Why my Neck Hurts Today...

So remember when I said I was super excited about going to SMU to see Emmanuel Jal?  Well I went, and it was GREAT!  My mom came with me (mother daughter bonding time!) and we finally got there in spite of all the construction.  We waited for Emmanuel Jal to perform, but it felt like 4:30 would never come.  Around 4 o'clock, while my mom was asking me questions about his memoir, I saw him!  He was walking to the stage to get ready for sound check and everybody was just going about their everyday lives like he hadn't even arrived.  He came in so subtly that my mom didn't even know he was there, after I pointed that out to her, she kept saying, "Now's your chance go talk to him he is all by himself."  It wasn't that easy.  I was nervous, this is the person whose music I have listened to for the last few years, and whose memoir and work have inspired me to pursue my dreams of spreading the awareness of global issues and working to fight poverty, injustice, and the inequality of access to education.  But I eventually worked up the courage to go speak to him.  I walked up to him where he was sitting by himself and apologized for disturbing him.  As soon as I walked up, he stood and gave me a hug! Instantly I felt comfortable and more nervous at the same time! Yes, that's possible.  He signed his book for me (I came prepared) and asked me if I was African, which, surprisingly, I get a lot.  I sat down next to him (in retrospect that was really forward of me, but I only had one chance!) and just chilled out.  He asked me about myself, we discussed the We Want Peace movement, and he told me about the opportunities they have available at Gua Africa.  If I would have known I was going to be able to chat with him like that I would have brought my recorder, notebook, and all that good stuff so I could have made a photostory.  I have learned my lesson though, I will be overprepared for everything from now on.

He is very down to earth, but I only expected that.  Just sitting there joking about YouTube and discussing school was like chilling out with an old friend.  His performance was amazing, especially since there were only a few of us.  Everything was so relaxed.  He did some spoken work and then we jammed.  I got to go onstage with a couple of other people and swing my hair to Cush.  Since he cut off most of his hair for his upcoming movie The Good Lie, I demonstrated a hair flip.

These pictures are evidence of why my neck hurts today.  I think I need to practice my hair flips.  I can barely bend my head now, but was it worth it?  UUUHH.... YES!! I enjoyed every minute of it and I would do it again!  It was such an incredible experience.