Join the Cipher

Congressman Claims Today's Abortion Hurts Blacks More Than Slavery

2010-02-28T03:38:00.006-05:00

Abortion policy is more damaging to the Black community than slavery? Really Congressman Franks? Really? Check it out around 6:15

Fall Back

2008-05-27T02:20:00.001-04:00

Idle Warship has a banger with this one...

Tell Us How You Really Feel...

2008-05-26T19:38:00.006-04:00

You know, between Hillary Clinton's comments about Robert Kennedy's assassination in 1968 as a reason for staying in the presidential race...

...and this person's comments on Fox News,

some real feelings are starting to bubble up to the surface. Now I'm not saying I know what it's the hearts of folks, but what I am saying is the tongues are getting real slippery these days. Reeeaaalll slippery. This kind of stuff is going to intensify as we get closer to the election day (assuming Obama is the Democratic nominee).

Who's the Master?

2008-05-23T01:31:00.006-04:00

I am realizing, once again, the lack of actual political clout of the Black community. Over the past couple of weeks, Barack Obama has been bending over backwards to demonstrate his love and support for the state of Israel. Why is it, I ask myself, that a presidential candidate must pass an Israel litmus test? It seems it is not enough to support Israel, as Barack Obama has done vociferously for quite some time (check the man's website), one has to love and be enthusiastic about supporting Israel unconditionally. How does it make sense that to be president of this nation, you have to unequivocally support another nation? I'm a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Would it make sense that I have to be enthusiastic about Kappa Alpha Psi to be president of Alpha?

Really, this disgusts me. I am disgusted because I personally believe there are serious injustices that are being overlooked within Israel. Now, before anyone reading this gets bent out of shape, I don't think that Israel should be destroyed or wiped off the map or anything like that. But I do think it's patently absurd to crush critical thought, stomp critique, and give unconditional support to a nation, party, idea, etc. without question. That's just dumb. And it pains me to see Obama doing this dance to satisfy a slice of the electorate or some other country as whole, when he's been supporting them out his behind in the first place. I disagreed with Obama's views on Middle East policy as it was, but now it's like he's dancing for massa, proving loyalty to Israel - IT'S A DIFFERENT COUNTRY. Not even Great Britain gets this kind of love.

So how does this relate to the Black community? Well, obviously the Jewish community has some serious clout (although, I think it's fair and necessary to say that not every Jewish American unconditionally supports all of Israel's actions). How else can a group that's less than 3% of the U.S. population dictate to candidates what they can and cannot say and do on foreign policy with respect to the Middle East? The Black community, at around 12% of the U.S. population, can't even smell this kind of political power. When the Sean Bell verdict was delivered, did Barack Obama say that this is an injustice? Did he even say that police brutality against Black folk has historically been problem? No. He just said something about judge's decision, respecting the law, blah blah blah.

I don't fault the Jewish community for carrying a big stick. Don't hate the player, hate the game, right? What bothers me is that Black folk (myself included) are supporting this dude with unprecedented effort yet we're not getting an equivalent return on our investment, and have less and less of a guarantee of any return. We're watching this guy, "our" candidate, dance for other folks, when he isn't even really trying to earn Black votes. The really sad part is that he doesn't even have to, we'll give him our vote on the promise of hope.

Such audacity.

It's not just the Jewish community and Israel. The news media keeps talking about how he's not getting the so-called "White working class" vote. Why isn't it a problem that Hillary Clinton isn't getting the Black vote? She's not even trying either.

How do we continually give candidates such overwhelming support for absolutely nothing in return? Nothing. At all. Democrats don't even have to try, they know we'll come out like sheep for them. It's disgusting. You know what? Jewish Americans typically vote Democrat as well - but there are concrete hoops to jump through. Promises must be made. And don't you dare say anything even remotely critical of Israel. Shoot, unless you don't show your undying love and support with every fiber of your being then you're not making the cut.

We know, for a fact, that the criminal justice system is broken and disproportionately incarcerates young Black men, which further closes windows of opportunity for them. We know that Black communities all across the country are under assault from gentrification in the name of "progress." We know that public schools in Black communities are not operating at an acceptable level. Why isn't either Democratic candidate addressing these issues? Because WE ARE NOT FORCING THEM TO DO IT.

