We’re BACK.

Sorry for the 2.5 week hiatus. There’s a lot of bells and whistles working on the back-end of this site and we on occasion have hiccups. After upgrading some software we were shut down for a few weeks and even know don’t have all of our inner workings working but we’re back to drop the blackness on you that you need.

Seriously. We all could use an extra dose of Blackness in our lives right?

Now back to your regularly scheduled Negro-dom.

- ejw

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That said, we must not take our eye off the ball.  If the Republicans take back the House of Representatives in November they get subpoena power. That means that they can investigate anything they want, including some fun stuff like whether President Obama was really born in Hawaii (he was) and anything else people like Michele Bachmann can come up with in their pea brains.  And remember, the House of Representatives is the body of Congress with the power to impeach the president, as they did under Clinton.

Am I the only one who is terrified that Democrats, who forgot just how bad life was under the GOP, will stay home in November and basically guarantee a government stalemate for the rest of Obama’s first term?  Does anyone remember what life was like during Clinton’s presidency?!  This is just to serve as a helpful reminder to stop lumping all Democrats together, because all of them are not bad or weak.  Under which party do we have a better chance of advancing a progressive agenda: the Democrats or the party of Rand Paul and Sarah Palin?

I’ll leave you with this from a like-minded post over at OpenLeft:

The plan is to bankrupt everyone in the government with lawyer fees and tie up the administration so they can’t get anything done. The accusations, lies, and smears will dwarf the Clinton-era and the slime will destroy people’s faith in government and democracy. That works for them. It helps put the big corporations in charge.

Imagine what this country will be like if this new breed of teabagger Republicans gets back in power in even one House of the Congress!

We can complain that Democrats didn’t legitimately investigate Bush-era corruption, war crimes, torture….We can complain that they held no one accountable after Bush left office for the corruption, lies, war crimes, even torture. We can complain that some–even many–Democrats have not stood up for us against the wealthy and powerful.

But when you complain about “the Democrats” you are misinterpreting the problem in a way that misdirects you from the necessary action to solve the problem. The problem is SOME Democrats, not THE Democrats.

I’ll let that marinate a bit.

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The proliferation of American rap music amongst black and non-black people around the world allowed the N-word to become globalized. With very little consideration for the inherent racial inferiority implied by the word, the complacency of the post-Civil Rights-era black American has allowed this remnant of America’s racist past to become an everyday part of the global lexicon.

In 1926, H.W. Fowler wrote in A Dictionary of Modern English Usage that the N-word is “felt as an insult by the person described, and betrays in the speaker, if not deliberate insolence, at least a very arrogant inhumanity.” Scarcely a few decades after the black community made great strides in overthrowing the most blatant aspects of institutionalized racism in America, this generation champions their freedoms and honors the sacrifices of their forefathers by calling themselves n*ggas. I can already hear the chorus of moans and groans from those who have been conditioned to believe that the N-word is now used as a word of “empowerment” and “endearment” to show how we can “reclaim” our history and identity. This group of apologists maintains that the usage of the N-word largely in American rap music and through daily interactions between African Americans has nullified its racist past.

In spite of this claim, one can never separate a word from its connotations, denotations, and historical past. The N-word was established as a word to dehumanize black people and reinforce the idea that to be black is to be ignorant, childlike, and three-fifths of a human being. The word became a brand, used as a justification for unspeakable acts of cruelty, injustice, and crimes against humanity throughout America’s history. The shock and condemnation amongst the black community toward Michael Richard’s (aka Kramer’s) racist tirade in 2006 exemplifies how the N-word remains wrought in an unspoken history of pain and shame. Simply dropping the “er” and adding an “a” belies an ignorance of history and insolent disregard for the social, political, and physical sacrifices of African Americans. Despite arguments to the contrary, there is no self-empowerment in referring to oneself and one’s people as a racial slur. By embracing the N-word, we contribute to silencing our ancestors, bolstering racists, and whitewashing the horrors of American slavery and Jim Crow.

I have been approached with “what’s up my n*gga” by the sons of Cuban exiles in Miami, Algerian gangs in Paris, Korean hip-hop heads in Seoul, Sudanese ‘lost boys’ in Cairo, and many others worldwide. Each time I hear it in my travels, I’m left with a sinking feeling of despair. With no thorough knowledge of U.S. history amongst them, it’s very clear where foreigners learned such a phrase. Dr. Martin Kilson of Harvard describes my reaction as the “typical sensibilities of African-American citizens” to have a “deep dislike for public expression in American media–newspaper, radio, television, magazines, and books–of the epithet n*gger.” However, I’d argue that this is an oral Pandora’s box of our own doing. Our lack of self-reflection and willingness to embrace a racial slur has allowed superficial rap lyrics and unaccountable, corporate-owned entertainers to shape the worldview of black American culture through the lens of the N-word.

