June 27, 2025 • 22 mins
In this celebration-filled episode of The Naybors Podcast, we dive into the beauty, energy, and importance of cultural events—those powerful gatherings that keep traditions alive, tell our stories, and bring people together across generations. We explore:
- The meaning behind the music, food, and fashion
- Why cultural events are vital to identity, healing, and heritage
- Our favorite memories from festivals, parades, and family functions
- How showing up for culture is also showing up for community
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
From the block party to the family union. Cultural events
do more than fill our calendars, they fill our soul.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Danny It's the Neighbors podcast with Recent Mike. They discussing
different issues that affect us, treating like that, it's the
neighbors way, the neighbors.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Yeah yeah, So y'all, here's the question of the day.
What cultural event do you look forward to every year,
whether it's now or in the past, and what does
it say about who you are and where you come from?
So for me, hearing the Great City of Philadelphia, I
(00:47):
used to look forward to a doom day. I really
enjoyed going to a doune day, especially when it like
because I think a dune day it wasn't always on
I think it's on South Street now, but I don't
think it was always on South Street.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I don't feel like it was always on South Street
because no, because it used to I thought it used
to be somewhere.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Yeah yeah, I feel like it was there for a
while and then it moved and then it moved to
South Street.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
But that was one thing that.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I used to look forward to because of the you
know again, we're African American and so seeing your you know,
your own people, the clothes and the food and you know.
So that was one thing that I used to really
enjoy going to looking.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
At you know.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And again for those of you who kind of know
my my history, my story again that's a part of
the Neighbors podcast life. I had the opportunity to sing
there the choir that the community choir was on we
sing at.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
A doom Day.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Oh okay, yeah yeah so so uh granted we was
in part of the gospel part you know of that
you know of that show, we say, with two other choirs,
but that was that was a great moment. Sometimes you
don't ever see yourself being in that place.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Right, you know, right right, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
But but yeah, but that but a dun day though,
was I mean, that was the one thing especially with
at that time my girlfriend lived in South Philly too,
so I would go down there to her house and
then we will walk up to South Street, you know
and do that and I would be with her and
we get to laugh and joke. So that was one
(02:37):
thing that that I used to really enjoy, was a
doom day. How a bunch yourself be?
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Honestly, I don't know, you know, I'm trying to think,
well the NYE about what I mean, I guess what
what fourth of July? Back then it was different, but
then you know, not now you know, it gets better
and better, but it just like, yeah, I guess there's.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
The fourth of July.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
I mean now like like they don't what was the
Maid in America series right now? Right, you know here
in Philly. But that's relatively new. That's you know, that's
not thirty years old.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
No, it's not not now, you know what I.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Mean, that's relatively new because I know first it was
Snoka did it right?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
What's started it? I don't remember? Did not took over?
Speaker 5 (03:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Yeah, right, it wasn't always.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Was always wild. I think it was Snowco Welcome to America.
You know, I'm not you know what that's yeah, that's
a good question. That's a good question. But it's a
good question.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Wild was killed it? They are? They killed it? They are.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
But besides that, no, I mean basically days, I mean, yeah,
I mean especial events. I guess fourth of July, any event,
we had to go to school. That was all I'm doing,
you know, summertime. It was fun, you know back then?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Yeah, I mean I think you know, because some of
the other thoughts, you know, for for this is, you know,
we other type of festivals or parades, you know, did
you look forward to as well, beyond the family function thing.
And so the other thing that I used to look
forward to, but that's because I started being a part
of it when I got older, was the Thanksgiving Day.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Parade, gotcha, okay? Things Giving Day. We used to go
to the Thanksgiving Day.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Parade, you know, I was.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
I was luckily I was able to be in it
and carry a few floats, okay, you know, and one
year I got my wife and my kids in it
as well. And so while I'm doing a float, now
granted we was at two different times, but while I'm
doing a float, she was with them being clowns. There
(04:58):
were clowns, okay, so they passing out candy and all
that type of stuff, you know whatever.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
You know.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
So so those are type of things that I used
to look forward to. Now and you, Mike, you and
not talk about it often, how the family dynamic has changed.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, it changed big time. It changed big time. It
just seemed like each year it's a change. Yeah, yeah, right,
and you know, like you questioning, like why.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
You know this is you know, let's say, too many disagreements,
too many h read, too many old jealousy.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It's damn like, damn it all the above, I mean,
and I think that's what changed for me.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Like some of these other events, like you know, you
go to even like I'm talking about events, but even
just something as simple as going to a museum, right
or whatever, like it just feels almost as if people
are not supporting you in the manner like you will.
