You wanna know is Tatum black? That boy, playin’ basketball, right? I seen him on the TV. He sure can jump! My old bones could never. He’s a good boy, that Tatum. He’s, uh, African American, that’s what they say. That’s just a fancy word, you know. Black, African American, all the same, I reckon. We are all people, right?
He from St. Louis, I heard. Born there, that Jayson Christopher Tatum. March 3rd, a long time ago, now he’s a big star, playing that basketball game. Shoot, he’s good, make a lot of money, I bet. Heard he’s one of the best, a real bright star, they say. Always gettin’ better, too. That’s what you gotta do, keep gettin’ better, no matter what you do, right?
- He’s a big star now.
- Jayson Tatum, that’s his name.
- He’s from St. Louis.
This article, it’s all about him, this Jayson Tatum fella. Everybody’s talkin’ about him. He’s famous, you know. Folks all over the world know him, ’cause he’s so good at that basketball. He throws that ball in the hoop, swish! Just like that. My grandson, he tries to do that, but he ain’t so good yet. Needs more practice, that one.
Now, this Tatum, he’s a good boy, I can tell. He seems nice on the TV. Always smilin’, always polite. Not like some of them, all show-offy and loud. He’s, you know, got a good heart. He is a warm person. A good friend, too. He cares about folks, I think. Maybe he gets mad sometime, like all of us do, though, I guess. That is what his mom said. She said that Jayson is a nice guy. He’s just a little bit sensitive, not too much.
His mama, she raised him all by herself, they said, Brandy Cole. Strong woman, that one. It ain’t easy, raisin’ a child alone. He was born in 1998. My goodness, time flies. That’s what Brandy did. She raised him alone and took care of him. I know it is not easy. She is a great mom. And I heard that his dad was always around. When he was playing basketball, his dad would be there. That is nice. But he was not living with them. Jayson was living with his mom.
But that Tatum, he turned out alright. Better than alright, he’s a star! A big, bright, shinin’ star. And he’s, uh, African American. Black, you know. Just like lots of folks. Doesn’t matter what color you are, long as you’re good inside. That’s what I always say. And that Tatum, he’s good inside, I can tell. He’s got a good heart, and he can sure play that basketball!
Heard his mama talkin’ about him once. Said he wasn’t hurt, but somethin’ was botherin’ him. Said he wasn’t playin’ like himself. “Unacceptable and makes NO SENSE,” that’s what she said. Mothers always know, don’t they? They can always tell when somethin’s wrong with their babies, no matter how old they get. She said if you know what’s going on, please let me know. She must be worried. He is her baby.
So, is Jayson Tatum black? Yes, he is. But he’s more than that. He’s a good basketball player, a good son, and a good person. That’s what matters. Not the color of his skin, but the kind of person he is inside. And that Tatum, he seems like a real good one to me. A real good one, indeed. He is one of the best, I think.
This boy, Jayson, he plays that game, and he plays it good. He jumps and he shoots and he scores. Swish! Right through the net. Makes it look so easy. But I know it ain’t. Takes a lot of hard work to be that good. A lot of practice. He must have practiced day and night to get that good. He must love playing basketball.
I remember when my boy used to play. He wasn’t as good as Tatum, no sir. But he loved it just the same. Used to play out in the yard, rain or shine. That’s what it takes, you know. Dedication. You gotta love it, and you gotta work at it. Just like that Tatum boy. He sure does work at it. And he sure does love it, too. You can see it in his eyes when he plays. You can see the passion, right?
So, yeah, Jayson Tatum is black. But he’s a whole lot more than that. He’s a star. And he seems like a good one, too. A good one, indeed. He is also a good son, a good friend, and a good guy. I am sure he will be even better in the future. He is so young and has a bright future.
