The power of hip-hop in society is major, the influence they have to transcend the globe is superb. We live in a world where a Lil Wayne song has more access than a book from Cornel West.
Hip-Hop shouldn't bear the responsibility of changing the edification of the world about black culture, but it has moral obligation to the edification of itself internally not to reproduce the struggles and oppressions that they've inherited and transiting it into the future adolescent minds who are consuming their product. Most rappers/singers are promoting saturated realities to people that they most likely don't live and those which can't be obtained by the average person.
We live in a climate where sex sells, but why do we never question, "why does it have to be like that?" Why are black women in America being defined and exploited just for their vagina and things they can get because of it? Why are men defined by their sexual reproduction organs and their wallets? We are teaching adolescent males that they are expected to be surrounded and in relationships with multiple women. The average man cannot substantially afford the lifestyle that are being professed through the media. You have women using their vaginas as a means of crop commercialism.
We have eliminated the male patriarchy of the traditional family structure and transitioned it into males using financial status to place women on auction blocks and using their vagina, breast, and ass as means for commodification. You have prominent female rappers such as Trina saying, "You wanna fuck? 20 G's for the nut," or you have Yo Gotti telling us, "I heard that pussy good and they tipping for it." What message is being delivered? Of course you have rappers/singers such as dead prez, Talib Kweli, India Arie and many others, but do they have global access? No! I'm not saying that we need entertainers to subject their art form to G, PG, and PG-13, but for every 10 songs that takes place in a hotel room or strip club why can't we have a song where you meet a lady after she becomes partner of law firm, gets get Masters, or even as she walks down the aisle to the altar?
We understand that music as an art form is a formed of expression of saturated realities and they have bear no responsibilities to the raising of children, but why is it okay to reproduce negative images repeatedly? Where does the moral obligation to rebuilding communities that raise you come in?
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The Mental Health Crisis in the Black Community
Less than two months ago Jovan Belcher, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs shoots and kills his wife in their home. This occurred shortly before he drives himself to Arrowhead Stadium to kill himself. Through tragedy this distressing event has opened up dialogue among the public about the mental health crisis that seems to plague blacks in America at alarming disproportionate numbers when compared to other members of society.
Blacks make up 12 percent of the nations population, but account for roughly 25 percent of all mental health needs. Research done by Marc Lamont Hill shows that black suicide rates have climbed over 200 percent among black males in the past 30 years, and the depression rate is 50 percent higher for black women when compared to white counterparts. These alarming statistics show no sign of diminishing due to internal struggles among the black community in America.
With many of “us” lacking adequate health insurance, sufficient health facilities, and the fear of going to the doctor those reasons are three of many on why this mental health crisis is starting to become an epidemic amongst our people.
Even though we don’t have many academic accepted studies showing the parallel connection between social misery and mental health amongst our people it would be ludicrous not to see the correlation. When 50 percent of the correctional inmates look like me and I can see myself in the 40 percent of the homeless people outside you can see the relationship between social misery and the black mental crisis. The homelessness and prison demographic not only plague a portion of the black population, but it also isolates them from having access to the adequate mental health services that they will need for treatment. Those two examples may seem like extreme paradigms, but look at the amount of poverty, violence, and single parent households that our children are being exposed to at earlier ages. 25% percent of black youth according Loop 21 are exposed to enough violence to medically qualify them to meet diagnostic criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that are contemporarily associated with soldiers returning home from war.
As stated previously a margin of blacks (25%) are without health insurance in a nation where 16% are without. Many of those who are with insurance due to economical circumstances are the ones mainly accounted for those in the mental health crisis among the black community. According to Dr. Carl Bell (president & CEO of the Community Health Council) the problem isn’t the lack of quality health care professionals, but the access of mental health research amongst poor communities. The politics of the health care profession is becoming a detriment to our people.
