STAY REEL

Examining the "Twists and Turns" Narrative Device of the Films The Sixth Sense and A Beautiful Mind

noreply@blogger.com (STACEY MUHAMMAD) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:49:00 -0400

The 1999 Psychological Thriller, THE SIXTH SENSE, written by M. Night Shyamalan, tells the story of a troubled boy who communicates with the dead and the dishearted child psychologist who tries to help him. Starring Haley Joel Osment (as the young Cole Sear) and Bruce Willis (as Dr. Malcolm Crowe), this film not only established Shyamalan as a filmmaker, but also introduced us to what would become known as his affinity for “twist endings”.

Shyamalan would go on to write other screenplays for films such as Unbreakable, The Village, Lady in the Water, & The Happening; all of which employed his signature twist. However, none of these films employ the “narrative device” of twist endings as effectively and brilliantly as THE SIXTH SENSE.

A BEAUTIFUL MIND, the 2001 dramatic film written by Akiva Goldsman is the story of a brilliant yet troubled mathematician who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Based upon the life of John Forbes Nash, Jr. & starring Russell Crowe, this film, went on to win four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress.

Deconstructing the Narrative

Both The Sixth Sense and A Beautiful Mind employ a similar “narrative device” that is built upon the premise of three important elements:

Developing and constructing the plot of the film to hide surprise
Developing and constructing the plot of the film to “misdirect” the audience
Main characters are unaware of the state of their existence

The Sixth Sense

Developing & Constructing the plot of the film to hide surprise and misdirect the audience

The Sixth Sense was, undoubtedly, brilliant writing on the part of M. Night Shylaman. The script employs one twist and turn after another without the audience being aware of what's taking place. It doesn't feel like a roller coaster ride until the end of the film, when it's revealed that Dr. Malcolm Crowe is, in fact, DEAD! What's fascinating about the way this narrative device is employed in THE SIXTH SENSE, is that we are given the impression that Dr. Malcolm Crowe is interacting with other characters. He's seemingly having dinner with his wife, confronting the man who she's been spending time with; at one point in the story it appears as if he's having a conversation with Cole's mother. Once the surprise is revealed, we are given a visual recap of those moments and only at the moment of revelation do we realize that it is actually possible that he DID NOT have those interactions with those characters. However, not one time, during the film and during these interactions (illusions), did we (at least most of us) doubt that he was in fact, in those scenarios, in the ways in which they were initially presented on screen. Brilliant!

Main characters are unaware of the state of their existence

Dr. Malcolm Crowe was as unaware of the state of his existence as we were. He had no idea that he was dead. This particular element, employed in this narrative device, invokes an additional emotional response from an audience. Not only are we discovering, reacting to and dealing with the state of the protagonist's existence, we are also sympathizing with the character as they discover, react to and deal with it as well.

Unlike A Beautiful Mind, M. Night Shylaman's revelation in THE SIXTH SENSE marked the ending of the film.

A Beautiful Mind picked us up, dropped us 100 feet, made us wonder if we'd been dropped 100 feet, then picked us up again...

A BEAUTIFUL MIND

Developing & Constructing the plot of the film to hide surprise and misdirect the audience

A BEAUTIFUL MIND is another example of a story that twists and turns while presenting an established narrative.

The established narrative: John Nash is a peculiar, brilliant and somewhat isolated mathematician attending Princeton University. He occasionally interacts with students but is focused on and committed to his work. He falls in love and get's married.

The twists and turns: John Nash suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and delusions. His roommate Charles Herman; His roommates young niece Marcee, and William Parcher, the United States Department of Defense representative who recruits Nash to work on behalf of the dept, are ALL figments of his imagination. None of these people actually exist.

The audience is unaware of the illusions and unaware of the state of existence for these characters.

