Black Racism

Are you fucking serious- black racism is responsible for the death of Treyvon and that racist cooking lady? Of course someone would find a way to point the finger back at the blacks. Of course it is the black’s fault that slavery was a successful business venture for the United States. Of course it is black people’s fault that churches were bombed and young black girls lost their lives. Of course it was black racism’s fault that little kids needed to be escorted by the National Guard in order to attend a school with whites. Yeah it was all black racism. 

Most will never understand what it feels like to think that you will never reach 18 or even graduate from High School, no mater how inadequate the curriculum may be. Life for many young black youth is not that same for their white or even brown counterparts. Is there something that could be done about this? Of course there is. Stop blaming black people for everything that is wrong with society- and understand that your own actions may be playing a role in the destruction of a race than you thought. 

So if black racism is responsible for the loss of Treyvon, then don’t forget that black ingenuity is responsible for the stop-light. I wonder how many white lives have been saved- by that black ingenuity. In need of a gas mask?- well, once again black ingenuity strikes again.

Our society has turned into one that is always looking to point the finger at someone for something. Do we have a problem? Yeah we have a problem. We have a society that has decided that they want to wage war on a total group of youth- that almost has no options, limited opportunities, and are classified by all.

Once we place anything in front of the word racism we are making another excuse for our personal biases and beliefs that often have been established by media, social contact, and lack of understanding about humanity itself. Racism should not be paired with white, brown, yellow, or purple. It should not be connected with gender, age, and any other prefix that one could find for their irrational beliefs.

To understand the plight and the struggle of blacks in American one has to face history, not simply brush it under the rug. There are many that thought that an African American President would change the world. But that is impossible. Our country is an organism that is being consumed by violence, hate, and stupidity.

Do blacks often seek out the wrong stereotypes and often get marked by those in society? Yes. Should they learn how to adapt to certain situations and understand the environments that they are in? Yes. But the world also has to understand that within America there is a Third World Country. Some of us are lucky to just drive right by.  Or they only hear about it on the news, and then become experts at spewing out some rhetoric created by the media outlet of their own beliefs.

The young black youth of America are just as gifted as the black men and women that have used their black ingenuity to help society as whole. The gas mask, refrigerated systems, stop light, bicycle frame, blood plasma bag, folding bed, folding chair, lawn mower, and sprinklers.

While most of society sees young black men as thugs. They forget that these young black men could be so much more. So while we look and search for some reasoning behind a young man losing his life, and another walking away with his freedom, remember that they can become more if they live long enough.            

Rainbow Flags and Black Books

"The Family Research Council strongly opposes gay marriage and abortion and says it advocates 'faith, family and freedom in public policy and public opinion.'” ¹

Wait a minute, hold up.  Did I read that correctly? First of all, why do we need a group called “The Family Research Council” in the first place? Is a family something that needs to be researched? Or is this just another way for a group to claim that they are not racist or discriminating, and walk around and throw money at elected officials to support their agenda.

But the fact remains that the statement that they believe in public policy and public opinion is ridiculous. They should change their tag line to “we believe that public policy should be allowed to discriminate”. I have put my neck on the line for the issue of allowing gay people to marry and adopt, because I see the bigger picture.

Here is a little background for you about me and this issue. I use to oppose gay marriage; I use to believe that it was wrong. But like most sensible humans I really thought about the situation, and it was rather simple. First of all, I am not gay, so why am I so worried about what they are doing in the first place? Secondly I believe in the true definition of Freedom.

Look, if these men and women are good enough to catch a bullet and die for us here in our plush air conditioned homes, watching two political parties that are involved in the same destructive policies, then why can’t these individuals be able to get married? So it is alright for them to die for us, but it is not alright for them to have freedom to love who they may.

I mean, we are worried about the economy right? I am sure that there would be a lot of people getting paid if we allowed these individuals to get married. Weddings, honeymoons, cakes, gifts, and on and on!  

As a parent, one thing I had to realize was that no matter how I think my children should live, one day they are going to be able to make their own decisions, and if one of my children walked up to me and told me that they were gay the last thing I would do is tell them that they are going to go to hell.