Funding for research dealing with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, drug and substance abuse, and other mental illnesses amongst black people are not being researched because the incentive for a large payout isn’t there. So consequently the devotion for understanding these cultural and social issues is being completely ignored. Only 1 out of 3 blacks are getting proper treatment when needed. Many of blacks first access to mental health services are accessed subsequently why they are in correctional facilities. This issue goes back to research done in the 60’s before this current spike of black prison population, where race was eliminated from medical literature. During the 60’s only middle income and upper class individuals benefited from studies that were being funded for research on mental health, which left a large section of the population out of the medical research context. By doing this it further promoted institutionalized racial medical access discrimination amongst many of us. It wasn’t until 40 years later that former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher released Culture, Race and Ethnicity Culture, Race and Ethnicity: A Supplement to Mental Health; which outlined problems amongst different groups. Still even after just this one piece of publication many questions still are unanswered and many problems still exist. Many blacks are given the run around when it comes to treatment due to lack of insurance coverage and government issued coverage. From lack of modern equipment to just simply going to the wrong places, or the notion of “putting it in God’s hands," many are put at a handicap.
Many people, especially those who deal with depression will simply go to pastors just so they can pray about it. Depending on your beliefs many folks will believe the notion that prayer changes, instead of God will make a way if you put in the work. Too many blacks use faith as a crutch instead of as tool for courage to fight through. It’s always good to pray, but we must still go to mental health specialist instead of just a general practitioner. When incidents most notably as the Tuskegee experiment and the lack of modern care, it’s expected for blacks to be reluctant to visit health care facilities, but we still have to encourage each other to get help.
Even though research has been limited, I feel as though we need to work on concentrating more on prevention to slow down the rising epidemic that the community is facing yearly. With bills of health care reform being passed which now includes access to more mental health care centers in poverty stricken areas, it will help some, but as a nation we still need to change the culture insensitivity that our nation has amongst this issue.
Blacks make up 12 percent of the nations population, but account for roughly 25 percent of all mental health needs. Research done by Marc Lamont Hill shows that black suicide rates have climbed over 200 percent among black males in the past 30 years, and the depression rate is 50 percent higher for black women when compared to white counterparts. These alarming statistics show no sign of diminishing due to internal struggles among the black community in America.
With many of “us” lacking adequate health insurance, sufficient health facilities, and the fear of going to the doctor those reasons are three of many on why this mental health crisis is starting to become an epidemic amongst our people.
Even though we don’t have many academic accepted studies showing the parallel connection between social misery and mental health amongst our people it would be ludicrous not to see the correlation. When 50 percent of the correctional inmates look like me and I can see myself in the 40 percent of the homeless people outside you can see the relationship between social misery and the black mental crisis. The homelessness and prison demographic not only plague a portion of the black population, but it also isolates them from having access to the adequate mental health services that they will need for treatment. Those two examples may seem like extreme paradigms, but look at the amount of poverty, violence, and single parent households that our children are being exposed to at earlier ages. 25% percent of black youth according Loop 21 are exposed to enough violence to medically qualify them to meet diagnostic criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that are contemporarily associated with soldiers returning home from war.
As stated previously a margin of blacks (25%) are without health insurance in a nation where 16% are without. Many of those who are with insurance due to economical circumstances are the ones mainly accounted for those in the mental health crisis among the black community. According to Dr. Carl Bell (president & CEO of the Community Health Council) the problem isn’t the lack of quality health care professionals, but the access of mental health research amongst poor communities. The politics of the health care profession is becoming a detriment to our people.
Funding for research dealing with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, drug and substance abuse, and other mental illnesses amongst black people are not being researched because the incentive for a large payout isn’t there. So consequently the devotion for understanding these cultural and social issues is being completely ignored. Only 1 out of 3 blacks are getting proper treatment when needed. Many of blacks first access to mental health services are accessed subsequently why they are in correctional facilities. This issue goes back to research done in the 60’s before this current spike of black prison population, where race was eliminated from medical literature. During the 60’s only middle income and upper class individuals benefited from studies that were being funded for research on mental health, which left a large section of the population out of the medical research context. By doing this it further promoted institutionalized racial medical access discrimination amongst many of us. It wasn’t until 40 years later that former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher released Culture, Race and Ethnicity Culture, Race and Ethnicity: A Supplement to Mental Health; which outlined problems amongst different groups. Still even after just this one piece of publication many questions still are unanswered and many problems still exist. Many blacks are given the run around when it comes to treatment due to lack of insurance coverage and government issued coverage. From lack of modern equipment to just simply going to the wrong places, or the notion of “putting it in God’s hands," many are put at a handicap.