Why should they, if they can get the milk without the cow? And I was one of those same folk who said that Obama has to play the game, can't been seen as addressing "Black issues" because then White people won't vote for him. But you know what? Other people are getting their issues and agenda taken care of. What sense does it make to hold back on our issues so that a preferred candidate can win with a mandate of not addressing our issues? This is lunacy. It's crazy.

2008-05-01T20:49:00.002-04:00

What is really good with Rev. Wright?

Seriously though, what is really good?

Why does your man have to be all up in the spotlight?

There's a time to rise up, and there's a time to fall back.

This is a time to fall back.

I don't think that Rev. Wright is crazy. I don't think he's off the fall. I don't necessarily disagree with what he says. But the fact of the matter is that this is not the time to be making national speeches and gettin' confrontational - even if he is right.

Time to fall back.

Cops Got 99 Problems But the Law Ain't One - Pt. 2

2008-04-27T22:00:00.004-04:00

I was so mad the other day, I had to put somethin' down. Nod to Jay on this one...

if you got legal trouble / I feel bad for you son / cops got 99 problems but the law ain’t one

they got the / Black hood hold / on gat patrol / best ta watch ya back / ‘fore your life gets stole / you could be comin’ home / to your vestibule / fill up your whole buildin’ / and your chest with holes / don’t try to touch your wallet / don’t need no ID / niggas is all the same / “yup” / that’s all they see / you could be / on the block / just mindin’ your business / undercovers roll up / and you’re on their hitlist / don’t say no to drugs / Patrick Dorismond did / in just a brief flash / they took a father from his kids / this crap has been / happenin’ / for hundreds of years / Black mothers done cried / so many millions of tears / if you didn’t understand son / the message is clear / if a cop shoots a nigga / he got nothin’ to fear / and we gon’ keep marchin’ ‘till it’s over and done / cops got 99 problems but the law ain’t one

if you got legal trouble / I feel bad for you son / cops got 99 problems but the law ain’t one

the DA might charge ‘em / no worries – they walk / the police run the streets / that’s how we do in New York / no civil rights / no privacy / but maybe if you’re lucky / get a courtesy “FREEZE” / there’s one perspective / there’s only one view / and if you ain’t got a badge / then nigga it ain’t you / this ain’t no lie / every word here is true / and if you don’t believe me son / just ask Ahmadu / my heart goes out to the wife of Sean Bell / matrimonial heaven to criminal justice hell / yeah some of them was Black / but really it’s just as well / the only color is blue / it gets you right of jail / what are we to do? / when the prosecution fails / justice goes unserved / the end of too many tales / it’s kinda funny / and maybe I can’t tell / but when the perp is poor and Black / they seem to do pretty well / and we gon’ keep fightin’ ‘till it’s over and done / cops got 99 problems but the law ain’t one

Cops Got 99 Problems But the Law Ain't One

2008-04-26T23:27:00.001-04:00

All three police police officers involved in killing Sean Bell were acquitted of all charges.

This is a grievous injustice. A grievous injustice.

The judges decision in this case is an affirmation of the unfortunate notions that Black lives are not of importance. It also affirms the unfortunate notion that the life of police officer has more value than a non-police officer, especially if that person has ever associated with any illegal element.

It's a sad, sad day.

See, it's not just about Sean Bell - it's about Patrick Dorismond. It's about Amadou Diallo. It's about Anthony Baez. It's about Timothy Stansbury.

No accountablity. None.

Yes, we must respect officers for putting their lives on the line, but having a badge does not give you free license to kill innocent people

But, I guess according to the law, it does.

You Joined Yet?

2008-04-25T12:27:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been to a cipher? A group of emcees flowing together, each individual dropping a few bars of improvised gems, then passing the mic (real or imagined) to the head next to them. If there is a person in the cipher who has the mic but doesn't spit, doesn't say anything, doesn't get involved, that disrupts the flow of the entire cipher. Our democracy is one big cipher, and we all need to speak our piece when given the opportunity. Our democracy, like any cipher, only works when people participate. If you feel like you're not getting the mic, you have to seize your opportunity to make your voice heard.

