Some artwork from my brother:
The Obamamobile heads to Washington
(Artwork courtesy of Danny Augenbraun, click image to enlarge)
Considering that it has been nearly a month since Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee and at least some of the unrestrained euphoria has worn off among his supporters/fans, I figured I would take this time to do a quick recap of some of the recent developments in his campaign. It is hardly a secret that since the late 70s and early 80s the Democrats have embraced a national strategy that attempts to appeal to the same constituencies that the Republicans have been able to ride to electoral success for the last 25+ years. This, in turn, gives the Republican Party an enormous amount of leverage in setting the terms of debate in the run up to elections and also produces the inevitable rightward shift taken by every Democratic candidate over that same time period. Moreover, it should come as no surprise that the Dems are every bit as beholden to the same set of corporate interests as the Republicans which largely explains their unwillingness to reject a national strategy based on constituencies constructed by the Republicans and to attempt to create and appeal to an alternative constituency–namely one organized around a program that can be of immediate benefit to the working class.
But, without further adieu, let us take a trip back to the not so distant past:
I’m posting this because:
1. Paul’s haterific post has been at the top of this page for too long. (Much love, Paul….lol)
2. This is one of my favorite live videos of the High Priestess of Flyness…and I’m currently reading her autobiography.
3. It’s my birthweek, and I can do whatever I want.
Nina Simone — Four Women
Filed under: Current Events, Election 2008, Paul, Videos | Tags: Democratic Primary, Souja Boy, The Real World, white people
As a critic of most things, I find myself shaking my head a whole lot. Thusly, I would like to introduce my first installment of the Shaking My Head Awards more commonly known as the SMH’s (get it lol, lmao, gtg…smh?). This post is actually inspired by Melissa Harris-Lacewell’s “John Brown Awards”, which coincidentally put her on the list…well done. These individuals and entities have been awarded an SMH not because I hate them or dislike them, but simply because they have recently made me shake my head in disappointment and/or utter disbelief. Sometimes I laugh afterwards and sometimes I die a little bit afterwards. Either way I applaud you all for the incomprehensible moments of absolute bewilderment that you all have provided me; leaving me to just…shake my head.
Melissa Harris-Lacewell
As noted your “John Brown Awards” are given to “white me who are down for the cause.” So far, so good. After all there’s nothing wrong with giving out awards to deserving individuals. However, giving John Edwards a “John Brown award” is like giving Ward Connerly, the “Nat Turner Award” around his work for racial uplift and commitment to the Left. Now I do appreciate the fact that you started the piece noting that it was “unauthorized” and “likely to be rejected and denounced” which takes away any anger I would have held. That does not however negate the fact that you did this…I suppose that I am no better than you either considering I am responding, albeit facetiously. But I still have to shake my head on this one Professor.
Filed under: Current Events, Election 2008, Josh, Politics, Race | Tags: Election, Hope, Obama
When I was roughly 9 years old, i proudly declared to my older sister that after mulling it over in my head for the past decade or so, I had finally decided what I wanted to “be” when I grew up- President of the United States. It seemed like a rather glamorous position to me at the time, what with the king-like authority, cool-shaped office, 24-hour on-call posse of armed guards in black suits, etc. and besides that, it just seemed way cooler than being a paleontologist (my former dream career). Yet still, despite the amount of time, energy, and critical thought I’d put into my newfound aspiration, I was met not with praise from my eldest sibling, but rather discouragement. On the evening of my ever-so-eloquent verbal declaration of my intention to pursue the position of Commander-In-Chief, with all the careful delicacy of a falling anvil, my sister unflinchingly looked me in the eyes, and told me that no Black man would ever become President. No shot. Not a chance. Ever.
What a difference 10 years makes.
By Chloe Wayne
I don’t really have much to say except…
1. Barack Obama > Hillary Clinton – So, Barack’s won the nomination. I suppose I should be more enthused than I am. Well, when I really think about how historic a moment it is, I can understand the hullabaloo. I mean, what if you were a five year old? I can’t imagine what it would be like to grow up with a Black president.
But for the most part, I’m completely turned off to anything that has to do with the election for awhile, until stuff really gets down to the wire. I mean, we all know what’s going to happen in the next few months…Barack’s camp will say McCain is too old and that he will be George Bush, III. McCain’s camp will say that Barack’s promise of “change” holds no weight and that he has no experience…and if that doesn’t seem to work, they will surely spew whatever dirt they can find his way. Wake me up in October.
2. Los Angeles Lakers > Boston Celtics – This is going to be epic. Enough said.
3. Wale’s Mixtape About Nothing > Lil’ Wayne’s Tha Carter 3 – If it weren’t for my penchant for catchy pop-R&B tunes– a la “Comfortable” and “Tie My Hands”, featuring Babyface and Robin Thicke, respectively– I really would not be playing TC3. “Dr. Carter” is the only gem on here, refreshingly creative and real: “And that was called recyclin’…some say it’s bitin’, but I say it’s enlightenin’“.
Rafi Kam from over at ohword.com and Dallas Penn of dallaspenn.com (a.k.a. the Internets Celebrities) seek to answer some questions about the ubiquity of check cashing spots in the working, poor, and minority neighborhoods of American cities.
The video is now featured on youtube and as of now has over 130,000 views:
Hilarious video that takes on a real social issue in an accessible way, what more could you ask for? I highly recommend you check out their youtube channel for some of their other great short video essays. Hopefully there is more to come.
Filed under: Music, Paul, Politics | Tags: Black Nationalism, Chuck D, Conscious Rappers, dead prez
“I’m in your girl with her heels in the air n****”
~”Conscious” brotha from the Legendary Foundation
Now personally, I am not a huge fan of labels—in relationships, art and anything else people love to smack a label on. In hip hop music we can see labeling of “conscious” or “underground” emcees as a by-product of the commercialization of the genre. The irony in this assessment of rappers such as Common, Talib Kweli and Mos Def, is the seemingly commodified and packaged identity that these characters are given. I say this in the sense that while these particular artists do not box themselves into the packaged product akin to the “commercial” artist, the backpacking fans manage to pigeonhole their heroes into altruistic lights of positivity and revolutionary thought.
Let’s Get Free…How?….Well, um let’s um burn flags, um eating our vegetables like mommy said…that should work…yea and let’s disregard capitalization…just so the white man knows we don’t play his silly games.
I have major contentions with these notions for several reasons. The first comes in definition. Who was the linguistically-challenged (read: idiot) individual who decided that “conscious” was the proper adjective to describe this particular sect of artists. Most sources define “conscious” as being self-aware or general cognition…wtf?!?!?!?…Are we seriously going to put some people on a pedestal because they ostensibly maintain a level above a vegetative state? Well, in that case every rapper in the game, is conscious unless there is an unknown artist named LIFsupport, with the tentatively-titled Pull The Plug EP, coming this summer (don’t be the idiot who actually googles that ish…please) (more…)
