6th Grade, A Whole New World and Same ol Stuff…
“This would be the first time I’d take the bus this far. The farthest I’ve traveled on the MTA was Reisterstown Road Plaza or closer, my grandparent’s home on Pulaski Street. Thankfully the M2 (I’m old school) would take me directly where I needed to be.”
I want to apologize for the extended wait time. I have started classes with the goal of getting my Bachelor’s at Morgan State University. I am also working on practicing my MIndfulness and easing any anxiety I have with starting classes. As I tend to focus on the future that isn’t here, I know that if I don’t have myself centered, my excitement for school can lead to crippling anxiety and depression. Thankfully, I’ve not only managed to work through various hiccups, my first week has yielded great progress and news. Yay me!
And now, back to the blog…
From what I remember, 1985 was a pretty good year. Hip Hop was coming up as the music of choice. While Star Wars was fading a bit, GI Joes and Transformers were in full effect. Michael Jackson was EVERYWHERE and Prince was my favorite artist. And comic books were inexpensive and you could get one nearly anywhere. Yes, even supermarkets.
I graduated elementary school in June. It was bittersweet, I was looking forward to moving up to the 6th grade. However I wasn't going with most of my friends to All-Saints middle school. Normally most students moved from Rosa Parks to the All-Saints or they went to the public middle school. My Mom found another Catholic school, St. Charles in Pikesville. Located in Baltimore County, it was a straight shot from my house to school. Maybe my Mom thought a change of scenery would be good. Good intentions…
This would be the first time I’d take the bus this far. The farthest I’ve traveled on the MTA was Reisterstown Road Plaza or closer, my grandparent’s home on Pulaski Street. Thankfully the M2 (I’m old school) would take me directly where I needed to be. Back then, the MTA had “zones.” For each zone there was an additional cost. Zone one was the standard price, I think we’re talking 60 or 75 cents. Then you add ten cents for each additional zone. I thought it felt kinda classist and racist, but I was the young person who didn’t trust a lot of things based on what I read about this country.
My first few days and weeks I couldn’t tell you what it was like. I know I caught the M2 everyday with little issues. A friend from elementary school and the neighborhood Demetrius would sometimes be on the bus. We mostly saw each other in school and the occasional times we’d walk from school to a 7-11 to play videogames or Reisterstown Road Plaza to “pick up” some toys. This would also happen when I was 10 cents short for the “zone two.”
What I do remember is the honeymoon with St. Charles was over quickly. I wasn’t a bad child. I did have imagination, I would get bored easily, and like most folks, I rather read my comics than listen to a long winded lecture. The first major offense was when I pulled out a loose tooth in the middle of class. I was sent to the office, I’m thinking I’ll see the nurse and come back to class. I was told to go into the principal's office instead.
Sitting in a chair that was a bit too big for me, I was told that they were “told about me” and I needed to behave. Something clicked in me. I felt threatened and put in a corner for no reason. It wasn’t like I pulled my tooth out and flung it around the class. I didn’t make any noise or make a scene. What should have happened is the nurse sees me and then I go back to class. At that moment my favorite superhero Wolverine clicked in and I decided to “fight” rather than “flight.”
At Rosa Parks, I had my share of being mischievous. Getting in trouble for “transforming” from the hallway into class, reading comic books (even when my work was done and my reading level was “advanced”), being a Black boy happened often. In the lens of the early 80s and how many young Black boys received punishments for minor things, this wasn’t seen as unusual. Add the “Board of Education,” the paddle we’d get hit with by the principal (or rulers depending on if the Sister did capital punishment), elementary school had its share of “discipline.” Discipline that never worked with me. Just made me mad and when I got mad, I usually made it worse.
I couldn’t imagine THIS would be my introduction to the principal. St. Charles was supposed to be a brand new start. This wouldn’t be the last situation I’d have like this. However it wasn’t all bad. Before everything went to crap, I found one the best places in the world, the Baltimore County Library.
Who's Who and the Marvel Universe Deluxe
“The deep dive into being a comic book/sci-fi/toy enthusiast came way before 1986. “Enthusiast” as I’ve given the title of “nerd or geek” back to the world; those words limit and at times demean the user & I shall not have that. I was the child that memorized file cards of GI Joes, could tell you in detail what I read in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, and was visibly upset when Roy Fokker was killed in action.”
