Heterosexual privilege sounds amazing, but when your heterosexual guilt gets you intoxicated with your feelings and it’s chased with religion then things get difficult. The easiest sin for me not break is not practicing homosexuality.
I feel that’s one of the reasons society can freely discriminates against gays. I feel as though gay discrimination is prevalent because it’s the easiest sin not to break for people. As a society we get so caught up in the theory of "good & bad," that we don't allow for any grey area to deem anything acceptable. I can recall being around 10 years old and my brother told me he had a gay co-worker, I vividly remember asking, "Did they fire her?" He explained that that's against the law, but as a child it seemed as though I was sub-consciously trained to believe that homosexuality was bad and an abomination not only to religion, but also to a stable society in general. Is God’s word to blame for these thoughts, or the religion that man is proselytizing towards us?
I’m notorious for biblical comments of, "I don't know the verse, but I know it's in there." I judge others even though I know it's against God's law, but I do it. I know I sin daily, but knowing the fact that I can repent gives me the thought that it will be forgiven. They say GOD is all knowing and makes no mistakes. Why would he make some gay when the act of homosexuality is supposedly against his word, but make majority of everyone else straight? Like in the book of JOB does he allow this to happen to test their faith? Seriously, if you know something is a sin, but you continually act on it is that sort of like your rebelling against GOD? Since I'm judging does GOD equally look down on me as he would gays?
Can I change my views on a lifestyle that I’m ignorant to? Why does this heterosexual privilege give me the constabulary theological justification to convey to others on how God wants them to act? We have conservatives and religious officials trying to exorcise people over what they feel is a decision. They try to use religion as a divine cure and treatment. So if God make no mistakes then why are we allowing man-made rewiring of God’s work? Why can’t homosexuals being allowed the same human privileges that I enjoy? The government says that they try to separate church from state, but how can one separate his religion from this sin in particular. How can we bridge the gap? Will GOD judge me for being cool with those of different sexual orientations if it’s supposedly against his word? However, the bible tells you to love all your neighbors though. These contradicting messages in a man written book continue to perpetrate these mixed feelings.
The struggle of trying to advocate for a lifestyle that I’m not involved may seem easy for those who are waving the different flags, in the streets marching, and consistently fighting for equality, but for a man that has nothing to gain it’s difficult to find the piece of the puzzle where you fit in. If you ask a majority American they will tell you that they are for equal rights for all, but I feel as though sub-consciously men in particular feel as if they are vocal advocates that they have a fear that gay men will be drawn to them. Rights should be for all people no matter who you are or the practices that you exercise, but you’d be a fool not notice that segregation among people of separate orientation is still segregated to a certain extinct. Is it possible to completely endorse a lifestyle, but still uncomfortable at times be surrounded by it, or even talking about?
Heterosexual privilege is very common even though you may not realize it. I can talk of sexual relations and I won’t be judge for it. The most that people will say is that the place where speaking on it isn’t appropriate. I’m not segregated due to my preference, I won’t get stared at while on dates because me taking a woman out is “normal.” I’m never looked at as the straight guy, I’m judged in my circumstances my character and ethics that I represented. I never have to explain the image in which GOD made me. All that seems well and good until you start feeling like you’re apart of the problem.
When you’re consistently telling yourself that gay equality is an issue that you shouldn’t be involved in because it’s not your struggle when does that make you just as guilty as those people protesting and screaming faggot? I don’t want to be that straight black guy marching surrounded by a bunch of rainbow colored flags. I don’t want to make others uncomfortable. Why should I care about helping gays live in a world that accepts them? It’s not my issue! You get those voices telling you that if you stand up for gays what will others think of you? Nobody wants to be the one suspected as the “closet faggot.” You get that feeling that you are allowing ignorance to roam free because you choose to silent your voice box due to fears of you receiving judgment that millions of others are murdered, are killing themselves, discriminated, and being ridiculed for.
How can I be the black man who fights for freedom of equality for those who share my pigmentation, but refuses to even stand up and say equality should be for all no matter the color or sexual preference? How can I accept gays being looked at in America as the lesser when there was a time when the openly treatment towards gays was openly practiced those who resemble me? Those who sit when the have the option to stand up are no better than the ones who scream “faggot”, “homo’s”, “dyke” etc.
