What's Good About Gucci Mane ?:
Music, Marketing and Mind Control
Paul Scott
"It's all a part of fightin' devil state mind control
And all about the battle for your mind, body and soul."
"What Would You Do?" Paris
Meet Radric Davis aka Gucci Mane, a rapper with mediocre talent who is poised to become rap's next superstar. All over the Hip Hop universe, hypnotized fans scream "Gucci!," every time his song comes on the radio. How can this man go from mix tape rags to mega-stardom riches? Only in the Hip Hop Twilight Zone...
On December 8th, Gucci Mane will drop his latest CD, "The State vs Radric Davis." While arguably, not as "street" as his mix tape offerings, the content doesn't differ much from the same ol' Hee Haw Hip Hop coming out of the South dealing with money, drugs and hyper- sexuality.
This bring us to the fundamental question that few have had the guts to ask.
What's so good about Gucci Mane?
It must be noted that not everyone is sippin' on the Gucci Grape Kool Aid. A few months ago students at NC A@T and Florida A@M objected to their tuition money being used to fund the physical and mental genocide of black children by protesting Gucci's inclusion in their homecoming concerts.
But besides a few rebellions on college campuses, it seems that most Hip Hop heads are ready to crown Davis the new ruler of rap.
While most of the mentally dead will credit the popularity of Gucci as just good promotion by Warner Brothers, there is a thin line between marketing and mind control, as they both seek to influence human behavior.
One of the most diabolical masters of mental manipulation was Adolf Hitler's minister of propaganda, Paul Joseph Goebbels, who perfected the idea of the "Big Lie;" a falsehood told enough times will eventually be accepted by the masses as the truth. So if you tell a person that a rapper is hot enough times, (especially the weak minded) he will eventually go out and by the cd.
Why do we not believe that the Nazi's who own the major record labels have a stable of their own ministers of propaganda hard at work marketing madness to the masses under the guise of music?
Mental manipulation has also been used as an agent of social control by the US government. Although unknown by most Americans, the CIA has conducted many psychological experiments under their chemical and biological warfare research programs.
In her book, "Medical Apartheid," Dr. Harriet Washington, quotes the research of Allen Hornblum , who stated that between the 1950's and 70's, Dr. Albert Klingman conducted chemical warfare tests on predominantly black inmates in Philadelphia's Holmesburg Prison as part of the CIA's MK-ULTRA program.
Could this be part of the reason that the Fed's are giving out so many 12 month sentences to rappers, including Gucci Mane, in an effort to convince black youth that spending time in prison is part of a rites of passage ? Or the reason that Davis is on the front of his CD cover dressed in a prison uniform with a handcuff (shackle) on his wrist?
It must be also noted that under MK-Ultra, drugs such as LSD were used as part of the experiments.
In his book, "Behold a Pale Horse," William Cooper alleges that during the height of activist mobilization against the Vietnam War, " Dr. Timothy Leary introduced drug culture to American youth under the CIA project, MK-Ultra."
This allegation is also echoed by Peter Doggett in his book "There's a Riot Going On: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars and the Rise and Fall of the '60's "where he writes " there are conspiracy theories that Leary, himself, was a CIA agent."
Doggett also records Kwame Ture's (Stokely Carmichael) attempts to keep drugs out of the Black community and the Black Power Movement when he warned, " The reason why drug use has reached the proportion that it has today in our communities is that the political consciousness of our people is rising and in order to dull the political consciousness of our people, the oppressor always sends more drugs into the community."
Today, LSD and heroin have been replaced by malt liquor, blunts and crack as the opiates of the people, which is possibly why artists like Davis propagate the idea of getting "wasted." This is an especially crucial point to consider when the racist right wing are in the process of organizing their forces for the 2010 and 2012 election cycles.
In 2009, we are facing what rap researcher Professor Griff calls "the covert psychological war on Hip Hop."
So what do we do?
Can we continue to allow peer pressure from 13 year olds and those with teeny bopper mentalities prevent us from raising the tough questions ?
I say no!
The more you know the more you owe the younger generation an explanation for why the various pathologies from which we suffer exist and the role that the entertainment industry plays in our destruction.
The point of this article is not to offer ,indisputable, proof that Gucci Mane's music is part of some vast conspiratorial plot to destroy black people. (Though it does not refute the idea, either.)
But it is foolish not to consider, as a possibility, that mind control techniques could be used by the music industry to sell CD's and, also, by those who wish to keep black people disenfranchised.
We must, continuously, remind our people of the words of the great funk philosopher, George Clinton,
"Mind your wants because there's someone who wants your mind."
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
For information about the Intelligence Over Ignorance Campaign go to http://www.ioimovement.com
Showing posts with label gangs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gangs. Show all posts
Sunday, December 6, 2009
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, August 30, 2009
Black America: The Final Destination
Black America: The Final Destination
Paul Scott
"Sometimes, I think it's just genocide. Watching all of your people die."
"Closed Eyes"- Marcus Cox, NC artist
I just peeped the new movie called "The Final Destination" about this woe- is -me type dude warning his homies about their impending demises and their frantic attempts to beat the grim reaper. I'm not sure why I spent $6.25 to see the flick when, as a black man, I get that every night on the evening news for free...
The gloom and doom forecast for black life started out in the 16th century with the misinterpretation of scripture that condemned people of African descent to the curse of being "hewers of wood and drawers of water." It's been pretty much downhill every since.
It seems that any news dealing with black folks is, overwhelmingly, negative except for the occasional story of some lucky kid who "made it out the ghetto despite the million- to- one odds."
Whether it's stories about unemployment or high drop out rates, black on black violence or some new disease that for some strange reason only attacks black folks, news from the 'hood is, definitely, not all good.
The sad thing about it is that most of us have become so accustomed to our pitiful prognosis that we have accepted the revelations, whole heartedly, without even asking why.
And those of us who do try to challenge the statistics are faced with the unenviable task of constantly trying to decipher fact from fiction.
Is the black community, inherently, doomed to the pathologies that plague us or do our own actions determine our fate? Do we have the ability to develop strategies to relieve our burdens or will even our best made plans be sabotaged by those who have a vested interest in "keepin' the black man down?"
People like Bill Cosby have argued that if only black boys would pull up their pants and stop listening to gangsta rap then all would be right with the world. This is not much different than WEB Du Bois' argument in his 1897 essay, "The Conversation of Races" that the greatest step to solving the "Negro problem lies in the correction of the immortality, crime and laziness of the Negroes themselves, which still remains an argument since slavery."
Others have argued, quite convincingly, that the condition of African Americans is not the result of Divine Providence nor an accidental universal catastrophe but is a well designed attempt to remove people with high levels of melanin from the face of the planet.
While this may be dismissed by some as paranoia, as the character from the 80's sitcom, WKRP in Cincinnati, Dr. Johnny Fever, once said, "when everyone's out to get you, being paranoid is just a smart way of thinking."
After all the evidence is there.
As Malcolm X said at a Harlem rally in 1964, known as his 'By Any Means Necessary Speech," When you let the black man in America know where he once was and what he once had, why, he only needs to look at himself now to realize something criminal was done to him to bring him down to the low condition that he's in today."
