Papa's Got a Brand New Flag...

Papa's Got a Brand New Flag:

Why African Americans Need a New Symbol of Freedom

                                             Min. Paul Scott

Today, the governor of South Carolina , Nikki Haley called for the removal of the Confederate flag from the  SC State Capital. And that's  a good thing. Personally, I believe that anything even resembling a Confederate flag needs to be used for toilet paper at Taco Bell...

For many white Southerners , the Confederate  flag represents the heritage of their ancestors, but for me it represents the last thing my ancestors saw before they were hanged from trees in the South Carolina swamps.

Now, I know people in SC are having victory cookouts right now and having "We Shall Over Come" karaoke concerts  But , don't expect me to be overly, over joyed with the symbolic gesture of removing the Confederate rag.

To be historically correct, just as much injustice was done to African Americans under the Stars and Stripes as was done under the Stars and Bars. Matter of fact, even today, in the cities where many of the racist acts are happening,  Old Glory is waving proudly.  And the police officers who are committing terrible acts of violence  against black kids aren't pledging allegiance to the Confederate flag, they are pledging allegiance to the Red, White and Blue.

As black people we  need our own flag to represent our heritage.   Matter of fact we already have one. 

According to the late historian, Dr. Tony Martin in his work, Race First, in 1920 The Honorable Marcus Garvey , in his Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World  adopted  the  Red Black and Green flag as the official symbol of the "African race."   According to Dr, Martin, Red stands for "the color of the blood which men must shed for their redemption and liberty."  Black for "the color of the noble and distinguished race to which we belong." And Green "for the luxuriant vegetation of our Motherland."  Marcus Garvey was the leader of the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association) which, at its height boasted two million members. 

So, in 2015  its time for black people to start waving our own flags again.

On July 4th, African Americans should once again adopt the Red, Black and Green Flag as our official symbol. There should be Red, Black and Green flags on black households, clothing and license plates from McKinney TX, to Baltimore MD, to Charleston SC.

Back in the , 60's James Brown had a hit song with "Papa's  Got a Brand New Bag," however today we are saying "Papa's Got a Brand new Flag."

If we really want to stop, not only racism and police brutality but also our children from killing each other in the street,  we have to give them something to be proud of.

As Marcus Garvey once said,

Show me the race or the nation without a flag, and I will show you a race of people without any pride.

Min. Paul Scott is founder of the Durham NC based Messianic Afrikan Nation. He can be reached at (919) 972-8305 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Follow on Twitter @truthminista

We Charge Zimmer-cide !!!!

In 1951, William Patterson released, We Charge Genocide: The Crime of Government Against the Negro People.  In his petition, he tried to present the plight of African Americans to the United Nations. Now,  in the wake of the George Zimmerman verdict, a Miami Hip Hop artist is saying.  "We Charge Zimmer-cide.

 

According to,  Yasin  360WiseGuy "Zimmer-cide " is "the killing of  Black children with impunity  under the pretense of fear , then blaming the Black community for the action"

 

Although, many people are using Black on Black violence in Chicago to justify the murder of Trayvon Martin, in his controversial song  Zimmer-cide (4 Those That Hate Us) , the artist blames white racism for the pathologies facing Black America.

 

The rapper is urging his fellow artist to take a stand against "Zimmer-cide."

 

"Today it was Trayvon, tomorrow it could be you or your child,"  says Yasin.

 

For more information contact: 360wiseguy@gmail.com   or call (954) 830-6426

 

Written by Yasin 360WiseGuy

Music by : Soundzhurtz Productions

Research courtesy of Militant Minded Mess-Age Music

 

 

Rapper Says White Racism to Blame for Black Violence

Although many people in this country are discussing violence, a Miami rapper is claiming that the real cause of the violence that permeates the Black community is not being discussed.

Originally from the mean streets of Washington DC, Yasin360Wiseguy aka "The Enforcer" is claiming that Black on Black violence is directly related to the history of slavery and racism and the violence in rap music is "The Hip Hop Hatin' that Hate Produced." Growing up in the nation's capital Yasin has seen, first hand. the damage that suppressed black anger at white supremacy can cause. Fortunately, he was able to channel his rage into his music. And he is using his music to make a difference.

