Although I cannot pinpoint the moment that I fell in love with History, I can tell you that I love my job as a historian. Although cliché, the study of the past illuminates the present and paves a path for the future.
So, I am sure you understand my delight when I see one of my students wearing a T-shirt pointing to a prior cultural moment in Black America. I guess it is a sign of aging for one to see popular culture icons of my generation on the chests and book bags of today’s collegians. These moments are a double-edged sword that, on the one hand, excites the historian in me while also verifying my transformation into what my students characterize as an “old head.” Yet, I delight in seeing images of Tupac, Pimp C (aka Sweet James Jones”, DMX, Aaliyah, or even Whitney Houston adorning my clothing.
I am sure you can imagine my sense of pride after seeing one particular student I did not know wearing a T-shirt bearing Nas’ image. Such items serve as an easy point of engagement with students as my generation bequeathed Hip-Hop Culture to succeeding generations. There are few more meaningful conversations between me as a professor and students pursuing knowledge than Nas. I just had to stop this young man and ask him a logical question.
Young man, what is your favorite Nas album?
I prayed to the hip-hop Gods that he would respond with Illmatic.
He failed to respond with Illmatic, It Was Written, Nastradamus, or Stillmatic. His response was a nearly indecipherable “Hunh?”
His response threw me off. The look of bewilderment etched across his face led me to point toward the image of Nas boldly placed on his chest. He glanced down at the picture, looking up with a whimsical look, and then he said,
“Oh, I just liked the picture. Who is he?”
I was stunned!!!!!! However, I did recover long enough to explain to him that it was Nas, one of the most influential figures in the History of Hip-Hop, adorning his T-shirt.
As I walked away with more than a fair portion of disappointment, I glanced over my shoulder and told him to listen to Illmatic; it would enrich his life.
Dr. James Thomas Jones III
© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.
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