Over the past few years I understand that we all come from the same creator and we all deserve the same chance at the same opportunities. Whenever we crack open room for discrimination in any place then we open the door for discrimination everywhere. No laws can change society’s views only thing that can change the way of the world is us. Once you take away the fear and hate you’d be surprise to find that love is underneath. That holy water that God made us has become poisoned. If we are judged, ridiculed, or accused of being a closet fag then it should give us no worries because equality for all no matter race, gender, sexual orientation are issues that need to be supported by all. Once you understand that aside from the right to walk down the aisle other rights are being violated by denying gays and lesbian’s rights, such as the economic factors such as extra taxes that have to be paid, the denial of tax breaks, and the difficulty of homeownership that can occur due not allowing a union between to prosper. Even this is one of countless number of sins broken daily in the bible sometimes you just put your personal views aside and support for the betterment of society. Isn’t this reason Jesus died anyway, for the sins of his people?
Friday, March 29, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
The Weakness in Strength
Since the 60’s leading into the 70’s black households have increasingly been headed by a woman. These women are now taking on the roles of heroes. As heads of these modern households they are wearing hats that they traditionally they shouldn’t fit; holding down a full-time job (sometimes with overtime), bearing the sole responsibility of raising boys to men and girls into women. Not only are these single mothers supposed to be nurturers, but also protectors. A lot of these households are producing daughters who are being put at disadvantage in life, mainly because many aren’t getting a male figure that shows that sensual love for them without expecting anything or much in return for them.
Now that we are in the 21st century a lot of these black women have grown up with the assumption that they have to play a superhero role in society where they have to show their strength all the time and not show any signs of vulnerabilities. Superheroes should only exist in comic books and in movies. By taking on this masculine role you are cheating yourself out of a life normalcy and complete happiness.
By taking on the superhero “I can do it on my own” persona you sacrifice taking care of your own needs. We as a black community have imprisoned many of our sisters into the roles instead of letting them be free to define who they truly can be instead of the traditional single mother of two who has to work 2-3 jobs to keep the lights on. Before we can even look at ways of fixing these roles that we have trapped a lot of these women we have to see those factors that have led to the hardened black feminine figure.
We must ask ourselves why she feels the need to be the strong and put on this mask of a strong heroic woman. Under that mask of strength, fearlessness, and confidence could be a woman that grew up fatherless, one that was raped, abused, or had to be the witness of a mother that abused physically or emotionally by a significant other. A lot of these issues that many women try to hide are usually the determent's factors of their character. Many of are sisters are covered in smiles that conceal broken hearts, fear of failure, and despair.
These strong sisters have to be commended for taking on these responsibility's and possessing superhero powers that most men would likely shy away from. What happens when those strengths become one of your faults and biggest weaknesses? The idea that you have to be strong can alter your pursuit towards a romantic relationship. Lately society has placed this stigma on black men that we are scared of a black woman when in reality it nearly impossible to deal with anyone is afraid of being vulnerable towards you to let you in their life. It’s very problematic and difficult to find woman that can appreciate you doing anything nice for them or showing interest in them with the belief that you have ulterior motives. Too many times black men and women can get along perfectly while we’re lying down, but the moment we are standing a lot of the conflicts of roles battling each other seem to become unbearable. The great power of being a strong black woman when most would expect you to be weak and fold leaves many in isolation. Something as simple as letting someone do something nice for you, pamper or support you can be difficult to submit to.
Even though single mothers have produced a good amount of college graduates, upstanding citizens, and progressed our communities while many were strung out on drugs, walked away, or populated the prison systems it seems that the “the strong black woman” has done more hurt to herself and left her own personal happiness unfilled.
Now that we are in the 21st century a lot of these black women have grown up with the assumption that they have to play a superhero role in society where they have to show their strength all the time and not show any signs of vulnerabilities. Superheroes should only exist in comic books and in movies. By taking on this masculine role you are cheating yourself out of a life normalcy and complete happiness.
By taking on the superhero “I can do it on my own” persona you sacrifice taking care of your own needs. We as a black community have imprisoned many of our sisters into the roles instead of letting them be free to define who they truly can be instead of the traditional single mother of two who has to work 2-3 jobs to keep the lights on. Before we can even look at ways of fixing these roles that we have trapped a lot of these women we have to see those factors that have led to the hardened black feminine figure.
We must ask ourselves why she feels the need to be the strong and put on this mask of a strong heroic woman. Under that mask of strength, fearlessness, and confidence could be a woman that grew up fatherless, one that was raped, abused, or had to be the witness of a mother that abused physically or emotionally by a significant other. A lot of these issues that many women try to hide are usually the determent's factors of their character. Many of are sisters are covered in smiles that conceal broken hearts, fear of failure, and despair.
