Oh Shut the F*%k Up: BET Founder Bob Johnson Slams Obama

 BET Founder Bob Johnson appearing with Hillary Clinton took the opportunity to take  few swipes at Barack Obama. Here is the story:

“As an African American, I’m frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Bill and Hillary Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that I won’t say what he was doing but he said it in his book,” Johnson said while campaigning with Clinton in Columbia South Carolina.

Clinton’s campaign says Johnson was not referring to Obama’s past drug use, but rather his career as an organizer and state legislator. Meanwhile, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, another African-American supporter of Clinton, said of the comments, “Sometimes people say things that aren’t sanctioned … I can’t speak for Bob.”

Later Sunday, Johnson maintained the comments were not in reference to Obama’s drug use: “My comments today were referring to Barack Obama’s time spent as a community organizer, and nothing else,” he said in an issued statement. “Any other suggestion is simply irresponsible and incorrect.”

In Obama’s 1995 book Dreams of My Father — a book that was little read at the time, but recently reprinted — the future presidential candidate writes he was once headed in the direction of a “junkie” and a “pothead.”

This is my problem with the Clinton campaign, she is going to parade around every Black sellout she can get her hands on over the next few months, to do her dirty work. I’m not calling Bob Johnson a sellout because he is supporting Clinton rather than Obama, I’m calling him one because he is basing his support on his financial interests. As a result, he needs to lay off the “As an African American” b.s. and speak from the position of someone just out to get paid. The problem is, when someone like him makes it a racial issue, people assume that he speaks for the Black race even though he doesn’t. Furthermore him raising the issue of Obama’s youthful drug use in a passive aggressive manner is even more despicable. If he was simply referring to Obama’s work in the community, then why not just come out and say that? Besides, as founder of the BET network which is responsible for disseminating and perpuating every negative stereotype that exists about Black people, I only have one more thing left to say to Bob Johnson: oh shut the f*%k up!

I don’t believe that every Black person in the country is obligated to support Obama because he is Black, but that doesn’t mean that we have to participate in tearing him down. It’s a shame that the crabs in a barrell syndrome has to extend to a man running for the presidency.

What do you guys think of Bob Johnson’s comments? Isn’t he the last person that should be speaking from the position of a civil rights activist? Wouldn’t it be a damn shame if Black people end up being Obama’s biggest enemy in the public forum?

Posted by Reecie

Obama Wins Iowa!

In 2004 I was an avid follower of the Presidential elections…taking in every poll, reading every article, op/ed, watching the conventions. However, when the election results came in and everyone had it all wrong, I realized that there is really very little point in keeping track of every little shift in opinion. As a result, up until now, I have paid little attention to the news stories about which candidate is in the lead, who is expected to win Iowa, and who can win the election, because the only thing that really counts is the result. Well the results are in and Senator Barack Obama scored his first and groundbreaking victory by decisively winning the Iowa caucus. The polls were all over the place with practically none of them showing this victory as a likelihood yet the proof is in the pudding.

Up next is the New Hampshire then South Carolina where the next democratic nominee will likely be determined. For the record I’m not going to really spend anytime speaking on the Republican race since one of the main contenders, Rudy Guiliani, didn’t participate thus making it less of an indication of what is to come for that party. Whether Obama can ride this momentum into the Democratic nomination remains to be seen, but his victory is historic nonetheless.

As a people we have become so complacent with the images and notions of Black men as nothing more than rappers, athletes, and thugs…yet so skeptical of the possibility of a Black man becoming the next president. With Obama’s win, hopefully things will start to change in the community’s mentality. I am inspired by his win and he represents an amazing hope for the future. 

Regardless of your race, ethnicity, or background, you can’t deny that Obama is one of the most accessible on a personal level of all the presidential candidates in a long time. His victory makes it that much more attainable for someone other than status quo to reach such a level of prominence and represent the interests of all people.

What do you guys think of Obama’s Iowa victory? Does this solidify the legitimacy of his candidacy? Will he be able to secure the democratic nomination? What does this mean to you personally (if anything), the Black community, and the country to potentially have Obama as the next president?

Posted by Reecie

The Fiber of a President- Analyzing Rudolph Giuliani

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Ruduloph Giuliani!!!

For too many people, that name rings a myriad of tunes.  For some who have never been natives of New York City and just got hip to “Rudy,” he’s the guy you may call “America’s Mayor.” For those who’ve listened to East Coast rap for the last 15 years, you may have heard his name being thrown under the bus quite a few times by just about every NY rapper in the scene.  He’s been called everything from a racist and bigot to a hero and as some would say, “America’s Next President!” 