Main characters are unaware of the state of their existence

What's more complex and somewhat different about the way in which the "twist and turn" element is executed in A Beautiful Mind is that, we are only “confronted with the possibility” that the state of the protagonists existence is other than what we'd been shown. Dr. Nash was undoubtedly a peculiar & somewhat disturbed character. We'd lent the characteristic to his unmatched brilliance, it usually goes along with the territory. Once it's “somewhat revealed” that he's suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and delusions, we're left to wonder if this is actually what is taking place. Is he really mentally disturbed? He can't be!

The possibility of him being set up, misunderstood or targeted (because of his “imagined” work with the CIA, we didn't know it wasn't real) seem more likely than him possibly suffering from schizophrenia.

The film continues with the story being developed around the “reality” that he is indeed, mentally disturbed, delusional and that the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia did indeed happen.

However, as soon we begin to believe this, we are confronted with the possibility, once again, that this is not the state of his existence. The (imagined) CIA agent "reappears" and Dr. Nash continues his work with the Department of Defense, or so we think!

The "twist and turn" element is employed so effectively, that the audience has to “come to terms” along with the protagonist, about the state of his existence.

A BEAUTIFUL MIND and THE SIXTH SENSE are both films, that effectively employ the “twist and turn” narrative device while brilliantly incorporating the three necessary elements to pull this off.

The “twist & turn” or “twist ending” narrative device has been used in the development of many screenplays for films such as, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, starring Kevin Spacey; Se7en, starring Brad Pitt & Morgan Freeman; and Fight Club, starring Brad Pitt & Edward Norton.

Although not an easy or always effective narrative device to employ in screenwriting, when it's done well, it's done well and when it's bad, it's bad.

Keep writing!

Till next time.

Stay REEL
SM

THE REEL OSCARS, 1st Annual MICHEAUX AWARDS RECAP!

noreply@blogger.com (STACEY MUHAMMAD) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:30:00 -0500

THE REEL OSCARS

Recap

The First Annual MICHEAUX Awards, the REEL OSCARS, was a LIVE TWITTER & FACEBOOK event that took place on Sunday, February 27, 2011. Reaching over 60,000 people on TWITTER and FACEBOOK, we announced 19 award categories, and 19 winners, celebrating the Best, the Brightest, and the OFTEN OVERLOOKED in the World of Film. Our sincere gratitude to all of those who participated in this event on Twitter and Facebook and to all of those who gave feedback on this initiative, thank you!

THE REEL OSCARS was created by Award Winning Independent Filmmaker Stacey Muhammad. Our Advisory board consists of professionals in the field of film and media, social marketing, fashion and finance. Please be on the lookout for messages from us throughout the year updating you on THE REEL OSCARS plans for 2012!

"This year we tweet, next year we meet".

The REEL OSCARS, the Best, the Brightest &

OFTEN OVERLOOKED, in the World of Film.

THE REEL OSCARS ADVISORY BOARD

Founder: Stacey Muhammad

Film Advisors: Eric Canada, Miles Maker, Byron Hurt

Social Marketing / Brand Management: Cedric Muhammad

Fashion & Finance : Feler Dureus

http://www.thereeloscars.com

Stacey Muhammad introduces, the REEL OSCARS

The First Annual MICHEAUX Awards, THE REEL OSCARS

Award Show RECAP

The SIDNEY POITIER REEL OSCAR AWARD for BEST ACTOR in a LEADING ROLE

Nominees: Denzel Washington (Book of Eli) Antony Mackie (Night Catches Us) Idris Elba (Legacy)

And the WINNER is: ANTHONY MACKIE for NIGHT CATCHES US

BEST ACTOR in a SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominees: Chiweltel Ejiofor (Salt) Wendell Pierce (Night Catches Us) Roger Geunveur Smith (MOOZ-lum) Wesley Snipes (Brooklyn's Finest)

And the WINNER is: CHIWELTEL EJIOFOR for SALT

The HATTIE McDANIEL REEL OSCAR AWARD For BEST ACTRESS in a LEADING ROLE

Nominees: Kerry Washington (Night Catches Us) Nia Long (MOOZ-lum) Halle Berry (Frankie & Alice)