The artist is on a mission to enforce principals of unity that will stop the glorification of black death that is prevalent in commercial Hip Hop. He believes that if Black youth understood the roots of Black on Black violence, their behavior would change.

"It does no good to take the guns out of the hands of the boys in the 'hood when the bullet of white supremacy is still lodged in their brains."

His latest video is called "What's Gangsta." G.A.N.G.S.T.A. stands for "Going Against Negativity Getting Stronger Together Always."

http://t.co/kxPtDyuV1L

For more information contact.. (202) 239-2929 or dc360wiseguy@gmail.com

Twitter@DC360WISEGUY website http://www.360wiseguymusicgroup.com

Black Leaders...You're Fired !

Dear Black Leader,


As the unofficial self- appointed representative of the people whom you are supposed to work for, I have a bit of bad news. As of MLK Day 2008....You're Fired!!!

It's not that we don't appreciate your hard work and dedication in fighting for our civil rights and everything. We know your bio, which you always share with us anytime we ask you what have you done for us, lately. We know about the marches, the demonstrations, the police dogs and the jail stays. But that history is lost on this generation. They are desensitized to the "going to jail thing." My cousin Clyde, the Klepto can do a 10 year bid standing on one hand. As far as the police dogs, Lil Tyrone has to deal with stray pitbulls everyday coming home from school. So the tales from the past just don't move Black folks like they used to.

Accounting is concerned about the expense account that you've been runnin' up. They say that you have been abusing the company's Bank of Harlem Black Card. Is it really necessary to wear $2000 Brooks Brothers suits and $1500 Itallian leather shoes, everyday while the people you work for get their clothes from WalMart and Pick and Pay? (Work rule # 4081, never out dress the boss.) And how about the first class airline tickets and the 5 star hotels? Also, the board of directors thinks that the $5000 honorarium that you charge historically Black colleges for 45 minutes of your wisdom is a little excessive. Especially when you are going to ask the strugglin' college kids to break you off $28.99 for your latest hardback after the lecture?

My "peeps" in the street are also tired of seeing you flossin' on C-Span more than they see you in tha hood, homie. They want you to step your rap game up and come with something a little fresher than a remixed "IHave a Dream" speech, every year. At least Jay Z and them can bust a funky freestyle off the top of their heads. And stop criticizing their spinning rims and platinum teeth when you are bling blingin' more than they are. And for the record, they said that they ain't gonna stop using the "n" word as long as you keep referring to Black folks as "minorities" and"colored people." The Boyz in the Hood want a chance to shine on the cover of Ebony and on the radio, too. My boy, Tre said that he was in the newspaper one time and his mom's said that he looked real good dunking the basketball in the Cross City Championship of '95. He once dropped some serious science after the Jena 6 thing in the middle of Mr Luther's Barber Shop and got a standing ovation and a free hair cut! Brotha's got some real talk for the people but NPR won't holla at him, though.

The interns who have been running around getting your coffee and filing your papers for the last 20 years are getting tired of being passed over for promotions. Word around the break room is that they are planning a hostile takeover if changes aren't made soon. I know that you always thought that the main threat to your job would come from the Conservative cats on the 5th Floor who you play golf with every weekend but you underestimated the Brotha in the Red, Black and GreenT-Shirt that you had in the field picking up garbage. You didn't know that the old school Public Enemy pumpin' in his IPod headphones and the books on Garvyism that he was reading during his lunch break would give him grand ideas about taking over the company.

We tried to get your pension straight, but funny thing, no one in Human Resources remembers hiring you. It must have happened during the race riots of '69 when the Brothas were handlin' their business in the streets. When the smoke cleared all the rest of the Brothas were doing long prison sentences but you were at the front of the line to be the first negro to integrate Whiteman and Liverpool Inc.