You would think, like, hey, you know what, we're just
(06:07):
out there having fun, We're enjoying life. These things are
going on, even know what I mean. But it's like, no,
like people are really hating on the fact that you're
doing this stuff. You know, if it if it wasn't
for my gout, I probably would still be doing the things.
Giving Day parade. It's just a nice little long walk,
you know, and you gotta be out there three something
in the morning.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Oh yeah, oh yeah no. But but here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Well, I mean, we had we had to get set up,
we had to help with blowing up the floats and
the animals or whatever, and get ourselves ready for the.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Like one year.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
When I carried the turkey, you know, that was one
of the ones I had to had to do. It
was a turkey, but the turkey set on a actual float,
you know, and we had to pull the.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Rope the rope, you.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Know, and so so it's like yo, like, hey, y'all,
we need to understand, we need to build momentum to
hold this thing, you know. Because the other ones that
I did where we had like characters that float in
the air, those were they weren't easy, but it was
a lot easier than try and pull this heavy float,
(07:26):
you get what I mean. And then even with the
uh but I enjoyed it because I got a chance.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
To meet Hilla in person. Okay, okay, I.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Met an all female football team tackle football team. I
actually I actually had an opportunity the year I met Chila.
Eh my my character was right behind her float.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
So that was good to like.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Hear her music the whole time were in parade, you
get what I mean. And then when another year where
I did the another balloon where I was with the
football team that you know, the female football team.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
So you get to meet some really interesting people something
something different.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
You know, and everybody's on the same page, and it's
interesting when you're what was funny My father in law.
Maybe let's say, for an example, let's say I walked
in front of the TV maybe at eleven o'clock, and
so he'll call me at like two two thirty.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I'm like, I saw you on TV.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Man, because you know, it a while for you to
get home, you know, but because that one year is when.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
I walked closest to where the people were and the
camera was like right in my face. And then there
was another year where we had to stand and wait
for the young people to performed.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Gotcha, you know.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
So But but it's like stuff like that when you're
like yo, you look forward to that. You get to
see happy faces, and the only thing that you don't
look forward to is the cold weather.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
The cold weather, oh man, there's some cold things giving
more in these jack.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
You know, and being out there at three o'clock and
you got to stand outside at twentieth and JFK and
that wind blowing right, that.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Was that was work. That was work.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
But when you're out there laughing and joking and you
know whatever, right it was, it was fun. So so
those are type of events beyond, like I said, the
regular family function thing on the family union things. Those
are some of the things that I really enjoyed doing. Yeah,
well maybe, I mean that's how we did. It was
(09:45):
like what family function Jones. We did was like.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Almost maybe back then almost I think I told you
that every other week here we used to go to
Virginia and back then we used to go to going
to Virginia.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
It was like going over to Jersey and it was fun. Wow,
it was fun. You know.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
This is when my my uncle had this bukeyy station
wagon with the seat facing. If you face in the back,
you sit in the back, you look at the cars
coming and all that.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
You know, I thought I was a little grown.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Yeah, I think my parents got to start drinking, man
at the early age.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I mean, look, I probably did looking at the cars
coming at you from Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
But the thing is, my mom we ran out of soda.
You know, back then we had Frank soda and all
that ran out. So I think, well, my uncle was
drinking Meller High Life or Shaffer's one of them beers.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
So I'm sitting in the back, yeah, yeah, take this up.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Yeah, I'm grown. Yeah, I'm grown.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
All of a sudden, I heard something go smack, what
damn my mom. My mom an't smacking the back of
the head, like, how the hell's she seeing me?
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Like, oh dud, dummy, real view mirror, younger is driving jackass.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Look. But it was fun. Yeah, it was fun.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
I mean, I mean I remember my dad, you know,
allowing me to take a sip of his beer while
I was sitting on his lap in the car while
he'sawing to his friend, you know, right, you know, everybody
chilling right, and I'm sitting in the car and I'm like,
I'm driving you know whatever.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, in the back of the dark yeah,
road back, typical stuff, and you know, he gave me
a sip.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
I mean, like you said, our parents might have influenced
some things.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
I mean, yeah, they certain things, yeah, which is yeah,
but they you know, but we knew not to do
it outside, right, right, right, that's the crazy part, right
if I find out you know that?