Many people, especially those who deal with depression will simply go to pastors just so they can pray about it. Depending on your beliefs many folks will believe the notion that prayer changes, instead of God will make a way if you put in the work. Too many blacks use faith as a crutch instead of as tool for courage to fight through. It’s always good to pray, but we must still go to mental health specialist instead of just a general practitioner. When incidents most notably as the Tuskegee experiment and the lack of modern care, it’s expected for blacks to be reluctant to visit health care facilities, but we still have to encourage each other to get help.
Even though research has been limited, I feel as though we need to work on concentrating more on prevention to slow down the rising epidemic that the community is facing yearly. With bills of health care reform being passed which now includes access to more mental health care centers in poverty stricken areas, it will help some, but as a nation we still need to change the culture insensitivity that our nation has amongst this issue.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Finally Rich
On December 18, 2012 Keith Cozart better know as Chief Keef debut album Finally Rich arrives in stores and online. Many will criticize those who listen to Keef by saying we are promoting gang activity, violence in the inner city among adolescent people of color, and obliteration of the black image. When I watch the interviews, or hear songs such as Kay Kay, Balling, Straps, No Tomorrow, I Don’t Like, etc I see a visual representation of what is going on in the socially constructed minds of many of the youth in poor areas.
At 17 Keef represents the poor black male from a single parent household, with an absent father figure, motivated by avariciousness. Too many people look at those like Chief Keef and as ignorant coons with no sense of direction or morals, but if you pay attention in his interviews in particular you can grasp the self criticism that he has for himself, especially. In a radio inter view Keef stated, “I will have this, I will have that, I’m going to get a car, take care of my mother, and I’m going to be rich before you. My sister is 13 and she thought she was going to be rich before me by becoming a lawyer before I was rapper. I got a job rapping because after my daughter came I knew I had to make something happen.” That’s not a lack of morality, that’s understanding, understanding of what popular society thinks. They are motivated not by money, or helping others obtain it, but they find motivation in what money can buy. Another quote from this same radio interview is, “They thought I was going to be bad forever and be a screw up.” That quote right there isn’t of a man that’s mentally retarded like a lot of people would like to believe. That quote is of self criticism, and self reflection. This “coon rapper” doesn’t want to be someone that most fear, he doesn’t want to grow up in poverty, and doesn’t want to be an absent father, he wants more.
Just like you, just like me, and like the millions of Chief Keef’s in America they don’t want anything else, but to just have a seat at the table where American Pie is served. He may not have chose the conventional path that many African American leaders (I use that word loosely) would suggest, but he did what he sought out to do which was to provide for his family and prove to everyone that he wouldn’t fail. Contrary to what many may believe damn near all poor don’t want to be stuck in the position that they are in, most want adequate income, and majority don’t go around shooting or robbing people just for fun and to see their faces on the 10 o’clock news.
When your father is gone and you have to take on that masculine role of the man of the household you have two options; you have to make something happen (like how I quoted Keef earlier) or you can sit back. The average income of black America per person is roughly $25,567. When “momma need that bill money & your sister need some milk,” what do you do. Listen to his content and interviews and you’ll understand he knows he needs money. His music and his demeanor (he does have a mild form of autism) may come off as ignorant and ill-mannered, but you can find a message in the glass bottle. We focus too many times on the exceptions and using them as scapegoats to ignore the problems with a lot of our community. Cases like Keef are what Sociologist study, and why criminology is a science. When you live in poverty and you don’t have access to adequate education and income crime will sore. These are studied and published scientific facts.
Too many of us (blacks in general, not all) get those degrees and forget about the rest. It's nothing wrong with getting an education and climbing up the fiscal ladder with hopes of becoming apart of the bourgeois, but you also have the opportunity to uplift millions of those who will never obtain one, or never become a Cornel West because the person needed to recognize their potential forgot about them. It's your choice though. It's promising that Chief Keef has a chance to make it out since he was on a path to become David Barksdale, maybe now he can become Jay-Z. It's not likely, but it's possible. Before you pass judgement on the guy on the corner sagging his pants and dealing narcotics don't ridicule him for it, but ask why is he doing it. Don't speak ill of him, show him a better way. Would you rather have Chief Keef stealing money from you, or Keith Cozart being a business partner helping you build money?
No matter what most will say Chief Keef has done what he set out to do and what many poor men strive for. That is to take care of himself, his mother, his kids and to show doubters that I don't have to be a screw up and I can grow up and discover the life of Finally Rich!