To find a suitable replacement we have decided to launch our own reality show "America's Next Black Leader" and we will be going through hoods across America with a camcorder to see who is actually out there feeding the people, fighting the power and doing all of the other things that you preached to us that we should be doing for the last 40 years.

So we thank you for your years of service and we know that you will have no problem finding a new job with your white corporate sponsors.


Best Wishes

Min. Paul Scott

Min. Paul Scott's blog is nowarningshotsfired.com He can be reached at (919) 451-8283

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

The Rise of Radio Revolutionaries

The Rise of Radio Revolutionaries:

March on Washington 2007

Min. Paul Scott

"We need to raise up our readership so that our children can grow up and freely lead without readin' a script"

KRS from X-Clan's "Speak the Truth"

The other day I was listening to Malcolm X's classic speech "Message to the Grassroots" and his critique (OK, diss) of the "Big Six" Civil Rights Leaders after the 1963 March on Washington.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/malcolmxgrassroots.htm

I wonder what Bro. Malcolm would say about the March on Washington 2007.

"Oh, I'll tell you, Brothers and Sisters. They were gathered to do some damage. They wanted some action! Yes! They wanted change, not tomorrow, not next week but today! But just as soon as the crowd was about to get busy and really take care of business, some DJ yelled for Juan D to play some old Hip Hop record and the whole crowd stopped marchin' and started doin' the 'crank dat soldier boy.' I'll tell you, you've been had, tricked, bamboozled..."

Don't get me wrong. I ain't mad at anyone takin' a stand against injustice, miseducation or even why gas is so darn high. But anytime that entertainers get thrust to the front of the black leadership line. I have to ask some questions.

Now, I never claimed to be a straight A student in school but even I know the difference between a radio host and a revolutionary.

This is not to say that you can't be both. Local radio hosts were often the catalyst for change in communities across the country. They saw it as their civic duty to wake the people up with information as soon as their alarm clocks went off at 6AM. There are many stories about radio hosts who have sacrificed their jobs and risked their lives by bringin' on guests or discussing topics that were too hot to handle.

But that was an era long gone, before the corporate take over of local radio, as thoroughly broken down by Glen Ford's article at http://www.blackagendareport.com/

I know this ain't 1969, the height of the Black Power Movement, when black folks were gettin' their heads cracked on a daily basis and many of us are too young to remember that period. So, the point of reference I am using is the Hip Hop version of the Black Power Movement 1988-1992. That is the closest, in the last 20 years, that entertainment and activism have come together for collective change.

Now some may argue (and rightly so, in some cases) that all that period produced was a bunch of paranoid black folks who were too scared to go to protest rallies because they thought that government satellites would beam death rays down from space and vaporize them. Or a bunch of middle class Buppies who "used to be conscious" in college who now justify their comfortable, apolitical, corporate lives by endlessly talking about "The Spook that Sat By the Door."

But that ain't everybody. Some are still fighting the fight like the "Cease the Fire" Movement.

http://www.myspace.com/freeallpoliticalprisoners

What is most disturbing is when this new commercial radio radicalism (which came as a direct result of the powers- that -be realizing that black internet bloggers could put heat on racists like Don Imus without "Civil Rights" leaders) takes the place of grassroots community based activism.

According to Kenneth O'Reilly in his book "Black Americans: the FBI Files," in 1966 Atty General Nicolas Katzenback wanted to create a militant but peaceful organization which could compete with SNCC around the same time the organization was becoming pro-black under the leadership of Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael)and then Jamil Al-Amin (H. Rap Brown).

Kinda like revolution-lite.

Now am I suggesting that the radio hosts should should arm the marchers with machine guns and swear them in as members of the Black Panther Party.

No.

But the key is to play your role. Stay in you lane. Or as George Clinton would say "Don't fake tha Funk." (Shout out to the Ol' School)

I just don't think that a DJ who won't even break format to play "Behind Enemy Lines" by Dead Prez will be the first one to toss a Molotov cocktail. Maybe that is why many of them spend more time assuring their corporate sponsors that a demonstration will be "nonviolent" than they do explaining to the people why they are marching.

