Below is a clip to an article that I wrote in the 3/28 edition of the Durham News about the need for blogs.
http://www.thedurhamnews.com/viewpoints/story/194100.html
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Rock&Rape of Black Women
The Rock & Rape of Black Women
Min. Paul Scott
"Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good..like a black girl should."
The Rolling Stones
During my morning commute, I usually station surf to pass the time. As much as I like black radio, when I find myself deciphering Lil Wayne lyrics, it's time to turn the dial. Most of the time I'll luck up on an old Earth Wind and Fire jam to put me in a mellow mood, but yesterday, I heard something that made me throw on my breaks in the middle of a busy intersection; an oldies rock station was blasting a song that celebrated the rape of black girls...
Back in '71, Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones released a hit record called "Brown Sugar." The song begins with a lyric about a slave owner getting his thrills off of beating black women and raping them. He goes on to rejoice over how good sex with black women is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4O80NpnpHw&feature=related
I guess the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice.
Years later, since the black militants didn't snatch him off stage and beat his behind, he felt it safe to record "Some Girls" in which he, after talking about the materialistic attitudes of women of other nationalities, proudly proclaimed that "black girls just want to f*** all night."
The reason why a discussion over old Rock and Roll lyrics is relevant in 2009 is quite simple.
Although we have discussed the misogynistic lyrics of Hip Hop artists , for well over a decade, we have left rockers such as Mick Jagger out of the conversation. We call it disgraceful when a black male rapper makes a record calling a black woman a "ho" but when Lou Reed refers to black women as "colored girls" on "Walk on the Wild Side," we call that a classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pAE5G5OBzw
Does this mean that sistas shouldn't get upset when rappers see them only as "Ho's ?"
Of course they should.
But The Stones and 'em were dissin' sistas long before the Bad Boys made "Veronica" or Slick Rick first performed "Treat em Like a Prostitute."
Also, as social scientists such as Dr. Amos Wilson and Bobby Wright have taught us, we must trace the historical roots of the pathological behavior exhibited by some black men.
If we are to stop the misogynistic lyrics in Hip Hop, we must admit that the rappers are mimicking white men who have abused black women for hundreds of years with impunity.
The relationship between white men and black women has always been a taboo subject in the African America community.
Many in my generation never dared ask great grandma how she wound up with those green eyes and that buttermilk complexion as we sat around the Sunday dinner table. So, we just wrote it off as having some "Indian" in our family tree and continued grubbin'.
In reality, during slavery and into the early 20th century, many black women were raped by white men while their husbands cowered in corners. This feeling of helplessness resulted in misplaced aggression in black men in which they began to blame black women for being raped. This disorder has now manifested itself in the actions of their great, great grandsons.
While many of the relationships between white men and black women were forced, that was not always the case.
According to historian E. Franklin Frazier, in his book, "Black Bourgeoisie,"
"In giving themselves to their white masters, there were certain concrete advantages to be gained." These advantages ranged from better food and clothing to the possibility that their mulatto children would enjoy special privileges or even be emancipated.
So, maybe some black women actually felt honored that Jagger thought enough of them to shout them out on a record. Perhaps that is why, more recently, there was little fallout when a lost tape (Oh, Foolish Pride) by white rapper, Eminem, on which he disrespected black women, was discovered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDJDhVkRhtQ
What is most disturbing is that songs such as "Brown Sugar" are still played on the radio, today, without protest, while Hip Hop is under constant scrutiny.
Even though some may say that this is a case of digging up ancient history, there is no statute of limitations on the degradation of black women and Mick Jagger and the rest should be held accountable in the same manner as those wrinkled, old Nazi war criminals.
Most importantly, we, as black men, must fight against the abuse of black women in honor of our ancestors who couldn't.
We must never forget the horrors of that period of our history no matter how it is celebrated in song.
We must always remember, as Styles P once rapped,
"Even though my skin's kinda light that means my ancestors were raped by somebody white."
Min. Paul Scott is founder of the Messianic Afrikan Nation ministry in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919) 972-8305
info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Min. Paul Scott
"Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good..like a black girl should."
The Rolling Stones
During my morning commute, I usually station surf to pass the time. As much as I like black radio, when I find myself deciphering Lil Wayne lyrics, it's time to turn the dial. Most of the time I'll luck up on an old Earth Wind and Fire jam to put me in a mellow mood, but yesterday, I heard something that made me throw on my breaks in the middle of a busy intersection; an oldies rock station was blasting a song that celebrated the rape of black girls...
Back in '71, Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones released a hit record called "Brown Sugar." The song begins with a lyric about a slave owner getting his thrills off of beating black women and raping them. He goes on to rejoice over how good sex with black women is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4O80NpnpHw&feature=related
I guess the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice.
Years later, since the black militants didn't snatch him off stage and beat his behind, he felt it safe to record "Some Girls" in which he, after talking about the materialistic attitudes of women of other nationalities, proudly proclaimed that "black girls just want to f*** all night."
The reason why a discussion over old Rock and Roll lyrics is relevant in 2009 is quite simple.
Although we have discussed the misogynistic lyrics of Hip Hop artists , for well over a decade, we have left rockers such as Mick Jagger out of the conversation. We call it disgraceful when a black male rapper makes a record calling a black woman a "ho" but when Lou Reed refers to black women as "colored girls" on "Walk on the Wild Side," we call that a classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pAE5G5OBzw
Does this mean that sistas shouldn't get upset when rappers see them only as "Ho's ?"
Of course they should.
But The Stones and 'em were dissin' sistas long before the Bad Boys made "Veronica" or Slick Rick first performed "Treat em Like a Prostitute."
Also, as social scientists such as Dr. Amos Wilson and Bobby Wright have taught us, we must trace the historical roots of the pathological behavior exhibited by some black men.
If we are to stop the misogynistic lyrics in Hip Hop, we must admit that the rappers are mimicking white men who have abused black women for hundreds of years with impunity.
