Category Archives: family

A Message To The ‘Anti-Immigrant’ & Anti-Queer/Trans Metallica Fans…

Posted on June 18, 2025 by jamilah

(This post is also on my Substack page, but i posted it here as well. Thanks for reading!) When i was 14 years old i was introduced to Metallica. By the time i turned 15, they were my favorite band. … Continue reading →

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Punk Rock Bowling, and Reconnecting To My Roots

Posted on June 6, 2025 by jamilah

i’ve not spent much time at music festivals in general; besides the random annual local jazz or punk festival over the years, the last time i attended anything major was in the early 1990s, with the second and third Lollapaloozas. … Continue reading →

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A Eulogy For A Lost Limb (Or, What Metallica Has Taught Me about Death)

Posted on August 30, 2021 by jamilah

(Warning: The following content includes mention and/or descriptions of sexual, emotional and physical violence, abuse, suicide, depression and homophobia. There are also film spoilers. If you in any way plan to see said films, please skip those sections. Also, there … Continue reading →

Posted in documentary, family, life, music, politics, transcendence, trauma | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It just hit me that Aretha Franklin is gone..

Posted on August 20, 2018 by jamilah

Three days later, it hit me.  I began to cry, particularly in watching her later performances. The peace i initially felt upon hearing of her transcendence has turned into sadness.  Sometimes grief is inexplicable; we grieve when people we love … Continue reading →

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Music and We (MJ webisode no. 1): What do you think would have happened after ‘This Is It?’

Posted on January 6, 2018 by jamilah

    (This is also another chapter in the evolution of the book i was writing- people have asked why i stopped writing it after his transition. Not only is there an evolution of sorts in how i view Michael, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, children, dance, economy, family, freedom, life, michael jackson, parenting, politics, technology, transcendence | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

More reflections on ‘Searching For Neverland’

Posted on May 31, 2017 by jamilah

i made the above video, documenting my initial feelings around the creation of this docu-drama based on teacher Michael’s life.  While my feelings have not changed (i still refuse to see it), after i made the video i began to … Continue reading →

Posted in africa, art, childhood, children, dance, economy, family, life, michael jackson, parenting, politics, transcendence, trauma, vitiligo | Leave a comment

A strange peace came over me…

Posted on April 19, 2017 by jamilah

“There are people dying…” As i am in the middle of doing some seasonal cleaning, i turn up the volume of Heal The World– it’s a song i go to when i look for that peaceful space, musically.  It’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in children, family, freedom, life, michael jackson, transcendence | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments