Self Destruction

"BET Has Become The New KKK" is what the headline screamed. This week after the BET awards noted finance scholar and activist Boyce Watkins, stated that BET is the new KKK. He said that by accelerating, financing and supporting the “Lil Wayne gospel” to a community that is already dying, BET has effectively positioned itself as a new and improved version of the KKK. I admire and respect Dr Watkins, but calling BET a new and improved version of the KKK is off base. I am by no means a fan of BET , for too long they have been a shucking, jiving new millennium minstrel show. A friend of mine calls it Black Embarrassment Television. I admit to calling it a coon show on several occasions, but BET and Lil Wayne have never as far as I know lynched,hunted down or murdered any black people . According to Dr Watkins " The Ku Klux Klan has been regularly criticized for encouraging violence against African Americans and terrorizing our community. But the truth is that the Klan does 'nt have much power anymore, and their thirst for African American blood seems to have waned a bit. At the same time, Lil Wayne and artists like him have made a habit of encouraging Black men to shoot one another, to abuse or murder women, to consume suicidal amounts of drugs and alcohol and to engage in irresponsible, deadly sexual behavior."

Blaming sexually suggestive lyrics or lyrics encouraging drinking and drugs is to simplify the issue. There have been lyrics in Jazz and Blues since back in the 20's that glorified sex,drugs and alcohol . Listen to Minnie The Moocher or a host of other songs from Shake ,Rattle and Roll, I'm your Pusher to Sexual Healing . Now in know way am I comparing Lil Wayne to Marvin Gaye, but the point is those types of lyrics are not new. Jay Z, who has Obama on speed dial, used to talk about "Big Pimping" and having 99 problems" but a B*&^% Ain't one! I really could go on for days talking lyrics in Hip Hop, but we have to start teaching our kids what's fact and what's fiction. If we don't like what BET is showing, we can turn the TV off . This issue is bigger than BET or Lil Wayne anyway. They are just cogs in the machine. The problem is the Viacom's and Clear Channels. They are the ones that make this type of mindless music and entertainment available to the masses. It is still up to us to turn the dial or change the channel. We have that choice. If we don't support it they will stop making it. In the words of Black Sheep "The choice is yours, you can get with this or you can get with that !!"

Say What!!!

I apologize to my readers for taking last week off. I needed a bit of R&R, but I'm back on my grind. Last month Lupe Fiasco stated in an interview on "What's Trending," a CBS News video segment, "In my fight against terrorism, to me, the biggest terrorist is Obama, and the United States of America ," Lupe told host Shira Lazar. "I'm trying to fight the terrorism that's actually causing the other forms of terrorism. You know, the root cause of terrorism is the stuff that the U.S. government allows to happen, and the foreign policies that we have in place in different countries that inspire people to become terrorists. And it's easy for us because it's just some oil." That made better sense than just saying "Obama is the biggest terrorist”, but here is where he starts to suffer from smart, dumb brother syndrome. He explained why he doesn't vote, saying that casting a ballot for a politician is an endorsement of everything that person does. He won't do that for any presidential candidates because "I don't want you to bomb some village in the middle of nowhere,”

In 2008 he sang a different tune, during an interview with SOHH.com Lupe stated when asked who he was supporting for President "I'm not voting for anybody," Lupe told SOHH. "I don't believe in voting on that level. But I want Hillary [ Clinton ] to win,” So you don't believe in US foreign policy, but you won't vote for anybody to change it? If you were to vote though, it would have been for Hillary Clinton, who was running on the "stay the course in Iraq platform”. The" I have wartime experience" Hillary? That is who you were supporting? Smart dumb brother! I honestly think that Lupe is a very intelligent, talented artist, but very hypocritical. Back in 2007 his business partner Charles Patton was sentenced to 44 years in prison after being convicted of heroin possession. Police found 13.2 pounds with a street value of $1 million in 2003. I guess urban terrorism is okay as long as it doesn't affect innocent, poor, hardworking people...Oh wait that's exactly what drugs do. Don't drop bombs on countries, but it's ok to drop drugs in the hood.