The relationship between white men and black women has always been a taboo subject in the African America community.
Many in my generation never dared ask great grandma how she wound up with those green eyes and that buttermilk complexion as we sat around the Sunday dinner table. So, we just wrote it off as having some "Indian" in our family tree and continued grubbin'.
In reality, during slavery and into the early 20th century, many black women were raped by white men while their husbands cowered in corners. This feeling of helplessness resulted in misplaced aggression in black men in which they began to blame black women for being raped. This disorder has now manifested itself in the actions of their great, great grandsons.
While many of the relationships between white men and black women were forced, that was not always the case.
According to historian E. Franklin Frazier, in his book, "Black Bourgeoisie,"
"In giving themselves to their white masters, there were certain concrete advantages to be gained." These advantages ranged from better food and clothing to the possibility that their mulatto children would enjoy special privileges or even be emancipated.
So, maybe some black women actually felt honored that Jagger thought enough of them to shout them out on a record. Perhaps that is why, more recently, there was little fallout when a lost tape (Oh, Foolish Pride) by white rapper, Eminem, on which he disrespected black women, was discovered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDJDhVkRhtQ
What is most disturbing is that songs such as "Brown Sugar" are still played on the radio, today, without protest, while Hip Hop is under constant scrutiny.
Even though some may say that this is a case of digging up ancient history, there is no statute of limitations on the degradation of black women and Mick Jagger and the rest should be held accountable in the same manner as those wrinkled, old Nazi war criminals.
Most importantly, we, as black men, must fight against the abuse of black women in honor of our ancestors who couldn't.
We must never forget the horrors of that period of our history no matter how it is celebrated in song.
We must always remember, as Styles P once rapped,
"Even though my skin's kinda light that means my ancestors were raped by somebody white."
Min. Paul Scott is founder of the Messianic Afrikan Nation ministry in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919) 972-8305
info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Bougie Bill Comes to Durham
Bougie Bill Comes to Durham:
Clash of the Classes
Paul Scott
Just like many folks of my generation, I grew up watching Bill Cosby.
I remember going to the local black movie theatre to see Cosby and Sidney Poitier in "Uptown Saturday Night" and its sequels. Not to mention the fond memories of my Saturday morning ritual of eatin' Frosted Flakes while being entertained by Fat Albert and his funky back up band The Cosby Kids performing their classic hits "Drugs are for Dummies" and "Don't Go Tellin' a Lie."
And anyone who says that they didn't alter their Thursday night schedule to watch "The Cosby Show" is a big fat liar.
However, in recent years the easy goin' comedian has transformed himself into the Blues Brother's shades wearin' Dr. William Cosby, crusader against bad parents and black boys wearin' their pants saggin', everywhere.
So, I'm not sure which Cosby is coming to the Durham Performing Arts Center, next weekend; the wise crackin' funny man or the stern schoolmaster with the verbal paddle.
My guess is the latter...
White folks will pay a lot of money to have someone save them the trouble of bad mouthin' black folks. Kinda like the record executive who pays rap artists to say the "N" word so he doesn't have to.
It's not that Cosby wasn't right in much of the criticism that he has levied at some black folks over the last couple of years. I ,for one ,can do without seein' another pair of dirty drawers when I go to the mall.
But like so many of his peers in the middle class they leave out the root causes of the pathological actions of African Americans, as well as the role that they have played in keepin' the masses ig'nant.
In 1957, E. Franklin Frazier wrote the controversial book "Black Bourgeoisie" in which he took shots at bougie black folks for their uppity behavior, saying that in trying to keep up with the Johansons, they separated themselves from the brothas and sistas in tha hood.
Coincidentally, Frazier says that in the early 20th century Durham NC was "the capital of the black bourgeoisie."
In Durham, as well as other cities, black folks don't like to talk about the "C" word. Stop anybody on the street and they will talk your ears off about racism but classism is a horse of a different color.
Never mind the fact that you have a division between the grassroots folks and the bougie folks who have their own bougie organizations, attend their own bougie churches and hang out at their own bougie clubs and do what ever the heck it is that bougie folks do.
They even have their own bougie radio talk show that only has bougie people on as guests talkin' about bougie issues.
We just don't like airing our dirty laundry when it comes to issues of class.
While on the surface there appears to be black unity in Durham when it comes to fighting for equal rights in reality, the upper class black folks call the shots and the grassroots activists are used as bargaining chips or attack dogs.
"OK Mr. Charlie, you can either negotiate with us sophisticated, college educated, BMW drivin' folks or you can deal with those fried chicken and collard green eatin' Negroes in the street..."
As Frazier points out in his book, as "radical" as the black bourgeoisie are supposed to be, they shy away from anything that does not lead to integration into white society.
According to Frazier "the black bourgeoisie have shown no interest in the 'liberation' of Negroes except as it affected their own status or acceptance by the white community."
In other words they ain't rockin' the boat for us poor black folks and risk losing their 2009 Cadillac Sevilles.
Herein, lies the problem with Cosby and the middle class cultural critics, they diagnose the sickness but do not have the ability or will to cure the illness.
In Dr. Bobby Wright's book ,"The Psychopathic Racial Personality," he critiques the limited scope of the works of black social scientists like Cosby's homie, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, by writing that he "ignores the widespread genocidal programs directed against Blacks and writes such trivia as 'The Difference Between Sex and Love,' Blacks and Jews an Appeal for Unity,' and 'Why Blacks Kill Blacks."
So, they give white folks the luxury to sleep good at night knowing that if every black kid in America does not live the life of "Theodore Huxtable," they have no one to blame but themselves and their parents.
As big a critic of Hip Hop as Bill Cosby and others pride themselves as being, one can only wonder why he did not fight harder to purchase NBC back in the day or why he and other rich black folks like Oprah Winfrey have not done more to break up the white media monopoly that is ultimately responsible for the messages that are sent over the airwaves to our children?