It is foolish to deny the fact that segments in this country have offered ways to get rid of black undesirables over the years; whether it be lynchings, burnings, the Tuskegee Experiment, COINTELPRO, crack and guns in the hood or the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, the list goes on.
While many of these incidents may be chalked up to urban legends, the affect of rumors was taken very seriously by the government. In her book, "Heard it Through the Grapevine," Professor Patricia Turner writes that the Feds set up "rumor clinics" during WWII to "prevent potentially adverse hearsay of all sorts from gaining credibility." Also, in 1968, the Kerner Report recorded the operation of "Rumor Central " operations to combat urban racial disorders.
What is most troubling is that many young African Americans have embraced their fate and adopted the old Star Trek Borg mantra that "resistance is futile."
This is especially evident in Hip Hop as rappers have developed a bizarre type of necrophilia. There are hundreds of songs with the common theme of "just kill me, already, and get it over with."
The posthumous success of rappers Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG, both of whom seemed to predict their deaths in their lyrics, are perhaps the best examples.
This is not to suggest that the entertainment industry's exploitation of black agony started with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5's, "The Message." From the blues to the the situation comedy /tragedies of 70's shows such as Good Times, the industry has painted a less than rosy picture of black life. However, with changing technological advances, Hip Hop allowed black suffering to be embraced, globally.
Regardless, of the cause of our dilemma, our challenge is to find ways to restore the confidence of this young generation that they do not have to accept their prewritten obituaries but they posses the innate ability to change their environment.
Maybe, we will find out that Earth, Wind and Fire were right when they sang, "in our hearts lie all the answers to the truth you can't run from."
Until then, just like in the movie, being black in America is a constant, everyday struggle to cheat death.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Paul Scott
"Sometimes, I think it's just genocide. Watching all of your people die."
"Closed Eyes"- Marcus Cox, NC artist
I just peeped the new movie called "The Final Destination" about this woe- is -me type dude warning his homies about their impending demises and their frantic attempts to beat the grim reaper. I'm not sure why I spent $6.25 to see the flick when, as a black man, I get that every night on the evening news for free...
The gloom and doom forecast for black life started out in the 16th century with the misinterpretation of scripture that condemned people of African descent to the curse of being "hewers of wood and drawers of water." It's been pretty much downhill every since.
It seems that any news dealing with black folks is, overwhelmingly, negative except for the occasional story of some lucky kid who "made it out the ghetto despite the million- to- one odds."
Whether it's stories about unemployment or high drop out rates, black on black violence or some new disease that for some strange reason only attacks black folks, news from the 'hood is, definitely, not all good.
The sad thing about it is that most of us have become so accustomed to our pitiful prognosis that we have accepted the revelations, whole heartedly, without even asking why.
And those of us who do try to challenge the statistics are faced with the unenviable task of constantly trying to decipher fact from fiction.
Is the black community, inherently, doomed to the pathologies that plague us or do our own actions determine our fate? Do we have the ability to develop strategies to relieve our burdens or will even our best made plans be sabotaged by those who have a vested interest in "keepin' the black man down?"
People like Bill Cosby have argued that if only black boys would pull up their pants and stop listening to gangsta rap then all would be right with the world. This is not much different than WEB Du Bois' argument in his 1897 essay, "The Conversation of Races" that the greatest step to solving the "Negro problem lies in the correction of the immortality, crime and laziness of the Negroes themselves, which still remains an argument since slavery."
Others have argued, quite convincingly, that the condition of African Americans is not the result of Divine Providence nor an accidental universal catastrophe but is a well designed attempt to remove people with high levels of melanin from the face of the planet.
While this may be dismissed by some as paranoia, as the character from the 80's sitcom, WKRP in Cincinnati, Dr. Johnny Fever, once said, "when everyone's out to get you, being paranoid is just a smart way of thinking."
After all the evidence is there.
As Malcolm X said at a Harlem rally in 1964, known as his 'By Any Means Necessary Speech," When you let the black man in America know where he once was and what he once had, why, he only needs to look at himself now to realize something criminal was done to him to bring him down to the low condition that he's in today."
It is foolish to deny the fact that segments in this country have offered ways to get rid of black undesirables over the years; whether it be lynchings, burnings, the Tuskegee Experiment, COINTELPRO, crack and guns in the hood or the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, the list goes on.
While many of these incidents may be chalked up to urban legends, the affect of rumors was taken very seriously by the government. In her book, "Heard it Through the Grapevine," Professor Patricia Turner writes that the Feds set up "rumor clinics" during WWII to "prevent potentially adverse hearsay of all sorts from gaining credibility." Also, in 1968, the Kerner Report recorded the operation of "Rumor Central " operations to combat urban racial disorders.
What is most troubling is that many young African Americans have embraced their fate and adopted the old Star Trek Borg mantra that "resistance is futile."
This is especially evident in Hip Hop as rappers have developed a bizarre type of necrophilia. There are hundreds of songs with the common theme of "just kill me, already, and get it over with."
The posthumous success of rappers Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG, both of whom seemed to predict their deaths in their lyrics, are perhaps the best examples.
This is not to suggest that the entertainment industry's exploitation of black agony started with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5's, "The Message." From the blues to the the situation comedy /tragedies of 70's shows such as Good Times, the industry has painted a less than rosy picture of black life. However, with changing technological advances, Hip Hop allowed black suffering to be embraced, globally.
Regardless, of the cause of our dilemma, our challenge is to find ways to restore the confidence of this young generation that they do not have to accept their prewritten obituaries but they posses the innate ability to change their environment.
Maybe, we will find out that Earth, Wind and Fire were right when they sang, "in our hearts lie all the answers to the truth you can't run from."
Until then, just like in the movie, being black in America is a constant, everyday struggle to cheat death.
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
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
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
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Natural Born Killaz
Natural Born Killaz:
Hip Hop and the Gangsta Gene
Min. Paul Scott
"I am a nightmare walking, psychopath talking
King of my jungle just a gangster stalking"
Colors- Ice T
Back in '94 Dr. Dre and Ice Cube did a video for "Natural Born Killaz" that gave the viewer a glimpse into the mind of a psychopath. While Hip Hop fans were bobbing their heads to the beat, little did they know that the homicidal rantings were mirroring scientific research.
Earlier this month, news reports surfaced that scientists are suggesting that gangsta-ism is not solely based on socio-eceonomic conditions but genetic abnormalities.
According to a study conducted at Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, "Boys who carry a particular variation of the gene Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), sometimes called the "warrior gene," are more likely not only to join gangs but also to be among the most violent members and to use weapons."
http://www.fsu.edu/news/2009/06/05/warrior.gene/
I can just imagine the scientists chillin' in the lab with the Geto Boys' "Mind of a Lunatic" pumpin' over the intercom while they wrote their research papers.
The data for the report was gathered from the The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, that gathered the information from "a nationally representative sample of adolescents in grades 7-12 in the United States during the 1994-95 school year," according to the organization's website.
http://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/addhealth
And all this time we thought the fascination with gangsta-ism started when Snoop Dog first did the Crip Walk at the Source Awards.
