" was GAY-RUN-TEED to get black folks on the dance and kitchen floor singing. "Love and Happiness" by Al Green was another definite sing along song amongst friends and family.
However, "We Are One"....ahhh that song reminds me of the Essence Music Festival. Floor seats. Maxine Waters sitting behind us being all mad because we wouldn't sit down so she could see. She, within 10 minutes of the show starting, angrily declared aloud that she was going to her skybox cause she couldn't see. "Gone on...this is Frankie and I ain't sitting down..."
"We Are One" renders myself, my little sister, my homeboys and my homegirls speechless to the point we can do nothing but hold up one index finger and sway. Upon old memories I make the connection. Beres Hammond is our Frankie Beverly.
Today I made a concerted effort to listen to Beres on Rhapsody. I too want to be able to connect and be aware of what he is singing about. But, it's hard. 1) I can't understand a damn word he is saying and 2) he ain't Frankie !!
"And that's the way it is.... way it is..way it is...dun dunnnnnnnnnnn"
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