Don't come off as this man of the people trying to uplift us all, when one of your best friends is one of the biggest drug dealers in the Chicago area. You come off as an armchair revolutionary. Lupe went on the Bill O'Reilly show the other night to clarify his Obama comments. O'Reilly stated that the responsibility of the president is to protect the country and that Obama was doing that through "aggressive action" in Afghanistan . They both agreed that the death of Osama Bin Laden was a legitimate action. Lupe stated that the aim of the war in Afghanistan was to go in and find Bin Laden, which O'Reilly then stated, was an oversimplification of the war. It was actually a pretty good discussion. Lupe held his ground and didn't let Bill over talk him. I was surprised that Fox did not bring up Lupe's business partner. They usually do their homework, when trying to erroneously assassinate someone’s character. Hopefully this will help Lupe with his next album and we won't be subjected to Lasers 2.

Tracy Morgan made headlines a few weeks ago after a show he did in Nashville TN. Tracy said in his routine that if his son were gay he would "pull out a knife and stab" him, among other anti-gay statements. Kevin Rogers was in attendance at the show and he was offended by Tracy 's remarks. Mr. Rogers a gay man promptly went home after the show and hopped on Facebook to complain about the jokes. You already know how this ended, with The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation demanding an apology from Tracy . I personally don't find Tracy 's stand up funny at all, but I love him on 30 Rock. Political correctness has gone too damn far. Now comedians can't say certain jokes, because they will offend somebody at a comedy show!! Tracy Morgan apologized Tuesday to audience members in Tennessee who were offended by his remarks. This was his second time apologizing. He went on an apology tour like he was R Kelly. Last Friday he met with homeless lesbian and gay youth in New York City . People say there is so much violence against gay's and lesbians; you have to watch what you say etc. If anyone lets a joke, a sitcom or songs convince them to commit a crime against anyone else; they have bigger mental issues to deal with.

I'm tired of the Gay mafia saying they want to be treated equally, then getting offended when equal opportunity jokes are made. If you don't like the jokes, leave the show. If the song offends you, turn it off. Stop taking every little comment that you find offensive, and turning it into a crusade. We have so much going on in our country right now; that the time devoted to this issue is ridiculous. In my opinion he should not have apologized at all. Kevin Rogers (the guy who started it all) stated "A large majority of the audience did laugh and kind of cheer," he said. "I'm not sure how much of that was nervous laughter and how much was in genuine support of the words. I know at the time, to me and my partner, we felt that there was genuine support of those words." There you have it; most people thought it was funny in the context of the routine. A couple didn't and now we have the Tracy Morgan apology tour 2011. This is what we are reduced to, having to apologize for a joke by an unfunny comedian. If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all. ~Noam Chomsky

X-Clan "Weapon X"

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised!!

“The Revolution Will Not be Televised” famous words spoken by a revolutionary poet and lived by an actual revolutionary. In the span of a week we lost Gill Scott Heron and Geronimo Ji Jaga aka Geronimo Pratt. Some would say that Gil Scott was a sort of Godfather of Hip Hop. He himself often said in interviews numerous times that he was a “bluesologist,” drawing on the traditions of blues, jazz and Harlem renaissance poetics. He along with The Last Poets, a group of black nationalist poets who emerged with him in the late 60s and early ’70s were the forefathers to the Public Enemy’s, BDP's and pre family friendly Ice Cube. Chuck D told The New Yorker just last year “You can go into Ginsberg and the Beat poets and Dylan, but Gil Scott-Heron is the manifestation of the modern word, he and the Last Poets set the stage for everyone else." The Revolution will not be televised, was a seminal performance of spoken word that was both funny and enlightening in its audacity.

"The Revolution will not be televised". Truer words were never spoken, especially about brother Geronimo Ji Jaga , one of my personal heroes. He didn't write "Soul on Ice”,"Soledad Brother" or any of the other books by former Black Nationalists. He didn't have too; he lived in the belly of the beast for 27 years, 8 in solitary confinement. Geronimo was wrongfully convicted for the 1968 murder of Caroline Olsen on a Santa Monica tennis court. He was the Minister of Defense for The Black Panther Party, but never an official Black Panther. He was a decorated Vietnam veteran, and a victim of Cointelpro. The pet project of former FBI director and infamous cross dresser, J Edgar Hoover. The program was designed to infiltrate and disrupt The Black Nationalist movement of the 60's and 70's. It worked like a charm. The Panthers ended up being the number one priority, after Hoover called the group 'the most dangerous threat to American national security.' When his wrongful conviction was overturned, Geronimo settled a lawsuit with the city of Los Angeles and the FBI for $4.5 million. He settled in Tanzania Africa. That is where his life came to an end last week, but not his legacy. People don't realize the resilience of Geronimo, he could have been released from prison long before those 27 years were up, but he always maintained his innocence and dignity. He came from the lineage of Hannibal, Shaka Zulu , Nat Turner and Marcus Garvey. His contemporaries were Bunchy Carter, Eldrige Cleaver, Bobby Seale and Huey Newton. If you don't know those names, don't wait until February to find out who they are. Read 'Last Man Standing' by Jack Olsen to learn more about Geronimo Ji Jaga. There is much more to his story.