Although, the linking of genetics with gang bangin' may be new, the efforts of white folks to try to use science to justify things such as racial superiority go back more than a century.
There are many who have used Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution as proof of the Caucasian's superiority over other races.
In his book "The Ice Man Inheritance," Michael Bradley argues that while Darwin's work may have been published too close to the end of slavery to have made an impact he writes ,"I have always considered it a sobering thought that had Darwin's "Origins of Species" been published a decade earlier, the US might still be afflicted with slavery today."
There have also been studies trying to link genetics with criminal behavior dating back decades. As far back as 1968 there was an article in Time Magazine, "Chromosomes and Crime," that discussed the issue of criminal behavior and genetic abnormalities.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,841254,00.html
Harriet Washington, author of the book "Medical Apartheid" explores an earlier study to link XYY syndrome with criminal behavior. While she discounts the theory of the criminal gene, she writes that even if there is such a thing as a XYY chromosome indicator for criminal behavior it is "a white one; not a black one found more commonly in white men then blacks."
But we must be very clear, the current discussion of the warrior gene is not about what makes white men sell other races into slavery nor what makes some of them put on white sheets and terrorize black people, this study is about a gangsta culture that has been mostly attributed to black and Latino youth.
So we are not talking about scientific facts but a public perception and its link to popular culture and life in the hood.
It has already been discussed, at length, how violence and misogyny in Hip Hop may contribute to methods of social control such as the disproportionate incarceration of black and Latino males but when you throw genetics into the mix, you venture into the ugly world of eugenics.
As Washington writes in Medical Apartheid, "eugenicists promulgated the weeding out of undesirable elements by discouraging or preventing the birth of children with bad genetic profiles."
In a time when cities across the country are, desperately, trying to find ways to stop "gang violence," this could easily lead to calls for genocide for the common good of the community. Desperate people do desperate things.
But this may already be happening.
Could the easy access to firearms, the crack epidemic and the brainwashing of black youth by commercialized Hip Hop all be part of plot to remove undesirables from the planet?
History has recorded plots just as evil.
If there is such a thing as a "warrior gene", could not that gene have been present in those who joined "gangs" to fight against slavery and injustice from Nat Turner and Toussaint L'overture to Malcolm X and Huey P Newton? So, the study could be killing two birds with one stone.
We must realize that Foundations do not donate millions of dollars without rhyme or reason. They do it to supply information that will be used to develop public policy. These policy makers are not trying to analyze the minds of white men who tie black men to the back of pickup trucks and drag them down the back roads of Texas, they are trying to come to a scientific conclusion as to why "O Dog" blasted the Korean grocers in Menace II Society and how to prevent it from ever happening again.
If innocent "inner city" babies perish in the effort to stop gangs; so be it
Even as you read this there are those who are meeting to discover ways to get rid of gangsta fetuses before they become OG's.
Min. Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Hip Hop and the Gangsta Gene
Min. Paul Scott
"I am a nightmare walking, psychopath talking
King of my jungle just a gangster stalking"
Colors- Ice T
Back in '94 Dr. Dre and Ice Cube did a video for "Natural Born Killaz" that gave the viewer a glimpse into the mind of a psychopath. While Hip Hop fans were bobbing their heads to the beat, little did they know that the homicidal rantings were mirroring scientific research.
Earlier this month, news reports surfaced that scientists are suggesting that gangsta-ism is not solely based on socio-eceonomic conditions but genetic abnormalities.
According to a study conducted at Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, "Boys who carry a particular variation of the gene Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), sometimes called the "warrior gene," are more likely not only to join gangs but also to be among the most violent members and to use weapons."
http://www.fsu.edu/news/2009/06/05/warrior.gene/
I can just imagine the scientists chillin' in the lab with the Geto Boys' "Mind of a Lunatic" pumpin' over the intercom while they wrote their research papers.
The data for the report was gathered from the The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, that gathered the information from "a nationally representative sample of adolescents in grades 7-12 in the United States during the 1994-95 school year," according to the organization's website.
http://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/addhealth
And all this time we thought the fascination with gangsta-ism started when Snoop Dog first did the Crip Walk at the Source Awards.
Although, the linking of genetics with gang bangin' may be new, the efforts of white folks to try to use science to justify things such as racial superiority go back more than a century.
There are many who have used Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution as proof of the Caucasian's superiority over other races.
In his book "The Ice Man Inheritance," Michael Bradley argues that while Darwin's work may have been published too close to the end of slavery to have made an impact he writes ,"I have always considered it a sobering thought that had Darwin's "Origins of Species" been published a decade earlier, the US might still be afflicted with slavery today."
There have also been studies trying to link genetics with criminal behavior dating back decades. As far back as 1968 there was an article in Time Magazine, "Chromosomes and Crime," that discussed the issue of criminal behavior and genetic abnormalities.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,841254,00.html
Harriet Washington, author of the book "Medical Apartheid" explores an earlier study to link XYY syndrome with criminal behavior. While she discounts the theory of the criminal gene, she writes that even if there is such a thing as a XYY chromosome indicator for criminal behavior it is "a white one; not a black one found more commonly in white men then blacks."
But we must be very clear, the current discussion of the warrior gene is not about what makes white men sell other races into slavery nor what makes some of them put on white sheets and terrorize black people, this study is about a gangsta culture that has been mostly attributed to black and Latino youth.
So we are not talking about scientific facts but a public perception and its link to popular culture and life in the hood.
It has already been discussed, at length, how violence and misogyny in Hip Hop may contribute to methods of social control such as the disproportionate incarceration of black and Latino males but when you throw genetics into the mix, you venture into the ugly world of eugenics.
As Washington writes in Medical Apartheid, "eugenicists promulgated the weeding out of undesirable elements by discouraging or preventing the birth of children with bad genetic profiles."
In a time when cities across the country are, desperately, trying to find ways to stop "gang violence," this could easily lead to calls for genocide for the common good of the community. Desperate people do desperate things.
But this may already be happening.
Could the easy access to firearms, the crack epidemic and the brainwashing of black youth by commercialized Hip Hop all be part of plot to remove undesirables from the planet?
History has recorded plots just as evil.
If there is such a thing as a "warrior gene", could not that gene have been present in those who joined "gangs" to fight against slavery and injustice from Nat Turner and Toussaint L'overture to Malcolm X and Huey P Newton? So, the study could be killing two birds with one stone.
We must realize that Foundations do not donate millions of dollars without rhyme or reason. They do it to supply information that will be used to develop public policy. These policy makers are not trying to analyze the minds of white men who tie black men to the back of pickup trucks and drag them down the back roads of Texas, they are trying to come to a scientific conclusion as to why "O Dog" blasted the Korean grocers in Menace II Society and how to prevent it from ever happening again.
If innocent "inner city" babies perish in the effort to stop gangs; so be it
Even as you read this there are those who are meeting to discover ways to get rid of gangsta fetuses before they become OG's.
Min. Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com
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
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Candy For Crackheads?
Candy for Crackheads
Paul Scott
It's no secret in North Carolina that folks in Durham have a severe case of "thug-o-phobia."
They see gang members behind every tree and under every bush. Even a friendly wave to your homie could be considered a gang sign.
