Is Clinton "Blacker than Obama?"
Min. Paul Scott
If someone asks who is blacker, Bill Clinton or Barak Obama, hands down, most people would roll with Slick Willie.
Bill Clinton reminds me of "Rappin' Rod" from high school the cool white dude who sat in the back of the class and traded Run DMC lyrics with the best of us. You never knew if he was legit or if those old K-Tel "Do You Want to Learn How to Rap" albums really worked.
The myth of racial equality is not squashed until years after graduation when Rappin Rod is now Roderick Winstead the third, CEO of his family business while you're slaving away at some entry level position at a company you despise....
But this is 2007 and we're not talking about Bill, we're talking about "Hill"
Let me be honest...Aretha Franklin she ain't ...(Although the issues with her hubby would make a cool Mary J Blige song)
Although Bill, became "official" with the black community when he played that mean sax on the Arsenio Hall Show, unfortunately, the show was cancelled years ago so that avenue is not open to Hillary. And since Black Entertainment Television's news programs have largely been replaced with videos featuring scantily clad women, unless Hillary is willing to put on a thong bikini and drop it like it's hot, well....
Clinton has already made inroads into the Black community as Rev. Al Sharpton has made it perfectly clear that he will "chill with tha 'Hill" and Barak Obama is basically,
well...Wack
Obama comes preaching self responsibility and one American-ess while Hillary grabs the mic and starts "sticking it to tha man." So I guess in Hop Hop terms, Barak Obama is Will Smith and Hillary Clinton is more like Chuck D of Public Enemy...
This was evident at June 28th Democratic Candidate's forum. Although the debate took place at Howard University and John Edwards had the foresight to give a shout out to the North Carolina historically black universities (What up, homie!!!!) It was plain to see that Hill tore the roof off tha mutha...
While Obama's opening statements about racism dealt with pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps, tha "Hill" kept it real by making it clear that race is still a factor in this country and recruiting "foot soldiers in the revolution."
On the issue of education, while Barak spoke about how people accept the under achievement of black kids as normal, Hillary reached back and jacked that old African proverb that white folks save for just such occasions about it taking a village to raise a child, which went over real big...
Hillary also rocked the crowd when she talked about her 10 Point Black Panther..., excuse me...I mean her 10 Point Katrina plan. And when she talked about protecting Africa by shooting down some planes...
Word Up!!!!!
The show stopper was her response to the AIDS question when she said that America would be outraged if it was mostly WHITE women being effected instead of tha Sista'a!!!!!
The question facing Clinton is can she kick it with tha hood and at the same time woo the conservative Democrat's?
Will she have to have a Bill Clinton/Sister Souljah moment and diss Kanye West at a National Action Network meeting ?
Will she sell Black folks out or in 2008, will she have even Grandma singin'
"I found my thrill, by votin' for 'Hill?"
Min. Paul Scott is a "gangsta writer" and activist. His blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Fighting For Your Right "Not" to Party
Fighting for Your Right "Not" to Party:
Why I'm Not Celebrating July 4th
Min. Paul Scott
On July 5th 1852, the great orator and abolitionist,Frederick Douglas delivered an electrifying speech where he posed what was possibly the most significant question of his time; "What to the slave is the Fourth of July?" He received a thunderous round of applause.
A hundred and twenty some odd years later, July 4th 1976, as a nine year old junior militant, I stood defiantly on a picnic table, raised my sand shovel and posed a similar question.Why do black people celebrate Independence Day, anyway?"
The response I received?
"Shut up and eat your hot dog!"
The issue of whether African Americans should celebrate the 4th of July is one of those eternal questions that is often asked this time of year but never receives a valid answer. Why do black folks feel obligated to dress up in red white and blue top hats and sing the Star Spangled Banner when our ancestors were in the field picking cotton while the colonists were getting their party on ?
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a day off work and a trip to the beach as much as the next guy but it's time to replace political correctness with historical correctness.
As a matter of full disclosure, I've never prided myself as the all American boy type. I hate baseball and even the thought of apple pie makes me nauseous. So my view of American history may be cynical at best.