It is impossible to believe that we can actually restrict the N-word for use by “us” and to empower “us.” We have no more control over its usage than we have over the use of any other word in the global lexicon. It’s now okay for others to use the word because we use it. Thus, instead of continuing the struggle of W.E.B. DuBois, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr., we have allowed their sacrifices to go unnoticed by this current generation and rendered ourselves nothing more than glorified n*ggas once again. Perhaps this is why Marcus Garvey made the provision that “I have no desire to take all black people back to Africa; there are blacks who are no good here and will likewise be no good there.”

Accordingly, in an article discussing the N-word, H. Lewis Smith reflected that “after almost 400 years of conditioning, a community of people have become immune to, or accepted, the adverse implications and negative effects the term and all it encompasses, imposes on their mind state, and ultimately their life’s success.” It is detrimental to spread our culture of lack of accountability and introspection to the rest of the world. Worldwide, hip-hop music has become a cultural phenomenon–resistance music. It is the avenue through which those who suffer through unspeakable hardships give voice to their hopes and dreams, champion political activism, and break down barriers. In America, we’ve bought into the idea that we are n*ggas and allowed corporate-owned artists to brand us as such to the world, selling our legitimacy and history for a price. Let us seek to debunk conventional black apologia for the N-word and demand that those who claim to represent us–from Souljah Boy to Jay-Z and Talib Kweli–to expand their vocabulary and refrain from using the word. In our schools and neighborhoods, let’s take the time to educate the youth about the true meaning of the word and redefine our communities.

From the Nubian man struggling for equality in his homeland, to the Sudanese ‘lost boy’ who escaped Sudan and walked across two countries to seek refuge, to the young black man in the housing projects of Brooklyn dodging drug dealers and crooked cops to make it to school on time, we are not n*ggas. We are the embodiments of the dreams of Malcolm, Huey, and Martin. We are the living testaments to the failure of five hundred years of colonialism, imperialism, and enslavement to kill our spirits and obliterate our race. We are resilient fortitudes of strength, pride, creativity, and intelligence. We owe it, not only to our forefathers, but to all the people of color that continue to face genocide, civil war, occupation, rape, imperialism and modern-day slavery, to reject the N-word in all its forms. Afrika Bambaataa referred to the members of his Zulu Nation as kings and queens in the hopes that they would one day live up to the lofty titles that he bestowed upon them. This is the image of black America that we should portray to the world through our music and seek to emulate.

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Are you unemployed?  Dr. Rand Paul has an important message for you!

“Quit whining and get back to work!”

How compassionately conservative of him.

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Lil Wayne, Lil Boosie, Gucci Mane . . . these criminals are not only entertaining our children, they are inspiring them to social activism.

Am I the only one who sees something wrong here?

Rappers in the past may have rapped about criminal activity, but they weren’t out doing these things in real life (or if they were, they weren’t getting caught).  Today, there is a growing trend of rappers actually going to jail, and this seems to be what this new version of “hip-hop” represents.  As far as I’m concerned, half the rappers of today have committed crimes against music, black culture, and common sense with their rampant promotion of ignorance, materialism, and whoredom.  When children grow up idolizing these artists, they will naturally try to emulate their behavior . . . and if that behavior includes criminal activity and prison sentences, we have a problem.   Music is so far-reaching and pervasive in its scope that an entire generation doesn’t even realize that those who break the law belong in jail.   The mindsets of our young sisters and brothers is so warped that no matter how egregious the crime, entertainment idols will have their undying support.  In fact, sales of their music will most likely increase, allowing the offender to profit from the ignorance he helped create.

Brilliant yet tragic.

I have reached my breaking point.   I’ve officially turned off my radio (thank goodness for mp3 players).  I’m a 32 year old black woman, raised in the South around other black people, so it’s not that I don’t have the proper frame of reference to judge the music of today…it’s just that I have enough taste to recognize its quick decline to garbage.  Even the rap of the 90s, though violent and misogynistic at times, had lyrics and told a story.  It was relevant to SOMEONE’S life, even if that life wasn’t mine.  Today’s music doesn’t even try.

