Colt 45 Blast is Genocide Juice

The controversial new fruity malt liquor Blast by Colt 45 has been given a new name by a NC minister, "genocide juice."

Malt Liquor has been traditionally been used to destroy young African American males in urban communities, says Minister Paul Scott of Durham NC.

Last month, Scott stumbled across the Pabst Brewing Company marketing video on You Tube that outlined plans to use Hip Hop to market the liquor to "urban" communities. Pabst recently had the video yanked from Youtube.

"Alcohol kills, " says Scott. "That video was like a diabolical plan to exterminate a whole generation by using malt liquor instead of gas ovens. '

Scott recently called for the formation of a "Malt Liquor Party" to demand that Blast is removed from store shelves and to educate African American youth about the dangers of malt liquor.


http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2011/04/move-over-tea-party-here-comes-malt.html

Move Over Tea Party: Here Comes the "Malt Liquor Party"

Move Over Tea Party. Here Comes the "Malt Liquor Party."

It all started when Durham NC minister and activist Paul Scott stumbled upon a YouTube video containing Pabst Brewing Company's leaked marketing plan for their controversial new malt liquor, Blast by Colt 45, last month.

http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/12472491/article-Activist-nukes-Pabst-s--Blast-?instance=homefifthleft


The video (now known as "malt liquor-gate") lays out the plan by which the 12% alcohol fruit flavored will be marketed using Hip Hop and rapper Snoop Dogg.


Soon, activists across the country began to accuse Pabst Brewing Co of targeting underage drinkers.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704360404576206621165029478.html


In recent weeks, the issue has gained national attention, even prompting attorney generals to take steps to ban the beverage from being sold in their states.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0422/Blast-a-fruity-Pabst-drink-gets-scrutiny.-Whom-is-Snoop-Dogg-selling-it-to


Now, Minister Paul Scott is calling for the formation of a "Malt Liquor Party" that will demand the immediate removal of the product from store shelves.

"Just as the Tea Party dumped tea into the Boston Harbor. The "Malt Liquor Party" is calling for people to "dump" Pabst Brewing products, as well as those companies that advertise them," says Scott.

While Scott says that attorney generals in all states should demand the immediate removal of the product, ultimately, it is the responsibility of everyday citizens to remove the product.

"It's up to the people to speak out when poison is being pimped to their children, says Scott."

Scott says that the "Malt Liquor Party" will also educate young people about the dangers of malt liquor consumption and how it has been traditionally, disproportionately marketed to young African Americans.

Minister Paul Scott first gained national attention in 1998, when he led a successful boycott against Phat Boy Malt Liquor and again in 2003 when he led a campaign against rap star Nelly's energy drink "Pimp Juice."

For more information contact (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com Scott's website is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com

Open Letter to Governor Bev Perdue Regarding Blast

April 5, 2011






Dear Governor Perdue,



Last year, you took a very courageous stand by asking the makers of Four Loko to, voluntarily, stop producing their product. However, a new malt liquor is entering North Carolina that is just as dangerous. On April 5, Pabst Brewing Company released "Blast By Colt 45," a high octane malt liquor that contains 12% alcohol. The drink also comes in fruity flavors such as raspberry watermelon.

Although, the liquor does not contain caffeine, what makes it more dangerous than Four Loko is Pabst's marketing campaign. While Four Loko was mostly popular with college kids, Blast is using Hip Hop music to target a younger "urban" audience. It is well known that the terms "Hip Hop" and "urban" are used mostly when referring to "inner city" African American and Latino youth. The company has hired popular Hip Hop artist, Snoop Dogg along with video models such as Rosa Acosta to pitch the fruity beverage. It must be noted that recently Snoop Dogg has appeared on two programs that are extremely popular with preteens and teenagers, Black Entertainment Television's "106 and Park" and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

What is sad, is that while many people spoke out against Four Loko, the silence has been deafening in response to Blast. Unfortunately, we still live in a society where the lives of African American and Latino children are valued less than the lives of others. So, Governor Perdue, we are asking that you speak out against Pabst Brewing Company's "Blast" with the same passion in which you addressed the makers of Four Loko.

While the drink should be a major concern for African American and Latino parents, in reality, the issue should concern all of the citizens of this state. To borrow from a popular saying, "first they came for the Black children and I said nothing. Then they came for the Latino children and again I said nothing. Then they came for my children and there was no one left to say anything."


Thank you,

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

A Dog Returneth...

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

Min. Paul Scott





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

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

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

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

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

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

Nobody cares.

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

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

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

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

I think you know the answer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

Regarding Colt 45 Blast

The Wall Street Journal is running a story, today about Pabst Liquor Company's new Malt Liquor, Colt 45 Blast.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704360404576206621165029478.htm




The Malt Liquor is using rapper, Snoop Dogg and half naked women from music videos that our children watch to promote this poison.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyiMB7VKiKY




Here are my thoughts.


Do we really need Colt 45 to "Blast" the brains of our children?