African Americans were not free in 1776, did not have full citizenship in 1876, were still fighting for equal rights in 1976 and with people still around like Don Imus and Michael Richards, 2076 ain't looking too promising.
Contrary to popular belief, America's victory in theRevolutionary War did not bring my ancestors one iota closer to Independence than if the Red Coats would have won. Just if the British had won, instead of having a Big Mac and a Pepsi for lunch, I would be dining on crumpets with a spot of tea. And I would probably be listening to Sir Paul McCartney in my ipod instead of 50 Cent.
Although, many overly patriotic zealots claim to cherish freedom of speech, speaking against this country's day of national pride is considered sacrilegious, worthy of a trip to the woodshed, or worse.
Although the constitution grants freedom of expression, in the 21st century, freedom of speech comes with a heavy price. There is always the distinct possibility that you could wake up one morning in a cozy little cell in Guantanamo Bay or at best find yourself sitting across the desk from a stone faced IRS agent trying to explain why your last year's vacation at Disney World was tax deductible.
Should I have to live with the fear of "America love it or leave it" being graffitied on my front door just because I will have the only house in the neighborhood not proudly flying Ole Glory ?
As America becomes increasingly more culturally diverse, she will have to deal with the blatant contradictions in her history books. While Tony Romano may be throwing a big party for Columbus Day, maybe he shouldn’t invite his coworker Blue Sky Runningbear to the shindig. And while John Smith may pay tribute to his WWII veteran grandfather to commemorate every V-JDay, his neighbor, Yoko Tshima, may morn the death of hers.
Americans must begin to respect each others rights to party or not to party on July 4th While some will dismiss my views as those of some ultra militant, left wing radical who is still miffed that Rev. Jesse Jackson didn't get the Democratic Party nomination back in 1988 , could it be that I represent the views of millions of the silent minority who are afraid to express themselves for fear of McCarthy-like persecution?
So, don't expect to see me at the annual fireworks show this year with my finger stuck in the potato salad. I'll be home reflecting on the fact that for millions of African Americans, on July 4 2007, the road to Freedom is still under construction.
Min. Paul Scott is a "gangsta writer" and activist based in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919)451-8283. info@nowarningshotsfired.com
His blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
Why I'm Not Celebrating July 4th
Min. Paul Scott
On July 5th 1852, the great orator and abolitionist,Frederick Douglas delivered an electrifying speech where he posed what was possibly the most significant question of his time; "What to the slave is the Fourth of July?" He received a thunderous round of applause.
A hundred and twenty some odd years later, July 4th 1976, as a nine year old junior militant, I stood defiantly on a picnic table, raised my sand shovel and posed a similar question.Why do black people celebrate Independence Day, anyway?"
The response I received?
"Shut up and eat your hot dog!"
The issue of whether African Americans should celebrate the 4th of July is one of those eternal questions that is often asked this time of year but never receives a valid answer. Why do black folks feel obligated to dress up in red white and blue top hats and sing the Star Spangled Banner when our ancestors were in the field picking cotton while the colonists were getting their party on ?
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a day off work and a trip to the beach as much as the next guy but it's time to replace political correctness with historical correctness.
As a matter of full disclosure, I've never prided myself as the all American boy type. I hate baseball and even the thought of apple pie makes me nauseous. So my view of American history may be cynical at best.
African Americans were not free in 1776, did not have full citizenship in 1876, were still fighting for equal rights in 1976 and with people still around like Don Imus and Michael Richards, 2076 ain't looking too promising.
Contrary to popular belief, America's victory in theRevolutionary War did not bring my ancestors one iota closer to Independence than if the Red Coats would have won. Just if the British had won, instead of having a Big Mac and a Pepsi for lunch, I would be dining on crumpets with a spot of tea. And I would probably be listening to Sir Paul McCartney in my ipod instead of 50 Cent.
Although, many overly patriotic zealots claim to cherish freedom of speech, speaking against this country's day of national pride is considered sacrilegious, worthy of a trip to the woodshed, or worse.