There is no effort at originality or substance, as artists like Wacka Flocka will freely admit ..it’s all about making a quick buck and recycling the same lyrics and beats.  The official “jump the shark” moment for me was when I heard Drake ‘s atrocious sample of Dead Prez’s  Hip Hop; It’s not enough to create new crap, must we go back and destroy our legends as well?  Some may say it’s just me, I don’t understand the culture, I’m not hip to the game, etc.  My response to them would be that any culture that promotes ignorance, misogyny, criminal activity, and just plain-old bad music is not one with which I want to become too familiar.

And it’s not only the music, with its thoughtless, ridiculous lyrics, the accompanying coon-shuffle dances, or the complete lack of effort at any real musicality.  It’s the artists themselves, each one trying to outdo their predecessor in terms of pure buffoonery.   It has literally become a case of “the more ignorant you sound and look, the more you sell.”  And we wonder why they make fun of us.  Each new hip-hop artist today sets us back and destroys our chances of making real progress in this country as a people.

Next thing you know, gangs will be making a comeback.

I am FAR from a holy roller, and am generally the last one to push my version of morality on others.  But this trend is not cute. I no longer hear the lyrics of these songs…all I can think of is what they represent…and that is the total decline of common sense, decency, and standards.  And it just gets worse every time someone releases an album. Yes, I am a new urban music bigot, and I hope that more of you will become bigots as well.   Let’s see if we can get THAT to catch on.  Maybe I’ll create a dance for it.

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I can appreciate the content and sentiment from Rachel Maddow in her imaginary Oval Office address. I feel that too, however, I’m very cynical but pragmatic about how policy achievements get done; It’s simply not based in the reality where our reality-based politics live. Others in the blogosphere have noted this as well (see: Matt Yglesias’  Green Lantern Theory of Geopolitics.) And for that I turn it over to True/Slant’s (and PostBourgie) blogger Jamelle Bouie:

For what it’s worth, I think a few things are at play in this warped liberal view of the president (and really, it’s not just liberals, most Americans see the president as some sort of Dune-esque God Emperor): first, there’s simply no popular recognition that the president is a weak constitutional actor. Campaigns are long on presidential promises and short on the recognition that the president is really limited in what he or she can do. And once in office, the president is the most visible person in government, which leads people to assign the most agency to him, even when it’s unwarranted. Moreover, movies and television habitually present the president as the one person who controls everything in government. In most movies, when the president barks orders, they instantly become law. It’s no wonder that most people have an outsized view of presidential authority; most of their exposure comes from 24 and large, ornate presidential addresses.

I’d also add that the optics of President Bush may have changed liberals’ perception of what the president can do. At every turn, we either heard that President Bush was doing “X” thing, or claiming “X” power, and without the context of a unified Republican Congress or a pliant executive branch, it was easy to believe that Bush was accomplishing these things through sheer force of will, when he simply wasn’t. And after Bush, what many liberals really wanted was a “liberal Bush,” not realizing that Bush wasn’t nearly as successful as he was portrayed, and that the president isn’t nearly as powerful as they think.

It certainly wasn’t his best speech. However, in the face of this ongoing disaster, I think we’re learning the limits of oratory as we are understanding the limits of the man.

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As I write my grocery list for the week, I pause to check over a few items. Let’s see: 1.) milk; 2.) bread;  3.) Slim Xbox 360 w/built-in WiFi; 4.) Assassins Creed Brotherhood; 5.) Kid Icarus Uprising; 6.) eggs;  7.) juice….wait a minute…

Yes it’s the most wonderful time of the year; and no it has nothing to do with the pagan, Fat Tony looking, red and white snowsuit wearing, dude known as Kris K (–“from around the way!”).  It is the celebration of all things digitally holy and awesomely superior in the world of video games. Quick Primer: E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) is an annual trade show that debuts the most anticipated hardware & software in the computer and video games industry. It is a place of resplendent wonder where life is perfect—pardon as I wipe away the drool.

