The white girl shuffle

After two fort greene park free music festivities the past couple of days, I’ve come to discover that I am no longer the girl in the crowd that looks good grooving to the funky beat. On the contrary, in Brooklyn, among some of the best dancers I’ve ever seen, I’m really just plain average. In LA, during the height of my club-going days, I actually think I was pretty good. People around me would give me props on the butt shaking skills and I honestly felt like I could keep up with the best of them on the dance floor. Well, in NY, those days are over.

Sunday was the soul music summit in the park. I got there pretty late, but the crowd was happening. The dance floor area was packed, little circles of insanely beautiful black men and women completely lost in the music, their bodies freely flowing into some of the most fantastic dance moves I’ve ever witnessed. I was amazed and in awe. Their energy alone was intimidating, not to mention how easy they made it look. I couldn’t even begin to keep up with this crowd. I thought maybe I was just tired that night, or I wasn’t really feeling the music, but come on…. in a crowd that full of life, it’d be hard not to get lost in it.

This happened again last night for the free wunmi/rich medina show. More gorgeous Brooklyn folks getting down and looking fantastic. I got into it a couple times last night, but I just felt like had to try, instead of just letting it flow, you know? UGH! Regardless, the music and the energy and the spirit made me feel damn good. I’ll get over my own white girl shit soon enough. Just an adjustment phase. And like a certain some one mentioned, we’ll still look good in a crowd of white folks. HA!!