Reppin' for "Rap" arations

Reppin' for "Rap"arations:
Survivin' tha Hip Hop Holocaust

Paul Scott



"But then again I got a story that's harder than the hardcore cost of the holocaust. I'm talking about the one still goin' on. "

Can't Trust it-Public Enemy



I turned on the TV one evening just in time to catch the middle of a rant by an irate reporter fussin' about how something or another was the worst atrocity to happen to mankind. I thought that baby girl was about to have a total mental meltdown as she passionately argued about people in tha hood dying because of years of being abused and how that it was time for decent Americans to stand up and demand amends...I was just beginning to think that white America finally got it and they were about to apologize for the horrors of the 400 year treatment of African people in this country. But naw, she wasn't talking about the Transatlantic Slave Trade, she was just sharing her gripes about Hip Hop...

Every since the media found out that Hip Hop CD sales were down a few years back and their cash cow was finally running out of milk, there have been numerous shows about the "evil empire" of Hip Hop and how it is destroying the moral fabric of this country (as if a country built on slavery and cotton picking had any moral fabric to start with) . Talking heads from Paula Zahn to Anderson Cooper transformed themselves into hip Hip Hop historians, like they were really walking around in 1982 with boom boxes and Kangols.

The Don Imus comments of 2007 only added fuel to the fire of anti-hiphopism, as the culture was now the reason for racism. But if Hip Hop is really the scourge of society that white America claims that it is, then shouldn't somebody, somewhere be breaking a brotha off a lil somethin'?

It is time that we hit the entertainment industry up for some "Rap"arations.

While some folks who have dedicated their lives to securing compensation for the descendants of our enslaved ancestors may consider this statement almost sacrilegious, there is a strong connection between the two struggles. Just as our ancestors were stolen from Africa and exploited by slave traders, Hip Hop was stolen from Africans in America and exploited by CEO's of major corporations. Our failure to teach our young people about this correlation has been one of the major drawbacks in our addressing the Hip Hop dilemma. Our children have no knowledge of the complexity of the Black liberation struggle, so when we use words like "mentacide", "colonialization" and Maafa, we might as well be talking Greek instead of Swahili.

Our people, in general, also lack a thorough knowledge of history so it is impossible for many to conceptualize the scope and severity of the Maafa and that impedes their ability to connect the dots between the past and the present. However, with a knowledge of our history one would be hard pressed to ignore the relationship between the atrocities of 1619 and the condition in which we find ourselves in 2009.

Either the Hip Hop Holocaust is part of the legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (Maafa) or just another phase of a holocaust that never really ended. Even the most hard core Hip Hop head cannot deny the fact that the corporate exploitation of Hip Hop has had a devastating on African people world wide. From the gun shots flying through hoods across the country courtesy of impressionable young Brotha's who think that killing a Black man is a rites of passage in St. Louis to the five year old Sista in South Philly who thinks that all she will ever be is someone's bitch to Brotha's and Sista's in Sierra Leone who think that "nigger" is a universal term of endearment based on the bootleg CD's that took the round (middle passage) trip back across the Atlantic, our people are suffering while white men in business suits get rich.

We demand "Rap"arations!

While the major focus of the demand for "Rap"arations will be, of course, focused on the entertainment industry, in reality, there are many people "eatin" off not only the exploitation of Hip Hop but also the death and destruction in the Black community. From the malt liquor companies who used rappers to push their "genocide in a bottle" (40 oz Malt Liquor) in the 90's to the blood diamond merchants on the African continent making millions from tha bling, they all owe us "Rap"arations.

Even the clothing companies who have made young Black children think that in order to be hip, they have to wear $200 sneakers that cost $12.50 to make are liable. How many young Brotha's and Sista's are in the grave right now because they refused to give up the $400 jacket to a stick up kid who just had to have it?

Time to pay the piper!

