Below is a link to Chuck D's (of Public Enemy) Air America 7/12 On the Real Show.
Chuck and I discuss President Obama's trip to Africa at about the 5 minute mark:
http://airamerica.com/node/107925
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Good Ol' Brotha's Club
The Good Ole Brotha's Club:
The Manipulation of the Black Mind
Paul Scott
A few years ago, a movie came out called Barbershop that enraged many of the Civil Rights folks. In the film, Cedric the Entertainer's character, "Eddie" went on a tirade and started busting up many myths plaguing the black community such as how Rosa Parks was the first woman to stand up or sit down for Civil Rights and the belief that all black folks thought that OJ Simpson was innocent. Although the scene ticked off some Civil Rights leaders, to me, the moral of the story was very clear; all black folks don't think alike.
I thought about that movie, last week ,while listening to a popular nationally syndicated black radio commentator urging his listeners to bombard Fox and CNN with emails demanding that he and a couple of other guys get more airtime. Sadly, the short list of names that he gave were already the ones that serve as the "go to people" when it comes to interpreting black thought to the masses.
While many black folks complain about a "Good Ol' Boys" Club made up of white males with the same political ideology who have a monopoly on politics, economics and anything else that they wish to control, there also exists a "Good Ol' Brotha's" Club in the black community. This network is made up of a few black intellectuals and civil rights leaders who speak for all black folks.
Historically, white America has believed that all black people have the same collective ideology so they have never really needed more than one official spokesperson.
This goes back to the late 1800's with Booker T Washington, who was considered by many to be the first national black leader. Washington gained national prominence after he delivered his "Atlanta Compromise " speech during the Atlanta Cotton Exposition in 1895.
What was dangerous about Washington leadership was the creation of the Tuskegee Machine which was used to silence and in some cases crush any who were in opposition to his position.
In the introduction to Booker T Washington's "Up From Slavery," Louis R. Harlan described Washington's Tuskegee Machine as "a network of his supporters and lieutenants in every avenue of black life." He goes on to say that Washington controlled "the editorial policies of nearly all of the black weeklies through subsidies and in a few cases, outright ownership."
So you have the seeds planted of the shaping of black thought over a century today that continues with the Good Ol' Brotha's Club and their domination of the press; both black and white.
It must be noted that when one speaks of the "black press" it is not to be misinterpreted to mean those local media outlets that are allowing the grassroots to express their thoughts but the national press that for decades has served as the only "legitimate" voice of black America.
In his book "Black Bourgeoisie, " E. Franklin Frazier says this about the black press in 1957.
"Although, the Negro press declares itself to be the spokesman for the Negro group as a whole it represents, essentially, the interests and the outlook of the black bourgeoisie."
In that chapter, he refers to Ebony and Jet as part of this elite group, two magazines that are still shaping black thought in the 21st century.
As far as the white press, they just need one of the Good Ol' Brothas to measure the temperament of the black community after some provocative action on the part of white America. They just need to be warned when the natives are restless and what it will take to simmer them back down.
Now, I don't mean to knock the next man's hustle, as the members of the Good Ol' Brotha's Club have worked hard to get where they are. WEB DuBois faced this same delima when addressing the power of Booker T Washington in "The Souls of Black Folk" but came to the conclusion that
"the hushing of criticism of honest opponents is a dangerous thing."
It must be noted that what black people need is not spokesmen but master teachers to supply the black masses with information.
This is what has always frightened those in power, not an emotional people but a well informed people.
As much as members of the Good Ol' Brotha's Network claim that they are the most enlightened and "baddest brothers on the block," as Grandma used to say when I got too big for my britches, "as bad as you may think you are, there is always somebody else badder."
There are many scholars in the black community who are experts in their respective fields and although you may hear them online on Internet radio networks such as Harambee.com or LIBradio.com, they will never be allowed to rival the platform given the Good Ol' Brothas.
Why?
As comedian, Katt Williams would say , a Chrysler 300 looks just like a Rolls Royce Phantom until a Phantom pulls up beside it.
It must be noted that the best of us have always been the ones that will bring life changing information to the masses of black people or in other words the bravest among us tell black folks what white folks don't want us to know.
We need to establish more diversity of thought in the black community not for the benefit of white America but to elevate the consciousness of black people.