And The WINNER is: HALLE BERRY for FRANKIE & ALICE

BEST ACTRESS in a SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominees: Thandie Newton (For Colored Girls) Loretta Divine (For Colored Girls)
Pylicia Rashad (Frankie & Alice)

And The WINNER is: THANDIE NEWTON for FOR COLORED GIRLS

The ERNEST R. DICKERSON Award for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Nominees: Vilmos Zsigmond (LOUIS) Lixin Fan (Last Train Home)

And The WINNER is: VILMOS ZSIGMOND for Louis

The MELVIN VAN PEEBLES Award for BEST DIRECTOR

NOMINEES: Tanya Hamilton (Night Catches Us) Haile Gerima (Teza) Antonie Fuqua (Brooklyn's Finest)

And The WINNER is: HAILE GERIMA for TEZA

The ST. CLAIRE BOURNE Award for BEST DOCUMENTARY

Nominees: Waiting for Superman, A Small Act, Freedom Riders, The Lottery

And The WINNER is: THE LOTTERY

The HERBIE HANCOCK Award for BEST FILM SCORE

Nominees: The Roots (Night Catches Us), Atticus Ross (The Book of Eli)

And The WINNER is: THE ROOTS for NIGHT CATCHES US

The RICHARD PRYOR Award for BEST COMEDIC Career

Nominees: Paul Mooney, Eddie Murphy, Dick Gregory

And The WINNER is: DICK GREGORY

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Nominees: Teza, Life Above All, Benda Billi!

And The WINNER is: TEZA directed by HAILE GERIMA

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Nominees: Qasim Basir for MOOZ-lum, Tanya Hamilton for NIGHT CATCHES US, Carmen Madden for EVERYDAY BLACK MAN


And The WINNER is: QASIM BASIR for MOOZ-lum

BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCE in a LEADING ROLE

Nominees: Jaden Smith for Karate Kid, Anthony Quinonez for THE PERFECT GAME


And The WINNER is: JADEN SMITH for KARATE KID

BEST SONG in a Film

Nominees: Talib Qweli for "GET BY" in Black August, The ROOTS for "How I Got Over" in NIGHT CATCHES US, Nina Simone for "FOUR WOMEN" in For Colored Girls, DEAD PREZ for "It's Bigger than Hip Hop" in Black August


And The WINNER is: DEAD PREZ for "It's Bigger than Hip Hop" in Black August

The REEL OSCAR for BEST PICTURE

Nominees: The Book of Eli, Frankie & Alice, Night Catches Us, MOOZ-lum

And The WINNER is: NIGHT CATCHES US written & directed by: TANYA HAMILTON

Starring Anthony Mackie & Kerry Washington

THE REEL OSCARS HONORARY AWARDS

THE REEL OSCAR for Best Set Design: Honorary Mention to PUMZI, a Sci-Fi Short Film about Futuristic Africa 35 years after World War II.


Written & Directed by Wanuri Kahiu

THE REEL OSCARS "HUMANITARIAN" AWARD


DON CHEADLE

THE REEL OSCARS "CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD OF FILM" AWARD


ERNEST R. DICKERSON

THE REEL OSCARS "CHAMPION" AWARD


KIMBERLY RIVERS ROBERTS FOR HER COURAGEOUS SPIRIT IN "TROUBLE THE WATER"

THE REEL OSCARS "TRAILBLAZER" AWARD


MR. SPIKE LEE

THE REEL OSCAR

OSCAR MICHEAUX was a visionary. He ignited a fire and started a movement of artist committed to telling their story, their way. The REEL OSCARS is named for Him!