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Okay, I mean again, it is what it is?
Speaker 4 (11:59):
What it rightly different now?
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Jack? Oh yeah, oh no, it is it is.
Speaker 6 (12:06):
I mean.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
But see the thing is that some parents, as we see,
don't really care as much.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
You know.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Yeah, it's all right, you know, whatever you do behind
closed doors, you do behind closed doors, right, but but
don't allow, like you said, the public to see it, right.
You know, I'm not saying don't get me wrong, I'm
not saying to y'all I condone, y'all, give y'all a
nine year old.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I'm not saying that at all. Don't don't. Let's not
get it twisted.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
I'm just saying that whatever you do behind closed doors,
that's between you and them, right right, don't involve me
in it, you know, don't put me in a situation.
And I'm not saying that I am. I'm not saying
that I have been, you know, but sometimes you know,
if you're going to do that, even even if you
(12:59):
have what I mean by don't put me in it,
don't invite me to your house and you're doing in
front of me, right, Yeah, you get what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Plus you get there, don't assume I do the same
thing that you're doing right right right?
Speaker 1 (13:10):
You know, So that might be your family function, like
this might be what y'all got going on, you know
what I mean, that's that's your flow, but it's not mine, right,
you know. So, And that's what I'm saying. I just
wanted to let y'all understand, Like I don't want to
get it confused. I'm not I'm not saying I condone it.
I'm not saying that I hate it. I'm not saying anything.
(13:33):
Whatever you do is for you, you know, but just
understand that one is behind your closed door, and number
two in all honestly, what is the long term effect
of that?
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Exactly? But what a lot of people don't think about, right,
you get what I mean?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
You know.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
So, so before y'all go off and go off on
a tangent and hey, you know we partying, we're chilling
or whatever it is, understand how does that affect your child?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Right? And I said your child? Your child could be
eighteen years old, So your child, right, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
But understand how does that affect them and how they
maneuver through life?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Yeah, it's crazy, you know, Like I said, you know,
it's done stated family functions. Everything that is totally different
now that it's like it's lack a unity, it's just
fade and slipping away whatever situation. Who knows, who knows,
But it's it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
And that's why that's why we're talking about this type
of topic. When I said something about a doom day, right,
a doune day, you know, gave gave a sense of pride.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
In our culture, right right, right, you get what I mean?
You know, you get to see.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Clothes from Africa, right, you know, you get to see
clothes from Jamaica, whatever it might be.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
You know, so you get to celebrate one another, you know.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Yeah, speaking of that, I'm upset that you missed that. Right,
it was yesterday, right, I'm like, man, what the I mean?
I didn't pay no attention.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
And then the other thing is is that you know
something else that I don't go to I've been meaning to.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
It's a whole night market thing, you know what. I like.
I would like to check that out too.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Yeah, you know, but again that's something that's like, Hey,
these are those type of festivals. It's like, yo, like,
let's let's enjoy each other's culture, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Right?
Speaker 4 (15:30):
You know, everything can't you can't always have everything one sided,
right right, that's the problem now, right, So.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
You know, so so you know, I just want y'all
to to understand, like this topic. Yeah, we might have
joked all about, you know, joked about how.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
What you know, what we liked we didn't like hit rush.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
But there's another meaning to this, which is like, yo,
as neighbors all, this makes a difference.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Yeah, it's like almost mad almost like it it's like
every day effect, right, and it's you know reality, but
you know, back to the you know, basically it is
what it is. But certain things, you know, you sit
back and think about, like why why we do this?
Speaker 3 (16:14):
While we do that? Hey, why not we do this?
Let's try this? What's try that? Right? You know? Life
is an adventure, it's a journey.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
But see, you know what I think, especially right now,
it feels like we get caught up in it every day.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
We do we do we really do you know what
I mean?
Speaker 1 (16:31):
And so because we're caught up in it every day
and yo, I gotta go get mine, I gotta get
this money, you know whatever. Like you said, you know,
like like if y'all listen to Mike in another episode
where you talked about, hey, chilling in the mountains right
right now, that's his version of of rest and relaxation.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Yours might be chilling on the water right right right.
You know, but again, are you chilling right?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
How do you kind of rest and relax and you know,
especially for those of us that quote unquote have high
blood pressure or anything else.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
It's those things that helps to break it down naturally, Yeah,
do it does? You know? So how do y'all balance that? Hey?