So, it should be no surprise that before you enter into Northgate Mall you are greeted with an anti-gang sign posted on the door.
No gang signs. No bandannas. No doo rags...
Yeah we get it already!
Not to mention they have a curfew, whereby, kids under 16 have to leave the mall by 6PM on the weekends unless accompanied by an adult.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/105715/
So, I'm in one of the spots where the kids hang out, the FYE cd store, looking for some discount old school Hip Hop when the nightly alarm comes blastin' through the mall intercom system warning every person under 16 to head for the nearest exit or they are going to send in the SWAT team, or somethin'.
Now, I look nowhere near 16 but since I have on my official "No Warning Shots Fired" gear, I grab my Biz Markie CD and head to the checkout so there will be no mistakes.
As I'm standing there, I see a box that says "Crackheads Candy," with the catchy subtitle "We're all addicted to something."
Needless to say, I'm intrigued.
Upon further inspection, I notice that it is a box of chocolate covered coffee beans. I suppose if you eat enough of them, you start acting like a crackhead. According to the company's website a box of Crackheads has as much caffeine as six cups of coffee, 7.5 cans of Red Bull and 11 cans of Mountain Dew.
http://www.crackheadscandy.com/candy-info/
I feel like jumping up on the counter and yellin' :
"Am I the only person in this store that sees something terribly wrong with this?"
"You mean I can't wear a red or blue baseball cap but I can get some crack head candy to go with my Lil Wayne cd?"
But instead I head to the nearest exit before some taser happy security cop mistakes me for a 9th grader.
Apparently, the candy just recently became available in the Bull City but was given the thumbs down on CNBC's, "The Big Idea" a while back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-1GshalNr4
The product is put out by some dude named John Osmanski, a former biomedical engineering student.
Apparently, the boy genius thinks that the definition of a a crack head is "a comedic term meaning someone was acting goofy, crazy, and/or odd."
Wrong Einstein. That might be what it means in the 'burbs of Milwaukee but in Durham a crackhead is someone who is addicted to a substance that has destroyed communities nationwide since the 80's.
I can't be the only one who has seen this stuff. Where is the outrage?
Do you really want your children going to school wired off of crack head candy?
If Young Jeezy would have put this junk out he'd be still spinnin' around Bill O'Reilly's "No Spin Zone" as we speak!
Do we give Osmanki a ghetto pass because he's a clean cut lookin' college kid and not a thugged out brotha from tha hood?
Osamaki's website says that he already has some crack candy dispensers coming to a convenience store near you. I guess he can cut out the street level dealers that way.
I can't wait to see his commercial. I guess he's gonna have Willie Wonka dealin' crack to the Umpa Lumpa kids.
Crack is nothing to joke about nor is it something to build a candy empire around. Too many people have had their lives destroyed because of "the rock."
To borrow from the immortal words of pop diva, Whitney Houston..
"Crack is wack!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytJpZguSy2U
Paul Scott, the Hip Hop TRUTH Minista" writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Paul Scott
It's no secret in North Carolina that folks in Durham have a severe case of "thug-o-phobia."
They see gang members behind every tree and under every bush. Even a friendly wave to your homie could be considered a gang sign.
So, it should be no surprise that before you enter into Northgate Mall you are greeted with an anti-gang sign posted on the door.
No gang signs. No bandannas. No doo rags...
Yeah we get it already!
Not to mention they have a curfew, whereby, kids under 16 have to leave the mall by 6PM on the weekends unless accompanied by an adult.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/105715/
So, I'm in one of the spots where the kids hang out, the FYE cd store, looking for some discount old school Hip Hop when the nightly alarm comes blastin' through the mall intercom system warning every person under 16 to head for the nearest exit or they are going to send in the SWAT team, or somethin'.
Now, I look nowhere near 16 but since I have on my official "No Warning Shots Fired" gear, I grab my Biz Markie CD and head to the checkout so there will be no mistakes.
As I'm standing there, I see a box that says "Crackheads Candy," with the catchy subtitle "We're all addicted to something."
Needless to say, I'm intrigued.
Upon further inspection, I notice that it is a box of chocolate covered coffee beans. I suppose if you eat enough of them, you start acting like a crackhead. According to the company's website a box of Crackheads has as much caffeine as six cups of coffee, 7.5 cans of Red Bull and 11 cans of Mountain Dew.
http://www.crackheadscandy.com/candy-info/
I feel like jumping up on the counter and yellin' :
"Am I the only person in this store that sees something terribly wrong with this?"
"You mean I can't wear a red or blue baseball cap but I can get some crack head candy to go with my Lil Wayne cd?"
But instead I head to the nearest exit before some taser happy security cop mistakes me for a 9th grader.
Apparently, the candy just recently became available in the Bull City but was given the thumbs down on CNBC's, "The Big Idea" a while back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-1GshalNr4
The product is put out by some dude named John Osmanski, a former biomedical engineering student.
Apparently, the boy genius thinks that the definition of a a crack head is "a comedic term meaning someone was acting goofy, crazy, and/or odd."
Wrong Einstein. That might be what it means in the 'burbs of Milwaukee but in Durham a crackhead is someone who is addicted to a substance that has destroyed communities nationwide since the 80's.
I can't be the only one who has seen this stuff. Where is the outrage?
Do you really want your children going to school wired off of crack head candy?
If Young Jeezy would have put this junk out he'd be still spinnin' around Bill O'Reilly's "No Spin Zone" as we speak!
Do we give Osmanki a ghetto pass because he's a clean cut lookin' college kid and not a thugged out brotha from tha hood?
Osamaki's website says that he already has some crack candy dispensers coming to a convenience store near you. I guess he can cut out the street level dealers that way.
I can't wait to see his commercial. I guess he's gonna have Willie Wonka dealin' crack to the Umpa Lumpa kids.
Crack is nothing to joke about nor is it something to build a candy empire around. Too many people have had their lives destroyed because of "the rock."
To borrow from the immortal words of pop diva, Whitney Houston..
"Crack is wack!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytJpZguSy2U
Paul Scott, the Hip Hop TRUTH Minista" writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
NWSF Interview: King J of the Latin Kings
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Paul Scott
If you live in Greensboro, NC, chances are you've probably heard of Jorge Cornell. To hear the cops tell it, he's a Latino version of O-Dog from Menace to Society. But to many in the black and Latino community he is a modern day Huey P. Newton.
In an interview, earlier today, NWSF.com wanted to know why Cornell is loved by some and hated by others.
"They downplay the positive," says Cornell who says that he has been active in the Greensboro community doing everything from feeding the homeless to trying to establish black and brown unity.
A New York native, Jorge "King J" Cornell, "Inca" (leader) of the Greensboro Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) says that he was politically active up North and carried that same spirit below the Mason Dixon where he says that racism is 10 times worst than it is in the Big Apple.
According to Cornell, it is not his gang affiliation that has gotten him in trouble with the law but his political activities.
He says that the Latin Kings have been harassed for a while but it escalated after he made his "Call for Peace" last June.
Since then he says that he has been charged with 13 felonies, all of which have been dismissed.
Coincidentally, Cornell says that he has been shot twice since last August.
However, he says that his brushes with death only gave him more motivation to fight for the people.