I guess like Ice Cube said in that classic scene from Boys in the Hood:
"Either they don't know, don't show or don't care what's goin' on in tha hood."
Paul Scott , writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Clash of the Classes
Paul Scott
Just like many folks of my generation, I grew up watching Bill Cosby.
I remember going to the local black movie theatre to see Cosby and Sidney Poitier in "Uptown Saturday Night" and its sequels. Not to mention the fond memories of my Saturday morning ritual of eatin' Frosted Flakes while being entertained by Fat Albert and his funky back up band The Cosby Kids performing their classic hits "Drugs are for Dummies" and "Don't Go Tellin' a Lie."
And anyone who says that they didn't alter their Thursday night schedule to watch "The Cosby Show" is a big fat liar.
However, in recent years the easy goin' comedian has transformed himself into the Blues Brother's shades wearin' Dr. William Cosby, crusader against bad parents and black boys wearin' their pants saggin', everywhere.
So, I'm not sure which Cosby is coming to the Durham Performing Arts Center, next weekend; the wise crackin' funny man or the stern schoolmaster with the verbal paddle.
My guess is the latter...
White folks will pay a lot of money to have someone save them the trouble of bad mouthin' black folks. Kinda like the record executive who pays rap artists to say the "N" word so he doesn't have to.
It's not that Cosby wasn't right in much of the criticism that he has levied at some black folks over the last couple of years. I ,for one ,can do without seein' another pair of dirty drawers when I go to the mall.
But like so many of his peers in the middle class they leave out the root causes of the pathological actions of African Americans, as well as the role that they have played in keepin' the masses ig'nant.
In 1957, E. Franklin Frazier wrote the controversial book "Black Bourgeoisie" in which he took shots at bougie black folks for their uppity behavior, saying that in trying to keep up with the Johansons, they separated themselves from the brothas and sistas in tha hood.
Coincidentally, Frazier says that in the early 20th century Durham NC was "the capital of the black bourgeoisie."
In Durham, as well as other cities, black folks don't like to talk about the "C" word. Stop anybody on the street and they will talk your ears off about racism but classism is a horse of a different color.
Never mind the fact that you have a division between the grassroots folks and the bougie folks who have their own bougie organizations, attend their own bougie churches and hang out at their own bougie clubs and do what ever the heck it is that bougie folks do.
They even have their own bougie radio talk show that only has bougie people on as guests talkin' about bougie issues.
We just don't like airing our dirty laundry when it comes to issues of class.
While on the surface there appears to be black unity in Durham when it comes to fighting for equal rights in reality, the upper class black folks call the shots and the grassroots activists are used as bargaining chips or attack dogs.
"OK Mr. Charlie, you can either negotiate with us sophisticated, college educated, BMW drivin' folks or you can deal with those fried chicken and collard green eatin' Negroes in the street..."
As Frazier points out in his book, as "radical" as the black bourgeoisie are supposed to be, they shy away from anything that does not lead to integration into white society.
According to Frazier "the black bourgeoisie have shown no interest in the 'liberation' of Negroes except as it affected their own status or acceptance by the white community."
In other words they ain't rockin' the boat for us poor black folks and risk losing their 2009 Cadillac Sevilles.
Herein, lies the problem with Cosby and the middle class cultural critics, they diagnose the sickness but do not have the ability or will to cure the illness.
In Dr. Bobby Wright's book ,"The Psychopathic Racial Personality," he critiques the limited scope of the works of black social scientists like Cosby's homie, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, by writing that he "ignores the widespread genocidal programs directed against Blacks and writes such trivia as 'The Difference Between Sex and Love,' Blacks and Jews an Appeal for Unity,' and 'Why Blacks Kill Blacks."
So, they give white folks the luxury to sleep good at night knowing that if every black kid in America does not live the life of "Theodore Huxtable," they have no one to blame but themselves and their parents.
As big a critic of Hip Hop as Bill Cosby and others pride themselves as being, one can only wonder why he did not fight harder to purchase NBC back in the day or why he and other rich black folks like Oprah Winfrey have not done more to break up the white media monopoly that is ultimately responsible for the messages that are sent over the airwaves to our children?
I guess like Ice Cube said in that classic scene from Boys in the Hood:
"Either they don't know, don't show or don't care what's goin' on in tha hood."
Paul Scott , writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Thursday, March 19, 2009
NWSF Presents: Operation MEDIA Workshop
Operation MEDIA is a workshop conducted by Paul Scott "Hip Hop TRUTH Minista" structured to help community groups and activists develop media stratagies to get their messages out to the world in cost effective ways. He will also discuss ways in which negative media images impact the self esteem of African American children.
Scott has appeared on talk shows across the world including Hannity and Colmes (Fox News), Fox News Live, Nachman (MSNBC), Hot 97 (NY), The Bev. Smith Show, Mancow Morning Show, Mike Medved Show, Russ Parr Morning Show, Mo in the Midday WVON (Chicago), Tom Pope Show (DC) Newstalk 1010 (Toronto) and SAfm (South Africa).
For more information contact (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Scott has appeared on talk shows across the world including Hannity and Colmes (Fox News), Fox News Live, Nachman (MSNBC), Hot 97 (NY), The Bev. Smith Show, Mancow Morning Show, Mike Medved Show, Russ Parr Morning Show, Mo in the Midday WVON (Chicago), Tom Pope Show (DC) Newstalk 1010 (Toronto) and SAfm (South Africa).
For more information contact (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
NWSF Presents: The IMANI Workshop
Paul Scott "Hip Hop TRUTH Minista" has been a community activist since 1991. During this period, he has lead various campaigns against things that negatively affect children.
In 1997 he lead a sucessful campaign against Phat Boy Malt Liquor which was a 40 oz that seemed to target the Hip Hop Generation.
During the IMANI (Inspiring Men to Act Against Negative Influences) workshop, Scott will help community organizations and concerned citizens develop strategies to combat negative influences that threaten our youth.