The title of this post is called “The Fiber of a President.”  For those who are not aware, Giuliani and his current wife have each been married three times (if you do the math, thats six different spouses.)  If you read the hyperlinked article, a supporter in Clinton’s corner, stated that Giuliani’s personal decisions and experiences in his home make him an unfavorable candidate for Presidency.  In regards to Giuliani, he states, “I think America has to look at all these things, and there are enough moles on this man that embarrasses those of us who have sought public life“That individual goes on to further say that it speaks volumes for someone like Hillary to have publically gone through a marital storm and still stay in the marriage and support her husband.  Those actions, he believes, show a certain level of dedication and credibility that makes Hillary a better choice.

I have watched interviews where Giuliani expresses that his personal life is very different from his political/business life and that both entities should not be put in the same fish bowl for public scrutiny.  Giuliani believes that his actions and role during 9/11 speaks to his dedication, resolve, and ability to lead America as its next President. 

So what do you think folks? Do you think the above case is proof that Giuliani can’t be an effective leader and President? Isn’t there something to be said about a President whose home is in tact? Were the comments made by Clinton’s supporter just political propaganda?

Let’s dialogue!!!

~Thesis

Jena 6 Update: Mychal Bell Free on Bail!

 

Update 9/27/07

CNN has the story:

Mychal Bell, a black teenager accused of beating a white classmate and who was the last of the “Jena 6″ behind bars, was released from custody Thursday after a juvenile court judge set his bail at $45,000.

Bell’s release followed an announcement from LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters, who said he would not appeal a higher court’s decision moving Bell’s case to juvenile court.

Bell’s attorney Lewis Scott said the teen was moved from jail to a juvenile facility earlier Thursday.

I’m very happy to hear that finally some sense of justice has been served. Mychal has sat in jail close to a year and now he is finally getting the taste of freedom. This is certainly proof that there is power in protest and activism. If we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything. This time it was the Jena 6, the next time it could’ve been your husband, son, brother, nephew, cousin, neighbor…but hopefully with everything that has transpired it will make folks think twice about their actions…whether that means not putting their hands on someone to retaliate or not manipulating the law to serve racist motivations.

Video: 50 Cent Interviews Master P on Rap City

Loyal HM reader/self-dubbed “B-Level Contributor” Ddot brought to my attention a clip of 50 Cent interviewing Master P on Rap City. So…I checked it out and I was actually pleasantly surprised to find that the interview was actually quite productive and insightful. Master P talked about why his stance towards lyrics in Hip Hop changed and 50 Cent actually made me not hate him for 11 minutes by sounding reasonable and showing deferrence for a change. In case you guys don’t remember, 50 was asked about how he felt about Master P’s no cursing policy at a Pre-BET Awards press conference and he responded “Master P doesn’t sell records”. It was a pretty cheap shot and the crowd laughed…but 50 backed off from his bravado talk in the interview. Even with 50 playing nice for the interview…when 50 asked who he thought would win the album sales battle between him and Kanye, P replied “I think Kanye gon beat you” lol.

Master P really hit the nail on the head with his point that as you mature in life, your content should mature. I’ve always had this criticism for rappers like Snoop who still rap about the same junk they were rapping about 10 years ago. People should be willing to allow their music to grow as they are hopefully growing in life. So…kudos to Master P for stepping up to the plate and taking a stand for good clean music.

What did you think about the interview? After watching it, do you have a better understanding for Master P’s new stance? What rappers/singers need to grow up and start showing some personal growth in their music?

Posted by Reecie

Criminal Justice System More Lenient on Women?

 

Mary Winkler-Background Story

Dr. Ann Gryboski- Background Story

This is a topic that deals with very sensitive issues such as domestic abuse, murder/self-defense, and follow-up restitution surrounding such crimes.  There are two recent similar events that I’d like to put up for discussion and hope that these examples will bring forth a necessary debate around the Criminal Justice System.  Where some individuals are calling it “just” and others feel it is a mockery with respect to its recent decision(s) surrounding abused women, I’d like to bring this topic to HM and hear what our readers and greater viewership have to say.