When asked about the media hype of the tension between the black and Latino communities Cornell said bluntly, "Totally false."
"If Black and Brown come together, there is so much that we can accomplish, we are the same people," says Cornell.
"They brought you here in shackles and they ship us off in shackles, says Cornell, referring to immigration laws, an issue that is dear to his heart.
He mentioned his concern over Section 287 G of the Immigration and Nationality Act which, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, allows "the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions."
http://www.ice.gov/partners/287g/Section287_g.htm
Although, some would say that there are two sides to every story, there is one story that has never really been told. That is the political suppression of oppressed people. Until that story is told, all the facts aren't in and we can never arrive at a clear consensus of whether gangs like the Latin Kings are helping or hurting their communities.
With all the drama that activists have to go through, why doesn't King J just take an early retirement?
"I'm wiling to die for this," says Cornell. "If I can make a change for my people, that's what it is..."
Paul Scott, the Hip Hop TRUTH Minista's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/
Paul Scott
If you live in Greensboro, NC, chances are you've probably heard of Jorge Cornell. To hear the cops tell it, he's a Latino version of O-Dog from Menace to Society. But to many in the black and Latino community he is a modern day Huey P. Newton.
In an interview, earlier today, NWSF.com wanted to know why Cornell is loved by some and hated by others.
"They downplay the positive," says Cornell who says that he has been active in the Greensboro community doing everything from feeding the homeless to trying to establish black and brown unity.
A New York native, Jorge "King J" Cornell, "Inca" (leader) of the Greensboro Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) says that he was politically active up North and carried that same spirit below the Mason Dixon where he says that racism is 10 times worst than it is in the Big Apple.
According to Cornell, it is not his gang affiliation that has gotten him in trouble with the law but his political activities.
He says that the Latin Kings have been harassed for a while but it escalated after he made his "Call for Peace" last June.
Since then he says that he has been charged with 13 felonies, all of which have been dismissed.
Coincidentally, Cornell says that he has been shot twice since last August.
However, he says that his brushes with death only gave him more motivation to fight for the people.
When asked about the media hype of the tension between the black and Latino communities Cornell said bluntly, "Totally false."
"If Black and Brown come together, there is so much that we can accomplish, we are the same people," says Cornell.
"They brought you here in shackles and they ship us off in shackles, says Cornell, referring to immigration laws, an issue that is dear to his heart.
He mentioned his concern over Section 287 G of the Immigration and Nationality Act which, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, allows "the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions."
http://www.ice.gov/partners/287g/Section287_g.htm
Although, some would say that there are two sides to every story, there is one story that has never really been told. That is the political suppression of oppressed people. Until that story is told, all the facts aren't in and we can never arrive at a clear consensus of whether gangs like the Latin Kings are helping or hurting their communities.
With all the drama that activists have to go through, why doesn't King J just take an early retirement?
"I'm wiling to die for this," says Cornell. "If I can make a change for my people, that's what it is..."
Paul Scott, the Hip Hop TRUTH Minista's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/
Thursday, December 4, 2008
NWSF Bullet: Only the Good Die Young
Today (Dec 4th) marks the 39th anniversary of the murder of former Chicago Black Panther leader, Fred Hampton Sr.
I haven't heard that many tributes on the radio, today playing his speeches and I don't think that BET is going to do a tribute like they do for Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG.
Guess they can't find much air time in between songs and videos talking about black people killing other black people as a form of recreation.
Then again its not like a lot of folks know about "Chairman Fred," who up until his dying day at the young age of 21 spent his days putting together programs to feed children in the 'hood and organizing gang members to help the community instead of destroying it.
Since most Americans suffer from historical amnesia, they try to forget that not too long ago helping black folks was a crime punishable by death at the hands of the government.
So, while you can find hundreds of videos at Blockbuster and on Netflix with black men being shot over song lyrics and car rims, you can hardly find any footage of Fred Hamptain lying in his bed covered with blood because the enforcers of the COINTELPRO program considered Sickle Cell Anemia clinics a threat to national security.
Until we tell our children about great black leaders such as Fred Hampton we are only fooling ourselves if we think that we will ever stop the "gang problem."
To borrow from Chairman Fred, we will only keep coming up with,
"Answers that don't answer, explanations that don't explain and conclusions that don't conclude."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHzSdniqi4g
I haven't heard that many tributes on the radio, today playing his speeches and I don't think that BET is going to do a tribute like they do for Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG.
Guess they can't find much air time in between songs and videos talking about black people killing other black people as a form of recreation.
Then again its not like a lot of folks know about "Chairman Fred," who up until his dying day at the young age of 21 spent his days putting together programs to feed children in the 'hood and organizing gang members to help the community instead of destroying it.
Since most Americans suffer from historical amnesia, they try to forget that not too long ago helping black folks was a crime punishable by death at the hands of the government.
So, while you can find hundreds of videos at Blockbuster and on Netflix with black men being shot over song lyrics and car rims, you can hardly find any footage of Fred Hamptain lying in his bed covered with blood because the enforcers of the COINTELPRO program considered Sickle Cell Anemia clinics a threat to national security.
Until we tell our children about great black leaders such as Fred Hampton we are only fooling ourselves if we think that we will ever stop the "gang problem."
To borrow from Chairman Fred, we will only keep coming up with,
"Answers that don't answer, explanations that don't explain and conclusions that don't conclude."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHzSdniqi4g
Thursday, July 17, 2008
TRUTH Minista on WTVD News 7/16
This is a clip of the report that WTVD, in Durham NC did on my opposition to the "Hip Hop Patriot Act." (Street Gang Suppression Act)
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6269027#bodyText
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6269027#bodyText
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Hip Hop Patriot Bill Passes
Looks like the House and Senate have passed the Hip Hop Patriot Act and sent it to Gov. Easley to be signed into law.
I'm not really surprised.
Never under estimate the power of paranoid politicians who prey on the fears of the public during an election year nor the poverty pimps and Hip Hop Hustlers who are lining up to get their grubby hands on some of that 10 million dollars in "prevention money" in order to get new state of the art expresso machines put in their offices.
What is disturbing is the lack of media coverage of opposing voices. If you remember at the beginning of the Iraq War, the left complained about those that were opposed to the "War on Terror" were silenced by media outlets such as Fox News.
With the "War on Gangs" we see the same suppression of opposing ideologies. I guess the new rule of thumb for journalism is why confuse the people with facts ?
Why no discussion of things like constitutional violations and racial profiling? Why not poll the people in the communities most affected as to whether their child's name might be on some mysterious "Gang net" without their knowledge.
I wonder how much hush grant money it took to make the local child advocacy and anti prison groups to look the other way while this bill was being pushed.
For many ordinary citizens, the impact of this act will not hit home until their child is accused of being a gang member because of his style of clothing.
Beware the dawn of the Police State.
Yes, we must fight against death and destruction in the community but to quote the late great Black Panther leader Fred Hampton Sr. who was murdered courtesy of COINTELPRO in 1969.
"Nothing is more important than stopping fascism because fascism will to stop us all."
I'm not really surprised.