I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak

noreply@blogger.com (STACEY MUHAMMAD) — Wed, 9 Mar 2011 11:51:00 -0500

I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak

Directed by: Stacey Muhammad

OFFICIAL SELECTION at the 10th Annual Media that Matters Film Festival

Winner of the 2010 "Speaking Out" Award at the Media that Matters Film Festival

Directed by Stacey Muhammad

Asst. Directed by Shomari Mason

Edited by: Stacey Muhammad & R.H. Bless

Principal Photography: May 17, 2008

Brooklyn, NY

Running Time 10:36

On November 25, 2006, undercover NYPD officers fired at least 50 rounds of bullets into a car carrying three UNARMED men of African American and Latino decent; killing one, SEAN BELL and seriously wounding two others. Bell age 23 was scheduled to be married on that fateful day.

Three of the five detectives involved in the shooting went to trial on charges ranging from manslaughter to reckless endangerment. All were found not guilty.

The incident has sparked fierce criticism of the NYPD as the city faces yet another murder of an unarmed African American man at the hands of those expected to protect and serve.

“I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak” is a short form documentary from Wildseed Films that highlights the voices of young black boys between the ages of 11 and 13 years old growing up in New York City. They speak openly and honestly about their reaction to the Sean Bell tragedy as well as their fears and hopes as they approach manhood in a city where the lives of young black men are often cut short, too often, and too soon.

http://www.staceymuhammad.com

An Open Letter To The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

noreply@blogger.com (STACEY MUHAMMAD) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:24:00 -0500

An Open Letter To The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

From Stacey Muhammad

I would like to express my deepest sympathy for all of the grief you've been receiving, simply because there are no African Americans nominated for an Oscar award this year. No, not one.

In these hard economic times I especially understand how difficult it can be to give out bonuses to workers. Hollywood is not alone in this regard - those who work a 9 to 5 in corporate America, even Wall Street, can relate.

Nevertheless, please understand that the Black community looks forward to receiving our Oscar bonus every year from you all in Hollywood. Nothing seems to compare or be able to take its place. We seem to need it more than other type of compensation or recognition we might give to ourselves. Just imagine if Black Americans decided to boycott your annual ceremony and hold one of their own in honor of their own, at the same time! Such an act of sedition, treason and artistic terrorism styled as self-reliance makes me shudder. Perish the thought!

The Academy has been giving out its hefty bonuses to our people, in the form of Oscars (27 to be exact...Whoopi we didn't forget about you !) to the Black community for years. Yes, of the more than 2,700 Oscars that have been awarded over the 83 years of Oscar glitz and glam, 27 of those have gone to African Americans. How honored we are that you think so much of our contribution, skill and talent. Mind you, not one of those 27 awards have gone to a black director. (Thank you for your nominations of John Singelton in 1991 for Boyz in the Hood and Lee Daniels in 2009 for Precious).

Yet, somehow you've managed to, year after year, omit one of the greatest directors and filmmakers of all time from your best director category. You may have heard of him, his name is Spike Lee, he's sorta kinda a big deal, at least to us black folk. If you have the time, google him.

HAILE GERIMA

I would also recommend you google Haile Gerima but that might be pushing it. He is only the most brilliant, bold, uncompromising, courageous cinematic genuis / story teller...okay, I'm pushing it!

My sincere thanks, to you, for awarding Hattie McDaniel with the coveted statuette for Gone with the Wind in 1940 and I can't understand why folks are so upset that it took another 24 years before another actor of color was recognized (Sidney Poitier for Lillies of the Field) and another 50 years before another black actress won. Whoopi, I told you we didn't forget about you!

These awards are well earned and deserved for the blood, sweat and tears we've put in over the many years (although I must admit a few of the selections were similar to finding a bag of money in the middle of the street… just a case of being in the right place at the right time).

Halle Berry and Denzel Washington are undoubtedly wonderful actors. Denzel's portrayal of Malcolm X was nothing short of groundbreaking, but we all understand that playing a historic black figure isn't what Hollywood wants to see, forgive us.

