Video: Public Enemy Receiving Key to the City in Durham NC

Kwanzaa Story

Powerful story in the Herald Sun by Durham;s Shareef Hameed on Kwanzaa. He can be reached at (919) 265-4119

http://www.heraldsun.com/news/localnews/x1791817862/On-the-first-day-of-Kwanzaa-a-message-for-children

Secessions and Insurrections

Secessions and Insurrections

Paul Scott




Today is the day that Durham was supposed to start its great discussions on race, triggered by an exhibit that made its debut at the Museum of Life and Science, "Race: Are We Really So Different." So what better way was there for a black dude like me to kick off my series examining race then to visit the Civil War commemorative event at Bennett Place State Historic Site?

For those not familiar with Bennett Place , according to the brochure, it is the site of the largest surrender of the Civil War." A fact that a lot of white Southerners are still not too happy about.

I must admit, when I rolled up in the Bennett Place parking lot and saw all those Confederate flag license plates, I started to make a u turn and head to the museum but since the Race exhibit was 14 bucks and the commemoration was free, of course, I headed on into Bennett Place.

Now since I have seen more than a few white folks make themselves right at home at black cultural festivals in Durham; Bimbe, Junteenth, so, I thought that I would see, at least a couple of black faces in the crowd. Or at the very least, see some half clothed black man running frantically through the field chased by hound dogs yellin' "save yourselves!"

I was wrong. I was the only "person of color" within a five mile radius.

See, black folks get nervous around Confederate flags, we expect at any moment to hear "Yeeee Hawww, we got us some live ones, boys ! Gimme a rope!"

Fortunately the commemoration was not that type of party. Just a bunch of white folks celebrating the good ol' days. When life was simple and black people like me knew their place.

They had a wagon ride, some dude teaching people how to load a musket and even a recruiting station to sign up for the war. Now, I wasn't exactly sure if the recruiting station was a reenactment or if they were actually planning to take over West Durham.

But that was about it. I made it out alive without getting lynched. Exit the black guy, stage right. None the worst for his hair raising adventure.

I guess the Confederacy is part of American History. But so are slave insurrections.


What if next August 21, African Americans got together at some state park and had a commemoration of the Nat Turner slave rebellion? Instead of hanging up Confederate Flags, we decked the joint out in the Black Liberation colors of red, black and green. How about instead of playing country music we cranked up some Public Enemy jams and instead of being sponsored by the "Sons of Confederate Veterans" the affair was sponsored by the Sons of the "Deacons for Defense" or the "Daughters of the Black Panther Party."

That would go over real big. I can hear the cries of reverse racism, opening up old wounds or instigating a race riot from the area Right Wing radio hosts, now.

Although, the state of North Carolina flips part of the bill for Bennett Place, I doubt very seriously if they would fund "Insurrection Weekend."

See , black folks and whites folks perceive the Civil War differently. To white folks, Confederate soldiers are heroes who should be honored, to black folks they are a bunch of traitors who got their butts kicked trying to keep our ancestors picking cotton.

Kinda like a glass half empty/half full, situation.

While, there is a fear that anything dealing with the more militant aspects of black history might produce the next Malcolm X, there is no such fear that a Civil War commemoration may produce the next David Duke.

Also, while many white folks (and some black folks) are scared to death that any attempts to teach Arican American children the more "nontraditional" parts of Black history in fear it may cause Mr. Buchanan's 8th grade history class to rise up and give him a beat down, there is no concern that a Civil War reenactment might inspire some southern sore loser to get a little payback for their bitter defeat a century ago. Given the history of this country, the latter is more probable.

All people have the right to tell their own stories. However, for black folks, we have very few venues to speak our own truths. The reasons are several.

Many black folks who put on cultural events work so hard at not offending white folks that they sacrifice historical accuracy. People who put on events from a white perspective have no such hang ups.

See, the bottom line is , white folks embrace their history; the good, the bad and the ugly. It is a shame that we run away from ours.

Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Letter to NC Attorney General Roy Cooper

May 1, 2011

Attorney General’s Office
9001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001





Dear Attorney General Roy Cooper,

Last April 5th, a new malt liquor was released by Pabst Brewing Company , "Blast by Colt 45." The liquor contains 12% alcohol and comes in fruity flavors that will appeal to under-aged drinkers.
Also, Pabst Brewing Company is using popular Hip Hop artist, Snoop Dogg to promote the liquor.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704360404576206621165029478.html

All across the country, politicians, activists and organizations have expressed their concern over the marketing of this product.
Recently, attorney generals in at least 19 states have called for the removal of the product from store shelves in their states. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/22/national/main20056462.shtml

Unfortunately, North Carolina is not one of the states represented.