Even if it means crashing the next Good Ol' Brotha's party.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
The Manipulation of the Black Mind
Paul Scott
A few years ago, a movie came out called Barbershop that enraged many of the Civil Rights folks. In the film, Cedric the Entertainer's character, "Eddie" went on a tirade and started busting up many myths plaguing the black community such as how Rosa Parks was the first woman to stand up or sit down for Civil Rights and the belief that all black folks thought that OJ Simpson was innocent. Although the scene ticked off some Civil Rights leaders, to me, the moral of the story was very clear; all black folks don't think alike.
I thought about that movie, last week ,while listening to a popular nationally syndicated black radio commentator urging his listeners to bombard Fox and CNN with emails demanding that he and a couple of other guys get more airtime. Sadly, the short list of names that he gave were already the ones that serve as the "go to people" when it comes to interpreting black thought to the masses.
While many black folks complain about a "Good Ol' Boys" Club made up of white males with the same political ideology who have a monopoly on politics, economics and anything else that they wish to control, there also exists a "Good Ol' Brotha's" Club in the black community. This network is made up of a few black intellectuals and civil rights leaders who speak for all black folks.
Historically, white America has believed that all black people have the same collective ideology so they have never really needed more than one official spokesperson.
This goes back to the late 1800's with Booker T Washington, who was considered by many to be the first national black leader. Washington gained national prominence after he delivered his "Atlanta Compromise " speech during the Atlanta Cotton Exposition in 1895.
What was dangerous about Washington leadership was the creation of the Tuskegee Machine which was used to silence and in some cases crush any who were in opposition to his position.
In the introduction to Booker T Washington's "Up From Slavery," Louis R. Harlan described Washington's Tuskegee Machine as "a network of his supporters and lieutenants in every avenue of black life." He goes on to say that Washington controlled "the editorial policies of nearly all of the black weeklies through subsidies and in a few cases, outright ownership."
So you have the seeds planted of the shaping of black thought over a century today that continues with the Good Ol' Brotha's Club and their domination of the press; both black and white.
It must be noted that when one speaks of the "black press" it is not to be misinterpreted to mean those local media outlets that are allowing the grassroots to express their thoughts but the national press that for decades has served as the only "legitimate" voice of black America.
In his book "Black Bourgeoisie, " E. Franklin Frazier says this about the black press in 1957.
"Although, the Negro press declares itself to be the spokesman for the Negro group as a whole it represents, essentially, the interests and the outlook of the black bourgeoisie."
In that chapter, he refers to Ebony and Jet as part of this elite group, two magazines that are still shaping black thought in the 21st century.
As far as the white press, they just need one of the Good Ol' Brothas to measure the temperament of the black community after some provocative action on the part of white America. They just need to be warned when the natives are restless and what it will take to simmer them back down.
Now, I don't mean to knock the next man's hustle, as the members of the Good Ol' Brotha's Club have worked hard to get where they are. WEB DuBois faced this same delima when addressing the power of Booker T Washington in "The Souls of Black Folk" but came to the conclusion that
"the hushing of criticism of honest opponents is a dangerous thing."
It must be noted that what black people need is not spokesmen but master teachers to supply the black masses with information.
This is what has always frightened those in power, not an emotional people but a well informed people.
As much as members of the Good Ol' Brotha's Network claim that they are the most enlightened and "baddest brothers on the block," as Grandma used to say when I got too big for my britches, "as bad as you may think you are, there is always somebody else badder."
There are many scholars in the black community who are experts in their respective fields and although you may hear them online on Internet radio networks such as Harambee.com or LIBradio.com, they will never be allowed to rival the platform given the Good Ol' Brothas.
Why?
As comedian, Katt Williams would say , a Chrysler 300 looks just like a Rolls Royce Phantom until a Phantom pulls up beside it.
It must be noted that the best of us have always been the ones that will bring life changing information to the masses of black people or in other words the bravest among us tell black folks what white folks don't want us to know.
We need to establish more diversity of thought in the black community not for the benefit of white America but to elevate the consciousness of black people.
Even if it means crashing the next Good Ol' Brotha's party.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Introducing No Warning Shots Fired News
Starting today No Warning Shots Fired.com launches a daily news commentary by TRUTH Minista Paul Scott on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/nowarningshotsfired
The first edition is below:
No Warning Shots Fired News 7/12: Obama's Trip to Africa on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/nowarningshotsfired
The first edition is below:
No Warning Shots Fired News 7/12: Obama's Trip to Africa on youtube.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
NWSF Review: The International
I passed by such intellectually stimulating flicks like "The Pink Panther 2" and "Friday the 13th Part (whatever)" to catch "The International," yesterday. The movie is about a plot by an international bank to finance weapons of mass destruction. Not a bad movie if you can get past all the blood and guts and the excessive use of metaphors.