Speaker 1 (17:16):
You know, because again we're talking about underlining messages.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
How do we heal? How do we heal? Right? That's
one underlying messages that we're talking about. You're basically self healing.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Right, So you're reconnecting with your friends, You're reconnected with
your family, You're reconnected with your culture, you know, and
ultimately you're kind of reconnected with yourself.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Pretty much, pretty much, even though you always got to
put yourself first, especially when we come to that.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Sometimes we don't do that though, Bro, we don't. Yeah,
we get consumed with everybody else.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Yep, what about everybody?
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
What do your own wave? Man? Hold up? What about
what you're doing? Right? Right? Right? Is simple? Right?
Speaker 1 (17:57):
But you know, I think those are the type of
things you like, you know, you know, just consider you know,
how are you showing up right, you know, for the
person next to you, how you showing up for your family?
How you even showing up for your community and your neighbor.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
What kind of impression you're leaving your kids, or the
impression you're showing your kids, you know, is like they said,
it always starts at home.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Oh yeah, most definitely.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
It's crazy, it always starts at home. But you know,
everybody live in a late life in a different way.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Right.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
But you know, I say, there's always two sides. It's
the positive side and it's the negative side. There's no middle,
no middle. You got to pick one and just make
sure you pick the right one. That's the thing.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
And I hear you.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
But the challenge is the negative side always seems like
it's the stronger side.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Unfortunate, that's the way it feels. Or it's the easiest
thing to do. Oh yeah, yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Yeah, But you know, you know, because it's easy for
me to say you can't do it right, It's easier
for me to say I don't believe you.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's easier for me to say I don't trust you, right, like,
you know, all these things. But why is that?
Speaker 1 (19:16):
It's a good question, you know, And so that's why
you know, we're we're bringing up these type of topics
to y'all to say, hey, we as a community need
to get better.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
We need to get better right within, not without within,
then you branch it out.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Right because because in our reality these things is not
just for you at this present moment. But is it
a situation that connected you with a past generation, right
and now is it going to help out to keep
the future generations together?
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Right? Yo?
Speaker 1 (19:50):
You know, sometimes we were too caught up in today
and not tomorrow exactly, consider tomorrow. I'm not saying don't
live for today, like I'm not saying forget today, but
consider all the above.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Right, and some things, you know, some things in the
past can help you within the future. The president in
the future, depending you know, depend what it is, what
it is. But you know everything is not for everything, right, so.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
You know, so so let us know what your thoughts are, y'all.
You know, and consider what what what ideas or what
thoughts or what traditions that you and your family members have,
you know, beyond the regular Thanksgiving, Christmas and.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Stuff right eastern all the national holidays, you know, right,
I mean, let's not I mean basically just not just
celebrate birth, just just celebrate every day, right, you know,
to be honestly, I.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Mean, because you know, look, if if Mike could have it,
he would have a just a national holiday just for
you know.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Sound systems.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
I say, yeah, yeah, but but again, what is that
that what it brings people together?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
You know, whether it's a movie, whether it's music.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Yeah, you know whatever, like those are things that bond
people together.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Together, not just you know yeah, I mean you know
some people still do it.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
You know, have card games that they're not you know,
go play peanooky, heare there there. I mean, but that's cool,
that's good, that's good. But you know, just walking down
the street, just starting and all that. Come on, now,
excuse me, it's kind of don't you get tired of
doing that? Get bored doing I.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Mean, well, ageah man.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
You know we're talking about people being negative, right negativity?
Whatever reason negative negativity cells it does it does.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
You know, because like I said, it's the easiest thing
to do. And I guess life.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Would be boring if you didn't have it to some degree,
to some degree.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
About to say, yeah, to some degree, to some degree.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
So but again, y'all, you know, share with us, let
me let us know what your thoughts are.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah, feel free to reach out.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Yeap, and uh stay fit, yes, try to.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
So, but keep in mind fit means Facebook Instagram and Twitter.
Follow us. Y'all thing go. We's talk to y'all. Peace. Peace.
Speaker 6 (22:13):
Thanks for hanging out with us on the Neighbors Podcast.
We hope you enjoyed the conversation and felt right at home.