Therefore, I am asking you to join the other attorney generals in demanding that this product be taken out of the neighborhoods of North Carolina. As the president of the National Association of Attorney Generals, your stand will encourage other states to follow suit and send a strong message to Pabst Brewing Company that North Carolina will not allow a product to enter its borders that is, potentially, dangerous to our young people.






Thank you,

Minister Paul Scott
Durham, NC
(919) 451-8283

A Dog Returneth...

As a Dog Returneth...
Colt 45's Controversial Comeback

Min. Paul Scott





Many African Americans of my generation have fond (or not so fond) memories of getting up on Saturday mornings to watch our favorite Hip Hop video show, only to be scared out our wits by the sight of an angry, giant blue Schlitz Malt Liquor Bull bustin' through our tv sets. Even today, if you ride through any 'hood and yell out the window the familiar '90's ST Ides Malt Liquor jingle, "just hit the corner store, you know what I'm lookin' for..." I guarantee that some wino in the alley is gonna yell back, " ST IDES!!!!" There was even an evil scientist who came up with the diabolical formula to mix malt liquor with gen-sing, call it Phat Boy and pour it into giant bottles with graffiti on the label. However, thanks to the tireless and thankless work of grassroots activists, for a decade, the blatant advertising of cheap, high powered malt liquor to the "Hip Hop generation" virtually, disappeared.

Fast forward to March 2011, as the folks at Pabst Brewing Company are getting amped up to send another generation on a one way trip to Alcoholics Anonymous.

In a few weeks, the company is scheduled to launch its latest monster piece, "Colt 45 Blast," a 12% high octane malt liquor that comes in a variety of fruity flavors that would put the makers of Kool Aid to shame. The marketing scheme that Pabst is using is pretty much the same that the malt meisters of the past have used; grab a rapper with questionable morals and a bunch of video babes and, bingo, a match made in heaven (or some other place.)

Although the brew is not officially scheduled to come out until April 5th, the company has already launched a major marketing campaign staring the Doggfather, himself, Snoop Dogg. Ironically, it was Snoop who was one of the first rappers to appear in liquor commercials almost two decades ago. He has a history of getting people to join him in the game of "get to' up 'till you throw up" . So, to borrow from the scriptures, in 2011," the dog has returned to his vomit."

Unlike the marketing schemes of the early 90's, in the 21st century, liquor companies have gone high tech. Already, there are Colt 45 Blast Youtube, Facebook and Twitter pages set up that will deliver the latest booze news straight to your child's smart phone.

One may ask how, in the wake of the Four Loko controversy, can a company come out with a product that so blatantly, targets underage drinkers. The answer is quite simple.

Nobody cares.

Quiet as kept, when dealing with black youth issues, many people follow the sage wisdom from "The Godfather," "they're animals anyway, so let them lose their souls." And if you can make a profit in the process, so be it.

By the owners of Pabst own admission, Colt 45 has been known, primarily, a 'hood drink and as long as they keep it ghetto, they do not have to worry about those underage drinking crusader organizations throwing a monkey wrench in their program. Most of these organizations only seem to get MADD (pardon the pun) when alcohol abuse starts affecting middle class white kids at college frat parties.

I can remember on more than one occasion, going to an anti-teen drinking event and loudly proclaiming with a 40 oz bottle raised in a gesture of moral indignation , " In the name of the 'hood, I have come to warn thee of the plague that is about to come upon thy children" only to receive the classic "deer in headlights" look from a crowd who saw nothing wrong with a rapper bragging about malt liquor giving him super sexual prowess but thought some darn talking Budweiser bullfrogs signaled the coming of the Apocalypse.

Only when Bifffy and Buffy, start passing out in the middle of English Lit 101 will it become a problem. Which brings us to the proverbial question "if black kids start falling out in the 'hood do they make a sound?"

I think you know the answer.

What is, also, problematic is the liquor industry's uncanny ability to buy off voices of dissent within the African American community. Any time you start cutting checks to Hip Hop radio stations, Hip Hop magazines and start sponsoring (Black) cultural festivals, you can almost guarantee that your favorite Civil Rights leaders won't say a mumblin' word.