At 17 Keef represents the poor black male from a single parent household, with an absent father figure, motivated by avariciousness. Too many people look at those like Chief Keef and as ignorant coons with no sense of direction or morals, but if you pay attention in his interviews in particular you can grasp the self criticism that he has for himself, especially. In a radio inter view Keef stated, “I will have this, I will have that, I’m going to get a car, take care of my mother, and I’m going to be rich before you. My sister is 13 and she thought she was going to be rich before me by becoming a lawyer before I was rapper. I got a job rapping because after my daughter came I knew I had to make something happen.” That’s not a lack of morality, that’s understanding, understanding of what popular society thinks. They are motivated not by money, or helping others obtain it, but they find motivation in what money can buy. Another quote from this same radio interview is, “They thought I was going to be bad forever and be a screw up.” That quote right there isn’t of a man that’s mentally retarded like a lot of people would like to believe. That quote is of self criticism, and self reflection. This “coon rapper” doesn’t want to be someone that most fear, he doesn’t want to grow up in poverty, and doesn’t want to be an absent father, he wants more.
Just like you, just like me, and like the millions of Chief Keef’s in America they don’t want anything else, but to just have a seat at the table where American Pie is served. He may not have chose the conventional path that many African American leaders (I use that word loosely) would suggest, but he did what he sought out to do which was to provide for his family and prove to everyone that he wouldn’t fail. Contrary to what many may believe damn near all poor don’t want to be stuck in the position that they are in, most want adequate income, and majority don’t go around shooting or robbing people just for fun and to see their faces on the 10 o’clock news.
When your father is gone and you have to take on that masculine role of the man of the household you have two options; you have to make something happen (like how I quoted Keef earlier) or you can sit back. The average income of black America per person is roughly $25,567. When “momma need that bill money & your sister need some milk,” what do you do. Listen to his content and interviews and you’ll understand he knows he needs money. His music and his demeanor (he does have a mild form of autism) may come off as ignorant and ill-mannered, but you can find a message in the glass bottle. We focus too many times on the exceptions and using them as scapegoats to ignore the problems with a lot of our community. Cases like Keef are what Sociologist study, and why criminology is a science. When you live in poverty and you don’t have access to adequate education and income crime will sore. These are studied and published scientific facts.
Too many of us (blacks in general, not all) get those degrees and forget about the rest. It's nothing wrong with getting an education and climbing up the fiscal ladder with hopes of becoming apart of the bourgeois, but you also have the opportunity to uplift millions of those who will never obtain one, or never become a Cornel West because the person needed to recognize their potential forgot about them. It's your choice though. It's promising that Chief Keef has a chance to make it out since he was on a path to become David Barksdale, maybe now he can become Jay-Z. It's not likely, but it's possible. Before you pass judgement on the guy on the corner sagging his pants and dealing narcotics don't ridicule him for it, but ask why is he doing it. Don't speak ill of him, show him a better way. Would you rather have Chief Keef stealing money from you, or Keith Cozart being a business partner helping you build money?
No matter what most will say Chief Keef has done what he set out to do and what many poor men strive for. That is to take care of himself, his mother, his kids and to show doubters that I don't have to be a screw up and I can grow up and discover the life of Finally Rich!
Saturday, December 1, 2012
No More Back Of The Bus
57 years ago today (Dec 1, 1955) a lady who needs no introduction refused to give her seat. Even though she wasn't the first to refuse to give her seat she is still deemed as the First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement.
She helped to jump start the civil rights era. Her decision did more than allow blacks the option of not giving up their seats to whites or the ability for us to sit in the front of the bus or those first class seats in the front of planes. She gave "the streets" real motivation. She represented that second class was not acceptable for us and that we are better than what others may think.
Not attempting to give a teaching lesson, but if we don't owe it to ourselves we owe it to Rosa Parks and the countless others to get up from the back of the bus and to enjoy those views in the front.
Thank You cannot express my gratitude for who you were and what you represented, but I thank you.
She helped to jump start the civil rights era. Her decision did more than allow blacks the option of not giving up their seats to whites or the ability for us to sit in the front of the bus or those first class seats in the front of planes. She gave "the streets" real motivation. She represented that second class was not acceptable for us and that we are better than what others may think.
Not attempting to give a teaching lesson, but if we don't owe it to ourselves we owe it to Rosa Parks and the countless others to get up from the back of the bus and to enjoy those views in the front.