The deep dive into being a comic book/sci-fi/toy enthusiast came way before 1986. “Enthusiast” as I’ve given the title of “nerd or geek” back to the world; those words limit and at times demean the user & I shall not have that. I was the child that memorized file cards of GI Joes, could tell you in detail what I read in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, and was visibly upset when Roy Fokker was killed in action.
I began getting comic books at local supermarkets and from a friend of the family who’d drop off comic books while driving his delivery routes. You’d think that early on my favorite comic books would just be superheroes. I was a HUGE fan of the Harvey Comics of Richie Rich, Casper, and Wendy fame. They were fun to read and a joy to look at. For my Mom, this kept me in the “child wonder” place she worked hard for. And I’m forever thankful.
As I grew older and with various toy and pop culture pushes, Marvel and DC Comics were my main jam. Spider-Man was a favorite of mine. I related to the “guy next door” Peter Parker and wished I had Spider-Man’s powers and webbing. Another comic I loved was The Uncanny X-Men. A group of “misfit heroes” who want to save the world despite how humanity treated them would play into my perceptions of myself and how I saw myself in the world.
Batman made me a fan with his rogue’s gallery, gadgets, being a “normal guy” (before I discovered being incredibly rich IS a superpower), and having a sidekick. I wanted to be a superhero so bad that I thought being a hero’s sidekick/partner would be great. Then I looked at Robin’s color scheme and figured I’d be a walking decoy. Not keen on that nor Robin’s underwear and elf shoes. Thankfully, they moved beyond that over the decades.
In 1985, Marvel Comics released The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition. I caught on to the previous OHOTMU late, was able to get the first issue of the Deluxe Edition and was floored. I loved learning the “how and why” of the characters and took to learning about all my favorites. This also gave me new heroes and villains to look up and get interested in. I studied the books like I should have studied my schoolwork. Ha! DC Comics had its own series similar to Handbook of the Marvel Universe, “Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe.” Not as detailed as Marvel's series, I did enjoy learning the origins of lesser known characters and discovering characters I’d later be fans of, such as The New Gods. By the time ‘86 came around, I was a fully invested comic book fan; sealed by these two series.
86' Was the Genesis
“I’m going to look back at 1986 through 1988, seeing how those years came to make the Kofi Jamal that was, is now, and hopefully will come to the future. This is the “middle school era” and when I developed into me. As fun and sometimes awkward as it was. At first I will speak on what moves me that day. But I will begin to talk about key moments and situations. Often bouncing back and forth through the years.”
At 49 years young (and a little bit of change) and on the cusp of a “New Year,” I’ve reached a point where I walk a fine line between youthful nostalgia and stark reality. The childhood I’ve had was pretty great. Despite various growing pains and some issues I’ve had to process and work through, and still working through to be honest, being surrounded by comic books, toys, cartoons, and all sorts of fun things makes for good memories.
When I think of my youth, I believed that 1988 was that year that “everything clicked.” That was the year when everything started to come together, the building blocks, my foundational year. In reality, I’ve discovered that 1986 is truly “The Genesis” of who Kofi Jamal would become. Not to dismiss the years before, they meant something and I can make the case that 1984, when I was 9 and 10 years young, was more important. It’s just that in my mind, 1986 is when the cement dried and I began to build, for better or worse, into who I am today.
I’m going to look back at 1986 through 1988, seeing how those years came to make the Kofi Jamal that was, is now, and hopefully will come to the future. This is the “middle school era” and when I developed into me. As fun and sometimes awkward as it was. At first I will speak on what moves me that day. But I will begin to talk about key moments and situations. Often bouncing back and forth through the years.
Disclaimer, there was a time I didn’t believe I’d make it this far. I couldn’t see a future that far and at times, I didn’t know if I would make it. This is to say there will be moments of reflection that will not be particularly fun and happy. Never lying to myself, I’ll expose my life for what it was. So if you are expecting some “always joyful romp,” it’s ok if you move elsewhere. I will, however, enjoy any company that decides to stick around. And now, let’s begin.