For more information contact : (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
In 1997 he lead a sucessful campaign against Phat Boy Malt Liquor which was a 40 oz that seemed to target the Hip Hop Generation.
During the IMANI (Inspiring Men to Act Against Negative Influences) workshop, Scott will help community organizations and concerned citizens develop strategies to combat negative influences that threaten our youth.
For more information contact : (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
NWSF Flashback 1997
Back in '97 I did an interview with the Straight From the Crate Crew (Mike Nice and Bro Rabb) about violence in my city back when the movement was called "Inspiring Men to Act Against Negative Influences."
The more things change, the more they stay the same....
The clip is included in the article below.
(My interview is the first clip)
http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/391326.html
The more things change, the more they stay the same....
The clip is included in the article below.
(My interview is the first clip)
http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/391326.html
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
TRUTH Minista on Critical Times Radio
Below is a link to the interview I did with Critical Times on WMNF in Florida.
To hear my interview, click on the 2/22 archive. I come on at about the 26 minute mark.
http://www.wmnf.org/programs/367
To hear my interview, click on the 2/22 archive. I come on at about the 26 minute mark.
http://www.wmnf.org/programs/367
NWSF Presents: New Hip Hop Workshop
No Warning Shots Fired.com presents "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Hip Hop (but were afraid that someone would shoot you if you asked.)
During the workshop/interactive lecture, TRUTH Minista Paul Scott will engage the audience with a historical, socio-political discussion of Hip Hop from its origins to the present.
The workshop will focus on ways for parents, teachers and concerned community members to get a better understanding of Hip Hop, detailing the pros and the cons.
For more information contact (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
During the workshop/interactive lecture, TRUTH Minista Paul Scott will engage the audience with a historical, socio-political discussion of Hip Hop from its origins to the present.
The workshop will focus on ways for parents, teachers and concerned community members to get a better understanding of Hip Hop, detailing the pros and the cons.
For more information contact (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Thursday, March 12, 2009
TRUTH Minista on WBAI 3/12
I am scheduled to be on "Education at the Crossroads w/Basir Mchawi" (WBAI 99.5 FM NYC) along with Dr. Marc Imhotep Cray at 7:30 PM 3/12 to discuss the upcoming Harlem debate "Is Hip Hop Good for Black Folks.
To listen go to
http://stream.wbai.org/
To listen go to
http://stream.wbai.org/
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Protectin' the Prez
Protectin' the Prez
Paul Scott
There is an old comedy skit where a well meaning boy scout tries to help a little old lady across a busy street. After finally assuring the frightened woman that he can safely get her to her destination he pulls her through heavy traffic, dodging traffic and finally arrives on the opposite sidewalk. Problem was, the old lady wasn't trying to cross the street in the first place and rewarded the boy scout's good dead with a mighty beat down with her over sized pocket book.
I thought about that when I heard Sybil from the Tom Joyner Morning show givin' the business to the top dog of Barnes and Nobles Bookstore, yesterday.
http://essence.typepad.com/news/2009/03/martin-tjms-bar.html
In case you're one of the only two African Americans who didn't get the email that has been floatin' around for the last week, here's the deal.
Supposedly, some prankster in Florida thought it would be a real hoot to put a book about monkeys in the midst of a President Obama Barnes and Nobles book display.
Needless to say, black folks were not amused.
So, responding to threats of an email generated boycott, Len Riggio, chairman of the bookstore chain went on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to try to calm the natives.
(didn't work...)
Sybil put dude on blast and strongly suggested that Barnes and Nobles, immediately, put security gates and armed guards around book displays at every Barnes and Noble in America, or else!
(or somethin' to that effect)
This raises the question,
"Are black folks a little too protective of President Obama; a man who has made it crystal clear that he has magically transcended the boundaries of race ?"
Since the last election, African Americans have gotten mad about everything from a cartoon of a monkey to a tasty treat called "drunken head negro cookies."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW-92o0OmNU
Also, I've heard otherwise nonviolent black folks threaten to beat anyone' s behind who has the nerve to call Mr. President by his government name.
I guess being the first (reluctantly) black president has its perks, like having a 12 million man secret service force ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.
Forget about anything bad happening to the Prez, as black folks will engage in actions that will make the "riots" in Detroit, Watts and LA look like a picnic if anyone dares to lay a hand on Barack Obama.
However, fighting to protect President Obama's honor is just as futile as trying to get Martin Luther King Jr's blessing to punch some dude in the mouth for calling the good Rev the "N" word.
Obama is as committed to this post racial thing as King was to nonviolence.
The problem is that as long as black folks continue to take the blows for him, he will not have face the lingering reality of racism.
So while we're out there fightin' in the streets against anyone who dares to diss the Prez, he gets to stay in his fantasy world where we all get along and the Starbucks never close.
Sadly, his political moves will also reflect that ideology. Already we have seen the US threaten not to attend the upcoming World Conference on Racism and the Supreme Court put a limit on the Voting Rights Act.
So, Barack Obama has become the "Tony Romo" of politics. He seems to think that just because he has a strong offensive line it means that the defense of the Washington Racists isn't trying to sack him for a loss of 20 years of the advancement for black folks.
So he underestimates his opponents and what should have been a winning season ends with a series of disappointing losses.
Experience is the best teacher and unless we allow the President to experience some of the ugly realities of race that we experience everyday, he will never grow into the great statesman that we believe he can be...
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com (919) 451-8283
Paul Scott
There is an old comedy skit where a well meaning boy scout tries to help a little old lady across a busy street. After finally assuring the frightened woman that he can safely get her to her destination he pulls her through heavy traffic, dodging traffic and finally arrives on the opposite sidewalk. Problem was, the old lady wasn't trying to cross the street in the first place and rewarded the boy scout's good dead with a mighty beat down with her over sized pocket book.