We all know that there is a line of demarcation that entertainers dare not cross. A place where DJ's fear to tread: a land of taboo topics and banned Afrocentric scholars and researchers. They know that just beyond that line of demarcation is where the "real" fight begins.

And they know that they have crossed that line when they begin to raise the collective consciousness of their millions of listeners and their corporate sponsors begin pulling commercials.

When you have millions of listeners that don't know who George and Jonathan Jackson are and think that COINTELPRO is the new cell phone that Verizon has coming out next month , therein lies the problem.

Until we replace the "Joke of the Day" with the "Fred Hampton Speech of the Day," no matter how many marches we have,to quote Chairman Fred we will be left with:

"Answers that don't answer, explanations that don't explain and conclusions that don't conclude."

For more information on the Books or Bullets Movement go to http://www.booksorbullets.com/

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

No Ghetto Pass For Bill O'Reilly!

No "Ghetto Pass" For O'Reilly:

Time to Put Bill on Blast

Min. Paul Scott

Enter the Bill O'Reilly twilight zone. Late one night, on his way home from the Republican Convention , a hungry Tom White mistakes Rufus's Chicken and Ribs for a Cracker Barrel. His worst fears are realized when a major riot breaks out after Tyrone Jackson slips on a watermelon slice and knocks over Mack da Knife's bottle of malt liqour. Running through a hail of bullets, hot sauce bottles and other assorted weapons, Tom barely makes it back to his Volvo alive. Good thing that the bullet proof vest that he wore under his Brooks Brothers suit also protected him from spears...

A few days ago, Bill O'Reilly was chillin' with his ace boon...um.. "main man" Rev. Al at Sylvia's restaurant in black Harlem. According to media reports, he was shocked how civilized the black folks there behaved.

"Is this Harlem? I could have sworn that I was in New Hampshire!"

Much to Bill's surprise there were no shoot outs, no chicken sacrifices and no cannibals runnin' around with bones in their noses. Just folks sitting around dining on fine cuisine that I'm sure included, but was not limited to fried chicken.

Well, at least O'Reilly didn't tell that worn out joke about being afraid that he was "on the menu."

I never liked Bill O'Reilly, so excuse me for being a little..OK alot biased. Over the years, Bill O'Reilly has been the self -appointed Hip Hop hitman, the Right's cool, conservative crusader, dedicating his life to preserving..well, whatever ever it is that Conservatives preserve.

This great avenger is responsible for almost single handedly getting the infamous gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg kicked off the Muppet special, getting Ludacris canned by Pepsi and blowing the whistle on Whitewater. (No, that was someone else but you get the point)

Although, O'Reilly has not been totally off the mark in all of his criticisms, as Grandma would say "if you throw enough stones, you're gonna eventually hit somethin'."

What gets folks about O'Reilly is hyperbole. He blows things way out of proportion.

Recently he tried to paint Nas as the most notorious "gangsta rapper" that ever picked up a microphone.

Problem is. Nas ain't a gangsta rapper.

Now if I had Bill O'Reilly's flair for the dramatic, at this point, I would start calling him the most disgusting, hateful, venom spewing hatemonger that ever walked the planet. But I ain't him, so I'll stop with "a right wing intolerant bigot."

Of course, Bill is busy spinnin' in his No "Spine" Zone trying to paint himself as a victim of some Left wing conspiracy probably led clandestinely by Al Franken.

Since when has O'Reilly given any rapper or non right winger the benefit of the doubt ? He sees an opening and goes for the jugular, full throttle.

And since O'Reilly has been so quick to shut Hip Hop down, Hip Hop should shut O'Reilly down, pronto !

Now, I know that some of ya'll are asking "didn't we just go through this with Imus?"

Your point?

If I had my way, I'd get rid of all the right wing venom spitters: O'Reilly, Boortz, Hannity (Alan Colmes for sitting next to Hannity), Coulter, Savage, Malkin...

