After Obama: Is Black History Month Still Necessary ?
Paul Scott
Next month, Americans will celebrate what may very well be the last Black History Month. The annual observance, which was originally referred to as Negro History Week was first started by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926. The purpose was to celebrate the contributions of African Americans to American history. However for many, the need for the knowledge of black history is no longer be relevant after January 20th Inauguration.
Since the last election, many are questioning whether it is still necessary to have a month set aside for one specific racial or ethnic group when supposedly a black president signifies that we are truly one America. Therefore, some are seeing Black History Month as a case of living in the past; not recognizing the uniqueness of the African American experience. The deeper we go into the Barack Obama presidency, the harder it will be to convince many Americans that bringing up the pains of the past will be beneficial to this society as a whole.
If we are not careful the study and appreciation of black history, itself will become history.For many white Americans the past is something that they would rather forget when it comes to black people. Who could blame them as the stories of black men getting lynched, black women being raped and black children getting blown up while they attended church services do not make for good dinner table conversations nor bedtime stories. So for them the eradication of Black History Month would be a way to ease their white guilt.
Unfortunately, there are many blacks, as well, who would like to bid Black History Month farewell. For some African Americans black history has been seen as a stumbling block; just another barrier that has kept them from enjoying their piece of the American pie. Many black people strive there whole lives to detach the word "African" from "African American."
The problem of having to be black and American,simultaneously, has plagued African Americans since the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a paradox that WEB Dubois described as "a double consciousness" that black folks had to have in order to survive in a white dominated society.
During the early 20th century, the issue was bitterly debated by those who wanted inclusion into American society like Dubois and his Talented 10th and those who wanted separation like Marcus Garvey and his followers.
Later, during the 60's and early 70's there was a constant ideological war between the Civil Rights activists and the Black Power activists that personified itself in the forms of Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Dr. King believed in a dream where all Americans would be treated as equals and Malcolm X envisioned a nightmare where African Americans would forever be treated as second class citizens.
However, since the election of Obama it seems that those who wanted to be totally immersed in Americana have ,at least for the moment ,won the argument.So is the study of black culture still needed when the color barrier is being perceived as a thing of the past?
We, as African Americans, are in real danger in 2009 of losing our "blackness." We are on the verge of becoming what black historian St. Clair Drake referred to as a "Creole" culture; neither totally black nor totally white. Or to borrow a term from the newly elected president, a culture of "mutts."
Black History Month is still needed but the concept must be upgraded to meet the changing needs of the African American community if it is to remain relevant.
First, Black History Month must find a way to capture the imagination of the young Hip Hop generation. Today many African American youth who can quote the lyrics of any rap artist are totally clueless when it comes to the contributions that their ancestors made to society. Therefore the entertainment industry has made Hip Hop into a pseudo culture that can not trace its origins prior to the early 80's. Unfortunately many young people cannot discern the difference between black culture and Hip Hop. This is also do to the failure of school systems to make the teaching of black history a priority. Educators must see the importance of teaching black youth about their history year round. With the rich legacy of African people it is an insult to try to cram it all in during the shortest month of the year.
Secondly, Black History has depended too heavily on white corporations to tell the story of the African American experience. These corporations have used black history month more as a marketing scheme to get the black dollar than an earnest attempt to share the beauty of blackness with the world. Black people are the only people who depend on other races to tell their story in a truthful manner. African Americans must develop a "black history bailout" to save our history from going bankrupt at the hands of white corporations.
Finally, Black History Month must become what it was really never allowed to be; a celebration of black history not just African American History. We are constantly fed the false notion that African people had no history before they were brought to the West on slave ships. Therefore what is posing as Black History has been merely a history of emancipated slaves.
Contrary, to growing popular opinion, Black History Month is needed now more than ever as our social stability depends on it. As Marcus Garvey once said "a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots."
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 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
News and Observer "Crack Heads" Column
Barry Saunders of the News and Observer has a column out today about CrackHeads Candy.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1377387.html
As I told Saunders during the interview, we need to start a "Crack is wack; and so is your candy!" campaign.
So, I'm asking the No Warning Shots "Firing Squad" to fire off a couple of emails and phone calls to the street "dealers" at FYE and king pin "suppliers" at Crackheads telling them to remove the product from in front of our children, immediately!
Contact:
Crack Heads Candy Company
http://www.crackheadscandy.com/contact/
FYE contact info (or call your local store)
http://www.fye.com/contactus.htm
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1377387.html
As I told Saunders during the interview, we need to start a "Crack is wack; and so is your candy!" campaign.