I thought about that when I heard Sybil from the Tom Joyner Morning show givin' the business to the top dog of Barnes and Nobles Bookstore, yesterday.
http://essence.typepad.com/news/2009/03/martin-tjms-bar.html
In case you're one of the only two African Americans who didn't get the email that has been floatin' around for the last week, here's the deal.
Supposedly, some prankster in Florida thought it would be a real hoot to put a book about monkeys in the midst of a President Obama Barnes and Nobles book display.
Needless to say, black folks were not amused.
So, responding to threats of an email generated boycott, Len Riggio, chairman of the bookstore chain went on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to try to calm the natives.
(didn't work...)
Sybil put dude on blast and strongly suggested that Barnes and Nobles, immediately, put security gates and armed guards around book displays at every Barnes and Noble in America, or else!
(or somethin' to that effect)
This raises the question,
"Are black folks a little too protective of President Obama; a man who has made it crystal clear that he has magically transcended the boundaries of race ?"
Since the last election, African Americans have gotten mad about everything from a cartoon of a monkey to a tasty treat called "drunken head negro cookies."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW-92o0OmNU
Also, I've heard otherwise nonviolent black folks threaten to beat anyone' s behind who has the nerve to call Mr. President by his government name.
I guess being the first (reluctantly) black president has its perks, like having a 12 million man secret service force ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.
Forget about anything bad happening to the Prez, as black folks will engage in actions that will make the "riots" in Detroit, Watts and LA look like a picnic if anyone dares to lay a hand on Barack Obama.
However, fighting to protect President Obama's honor is just as futile as trying to get Martin Luther King Jr's blessing to punch some dude in the mouth for calling the good Rev the "N" word.
Obama is as committed to this post racial thing as King was to nonviolence.
The problem is that as long as black folks continue to take the blows for him, he will not have face the lingering reality of racism.
So while we're out there fightin' in the streets against anyone who dares to diss the Prez, he gets to stay in his fantasy world where we all get along and the Starbucks never close.
Sadly, his political moves will also reflect that ideology. Already we have seen the US threaten not to attend the upcoming World Conference on Racism and the Supreme Court put a limit on the Voting Rights Act.
So, Barack Obama has become the "Tony Romo" of politics. He seems to think that just because he has a strong offensive line it means that the defense of the Washington Racists isn't trying to sack him for a loss of 20 years of the advancement for black folks.
So he underestimates his opponents and what should have been a winning season ends with a series of disappointing losses.
Experience is the best teacher and unless we allow the President to experience some of the ugly realities of race that we experience everyday, he will never grow into the great statesman that we believe he can be...
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com (919) 451-8283
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Let's Hear it for the Boyz
Let's Hear it for the Boyz:
The Need for Black Male Empowerment
Paul Scott
For the last 10 years, Radio One has sponsored an event in Raleigh NC called, "Women's Empowerment," where sistas from across the country gather to discuss everything from baby's daddy drama to gettin' their hair and nails "did."
So every year, socially conscious brothas, like myself, play the Left out Lamont" role. We always find ourselves asking,
"What about us? Can the bothas get some empowerment out of this piece?"
Don't get me wrong. I think that black women gettin' empowered is a beautiful thing and since it happens around NCAA basketball championship time it gives the fellas a whole day of peace and quiet.
But as I look around my community where black men darn near 30 are still walking around with their pants saggin' sippin' on 40 ounces...If anyone needs some motivation, it's us.
Although, conventional wisdom seems to say that black men will not show up for any event that doesn't involve some woman slidin' down a pole or a dude shootin' a ball in a hoop, history paints a different picture.
I am sure that those weren't all women who showed up by the thousands at Marcus Garvey's rallies back in the 1920's. And didn't well over a million black men show up in Washington DC just over 10 years ago?
So, black men will show up for a worthy cause. As the old saying goes, "build it and they will come."
This begs the question, couldn't somebody rub a few nickles together and have a Male Empowerment meeting once a year?
And I'm not talkin' about some Dr. Phil type action where brothas sit around rappin' about self esteem issues. I'm talking about real issues facing African American men socially, politically and economically.
It seems pretty simple, they could rent a venue and hire someone to speak like lil Wayne...
Um.. scratch that...
They could get somebody like Professor Griff to keynote.
Maybe, the failure to do so has something to do with the historical fear of more than two black men gathering in the same place.
Not to say that we would turn such an event into an insurrection but as the old heads would say the issue of "how to get the white man's foot off of our collective necks" would be the topic of at least one of the panels.
Perhaps the moral of the story is that it should not be left up to corporate sponsors to put on a Black Male Empowerment meeting. Maybe this great exercise in black male bonding should take place every day in hoods across America.
After all, that is the place where empowerment is needed the most.
Isn't it?
Paul Scott, the "TRUTH Minista" writes for "No Warning Shots Fired.com" He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
The Need for Black Male Empowerment
Paul Scott
For the last 10 years, Radio One has sponsored an event in Raleigh NC called, "Women's Empowerment," where sistas from across the country gather to discuss everything from baby's daddy drama to gettin' their hair and nails "did."
So every year, socially conscious brothas, like myself, play the Left out Lamont" role. We always find ourselves asking,
"What about us? Can the bothas get some empowerment out of this piece?"
Don't get me wrong. I think that black women gettin' empowered is a beautiful thing and since it happens around NCAA basketball championship time it gives the fellas a whole day of peace and quiet.
But as I look around my community where black men darn near 30 are still walking around with their pants saggin' sippin' on 40 ounces...If anyone needs some motivation, it's us.
Although, conventional wisdom seems to say that black men will not show up for any event that doesn't involve some woman slidin' down a pole or a dude shootin' a ball in a hoop, history paints a different picture.
I am sure that those weren't all women who showed up by the thousands at Marcus Garvey's rallies back in the 1920's. And didn't well over a million black men show up in Washington DC just over 10 years ago?
So, black men will show up for a worthy cause. As the old saying goes, "build it and they will come."