So, where does that leave the community activists who are going to be the ones picking up the pieces when the Colt 45 Tsunami floods the hood with alcohol? What can be done?

Community activists must demand that the neighborhood stores where their children go every morning, before school, to pick up honey buns and orange juice for lunch not stock the product in their establishments. We must also ask our local Hip Hop radio stations not to take the blood money that will have our children dancing down the road of destruction all summer long. Also, black organizations must not accept the 30 pieces of silver to have a malt liquor company sponsor "cultural" events that are supposed to be promoting the health and the well being of the community.

Finally, Hip Hop fans must stand up and tell Snoop Dogg and the legion of other rappers who will come behind him not to be "Pabst Blue Ribbon Pimps" putting poison in the 'hood.

We must not look for politicians nor underage drinking organizations to solve this problem. No one is going to save us but us .

As former malt liquor promoter, Ice Cube, once said in a classic line from a popular gangsta flick.

Either they don't know, don't show or don't care what's goin' on in the 'hood."



Paul Scott is a minister, activist and lecturer based in Durham NC. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com Website http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com

Black History Flash back '94

This is a skit from my mid 90's public access show, "The Scoop from the Stoop" about Black History Month.

Go Back to Africa!

Go Back to Africa:
Hatin' on Black History

Paul Scott



"Go back to Africa!"


Back when I was in elementary school that statement would either lead to fist fights or tears, depending on the the temperament of the target of the diss. Although many black folks can recall, in vivid detail, the first time they were called the "N word," and how they eventually got over it, for me, "go back to Africa" has not been easy to shake.

See, for black kids like me, being told to take a trip back across the Atlantic was the ultimate insult as it meant being exiled to a place where cannibals with bones in their noses ran around with spears, just waiting to catch some unsuspecting, stiff slippin' so that he could be Sunday evening supper.

After all, this is the image of Africa that black kids were given courtesy of those old Looney Tune cartoons and Tarzan movies.

Unfortunately, the educational system back then did nothing to counter this negative depiction of Africa. The textbooks only reinforced the idea of "the Dark Continent" as a god forsaken place that made no contribution to civilization besides slave labor.

In the early texts , Africa was divided into "white" Africa (Northern Africa) and "black" Africa (Sub Saharan Africa) . So the achievements of the ancient Egyptians were credited to Greek invaders and the empires of Ghana, Mali and Songhai were written out of history, altogether.

Things have not changed much since I was young. An unbiased view of African world history is still sadly missing from most school systems to the detriment of thousands of black children every school year.

While it is widely accepted that Afrocentricity was a product of the Black Power Movement of the late 60's , it actually started more than a hundred years earlier.

According to Dr. Mia Bay in her book "The White Image in the Black Mind" as early as the 1830's scholars such as John Russwurm and David Walker were championing the idea of the African American connection to the great ancient civilizations of Egypt.

In his 1920 essay, "The Souls of White Folks," Dr. WEB Du Bois proudly proclaimed, "Europe has never produced and never will ,in our day, bring forth a single human soul who cannot be matched and over matched in every line of human endeavor by Asia and Africa."

In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Black History Week (later Black History Month). However, as he wrote in his book "The Miseducation of the Negro " in 1933, teaching African Americans that they had accomplished just as much as any other race would "upset the program of the oppressor in Africa and America." Therefore, there has been a concerted effort to confine all talk of black history to the period after the 18th century.

The modern concept of Afrocentricity can be attributed to professors such as Dr Molefi Asante, Dr. John Henrik Clark and Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan, as their works created a series of arguments and counterarguments over the validity of Afrocentric scholarship in the mid 90's.

Although many bemoan the educational gap between African American children (especially males) and their peers, the suggestion of Afrocentric studies as a viable solution to the problem more times than not falls on deaf ears. Despite the fact that many members of my generation who developed a zeal for reading were inspired by a single book dealing with the African experience whether it be "Stolen Legacy" by Dr.George GM James or "Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization" by Dr. Anthony Browder, many do not believe that books dealing with the African experience could have the same effect on this so called Hip Hop generation.

There are several factors which have served as stumbling blocks to Afrocentricity being included in school curriculum, despite years of prodding by grassroots activists concerned about the welfare of black children.