So, I'm asking the No Warning Shots "Firing Squad" to fire off a couple of emails and phone calls to the street "dealers" at FYE and king pin "suppliers" at Crackheads telling them to remove the product from in front of our children, immediately!
Contact:
Crack Heads Candy Company
http://www.crackheadscandy.com/contact/
FYE contact info (or call your local store)
http://www.fye.com/contactus.htm
Monday, January 19, 2009
Congress to Abolish Black History Month
Congress to Abolish Black History Month
From Staff Reports
January 19, 2009
WASHINGTON DC (NWSF News) -In a surprising bipartisan move, last week, Congress passed legislation to abolish Black History Month. If the bill is not vetoed by the newly elected president, Black History Month could soon be history.
The reason for the legislation is that after the election of this country's first black president, many Americans no longer believe the celebration of black history is necessary. Some even have gone so far as calling for a ban on the teaching of black history because they say it is divisive.
Although many white Americans, especially the Right Wing, have questioned the validity of a month set aside to honor one racial group, there are many blacks, as well, who would like to bid Black History Month a adieu. For some African Americans black history has been seen as a stumbling block; just another barrier that has kept them from enjoying their piece of the American pie. Many black people strive their whole lives to detach the word "African" from "African American."
"Ain't no need to be talking all that black stuff. That's just another way to divide us," says Carletta "CJ" Walker, owner of New City Beauty Salon in Atlanta. "We need to stop living in the past."
The problem of having to be African and American, simultaneously, has plagued African Americans since the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a paradox that WEB Dubois described as "a double consciousness" that black folks had to have in order to survive in a white dominated society.
During the early 20th century, the issue was bitterly debated by those who wanted inclusion into American society like Dubois and his Talented 10th and those who wanted separation like Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association.Later, during the 60's and early 70's there was a constant ideological war between the Civil Rights activists and the Black Power activists that personified itself in the forms of Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Dr. King believed in a dream where all Americans would be treated as equals but Malcolm X envisioned a nightmare where African Americans would forever be treated as second class citizens.
For many young African Americans, black history has been replaced by a Hip Hop pseudo culture that has long abandoned any connection to black culture. Instead it has embraced a false ideology that music and fashion could end 400 years of oppression. Some of the rappers are even claiming that they are no longer black but they are "Hip Hop."
"I don't care what color a dude is. As long as he keeps it gangsta, he's cool with me," says New York City aspiring rapper Tyrone "T-Boogie" Johnson. "How is learning about black history gonna get me signed to a contract ?"
The disconnection of the youth can partially be blamed on an educational system that has helped to promote institutionalized white supremacy under the guise of preparing African American children to be able to make it in the real world. Any attempt to add Afrocentric studies to a curriculum by black teachers is often met with dire consequences.
CG Woods, an 8th grade social studies teacher in Jackson, Mississippi, recently was suspended without pay for instructing his students to read "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa" by Walter Rodney.
Some say that the lack of appreciation for black history is due to the fact that what is usually celebrated every February is not black history at all but the relatively brief history of black people in this country; a history of emancipated slaves. Few have paid attention to the rich history that African people had prior to 1619. This is mostly because the white corporations that have become the major sponsors of black history events have confined any discussion of black history to the boundaries of America.
Perhaps the people most affected by the end of Black History Month will be African American businesses, especially black book stores. Shaka Nzinga, owner of Black History, Inc, the world's largest distribuor of Afrocentric material has already announced that he will close his doors at the end of February unless business picks up.
Although, some African Americans have decided to allow black history to fade into obscurity, there are a few activists across the country who are not going out without a fight. They have started the Black History Bailout Campaign. The group is asking the black community to come up with their own socio-economic stimulus package as a last ditch effort to save black history.
Although the activists hope that the movement gains momentum over the next few weeks, as of yesterday the only people protesting in front of the Capitol were an elderly man with a Marcus Garvey sweatshirt and his young grandson holding up signs that said,"
"A people without knowledge of their history is like a tree without roots."
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com
From Staff Reports
January 19, 2009
WASHINGTON DC (NWSF News) -In a surprising bipartisan move, last week, Congress passed legislation to abolish Black History Month. If the bill is not vetoed by the newly elected president, Black History Month could soon be history.
The reason for the legislation is that after the election of this country's first black president, many Americans no longer believe the celebration of black history is necessary. Some even have gone so far as calling for a ban on the teaching of black history because they say it is divisive.
Although many white Americans, especially the Right Wing, have questioned the validity of a month set aside to honor one racial group, there are many blacks, as well, who would like to bid Black History Month a adieu. For some African Americans black history has been seen as a stumbling block; just another barrier that has kept them from enjoying their piece of the American pie. Many black people strive their whole lives to detach the word "African" from "African American."