The argument that many white folks keep parroting for not paying reparations is that "no one alive now has suffered from slavery." This is not true in the case for "Rap"arations, as there are victims of the Hip Hop Holocaust in 'hoods across the planet, from the mother of three trying to make it on her own while her man does a 20 year bid to the father who saw his son take his last breath courtesy of a drive by from a Brotha who was acting out a rap video. We have all been touched.

Give it up or turn it loose!

The black community should demand "Rap" arations from the Fortune 500 companies that have made their fortunes from the suffering of African people. The victims of the Hip Hop Holocaust should contact the mega corporations like Viacom, Universal, EMI, Time Warner etc to demand that they issue former apologies (admissions of guilt) for the role that they have played in the destruction of the black family. These corporations should give substantial reparations to health, education and other social programs to help remedy the damage that they have created.

This is 2009 and we ain't talkin' about 40 acres and mules, we're talking youth programs and schools.


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

Confessions of Fox's Black Boogeyman

Confessions of Fox's Black Boogeyman

Min. Paul Scott

As the spotlight beamed down on my face, I could hear the producer counting down. Ten seconds to Armageddon; my first encounter with Fox News' epitome of evil, Sean Hannity. As I sat there waiting for the big showdown, I asked myself,

"What's a militant, Afrocentric, radical dude, like me, doing in a place like this?"

It started off on a whim. I had watched Hannity and Colmes a few times and developed a strong dislike (OK, bitter hatred) for Sean Hannity before he even opened his mouth. (Something about that permanent smirk on his face makes me wanna slap him.) So, one morning in 2002, I called ABC radio and asked to speak with the producer of his talk show.

"Hold on," the receptionist said. "Too easy," I thought. "She must be new."

I was expecting to talk to an answering machine but, to my surprise, someone picked up the receiver!

Being a seasoned community activist, I new the drill. You get 10 good seconds to pitch a story idea before a snooty producer, who is up against a deadline, rudely cuts you off midstream and tells you to fax him your info at (212) 555 -"click..." So, before the producer guy could finish saying hello, I had already given him my entire bio.

"Good, no click, yet. Now for the story pitch..."

"I wanna tell Sean Hannity, that Jesus was black !"

After a second of awkward silence, the producer said that he liked the idea and would get back with me soon.

I told myself that I wouldn't hold my breath.

Two weeks later, the phone rang. It was a producer from the Hannity and Colmes tv show who had run across my info. She wanted me on the show that night.

"Let me check my schedule," I said, pausing to shadow box with the giant poster of Sean Hannity with scripto horns drawn on his head that hangs on my living room wall.

"Cool." Ready for prime time.

A few hours later, I was rollin' through the 'hood in an expensive town car with a white chauffeur, courtesy of Rupert Murdock on my way to some secret Fox News bat cave satellite studio.

As I got mic-ed up, the producer made small talk while he adjusted the audio.

"Say, someting in the microphone, please."

"Sure, Sean Hannity is a no good, son-of-a....."

"What?"

"Never mind..."

Then it was show time, just me, Sean, Alan Colmes and 10 million Conservatives who would soon learn hate my guts.

The show is pretty much the same every night. They do their classic good cop/bad cop routine. Alan Colmes asks you a few polite questions to butter you up and then ...BAM!!! Hear comes Hannity, the Hitman.

"You, know Pauuuul, he sneered in that arrogant, northern drawl that only a bigot could love, "it's racists like you...."

The show always goes pretty much according to script. Hannity hits you with a couple of patented conservative one liners. You make a quick rebuttal, then Colmes thanks you for coming on the show. The show generated so much controversy, Colmes wrote about it in his book "Red, White and Liberal."

I wasn't on Fox News again until January of 2006. I baited them with an email about "boycotting Black History Month because it was too white."

That morning, I got calls from most of Fox's shows, all wanting me to discuss the issue. At that point, I became Fox's big black boogeyman, appearing on the network 4 times that year.

It's no secret that Fox News has an agenda. They are there to ease white guilt and make Right Wing white folks feel that their bigotry and heightened sense of ethnic paranoia is justified. So, anytime some racist, Michael Richards/Don Imus type guy says something totally ignorant, they bring on a black "militant" so they can say...