My apparent penchant for geek grossness aside, E3 has definitely delivered quite handily this year and continues to make me even giddier with each announcement. I decided to run through the products likely to make a killing at the registers:

1.) Microsoft Kinect (dropping Nov. 4, 2010)

This is at the top of my list simply because I love to flail around like a buffoon while pantomiming a full triathlon meet; complete with Nintendo-Power-Pad-style running in place. No seriously. I think its fun. Kinect (or ‘Project Natal’ for those who recognize it by codename) will create an immersive experience that is pretty much a few, albeit large, steps away from fully interactive, holo-reality (yes I made that up but I have the cool points to do it). I know I might be giving it way too much credit but I can’t help but to think of what ideas this peripheral will spark. Some people may call it a controller-less HD Wii type of setup but I think it’s a little more than that. Want to know why I can say that? Two words: Star Wars. However, I’m afraid that it looks like the gameplay on rails and there isn’t much you’re actually “doing”. It remains to be seen how much actual freedom you have with this game + Kinect. If that’s not good enough (or bad enough….pessimist) for you, then take a look at Dance Central. Cheese Factor times 10.

2.) Nintendo 3DS (Tentative Date: 2011)

Call it fluff, riding the “3D in MAH FACE” wave, or yet another DS that will, inevitably, print money (thanks for that timeless classic, Joystiq); it is a new offering from Nintendo and different from just a ginormous DS (see DSi XL). Quite frankly I haven’t played my DS Lite in over 2 years and there was nothing compelling enough to make me want to purchase a DSi. I’ve sold off a lot of DS game I had for Gamestop trade-in credits (except for my out-of-print Tetris DS [worth $50+]—booyah!). Having no purpose, my DS had been sadly suffering from abandonment as I waited for something different. Waiting for innovation from Nintendo usually pans out well and I think we’ve been handsomely rewarded.

The 3DS offers rich 3D experiences in a handheld, all without the use of those funky 3D glasses. It’s a welcomed aspect because I wear glasses myself and let me tell you—I have a HELL of a time trying to balance the 3D specs over my prescription glasses. (I’m quite sure there’s a rule somewhere that says I shouldn’t be doing that…meh…). Anyways, to help cater the non-spec’d 3D experience to each individual’s eyes, there is a slider control that toggles the strength of the 3D effect from “itsa teeny lil 3D” to “thatsa lotta 3D!” (sorry I had a Super Mario moment). The top screen is the 3D screen, while the bottom is the normal touch screen. In addition to the D-pad is a new joystick style button that should help ease the smoothness of traversing through 3D worlds. Throw in backwards compatibility with existing DS games, full six-axis motion control, stealthy Wi-Fi connectivity, STAR-freakin-FOX (my favorite out of the Big N franchises), and a host of titles—then you got yourself the beginnings of one sweet, empty wallet.

I’ve only really taken small sips of the delightful brew that is still cooking up at E3. Are there any games or peripherals that you are excited about? What do you think about Goldeneye 2010 (Wii) and Metal Gear Solid: Rising (Xbox 360)? Shout, Shout…let it all out!

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I’m sorry, I shouldn’t generalize. Allow me to rephrase: a lot of black people hate police. There. Much better.

A lot of black people hate police and for valid reasons (Aiyanna Jones, Oscar Grant, Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, Romona Moore…need I continue?). So our overall reaction to any incident involving the police is typically going to be steeped in volatile emotion and anger based on a sordid history that has left black people on the receiving end of gross injustice. In Ice Cubean speak: we say “fuck the police” because the police have been fucking us with “no vaseline.”

We’re tired. We’re angry. We’re fed up. We want to do something, but have no idea where to begin. The situation is worse than the new Dr. Dre/Jay-Z track. And while we’re trying to figure out how to fight back, we keep getting attacked.

I saw the video from Seattle. My visceral reaction was something like “OH SHIT, HE PUNCHED THAT GIRL IN THE FACE!!! FUCK THESE PUNK ASS COPS!!!” Video of a white police officer punching a young black girl in the face tends to evoke that type of reaction.

But I watched the whole video. I read the account of what took place. I sat and thought on it for a moment. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not marching in the streets for this girl. Sorry.

To be clear, I believe the officer handled the situation poorly. There are other tactics he could have and should have used to restrain the young lady and prevent her from attacking him. She didn’t pose a large physical threat to his safety, so far as I can gather from the video. From where I sit, there was no reason to punch her.

However, every second the video goes on, I’m reminded of something Malcolm X once said: “Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone…” (now, on the back end of that quote is something about sending someone to the cemetery if they put your hands on you…but we all know Malcolm was just playing).

Obey the law.

Imagine, in light of all that black people faced at the time, with every justification for full-out anarchy, Malcolm still advocated obeying the law. There is a recognition that if you are fighting to be respected as a citizen, you must act as one. The police already infringe on our rights without cause, so why give them any?