I am sure there are a lot of people dealing with this, and those that are going to have to face this in the future; I hope they are prepared to deal with it, and I hope they chose to be supportive.

With all the recent energy that Mitt Romney has received for selecting Ryan and the individuals that refuse to look at Mr. Ryan’s voting trends, it is rather ignorant to put it politely. I think it is odd that Mr. Ryan is so strongly against abortion.  A man shouldn’t really be making decisions for women in the first place, but he is so twisted that he also believes that a gay couple should not be able to adopt.  So not only is he forcing women to have unwanted babies, but he is denying those who want to adopt them!

See, that is why I have to separate myself from the conservative party.  They scream and rant about too much government but then they start restricting every part of our lives at will. Of course I am not into throwing all of our money out to those that do not want to work and continue to live off welfare without trying to improve themselves. But to deny love and companionship is pretty crazy in this day and age.

I think most children do not care who raises them- gay, straight, or whatever. They just want to be loved. And if that means allowing gay couples to adopt them and get these children out of foster care, then fine- let gay people adopt.

I do not think that a gay couple is really trying to adopt children for some gay revolution- to eliminate all straight people on the planet. When a couple is in love no matter gay or straight there is a lot of love to share, and if they can do that and produce productive individuals in our society then I am fine with that, personally.

I am tired of the bigotry and hate that is often entrenched within politics and religion. When you present facts to most of these individuals they are quick to forget the evolutionary cycle that humans have been through. You would swear that they are still dragging their knuckles on the ground, trying to make a fire with two twigs.

So in my personal opinion, until we allow all individuals to get married and live a prosperous life, then such violent acts, like what happened at the movie theater, the temple, and many other situations- will continue to happen. I challenge all of you to really think about it.  How are gay issues really harming your life?

Oh yeah, and if you live in California you should pack your bags and move real quick, because gay and lesbian studies will become mandatory. I wish they would have made African American studies mandatory, but hey, it is what is what it is, and to deny that gay and lesbians have made great contributions to our society would be foolish.

I am sure if that hunk of a fire fighter pulling your ass out of burning building was gay, you wouldn’t be saying “No! Put me down! Let me burn!” I never agree with violence in any situation, just wanted to point out that this group is not for freedom and should never say such a thing, they are for restricting freedom. I wonder if guns were created before the bible, would they be illegal?... Oops I forgot, guns don’t kill people, people kill people…. answered my own question.

     

1: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Official-Suspect-criticized-group-before-shooting-3790208.php#ixzz23exsh31s

Stop Muggin'

What is happening in the black community?   All communities for that fact, or is it just that I left the Southwest- where people still had respect for one another? For example, anytime I leave my home in California and I happen to be in the same proximity of a black man (my age, younger, older- whatever) they seem as if they want to "mean mug", or stare at me rudely.I think to myself “wow, really? This is how we are going to treat each other?” But I still pay my homage and respect. I still make eye contact, nod my head, and say “what’s up”. It is not like I believe that we should stop and have a conversation, but we should respect one another.


 As a Communications Major, I understand the importance of human communication. Both verbal and non-verbal communication is very important in any situation.  I feel as if we have lost respect for one another as black men. We always treat one another like we are in a rap video or some characters in a gangster movie. What happen to community? What happen to respect?


As long as we continue to stare at one another in a way that is disrespectful we will do nothing but continue the destructive behaviors that are in our community. I have spoken about the dangers of our music, one form of communication. But we also have to examine the devastating actions that non-verbal communication plays.


Non-verbal communication is the way that we dress, the way that we walk, how we look at each other, and how we stand.  All of these things give off certain cues. These cues can be either positive or negative, but the fact remains, we are giving off these cues all the time, and it is dangerous if every identifier is negative.


I was heading to the store in my small town and three young black men were walking by. Not only was there a police officer making his rounds- driving slowly, but it was a nice night. I made eye contact with all three of these young men and in return they started to “mean-mug”.  These kids, with their clothes falling off and their plastic snap back hats were all wearing the uniform of the new house Negro.  This disrespect really shocked me.