This begs the question, couldn't somebody rub a few nickles together and have a Male Empowerment meeting once a year?
And I'm not talkin' about some Dr. Phil type action where brothas sit around rappin' about self esteem issues. I'm talking about real issues facing African American men socially, politically and economically.
It seems pretty simple, they could rent a venue and hire someone to speak like lil Wayne...
Um.. scratch that...
They could get somebody like Professor Griff to keynote.
Maybe, the failure to do so has something to do with the historical fear of more than two black men gathering in the same place.
Not to say that we would turn such an event into an insurrection but as the old heads would say the issue of "how to get the white man's foot off of our collective necks" would be the topic of at least one of the panels.
Perhaps the moral of the story is that it should not be left up to corporate sponsors to put on a Black Male Empowerment meeting. Maybe this great exercise in black male bonding should take place every day in hoods across America.
After all, that is the place where empowerment is needed the most.
Isn't it?
Paul Scott, the "TRUTH Minista" writes for "No Warning Shots Fired.com" He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
NWSF Announcement: Black Culture Bailout Tour Comes to NY
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott will bring the Black Culture Bailout Tour to New York City next weekend. He is scheduled to take part in the Great Debate #4 "Is Hip Hop Good for Black Folks" 3/15 in Harlem NY.
http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post.html
Last February, Scott started the Black History Bailout Tour (now the Black Culture Bailout Tour) to raise awareness about the need to preserve black culture in the "Obama Age" when many people are saying that we are living in a "post racial America."
For more info on the Black Culture Bailout Tour contact (919) 451-8283
info@nowarningshotsfired.com
http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post.html
Last February, Scott started the Black History Bailout Tour (now the Black Culture Bailout Tour) to raise awareness about the need to preserve black culture in the "Obama Age" when many people are saying that we are living in a "post racial America."
For more info on the Black Culture Bailout Tour contact (919) 451-8283
info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Friday, March 6, 2009
NWSF Bullet: Game Over?
According to news reports, NC Senator Charlie Albertson has introduced a bill to the NC General Assembly that will ban athletic programs at schools that are not up to par, academically.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4670150/
NC Senate Bill 377 aims to:
"prohibit participation in interscholastic athletic activities at schools at which a majority of the students are below the fiftieth percentile on end-of-course and end-of-grade tests for two or more consecutive years."
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S377v0.pdf
Wow, that's heavy stuff!
I gotta say that I believe that something has to be done to make kids put down the iphone and pick up a book. However, I don't think that turning the varsity football team into a band of outlaws is the answer.
Albertson seems to make the assumption that if you flatten all the basketballs at the local high school then Lil Tyrone is going to be magically transformed into a straight A student.
I hate to come off sounding like Dana Carvey's George H Bush skit from Saturday Night Live but...
"Not prudent...Not gonna happen..."
Most schools already have some sort of standards which players must meet ,so the athletic programs actually encourage children to stay on the right track.
That is not to say that for many kids, especially black children, athletic participation has not been overrated. Too many of our children see shootin' ball as a ticket out of the ghetto.
Also, some may argue that many black young men have been exploited by greedy agents and over zealous recruiters. This is especially a concern in a day when folks are trying to allow recruiters to start eye ballin' potential recruits as early as the 7th grade.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2008-10-30-ncaa-7thgraders_N.htm
However, you do not have to take away athletic activities in order to raise the academic proficiency level of NC schools. There are other ways to achieve this goal.
Bannin' B-ball will only take away one of the few outlets available to keep children off the streets.
Sen. Albertson must remember that the kid who is kicked off the football field today could be the same kid kickin' in your back door, tomorrow.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4670150/
NC Senate Bill 377 aims to:
"prohibit participation in interscholastic athletic activities at schools at which a majority of the students are below the fiftieth percentile on end-of-course and end-of-grade tests for two or more consecutive years."
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S377v0.pdf
Wow, that's heavy stuff!
I gotta say that I believe that something has to be done to make kids put down the iphone and pick up a book. However, I don't think that turning the varsity football team into a band of outlaws is the answer.
Albertson seems to make the assumption that if you flatten all the basketballs at the local high school then Lil Tyrone is going to be magically transformed into a straight A student.
I hate to come off sounding like Dana Carvey's George H Bush skit from Saturday Night Live but...
"Not prudent...Not gonna happen..."
Most schools already have some sort of standards which players must meet ,so the athletic programs actually encourage children to stay on the right track.
That is not to say that for many kids, especially black children, athletic participation has not been overrated. Too many of our children see shootin' ball as a ticket out of the ghetto.
Also, some may argue that many black young men have been exploited by greedy agents and over zealous recruiters. This is especially a concern in a day when folks are trying to allow recruiters to start eye ballin' potential recruits as early as the 7th grade.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2008-10-30-ncaa-7thgraders_N.htm
However, you do not have to take away athletic activities in order to raise the academic proficiency level of NC schools. There are other ways to achieve this goal.
Bannin' B-ball will only take away one of the few outlets available to keep children off the streets.
Sen. Albertson must remember that the kid who is kicked off the football field today could be the same kid kickin' in your back door, tomorrow.
NWSF Bullet: Lil Wayne and Low SAT Scores
There is a story circulating on the Internat about how kids who listen to Lil Wayne have lower SAT scores.
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/02/27/books-and-music-that-make-you-dumb/
Those who read No Warning Shots Fired.com know that "Mis-Education" was our theme last August.
The clips discussing mis-education via Hip Hop are lised below:
http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2008/08/is-hip-hop-mentally-challenged-music.html
http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2008/08/mis-education-of-black-children.html
http://www.flashnews.com/news/wfn3080811J2197.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/02/27/books-and-music-that-make-you-dumb/
Those who read No Warning Shots Fired.com know that "Mis-Education" was our theme last August.