First, it must be understood that while Afrocentricity is an academic construct, for many, the idea is politically charged. Any call for the affirmation of one's "blackness" is usually drowned out by cries of reverse racism and divisiveness

Secondly, Afrocentricity challenges the very foundation of western thought. Many will shudder at the mere fact of their adoration of Greek culture being challenged by pre 19th Dynasty Egypt.

Finally, the resistance that comes from school administrators and educators who have a vested professional interest in preserving the status quo is perhaps the main obstacle . Either they do not have sufficient knowledge of black history, themselves or do not have the courage to challenge the false doctrine of educational white supremacy. As James Lowen wrote in his book, "Lies my Teacher Told Me," "perhaps the most pervasive theme in our history is the domination of black America by white America."

So they are more comfortable allowing our children to become indoctrinated with Hip Hop lyrics and gang rituals instead of inspirational messages of self empowerment.

As we approach this year's Black History Month observation, parents, activists and concerned citizens must demand not only that the concept of black history be expanded to include the entire scope of the African experience but that it be incorporated year round into the curriculum.

One can only guess how much further along, socially, politically and economically my generation would have been if we had only been exposed to the greatness of African cultural history at an early age.

Sadly, 30 years after the fact , I am still angered by the "Go Back to Africa" comments not so much, now, by the ignorance of my white classmates but by my own ignorance that allowed me to take it as an insult in the first place.

Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Coming in February, the Intelligence Over Ignorance "Take Back Black History" lecture tour.

Intelligence Over Ignorance Tour Continues 10/29

The Intelligence Over Ignorance Tour continues. I had the pleasure of speaking to some students at Carrington Middle School in Durham NC. To schedule a lecture contact (919) 451-8283 or info@ioimovement.com

Author Exposes the Real "Durham County Secrets"

Author Exposes the Real "Durham County Secrets"

Paul Scott




A few months ago, the trailers for ION network's new cable series, "Durham County Secrets" had residents scrambling to make sure that the closets holding their skeletons were securely locked. To the relief of many, the series had nothing to do with Durham NC.

However, in his new book, "Liberalism, Black Power and the Making of American Politics 1965-1980," Vanderbilt University professor, Dr. Devin Fergus, uncovers some secrets that are sure to have Durham folks talking.

In the book, Fergus writes about the Black Power Movement in North Carolina and how it was co-opted by Liberalism. Interestingly enough, he devotes the first two chapters to "the Bull City."

In a recent interview with No Warning Shots Fired.com, Fergus, a New Jersey native, said that he is no stranger to the Tar Heel State having spent his summers down south. Durham was of special interest to him because of the flattering words that Dr. WEB Du Bois gave the black entrepreneurial spirit of the city in the early 20th century and because of the late Minnesota senator, Paul Wellstone's 1969 thesis, "Why They Believe in Violence" which predicted that "Durham was on the precipice of race war."

Fergus also said that one thing that grabbed his attention about Durham was former black power activist, Howard Fuller.

Although, Durham is often praised as being "Black Wall Street" and a haven for the black middle class, the Black Power Movement, which was popular with less affluent members of the city's African American community, is rarely mentioned in books. Even though, E. Franklin Frazier writes in his classic work, "Black Bourgeoisie," that "the capital of the black bourgeoisie was Durham NC," few books mention the city as a hotbed of black militancy.

This is the segment of the population that Fuller set out to represent.

The book chronicles Fuller's struggle with Durham's black middle class, some of whom saw his militancy as a threat to their social and economic stability.

Although some in Durham have, continuously, argued for Afrocentric education for black children, Fuller started Malcolm X Liberation University as early as March of 1969. By the fall of 1970, based, partially, on the efforts of some members of Durham's middle class, MXLU was forced to seek greener pastures in Greensboro, NC.

Later in the book, Fergus moves his focus to other areas of North Carolina, writing about black empowerment projects from Winston Salem's chapter of the Black Panther Party to the mobilization around the Joan Little case and Warren County's Soul City.

While much of the focus of his book is on the black middle class's relationship with black power, he also writes of white liberalism and its attempt to push black militancy into the more socially acceptable political arena.

While some may consider "Liberalism, Black Power and the Making of American Politics" controversial, for a black Hip Hop generation searching for answers to what happened to the "black pride" about which their parents would brag, Fergus's book is a secret that now must be yelled from rooftops.