Snoop Dogg has a history of promoting Malt Liquor to disproportionately suffering communities dating back to the early 90's with ST Ides Malt Liquor, so in 2011, to borrow from the scriptures "the dog has returned to his vomit.".

I hope that Hip Hop magazines and radio stations who have the eyes and ears of our young people don't accept the 30 pieces of silver to sell us out.

And finally, it is a shame that liquor companies would stoop so low as to use celebrities who appear on youth oriented shows and radio stations to pimp poison. My prayer is that our Hip Hop youth will not fall victim to "Colt's cult of personality" and drink some "killa Kool Aid."

I will continue my "Intelligence Over Ignorance" campaign to encourage Hip Hop artists to use their powerful influences to develop the minds of our children instead of destroy them.

Minister Paul Scott
Messianic Afrikan Nation Ministry
Durham NC

How Rodney King Changed Hip Hop

Rap, Riots and Rodney:
How Rodney King Changed Hip Hop

Paul Scott



March 3, 1991. What started off as just another case of a brotha gettin' beat down by the Po Po, would set off a chain of events that would forever change the socio-political dynamics of America, especially for the Hip Hop generation.


Although, the beating of Rodney King by four Los Angeles police officers happened 20 years ago, the shock waves from the event are still being felt today. To grasp the gravity of the situation one has to look at it in historical terms.

The period of the late 80's was,possibly,the most revolutionary since the '60's, as the combination of Reaganomics and racial incidents such as the Virginia Beach and Crown Heights incidents had pushed America, once again to the brink of revolution. There was also a cultural revolution happening ion America, where Black youth were rediscovering the works of heroes such as Malcolm X and Huey P. Newton. The rapidly maturing Hip Hop genre also began to absorb the changes as the party music of the early 80's began to become what Public Enemy front-man, Chuck D, coined "The CNN of Black America."

While the music previously was seen as fad and just a blip on the radar screen of middle America, the idea of rebelling "ghetto youth" using rap music as an unregulated form of information dissemination sent shock America's political foundation.

This is not the first time that the rising collective voice of "the silent minority" became a matter of national security.

According to the March 21, 1993 edition of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, in 1917, a Lt Col. Ralph Van Deman created the Army's black spy network, which snitched on black organizations, even black churches. The article names Robert Morton of Booker T. Washington's Tuskegee Institute and Joel Spingarn, one of the founders of the NAACP,as operatives in the spy network.

In the book, "Heard it Through the Grapevine," Patricia A. Turner wrote that "rumor clinics" were set up during World War II to "prevent potentially adverse hearsay of all sorts from gaining credibility."

Also, although the FBI's COINTELPRO is the best known of the "dirty trick" operations of the Civil Rights /Black Power Era, Clay Risen, in his book "A Nation On Fire: "America in the Wake of the King Assassination," wrote about the Army Operations Center and" its first operations plan for national disturbances, code named Steep Hill." Risen also talks about the U.S. Army Intelligence Command (USAINTC) which included 1000 agents "around tthe country whose job was to spy on militants and "monitor indicators of imminent violence."

The entertainment industry was not immune of the fear of a black uprising. In Peter Doggett's book, "There's a Riot Going On" he wrote about how James Brown was hired by the mayor of Boston , Kevin White, to throw a concert the night after the King murder to keep the natives calm.

From the very beginning it has been clear that America's fear was not the thugs in the street stealing hubcaps but the fear that they may become politicized, intelligent hoodlums. So on April 29, 1992, the day the police officers were acquitted of beating King, the apparatus was already in place to deal with young "urban" youth who were chanting Hip Hop lyrics challenging the system as their mantra.

As, rebellions took place in cities across the country, even the watchful eye of the Fed's underestimated the politicizing of the youth courtesy of rap lyrics. The site of "gangstas" articulating the political ideologies of Frantz Fanon on Night-line caught politicians with their pants down.

According, to the May 11, 1992 Time Magazine article "How TV failed to Get the Real Picture" it was reported that LA mayor Tom Bradley "requested" that in the midst of the chaos that the highly rated "Cosby Show:" air as an exercise in "crisis counter-programming." However, this was not 1986 and black youth were more responsive to the voices of the X-Clan, than they were "Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable."

So, another form of "crisis counter-programing" had to be developed that would insure that rebellions like what happened in LA would never happen again.

Even before the LA Rebellion, President George Bush had instituted the "Weed and Seed Program" which many residents of Los Angeles, such as those interviewed in the book "Uprisng" by Yusef Jah and Sister Shah Keyah considered a spy operation. The official purpose of weed and seed was to "weed" out gang members and in their places "seed"the hood with community programs.

So, we see the same strategy was used in Hip Hop as the biggest threat to this country's racial hegemony " conscious rappers" were weeded out and the industry was seeded with "gangsta" rappers.

One can clearly see how the careers of early conscious rappers suffered because of their courage to speak truth to power. However, the "gangster rappers" of the period became multi-millionaires and were rewarded with movie scripts and endorsement deals.