As I left the scene, I was a little upset at the reaction from these three young men. I thought to myself, that their parents were failures because they did not teach their children respect. I believe that it is important to respect your elders. But we need to take this a little further and respect one another.

By walking around and staring at one another like we want to get into a fight is not good for our health. I do not think that white people walk around exchanging stares and starting fights with one another. I am not sure about this completely but it does not seem to be the case. This little cultural habit is something that bothers the hell out of me. Most of the people that should be reading this probably are watching a fight on social-cam right now, and believe that their actions are a part of “being black”.

So please black men, next time you see another black man, do not put on your movie face, or your video mask, and just pay respect. There is no need for us to continue this harmful non-verbal behavior. This behavior is being taught to our children, and we need to stop the mugging so that we can overcome the crumbling of our community and remake our cultural norms.I am sure that there are many things that we can agree on and many changes that we can make if we work together. But our actions create nothing but division amongst ourselves. It is no longer necessary for “the man” or any other organization to lynch us, or segregate us; we do today by our own free will.

There is power in numbers, and with as many brothers that are searching for opportunity, there is plenty of it if we work together. I am sure that this mean mugging is not happening everywhere, but where it does happen it needs to stop. There is no need for violence amongst us; our struggles with society are often hard enough. There is no need for us to place more obstacles in front of ourselves.

This is not only to avoid the extinction of a race, but to help our children have better lives as well. Our children often act, talk, and walk, like the people that raise them. There is no need for us to continue to spread this type of nonsense to the youth, our future. Look, I am not asking for a whole conversation, just respect. If we continue to mean mug one another this just shows the lack of respect that we have for ourselves.     

Black Visibility is not Black Power

I thought that I would never see an African American President, or rather, a half African American President- unless I support the notion that one drop of black blood makes and individual black. (I would have to disagree with that old law even though there are many that still believe that way.)  But our culture is connected to more than our race, and even though there are more black people visible in all areas of our lives- politics, entertainment, sports, and the field of academia- the problems of the black community are often swept under the welcome rug and become nothing more than talking points.

Even stories of victories in the African American community are not celebrated like those in other communities. These stories do not get the same attention and still have to battle for the limelight against stories of celebrity divorces and shopping sprees of the rich. 

Did I fall victim to the deception that black visibility is black power? Of course I did. Who could not fall victim to such a theory. Many of us have fell victim to this theory, and it is easy to understand how and why. We have faith in our country; some of us believe in our country more than others. But the individuals that research and investigate the actions and laws of this country understand who has the power.

So, after all of the cheers and happiness that was expressed after the election of the first African American President, the theory of black visibility vs. black power had the opportunity to be readdressed.  Just because there is a black president, does not mean there is an automatic connection between that president and the black community.

When I speak with my friends, we often believe that the issue of racism has only increased. The pride of having an African American President simply vanished for some. I still have pride and hope however, because I understand that the steps needed to fix some of the social injustices and racism that has plagued our country will take another 200 years or so be realized. President Obama’s victory was a small victory in the struggle for all minorities.

The ultimate power has been in the hands of the establishment, not the president. Even though the establishment has many individuals, many of them have succumbed to the idea that their personal interests outweigh those of the people that elected them.   

These individuals include artists, politicians, athletes, and many others. I believe that President Obama has a responsibility to the African American community. His appearance was nothing more than a tool to trick us into supporting him. Just because he can bounce a basketball, and is probably better at it than me, does not mean that he understands the struggle of African Americans.

Let us look at his actions. He is a very smart and wise man, he has passed a few laws that could be seen as keeping us African Americans at bay. For example when he lowered the penalty for those that are guilty of selling crack compared to the penalties of selling cocaine. This is great- and he should be applauded. But let us look at another focus of his energy- where he is choosing to visit.  I have seen him in Silicon Valley, Hollywood, and many other affluent neighborhoods, but I have not seen him in the Bay View, or Compton.

But when I walk through some very economically depressed African American communities, I see the people wearing his t-shirt, or pasting his poster on the wall. But the sadness is still on their faces, and the violence still consumes their community. Why? Because that is what the system needs to keep control of the society and that is what the system wants. They want a society that allows for the rich to remain rich, the middle class to support both the poor and the rich, and the poor to remain a tool for division.