If you like what you heard, don't be a stranger. Subscribe,
leave us a review, and share this with your friends
and fam. Got something on your mind or a topic
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Until next time. Remember we're all just neighbors working together
(22:36):
for a better community. Stay safe, stay connected, and we'll
catch you in the next one.
From the block party to the family union. Cultural events
do more than fill our calendars, they fill our soul.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Danny It's the Neighbors podcast with Recent Mike. They discussing
different issues that affect us, treating like that, it's the
neighbors way, the neighbors.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Yeah yeah, So y'all, here's the question of the day.
What cultural event do you look forward to every year,
whether it's now or in the past, and what does
it say about who you are and where you come from?
So for me, hearing the Great City of Philadelphia, I
(00:47):
used to look forward to a doom day. I really
enjoyed going to a doune day, especially when it like
because I think a dune day it wasn't always on
I think it's on South Street now, but I don't
think it was always on South Street.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I don't feel like it was always on South Street
because no, because it used to I thought it used
to be somewhere.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Yeah yeah, I feel like it was there for a
while and then it moved and then it moved to
South Street.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
But that was one thing that.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I used to look forward to because of the you
know again, we're African American and so seeing your you know,
your own people, the clothes and the food and you know.
So that was one thing that I used to really
enjoy going to looking.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
At you know.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And again for those of you who kind of know
my my history, my story again that's a part of
the Neighbors podcast life. I had the opportunity to sing
there the choir that the community choir was on we
sing at.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
A doom Day.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Oh okay, yeah yeah so so uh granted we was
in part of the gospel part you know of that
you know of that show, we say, with two other choirs,
but that was that was a great moment. Sometimes you
don't ever see yourself being in that place.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Right, you know, right right, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
But but yeah, but that but a dun day though,
was I mean, that was the one thing especially with
at that time my girlfriend lived in South Philly too,
so I would go down there to her house and
then we will walk up to South Street, you know
and do that and I would be with her and
we get to laugh and joke. So that was one
(02:37):
thing that that I used to really enjoy, was a
doom day. How a bunch yourself be?
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Honestly, I don't know, you know, I'm trying to think,
well the NYE about what I mean, I guess what
what fourth of July? Back then it was different, but
then you know, not now you know, it gets better
and better, but it just like, yeah, I guess there's.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
The fourth of July.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
I mean now like like they don't what was the
Maid in America series right now? Right, you know here
in Philly. But that's relatively new. That's you know, that's
not thirty years old.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
No, it's not not now, you know what I.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Mean, that's relatively new because I know first it was
Snoka did it right?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
What's started it? I don't remember? Did not took over?
Speaker 5 (03:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Yeah, right, it wasn't always.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Was always wild. I think it was Snowco Welcome to America.
You know, I'm not you know what that's yeah, that's
a good question. That's a good question. But it's a
good question.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Wild was killed it? They are? They killed it? They are.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
But besides that, no, I mean basically days, I mean, yeah,
I mean especial events. I guess fourth of July, any event,
we had to go to school. That was all I'm doing,
you know, summertime. It was fun, you know back then?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Yeah, I mean I think you know, because some of
the other thoughts, you know, for for this is, you know,
we other type of festivals or parades, you know, did
you look forward to as well, beyond the family function thing.
And so the other thing that I used to look
forward to, but that's because I started being a part
of it when I got older, was the Thanksgiving Day.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Parade, gotcha, okay? Things Giving Day. We used to go
to the Thanksgiving Day.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Parade, you know, I was.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
I was luckily I was able to be in it
and carry a few floats, okay, you know, and one
year I got my wife and my kids in it
as well. And so while I'm doing a float, now
granted we was at two different times, but while I'm
doing a float, she was with them being clowns. There
(04:58):
were clowns, okay, so they passing out candy and all
that type of stuff, you know whatever.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
You know.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
So so those are type of things that I used
to look forward to. Now and you, Mike, you and
not talk about it often, how the family dynamic has changed.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, it changed big time. It changed big time. It
just seemed like each year it's a change. Yeah, yeah, right,
and you know, like you questioning, like why.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
You know this is you know, let's say, too many disagreements,
too many h read, too many old jealousy.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It's damn like, damn it all the above, I mean,
and I think that's what changed for me.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Like some of these other events, like you know, you
go to even like I'm talking about events, but even
just something as simple as going to a museum, right
or whatever, like it just feels almost as if people
are not supporting you in the manner like you will.