So, how do you get involved? How do you grab the mic and make your voice heard? Voting is the most obvious method. Every election cycle we're told that voting is important (usually by the people that want you to vote for them or their preferred candidate). But voting is really only a small part of being involved in the cipher. It's like waiting and waiting to get the mic and then spitting one or two bars before passing it. You have to speak your piece on a regular basis. Check out the articles in your local newspaper and write a letter to the editor to let them know what you think. Call in to a radio or TV discussion program such as Washington Journal on C-SPAN. And you really gotta pay attention to what your elected representatives are doing in YOUR name and with YOUR tax money.

Okay, maybe this is starting to seem a bit of work - and it is. But think about this - would you rather be one of the emcees flowing beautifully with the mic in your hand, or would you rather be one of those people who doesn't even get in the cipher and just complains about this or that emcee. You know who you want to be. Join the cipher.

Obama for Hip-Hop

2008-04-24T23:23:00.003-04:00

The presidential candidate on hip-hop:

Work to Do Remix

2008-04-24T23:19:00.000-04:00

Remix of the joint by the Kidz in the Hall, featuring Talib Kweli and Bun B., from Hip-Hop for Obama via YouTube

Work to Do

2008-04-24T23:16:00.001-04:00

Kidz in the Hall for Barack Obama

Barack Obama / Jay-Z Mash Up

2008-04-24T23:09:00.002-04:00

In case you haven't seen this...

I thought it was pretty cool.

Join the Cipher!

2008-02-10T03:37:00.000-05:00

Now is the time to get involved. What does "join the cipher" mean?

Our democracy is like one large cipher. The mic of power gets passed around to those who demand to be a part of cipher, those who demand to join the circle.

The people who sit on the outside looking in hating on those with the mic in their can only be and will be nothing more than haters unless they themselves join the cipher and spit their piece.

Our democracy only works - it ONLY works - when the people are involved.

If you are unhappy with anything that goes on in our world, know this - it will NEVER change unless you change it.

We CAN make it happen, but we MUST get involved.

JOIN THE CIPHER

Hip Hop for Obama

2008-02-10T03:36:00.001-05:00

Clean Sweep

2008-02-10T03:15:00.000-05:00

Obama took Louisiana, Washington, and Nebraska tonight.

So far, Obama leads Clinton in pledged delegates. We need all the support we can muster so that it doesn't come down to a delegate convention- that would be very bad.

It's Obama Time!

2008-01-04T00:26:00.001-05:00

Know What I Mean?

2007-07-19T23:26:00.001-04:00

I went a lecture & book signing this evening for Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and got a copy of his new book Know What I Mean?: Reflections on Hip Hop.

It was a very engaging lecture as Dr. Dyson touched on feminism, mysogyny, homophobia, the Black church, the word "nigger", and other topics within the context of hip hop. I got a copy of the book and got it signed. I wanted to ask Dr. Dyson a question or two but he had to catch a flight and there were a lot of people of line. I've reading the book so far and it's good reading. It's written as an album on paper using the longer interview to discuss hip hop and society. I'm still in the first chapter so I can't really speak to much more than that.

Some of what I've read so far and what Dr. Dyson said in his lecture has stimulated some of my more latent thoughts on hip hop and myself. In particular he discusses authenticity which is an issue I've grappled with throughout my life. I'm not sure how to articulate some of my thoughts on it right now. I'll have to think on it more.

Go buy the book

Too Little, Too Late?

2007-07-06T16:27:00.001-04:00

Yet another Republican senator has called for a change in the War in Iraq. Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico is the most recent GOP stalwart to wake up and smell the napalm in the morning, following Senator Richard Lugar who spoke up last week and Senator John Warner who spoke up in April.

This is why I love democracy: these guys want to keep their jobs and they know the writing is on the wall. They know that the American people from coast to coast are sick of this stupid (no planning) and immoral (no reason) war. They don't want to end up like Rick "Conservatively Asinine" Santorum and Lincoln "If Only I Were a Democrat" Chaffee (real shame about Senator Chaffee, the only knock against him was the R). And Sen. Warner really doesn't want to end up like George "Macaca" Allen.

But it seems too little, too late. We as a nation - nay, as a world even - could have used some cajones a few years ago. These guys could have stood up and said something in 2004, 2005, or even 2006. But nooo, they were too drunk off the wine power and now they lost it. And we all continue to get screwed by Bush and Dick.