 Without going into a “thesis” of sorts surrounding both stories, what is important to know is that in both of the above cases, Mary Winkler and Dr. Ann Gryboski both committed acts of murder against spouses they felt were abhorrently abusive, both mentally and physically.  In Mary Winkler’s instance, her husband, who was a Minister, according to her, beat her, made her wear “slutty” clothes, and had her perform indecent sexual acts that she felt were not fitting in a house of God.  One night in attempts to “try” (with a loaded shot-gun) to talk some sense into her husband concerning his years of abuse, the gun accidentally went off and well….you know the rest.  The rest of the story is pretty interesting because she didn’t do major time…In court, with a true jury of her “peers” (10 women & 1 man), she was charged with voluntary manslaughter, as opposed to first degree murder.  She was placed in house custody for 7 months and was recently on Oprah recanting her story…

With respect to Dr. Ann Gryboski, of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, she shot her huband due to 20 years of purpoted “psychological and physical abuse.” The night before the day of her husband’s death, he apparently punched her over an argument over their son of which she reacted (rather, snapped) by shooting him twice the following day.  The jury was convinced that she acted in self-defense and refused to indict her.

Two stories, two situations, two severe matters where once-abused women stood up and took charge over long periods of abuse by killing their significant others.  Two cases where the Criminal Justice System empathized with the women and did not penalize them to the full extent of the law.  What are your thoughts about this? Do you think the decisions were just or do you think that the “system” has a certain amount of unfair leniency and pardon when it comes to abused women?

In all honesty, i’m somewhat divided on said topic.  Of course, as a human being I am very concerned and empathetic towards women who find themselves caught up in these kind of situations.  No one asks to be abused and it is extremely disheartening to hear cases such as these.  On the flip-side, I have to wonder several things. ****I fully acknowledge that, as a man and as someone who has never been sexually or physically abused (mom’s beatings count?) I cannot understand nor judge the mental state of women in those kind of relationships****

I have to wonder:

a. Are these women creating their own law and sending messages that its okay to take a gun and shoot your abusive spouse?

b. Are there similar cases where a black woman was involved and she got the book thrown at her? (why do I bring up “race” you may ask? It’s important from a statistic perspective and it is well-known and proven that the “system” hasn’t always been just and fair when it comes to black/white.

c. Where was the police and family intervention during these years of abuse?

~Thesis

Nas’ Weak Reply To O’Reilly- “He’s Racist”

vs.

Source

To add yet another proverbial “notch” on his cynical belt, controversial pundit, Bill O’Reilly, recently made claims that Virginia Tech’s decision to have Nas perform a concert on its grounds was an insult to the lives lost during the heinous massacre.  O’ Reilly’s basic stance was that Nas’ lyrics are misogynistic and violent and such caustic epithets are to be abhorred by all. yada yada yada…..Of course, as a Nas fan, I know O’Reilly’s taking it a lil too far…It is more than evident the kind of artist and emcee Nas is and to make such claims is not only ludicrous, but absolutely ignorant.

Nevertheless, what furthermore bothered me was Nas’ response.  In a recent MTV interview Nas responds, “Everybody has a marketing plan; his marketing plan is racism.” Nas also points out that O’Reilly is using the Virginia Tech incident to boost ratings….I don’t know what you all may think and i’m sure some will disagree but I think Nas’ response to O’Reilly was weak.  I’m not necessarily saying Nasir Jones needs to start picketing or gettin his Al Sharpton on but he pretty much said the same thing that countless otha heads have been sayin.  Indeed, I think Nas is all about choosing battles and that’s a great philosophy but when some dude is coming at your artistry and you and an individual, your response can’t solely be that “he’s racist!”

I personally just expected a lil more from Esco……Smarten up Nas!

~Thesis

A Statement Against Hip Hop or Just Plain Racist?

Here is some background

“An editorial cartoon published in Friday’s Metro section of the Florida Times-Union that criticizes the “no snitching” policy in hip hop has sparked outrage within the black community and has caused the newspaper’s editor to issue an apology.

The black-and-white drawing, from longtime Times-Union cartoonist Ed Gamble, was reportedly reviewed and approved by Editorial Page Editor, Mike Clark.  The cartoon depicts a black man in a backwards baseball cap standing over a gunshot victim while holding a smoking gun. He wears a t-shirt that reads “Don’t Snitch.”

As you can see, two children, one also dressed in a “Don’t Snitch” T-shirt, says “I didn’t see nuttin’.” The gunman responds: “Now that’s a good little ho.”  A caption at the bottom reads “the new rule of law!”

A billboard shown in the background features a rapper brandishing a gun, with the words “Rap your life away,” while underneath, BET and Warner Music are singled out.

“I was making a point that rappers are demeaning to women,” Gamble explained to The Florida Times-Union Sunday.

Clark wrote in Sunday’s paper: “Using the word ‘ho’ was bad judgment, and I regret that I did not edit it out. The object of the cartoon was to comment on the rise of a no-snitching culture, something that is widely in the news today.”

Despite those intentions, response from the black community has been swift, according to Richard Prince’s Journal-isms column.