What Hollywood wants to see is Halle Berry on all fours (or was it on her back? I've tried to block it from my memory. Exhibit A:

oh, okay well It was all fours AND on her back, AND side...moaning,“I want you to make me feel goooooood” while Billy Bob Thornton's character did just that. "EW, AS IF!" This actually may have been the first statuette awarded to “soft porn”. Oh, you shouldn't have!

We all know that Denzel gives us “Oscar worthy”performances just about every time his films touch the screen and he proved once again, why he is regarded as one of the best actors in the history of film with his performance in "Glory" when he played a former slave lead by a young white heroic military officer, who takes Denzel and other former slaves into battle. I have to agree with the Academy's choice for giving Denzel best supporting actor in this role because to this day I can still see the pain on his face along with that one single tear drop while being whipped for leaving base camp in order to find a pair of decent shoes.

Let us not forget that you also gave Denzel the Oscar for best actor in Training Day - for playing a crooked Los Angeles cop who sought to corrupt a well decorated young white officer (please accept my apology for the ingratitude of those who have the audacity to believe that Denzels performances in films like The Great Debaters & Antwone Fisher were actually worthy of that little gold statuette).

And how could we forget to thank you for that Best Supporting Actress WIN that went to “Monique”for her role as a mentally, physically and sexually abusive single mother in Precious.

We, the black film community and the untold numbers of black folk watching the Oscars from home, promise to be there and to tune in year after year, after year...waiting, wishing and hoping that you'll decide to recognize us for all that we've done in the field of film, especially since we now understand how to increase the odds of that happening by creating exactly what what you want to see from us.

As a matter of fact, I think I'm gonna start writing a script, today about a crack addicted mother (she's black...but when I said crack addicted, I'm assuming you already knew that)...struggling to raise her kids in the hood while on the run from her abusive husband (he's black too). Her life takes a turn for the better when her emotionally and behavorially challenged twins (they have different daddy's) get accepted to a prestigous school (everybody deserves a chance) and their teacher steps in to save the family from poverty and abuse (the teacher Is white, but somehow I'm sensing you already knew that). Working title, “Good Times”

I might really have a change with this one!

Those 27 awards in 83 years, show the Academys support by giving African Americans an opportunity to be shown in their greatest light, by Hollywood standards. Why waste time complaining that not a single Black actor or actress, director or writer, was nominated this year. We'd be much better off remembering all the bonuses we've been blessed to receive and working harder than ever to create and accept those roles which live up to that Hollywood standards.

We certainly wouldn't want to be ungrateful for your many years of support.

Thanks so much for all that you continue to do.

SINCERELY

Stacey Muhammad

Stacey Muhammad is an award winning Independent Filmmaker, Documentarian and Activist, originally from New Orleans, La, who currently hails from Brooklyn, New York. She is a pioneer in the work of documenting and preserving the culture of Hip Hop and the experience of displaced Africans in America
through film and digital media.

Follow her on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/staceymuhammad

http://www.staceymuhammad.com

RUSSELL FREDERICK, "PHOTOGRAPHER EXTRAORDINAIRE" EMBARKS UPON SOLO SHOW!

noreply@blogger.com (STACEY MUHAMMAD) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:21:00 -0500

Russell Frederick is, undoubtedly, what we love about black men; confident, self-determining, artistic, conscious and committed to using his talent and skill to make this world a better place for people who look like us. He's a staple in the Brooklyn Arts Community, if you don't know him personally, you certainly know someone who knows, loves and respects him and his work. I came across Russell's amazing work on Facebook (of course), and after finding out that he's like a brother to my NOLA homegirl 4 LIFE, Shantrelle P. Lewis, I knew he had to be good people.

As we all know, people of African Descent have been dehumanized within the system of racism / white supremacy and we have the images, film, music, and all forms of "artistic" expression to prove it! We NEED more artists who have committed their lives to telling the truth of just how beautiful we are...to contextualize our experience...and to share stories of our humanity, struggle and victories without further pathologizing us. I believe that Russell Fredrick is one of those artists; He's our brother and our friend...Our Gordon Parks...and he's doing right by us!

