With these friends to call their own, they’ll never be alone.
Michael Jackson fans gathered in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Saturday for filmmaker Spike Lee’s annual block party celebrating the King of Pop’s birthday. And as always, the event brought people from all moonwalks of life together the way Jackson’s music did, attendees said.
“It doesn’t matter what your culture is, what your race is, economic status — Michael Jackson brings people together because of his music,” said Kim Richberg, a Brooklyn native who now lives in Long Island. “Thankfully Spike Lee recognizes that, he uses his memory to bring people together to have a good time.”
Disc jockeys, rapper Fat Joe, and a young guitar prodigy played the hits for the crowd assembled at “Do the Right Thing Way” — the block of Stuyvesant Avenue between Lexington and Quincy streets where the titular Lee joint is set — and included impersonators, tourists from abroad, and many kids who are too young to remember when Jackson was actually alive, according to guests.
“You see little kids dancing to Michael Jackson with some doing the moves — it’s an all around family event,” said Bedford-Stuyvesant resident Nafisa Osman, who came with husband Marko Huehen and some friends in town from Germany.
Richberg said her own youngsters — a 13-year-old and 9-year old — love the Gloved One’s tunes, but she also brings them so they can experience a real Brooklyn block party, like the ones she grew up with.
“This is what they used to do back in the day — there was always a block party in Brooklyn,” she said. “It’s bigger than Michael.”