Dr. Devin Fergus is scheduled to come to the Triangle on a lecture tour the weekend of October 23rd. For more information contact rhuff@ugapress.uga.edu

***On Sunday October 25th he is scheduled to appear at Hayti Heritage Center in Durham and on Monday November 2 at UNC.



Paul Scott is a self-syndicated columnist and author of the blog, No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com

NWSF Exclusive: The Genetics of Genocide

Irritated Genie at Know Bookstore

NWSF Exclusive: The Genetics of Genocide

Paul Scott

When NC Judge Howard Manning used "academic genocide" to describe what was happening to students in the Halifax County school system, last March, most people just dismissed it as a catchy catch phrase. Few really understood the significance of the word "genocide."

Webster's dictionary defines genocide as "the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group." Therefore, genocide is not committed by accident but is a well thought out system to destroy a race, physically and mentally.

Last night, a lecturer known only as "The Irritated Genie of Souffes" spoke on the subject of genocide and it's impact on cultures of color at the Know Book Store in Durham, NC.

During the lecture, the Irritated Genie traced the history of genocide back to when Christopher Columbus first came into contact with the indigenous people of the western hemisphere to the present.

"Whites are calculating ways to kill us, " he said. "It's not about hatred, its about the truth."

He sited the examples of the way that germ warfare in the form of small pox in blankets was used to exterminate the Native American and how the entire ingenious population of Tasmania was wiped out by Europeans.

The fact that the genocide of the Native Americans is celebrated by the naming of the mascots of football teams was not lost on the lecturer.

He also talked about the genocide committed in African countries such as the Congo by Belgium King Leopold.

The most striking part of the lecture was when he tied the history of genocide to the present plight of African Americans, citing everything from guns and crack to the number of abortion clinics in the black community. It must be noted that the connection between abortion and black genocide has also been mentioned by white ministers such as Pat Robertson of the 700 Club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9ngyRk2vhs

Hip Hop was not spared as he pointed out the financing of pioneer gangsta rap group NWA (Niggas With Attitude) by white investors (Jerry Heller) and how the lyrics of some of the rappers contribute to the genocide of young black males.

The lecture served as a wake up call for those who believe that the mis-education and mass incarcerations of black people are due to some cataclysmic accident.

"Genocide is a process," he said.

The Irritated Genie's website is http://www.waronthehorizon.com


Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Warning: NWSF Invades Air America

No Warning Shots Fired.com will partner with Chuck D's (Public Enemy) Air America program "On the Real" to produce a segment featuring commentary from TRUTH Minista Paul Scott.
The program airs Sunday Nights at 11PM EST.

Scott's segment will air a couple of times each month.

Keep checking No Warning Shots Fired.com for dates and times.

Jerk Dancin' in Durham

Photo: Mark Wallace (Crush 1)

Jerk Dancin' in Durham

Paul Scott


Twenty-five years ago, Hip Hop kids like me were being kicked out of malls for holding impromptu break dance competitions to the chagrin of mall security. Well, times have changed and members of my age group are no longer doing windmills and back flips. However, some things have remained the same. A generation later, kids are still getting run out of malls for dancing.

The latest dance sensation sweepin' the nation is called "Jerkin'" inspired by a song by new Hip Hop crew, the New Boys called "You're a Jerk. " The New Boys are following a trend started by artists like "Soulja Boy Tell em" who put new songs on youtube with funky dance moves and become overnight superstars with a nation of teens following in their dancin' shoe steps.

Songs like "You're a Jerk" have also fueled dancing competitions called "battles." Go to any mall and you will see kids square off to engage in rhythmic combat. That is until some dude in a fresh pressed white shirt, a Dudley Doright mountie hat holding a billy club crashes their party.

It takes one back too a simpler time when a gathering of young folks meant that they were watching their homeboys dance, not engaging in violent confrontations.

Durham resident Mark Wallace has fond memories of those days.

Back in the early 80's, Wallace, then known as "Crush 1" used to electric boogie down the streets of his native Manhattan along with his homies, "Dizzy Doez and "Kippy D." He was also a member of one of the most popular break dancing crews of the day , The Rock Steady Crew, which gained national attention for their many movie appearances and their groundbreaking segment on ABC's news program, 20/20, of which Wallace was a part.

Before turning his energies to breakin', Wallace had his share of run ins with the law for tagging trains in Brooklyn.

However, dancing kept him from doing a lot worst things than spray painting his name on trains.

"Breakin' started at the heart of the heroin era and the dealers were trying to get kids involved in the drug trade, says Wallace. "Breakin' gave us a way out."