"Look, ma..There are "black" racists, too !!!!

If they are not doing that, they are busy trying to play one black "leader" person against another.

I remember hearing a Fox producer quietly, sobbing in the background, when what he thought was going to be a knock down, drag out fight between an African American lady professor and myself over black history, turned out to be a respectful, enlightening conversation.

So, in 2006, any time there was an incident of white racism, anywhere on the planet. I could count on my cell phone ringing.

Now, I know that many of you are asking why, knowing the nature of Fox News, do people like myself even go on the network. After all, its kinda like walking around with a big "kick me" sign, on purpose.

To borrow from the controversial rapper Jadakiss, we do it because " we need air time."

Our hope is that between Cynical Sean's sneering and Wild Bill O'Reilly's "holier than though" finger pointing, maybe, just maybe, we can get one or two good punches in. Also, the appearances lead to other opportunities to clarify our positions that were distorted by the network. In my case, I would go on Alan Colmes' radio program, even interacting with callers, following the show which was a more principled discussion.

Sure, sometimes I felt like kicking myself for even doing the show. (I should have known it was a set up , when they sent a stretch limo with flashing party lights to pick me up for the last encounter.) But hey, they can't all be gems.

As an activist, I always ask myself if my seven and a half minutes of fame helped to raise the consciousness of the country. Did I put an issue before the public that would have otherwise gone unheard ?

Because at the end of the day, that's all that counts.

Min. Paul Scott is an activist, writer and lecturer. His blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Is NCCU's Radio Station for Black Folks

Just got off the phone with the GM of WNCU (that's radio talk for the general manager, the boss, the big cheese) over at North Carolina Central University. On my never ending quest to find ways for everyday black folks to get their voices heard, I thought I'd call up to the station to get the 411 on how a Brotha or Sista could be down...

What I found out...

If you don't have a big time corporate sponsor that can drop 10 grand a year for a 30 minute spot...that ain't happenin'..

What tha ???

Now, if you are like me. I thought that WNCU was a college radio station...But no, it is a "public" radio station...Apparently, there is a difference...

From what I gather "college" radio stations can give free air time to members of the community because they have a lower budget..but "public" radio stations have the high priced NPR shows (that most black folks don't listen to, except for maybe Tavis Smiley and News and Notes) who they have to break off some major dollars.

Although the station is on NCCU's campus and rep's NCCU , it is not owned by NCCU, it just has a license through them...

Confusing, right ?

See, WNCU is a "jazz" station, not a talk station...So, if you want to make a plea to the community for help for your child, who is being pressured to join a gang, you're outta luck. But if you want to request a mellow tune from Kenny G.. hit 'em up on the request line...

She did inform me of the "community" programing that they have on Saturday mornings
but these are pre recorded. Kinda like a podcast with 50,000 watts. But they do have a sports show that takes call ins. (I guess they're real proud of that fact.)

So if I have a concern about why the person that I voted for isn't reppin' for the people, why my child is not gettin' a proper education or the hundred other issues facing black folks on a daily basis, too bad, so sad...

But if I want to talk about Super Bowl 42's winning touchdown, I'm in the house !!!!

Also, the last time they added one of these shows was apparently six years ago...So, let's see..We missed discussing the war, the 2004 election results, the cross burnings, Hurricane Katrina, Don Imus, the Obama candidacy.....

She did tell me about an upcoming news talk station but that will probably cost 10 grand as well for air time....

Wonder what talk show host they're gonna get that has enough "cheddar" to buy air time....

I can hear it now...

"Coming up next on WNCU, live from the campus of North Carolina Central University in the heart of Durham NC, formerly known as Black Wall Street where black folks have more issues than you can shake a stick at...... it's The Rush Limbaugh Show !!!!!!"

Min. Paul Scott can be reached at (919) 451-8283. His blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/

Don Imus: I Ain't Forgivin' and Forgettin'

Don Imus: I Ain't Forgivin' and Forgettin':

The Dec 3rd "Moment of Silence"

Min. Paul Scott

Some dude named Alexander Pope once said "to err is human but to forgive, divine."