Never under estimate the power of paranoid politicians who prey on the fears of the public during an election year nor the poverty pimps and Hip Hop Hustlers who are lining up to get their grubby hands on some of that 10 million dollars in "prevention money" in order to get new state of the art expresso machines put in their offices.
What is disturbing is the lack of media coverage of opposing voices. If you remember at the beginning of the Iraq War, the left complained about those that were opposed to the "War on Terror" were silenced by media outlets such as Fox News.
With the "War on Gangs" we see the same suppression of opposing ideologies. I guess the new rule of thumb for journalism is why confuse the people with facts ?
Why no discussion of things like constitutional violations and racial profiling? Why not poll the people in the communities most affected as to whether their child's name might be on some mysterious "Gang net" without their knowledge.
I wonder how much hush grant money it took to make the local child advocacy and anti prison groups to look the other way while this bill was being pushed.
For many ordinary citizens, the impact of this act will not hit home until their child is accused of being a gang member because of his style of clothing.
Beware the dawn of the Police State.
Yes, we must fight against death and destruction in the community but to quote the late great Black Panther leader Fred Hampton Sr. who was murdered courtesy of COINTELPRO in 1969.
"Nothing is more important than stopping fascism because fascism will to stop us all."
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Letter in 7/6 Charlotte Observer
As a community activist with a background in Hip Hop culture, I find your 6/29 editorial "Use all Tools Available to Shut Down Gangs" , as well as the current anti gang bills, disturbing, to say the least.
The new get tough on gang policies conjure up atrocities of the past including McCarthyism, COINTELPRO, and the Patriot Act. Although, these efforts were ,initially, applauded by many Americans as a way to insure law and order, most citizens will agree, in retrospect that they were dreadful mistakes.
The main problem with the prosed anti gang bills is their failure to clearly define what constitutes being a gang member. A preemptive strike against gangs will not win the war on crime but will only result in constitutional violations and "Hip Hop profiling."
Paul Scott
Durham
The new get tough on gang policies conjure up atrocities of the past including McCarthyism, COINTELPRO, and the Patriot Act. Although, these efforts were ,initially, applauded by many Americans as a way to insure law and order, most citizens will agree, in retrospect that they were dreadful mistakes.
The main problem with the prosed anti gang bills is their failure to clearly define what constitutes being a gang member. A preemptive strike against gangs will not win the war on crime but will only result in constitutional violations and "Hip Hop profiling."
Paul Scott
Durham
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Hip Hop Patriot Act Alert
The NC Street Gang Suppression Bill has gone to the conference committee. This means that it should be going before the NC House of Representatives for a vote soon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress_Conference_committee
We must not let them sneak this bill in while everyone is busy celebrating the Obama nomination or making plans for a weekend at the beach!.
Contact the members of the committee and let them know that you oppose House Bill 274 aka the "Hip Hop Patriot Act."
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/confcomm/confcommittee.pl?BillChamber=H&BillID=274
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress_Conference_committee
We must not let them sneak this bill in while everyone is busy celebrating the Obama nomination or making plans for a weekend at the beach!.
Contact the members of the committee and let them know that you oppose House Bill 274 aka the "Hip Hop Patriot Act."
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/confcomm/confcommittee.pl?BillChamber=H&BillID=274
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Black Racism???
For the second time in less than a month, the Durham Herald Sun is promoting the idea that black people are robbing Latinos because of "racism."
Now, I'm gonna say this one mo' time for people who are a little slow....
Black folks, cannot be racist!!!
Bigots, yes...
Prejudiced, yes...
But racists, heck to tha naw!!!
Racism means that you have the ability to deprive someone of their rights to Life, Liberty and all that other stuff that black folks have never had... We do not, collectively, have the economic-political power to deny "nobody nuthin'."
We, as a community, should be concerned that the Herald Sun is quoting members of the Latino community as saying that black racists are targetting them for crimes.
I doubt if the Spanish equivilant of that word "racism" has the same connotations that it has as the way the word is used in America with her history of lynchings, discrimination, etc
So, I can see the reporter rollin' up on Pedro Gomez....
"So, I hear you folks are being targeted by the neg...I mean, colore..I mean African Americans..."
"Que?"
"You know the black people..."
"Oh, si, el negros !!!"
"So would you say that they are dispoportionately targeting people of the mexi..., I mean, Hispanic persuation because of your economic vulnerability, based on color? "
"Que ?"
"I mean, they are being racist right ?...'
"Um, si ???"
It is dangerous that the Heald Sun is promoting this in the community..I guess they must be runnin' out of good Crip and Blood stories...
Shouldn't the city council, human relations commission, boys in the barbershop or somebody be addressing this issue before it gets outta hand ?
So far, Durham has been spared the Black and Brown tensions of, say, Los Angeles...
But give the Herald Sun a few more weeks to hype this misinformation...
To borrow from that great Hip Hop philosopher, Jay Z....
"Black folk's got 99 problems but a Mexican ain't one."
Yet, anyway....
Min. Paul Scott's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ (919) 451-8283
Now, I'm gonna say this one mo' time for people who are a little slow....
Black folks, cannot be racist!!!
Bigots, yes...
Prejudiced, yes...
But racists, heck to tha naw!!!
Racism means that you have the ability to deprive someone of their rights to Life, Liberty and all that other stuff that black folks have never had... We do not, collectively, have the economic-political power to deny "nobody nuthin'."
We, as a community, should be concerned that the Herald Sun is quoting members of the Latino community as saying that black racists are targetting them for crimes.
I doubt if the Spanish equivilant of that word "racism" has the same connotations that it has as the way the word is used in America with her history of lynchings, discrimination, etc
So, I can see the reporter rollin' up on Pedro Gomez....
"So, I hear you folks are being targeted by the neg...I mean, colore..I mean African Americans..."
"Que?"
"You know the black people..."
"Oh, si, el negros !!!"
"So would you say that they are dispoportionately targeting people of the mexi..., I mean, Hispanic persuation because of your economic vulnerability, based on color? "
"Que ?"
"I mean, they are being racist right ?...'
"Um, si ???"
It is dangerous that the Heald Sun is promoting this in the community..I guess they must be runnin' out of good Crip and Blood stories...
Shouldn't the city council, human relations commission, boys in the barbershop or somebody be addressing this issue before it gets outta hand ?
So far, Durham has been spared the Black and Brown tensions of, say, Los Angeles...
But give the Herald Sun a few more weeks to hype this misinformation...
To borrow from that great Hip Hop philosopher, Jay Z....
"Black folk's got 99 problems but a Mexican ain't one."
Yet, anyway....
Min. Paul Scott's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ (919) 451-8283
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Myth of the Hip Hop Generation
Yesterday, before the "10" Black Men gathering, I had the pleasure of being the keynote speaker at the "It Takes a Commuity for this Community Affair" community forum sponsored by the Durham County Women's Commision. The audience was made up of some very bright young folks from North Carolina Central University and Hillside High School.
I was there to to kick off my Books or Bullets Black History month campaign with a lecture on Hip Hop's fall from the intellectualism of the late 80's-early 90's.