Although the constitution grants freedom of expression, in the 21st century, freedom of speech comes with a heavy price. There is always the distinct possibility that you could wake up one morning in a cozy little cell in Guantanamo Bay or at best find yourself sitting across the desk from a stone faced IRS agent trying to explain why your last year's vacation at Disney World was tax deductible.
Should I have to live with the fear of "America love it or leave it" being graffitied on my front door just because I will have the only house in the neighborhood not proudly flying Ole Glory ?
As America becomes increasingly more culturally diverse, she will have to deal with the blatant contradictions in her history books. While Tony Romano may be throwing a big party for Columbus Day, maybe he shouldn’t invite his coworker Blue Sky Runningbear to the shindig. And while John Smith may pay tribute to his WWII veteran grandfather to commemorate every V-JDay, his neighbor, Yoko Tshima, may morn the death of hers.
Americans must begin to respect each others rights to party or not to party on July 4th While some will dismiss my views as those of some ultra militant, left wing radical who is still miffed that Rev. Jesse Jackson didn't get the Democratic Party nomination back in 1988 , could it be that I represent the views of millions of the silent minority who are afraid to express themselves for fear of McCarthy-like persecution?
So, don't expect to see me at the annual fireworks show this year with my finger stuck in the potato salad. I'll be home reflecting on the fact that for millions of African Americans, on July 4 2007, the road to Freedom is still under construction.
Min. Paul Scott is a "gangsta writer" and activist based in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919)451-8283. info@nowarningshotsfired.com
His blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
Saturday, June 23, 2007
BET: Wipe Your Feet on the Mat!
BET: Wipe Your Feet on the Mat
Min. Paul Scott
One of the most disrespectful things that you can do to a southern woman's house is to walk into her living room without first having the courtesy ie."home training” to wipe your feet on the welcome mat. Many a child hood friend has found himself banned from the premises for life for tracking mud on an immaculately clean carpet. For us black folks our culture has historically been our house and Black Entertainment Television has been that rotten little kid who tracks mud all over mama's rug without as much as an "I beg your pardon."
One of the most interesting ongoing debates in theblack community has been the impact of BET on the black community. There seems to be a 50/50 split between those who feel that BET is the embodiment ofMarcus Garvey’s dream of black empowerment and those who swear that the network is the worst thing to happen to black people since Amos and Andy. One has to admit that BET has been responsible for launching the careers of some of or best and brightest like Tavis Smiley and Ed Gordon. Not to mention giving birth to the first black billionaire Bob Johnson.However, BET is also responsible for making Snoop Dog and 50 Cent household names not to mention giving young black men a new national anthem called "We don't love them hoes.
And yes, one could argue that the network is responsible for such programming as BET News which gave a voice to concerns that the maintream felt were not important and Teen Summit which gave black children an intelligent alternative to a Saturday morning ride on the Soul Train. However, BET also was gave teenage boys a reason to set their alarm clocks to 2AM to watch an Xrated episode of BET Uncut and also provided black latch key kids with a sassy, trash talking cartoon VJ named "Miss Cita."We all have our fond and not so fond memories of BET.Which one of us, over 30, can deny rushing home from school everyday to watch Donnie Simpson and Sherrie Carter give us the best in black entertainment. Also, no one went out to play baseball until Chris Thomas"The Mayor of Rap City" declared our daily rap video meeting, ajourned. Who can’t recall staying up lateat night serenading our love interests while the unseen VJ played those sappy 80's, lovey dooveyvideos.
Those were the good old days when black folks took pride in just being black.
But this isn't 1987 and both black culture and BET have been on a downward spiral for years.
The politically conscious Hip Hop of 80's icons like Public Enemy has been replaced with songs of sex,murder and mayhem. Shows that motivated high school black children to go to college like the Cosby spinoff" A Different World" so that they could make something of themselves have been replaced by BET's reality show"College Hill" and Spring Bling which feature our future leaders in exotic places getting their "freakon.
"My how times have changed.