The real tragedy in all of this is that it could've been different if not for the very same average citizens who are now waking up to smell the coffee and realizing they drank the Koo-Aid. The same electoral pressures that elected Democrats in 2006 and that the Republicans are feeling now could've been applied in 2004. Of course there were many across this land who didn't drink the Kool-Aid and tried to warn our fellow citizens. We tried to illuminate the folly our government's ways but no, others would not listen. We went to our own party and asked for actual representation - backbone is what we said - but no, they would not listen. We marched and protested and blogged and wrote articles and essays and screamed at the top of our lungs! But others would not listen. Our representatives failed us. Our free media failed us. Our government has failed us and in a democracy the only thing that means is that we have all failed ourselves.

What to the Slave is the Fourth of July

2007-07-04T12:40:00.001-04:00

Fellow citizens, pardon me, and allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here today? What have I or those I represent to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? And am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits, and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?

Would to God, both for your sakes and ours, that an affirmative answer could be truthfully returned to these questions. Then would my task be light, and my burden easy and delightful. For who is there so cold that a nation's sympathy could not warm him? Who so obdurate and dead to the claims of gratitude, that would not thankfully acknowledge such priceless benefits? Who so stolid and selfish that would not give his voice to swell the hallelujahs of a nation's jubilee, when the chains of servitude had been torn from his limbs? I am not that man. In a case like that, the dumb might eloquently speak, and the "lame man leap as an hart."

But such is not the state of the case. I say it with a sad sense of disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you this day rejoice are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence bequeathed by your fathers is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak today? If so, there is a parallel to your conduct. And let me warn you, that it is dangerous to copy the example of a nation (Babylon) whose crimes, towering up to heaven, were thrown down by the breath of the Almighty, burying that nation in irrecoverable ruin.

Fellow citizens, above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions, whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are today rendered more intolerable by the jubilant shouts that reach them. If I do forget, if I do not remember those bleeding children of sorrow this day, "may my right hand forget her cunning, and may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth!"

To forget them, to pass lightly over their wrongs and to chime in with the popular theme would be treason most scandalous and shocking, and would make me a reproach before God and the world.

My subject, then, fellow citizens, is "American Slavery." I shall see this day and its popular characteristics from the slave's point of view. Standing here, identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mine, I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this Fourth of July.

Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity, which is outraged, in the name of liberty, which is fettered, in the name of the Constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery -- the great sin and shame of America! "I will not equivocate - I will not excuse." I will use the severest language I can command, and yet not one word shall escape me that any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice, or who is not at heart a slave-holder, shall not confess to be right and just.

But I fancy I hear some of my audience say it is just in this circumstance that you and your brother Abolitionists fail to make a favorable impression on the public mind. Would you argue more and denounce less, would you persuade more and rebuke less, your cause would be much more likely to succeed. But, I submit, where all is plain there is nothing to be argued. What point in the anti-slavery creed would you have me argue? On what branch of the subject do the people of this country need light? Must I undertake to prove that the slave is a man? That point is conceded already. Nobody doubts it. The slave-holders themselves acknowledge it in the enactment of laws for their government. They acknowledge it when they punish disobedience on the part of the slave. There are seventy-two crimes in the State of Virginia, which, if committed by a black man (no matter how ignorant he be), subject him to the punishment of death; while only two of these same crimes will subject a white man to like punishment.

What is this but the acknowledgment that the slave is a moral, intellectual, and responsible being? The manhood of the slave is conceded. It is admitted in the fact that Southern statute books are covered with enactments, forbidding, under severe fines and penalties, the teaching of the slave to read and write. When you can point to any such laws in reference to the beasts of the field, then I may consent to argue the manhood of the slave. When the dogs in your streets, when the fowls of the air, when the cattle on your hills, when the fish of the sea, and the reptiles that crawl, shall be unable to distinguish the slave from a brute, then I will argue with you that the slave is a man!

For the present it is enough to affirm the equal manhood of the Negro race. Is it not astonishing that, while we are plowing, planting, and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses, constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, copper, silver, and gold; that while we are reading, writing, and ciphering, acting as clerks, merchants, and secretaries, having among us lawyers, doctors, ministers, poets, authors, editors, orators, and teachers; that we are engaged in all the enterprises common to other men -- digging gold in California, capturing the whale in the Pacific, feeding sheep and cattle on the hillside, living, moving, acting, thinking, planning, living in families as husbands, wives, and children, and above all, confessing and worshipping the Christian God, and looking hopefully for life and immortality beyond the grave -- we are called upon to prove that we are men?

