Tonight, the NAACP passed a resolution against the Tea Party 's racism. Of course, the Tea Baggers ,vehemently, denied the accusation.
"Me a racist...forgetaboutit. I brought the first pair of Air Jordan sneakers when they came out and that first MC Hammer album was off the hook!"
As usual when it comes to the issue of race in America, we don't get the right answers because we don't ask the right questions.
Before you call out people for being racists, first you should ask them if racism still exists. Because if they say that racism ended when Lincoln gave his Emancipation Proclamation, or when Martin Luther King told America about his dream. Or when Hallie Berry won an Oscar for Monsters Ball... Then, of course the Tea Party can't be racists because racism no longer exists.
This country refuses to admit that black folks and white folks have different definitions of racism.
For black folks racism means white folks that deprive them from total equality, whether blatant or subtle. For white folks racism means wearing a white sheet in public and carrying around a Nazi swastika rubber stamp in one's pocket. So, unless you get caught with a can of gasoline and two pieces of ply wood in the form of a cross, then you are not racist...
Maybe, the NAACP should have used the word "white supremacist" instead of racist as one of the benefits of being a white supremacist is the power to define "racism."
So, the Tea Partier motto is "We ain't racist cause we say we ain't!. Now, get in the kitchen and fix me a fried chicken sandwich with a hunk of watermelon, boy!"
I'm not quote clear on what the resolution by the NAACP is supposed to accomplish. After all, they have never been known as the most militant group of people. Maybe if the New Black Panther Party passed a resolution at their convention...but the National Association for the Advancement of "Colored" People?
The Tea Baggers probably take the NAACP as seriously as Barney Fife guarding the mean streets of Mayberry with his bullet-less gun..
In North Carolina the resident racist Right Wing radio station, WRDU has made dissin' the state NAACP its raison d'etre and I have yet to see one bullhorn or protest sign in front of the station...
Now that the NAACP has passed the resolution, the obvious question is, "now what?" Are they going to sing "We Shall Over Come" or are they going to pump up the volume and rap "Fight the Power."
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Showing posts with label Eric Holder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Holder. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Do Black Men Make You Nervous?
Do Black Men Make You Nervous?
Just caught a clip on Fox News of these dudes with their panties all in a bunch over the charges being dropped against the Philadelphia chapter of the New Black Panther Party for alleged voter intimidation during the last election.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/05/29/charges-black-panthers-dropped-obama/
Of course, Fox, with their over-the-top antics tried to link the Obama administration by saying that they allowed the New Black Panther Party endorsement to be posted on the Obama website, last election. What the haters conveniently left out is that "anyone" , even The Our Gang He-Man Woman Haters Club could have posted an endorsement on the site.
But why confuse the ultra intelligent, non biased Fox viewers with facts.According to news reports, two members of the New Black Panther Party were accused of standing at a Philly polling place in black military gear and one dude had a night stick.
To hear the Right wing media tell it , 100 black gangsta thugs with bullet proof vests, AK 47's and missile launchers stormed the polling place and then went on a drunken 40oz malt liquor binge across the city, raping and pillaging innocent town folks.
I am quite sure if there were any laws being broken, Philly's Finest would have been all on them like stink on a skunk
.I wonder why the New Black Panthers thought it was necessary to provide security at the polling place anyway?
Oh yeah, it might have had something to do with those yahoos that were threatening Obama at those Mccain/Palin campaign rallies
.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/06/mccain-does-nothing-as-cr_n_132366.html
One of the talking heads went on to moan about how "dangerous" the group is. Funny, I've never heard of the New Black Panther Party ever doing as much as shooting a spit ball through a straw at anyone.
But I guess one man's standing on a street corner is another man''s "intimidation."And here in lies the rub....
Let's face it. Black men intimidate some white people even on their best days. I can be dressed to kill (excuse the pun) in a new suit and a shiny pair of Stacy Adams and I will still hear the electric car lock concerto as a walk through the parking lot at the grocery store.
Then again, I do live in a city where any black man not wearing a pink Polo shirt and polka dot golf shorts is considered a Blood or Crip.Also, there is the little constitutional matter of Freedom of Speech and the Right of Assembly.