So, let's pull together and SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT Russell as he embarks upon his first major solo show in five years. Russell Frederick is raising funds for "Black: A Solo Exhibition" through KICKSTARTER. This show will challenge people to view urban communities differently. Worlds cannot express just how important this is..and how much our support is needed to make this a reality!

Check out the video below to hear Russell discuss his work and upcoming show and

please, donate whatever you can!

BIO:

Russell Frederick is a photographer from Brooklyn whose global world view and keen understanding of the human condition informs his compelling photography. He works with film in medium and large format and shoots predominantly black and white documentary portraiture photography. Through his lens he subverts and disengages the current status quo and stereotypes of people of color internationally. He has photographed men, women and children from Bed Stuy, Brooklyn to Kingston, Jamaica. He has photographed the Lower Ninth Ward and the Bloods in Brooklyn. Russell Frederick tells the story while elevating and exposing the inherent beauty, dignity and honor in his subjects.

A self taught photographer with little formal training, Frederick has catapulted from an unfamiliar name to being sought after for his signature photographic style. In a decade he has become a celebrated public speaker, commissioned photographer and has been exhibited nationally and internationally. He is a winner of the esteemed Gordon Parks International Photography Competition as well as a co-recipient of a media fellowship sponsored by the Open Society Institute to document the after effects of Hurricane Katrina. From thousands of entries Frederick was chosen as one of NYC’s outstanding artists of 2010 for Curate NYC. Russell is a member of Kamoinge, a select group of African American photographers whose work collectively chronicles over five decades of black American life.

His inimitable eye for composition and his use of surroundings intrinsic to urban landscapes such as street art, murals and architecture are all present as aspects of his work. He has the instinct and ability to evoke authentic, visceral responses from people which make for incomparable unique images. Through his photography he tackles issues such as commitment, honor, respect, race, class, and the essence of humanity. Russell Frederick's photographs have a timeless quality that is attained through his gift to see beyond the exterior.

Russell's work has been showcased at the The Corridor Gallery, The Rotunda Gallery, The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, The African American Museum in Philadelphia,The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Columbia University, Columbia College, NYU, The Empire State Building, Nordstroms, The University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and the Goethe Institute in Accra, Ghana amongst many others.

Beyond photographing, Russell dedicates his time to volunteering and mentoring young adults.

Check out Russell's Site to see more of his amazing photography.

Please SPREAD THE WORD and Donate Whatever you can!

"THE MIS-EDUCATION OF BARBIE; Nicki Minaj and the Illusion of Choice"

noreply@blogger.com (STACEY MUHAMMAD) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 23:33:00 -0500

Jasmine Mans is undoubtedly, an extremely talented poet and I'm often moved by the passion, intensity and honesty in her writing and performance. I wasn't surprised that Ms. Mans penned a poem about Nicki Minaj; I mean, who isn't talking about Nicki Minaj these days. The First Lady of Young Money is often the topic of conversation and debate. "Is Nicki Minaj the dopest female MC today? (uh, yea!) Is Nicki Minaj 's image inappropriate for young black girls. And of course, the most discussed topic of them all...whether or not homegirl's you know what is real. You get the point. Most folks are discussing Ms. Minaj these days, if even for a minute, a poem or for a topic of a blog, even if they don't want to. Ms. Mans took the internet by storm with her poem titled , "The Miseducation of a Barbie Doll" which is nothing short of a firestorm of truth and a challege of responsibility hurled at Ms. Minaj. To put it plainly, Jasmine CHECKED Nicki and black folks applauded the way many did when Bill Cobsy checked Black America. (More on that madness later).