You would think, like, hey, you know what, we're just
(06:07):
out there having fun, We're enjoying life. These things are
going on, even know what I mean. But it's like, no,
like people are really hating on the fact that you're
doing this stuff. You know, if it if it wasn't
for my gout, I probably would still be doing the things.
Giving Day parade. It's just a nice little long walk,
you know, and you gotta be out there three something
in the morning.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Oh yeah, oh yeah no. But but here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Well, I mean, we had we had to get set up,
we had to help with blowing up the floats and
the animals or whatever, and get ourselves ready for the.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Like one year.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
When I carried the turkey, you know, that was one
of the ones I had to had to do. It
was a turkey, but the turkey set on a actual float,
you know, and we had to pull the.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Rope the rope, you.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Know, and so so it's like yo, like, hey, y'all,
we need to understand, we need to build momentum to
hold this thing, you know. Because the other ones that
I did where we had like characters that float in
the air, those were they weren't easy, but it was
a lot easier than try and pull this heavy float,
(07:26):
you get what I mean. And then even with the
uh but I enjoyed it because I got a chance.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
To meet Hilla in person. Okay, okay, I.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Met an all female football team tackle football team. I
actually I actually had an opportunity the year I met Chila.
Eh my my character was right behind her float.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
So that was good to like.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Hear her music the whole time were in parade, you
get what I mean. And then when another year where
I did the another balloon where I was with the
football team that you know, the female football team.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
So you get to meet some really interesting people something
something different.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
You know, and everybody's on the same page, and it's
interesting when you're what was funny My father in law.
Maybe let's say, for an example, let's say I walked
in front of the TV maybe at eleven o'clock, and
so he'll call me at like two two thirty.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I'm like, I saw you on TV.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Man, because you know, it a while for you to
get home, you know, but because that one year is when.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
I walked closest to where the people were and the
camera was like right in my face. And then there
was another year where we had to stand and wait
for the young people to performed.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Gotcha, you know.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
So But but it's like stuff like that when you're
like yo, you look forward to that. You get to
see happy faces, and the only thing that you don't
look forward to is the cold weather.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
The cold weather, oh man, there's some cold things giving
more in these jack.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
You know, and being out there at three o'clock and
you got to stand outside at twentieth and JFK and
that wind blowing right, that.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Was that was work. That was work.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
But when you're out there laughing and joking and you
know whatever, right it was, it was fun. So so
those are type of events beyond, like I said, the
regular family function thing on the family union things. Those
are some of the things that I really enjoyed doing. Yeah,
well maybe, I mean that's how we did. It was
(09:45):
like what family function Jones. We did was like.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Almost maybe back then almost I think I told you
that every other week here we used to go to
Virginia and back then we used to go to going
to Virginia.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
It was like going over to Jersey and it was fun. Wow,
it was fun. You know.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
This is when my my uncle had this bukeyy station
wagon with the seat facing. If you face in the back,
you sit in the back, you look at the cars
coming and all that.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
You know, I thought I was a little grown.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Yeah, I think my parents got to start drinking, man
at the early age.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I mean, look, I probably did looking at the cars
coming at you from Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
But the thing is, my mom we ran out of soda.
You know, back then we had Frank soda and all
that ran out. So I think, well, my uncle was
drinking Meller High Life or Shaffer's one of them beers.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
So I'm sitting in the back, yeah, yeah, take this up.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Yeah, I'm grown. Yeah, I'm grown.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
All of a sudden, I heard something go smack, what
damn my mom. My mom an't smacking the back of
the head, like, how the hell's she seeing me?
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Like, oh dud, dummy, real view mirror, younger is driving jackass.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Look. But it was fun. Yeah, it was fun.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
I mean, I mean I remember my dad, you know,
allowing me to take a sip of his beer while
I was sitting on his lap in the car while
he'sawing to his friend, you know, right, you know, everybody
chilling right, and I'm sitting in the car and I'm like,
I'm driving you know whatever.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, in the back of the dark yeah,
road back, typical stuff, and you know, he gave me
a sip.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
I mean, like you said, our parents might have influenced
some things.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
I mean, yeah, they certain things, yeah, which is yeah,
but they you know, but we knew not to do
it outside, right, right, right, that's the crazy part, right
if I find out you know that?
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Okay, I mean again, it is what it is?
Speaker 4 (11:59):
What it rightly different now?
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Jack? Oh yeah, oh no, it is it is.