While I hold dear my conservative values, there is no need to continue to be ignorant and believe that one man of color can change a community. Or that one man of color has destroyed the country that I believed in. The responsibility remains in the hands of the people.

We the people, even though my race was only considered ¾ of a man, and did not start off with the same opportunities as the citizens around me. When individuals use the Bible and the Constitution as tools to define them, to develop their political and ethical positions, they are already flawed. They are flawed because those specific documents are flawed.  They are flawed because they were created by men, men that are flawed by nature.

These two pieces of literature are often used to define all reasoning, but they were not built for me, ¾ of a man. Even though now I can live a life that others could only dream about hundreds of years ago, I have a responsibility to inform and educate my generation and those that are willing to accept that a change is needed. No longer can I depend on the black face and the deception of black visibility as change. But nothing more than false hopes that were destroyed by the powers that be, to keep their knee on the throat of those that do not stand a chance.

So before we make a decision on who we want in office, step aside and remember that black visibility is not black power.  It will not erase the suffering.  We have to evaluate the destruction that corporate America has placed on the poor communities both white and black.

Do not let us vote because of what our minsters believe, or what our parents have forced fed us to believe, but rather vote in a way that will allow for opportunity for all- no matter whom they love, or who they want to spend the rest of their lives with. To deny others freedom is simply being a tyrant. One person’s happiness should not be blocked because of a few ignorant individuals. But also, it is important to understand that for the black community, black visibility is not power.  If those in power continue to only support others that share the same rhetoric, there will never be true equality.

The Real War in America

The real war in America is happening right in front of our eyes in Chicago. In just one weekend there were 8 killed and 40-plus wounded. This was here on American soil. While most of the media was covering the return of Zombies supposedly connected to bath-salts, the black community in Chicago was engaged in war.

When the temperatures start to rise, there is an increase in violence in most black communities. It would suggest that someone has spiked the Kool-Aid packages sold in the corner markets. Or that there was some type of government experiment to thin the heard.

The usual excuses always seem to be the ones that are discussed by experts- the same experts that return to their suburban homes and enjoy their fresh squeezed lemonades and glasses of wine on their patios. Then there are the constant chants of “there is nothing to do” and that a larger police presents would somehow decrease the violence.

These excuses hold some truth, but they fail to address the issue. Violence is a natural behavior and once this behavior is accepted by a community and not channeled properly there is only destruction on said community.

The relationship between the black community and police, no matter what race or creed, is one that lacks trust and respect. Neither the police nor the black community seems to respect or understand one another and this division is fatal. The police represent the system. A system that has denied the black community the opportunity to gain liberty and live in happiness, all due to political and social economic barriers.

But the black community brings their own ammunition to this war as well. Shotgun shells are lyrics that blast from the speaker and penetrate the listener. The uniform of pants sagging to the ground showing of their latest underoo purchase, and the need for father-figures often creates youth that do not stand a chance.

This alone should be a case for an increase in Gay Adoptions, to support our own country instead of forcing individuals to depend on adoption agencies overseas. The lack of parental direction, financial opportunities, and failing education, has created a hell-storm that is impossible to escape.

I often equate the action of hunters in the wild killing a deer and placing it above the fireplace as the same activities that are happening in Chicago. Some may say that this is a stretch, but the action of wanting and needing to kill anything has to be connected to the same part of the brain. And for those trapped in the black community the only thing they can kill is each other.  There is no outlet for this human behavior that is reinforced by the music, the loss of an identity, and the need for acceptance.

Many communities have escaped some of these social ills, but the truth is also that not too many cultures have been put under the same strain as the African American community. Many communities still hold on to their cultural beliefs. These beliefs are handing down for generations. And often the only cultural beliefs that African Americans can pass consist of poverty, a white religion, and violence.

Responsibility is and should remain in the hands of the individual. But one must understand that responsibility is a trait that must be learned, and often passed down or taught. As Americans we have a responsibility as well, a responsibility to demand that our educational system in the inner-city gives our youth a proper education that will allow for them to be able to decipher the difference between entertainment and reality which has become so easily blurred.