These strong sisters have to be commended for taking on these responsibility's and possessing superhero powers that most men would likely shy away from. What happens when those strengths become one of your faults and biggest weaknesses? The idea that you have to be strong can alter your pursuit towards a romantic relationship. Lately society has placed this stigma on black men that we are scared of a black woman when in reality it nearly impossible to deal with anyone is afraid of being vulnerable towards you to let you in their life. It’s very problematic and difficult to find woman that can appreciate you doing anything nice for them or showing interest in them with the belief that you have ulterior motives. Too many times black men and women can get along perfectly while we’re lying down, but the moment we are standing a lot of the conflicts of roles battling each other seem to become unbearable. The great power of being a strong black woman when most would expect you to be weak and fold leaves many in isolation. Something as simple as letting someone do something nice for you, pamper or support you can be difficult to submit to.
Even though single mothers have produced a good amount of college graduates, upstanding citizens, and progressed our communities while many were strung out on drugs, walked away, or populated the prison systems it seems that the “the strong black woman” has done more hurt to herself and left her own personal happiness unfilled.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
10 Things that Irritate Me
1. It irritates me when I make plans to hang out with ppl and they announce it on social media beforehand. Doing that opens up the invitation for ppl to invite themselves.
2. I hate women that act fake bougie. They put on this sophisticated lifestyle when in actuality they just watch Love & Hip-Hop every Monday while drinking 5$ wine.
3. I hate when girls go natural, but get complacent with their hairstyles instead of being creative. I hate when they settle for that mini fro with a headband at the top.
4. I hate when ppl from a particular social movement die and their family is on the news asking for donations at a local bank, Instead of helping with funeral costs some of those "friends" are concerned about getting shirts made.
5. I'm not here to tell ppl what to do with their income tax money, but I hate when ppl use their refunds on trips to All-Star, Superbowl, CIAA, weekend etc, but their kids don't even have name brand cereal in the house.
6. I hate these "sneaker heads" that live at home and get every hyped release, but their mother has to work overtime just to keep the bills straight.
7. I hate when a girl lets you hit it to early before you can really have a grasp on whether you can build something with her. So while you're in it she has you go a lil deeper and she pulls you closer to get you that hug and kisses your neck, but you don't feel the connection. This results in a one an done and she's puts a negative stigma on you. *The streets know what I'm talking about*
8. First all I'm a product of a single parent household and I thank my mother for what she did, but how society is glamorizing it. Ppl always seem to use the "Barack Obama was a Product" argument, but fail to mention for every Barack their is 1,000 Tyshawns who didn't make it.
9. I hate that these "new niggas" is trying propagate to ppl that it's weak to show women that you love and appreciate them.
10. I hate that you probably don't follow me on twitter and/or Instagram @blove402
2. I hate women that act fake bougie. They put on this sophisticated lifestyle when in actuality they just watch Love & Hip-Hop every Monday while drinking 5$ wine.
3. I hate when girls go natural, but get complacent with their hairstyles instead of being creative. I hate when they settle for that mini fro with a headband at the top.
4. I hate when ppl from a particular social movement die and their family is on the news asking for donations at a local bank, Instead of helping with funeral costs some of those "friends" are concerned about getting shirts made.
5. I'm not here to tell ppl what to do with their income tax money, but I hate when ppl use their refunds on trips to All-Star, Superbowl, CIAA, weekend etc, but their kids don't even have name brand cereal in the house.
6. I hate these "sneaker heads" that live at home and get every hyped release, but their mother has to work overtime just to keep the bills straight.
7. I hate when a girl lets you hit it to early before you can really have a grasp on whether you can build something with her. So while you're in it she has you go a lil deeper and she pulls you closer to get you that hug and kisses your neck, but you don't feel the connection. This results in a one an done and she's puts a negative stigma on you. *The streets know what I'm talking about*
8. First all I'm a product of a single parent household and I thank my mother for what she did, but how society is glamorizing it. Ppl always seem to use the "Barack Obama was a Product" argument, but fail to mention for every Barack their is 1,000 Tyshawns who didn't make it.
9. I hate that these "new niggas" is trying propagate to ppl that it's weak to show women that you love and appreciate them.
10. I hate that you probably don't follow me on twitter and/or Instagram @blove402
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Does Hip-Hop Have Moral Obligations?
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?
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?
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.
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