AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?
Brotherhood, Nino Brown and the 'culture canoe'.
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You’d be forgiven for thinking my ‘barely there’ bible knowledge extends to genesis…
but the story of Cain and his ‘complicated’ relationship with a sibling, is much more of a modern sticking point than most would willingly admit...
Sidebar - should this article be used as evidence in a future court hearing, let the record show - I am definitely not advocating for free passage to murder my brother… Just being crystal clear. Everyone got that? Great.
The defence rests.
What I am saying, is that it’s not only religious text that is peppered with stories of familial difference. Social media would have you believe that the toughest modern conflict with ‘loved ones’ is likely trivial. A hilaaarious ‘scare prank’ or quippy back and forth over who should get the big piece of chicken. All neatly clipped up, in a 60-second-reel.
Morpheus voice - Not in the real world.
In the real world, family possess a magical ability to get weird. So, in an era where according to the Office for National Statistics…
More than 1 in 10 of those aged 30 to 34 years are still living with their parents. The need for friends - the family we choose, has never been more essential. Apparently.
In 2025, my understanding of family has evolved into something entirely more fluid. Blood and chosen relatives fill my free time and group chats. For better or worse, I’m guilty of referring to friends as siblings, surrogate aunts, uncles… but what happens when the family we choose change? What happens when the people you lean on, curdle like manky milk?
Is it easier to step away from the family you’re not bound to by blood?
Should it be?
Am I my brother’s keeper? Pose the question to any kid coming of age in the 90s, they’re likely thinking Wesley Snipes, rope chains and a gangly Chris Rock sucking on ‘base’ from a glass pipe… confused?
The BOOMING sound of Crickets tells me that the ‘kid’ I’m referring to is likely just me, or one of my mates from school. For those of you in the same culture canoe - ten points. For everyone else, I’m referring to the 1991, Mario Van Peebles directed - New Jack City.
For fear of alienating even more of you, the 90’s crime classic features Wesley in his prime delivering a performance that would years later create its own continent on planet meme.
With Quotables such as “Money talks, and Bullshit runs a marathon”, how can you not allow the Nino Brown love and disgust to flow in equal measure?!