Thank You cannot express my gratitude for who you were and what you represented, but I thank you.
Monday, November 26, 2012
They Say We Can't Say Nigga
Nigga is one of those words that are always at the forefront of controversy when it pertains to internal and external race relations. I choose not to focus on external because the argument is never ending and frankly exhausting.
Their always has been blacks who argue that it is a term of endearment and can be use among one another, while others refuse to use the word citing its oppressive history. Many label who use the word freely as ignorant. Are we saying that they are ignorant of not knowing the word “niggas” rooted history? If that’s the case the word derives from the old English word “neger” which derived itself from the Spanish word “Negro” meaning black. We forget about the original connotations and just focus on the negative vulgar history of said words. Just like times, attitudes, and outlooks change so do words.
It seems that it has become a standard not only for older blacks, but these new upper middle class blacks to refrain from it because it’s “ignorant.” People say that we are ignoring 400 plus years of history, when we are not. Blacks have history of taking substandard things cultivating, refining, and popularizing them, and also making them superior. We went from a period where we were not wanted at most Ivy League schools then we created our own (HBCU’S). We created schools that weren’t downgraded schools, but ones that accepted some of the preeminent articulate, intellectual, and eloquent thinkers. They not only went on to be great and do exceptional things, but they showed they could play on a level playing field as Ivy Leaguers. Not mention blacks such as Cornel West, Marc Lamont Hill, Hill Harper, Rashida Jones and etc. graduated from traditional ivy league institutions when given opportunity. Let’s not forget blacks getting left over food and scraps and putting souls in those meals. So do we not eat these foods anymore because now whites have allowed us to shop at the same grocery stores at them? From education, to food, sports, and multitude of others things that we were discriminate against we decide to focus on a word.
By us not saying “nigga” to one another does what? It doesn’t focus in on the mass incarceration rate for blacks when it comes to non violent drug offense. It’s not focusing on the amount of black wealth that has been lost over the past 20 years. Does eliminating the word “nigga” put needed funds in the inner city school system? You not saying “nigga” don’t make you any more or equally conscious than the black man down the street who doesn’t eat pork. Why are we as a people so disconcert with each other using that word to each other. People always argue that whites can now feel justified saying it. Whites run this country and business in this country, I’m sure they can understand why blacks don’t want them saying it. We don’t have to infantile them by eliminating it from us.
This is not an argument for the continuing of blacks to use a derogatory word that is associated with blood from people being lynched, blacks being denied the right to vote, denied the right to read, or have a family structure. It’s about us focusing on a word that we feel tears us apart, but in reality it doesn’t. Why are we focused on a word used amongst us, when it’s other problems (like the above mentioned) keeping the collective community down and out.
Their always has been blacks who argue that it is a term of endearment and can be use among one another, while others refuse to use the word citing its oppressive history. Many label who use the word freely as ignorant. Are we saying that they are ignorant of not knowing the word “niggas” rooted history? If that’s the case the word derives from the old English word “neger” which derived itself from the Spanish word “Negro” meaning black. We forget about the original connotations and just focus on the negative vulgar history of said words. Just like times, attitudes, and outlooks change so do words.
It seems that it has become a standard not only for older blacks, but these new upper middle class blacks to refrain from it because it’s “ignorant.” People say that we are ignoring 400 plus years of history, when we are not. Blacks have history of taking substandard things cultivating, refining, and popularizing them, and also making them superior. We went from a period where we were not wanted at most Ivy League schools then we created our own (HBCU’S). We created schools that weren’t downgraded schools, but ones that accepted some of the preeminent articulate, intellectual, and eloquent thinkers. They not only went on to be great and do exceptional things, but they showed they could play on a level playing field as Ivy Leaguers. Not mention blacks such as Cornel West, Marc Lamont Hill, Hill Harper, Rashida Jones and etc. graduated from traditional ivy league institutions when given opportunity. Let’s not forget blacks getting left over food and scraps and putting souls in those meals. So do we not eat these foods anymore because now whites have allowed us to shop at the same grocery stores at them? From education, to food, sports, and multitude of others things that we were discriminate against we decide to focus on a word.