Would you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty? That he is the rightful owner of his own body? You have already declared it. Must I argue the wrongfulness of slavery? Is that a question for republicans? Is it to be settled by the rules of logic and argumentation, as a matter beset with great difficulty, involving a doubtful application of the principle of justice, hard to understand? How should I look today in the presence of Americans, dividing and subdividing a discourse, to show that men have a natural right to freedom, speaking of it relatively and positively, negatively and affirmatively? To do so would be to make myself ridiculous, and to offer an insult to your understanding. There is not a man beneath the canopy of heaven who does not know that slavery is wrong for him.

What! Am I to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages, to keep them ignorant of their relations to their fellow men, to beat them with sticks, to flay their flesh with the lash, to load their limbs with irons, to hunt them with dogs, to sell them at auction, to sunder their families, to knock out their teeth, to burn their flesh, to starve them into obedience and submission to their masters? Must I argue that a system thus marked with blood and stained with pollution is wrong? No - I will not. I have better employment for my time and strength than such arguments would imply.

What, then, remains to be argued? Is it that slavery is not divine; that God did not establish it; that our doctors of divinity are mistaken? There is blasphemy in the thought. That which is inhuman cannot be divine. Who can reason on such a proposition? They that can, may - I cannot. The time for such argument is past.

At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. Oh! had I the ability, and could I reach the nation's ear, I would today pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be denounced.

What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mock; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy - a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour.

Go search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.

Frederick Douglass - July 4, 1852

Resurrection

2007-06-17T03:13:00.000-04:00

I was in the record shop the other day when I came across Common's classic Resurrection. I immediately had to buy it. I didn't even think about, just knew it had to be done. When I went in the shop I was just looking for some flyers to see what events and/or happenings might be going on in the area hip hop community, and I DID NOT want to spend any money.

But there was just something about having Resurrection on vinyl that just seemed right, felt right. I also picked up two 12 inch joints by 7L & Esoteric and Marco Polo. I actually forgot titles of them but the Marco Polo joint is off his most recent album. Beats are hot.

Anyway, just wanted to share that will ya'll.

Self-Deprivation

2007-01-13T12:14:00.000-05:00

I've developed a bit of a reputation as a cheap skate. I do deprive myself of some of life's pleasures because I don't want to shell out the money for it. That's one of the reasons I don't watch a lot of movies at the theater. Last time I was home in NYC it was $11!! Crazy. That's also 2 hours or so I can't get back if I'm not feelin' the film.

The Roots' albume Things Fall Apart is one of those life pleasures. Over the past seven years or so I hadn't bought the album because I didn't find it at a price I liked, and the discount places were always sold out. So I recently bought the album for $13.99 and I'm almost mad at myself for not doing it sooner. Songs like "The Next Movement," "Dynamite," "Double Trouble," and "You Got Me" have been playing in my head for years, it's nice to be able to just thrown on the iPod whenever I get a craving.

I'm still trying get Lupe Fiasco's album, and I also want to get The Roots Come Alive since that's a bangin' album as well.

Next I want to start collecting old school albums. I have The Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight on cassette (including the full 15 minute version and remix) but it would be nice to have on my iPod. But legends such as Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kate, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Doug E. Fresh- I don't have any of their albums. Knowing your history is important.

Laffy Taffy Really Does Rot Your Teeth

2006-10-13T00:41:00.000-04:00

Have you downloaded this album yet? I gotta say, it's one of the best albums I've heard in a minute. I know some people may be able to list ten different albums they can say are the best they've heard in a while or whatever, but this one really has that raw, real, hip hop sound.

Freech Speech & Ro. Blvd. team up to provide the community with some music to confront the minstrelsy in hip hop today, and succeed mightily. Ro. Blvd. produces tracks for other emcees on the album too, such as Plat, Stereotype. There's even a remix to Lupe Fiasco's "Kick, Push."

Each track carries its own weight and merit. I wish I could highlight one or two songs, but seriously each track is that tight that I wouldn't really be doing justice to each one.

