Man, You Look Just Like......

It's often said that everybody has a twin or someone that looks almost exactly like them. Have you ever heard this statement and found it to be true? I know I've seen people who are unrelated that most would agree look a lot alike. I've also heard and participated in debates where there's pros and cons on whether or not people look alike, honing in on specific physical features, characteristics or mannerisms that is or isn’t similar. Sometimes it might be easy to see the resemblance, but other times it’s like "hell nawh, I don’t see it!"

Now taking it a step further, have you ever been told you look like someone you’re not related to? If so, how did you feel about it? Well I have been told multiple times that I look like somebody, and most of the time I was indifferent about my so-called ‘twin’.

I've been told that I favor somebody else more times than I can count. For example among my relatives, I've been told -- numerous times -- that my cousin Nadirah and I look like we could be brother and sister. Or that my aunt Yolanda looks like she could be my mother. Examples among famous people I'm not related to, I've been told that I look like Keith Murray, Jadakiss, Young Jeezy, Martin Luther King Jr., Pharrell, and Lee Thompson Young from the Jet Jackson Show. Now when you see all of these people together below, do they look like each other to you? Then tell me what is it about me that resembles each one them? Because I just don't see what other people are seeing.

A few weeks ago, I was told that I looked like a character in the series "All American", by two people. The character I supposedly "look like" is the main character, ‘Spencer’ portrayed by Daniel Ezra. Now to me, that's crazy! But what's more bizarre is that my own daughter told me the same thing last year! Now, I've seen Spencer...and I just don't see the resemblance. However, for my daughter and the two others to all come to the same conclusion separately, it has to at least be something to it. Right?

In the March edition of Much Love Soul, I covered the journey of setting up the mentoring group we call "P.I.L.L.A.R.S. of Life", and touched on some of the curriculum and the attributes it represents. I’m happy to say this mentoring group is still going strong! From time to time during our meetings we’re able to watch movies that demonstrate one of the attributes in our curriculum. The goal is to provide an actionable example of the attribute being demonstrated, then host a discussion with a Question and Answer segment for a deeper dive into the meaning. Also to make sure people were paying attention. 😁

About a month ago during one of our P.I.L.L.A.R.S meetings where we were highlighting the attribute ‘Integrity’ from our curriculum, we all watched a Christian based movie entitled “War Room”. At the end of our Question and Answer segment, the meeting host offered a humorous final bonus question: "Who does the character Tony Jordan look like in our group?" I immediately started scanning the room to see who among our attendees resembled this character. But before I could even finish my scanning process, at least 4 or 5 people answered in sync, "Soul". So apparently, the husband in that movie (portrayed by T. C. Stallings) looks like me, too! Now I was taken aback and semi-embarrassed. Unless all of those people were simultaneously playing a joke on me, they couldn't have all haphazardly reached the same conclusion at the same time without there at least being something to it! However, since I didn't view the character as evil or innately ill-intended and the actor T. C. Stallings is not an ugly person, I accepted it. 😁

Sometimes with comparisons like this, I feel like my individuality is being infringed upon. Could I be overreacting? Am I just being bias because its me? I mean, I’ve also seen people who reminded me of someone else and some I actually told them.

Well, I guess its easier to put your guard down when being compared to the gods and goddesses of beauty and respectable character. But, when you're being compared to the likeness of Beatle Juice, Adolf Hitler, or even a cute horse, I doubt the response would be, ‘yeah I see exactly what you mean’. I'm pretty sure most would respond with something like, “hell nawh!” 😁

Seriously though, the topic of lookalikes can also be very controversial. Sometimes those conversations can be fun or funny. In fact, some people have been able to support themselves in the world of entertainment by simply looking like somebody famous. And there are times when the comparisons are pointless or, other times they can be highly insulting. People have been put in danger, hurt, or even killed for looking like somebody else through mistaken identity! During my incarceration I've been mistaken twice. In both situations, the potential to have been seriously harmed or possibly harm another was there. Fortunately that didn't happen. So to all of my twins and to all of my folk out there -- and in here -- who are having those lookalike conversations...be aware and careful of others as we make those judgements of who others look like.

One last lookalike story for me: I recall in middle school being told that a ‘less than attractive’ young lady looked so much like me that she could've been my sister. I didn’t say this to her directly, but you already know what my response was, “hell nawh”! 😁 Thank goodness for maturity. 😁

Much Love,

Soul