Poppin' and Lockin' also kept him out of neighborhood gangs like the Decepticons.

"We built a fortress that they couldn't penetrate", he says.

Just as dancing was able to stop gang violence in New York during the 80's, could it also stop gang bangin' in Durham in 2009?

Wallace thinks it can.

"Gang members will want to embrace this art form, he says. "Where they now identify with colors, they will identify with dance moves."

It's not like Durham doesn't have the space for dance competitions. How about that CCB plaza area downtown that is rarely used? Or that new park that they built downtown?

The city has the means but do our officials have the will?

While "Jerk" contests might not save all of Durham's kids, it will serve as an outlet for a bunch of energetic teens whose main complaints are that there is "nothing to do in Durham."

Local Jerk dancer, Nia Scott agrees. "There isn't enough stuff for me and my friends to do, she says. "We get tired of hanging out at the mall."

If dancing stops one child from going down the wrong path, isn't it worth a few boom boxes blaring downtown?

It helped Mark Wallace.

"There's no telling where I would have been without break dancing."


Mark Wallace is a health coach and authority on break dancing. To contact him call (631)428-6425)


Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com

NWSF Exclusive: Archer's Aim on Target

Archer's Aim on Target

Paul Scott




I don't know if you've seen the old HBO series, "The Wire" but it's about a neighborhood in Baltimore that even the cops are afraid to enter. There are real life 'hoods in Durham that remind you of that series. "The Bottom" is one of them.

If you aren't from Durham you probably only know the area by the names of the streets that often appear in newspapers because of drug arrests and murders, Enterprise St. and Scout Drive.

This is the area where Barry and Carmen Archer have decided to develop a youth program.

"Everywhere I've lived has been a hood," says Barry Archer who moved from Richmond, Indiana to Durham in 2006. While in Indiana, the Archers formed the award winning Barak Source for Learning, a program that focuses on diversity training, conflict resolution and community building.

Three years ago they moved their family of eight to Durham to not only be closer to family but they thought that they could be part of the solution to some of the city's problems.

In 2008, Barry says that he saw a lot of children walking aimlessly around the area of the Southside Community Center so he decided to volunteer to pilot a summer program. So this year, Barak Source for Learning teamed with three associates, Zayd Malik Shakur, Christopher Brown and Kevin Spencer and formed the Advanced Educational Program. They developed a summer curriculum based program at the center that ran from June 22-July 17.

The program served 30 children who showed up at 7:30 every morning just in time for a hot breakfast. Barry said that he asked the young men that hang out on the corner to help provide security for the children.

He also said that he brought in police officers to discuss such hot button issues as police brutality.

"It was an opportunity for the children to feel better about the police and the police to feel better about the children, said Carmen Archer.

"It removed the uniforms because uniforms are gang symbols, too," Barry added.

This is just the beginning for Barak Source for Learning as they will partner with other community organizations this fall to provide conflict resolution and other community services.

While so many people are throwing darts at Durham's youth, it's good to see the Archers are aiming in the right direction.

Barak Source for Learning can be reached at (919) 824-3627 or baraksourceforlearning@yahoo.com






Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283

Letter to the Editor: Newspapers' Doom

The Durham Herald Sun is running a part of my letter to the editor today. Although, it is about newspapers in my neck of the woods, it probably applies to your city too. The original letter is below:

When I recently read Gary Gaddy's column and editor Bob Ashley's response regarding the pending doom of newspapers like the Herald Sun, I was reminded of Bill Clinton's description of an ideologue. Clinton said when others see the futility of digging a deeper ditch the ideologue says give me a bigger shovel.

So it is with newspapers and their reluctance to change.

Gaddy is correct in his assessment that traditional media are quickly sinking into the Dead Sea of irrelevancy. Unfortunately, instead of patching the hole in the boat the editors are more than happy to go down with the ship.

Newspapers are big on tradition and you stand a better chance of finding a cure for the swine flu than getting them to change their antiquated methods of operations.

Although, Ashley sings the praises of the Herald Sun's attempt at new media , what the paper needs is new ideas not new aps.

Gaddy mentions that newspaper readers eventually age and die off but unfortunately old ideas are immortal. As long as there is one elderly person left reading the Herald Sun over his Sunday morning Bojangles biscuit and coffee, it will be business as usual.

The power is in the pen; a power that newspaper executives aren't willing to give up. To borrow from the the uncompromising words of Charleton Heston, in order to get the pen from an editor you're gonna have to pry it from his cold dead hands.