As BET prepares for its crown jewel, the June 26th 2007 BET awards, the eyes of a post Imus America will be on the network. I am sure that the Hip Hop hatin' bloggers who would normally be watching Fox NewsChannel will be tuned into BET with their Urban Slang Dictionaries and lap tops handy just waiting to pounce on the first rapper who says the dreaded "N"word or some funky equivalent. In all fairness, the award show has traditionally been one of the networks"classier" events. Who can forget Jada Pickett Smith's admonishing of a bunch of millionaire black folks not to act "ignant" at the 2005 awards show. This would have been really funny if she hadn't been dead serious. Despite its downfalls, millions of people will be watching the BET Awards which proves the network has yet to be fully excommunicated from the black community . Even those of us critics, just want BET to wipe theirfeet on the welcome mat before they enter our living rooms.
Min. Paul Scott is an activist and writer in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283
Min. Paul Scott
One of the most disrespectful things that you can do to a southern woman's house is to walk into her living room without first having the courtesy ie."home training” to wipe your feet on the welcome mat. Many a child hood friend has found himself banned from the premises for life for tracking mud on an immaculately clean carpet. For us black folks our culture has historically been our house and Black Entertainment Television has been that rotten little kid who tracks mud all over mama's rug without as much as an "I beg your pardon."
One of the most interesting ongoing debates in theblack community has been the impact of BET on the black community. There seems to be a 50/50 split between those who feel that BET is the embodiment ofMarcus Garvey’s dream of black empowerment and those who swear that the network is the worst thing to happen to black people since Amos and Andy. One has to admit that BET has been responsible for launching the careers of some of or best and brightest like Tavis Smiley and Ed Gordon. Not to mention giving birth to the first black billionaire Bob Johnson.However, BET is also responsible for making Snoop Dog and 50 Cent household names not to mention giving young black men a new national anthem called "We don't love them hoes.
And yes, one could argue that the network is responsible for such programming as BET News which gave a voice to concerns that the maintream felt were not important and Teen Summit which gave black children an intelligent alternative to a Saturday morning ride on the Soul Train. However, BET also was gave teenage boys a reason to set their alarm clocks to 2AM to watch an Xrated episode of BET Uncut and also provided black latch key kids with a sassy, trash talking cartoon VJ named "Miss Cita."We all have our fond and not so fond memories of BET.Which one of us, over 30, can deny rushing home from school everyday to watch Donnie Simpson and Sherrie Carter give us the best in black entertainment. Also, no one went out to play baseball until Chris Thomas"The Mayor of Rap City" declared our daily rap video meeting, ajourned. Who can’t recall staying up lateat night serenading our love interests while the unseen VJ played those sappy 80's, lovey dooveyvideos.
Those were the good old days when black folks took pride in just being black.
But this isn't 1987 and both black culture and BET have been on a downward spiral for years.
The politically conscious Hip Hop of 80's icons like Public Enemy has been replaced with songs of sex,murder and mayhem. Shows that motivated high school black children to go to college like the Cosby spinoff" A Different World" so that they could make something of themselves have been replaced by BET's reality show"College Hill" and Spring Bling which feature our future leaders in exotic places getting their "freakon.
"My how times have changed.
As BET prepares for its crown jewel, the June 26th 2007 BET awards, the eyes of a post Imus America will be on the network. I am sure that the Hip Hop hatin' bloggers who would normally be watching Fox NewsChannel will be tuned into BET with their Urban Slang Dictionaries and lap tops handy just waiting to pounce on the first rapper who says the dreaded "N"word or some funky equivalent. In all fairness, the award show has traditionally been one of the networks"classier" events. Who can forget Jada Pickett Smith's admonishing of a bunch of millionaire black folks not to act "ignant" at the 2005 awards show. This would have been really funny if she hadn't been dead serious. Despite its downfalls, millions of people will be watching the BET Awards which proves the network has yet to be fully excommunicated from the black community . Even those of us critics, just want BET to wipe theirfeet on the welcome mat before they enter our living rooms.
Min. Paul Scott is an activist and writer in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283
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