The truth is, black people are always being checked these days; usually by one another. We're bombarded with the questions: "why don't black men just "make a better choice"..."Why do black men "choose" to sell dope and join gangs"..."Why won't hip hop artists just choose to make uplifting and positive music" (I know many who do by the way!)..."Why won't we choose (there's that word again), to do better as a people and be responsible." Yes, we're the most "checked" people on the planet. Following this logic, coupled with the words from Ms. Man's poem, one would conclude that Nicki Minaj, needs to, JUST, make a better choice, put on some clothes, make music about pyramids and the Black Man being God and call it a day. If she had done those things, I can assure you that a more appropriate title for this blog would have been, "Nicki Minaj who?!"

My issue with this has always been, and continues to be that we often spend much more time scrutinizing, probing, criticizing and "checking" ourselves and other VICTIMS of the "entertainment" industry and not enough time scrutinizing and exposing all of the systems that make up what we know and understand to be the Racist / Discriminatory / White Supremacist system we call Americam; a system that is OBSESSED with the criminalizing and demonizing of black artist, celebrities and black people wherever we are found on the planet. The double standards are evident!

Michael Vick faced one to five years in PRISON for "Dog Fighting" and ended up spending 19 months for the offense and is probably the most criminalized black man in media second only to O.J. Simpson (He'll never live that down). However, Steelers Quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger has been repeatedly accused of rape by young women who encournter this sexual predator. Although he has not been charged with any "criminal" activity, for (lack of physical evidence, of course), he has also not been "criminalized" in the media. CNN is running an article today entitled "Roethlisberger's Road to Redemption". Although many Americans may "dislike" him and the accusations against him, they seem to be MUCH more disgruntled and disturbed by an athlete accused of dog fighting than one accused of raping and abusing young women. Maybe this explains their logic of evacuating a "busload of dogs" from New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina while many black folk were left to die. My point is that when criminals determine criminal terms and standards, you can bet your life they'll get away with all of their criminal activity while asking you to "take responsibility" for what "they" have declared as your "wrong doing". How is it that America, a country that "legally" abuses animals for sport and play, can accuse, convict and imprison Michael Vick for "dog" fighting, and we, join on and chime in about his "offense" without taking a critical look at the criminal intent of those accusing him and deluding us. (Click here to view clip on B.F. Skinner, Experimental and Behavorial Psychologist, once regarded as the most influential psychologist in the world and founder of behavorism.)

What does all of this have to do with Nicki Minaj? Alot! The idea that Nicki will just take "responsibility" is absurd. That's NOT going to happen. These artist's are not gonna get up one day and say "oh snap, is my image destroying little black girls?!" No, they are trying to eat, be prosperous and manifest what they believe is a god given talent. The fact that we are embedded in an environment, (and industry) that REWARDS the degradation and exploitation of BLACK people is the problem! It is the ROOT of this issue and if we'd spend half as much time addressing and blogging about that, as we do asking one another to be better (without understanding what's causing the behavior), then maybe we'd begin to embark upon the answers.

It's gonna take "conscious sisters", looking at a Nicki Minaj and seeing themselves in her in order for us to begin to build bridges and close gaps and expose the exploitation of black and brown people by a system of racism and white supremacy that was founded upon the idea of disconnecting us from ourselves on EVERY level. It has happened to EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. Thank God all of us aren't offered hundreds of millions of dollars to display our ignorance for the entire world to see.

As Wise Intelligent recently stated, "They INTENTIONALLY shifted the paradigm to get us EXACTLY where we are right now.... we're not turning down $500,000 to say niggaa, we're not gonna do it because we won't turn down $200 to take a packet of crack from one corner to the next....we are living in an environment of depravation and want of all things...our judgment is clouded".