"Ain't no need to be talking all that black stuff. That's just another way to divide us," says Carletta "CJ" Walker, owner of New City Beauty Salon in Atlanta. "We need to stop living in the past."
The problem of having to be African and American, simultaneously, has plagued African Americans since the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a paradox that WEB Dubois described as "a double consciousness" that black folks had to have in order to survive in a white dominated society.
During the early 20th century, the issue was bitterly debated by those who wanted inclusion into American society like Dubois and his Talented 10th and those who wanted separation like Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association.Later, during the 60's and early 70's there was a constant ideological war between the Civil Rights activists and the Black Power activists that personified itself in the forms of Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Dr. King believed in a dream where all Americans would be treated as equals but Malcolm X envisioned a nightmare where African Americans would forever be treated as second class citizens.
For many young African Americans, black history has been replaced by a Hip Hop pseudo culture that has long abandoned any connection to black culture. Instead it has embraced a false ideology that music and fashion could end 400 years of oppression. Some of the rappers are even claiming that they are no longer black but they are "Hip Hop."
"I don't care what color a dude is. As long as he keeps it gangsta, he's cool with me," says New York City aspiring rapper Tyrone "T-Boogie" Johnson. "How is learning about black history gonna get me signed to a contract ?"
The disconnection of the youth can partially be blamed on an educational system that has helped to promote institutionalized white supremacy under the guise of preparing African American children to be able to make it in the real world. Any attempt to add Afrocentric studies to a curriculum by black teachers is often met with dire consequences.
CG Woods, an 8th grade social studies teacher in Jackson, Mississippi, recently was suspended without pay for instructing his students to read "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa" by Walter Rodney.
Some say that the lack of appreciation for black history is due to the fact that what is usually celebrated every February is not black history at all but the relatively brief history of black people in this country; a history of emancipated slaves. Few have paid attention to the rich history that African people had prior to 1619. This is mostly because the white corporations that have become the major sponsors of black history events have confined any discussion of black history to the boundaries of America.
Perhaps the people most affected by the end of Black History Month will be African American businesses, especially black book stores. Shaka Nzinga, owner of Black History, Inc, the world's largest distribuor of Afrocentric material has already announced that he will close his doors at the end of February unless business picks up.
Although, some African Americans have decided to allow black history to fade into obscurity, there are a few activists across the country who are not going out without a fight. They have started the Black History Bailout Campaign. The group is asking the black community to come up with their own socio-economic stimulus package as a last ditch effort to save black history.
Although the activists hope that the movement gains momentum over the next few weeks, as of yesterday the only people protesting in front of the Capitol were an elderly man with a Marcus Garvey sweatshirt and his young grandson holding up signs that said,"
"A people without knowledge of their history is like a tree without roots."
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com He can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.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
NWSF Bullet: Blame it on the Movie?
According to news reports out of Greensboro, there was a shooting at the premier of "Notorious," the Biggie Smalls story, last night. Both Fox 8 and the Greensboro News and Record are reporting that the star of the movie Jamal Woolard was at the theatre, The Grand 18 Four Seasons Station cinemas , when the shooting occurred.
http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=8267900&version=1&locale=EN-US
The News and Record is, also, reporting that the theater has suspended showing the movie.
http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/01/17/article/shooting_erupts_at_notorious_movie
Now let me say from the jump, I still think that the Notorious BIG was overrated in the big scheme of things and that life many times does imitate art.
However....
It never ceases to amaze me how those rich white movie executives pump billions of dollars into pushing movies and music that promote black on black violence 24 hours a day and then folks act surprised when the chickens come home to roost?
Also, there is always a fear that anytime black folks gather for anything (especially when music is bumpin') that there is gonna be trouble.
This paranoia has nothing to do with "Notorious" because this perception goes all the way back to the days of Krush Grove.
These aren't black folks who ultimately determine what images are given to the masses. These are old white men sitting in a board room somewhere. And they are more than happy to sacrifice the lives of a few rappers or movie goers if that means that they can make a few million bucks.
So before we blame "tha hood" we need to point the finger at Hollywood.
http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=8267900&version=1&locale=EN-US
The News and Record is, also, reporting that the theater has suspended showing the movie.
http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/01/17/article/shooting_erupts_at_notorious_movie
Now let me say from the jump, I still think that the Notorious BIG was overrated in the big scheme of things and that life many times does imitate art.
However....
It never ceases to amaze me how those rich white movie executives pump billions of dollars into pushing movies and music that promote black on black violence 24 hours a day and then folks act surprised when the chickens come home to roost?
Also, there is always a fear that anytime black folks gather for anything (especially when music is bumpin') that there is gonna be trouble.