Maybe in their infinite wisdom, members of the Justice Department didn't want to take a joy ride down that slippery slope.
Oh well, next time I go vote remind me to show up in my underwear waving a white flag singing "Everything is Beautiful" so there will be no misunderstanding.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com He can be reached at (919)451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com (Originally written 5/09)
Just caught a clip on Fox News of these dudes with their panties all in a bunch over the charges being dropped against the Philadelphia chapter of the New Black Panther Party for alleged voter intimidation during the last election.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/05/29/charges-black-panthers-dropped-obama/
Of course, Fox, with their over-the-top antics tried to link the Obama administration by saying that they allowed the New Black Panther Party endorsement to be posted on the Obama website, last election. What the haters conveniently left out is that "anyone" , even The Our Gang He-Man Woman Haters Club could have posted an endorsement on the site.
But why confuse the ultra intelligent, non biased Fox viewers with facts.According to news reports, two members of the New Black Panther Party were accused of standing at a Philly polling place in black military gear and one dude had a night stick.
To hear the Right wing media tell it , 100 black gangsta thugs with bullet proof vests, AK 47's and missile launchers stormed the polling place and then went on a drunken 40oz malt liquor binge across the city, raping and pillaging innocent town folks.
I am quite sure if there were any laws being broken, Philly's Finest would have been all on them like stink on a skunk
.I wonder why the New Black Panthers thought it was necessary to provide security at the polling place anyway?
Oh yeah, it might have had something to do with those yahoos that were threatening Obama at those Mccain/Palin campaign rallies
.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/06/mccain-does-nothing-as-cr_n_132366.html
One of the talking heads went on to moan about how "dangerous" the group is. Funny, I've never heard of the New Black Panther Party ever doing as much as shooting a spit ball through a straw at anyone.
But I guess one man's standing on a street corner is another man''s "intimidation."And here in lies the rub....
Let's face it. Black men intimidate some white people even on their best days. I can be dressed to kill (excuse the pun) in a new suit and a shiny pair of Stacy Adams and I will still hear the electric car lock concerto as a walk through the parking lot at the grocery store.
Then again, I do live in a city where any black man not wearing a pink Polo shirt and polka dot golf shorts is considered a Blood or Crip.Also, there is the little constitutional matter of Freedom of Speech and the Right of Assembly.
Maybe in their infinite wisdom, members of the Justice Department didn't want to take a joy ride down that slippery slope.
Oh well, next time I go vote remind me to show up in my underwear waving a white flag singing "Everything is Beautiful" so there will be no misunderstanding.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com He can be reached at (919)451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com (Originally written 5/09)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thug-o-phobia: The Real Reason we Can't Stop Gangs
Thug-o-phobia: The Real Reason We Can't Stop Gangs
Paul Scott
"In Durham they say we gang bang.
All around the world it's the same thang."
Unless we're shootin' you don't know my name
That's the only way we gain fame."
Thug-o-phobia-TRUTH Minista
Go to any major city in America and ask residents what are the major problems facing their communities and you can bet somewhere in their top 5 will be gangs; that dreaded group of young'uns who go 'round robbin' and pillagin' innocent town folks. Durham, NC is no different, as since the late 90's, the city has been portrayed in the media as the gang capital of the South. This has resulted in an epidemic of "thug-o-phobia" that has town folks seeing gangsters behind every street light post.
In some ways, Thug-o-phobia has become the new radical chic of the 60's, as there is something dangerous, yet exciting about gangsta-ism i(n a James Dean kind of way) for many suburbanites . So, any O.G. (Original Gangster) Joe who rolls into town with a tall tale about how he "was a member of the notorious, Riverdale "Archie Gang" but experienced an epiphany on his way to Pop's Drive Inn to do a drive-by on rival gang "The Jugheads" is welcomed with open arms to "save Durham's youth."
While the local guy with a workable solution based on a strong socio-economic analysis of the problem may be ignored, any out of town slickster with a henna tattoo of Bugs Bunny on his shoulder is given the key to the city.
Since the gang problem has been an issue in Durham and many southern cities for over the last decade, we must explore the many reasons why a college town bustin' at the seams with smart folks, can't seem to get a handle on the problem?