Speaker 6 (12:06):
I mean.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
But see the thing is that some parents, as we see,
don't really care as much.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
You know.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Yeah, it's all right, you know, whatever you do behind
closed doors, you do behind closed doors, right, but but
don't allow, like you said, the public to see it, right.
You know, I'm not saying don't get me wrong, I'm
not saying to y'all I condone, y'all, give y'all a
nine year old.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I'm not saying that at all. Don't don't. Let's not
get it twisted.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
I'm just saying that whatever you do behind closed doors,
that's between you and them, right right, don't involve me
in it, you know, don't put me in a situation.
And I'm not saying that I am. I'm not saying
that I have been, you know, but sometimes you know,
if you're going to do that, even even if you
(12:59):
have what I mean by don't put me in it,
don't invite me to your house and you're doing in
front of me, right, Yeah, you get what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Plus you get there, don't assume I do the same
thing that you're doing right right right?
Speaker 1 (13:10):
You know, So that might be your family function, like
this might be what y'all got going on, you know
what I mean, that's that's your flow, but it's not mine, right,
you know. So, And that's what I'm saying. I just
wanted to let y'all understand, Like I don't want to
get it confused. I'm not I'm not saying I condone it.
I'm not saying that I hate it. I'm not saying anything.
(13:33):
Whatever you do is for you, you know, but just
understand that one is behind your closed door, and number
two in all honestly, what is the long term effect
of that?
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Exactly? But what a lot of people don't think about, right,
you get what I mean?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
You know.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
So, so before y'all go off and go off on
a tangent and hey, you know we partying, we're chilling
or whatever it is, understand how does that affect your child?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Right? And I said your child? Your child could be
eighteen years old, So your child, right, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
But understand how does that affect them and how they
maneuver through life?
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Yeah, it's crazy, you know, Like I said, you know,
it's done stated family functions. Everything that is totally different
now that it's like it's lack a unity, it's just
fade and slipping away whatever situation. Who knows, who knows,
But it's it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
And that's why that's why we're talking about this type
of topic. When I said something about a doom day, right,
a doune day, you know, gave gave a sense of pride.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
In our culture, right right, right, you get what I mean?
You know, you get to see.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Clothes from Africa, right, you know, you get to see
clothes from Jamaica, whatever it might be.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
You know, so you get to celebrate one another, you know.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
Yeah, speaking of that, I'm upset that you missed that. Right,
it was yesterday, right, I'm like, man, what the I mean?
I didn't pay no attention.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
And then the other thing is is that you know
something else that I don't go to I've been meaning to.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
It's a whole night market thing, you know what. I like.
I would like to check that out too.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Yeah, you know, but again that's something that's like, Hey,
these are those type of festivals. It's like, yo, like,
let's let's enjoy each other's culture, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Right?
Speaker 4 (15:30):
You know, everything can't you can't always have everything one sided,
right right, that's the problem now, right, So.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
You know, so so you know, I just want y'all
to to understand, like this topic. Yeah, we might have
joked all about, you know, joked about how.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
What you know, what we liked we didn't like hit rush.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
But there's another meaning to this, which is like, yo,
as neighbors all, this makes a difference.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Yeah, it's like almost mad almost like it it's like
every day effect, right, and it's you know reality, but
you know, back to the you know, basically it is
what it is. But certain things, you know, you sit
back and think about, like why why we do this?
Speaker 3 (16:14):
While we do that? Hey, why not we do this?
Let's try this? What's try that? Right? You know? Life
is an adventure, it's a journey.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
But see, you know what I think, especially right now,
it feels like we get caught up in it every day.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
We do we do we really do you know what
I mean?
Speaker 1 (16:31):
And so because we're caught up in it every day
and yo, I gotta go get mine, I gotta get
this money, you know whatever. Like you said, you know,
like like if y'all listen to Mike in another episode
where you talked about, hey, chilling in the mountains right
right now, that's his version of of rest and relaxation.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Yours might be chilling on the water right right right.
You know, but again, are you chilling right?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
How do you kind of rest and relax and you know,
especially for those of us that quote unquote have high
blood pressure or anything else.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
It's those things that helps to break it down naturally, Yeah,
do it does? You know? So how do y'all balance that? Hey?