The clips discussing mis-education via Hip Hop are lised below:
http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2008/08/is-hip-hop-mentally-challenged-music.html
http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2008/08/mis-education-of-black-children.html
http://www.flashnews.com/news/wfn3080811J2197.html
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
NWSF Exclusive: It Takes a Village to Raise a Criminal
It takes a village to raise a child.
Yeah, we've all heard that repeated ad nauseum since Hillary Clinton dropped the line and attributed it to an old African proverb over a decade ago.
Maybe it's just me but when non African descended folks start quotin' African proverbs they start to have as much validity as those old school Calgon Detergent , "ancient Chinese secret" commercials.
Just ain't all that convincing when folks turn ancient wisdom into worn out cliches and marketing schemes.
So, in 2009 Durham writer and resident clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer "Dr. Jenn" Rounds-Bryant has flipped the script and released the controversial book, " It Takes a Village to Raise a Criminal."
The book deals with the issue of why some of our children are failing, academically and turning to criminal behavior.
Although, most people would assume that Dr. Jenn, would be on the "Durham is full of gang bangers" bandwagon tip in order to push a few books, she says that only one paragraph deals with gangsta-ism as it is just a small piece of a bigger problem.
Round -Bryant states that we miss an opportunity to reach youth who are attracted to the street lifestyle when we focus on gang perspectives rather than adolescent youth behavior.
She says that this negative behavior doesn't start when middle school kids start rushing home to watch "106 and Park" on BET but it starts at kindergarten age when they should be watching Sesame Street.
According to the book, many of our children are simply not prepared to enter into the school system.
In other words, when your five year old cusses Ms. Johnson out for calling him Raymond Johnson Jr. instead of his "real name," "Lil Ray Ray," that could signal a problem that you might want to get a handle on.
Writers such as Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu have alleged in the past that the failure of black youth in the school system is not an accident but part of a....dare I say it...Conspiracy. Round-Bryant seems to concur.
According to her book, some children are deliberately left behind in order to preserve the status quo and to develop a kind of Capitalist classroom caste system or permanent underclass.
She points to grade retention as one of the major culprits, as the system is set up to kill spirit and motivation before a child reaches the 4th grade. This as a type of ethnic classroom cleansing to get rid of the undesirables who could lower test scores and in effect reduce money from the Feds.
In the book, she also points a finger at the welfare system saying that " Children whose mothers receive assistance with basic needs are stigmatized, have few resources, and often experience the associated low-stimulation environment that is correlated with difficulty learning, school failure, and criminal behavior."
Dr. Jenn further makes a point of saying that the "criminal justice system is a safety net for untreated mental illness," a disease that is rarely talked about in the African American community as many are quick to write those who commit crimes off as simply naughty by nature.
Her book also says that jails are really finishing schools for criminals which give away certificates of street cred in lieu of graduation diplomas.
Lastly, Round-Bryant takes aim at America's faith institutions by saying that they have played a role in the criminalization of children by not addressing issues such as domestic violence.
It Takes a Village to Raise a Criminal," sadly points out the fact that we, as members of the proverbial village ,are caught up in a vicious cycle. It all goes back to the simple economic principle of supply and demand.
We supply the criminals and they supply the jails.
Dr. Jennifer Rounds Bryant will give a public lecture on her book March 12th at 6PM at the Stanford L. Warren Library 1201 Fayetteville St in Durham NC.
For more information, visit her site http://www.5uglyfacts.com/
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com
Yeah, we've all heard that repeated ad nauseum since Hillary Clinton dropped the line and attributed it to an old African proverb over a decade ago.
Maybe it's just me but when non African descended folks start quotin' African proverbs they start to have as much validity as those old school Calgon Detergent , "ancient Chinese secret" commercials.
Just ain't all that convincing when folks turn ancient wisdom into worn out cliches and marketing schemes.
So, in 2009 Durham writer and resident clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer "Dr. Jenn" Rounds-Bryant has flipped the script and released the controversial book, " It Takes a Village to Raise a Criminal."
The book deals with the issue of why some of our children are failing, academically and turning to criminal behavior.
Although, most people would assume that Dr. Jenn, would be on the "Durham is full of gang bangers" bandwagon tip in order to push a few books, she says that only one paragraph deals with gangsta-ism as it is just a small piece of a bigger problem.
Round -Bryant states that we miss an opportunity to reach youth who are attracted to the street lifestyle when we focus on gang perspectives rather than adolescent youth behavior.
She says that this negative behavior doesn't start when middle school kids start rushing home to watch "106 and Park" on BET but it starts at kindergarten age when they should be watching Sesame Street.
According to the book, many of our children are simply not prepared to enter into the school system.
In other words, when your five year old cusses Ms. Johnson out for calling him Raymond Johnson Jr. instead of his "real name," "Lil Ray Ray," that could signal a problem that you might want to get a handle on.
Writers such as Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu have alleged in the past that the failure of black youth in the school system is not an accident but part of a....dare I say it...Conspiracy. Round-Bryant seems to concur.
According to her book, some children are deliberately left behind in order to preserve the status quo and to develop a kind of Capitalist classroom caste system or permanent underclass.
She points to grade retention as one of the major culprits, as the system is set up to kill spirit and motivation before a child reaches the 4th grade. This as a type of ethnic classroom cleansing to get rid of the undesirables who could lower test scores and in effect reduce money from the Feds.
In the book, she also points a finger at the welfare system saying that " Children whose mothers receive assistance with basic needs are stigmatized, have few resources, and often experience the associated low-stimulation environment that is correlated with difficulty learning, school failure, and criminal behavior."
Dr. Jenn further makes a point of saying that the "criminal justice system is a safety net for untreated mental illness," a disease that is rarely talked about in the African American community as many are quick to write those who commit crimes off as simply naughty by nature.
Her book also says that jails are really finishing schools for criminals which give away certificates of street cred in lieu of graduation diplomas.
Lastly, Round-Bryant takes aim at America's faith institutions by saying that they have played a role in the criminalization of children by not addressing issues such as domestic violence.