First, there has been little effort to understand the history of gangs in this country. Although most people assume that gangs started in South Central Los Angeles with the Bloods and the Crips, the truth is that gangs in American started when European immigrants organized themselves into protection societies. Later, some of these organizations became organized crime families. This is ,somewhat, similar to the origins of the modern urban street gangs, however, the Bloods and Crips did not come into national prominence until the mid to late 80's.
While poverty and lack of employment may have played a major part in the criminalization of gangs, many will agree that it was the drug trade that gave rise to violent gang activity. Some have alleged that 40 years ago heroin was purposely introduced into black neighborhoods, as well as the hippie counter culture in order to stifle activism; opening the door for the problems we are experiencing, today. Also, authors like Gary Webb, in his controversial book "Dark Alliance," traced the government's alleged role in the crack epidemic in Los Angeles during the mid 80's.
It must, also, be noted that the act of "fighting gangs" is, in and of itself, a cash cow. Many people are depending on the continuous cycle of gang violence to pay their mortgages and to send their children to college. One can only guess the money that goes towards paying "gang experts," sponsoring gang awareness seminars and maintaining the prison industrial complex.
While the role of pop culture in promoting gangsta-ism is often discussed at anti-violence workshops, most presentations only deal with surface issues that begin and end with placing the entire blame for gangs on Hip Hop music. Although such rappers as Snoop Dog (Crip) and the Game (Blood) should be held accountable for the role that they have played in the destruction of our communities, most folks are totally oblivious to the names of the rich business men who sign their paychecks. Although many people would recognize rapper, Lil Wayne (Blood affiliated), they wouldn't recognize Jimmy Iovine (Interscope, which distributed Death Row Records) or Sumner Redstone (Viacom, parent company of BET,MTV, VH1) if they bumped into them on the street.
Hollywood's role in glamorizing the gangsta lifestyle also must not be ignored. While movies like "Colors," " Boyz in the Hood" and "Menace II Society" may have sparked America's fascination with gangs, HBO's 1994 documentary , "Gang Wars: Bangin' in Little Rock" served as a major recruiting tool for gangs outside of Chicago and California.
The key to solving the gang problems is as multifaceted as the reasons for their existence. Contrary to popular belief, one size does not fit all.
Although, gang membership is not limited by color nor class, the rationale for an African American or Latino child joining a gang as opposed to a white child may be ,vastly, different. There may, also, be different reasons for a kid from the 'hood gang bangin' than a kid from the 'burbs. Unfortunately, Durham has been slow to embrace the cultural educational solutions that have been effective in larger cities for fear that they may be seen as divisive. We must listen to those voices who can address the problem from a cultural perspective.
Also, the calls for more activities for Durham's young people are often drowned out by the traditional "tough on crime" rhetoric.
City officials must make funding youth activities more than just a slogan to get votes during election time.
Lastly, the city officials, educators and religious leaders must sponsor more town hall meetings to come up with workable solutions instead of the usual "An Idiot's Guide to Gangs" type format.
If we do not come up with new and innovative solutions to the problem, 10 years from now we'll still be jammin' to the same ol' song:
"In Durham they say we gang bang...."
Min. Paul Scott is founder of the Messianic Afrikan Nation For more information contact (919) 972-8305
Paul Scott
"In Durham they say we gang bang.
All around the world it's the same thang."
Unless we're shootin' you don't know my name
That's the only way we gain fame."
Thug-o-phobia-TRUTH Minista
Go to any major city in America and ask residents what are the major problems facing their communities and you can bet somewhere in their top 5 will be gangs; that dreaded group of young'uns who go 'round robbin' and pillagin' innocent town folks. Durham, NC is no different, as since the late 90's, the city has been portrayed in the media as the gang capital of the South. This has resulted in an epidemic of "thug-o-phobia" that has town folks seeing gangsters behind every street light post.
In some ways, Thug-o-phobia has become the new radical chic of the 60's, as there is something dangerous, yet exciting about gangsta-ism i(n a James Dean kind of way) for many suburbanites . So, any O.G. (Original Gangster) Joe who rolls into town with a tall tale about how he "was a member of the notorious, Riverdale "Archie Gang" but experienced an epiphany on his way to Pop's Drive Inn to do a drive-by on rival gang "The Jugheads" is welcomed with open arms to "save Durham's youth."
