When the feel that beat, we’re going to ride that boogie…I am going rock with you. All night. I am going to rock the night away.

I bounced across the street as I heard the music to the outdoor plaza for the evening movie. Kids were manning the snack stand and I immediately headed there. As I bought $1 popcorn and a $1 cupcake, I heard a familiar song come on. In the back, there were kids dancing and laughing. They were loving the music.

But then I realized who it was…after several more tracks was played. And then I realized…of course. It was the first time I had heard his music being constantly played in San Francisco without any complaint. The kids…being from the low-income housing and predominantly African American…was that the reason why? They danced like nobody watching. Or if someone was, they tried to get someone to dance with them.

I was almost tempted to dance with the kids. But ironically, I felt out of place as a twentysomething Asian American…obviously from the middle class with money. The only thing I could have in common was growing up with Michael Jackson.