(Hold up, I started hyperventilating,)

...and I'd replace them with Kool Mo Dee and the other political rappers of the late 80's. That way we would have black folks expressing black outrage instead of white folks speaking for us while we sit on the sidelines sayin' , "Yeah, what the white guy said!"

Not only should Hip Hoppers stand up and "impeach" the Right's talking heads, but the anti-war activists, progressive movements and others who are tired of the Conservative's dominance of the media should stand up, too.

Remember, they may come for Nas today but it'll be Bono and the Dixie Chicks, tomorrow.

To join the movement and to hear the official anti- Bill O'Reilly anthem "Drums of War" log on to http://www.hiphopstrikesback.com/

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

Hip Hop vs America or America vs Hip Hop

Hip Hop vs America or America vs Hip Hop:

Tale of Two Trials

Min. Paul Scott

Hip Hop was on trial twice last night. One was Hip Hop vs America Pt. 1, a prerecorded attempt by Black Entertainment Television to appease its viewers after years of complaints which came to a broil after last Summer's ill advised "Hot Ghetto Mess" Reality Show. The other was "America vs Hip Hop," sponsored by the Subcommittee of Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce . The first one was catered towards a predominately young, black teeny bopper audience who had just finished watching videos on "106 and Park" and wanted to to see if Nelly had gotten any new gold teeth since his last CD. The other was for the rest of mainstream America who have grown sick and tired of a bunch of young black "thugs" ruining "their" country.

The BET special was pretty much what you would expect from the company, a weak attempt at self criticism with bumpin' videos and applause signs. Perhaps Part 2 will get "deep" but Part 1 did little to elevate the "rap" beyond the realm of where it has been since C. Delores Tucker dissed Pac back in the early 90's.

"You don't understand Hip Hop!"

"And you, young man, need to pull your pants up!"

You still have the same panelists from the older generation trying to to be a parent/buddy friend to 30 somethin' year old millionaire Hip Hop artists. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson did the Biggie rap thing that he has been showcasing since the mid 90's and rappers, Nelly and T.I. proved once again that loud "don't" make it right.

T.I. kinda lost me with the whole "I have to trick my fans into learning" logic. (or lack thereof)

Not to mention his brilliant theory that the problem with Hip Hop is "you got fake thugs rappin' about being real thugs who never were thugs instead of real rappers rappin' about being real...."

Oh, never mind.

And then Nelly came with the "it's not fair to judge me based on a four minute rap video with credit cards being slid through a black woman's booty" defense.

What else can we judge you by Nelly? Your PH.D dissertation on "The Juxtaposition of Capitalism and Marxist Leninism?"

Down the way in DC, "From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images," hearing called together by Senator Bobby Rush featured Master P and David Banner along with activists and industry big wigs such as Edgar Broffman and Doug Morris.

Needless to say, the theme of the hearing was problematic in itself.

Although Hip Hop activists have raised this issue over the last five months, it cannot be overstated that this current national discussion on the state of Hip Hop is a diversionary tactic in the aftermath of the Michael Richards/Don Imus controversies to take the focus off of institutionalized racism and white male bigotry and replace it with a focus on dirty dancin' and baggy pants.

While the efforts of former Black Panther Bobby Rush may be commended, would his time not have been better served making sure that a thorough congressional hearing on Reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans takes place. Or hearings on COINTELPRO, for which groups like the Jericho Project have been advocating that could result in the exoneration of his former Panther comrades and other political prisoners still locked in jail and in exile ?

Also, it must be also noted that if we look at the emphasis that America has put on Hip Hop compared with the coverage of stories like the Jena 6 and the black woman that was tortured in West VA, the comparison is troubling.

What is unfortunate is that many of us do not see this current Hip Hop controversy in socio-political terms. While the kiddie converation on BET may have had a better looking stage, the meeting in DC could set public policy for generations to come.

Did anybody think to ask where the Hip Hop discussion fit in the agenda of the Subcommittee of Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection on a highly compartmentalized Capitol Hill?