While the local guy with a workable solution based on a strong socio-economic analysis of the problem may be ignored, any out of town slickster with a henna tattoo of Bugs Bunny on his shoulder is given the key to the city.
Since the gang problem has been an issue in Durham and many southern cities for over the last decade, we must explore the many reasons why a college town bustin' at the seams with smart folks, can't seem to get a handle on the problem?
First, there has been little effort to understand the history of gangs in this country. Although most people assume that gangs started in South Central Los Angeles with the Bloods and the Crips, the truth is that gangs in American started when European immigrants organized themselves into protection societies. Later, some of these organizations became organized crime families. This is ,somewhat, similar to the origins of the modern urban street gangs, however, the Bloods and Crips did not come into national prominence until the mid to late 80's.
While poverty and lack of employment may have played a major part in the criminalization of gangs, many will agree that it was the drug trade that gave rise to violent gang activity. Some have alleged that 40 years ago heroin was purposely introduced into black neighborhoods, as well as the hippie counter culture in order to stifle activism; opening the door for the problems we are experiencing, today. Also, authors like Gary Webb, in his controversial book "Dark Alliance," traced the government's alleged role in the crack epidemic in Los Angeles during the mid 80's.
It must, also, be noted that the act of "fighting gangs" is, in and of itself, a cash cow. Many people are depending on the continuous cycle of gang violence to pay their mortgages and to send their children to college. One can only guess the money that goes towards paying "gang experts," sponsoring gang awareness seminars and maintaining the prison industrial complex.
While the role of pop culture in promoting gangsta-ism is often discussed at anti-violence workshops, most presentations only deal with surface issues that begin and end with placing the entire blame for gangs on Hip Hop music. Although such rappers as Snoop Dog (Crip) and the Game (Blood) should be held accountable for the role that they have played in the destruction of our communities, most folks are totally oblivious to the names of the rich business men who sign their paychecks. Although many people would recognize rapper, Lil Wayne (Blood affiliated), they wouldn't recognize Jimmy Iovine (Interscope, which distributed Death Row Records) or Sumner Redstone (Viacom, parent company of BET,MTV, VH1) if they bumped into them on the street.
Hollywood's role in glamorizing the gangsta lifestyle also must not be ignored. While movies like "Colors," " Boyz in the Hood" and "Menace II Society" may have sparked America's fascination with gangs, HBO's 1994 documentary , "Gang Wars: Bangin' in Little Rock" served as a major recruiting tool for gangs outside of Chicago and California.
The key to solving the gang problems is as multifaceted as the reasons for their existence. Contrary to popular belief, one size does not fit all.
Although, gang membership is not limited by color nor class, the rationale for an African American or Latino child joining a gang as opposed to a white child may be ,vastly, different. There may, also, be different reasons for a kid from the 'hood gang bangin' than a kid from the 'burbs. Unfortunately, Durham has been slow to embrace the cultural educational solutions that have been effective in larger cities for fear that they may be seen as divisive. We must listen to those voices who can address the problem from a cultural perspective.
Also, the calls for more activities for Durham's young people are often drowned out by the traditional "tough on crime" rhetoric.
City officials must make funding youth activities more than just a slogan to get votes during election time.
Lastly, the city officials, educators and religious leaders must sponsor more town hall meetings to come up with workable solutions instead of the usual "An Idiot's Guide to Gangs" type format.
If we do not come up with new and innovative solutions to the problem, 10 years from now we'll still be jammin' to the same ol' song:
"In Durham they say we gang bang...."
Min. Paul Scott is founder of the Messianic Afrikan Nation For more information contact (919) 972-8305
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Rappin' About Race
Rappin' About Race
Paul Scott
Americans are punks when it comes to discussing race.
Yeah, I said it and the Attorney General of the U.S. of A has got my back.
Americans may be good at other things; baseball, bombing small countries, etc. But when it comes to an honest discussion about race relations this is a nation of wusses.
Attorney General Eric Holder caused quite a stir, last week when he said that "America is a "nation of cowards" when it comes to racial stuff.
The one thing that Americans hate being called is cowards. Self absorbed, materialistic, lacking moral character, maybe...but a nation of cowards!
