During Thanksgiving week, we spent time in South Carolina, visiting my sister and parents(the folks split residences between SC and NJ).
After a hearty Thanksgiving dinner and a quick pit stop at one of my sister's friend's homes, we all went out to see a movie. The movie chosen was "Old Dogs" with John Travolta and Robin Williams. Zany flick, but fun escapist fare.
On the drive back home we talked about the movie, and how funny-silly it was in parts. That's when I opened my big mouth and said, "John Travolta is a really good actor".
My mother replied, "He was funny in this movie, but I never liked him".
"Why", I asked.
"Because, he wasn't the best one on...what was that TV show"?
"Welcome Back Kotter", I replied
"Right, that show. Boom-Boom Washington was the best on that show, yet Travolta went on to get all this fame and fortune, and poor Boom-Boom, the last time I saw him was in that Jacksons show".
Well, far be it from me to argue the acting abilities of Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs versus John Travolta, but my mother did have a point. Before Welcome Back Kotter even hit the airwaves, Jacobs had done major work in Claudine and Cooley High. Travolta didn't have much of a career before Kotter, while Jacobs was a rising star. Some say Jacobs career derailed because of drug use, but those are unsubstantiated rumors.
The fact is, Jacobs just never got that breakout role that Travolta got in Saturday Night Fever. I'll leave it at that, but I know what my mother was trying to say.
Reverse the Charges
Why my mother doesn't like John Travolta
by Roland Laird
Nov 30, 2009
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POSRO isn't a household word in American culture, but it has been featured in publications as varied as The Source magazine and The New York Times.
For those of you that know--and those of you that don't--the name is a play on the word NEGRO. We took away the NEG-ative prefix and replaced it with a POS-itive one. We "Reversed The Charges" so to speak.
Reversing the negative charges in the thought processes that go into the coverage Black people receive in the media, even in the age of Obama, is what this blog is all about.
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About this blog:
POSRO isn't a household word in American culture, but it has been featured in publications as varied as The Source magazine and The New York Times.
For those of you that know--and those of you that don't--the name is a play on the word NEGRO. We took away the NEG-ative prefix and replaced it with a POS-itive one. We "Reversed The Charges" so to speak.
Reversing the negative charges in the thought processes that go into the coverage Black people receive in the media, even in the age of Obama, is what this blog is all about.
The subject matter will vary as the mood hits me One day I may be talking sports. The next day local news in Trenton, NJ. But no matter what I talk about, I promise to be honest, respectful and entertaining. I hope you enjoy reading in the days, weeks, months and years to come.