The best part of all is that the album is free. You have nothing to lose. So download it. Listen. And nod your head.

You'll thank me later.

Oh yeah, and big up to my man Ed for putting me on.

Mark Warner Decides Not to Run for President

2006-10-13T00:40:00.000-04:00

I respect his decision, but I think it would've been cool if he ran.

Democrats Better Win

2006-10-13T00:38:00.000-04:00

The Democrats better take at least the House if not the Senate as well. I mean the Republicans have basically rolled out the red carpet for the Dems with blunder after blunder, scandal after scandal. If the Dems can't pull this off then there needs to be a serious re-examination of the entire party from top to bottom.

Not only that, but I think the country needs for the Democrats to take at least the House. The deficits, corruption, incomptence - it's just not healthy. I don't think the Democratic party is the best thing since sliced bread, but I mean as a tax-paying citizen I expect a lot more than this garbage.

What's really pathetic is the sad story of this Foley scandal. Folks knew that something was going on and did absolutely nothing. Nothing. For years.

These are the same folks that impeached President Clinton for lying about getting head from a consenting adult, then they turn around and protect a child predator sending instant messages to teenagers asking "Do I make you horny?" How disgusting!

And let me be clear - when I'm talking about Republicans I'm not saying that all registered Republicans are horrible people or anything like that. The Republican leadership, however, is on some reeeeaaally shakey ground right about now.

What I don't understand is how some registered Republicans accept incompetence from their elected officials. I mean sheer incompetence. Like the whole Iraq war situation. Or the surplus-to-deficit magic trick. Or not being able to even rescue American citizens stranded in a flooded city. What good is the government if it takes days to even REACT with any sort of purpose? And say all you want about the incompetent local government (Dems some they be), but I believe part of our federal taxes go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for occasions such as, say...a hurricane?! I know there are plenty of Republicans from Christian evangelicals to fiscal conservatives have stopped drinking the Kool-Aid and have realized that the emperor has no clothes. Look, I'll vote for a Repub if I think they're the right person for the job. I would've voted for Bloomberg in NYC last time if I was still registered to vote there. I'd consider voting for John McCain if he ran for president. Now I'm registered in DC, and that means I have no represenation in Congress. Booooo!!! Nor is there statewide office either so the options are limited.

All I'm saying is, I'm tired of this garbage and if the Democrats can do a decent job then they better win.

Niggas

2006-10-11T01:04:00.000-04:00

It really bothers me that the word nigger is used as a "term of endearment" amongst our people. The history of the word is so volatile that when it is used it should be handled a sense of responsiblity. Plenty of my friends throw it around and they know my feelings on the matter, but of course I cannot control other people's actions, especially when they do not see things the same way.

What really bothers me is that as Black folk use the word more and more as a "term of endearment" it makes other folks think it's okay to use the word in the same context - and it's not. The folks who say "wassup my nigga" are cool when it's a Black person but are quick to get angry if a White person says it - even if it's in an "endearing" manner. Several years ago Star & Buckwild at Hot 97 caused controversy by going after Jennifer Lopez for saying nigger in a Ja Rule song, and subsequent discussions followed on who does or does not have the authority to use nigger in an "endearing" way and have it actually be accepted as such.

There was one time in high school when an Asian friend of mine said to me "wassup nigga." And I told him I didn't like that. To help him out of his confusion I asked him if he would like it if I said "wassup chink." Of course he wasn't a fan of that idea. After that we had a mutual understanding. But I can't fault him for just trying to emulate what he sees and hears.

Whatever happened to calling each other brother and sister? I remember that being the popular term of endearment at least in the late 80's and very early 90's. Maybe I was just too young to really know what the popular lexicon was. If we continually refer to each other as nigga then isn't that how we view each other? As niggers. There's a slept-on classic scene from Spike Lee's School Daze in which there is a confrontation between the characters played by Lawrence Fishburn and Samuel L. Jackson (before they were stars). Samuel L. tried to tell Lawrence Fishburn and his crew that they were niggers, just like the rest of them, while Lawrence Fishburn ends the scene with one of my favorite lines:

"You're NOT niggers."

While surfing the net I came across a powerful website: www.abolishthenword.com. I invite you to check it out and think on it for minute.