Those are fighting words that usually elicit the response, "Begin bombing in five minutes."
The main problem is that you can't discuss "the race problem" without discussing Racism. And you can't discuss Racism without discussing White Supremacy.
Not only do most people shy away from discussing Racism, they don't even know how to define the term.
The functional definition of Racism is the ability of one racial group to impose its will on another group.
Therefore, it may come as a shock to some white folks but African Americans cannot be racists.
Racism is a totally European concept.
In other words, Racism ain't a black thang.
While some may use some warped form of Newton's Law of Motion to argue the contrary (if there are white racists there must be black racists) that logic does not apply here. It would be like saying just because there are over 200 white billionaires in this country there exists an equal amount of black ones.)
So since black folks cannot be racists then any conversations about race will be kinda one sided.
Let's just say I go on a quest through the backwoods of Georgia to meet with the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan with the purpose of creating racial dialogue. After trekking through miles of swamp, I finally meet the dude face to face... What the heck are we gonna chat about?
"Gee Bob...nice weather we're having." "Now, about that cross you got burning over there..."
Malcolm X once said ,"you can't ever reach a man if you don't speak his language."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzQIdKOLGw8
When it comes to racial dialogue, we definitely have a failure to communicate.
While some have argued that Racism is a moral problem (Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr.) in reality there are other, more probable, reasons for its existence.
Dr. Claude Anderson( Black Labor, White Wealth) has made the argument that Racism is economically based. However, psychologist Dr. Bobby Wright (The Psychopathic Racial Personality) saw it as a mental illness and Michael Bradley (The Ice Man Inheritance) viewed it as hereditary, dating back thousands of years.
Even if we did have some great discussion about race in America, unless we see Racism as it really is, as Soul Brother #1, James Brown said, we''ll be...
"Talkin' loud and sayin' nuthin."
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com
Paul Scott
Americans are punks when it comes to discussing race.
Yeah, I said it and the Attorney General of the U.S. of A has got my back.
Americans may be good at other things; baseball, bombing small countries, etc. But when it comes to an honest discussion about race relations this is a nation of wusses.
Attorney General Eric Holder caused quite a stir, last week when he said that "America is a "nation of cowards" when it comes to racial stuff.
The one thing that Americans hate being called is cowards. Self absorbed, materialistic, lacking moral character, maybe...but a nation of cowards!
Those are fighting words that usually elicit the response, "Begin bombing in five minutes."
The main problem is that you can't discuss "the race problem" without discussing Racism. And you can't discuss Racism without discussing White Supremacy.
Not only do most people shy away from discussing Racism, they don't even know how to define the term.
The functional definition of Racism is the ability of one racial group to impose its will on another group.
Therefore, it may come as a shock to some white folks but African Americans cannot be racists.
Racism is a totally European concept.
In other words, Racism ain't a black thang.
While some may use some warped form of Newton's Law of Motion to argue the contrary (if there are white racists there must be black racists) that logic does not apply here. It would be like saying just because there are over 200 white billionaires in this country there exists an equal amount of black ones.)
So since black folks cannot be racists then any conversations about race will be kinda one sided.
Let's just say I go on a quest through the backwoods of Georgia to meet with the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan with the purpose of creating racial dialogue. After trekking through miles of swamp, I finally meet the dude face to face... What the heck are we gonna chat about?
"Gee Bob...nice weather we're having." "Now, about that cross you got burning over there..."
Malcolm X once said ,"you can't ever reach a man if you don't speak his language."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzQIdKOLGw8
When it comes to racial dialogue, we definitely have a failure to communicate.
While some have argued that Racism is a moral problem (Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr.) in reality there are other, more probable, reasons for its existence.
Dr. Claude Anderson( Black Labor, White Wealth) has made the argument that Racism is economically based. However, psychologist Dr. Bobby Wright (The Psychopathic Racial Personality) saw it as a mental illness and Michael Bradley (The Ice Man Inheritance) viewed it as hereditary, dating back thousands of years.
Even if we did have some great discussion about race in America, unless we see Racism as it really is, as Soul Brother #1, James Brown said, we''ll be...
"Talkin' loud and sayin' nuthin."
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com
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