As previously reported, a statement from Al Sharpton’s National Action Network said the civil rights activist was “appalled” to see the cartoon, and cited the drawing as “further proof that the hip hop community and those who market them must be held accountable for the destruction they are causing in the black community.”

Local NAACP president Isaiah Rumlin said: “I think it’s very offensive. It stereotypes a certain segment of the community but certainly when you start using the words whore and whores… that will not be tolerated.”

Personally…I’m really on the fence about whether this is meant to be a critique of the no snitching policy (which in my opinion should NOT be synonymous with Hip Hop even though Hip Hop doesn’t help diffuse the problem) or whether it is just another opportunity to stereotype Blacks as a whole and make a blanket statement about how a certain issue is viewed across the entire community. No matter how I try to reason through the message it is trying to get across I’m still left disturbed/disgusted by it. I don’t have a problem with criticizing “no snitching” but I have a very big problem with the underlying attitude/assertion being that all Blacks/rappers/whatever think it’s okay.

What do you guys think? Is this a racist cartoon or a legitimate critique? Doesn’t it seem like the “attack on Hip Hop” is turning into stereotyping the entire Black race?

Posted by Reecie

Updates: Newark SchoolYard Shooting of Teenage College Students

Source

As an update to Reecie’s post surrounding the shootings of three black college students in a school yard in Newark, NJ, two individuals found to be linked to the recent crime have been arrested. The picture above is of Jose Carranza, 28 years old, while the other individual’s identity is kept under wraps because he is 15.  However, a head prosecutor is looking to try him as an adult. After learning he was wanted for murder, Carranza willfully turned himself in, according to Newark’s Mayor Cory Booker.

The 4th victim of the heinous crime, Natasha Aeriel, is in stable condition even though she was shot in the face.  She is helping detectives piece together clues that could help bring the attacker(s) to justice.   More updates to come….

~Thesis

 

Sharpton vs. Hip- Hop- “Day Of Outrage”

Source

Yes folks, it continues…From Mealey to Sharpton…..On Tuesday, August 7th, Al Sharpton and his Decency Initiative (arm of the National Action Network) spanned various cities protesting the use of obscene and injurious words, phrases in Hip-hop music. Cities involved in the protests included Detroit, New York, Dallas, et. al.

According to the site, with respect to the purpose of the protests against such words:

“It’s clearly not the root of all of our cultural problems, but if it contributes to just one then we’ve got to clear it up,” said 6th Ward Ald. Freddrenna Lyle, who attended the rally at Millennium Park. “There are children who hear these words from a young age and that’s what they know.”

Experts counter that the simple removal of certain words and content from music would be symbolic and would not solve the broader issue of disrespect toward women.

“Just getting rid of the words that are already bleeped out on the radio does not really get down to the problem of sexual violence,” said T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting, a professor at Vanderbilt University and author of “Pimps Up, Ho’s Down: Hip Hop’s Hold on Young Black Women.”

This topic may be somewhat hackneyed at this point for some individuals but the reality is that this is a real movement that I don’t think will be going away any time soon.  I cannot fault Sharpton & Co. for what they’re doing.  They are recognizing an ill in our society/community and doing something progressive about it.  Some may say that there are bigger issues in the black community but one of those issues has to do with identity.  It has to do with labels.  It has to do with personal/moral responsibility.  Indeed, from the comments on my post about Darlene Mealey, I think there is an agreeance that most times, when such words are used, it is not to personally attack women.  However, there are times when it does happen.  I have personally removed myself from “rappers” that are just making wack/senseless music so I am the wrong person to speak on 100% of what is said from their mouths.  All I know is that the artists that I listen to who use words such as bitch, hoe, or nigga…..they aren’t using it to offend anyone.  Yes, there is a power in words and that power should be used to uplift, not degrade.  There are artists who do the latter and there are those who do not.

In this battle over words and identity, it is still very important to realize that Hip-Hop did not start this and it is extremely important to scrutinize other genres of music that may have musical content that is offensive/borderline violent…Let’s address those as well before throwing Hip-Hop under the bus.  With anything in life, there’s a good and bad side.  Hip-Hop has its good and bad sides.  It seems like through all of this no one is recognizing the positive messages being put out….I also find it ironic that as Sharpton proclaims a Day of Outrage in Hip-Hop, Common’s album goes # 1…..

Are these pseudo-politicians/ activists even pickin up albums and listening to em?  Behind that one word, there are thousands of other meanings that may save someone’s life or inspire someone to do something meaningful…I’m just rantin now….just a lil irked ova all of this!!!

~Thesis