Speaker 1 (17:16):
You know, because again we're talking about underlining messages.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
How do we heal? How do we heal? Right? That's
one underlying messages that we're talking about. You're basically self healing.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Right, So you're reconnecting with your friends, You're reconnected with
your family, You're reconnected with your culture, you know, and
ultimately you're kind of reconnected with yourself.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Pretty much, pretty much, even though you always got to
put yourself first, especially when we come to that.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Sometimes we don't do that though, Bro, we don't. Yeah,
we get consumed with everybody else.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Yep, what about everybody?
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
What do your own wave? Man? Hold up? What about
what you're doing? Right? Right? Right? Is simple? Right?
Speaker 1 (17:57):
But you know, I think those are the type of
things you like, you know, you know, just consider you know,
how are you showing up right, you know, for the
person next to you, how you showing up for your family?
How you even showing up for your community and your neighbor.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
What kind of impression you're leaving your kids, or the
impression you're showing your kids, you know, is like they said,
it always starts at home.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Oh yeah, most definitely.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
It's crazy, it always starts at home. But you know,
everybody live in a late life in a different way.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Right.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
But you know, I say, there's always two sides. It's
the positive side and it's the negative side. There's no middle,
no middle. You got to pick one and just make
sure you pick the right one. That's the thing.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
And I hear you.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
But the challenge is the negative side always seems like
it's the stronger side.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Unfortunate, that's the way it feels. Or it's the easiest
thing to do. Oh yeah, yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Yeah, But you know, you know, because it's easy for
me to say you can't do it right, It's easier
for me to say I don't believe you.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's easier for me to say I don't trust you, right, like,
you know, all these things. But why is that?
Speaker 1 (19:16):
It's a good question, you know, And so that's why
you know, we're we're bringing up these type of topics
to y'all to say, hey, we as a community need
to get better.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
We need to get better right within, not without within,
then you branch it out.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Right because because in our reality these things is not
just for you at this present moment. But is it
a situation that connected you with a past generation, right
and now is it going to help out to keep
the future generations together?
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Right? Yo?
Speaker 1 (19:50):
You know, sometimes we were too caught up in today
and not tomorrow exactly, consider tomorrow. I'm not saying don't
live for today, like I'm not saying forget today, but
consider all the above.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Right, and some things, you know, some things in the
past can help you within the future. The president in
the future, depending you know, depend what it is, what
it is. But you know everything is not for everything, right, so.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
You know, so so let us know what your thoughts are, y'all.
You know, and consider what what what ideas or what
thoughts or what traditions that you and your family members have,
you know, beyond the regular Thanksgiving, Christmas and.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Stuff right eastern all the national holidays, you know, right,
I mean, let's not I mean basically just not just
celebrate birth, just just celebrate every day, right, you know,
to be honestly, I.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Mean, because you know, look, if if Mike could have it,
he would have a just a national holiday just for
you know.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Sound systems.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
I say, yeah, yeah, but but again, what is that
that what it brings people together?
Speaker 3 (21:01):
You know, whether it's a movie, whether it's music.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Yeah, you know whatever, like those are things that bond
people together.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Together, not just you know yeah, I mean you know
some people still do it.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
You know, have card games that they're not you know,
go play peanooky, heare there there. I mean, but that's cool,
that's good, that's good. But you know, just walking down
the street, just starting and all that. Come on, now,
excuse me, it's kind of don't you get tired of
doing that? Get bored doing I.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Mean, well, ageah man.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
You know we're talking about people being negative, right negativity?
Whatever reason negative negativity cells it does it does.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
You know, because like I said, it's the easiest thing
to do. And I guess life.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Would be boring if you didn't have it to some degree,
to some degree.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
About to say, yeah, to some degree, to some degree.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
So but again, y'all, you know, share with us, let
me let us know what your thoughts are.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah, feel free to reach out.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Yeap, and uh stay fit, yes, try to.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
So, but keep in mind fit means Facebook Instagram and Twitter.
Follow us. Y'all thing go. We's talk to y'all. Peace. Peace.
Speaker 6 (22:13):
Thanks for hanging out with us on the Neighbors Podcast.
We hope you enjoyed the conversation and felt right at home.
If you like what you heard, don't be a stranger. Subscribe,
leave us a review, and share this with your friends
and fam. Got something on your mind or a topic
you'd love to hear us talk about. Hit us up.
Until next time. Remember we're all just neighbors working together
(22:36):
for a better community. Stay safe, stay connected, and we'll
catch you in the next one.
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