The individuals in power such as government, education, and entertainment need to take a stand. As these individuals often contribute to the systematic and economic abuse that harms and punishes the black community. This war in Chicago can easily spread to any town in America, and when it does do not say that there were no warnings. Soon there will be nowhere for any of us to escape this war, and we may all be victims taken away from a crime scene as a snippet of the 10’oclock news.

Rebirth of a Writer

Last night I had the time of my life. It had been a few years since I have been to a real concert and I needed to remind myself of who I am, and what helped mold and shape me. The last few weeks I have felt as if I was stuck in an identity crisis. I mean, my environment is no help at all. Surrounded by open plains, cows grazing on the pasture and the constant natural gas rigs spewing their fumes tend to make a brother a little confused. There is no one around me that dresses like me, thinks like me, or even understands the complexity of some of the issues concerning identity.

Why am I still here? The answer is simple I am here for my children. See, the beauty of Hip-Hop is that it educates and motivates. When I was younger I fed myself so much Hip-Hop that I should have been a fat kid. It was like cake and soda. The clothes, the shows, and the lyrical delivery of some of the greatest artist of all time were helping me deal with the racism, the injustices, and all of the other issues that plague a black teenager. Last night there was nothing like screaming “Fuck the Police” with a thousand people. Nine hundred and sixty nine white folks screaming “Fuck the Police” is just want I needed in my life right now.

See, I never believed in the system. Because I know that the system is a lie and they only tell us what they feel we need to know. The stuff that we read in the newspaper and watch on the television is nothing but poison that slowly kills and slowly eats away any sense of reality that we were born with. But that is the difference with Hip-Hop. If the world would operate like a true Hip-Hop show things would be great. It is true that (C.R.E.A.M) cash rules everything around me. Did it take nine black youth from the East Coast to tell the world that? Yes it did.

Hip-Hop is like Wikileaks, some shit that the average person would never understand and would rather lock in a cage and call them a traitor or useless to society. But that is not the case to those that are smart enough to understand that we are all getting played. I feel that no matter how we learn the truth the importance is we learn the truth. I am glad that this information is leaked and that the world can see that there are some serious issues out there that we should be aware of.

For me, Hip-Hop introduced me to the New World Order, and broke down some of the greatest Philosophers in the world. Hip-Hop artist are the reporters for the ghetto. They are the real soldiers on the front line of equal justice for those that do not have a voice. No I will not trust the police. I will not believe that fake rap artist that plagues the airwaves and infects the public with the same nonsense that real Hip-Hoppers are trying to eradicate. See life is not just a party or sipping on a 40 ounce of St. Ides on the corner. Life is about a hustle, making things better for you and your family.

By Any Means Necessary? That is right by any fucking means necessary. Yes I was lucky to escape the struggle in the inner-city. But that should not mean that I cannot be a solder for the movement. Yes it is true that I am a recovering Conservative on a steady diet of libertarian values and insight. I want less government and more freedom. I want to blaze green without having to come up with some excuse to see the doctor. I want the opportunity to do what I like as long as it has no direct negative effect on another human being.

I deal with other people’s values and bullshit shoved down my throat all day long. The constant religious quotes, the unflattering number game, and the constant Facebook “look at me” post that often makes me want to swan dive into an empty pool to see if I am in reality or some fake ass computer world. Is this the Matrix or what? Do we force feed ourselves some shit so that we feel better about ourselves? Or is it because we want the attention and the acceptances of others? I am chucking up the deuces on that right now.

No longer will I try to blend into my environment. No longer will I second guess what I write, or filter myself. I am who I am. And I have to say thank you to Hip-Hop. Artist like Nas, Public Enemy, Paris, Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, and Ice Cube have turned on the light. While these new artist continue to play the role of the house Negro and do what Master wants, I will not fall victim to Master, but remember were I came from and who I am. I am not supposed to be here but I am, I can tell by the looks in the store and the glares on the road. But that is the beauty of Hip-Hop, no matter the age race, religion, or sex- we all belong.  There is no other music in the world that has the same power that true Hip-Hop brings to the world.