One young lady is resisting arrest, the other, the one the cop punched, puts her hands on him trying to “help” her cousin. I wouldn’t consider these prudent means of disputing a jaywalking offense.

This doesn’t excuse excessive force (if there is any), but we have to be more proactive in our attempts to quell these situations before they escalate. Then, when the police act out of line (and they will), we have every right to raise 47 different types of hell.

The goal isn’t for the police to give black people carte blanche to act as we please, but to receive the same treatment under the law that is supposed to be afforded every citizen. Whether the laws or just is another issue to be addressed in a different manner.

We have to choose our fights wisely. It would be extremely difficult to present a cogent, effective argument against the Seattle officer that is based on facts and not emotion. If I saw a way for us to win this one, I’d be the first one up in arms (or maybe 63rd…I’m kind of lazy). But this time? I’m opting out.

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I recently quit Twitter and I miss everything. No, seriously, I have no clue what’s going on in the world. Apparently, some sort of sports thing is happening in South Africa and last night Kobe Bryant won a prize? I’m not sure. Nothing makes sense without a #hashtag.

Anyway, I woke up this morning to find out who won the NBA championship last night (Booooooo!) and discovered a lot of online jokes about a player thanking his psychiatrist. I assumed this was some sort of mental health joke that is all the rage these days because mental illness is so hilarious! I dismissed it until someone I respect posted a facebook message offering support and perspective for the player, I now know is Ron Artest, for publicly thanking his psychiatrist.

Wow. A black man, nay, black athlete thanked his psychiatrist on national TV doing one of two things:

1. Admitting that he sees someone for mental health help and
2. Admitting that he needs mental health help.

Is this real life? Did this actually happen? I had to see for myself so I googled and found the following clip:

No shame. No embarrassment. Just gratitude to the woman that helped him “get focused”. My google search of Ron Artest, lead me to a story of his “wild” lifestyle. He was involved in the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl, where he punched a fan in the face. He admitted to drinking (self medicating?) at half-time when he played for the Bulls. He showed up at a practice in his bath robe. He has a domestic violence charge. The list goes on and on.

Shouldn’t this man be praised for getting the help that he obviously needed? Why is he being mocked and made the brunt of jokes? Was the shout out unexpected? Yes. But it should not be shamed. The amount of courage and bravery it takes to admit that you need mental health assistance and to get it is incredible. It’s no easy feat. Black men, especially, are the least likely to seek treatment for mental illness. Does this mean that they are the least likely to have a mental illness in their lifetime?

No.

It simply means that they don’t get the help they need. If the reaction to Artest’s confession is any indication, I can’t say that I’m shocked.

I’ve been speaking openly about my own journey with mental illness for over 5 years now and without fail, there is always someone (or someone(s)) who wants to shame me or make me feel somehow unworthy of respect or understanding because I’m a “mad woman”. Mental illness is often purposefully looked upon as a sign of weakness. People go out of their way not to understand in a ways they wouldn’t dare for other illnesses. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental illness is more common than diabetes, heart diseases and cancer. 1 in every 4 people will have one or more mental illness in their lifetime. Do you have any idea how many people that is? Yet we still allow stigma and hurtful comments to keep us from speaking out or seeking treatment.

I’ve learned to brush off hurtful comments but I admit that it hurts. Some days you don’t want to have to brush them off. You want to tell the people doing it to, “Shut the fuck up.” or simply just deactivate your Twitter account and live the life you know you were meant to live. And continuing speaking out to those who want to listen. But this isn’t about me.

I’m not a big basketball fan, haven’t been since I used to play and BJ Armstrong left the building, and I know very little of Ron Artest, but as a black woman and mental health advocate, I applaud Mr. Artest for his brave confession. I salute him and pray that he himself uses this opportunity to become an advocate for mental health awareness amongst men of color. Our men are dying at an alarming rate, many to suicide, often to self medicating treatable mental illnesses with drugs or alcohol. If Ron Artest’s revelation about his own mental health, reaches one person who needs it, then that should be celebrated. Do I think it should end there? No. But I also know that self-care is important and if Mr. Artest isn’t ready to be an advocate, then just those few seconds of admission is sadly, more than I can recall from anyone of that stature in the black community.

I encourage any and everybody, regardless of background, ethnicity or social standing to go and get help if you feel you need it. Fuck anyone who tries to shame you. There is no shame in this only an opportunity for healing.

And Mr. Artest, I salute and support your on going efforts for mental health and clarity.

In strength and solidarity,
B.

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