I was introduced to Spawn back in 1996 when my mom, aunt and I went to a flea market in Ocean City. It wasn't a comic but the Ninja Spawn action figure that was on sale that piqued my interest. Being in the 6th grade at the time, we were reading Faust and trying to understand the existential lessons of man's place within the universe and how much control one has over their fate. . . Spawn is Faust... and even then as a 12 year old boy, I identified wholly with his plight. Fast forward 25 years and I'm still wondering just how much control do I have over my fate when things of good and bad happen. . . I realize all too well that people look at me like a significant public figure and my influence carries weight but I'm just as regular of a person as the next. I'm trying to figure it all out like the rest of you and I didn't get into cosplay to make a difference. I got in to do something to take my mind off my divorce.... so I'm clearly a flawed individual to a degree/from a certain perspective. Look... He-Man put me in a position to voice several opinions and push for initiatives that could help the community as a whole. I didn't ask for the elevated pedestal but I'm going to use it the right way because it's the right thing to do. I'm going to have missteps and stumbles because I'm human and I'm allowed to make those mistakes. What sucks about being "a public figure" is that everyone will believe what's said about you before asking your side of the story and openly speaking about things just gives more air and time to things that take away from the mission: the proliferation of minorities within mainstream media. . . I legit just want to enjoy my cosplay experience with my Little Hero and do what I can to make my son safe in this world. Everything else has officially become pointless. I hope you all can understand that. There's a habit of twisting my words to mean something that isn't the case. . . #Photographer: @jayleephotographyac #Suit: @sinistur . . #28daysofblackcosplay #cosplay #Cosplayer #blackcosplay #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #BlackNerds #Versatility #SpawnMovie #michaeljaiwhite #Comics #ImageComics #HBO #Spawn https://www.instagram.com/p/CLknFY0DJ2R/?igshid=1v42c3p94r1ts