It Takes a Village to Raise a Criminal," sadly points out the fact that we, as members of the proverbial village ,are caught up in a vicious cycle. It all goes back to the simple economic principle of supply and demand.
We supply the criminals and they supply the jails.
Dr. Jennifer Rounds Bryant will give a public lecture on her book March 12th at 6PM at the Stanford L. Warren Library 1201 Fayetteville St in Durham NC.
For more information, visit her site http://www.5uglyfacts.com/
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Hip Hop's Judgement Day
Hip Hop's Judgement Day
Paul Scott
For everything there is a season; a Day of Reckoning; a Judgement Day. Now it's Hip Hop's turn.
On March 15th in Harlem NY, some of the greatest Pan_ African thinkers will gather to put to rest once and for all, the matter of, "Is Hip Hop Good for Black Folks ?"
While the issue of the positive and negative nature of Hip Hop has been discussed for over 20 years, rarely has this topic been entertained from an Afrocentric point of view. Therefore, most Hip Hop discussions have never ventured far beyond the topics of "dirt words" and "young men pulling their pants up."
Consequently, the view of Hip Hop through an Afrocentric prism has been clouded by the European concept of morality and its many contradictions.
While some may blame the failure to tackle this issue on black youth, in actuality, the reason for this breakdown in communication is multifaceted.
First, while writers such as WEB Dubois wrote extensively about the duality of race and the idea of being both African and American, simultaneously, they never had to deal with members of a "Hip Hop Generation," who have to struggle with the concepts of being "Hip Hop," African and American even when these concepts are diametrically opposed to each other.
Secondly, the elders of the community greatly underestimated the cultural impact that Hip Hop would have on the world during the early days of its conception. What many people considered noise or just a temporary fad in black music in the early 80's,within a decade had morphed into a cultural juggernaut that began to eclipse both the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. What was thought to be a passing phase had now begun to shape the perception of African people, globally and had moved from the arena of entertainment to become a major social, economic and political force.
Thirdly, although many in the black community misjudged the longevity of the pseudo-culture, corporate entities latched on to the Hip Hop movement and turned what began as two turntables and a microphone into a multi -national billion dollar business. While during the early 80's there was a possibility to appeal to the consciousness of the early practitioners of the art form, by the mid 90's the seductive lure of Capitalism had made the success of such appeals improbable.
Perhaps most troubling is the fact that the Pan African community has not held a plebiscite to construct an official position to define Hip Hop from a Pan Africanist point of view. Without a solid consensus, there was no scale available to weigh in the balance the deeds of Hip Hop artists versus the key attributes of African culture/spirituality . It was allowed to become all things to all people and since the majority of those
financially supporting the art form were white middle class Americans, Hip Hop began to reflect either their world view or their warped perceptions of what it meant to be black in America.
In 2009, the black community finds itself at a crossroad. Where we go from here culturally, economically and spiritually depends on the outcomes of events like the Great Harlem debates.
On March 15th, we raise the issue, Iis Hip Hop good or bad for black people?"
The answer we give will determine the destiny of a generation.
(The Great Debate 4 " Is Hip Hop Good for Black folks" is sponsored by CEMOTAP and will be held at 3PM March 15th at Salem United Methodist Church . For more information contact (347) 531-8936
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
Paul Scott
For everything there is a season; a Day of Reckoning; a Judgement Day. Now it's Hip Hop's turn.
On March 15th in Harlem NY, some of the greatest Pan_ African thinkers will gather to put to rest once and for all, the matter of, "Is Hip Hop Good for Black Folks ?"
While the issue of the positive and negative nature of Hip Hop has been discussed for over 20 years, rarely has this topic been entertained from an Afrocentric point of view. Therefore, most Hip Hop discussions have never ventured far beyond the topics of "dirt words" and "young men pulling their pants up."
Consequently, the view of Hip Hop through an Afrocentric prism has been clouded by the European concept of morality and its many contradictions.
While some may blame the failure to tackle this issue on black youth, in actuality, the reason for this breakdown in communication is multifaceted.
First, while writers such as WEB Dubois wrote extensively about the duality of race and the idea of being both African and American, simultaneously, they never had to deal with members of a "Hip Hop Generation," who have to struggle with the concepts of being "Hip Hop," African and American even when these concepts are diametrically opposed to each other.
Secondly, the elders of the community greatly underestimated the cultural impact that Hip Hop would have on the world during the early days of its conception. What many people considered noise or just a temporary fad in black music in the early 80's,within a decade had morphed into a cultural juggernaut that began to eclipse both the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. What was thought to be a passing phase had now begun to shape the perception of African people, globally and had moved from the arena of entertainment to become a major social, economic and political force.
Thirdly, although many in the black community misjudged the longevity of the pseudo-culture, corporate entities latched on to the Hip Hop movement and turned what began as two turntables and a microphone into a multi -national billion dollar business. While during the early 80's there was a possibility to appeal to the consciousness of the early practitioners of the art form, by the mid 90's the seductive lure of Capitalism had made the success of such appeals improbable.
Perhaps most troubling is the fact that the Pan African community has not held a plebiscite to construct an official position to define Hip Hop from a Pan Africanist point of view. Without a solid consensus, there was no scale available to weigh in the balance the deeds of Hip Hop artists versus the key attributes of African culture/spirituality . It was allowed to become all things to all people and since the majority of those
financially supporting the art form were white middle class Americans, Hip Hop began to reflect either their world view or their warped perceptions of what it meant to be black in America.
In 2009, the black community finds itself at a crossroad. Where we go from here culturally, economically and spiritually depends on the outcomes of events like the Great Harlem debates.
On March 15th, we raise the issue, Iis Hip Hop good or bad for black people?"
The answer we give will determine the destiny of a generation.
(The Great Debate 4 " Is Hip Hop Good for Black folks" is sponsored by CEMOTAP and will be held at 3PM March 15th at Salem United Methodist Church . For more information contact (347) 531-8936
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
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