"The Revolution will not be Televised”. Unfortunately The Revolution has been packaged and sold for mass consumption through television, radio and the internet. We once fought the Power with Black Steel, in The Hour of Chaos. We didn't believe the Hype, because our Uzis Weighed a Ton. We asked Why is that? We were told You Must Learn. Now we do the Dougie and make it rain at strip clubs. Revolutions need revolutionaries, but there is no money in Revolution. Not that it matters because" Niggers are scared of revolution, but niggers shouldn't be scared of revolution because revolution is nothing but change." In an interview with Eye Weekly a Canadian website in 2008, KRS One stated "There comes a time where you have to become the president that you are protesting against if you want to make some change. And my time has come. The revolution only works for those who participate in it." The Revolution was sold a long time ago, before KRS and Nike deemed it basketball. The revolutionary spirit of these two extraordinary brothers will live on. Who will pick up the mantel, will it be you? A revolution doesn't have to mean overthrowing the government. It could mean changing the garbage spewing from the radio or changing the programs on TV. It could mean kidnapping Flava Flav and holding him hostage for Chuck and the S1W's. There is nothing wrong with wanting the American Dream. What is your dream for America? Is it revolutionary ?

Rewind!!!!

Back in April, I did a three part blog series about Homosexuality in our society. The one dealing with the church was titled "Road to Damascus ". I talked about the allegations lodged against Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia . Long was sued in September by four young men from his congregation for claims of sexual misconduct. The young men say he enticed them with trips to exotic locales, cars, jewelry and money. Long stated he would fight the charges and that he felt like David against Goliath, “I got five rocks, and I haven’t thrown one yet. I wrote “I don't know how the Eddie Long saga will play out, but usually where there is smoke there is fire. My opinion, and this is "Opinionated" after all, is that it will be settled out of court with hush money, a gag order and no public admission of guilt. "

Last week lo and behold Bishop Long settled out of court with the four young men and neither side is talking. Long previously said he would “vigorously” defend himself against charges that he used spiritual authority and material enticements to curry sexual favors from the men. Now he doesn't have to defend himself, he can just use the gag order to gag himself. B. J. Bernstein, the young men's lawyer, said they would not discuss the matter “now or in the future.” How convenient for everyone involved, Stevie Wonder saw this settlement coming. A Long spokesman, Art Franklin said the pastor settled because it “is the most reasonable road for everyone to travel. “This decision was made to bring closure to this matter and to allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry,” Bishop Long is an internationally known televangelist, who crusaded against gay marriage and homosexuality. You knew with his background and history there was never going to be a trial. That would have meant a lot of scandalous information being released for public consumption. A prosperity preacher with an alleged penchant for young men could not have that. It would have ruined the message, and shown the hypocrisy of the messenger.

Moving right along, Naomi Campbell...remember her? She is considering legal action against Cadbury, the chocolate candy maker in response to an ad that compares her to a Dairy Milk Bliss bar. The ad which only ran in the UK states "Move over Naomi, there's a new diva in town," and shows the candy bar nestled in diamonds. The campaign ran in supermarkets and newspapers. Naomi feels that being compared to a chocolate candy bar is racist. She told a UK newspaper "I am shocked. It's upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women and black people. I do not find any humor in this. It is insulting and hurtful." This is the same Naomi Campbell that had to do forced community service for throwing a cell phone at her maid. The same Naomi Campbell that was once kicked out of a Diddy Party, a Diddy party!!! Diddy has naked women dancing in cages; a woman had her hair catch fire at a Diddy party. How ignorant and belligerent do you have to act, to get kicked out of a Diddy party? Yet this woman is offended by a candy bar...a candy bar! The problem here is that we are so PC that anything we may not agree with, we automatically deem racist if we can use it to our advantage. I found nothing racist in being compared to a chocolate bar; she's chocolate and looks good. She needs to be worried if, they start comparing here to a California Raisin, that would be shocking, hurtful and damn funny.