My Letter in USA Today 7/2

The USA Today is running a letter to the editor that I wrote regarding the call for black folks not to celebrate this false Fourth of July.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/07/july-fourth-thoughts.html

NWSF Bullet: The Controversy Over Malt Liquor "Energy Drinks"

The old dudes in the neighborhood used to have a saying when someone was trying to insult their intelligence with misinformation...


"Don't pee (um...urinate) on my shoes and tell me it's raining!"


The makers of Four Loko Malt Liquor Energy Drinks(I'm sorry they are PC now, Four Loko Caffeinated Malt Beverage) are trying to justify their pushing of their product to convenience stores and their cute little internet (mis) infomercials.


http://durhamcounty.mync.com/site/durhamcounty/news/story/35583/durham-man-thinks-malt-liquor-drink-looks-too-much-like-soda/


Classic case of a "straw man" argument (arguing a position but evading the main point.)


I wonder how they would respond to this study done by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center a few years back ?


http://www1.wfubmc.edu/news/NewsArticle.htm?ArticleID=2193

"See,what had happened was.....our product is not an energy drink....it's an alcoholic energy booster...like if you accidentally mix your Starbucks with a Colt 45...."

But ,yeah, I hear you, homie when you make the argument that there are other alcoholic energy drinks on the market, why are ya'll pickin' on poor little me?

Let's use dialectical reasoning for a moment that will defeat their argument...

"OK, Skeeter, granted that there are other caffeinated liquor energy drinks, why should the average connoisseur of malt pick your product instead of your competition's?"

"Well, it's because we have 11% alco....we sell cool caps...we get a lot of hits from kids on youtu....we market to a younger Hip Hop demo...DARNIT!!!!!"

It must be noted that folks are concerned about "malt liquor energy drinks" (with less alcohol) in cities across the country.

http://cbs4.com/seenon/i.team.miller.2.643928.html

Public pressure, also, forced Miller/Coors (makers of the popular "Sparks") to take the caffeine out of the drink months ago.

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/19/business/fi-drink19

But I guess that the makers of Four Loko think that the folks in Durham are like ghetto versions of Mikey from that old school Life cereal commercial who the neighborhood kids used as a guinea pig.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYEXzx-TINc

"I'm not gonna try it, you try it.."

"I'm not gonna try it..."

"Give to Mikey!"

"Hey Mikey!...Mikey?....Wake up Mikey!"

"Somebody call 911 !!!"

Unfortunately, the folks at Phusion Projects are banking on the fact that their target market, the boyz in tha 'hood, college binge drinkers and sports minded weekend alcoholics won't question their marketing techniques nor be overly concerned about possible health risks.

Although some people might be cool with Four Loko and will find a way to even justify the sell of Arsenic Apple Cider, some of us Durham folks ain't drinkin' the Kool Aid!




In 1998, Paul Scott led a succesful campaign against Phat Boy Malt Liquor. For information about the IMANI (Inspiring Men to Act Against Negative Influences) lecture on alcohol marketing to young people, contact (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Black-Jewish Relations Under Obama

Black Jewish Relations Under Obama:

Reopening Old Wounds

Paul Scott

April 21st is Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day set aside to remember the the Jews who suffered under the Nazi regime. No one can fault an ethnic group for honoring the deaths of millions of its brothers and sisters. However, as a descendant of those who experienced their own African Holocaust I find myself, selfishly, asking "what about us ?"

My feeling of unapologetic, self centeredness has become more pronounced in the aftermath of the Obama Administration's bowing to Jewish pressure and deciding to boycott the UN World Conference Against Racism, an event that would have, initially,allowed issues important to African Americans such as reparations and the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade to be presented on the world stage. This was especially hurtful to a black community that had the misconception that the nations first African American president would give their issues a fair hearing.

For many blacks, this opened up an old wound; Jewish issues taking precedence over African American concerns.

Very few people argue over the death toll of six million Jews during their Holocaust, however for African Americans it is much different. The number of African people who were brought to America is conservatively estimated at 40 Million. How many Africans perished during the 400 years of the slave trade and the following years of European colonialism the world may never know. Reason being, the concern for people of color pales in comparison to concern for people with white skin.

There is only room for one "most persecuted" group and the Jews aren't sharing that spotlight with anyone.