This paranoia has nothing to do with "Notorious" because this perception goes all the way back to the days of Krush Grove.
These aren't black folks who ultimately determine what images are given to the masses. These are old white men sitting in a board room somewhere. And they are more than happy to sacrifice the lives of a few rappers or movie goers if that means that they can make a few million bucks.
So before we blame "tha hood" we need to point the finger at Hollywood.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
NWSF Bullet: There's a Riot Goin' On
I was listening to Rev. Al Sharpton's "Keepin' it Real" show today with guest host Eleanor Tatum of the Amsterdam News. They had JR of the Block Report on talking about the murder of Oscar Grant by Oakland's Bay Area Transit and the rebellious aftermath.
Things were going kinda smooth until Ms. Tatum and some of the callers started parroting the old line about how "we" shouldn't burn down "our" own property.
That's when the discussion got a tad bit heated.
Brotha JR pointed out that the rebellion took place downtown and "we" don't own property there.
That exchange kinda reminded me of Malcolm X's House Negro/Field Negro analogy when he talked about how the house Negroes "would give their life to save the master's house quicker than the master would."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zUIjP4KWok
Come to think of it. If black folks don't own any property than they can't really burn down what they don't have can they?
JR went on to say that the media only covered the Grant story because of the rebellion. But what really shut it down was when he told Ms. Tatum that if it wasn't for O-Town settin' it off they wouldn't be having that conversation.
At that point there was a collective, "ooooooh" resonating from hoods across America.
Needless to say JR didn't get to say goodbye...
Let's face it.
Historically, black folks have gotten much more attention from yellin' "Fight the Power" than from singin' "We Shall Overcome."
Ask any black activist and he will tell you that the only time that the media care about what black folks think is when there is the threat of someone raisin' the roof.
If you are not either in a position to start a riot or call one off, the talkin' heads really don't give two cents what you think.
Also, look at how many government programs were started after the rebellions of the 60's and after the Rodney King verdict in the early 90's.
Although, politicians are quick to say there is no money for the poor, have you notice how quickly they find some funds when they smell smoke?
Back in the 60's Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael) said:
"A lot of people in the in the bourgeoisie tell me that they don't like H. Rap Brown when he says 'I'm gonna burn this country down.' But every time Rap Brown says that, they get a poverty program."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzREY649PWA
You might not agree with those kind of tactics but you can't deny that the squeaky spinnin' rims get the grease...
As Run DMC once rapped:
"Don't ask me because I don't know why. But it's like that and that's the way it is.
Things were going kinda smooth until Ms. Tatum and some of the callers started parroting the old line about how "we" shouldn't burn down "our" own property.
That's when the discussion got a tad bit heated.
Brotha JR pointed out that the rebellion took place downtown and "we" don't own property there.
That exchange kinda reminded me of Malcolm X's House Negro/Field Negro analogy when he talked about how the house Negroes "would give their life to save the master's house quicker than the master would."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zUIjP4KWok
Come to think of it. If black folks don't own any property than they can't really burn down what they don't have can they?
JR went on to say that the media only covered the Grant story because of the rebellion. But what really shut it down was when he told Ms. Tatum that if it wasn't for O-Town settin' it off they wouldn't be having that conversation.
At that point there was a collective, "ooooooh" resonating from hoods across America.
Needless to say JR didn't get to say goodbye...
Let's face it.
Historically, black folks have gotten much more attention from yellin' "Fight the Power" than from singin' "We Shall Overcome."
Ask any black activist and he will tell you that the only time that the media care about what black folks think is when there is the threat of someone raisin' the roof.
If you are not either in a position to start a riot or call one off, the talkin' heads really don't give two cents what you think.
Also, look at how many government programs were started after the rebellions of the 60's and after the Rodney King verdict in the early 90's.
Although, politicians are quick to say there is no money for the poor, have you notice how quickly they find some funds when they smell smoke?
Back in the 60's Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael) said:
"A lot of people in the in the bourgeoisie tell me that they don't like H. Rap Brown when he says 'I'm gonna burn this country down.' But every time Rap Brown says that, they get a poverty program."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzREY649PWA
You might not agree with those kind of tactics but you can't deny that the squeaky spinnin' rims get the grease...
As Run DMC once rapped:
"Don't ask me because I don't know why. But it's like that and that's the way it is.
TRUTH Minista on WVON (Chicago) 1/16
I'm scheduled to be on WVON's (Chicago) Matt and Perri Show at 8:10AM EST 1/16 to discuss my article "Notoriously Overrated: What was so Big about Biggie Smalls."
To Listen:
http://wvon.com/home.php
To Listen:
http://wvon.com/home.php
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