Hip Hop topics usually go over real big with the younger crowd, especially when it comes to the question and answer period where some young B-Boy hot shot usually shoots the speaker down by bringing out Hip Hop historical points that you don't find out by watching some Ivy Leage, PH.D havin' dude tryin' to hawk his latest book on C-Span's Book Notes...
But it was during the question and answer period that I discovered young Black America's dirty little secret...
They ain't no darn "Hip Hop Generation..."
I heard a Civil Rights person say that the folks in the 60's never referred to what they were doing as a "Civil Rights Movement." That was just a name that the white News directors GAVE them. This sentiment was echoed last week when Dr. Howard Fuller, a noted Durham NC activist of tHE 60's and 70's who founded Malcolm X University and later went on to become the superintendent of the Milwaukee school district. Dr. Fuller said that although the activists in Durham were referred to as "civil rights activists" they were really Black Power activists.
This is not much different than what has happened to young Black America over the last 20 years. Hip Hop started in the 70's, got put on record in very late 79 into 1980 and began to become commercialized around 87 with the crossover popularity of Run DMC and the Beastie Boys. So, what the media call the Hip Hop generation can be anyone who brought a Hip hop record/CD from 1980 through the present.
Only when labeling Black folks would they put a 12 year old child and a 45 year old man in the same category. So when the media use "Hip Hop" they are not referring to an age range but a mentality. A mentality that is more rooted in BET than in political and social events. The term "Hip Hop Generation" is not rooted in reality but just a marketing term that mega corporations use to sell CD's and over priced T-Shirts and "Hip Hop intellectuals" use to sell books and get speaking engagements.
This generation is not the brain dead group of ring tone buyin' Hip Hoppers that the media would have you to believe. This generation is alot brighter than many of us realize but because we don't expect better, we don't get better...
So, I learned alot yesterday from the young folks. For too long we have let the media define us. It's time that we define ourselves.
Min. Paul Scott's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Durham's "10" Black Men
A few weeks ago Cimerron Bandele, head of the African Diasporin Nationalist Society, made a call to the community for a "No Excuse Day", to have 10 Black men show up to aid the Durham NC community.
Despite chilly weather, on January 26, they did just that.
Yesterday, in front of the Know Bookstore on Fayetteville Street, more than 20 men lined the sidewalk holding red, black and green flags and banners with a common theme.
"It's time for Black men to stand up!
The reason for the name "10" Black men is because the group feels that if only 10 strong, dedicated Black men would just get off the couch and turn off the football game, they could make positive changes in Durham,
For those who are not from the "Bull City," for more than a decade, Durham has been given a bad rap. Although, the city was once known as "Black Wall Street," Durham is mostly known, nationally, today for gang bangin'.
While Durham, like many cities, does have its share of youth violence, much of what you see and hear about the city has more to do with the media hype of news producers who have watched "Boys in the Hood" too many times than what is really going on in the streets.
The problem of "Dirty Durham" is more like a self fulfilling prophecy courtesy of national news documentaries that try to portray the city as the Compton of the South.
While some may point to Hip Hop as the reason for the rapid spread of "gangsta-ism" throughout smaller cities, in Durham, the "culture was spread more by newspaper headlines featuring black males throwin' up gang signs than rapper, Ice Cube.
But whatever the cause, we now have a problem; one that needs to be corrected. A correction that will come by way of intervention and education instead of "pointing the finger" and incarceration.
Enter the 10 Black Men.
The group was well received by the Durham community as many of those who rode by either honked their horns in support or raised the Black Power Fist out of their windows.
The "10" made it known that this is just the beginning and other events are soon coming, including a town meeting scheduled for February 9th.
I guess the feelings of the residents of the Fayetteville St. neighborhood to the sight of a group of strong Black men standing up to take control of their city can be summed up by the words of one elderly sister touched by the sight who could only smile and say repeatedly...
"To God be the glory."
Amen, Sister..Amen
Min. Paul Scott's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ For more info contact (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Thursday, July 26, 2007
When Mayberry Goes Gangsta
When Mayberry Goes Gangsta:
Justice Southern Style
Min. Paul Scott
Don't trust your soul to no back street southern lawyer
Cause the judge in town's got blood stains on his hands
The Night that the Lights Went Out in Georgia-Viki Lawrence
Summer time in Mayberry. Usually you can find Sherif Andy and Deputy Barney unarmed in the jailhouse playin' cards and just chillin'. Meanwhile, Aunt B and Opie sit on the front porch sippin' home made lemonade. But that was before "they" rode into town. Now Andy and Barney wear bulletproof vests. Aunt B carries a 45 in her Sunday purse, locked and loaded. And Opie is now "O dog" Main St assassin...
When most folks think of North Carolina, they think of apple pie, warm summer nights and college basketball. But like most places, the Ole North State has its share of crime. Some folks will warn you that if you see a kid dressed from head to toe in Carolina blue, he probably doesn't play for the UNC Tarheels. Especially in my city, Durham, as for the past few years the so called gang problem has received national attention thanks to the media and documentaries.
Durham hasn't always had the reputation of being the New Jack City of the South. But a few years back the local media began to do cover stories with gangsta's throwin' up gang signs and well, the kids that weren't quite smart enough to get on the A honor roll or couldn't catch a pass for a hundred yards every Friday night found that one way to get noticed was to go to the Dollar store and get a bandana, white T shirt and mimic BET videos.
To add to that, as in many cities, there is also the practice of gentrification. For those not hip to the term. When you find a poor neighborhood, label it run down, drive the people out, sell property dirt cheap and then rebuild the area...That's gentrification.
What you have a self fulfilling prophecy..Tell the people they live in a "gang infested" area long enough and well...You know the rest.
So how do my southern friends and neighbors deal with the plague of gang violence?
Like folks in any other town below the Mason Dixon when they feel that their traditional way of life is threatened...
They panic.
For the past few years, some NC politicians have been trying to pass tougher legislation to deal with gang violence. In 2003, to capitalize off of post 9/11 paranoia they tried to pass a Street Gang and Terrorism Prevention Act but since public anxiety had begun to die down, it didn't work. In 2007, they are trying to sneak it under the public radar in the form of the Street Gang Prevention Act courtesy of House Bill 274 and Senate Bill 1358.
But the obvious question is, if it is such a darn good idea, then why hasn't it become law, yet?
Now, I like to take an afternoon walk to the mailbox without worrying about becoming the victim of a drive by as much as the next guy but using draconian methods to deter crime just doesn’t strike me right.
The main controversies surrounding the bills are how do you determine who is in a gang and is being in a gang illegal?
The intro to House Bill 274 says that:
"The General Assembly, however, further finds that the State of North Carolina is in a state of crisis that has been caused by violent street gangs whose members threaten, terrorize, and commit a multitude of crimes against the peaceful citizens of their neighborhoods. These activities, both individually and collectively, present a clear and present danger to public order and safety and are not constitutionally protected "
******Note to Gang members "clear and present danger" is the ultimate diss because once you get that label on you. You have no rights and mama can’t save you*******
According to the bill a "criminal street gang" is defined as:
"any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, which engages in a pattern of criminal gang activity as defined in subdivision (2) of this section. The existence of the organization, association, or group of individuals associated in fact may be established by evidence of a common name or common identifying signs, symbols, tattoos, graffiti, or attire or other distinguishing characteristics"
Translation: Anyone who dresses like the rapper lil Wayne.