African scholar Neely Fuller stated, "If you don't understand white supremacy, what it is and how it operates, everything else you THINK you understand will ONLY CONFUSE YOU". If we truly understood his words, we would look at (study and investigate) the VARIOUS ways white supremacy as a system is ensuring the survival of their people across the globe. Then we would start identifying WHERE our people are trapped into the support of this system and the sustaining of this system and I'm telling you..NOT ONE OF US...NOT ONE OF US..Conscious MC, Sista sporting the head wrap or whatever...NOT ONE OF US is COMPLETELY exempt from the participation in and support of this sickness on one level or another. (Click here to witness the way in which the system "raped the Assata" out of our beautiful sister / mother Nina Simone).

Nicki Minaj isn't the issue or the problem. I feel sorry for the sister, just as I feel sorry for all of the VICTIMS of racism / white supremacy. I feel sorry for every black and brown person who doesn't know the beauty of their eyes, their hair, their lips, their skin. I feel sorry for every black and brown person who doesn't look in the mirror and see the God and Goddess looking back at them. I feel sorry for all of those who are paid millions to show the world exactly what black self hatred looks and sounds like. However, they are not the problem! Nicki Minaj can go away, and she'll be replaced with another big butt and a smile, today!

Telling the truth may mean sometimes having to check one another, but I HOPE we are as willing, as daring and as committed to checking the SICKNESS of America. We need to stop talking about Racism / White Supremacy as if it's something we can just wake up one morning and decide not to participate in.

As Dr. John Henrick Clarke said "ALL OF OUR LIFE SUSTAINING INSTITUTIONS ARE CONTROLLED BY OUR ENEMY" I'll say it again..because the psychology behind it is disturbing. All of our LIFE SUSTAINING INSTITUTIONS are controlled by our ENEMY".

I'd be EAGER to hear ANY poem Ms. Mans wrote about that.

See videos below of Jasmine Mans poem "Nicki Minaj", as well as a clip from Wise Intelligent, speaking on the intentional dumbing down of hip hop artist and black youth.

You REALLY NEED to know...AKUA NARU

noreply@blogger.com (STACEY MUHAMMAD) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:29:00 -0500

For Those of Ya'll Waiting for Hip Hop, She's HERE!

Okay I'll admit it! I'm totally convinced that my "other" life calling was to be an MC. I love Music and Rhyming just as much as I love film and Chuck Taylors. So, I love Hip Hop. In my humble opinion, it's NEVER been dead or on life support. It's oppressed like the community of people from which it came. But there's always a rose that grows from the concrete. One such artist is AKUA NARU.

I've had this sister on HEAVY ROTATION since the moment I was blessed to come across her music. She is DOPENESS, PERSONIFIED! Every bit of an MC; and everything we love and appreciate about Hip Hop. She's "Fresh"..a Throwback...right on time...she's a bridge for those who lost their way...if you fell out of love with hip hop, prepare to get swept off of your feet.

This is our culture; our music; our voice. If we don't celebrate, preserve and document it, who will?

Get to know AKUA NARU by following the links below...You can thank me later :)

„The World is Listening“ is the second digi-single from Akua Naru's upcoming album "The Journey Aflame"- set to be released on 7. Jan. 2011. This song is a homage to the power of the female voice in hip hop, and pays respect to those pioneering female artists who have often been overshadowed by their male counterparts. With this song, Naru encourages us to remember the ways in which these women have served as models of inspiration for many, and to address our need to support more female presence in hip hop.

The song was produced by Germany's internationally acclaimed production duo JR & PH7, and remixed by Jay Baez.

For further information, statements or interview requests contact Mareen Wordoff - mail@markenliebe.com

AKUA NARU's Official Web Site
http://www.akuanaru.com/Website/home.html

AKUA on MYSPACE

AKUA on FACEBOOK

AKUA on BANDCAMP

Get the Akua Naru Album ‎"the journey aflame" on vinyl: we decided to release 200 (signed) copies of the album on single vinyl,--true collectors item style! we will only press though as soon as we get 50 people to pre-order the album. since we are certain that 200 collector's copies will go fast, we ask that you please pre-order your copy today!! to pre-order, drop us an email with your name and address: akuavinyl@jakartarecords.de