Did anyone notice that the committee is in charge of dealing with some Homeland Security related matters? So which part of Hip Hop are the feds really concerned about; the "misogynist" lyrics of a Nelly or the inflammatory political rap of a M1 of Dead Prez?

http://energycommerce.house.gov/

At the end of the day , were we any closer to improving Hip Hop than were were before the BET program and congressional hearing?

BET promised another earth shakin' sequel to Tuesday night's show (So what are they gonna do for a grand finale, have TI punch Rev. Al in the mouth?) and the people in DC came to the consensus that censorship ain't cool, def, or funky fresh.

Is there really a difference between gangsta rapper, "Killa T" grabbin' his crotch and yellin' "I'm just keepin' it real for the homies in tha hood" and Viacom head honcho Phillipe Dauman sitting before Congress and saying with a straight face, "We have a responsibility to speak authentically to our viewers ?"

What we need is a clear analysis of the Hip Hop problem based on facts and not prejudiced by political bamboozlin' and hero worshippin' of rappers.

With a clear analysis we could raise the level of consciousness of the Hip Hop connosiers so high that neither Hip Hop hearings nor censorship would even be necessary.

Min. Paul Scott is a writer and activist in Durham NC. For more info visit http://www.hiphopstrikesback.com

(919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Imus: Forgive and Forget?

Imus: Forgive and Forget?
Min. Paul Scott


Alexander Pope once said," to err is human but to forgive is devine..."

Whatever, homie.

I bet Alex was the kid that got jacked for his lunch money everyday at school.

There is a buzz going around that Don Imus is about to make his triumphant entry back into the households of America by September and guess what?
Word is that Rev. Al Sharpton is cool with this...

Say what, now?

Wasn't this the same guy who was on all 120 channels on my TV not even four months ago, calling for Don Imus's head on a platter?

But I forgot. It wasn't poor Imus's fault. He was a victim of subliminal seduction courtesy of some evil gangsta rappers.

Now, according to news reports, Rev. Al is giving Imus his blessing to once again become the champion of the airwaves and show all the haters once and for all that you can't keep a good racist down.

That's the problem when Black folks flock behind one leader. After some bad guy does some despicable act, the great and powerful Black leader rises from his Cadillac, raises his arms and rains down thunder and lighting on the evil doer. And just like that, he snaps his fingers and the sun starts shining, the birds start singing and all is well with the world.

The late educator, Dr. John Henrik Clark in one of his lectures, points out that Booker T. Washington was the first "official" Black leader chosen by while America. Seems like it was better to deal with one man than a few million angry Black folks.

This same strategy was used during the Civil Rights Era as Malcolm X said in his "Message to the Grassroots:"

"The same strategy that was used in those days is used today, by the same white man. He takes a Negro, a so-called Negro, and makes him prominent, builds him up, publicizes him, makes him a celebrity. And then he becomes a spokesman for Negroes -- and a Negro leader."

Even in 2007, the game remains the same. White America props up one Black person and makes him the mouthpiece for every black man, woman and child in America from the Hamptons to tha hood. Someone who can spark the revolution with one hand and call it off with the other.

So, now according to news reports, Rev. Sharpton isn't going to oppose Imus's return because " he has the right to make a living."

Suggestion...

Let him get a few cows and a couple of pigs and try his hand at farming at that big ol ranch he has in New Mexico.

Also, according to reports, Rev. Al says that "we had never asked him to never work again."

Sooooo, all that protesting and air time was just to get Imus transfered from MSNBC to Fox News ?

I guess history will record that the outcome of some old bigot calling a group of beautiful, mostly Black women "nappy headed ho's" was that he got an extended summer vacation and we now have an "undisputed" Black leader.

In fairness to Rev. Al, I guess that there are more important battles to fight. Hey, doesn't 50 Cent have a new CD coming out in a few months?

I guess sometimes you have to put the past behind you and forgive and forget.

Then again, I ain't the one that Imus called a nappy headed ho....

Min. Paul Scott is a writer and activist based in Durham NC. His blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 email: info@nowarningshotsfired.com