It is against this historical backdrop that two major post-LA Rebellion developments took place.

First the "no snitching" ethos was taken out of its historical context and was been replaced with a scapegoat for black on black violence and the demonization of entire black neighborhoods. Conveniently forgotten were the various government sponsored snitch operations that had plagued the black community for decades.h

More important is the overall anti-political direction of commercial Hip Hop, where, instead of "Cosby" crisis programming, the Hip Hop artists are now part of preemptive crisis programming, where the minds of the youth are distracted by such things as face tattoos This can help to explain, in part, why the incidents of police brutality in cities such as Cincinnati, New York, Oakland and Houston generated relatively little outcry.

Some may argue that times have changed and the season of "fighting the power" is a part of a bygone era.

However, with incidents of global outrage taking place from Egypt to Wisconsin, maybe not.

Perhaps Ice Cube was right when he once rapped ," April 29th brought power to the people, and we just might see a sequel."

Only the 'hood knows....

Paul Scott can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Was Honest Abe a Racist ?

Lincoln, Lies and Black Liberation

Paul Scott



It is recorded that one of the reasons why February was chosen as Black History Month was because it is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the man who is glorified in history as the one who "freed the slaves." Unfortunately, this is just one of many myths about the black experience that is often repeated but rarely challenged. This is an especially important issue in 2011, as we see black history becoming increasingly, "politicized."

We live in a political climate where the truth about the African American experience has either been ignored by the main stream media or obscured by false Right Wing talking points. Instead of the truth, we are fed a hodgepodge of myths, fables and pseudo-historical hogwash.

One of the most propagated myths is that African Americans had no history worth mentioning before they were brought to America in the hulls of slave ships. This lie could not be further from the truth as scholars such as George GM James, Anthony Browder and Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan have all done extensive research proving not only the existence of powerful ancient African societies but also that what is known as Greek culture was actually stolen from the ancient Egyptians who were Black people.

Also, there are the many falsehoods surrounding chattel slavery. Every time the issue of black history is brought up, you can bet that some conservative pundit will parrot the oft repeated talking point that "it was Africans who sold your ancestors into slavery." Like most right wing rhetoric, the devil is in the details.

According to historian Basil Davidson, in his book " the African Slave Trade, " African slavery was not much different than the feudal system of medieval Europe. Other scholars have noted that that even the very concept of enslaving another people because of racial superiority was foreign to African culture. In his book "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa," Walter Rodney wrote that the Africans could not fathom the idea that the Europeans "had come to stay ,permanently" nor that they "were out to conquer, not some, but all of Africa."

There is also the long standing legend of the docile slave that would have been happier staying on the plantation picking cotton than enjoying Freedom. Contrary to popular belief, slave insurrections were a grave concern for plantation owners in the South, especially following the Haitian Revolution of Toussaint L'Ouverture , as many slave owners feared that the uprising in Haiti would inspire the enslaved Africans in America to rebel.

Another myth is that African Americans should be eternally grateful to the great Republican Honest Abe Lincoln for "freeing us." In his work "Forced Into Glory" Lerone Bennett, portrays Lincoln as a wishy -washy political opportunist whose Emancipation Proclamation was merely a ploy to stifle the proposed Confiscation Acts which would have "freed" the slaves years earlier. Also, it must be noted that Lincoln's much heralded "Emancipation Proclamation" did not "free all slaves" just the ones in states rebelling against the Union which did not include the border states. Although Lincoln is often portrayed as a friend of black folks, according to Bennett he believed in the inferiority of black people and was fond of telling "anti-Negro jokes."

Following, the end of chattel slavery in America, came the misunderstood period of Reconstruction. While it is often portrayed as a period of black political corruption, according to WEB Dubois, in his work, "Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880" the black politicians were no more "corrupt" than their white counterparts and the misinformation concerning black historical facts was "often a deliberate attempt to change the facts of history that the story will make pleasant reading for Americans." This, unfortunately, laid the foundation for unfair criticisms of African American politicians that plague this country today, including the not -so -subtle attacks on President Barack Obama.

Lastly, one of the falsehoods that is still propagated by the right wing is that African American leaders are overly dependent upon government handouts. This is patently false, as one could point to leaders such as Booker T. Washington (the Tuskegee Machine), the Honorable Marcus Garvey (Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League) and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (The Nation of Islam) all of whom preached a doctrine of black economic empowerment and self-sufficiency.

The best way for African Americans to celebrate Black History Month, this year, is to challenge the historical inaccuracies about our history. This must be done, if not for ourselves, for our children, who are constantly given negative information regarding their ancestors.

As Malcolm X once said, "of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward our research."

In this case, the reward is the sense of positive self identification for future generations of black children.



Paul Scott is a minister, activist and writer based in Durham NC. His blog is No Warning Shots Fired.com. Scott can be reached at info@nowarningshotsfired.com or (919) 451-8283