One of the key moments was the scene that talked about how the real goal of the banking industry is to put the whole world in debt.
You mean, every time I order a Soulja Boy cd online, I'm contributing to some global conspiracy?
Say it ain't so!
However based on the current state of the economy not too many people will argue with the fact that something stinks in Denmark. (One of the few cliches that they did not use in the film.)
While the movie was fictitious, the idea of an international conspiracy by banks to rule the world has been discussed for decades.
For a more in depth discussion of these theories read "None Dare Call it Conspiracy," by Gary Allen.
As a person of African decent, the part that caught my eye was the scene that dealt with the funding of revolutions in so called "third world countries." This is a theme that has played out in Africa under European colonialism many times in history. (Read "Africa in History" by Basil Davidson and "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney )
We are taught in this country that conflicts in Africa are the result of some Hip Hop- type "beefs" indicating that black folks just don't know how to get along anywhere on the planet. In reality, the conflicts among Africans, worldwide, are often manipulated by outside forces.
The movie will have you asking yourself, are there really people in this world evil enough to cause the suffering of millions of people just to make a buck?
Something to think about the next time you use your credit card to order that pepperoni pizza from Domino's.
One of the key moments was the scene that talked about how the real goal of the banking industry is to put the whole world in debt.
You mean, every time I order a Soulja Boy cd online, I'm contributing to some global conspiracy?
Say it ain't so!
However based on the current state of the economy not too many people will argue with the fact that something stinks in Denmark. (One of the few cliches that they did not use in the film.)
While the movie was fictitious, the idea of an international conspiracy by banks to rule the world has been discussed for decades.
For a more in depth discussion of these theories read "None Dare Call it Conspiracy," by Gary Allen.
As a person of African decent, the part that caught my eye was the scene that dealt with the funding of revolutions in so called "third world countries." This is a theme that has played out in Africa under European colonialism many times in history. (Read "Africa in History" by Basil Davidson and "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney )
We are taught in this country that conflicts in Africa are the result of some Hip Hop- type "beefs" indicating that black folks just don't know how to get along anywhere on the planet. In reality, the conflicts among Africans, worldwide, are often manipulated by outside forces.
The movie will have you asking yourself, are there really people in this world evil enough to cause the suffering of millions of people just to make a buck?
Something to think about the next time you use your credit card to order that pepperoni pizza from Domino's.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
NWSF Bullet: Dr. Sarah Palin on Africa
Last week the talking heads had a chuckle when reports circulated that Sarah Palin did not know that Africa is a continent...
Wow, what a news flash...
Let me let you in on a little secret. A lot of folks don't know that Africa is a continent. And quiet as it's kept, many black folks who spilled their Kool Aid laughing at homegirl couldn't name five countries in Africa, themselves.
Why? Because Africa is not really mentioned in this society and when it is, it is not shown in the best light. For most people, their vision of Africa comes straight from a Tarzan movie or one of those Sally Struthers "feed Ethiopia" commercials.
I can't remember learning too much about Africa in school, either. That is except for Black History Month when they taught about where slaves came from.
Not much talk about Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Egypt (Kemet), etc...
Do yourself a favor and pick up a book by Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan, Ivan Van Sertima or Basil Davidson about African history, this weekend.
Or until then, check out an article I wrote a few months back "Afrocentricty for Dummies (and other Conservatives)
http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2008/03/afrocentricity-for-dummies-and-other.html
Wow, what a news flash...
Let me let you in on a little secret. A lot of folks don't know that Africa is a continent. And quiet as it's kept, many black folks who spilled their Kool Aid laughing at homegirl couldn't name five countries in Africa, themselves.
Why? Because Africa is not really mentioned in this society and when it is, it is not shown in the best light. For most people, their vision of Africa comes straight from a Tarzan movie or one of those Sally Struthers "feed Ethiopia" commercials.
I can't remember learning too much about Africa in school, either. That is except for Black History Month when they taught about where slaves came from.
Not much talk about Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Egypt (Kemet), etc...
Do yourself a favor and pick up a book by Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan, Ivan Van Sertima or Basil Davidson about African history, this weekend.
Or until then, check out an article I wrote a few months back "Afrocentricty for Dummies (and other Conservatives)
http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2008/03/afrocentricity-for-dummies-and-other.html
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