Whatever, homie.

I bet ol' Alex was the kid who got his lunch money taken everyday at school.

For the record, I, vehemently, oppose Don Imus's 12/3 return to radio. Just because one Civil Rights leader may have given Imus his blessing does not mean that he's getting a pass from the other 38,699,999 black folks in this country.

After all the ruckus that jumped off last April, I suppose that we are just gonna let him waltz in and sit his racist behind in that big cushy chair behind the microphone...

(Scratch that)

In order to lure Imus to WABC, along with the mega bucks they are paying him, they probably had to throw in a golden throne.

And we're just to suppose to accept that without a mumblin' word?

Seems like folks think that after a nine month, 20 million dollar paid vacation courtesy of his old employer, CBS, Imus has somehow paid his debt to society for the "nappy headed ho" comment, last April. Yeah, I know that Imus was real apologetic and even submitted to an hour long interrogation on Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show. Seems like he's done everything but hire a black gospel choir, go on a nationwide tour of black mega churches and sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

Now, I know that some of ya'll are thinking how noble it is that he is using his big comeback to raise money for a children's charity. Well drug dealin' Tyrone gave out free turkey's last Thanksgiving, does that excuse his behavior?

These people don't think that black folks know the difference between genuine goodwill and a cheap public relations trick.

To these PR people, the black community is an easy sell. After all, we have let marketing firms convince us that sneakers that cost 10 dollars to make are worth $200 dollars. And that thousand dollar gold teeth and spinnin' wheels on a 1988 Honda, somehow make you a better human being.

I can see Imus's handlers back doing the days of slavery squashing a slave rebellion:

"Don, babe...Just give them an extra chicken wing and a slice of watermelon. Trust me. I know these people..."

We must not forget that the conversation on race in the aftermath of the Imus fiasco which should have been about white male bigotry and the disrespect of black women quickly turned into a conversation about Hip Hop, the "N" word and saggin' pants.

So, if the NAACP and the other Civil Rights groups that buried the "N" word last July don't fight tooth and nail against the Imus comeback, they should go to the grave yard, dig up Mr. "N" word and give him a public apology. And if the black bloggers don't speak out, they need to nominate BET's highly internet protested show "Hot Ghetto Mess" for an Emmy Award and send host Charley Murphy a thank you note.

Fair is Fair.

But then again when was the race issue ever fair?

Is it fair that although many people are bringing up the "Freedom of Speech" issue, many black entertainers have been persecuted for much less? I don't remember rappers such as Sister Souljah and Professor Griff being rewarded with million dollar record deals after they made comments that some folks found offensive. Nor, do I remember any support groups being formed for the then "King of Pop," Michael Jackson, when he was forced to remove "They Don't Care About Us" from his 1995 HIStory CD. As the old saying goes, when it happens to someone else, it's a comedy but when it happens to you, it's a tragedy.

So should WABC and its parent company be held accountable for hiring Don Imus when he should still be in exile on his ranch in New Mexico?

You're darn right!

WABC hiring Imus is like a renegade employee crossing the picket line when you have been protesting out in the cold and rain for two weeks. Unless, you whop the traitor upside the head with a picket sign, you can rest assured that there will be a long line of scabs coming behind him.

So we must stand our ground.

On December 3rd we need to have a 4 hour "moment of silence" from 6AM to 10AM and turn off all stations and programs owned by Citadel Broadcasting and ABC Radio Networks.

http://abcradionetworks.com/article.asp?id=341544

While this company is mostly known for conservative talk shows, it also depends on African American audiences to support its "multi-cultural" programming.

Sometimes it takes great sacrifices to make change. Sometimes it takes a large 10,000 man demonstration to make a point. Sometimes you have to get on a bus and travel 12 hours to a protest. But sometimes you can make a change by doing something as simple as turning off your radio.

Min. Paul Scott's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com