By us not saying “nigga” to one another does what? It doesn’t focus in on the mass incarceration rate for blacks when it comes to non violent drug offense. It’s not focusing on the amount of black wealth that has been lost over the past 20 years. Does eliminating the word “nigga” put needed funds in the inner city school system? You not saying “nigga” don’t make you any more or equally conscious than the black man down the street who doesn’t eat pork. Why are we as a people so disconcert with each other using that word to each other. People always argue that whites can now feel justified saying it. Whites run this country and business in this country, I’m sure they can understand why blacks don’t want them saying it. We don’t have to infantile them by eliminating it from us.
This is not an argument for the continuing of blacks to use a derogatory word that is associated with blood from people being lynched, blacks being denied the right to vote, denied the right to read, or have a family structure. It’s about us focusing on a word that we feel tears us apart, but in reality it doesn’t. Why are we focused on a word used amongst us, when it’s other problems (like the above mentioned) keeping the collective community down and out.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
10 Ways to Determine If She's Bougie
Bougie isn't anything bad, we have just given it a negative connotation, bougie is good. I love bougie women (with a small sprinkle of ratchetness). Bougie derives from the term bourgeoise, Karl Marx coined the term in the Communist Manifesto, but this isn't an history nor a economic lesson, but I want to share 10 ways to identify if she's truly bougie.
1. Take her to a steak restaurant. Pay attention to what she orders and how she gets it cooked. For example if she orders a filet mignon it should be cooked medium rare, anything more will take away its tenderness. Bougie women know this.
2. She's bougie if she has different scents for particular moods or for different events. She has her happy scents, casual work scents, outdoor activity scents, I don't want to be bothered scents, and event scents.
3. She's bougie if she never refers to herself as going to events, but as her making appearances.
4. A true bougie woman has mastered the art of wearing 3-4 different colors at the same time when it comes to her outfits. A bougie woman is immaculate when it's comes to picking out colors that flourish together.
5. A true bougie woman never wears heels less than 4 inches high.
6. A bougie woman knows that fish dishes and cheeses need to be paired with a white wine. If paired with a red wine it can give off a metallic type taste due to tannins that they normally contain. A general rule she follows is white wine with white meat, and red wine with red meat.
7. A true bougie woman only buys bottles in the club when it's a celebration, never for a show.
8. A bougie woman appreciates a tailored suit. She can tell when a suits been tailored to fit the person wearing it and a suit that hasn't.
9. She knows that at restaurants when they give you napkins that they aren't suppose to be tucked in your shirt, but laid on your lap.
10. Bougie women don't introduce themselves to people by the things they've done or how much something cost because a true bougie woman needs no introduction.
This is only entertainment.
1. Take her to a steak restaurant. Pay attention to what she orders and how she gets it cooked. For example if she orders a filet mignon it should be cooked medium rare, anything more will take away its tenderness. Bougie women know this.
2. She's bougie if she has different scents for particular moods or for different events. She has her happy scents, casual work scents, outdoor activity scents, I don't want to be bothered scents, and event scents.
3. She's bougie if she never refers to herself as going to events, but as her making appearances.
4. A true bougie woman has mastered the art of wearing 3-4 different colors at the same time when it comes to her outfits. A bougie woman is immaculate when it's comes to picking out colors that flourish together.
5. A true bougie woman never wears heels less than 4 inches high.
6. A bougie woman knows that fish dishes and cheeses need to be paired with a white wine. If paired with a red wine it can give off a metallic type taste due to tannins that they normally contain. A general rule she follows is white wine with white meat, and red wine with red meat.
7. A true bougie woman only buys bottles in the club when it's a celebration, never for a show.
8. A bougie woman appreciates a tailored suit. She can tell when a suits been tailored to fit the person wearing it and a suit that hasn't.
9. She knows that at restaurants when they give you napkins that they aren't suppose to be tucked in your shirt, but laid on your lap.
10. Bougie women don't introduce themselves to people by the things they've done or how much something cost because a true bougie woman needs no introduction.
This is only entertainment.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
That Nigga Shit
Nigga shit! What exactly is it? Nigga shit are things that the average person doesn't do, but it happens more than on a rare occurrence, but it happens. I defend black people on so many things, but it's some things I just can't comprehend.
So I'm downtown having a conversation about how uninformed some of our people are. I'm explaining that that in this society we have more access to a Trinidad James video than a W.E.B. Dubois book. I was telling my friend that I feel many would like to do better, but they may not know where to start. As I'm saying this I see a woman getting her car towed.