Some of the best critiques of Black-Jewish relations were written by Harold Cruse in his books "Crisis of the Negro Intellectual" and "Plural but Equal." Cruse points out that contrary to popular belief, there was no real African American-Jewish alliance prior to 1913. It was not until the trial of Leo Frank, a Jewish man, convicted for murder based on the testimony of a black man and later lynched by a white mob that Jewish Americans developed any solidarity with the plight of black people. Prior to that the Jews were just as ambivalent towards the plight of blacks as other white folks.

But this fact is not discussed for fear of being labeled an anti-semite.

Black anti -semitism is , in itself, a misnomer. If you look at the actual definition of a Semite, it can apply to members of many ethnic groups of the Afro-Asiatic world; a fact that is conveniently left out of discussions.

If anything, African Americans are Jew phobic. There is a fear, whether real or imagined that if you say anything against Jewish people, something very bad is going to happen to you.

Part of this fear is theological.

Since the enslaved Africans, in this country, were forbidden to read the Bible, they were unable to develop a theology that placed their struggle in the context of the Divine Being's master plan. Therefore, any group that claims the title of "God's Chosen people" is readily accepted by African Americans, without question. This places them at a distinct disadvantage when dealing with other cultures which have historically made their culture synonymous with their religion.

The fear has also been socio-politically based.

There is a fear among African Americans that being labled an "enemy to the Jews" could result in anything from losing a political office, getting evicted from one's home to being blacklisted by any industry having a high Jewish ownership.

Whether real or imagined, these fears are not, totally, without precedent and the animosity over the control that many believe Jews exert over black lives remains.

Despite the good that Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam have done cleaning up drug infested, black neighborhoods any positive comments about the ministry are blocked by charges of anti-semitism. In the political realm, Rev. Jesse Jackson had his presidential runs of the 1980's severely impacted by the charge. Also during this period, politicians such as former Chicago political aid, Steve Cokely, lost his job because of charges of making anti-Jewish statements.

Black entertainers have been affected, as well. At the top of his popularity, "the King of Pop" Michael Jackson was dethroned by Jewish activists for mouthing the lyrics "Jew me, sue me" on the controversial song "They Don't Care About Us." Also, many believe that it is more than a coincidence that the top rated Arsenio Hall Show was canceled shortly after the appearance of Min. Louis Farrakhan on the program.

As uncompromising as Hip hop claims to be, even it has been impacted. During the late 80's, the rap group Public Enemy came under intense scrutiny for comments that group member Professor Griff, allegedly, made that offended Jewish leaders. Even Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs had to censor the lyric "stack chips like Hebrews" from the hit record "All About the Benjamins." The irony being that calls from African American women for rappers to recording misogynistic lyrics fall on deaf ears.

While the calls often go out to open channels of dialogue between the black and Jewish communities, this cannot be done without open and honest communication. Before we can move forward, we have to heal the old wounds of the past. This can only be done by cultural education which must begin with an African American community that has little knowledge of its own history.

Unfortunately, the African American scholars who have been capable of bringing historical clarity to the issue like Dr. Tony Martin and Dr. Leonard Jeffries have, themselves, been demonized as anti-Semites.

On April 21st millions of Jews will repeat the phrase, never forget!" Unfortunately, for African Americans, we cannot forget that which we have never been allowed to learn.

Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com or (919) 451-8283

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

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

NWSF Bullet: Case of the Missing CrackHeads

Durham Herald Sun columnist, John McCann is running an article, today, about Crackheads Candy called "All it's Cracked up to Be." According to the article McCann called Northgate Mall (Durham)and some dude told him that they still had Crackheads. But as I posted yesterday, when I called Thursday night, the dude answering the phone told me that they didn't carry the junk...

http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/opinion/columnists/mccann/index.cfm?

So what gives?

Maybe we should hire some undercover candy NARCS to go into FYE stores across the country and get surveillance footage of Crackhead deals going down...

No, better still, the No Warning Shots Firing Squad should go into FYE music stores posing as desperate CrackHead addicts armed with camera phones and take pictures/videos of Crackhead "stashes" and post them on youtube and send them to local media outlets across the country.

"Please, mister..I just need one CrackHead...Here, take my watch...."


In other Crackheads related news, I called into Rev. Al Sharpton's nationally syndicated talk show, yesterday and he gave me a few minutes to talk about Crackheads. He said he would check out the blog and asked me to send him some info.

Stay tuned for more CrackHead News....