I think that it is safe to say that most middle class white folks don't know how it feels to be stereotyped. I still have a not so fond memory of while attending a summer high school honors program, standing at a bus stop dressed in my freshest 1984 Hip Hop gear only to have a Winston Salem bus driver decide that his half full vehicle suddenly ran out of room and slam the door in my face.
Also according to the bill "criminal street gang activity" is a:
"Pattern of criminal gang activity" means the commission, attempted commission, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation, coercion, or intimidation of another person to commit at least two of " a whole bunch of offences. "
I'm not quite sure how you enforce "attempt and conspiracy to commit a crime."
Maybe I should turn myself in now for that cup of coffee I was thinking about swiping from the counter at EZ Mart last week.
Lastly, the bill calls for the heavy prosecution of 12 year olds. I've met some rotten little brats in my day but I wouldn't really consider a 6th grader another Al Capone.
The companion bill Senate Bill 1358 is only slightly more politically correct.
Yes Virginia, there are real gangs in the Bull City and it is not a utopia. But Durham ain't Compton either with its generations of gangsterism. This isn’t an overly crowded city and the same kid who is P-Rock on Saturday night is Lil Pookie who sings in the youth choir on Sunday morning.
In other words..It aint' that deep.
We have not reached the point yet when we should consider performing social retro abortions on twelve year old kids.
Already they are developing projected budgets based on the new residents that will be headed to Hotel Hoodlum. The prison industry is big business and who am I to knock the hustle. So if your no good, lazy cousin in Alabama is looking for a good paying job, he might want to hop the next Greyhound to North Carolina.
The bottom line is in 2007, we should be able to come together and think of more innovative solutions to saving our children than the usual lock em up and throw away the key.
And that ain't just whistlin' Dixie...
Min. Paul Scott is a writer and activist based in Durham NC. His blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
For reach him contact (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Justice Southern Style
Min. Paul Scott
Don't trust your soul to no back street southern lawyer
Cause the judge in town's got blood stains on his hands
The Night that the Lights Went Out in Georgia-Viki Lawrence
Summer time in Mayberry. Usually you can find Sherif Andy and Deputy Barney unarmed in the jailhouse playin' cards and just chillin'. Meanwhile, Aunt B and Opie sit on the front porch sippin' home made lemonade. But that was before "they" rode into town. Now Andy and Barney wear bulletproof vests. Aunt B carries a 45 in her Sunday purse, locked and loaded. And Opie is now "O dog" Main St assassin...
When most folks think of North Carolina, they think of apple pie, warm summer nights and college basketball. But like most places, the Ole North State has its share of crime. Some folks will warn you that if you see a kid dressed from head to toe in Carolina blue, he probably doesn't play for the UNC Tarheels. Especially in my city, Durham, as for the past few years the so called gang problem has received national attention thanks to the media and documentaries.
Durham hasn't always had the reputation of being the New Jack City of the South. But a few years back the local media began to do cover stories with gangsta's throwin' up gang signs and well, the kids that weren't quite smart enough to get on the A honor roll or couldn't catch a pass for a hundred yards every Friday night found that one way to get noticed was to go to the Dollar store and get a bandana, white T shirt and mimic BET videos.
To add to that, as in many cities, there is also the practice of gentrification. For those not hip to the term. When you find a poor neighborhood, label it run down, drive the people out, sell property dirt cheap and then rebuild the area...That's gentrification.
What you have a self fulfilling prophecy..Tell the people they live in a "gang infested" area long enough and well...You know the rest.
So how do my southern friends and neighbors deal with the plague of gang violence?
Like folks in any other town below the Mason Dixon when they feel that their traditional way of life is threatened...
They panic.
For the past few years, some NC politicians have been trying to pass tougher legislation to deal with gang violence. In 2003, to capitalize off of post 9/11 paranoia they tried to pass a Street Gang and Terrorism Prevention Act but since public anxiety had begun to die down, it didn't work. In 2007, they are trying to sneak it under the public radar in the form of the Street Gang Prevention Act courtesy of House Bill 274 and Senate Bill 1358.
But the obvious question is, if it is such a darn good idea, then why hasn't it become law, yet?
Now, I like to take an afternoon walk to the mailbox without worrying about becoming the victim of a drive by as much as the next guy but using draconian methods to deter crime just doesn’t strike me right.
The main controversies surrounding the bills are how do you determine who is in a gang and is being in a gang illegal?
The intro to House Bill 274 says that:
"The General Assembly, however, further finds that the State of North Carolina is in a state of crisis that has been caused by violent street gangs whose members threaten, terrorize, and commit a multitude of crimes against the peaceful citizens of their neighborhoods. These activities, both individually and collectively, present a clear and present danger to public order and safety and are not constitutionally protected "
******Note to Gang members "clear and present danger" is the ultimate diss because once you get that label on you. You have no rights and mama can’t save you*******
According to the bill a "criminal street gang" is defined as:
"any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, which engages in a pattern of criminal gang activity as defined in subdivision (2) of this section. The existence of the organization, association, or group of individuals associated in fact may be established by evidence of a common name or common identifying signs, symbols, tattoos, graffiti, or attire or other distinguishing characteristics"
Translation: Anyone who dresses like the rapper lil Wayne.
I think that it is safe to say that most middle class white folks don't know how it feels to be stereotyped. I still have a not so fond memory of while attending a summer high school honors program, standing at a bus stop dressed in my freshest 1984 Hip Hop gear only to have a Winston Salem bus driver decide that his half full vehicle suddenly ran out of room and slam the door in my face.
Also according to the bill "criminal street gang activity" is a:
"Pattern of criminal gang activity" means the commission, attempted commission, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation, coercion, or intimidation of another person to commit at least two of " a whole bunch of offences. "
I'm not quite sure how you enforce "attempt and conspiracy to commit a crime."
Maybe I should turn myself in now for that cup of coffee I was thinking about swiping from the counter at EZ Mart last week.
Lastly, the bill calls for the heavy prosecution of 12 year olds. I've met some rotten little brats in my day but I wouldn't really consider a 6th grader another Al Capone.
The companion bill Senate Bill 1358 is only slightly more politically correct.
Yes Virginia, there are real gangs in the Bull City and it is not a utopia. But Durham ain't Compton either with its generations of gangsterism. This isn’t an overly crowded city and the same kid who is P-Rock on Saturday night is Lil Pookie who sings in the youth choir on Sunday morning.
In other words..It aint' that deep.
We have not reached the point yet when we should consider performing social retro abortions on twelve year old kids.
Already they are developing projected budgets based on the new residents that will be headed to Hotel Hoodlum. The prison industry is big business and who am I to knock the hustle. So if your no good, lazy cousin in Alabama is looking for a good paying job, he might want to hop the next Greyhound to North Carolina.
The bottom line is in 2007, we should be able to come together and think of more innovative solutions to saving our children than the usual lock em up and throw away the key.
And that ain't just whistlin' Dixie...
Min. Paul Scott is a writer and activist based in Durham NC. His blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
For reach him contact (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com
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