She parked directly in front of the club, she's downtown, plus she has no plates or in-transits. Of course she runs out like a chicken with its head cut off (see what I did there?). I understand the guy who used to sell those in-transit tags is down and out, but why are you in the club if you can't afford plates? That's that nigga shit! I understand its rough out here, but if you can afford your sew-ins, nails to be done, and a fresh club fit, but no plates then you need to stay your ass at home and get your priorities in line.
A couple months back, "I'm on Instagram straight flexing," and I'm in the news feed and I see someone I follow liking a slew of this celebs offsprings old photos. I kid you not, but 15 minutes later someone creates a pic-frame of the same photos with a caption perpetrating the thought to their followers that they purchased those items. Now that's some nigga shit! Who are you trying to impress? What's the point in having friends if they are all on the payroll? Why are you looking for acceptance from people whose main concern is what you have, or what you can do for them? Black America has this mindset that we need to show them white folks that we're on their ass, but if your a Jenkins struggling trying to keep up with the Vanderbilt's you're still looked at as a nigga in a Gucci belt, or a Benz coup.
We need to get off that bullshit as a collective whole and get off this nigga shit. Why do we have the latest phone when it drops, but no working computer in our homes? You shouldn't be in lines for shoe releases every month, but your only Internet access comes from your data plan on your phone. I'm fully aware that other races do it too, but it hurts more when my people do stupid shit like that because I every time I see a person of color I see myself in them and that shit is disheartening.
I'll never attempt at trying to mimic Bill Cosby, but aside from institutionalize forces holding us back sometimes we have to take that initiative to do better. If they aren't giving us access directly to a "W.E.B. Dubois book" then we must get off our ass walk to that library and exercise "Our Right to Read."
We must get off that we may be poor, but we aren't going to look it nonsense. We can't pray for better days, we have to work hard for them. I know it's been over 400 years and the struggle still affects us, but tough times don't last, tough people do. If you, or I have to die in the process trying to see US prosper then so be it. We Gon' Make It!
So I'm downtown having a conversation about how uninformed some of our people are. I'm explaining that that in this society we have more access to a Trinidad James video than a W.E.B. Dubois book. I was telling my friend that I feel many would like to do better, but they may not know where to start. As I'm saying this I see a woman getting her car towed.
She parked directly in front of the club, she's downtown, plus she has no plates or in-transits. Of course she runs out like a chicken with its head cut off (see what I did there?). I understand the guy who used to sell those in-transit tags is down and out, but why are you in the club if you can't afford plates? That's that nigga shit! I understand its rough out here, but if you can afford your sew-ins, nails to be done, and a fresh club fit, but no plates then you need to stay your ass at home and get your priorities in line.
A couple months back, "I'm on Instagram straight flexing," and I'm in the news feed and I see someone I follow liking a slew of this celebs offsprings old photos. I kid you not, but 15 minutes later someone creates a pic-frame of the same photos with a caption perpetrating the thought to their followers that they purchased those items. Now that's some nigga shit! Who are you trying to impress? What's the point in having friends if they are all on the payroll? Why are you looking for acceptance from people whose main concern is what you have, or what you can do for them? Black America has this mindset that we need to show them white folks that we're on their ass, but if your a Jenkins struggling trying to keep up with the Vanderbilt's you're still looked at as a nigga in a Gucci belt, or a Benz coup.
We need to get off that bullshit as a collective whole and get off this nigga shit. Why do we have the latest phone when it drops, but no working computer in our homes? You shouldn't be in lines for shoe releases every month, but your only Internet access comes from your data plan on your phone. I'm fully aware that other races do it too, but it hurts more when my people do stupid shit like that because I every time I see a person of color I see myself in them and that shit is disheartening.
I'll never attempt at trying to mimic Bill Cosby, but aside from institutionalize forces holding us back sometimes we have to take that initiative to do better. If they aren't giving us access directly to a "W.E.B. Dubois book" then we must get off our ass walk to that library and exercise "Our Right to Read."
We must get off that we may be poor, but we aren't going to look it nonsense. We can't pray for better days, we have to work hard for them. I know it's been over 400 years and the struggle still affects us, but tough times don't last, tough people do. If you, or I have to die in the process trying to see US prosper then so be it. We Gon' Make It!
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