Speechless...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5FR1LGsT7E

I’m hesitant to post this video on this blog, but in some respects I feel it’s necessary to emphasize the difference between Black people, and those who represent characteristics of the “N” word. I also want to make it clear that it’s not just Black people that reflect the negative characteristics of this hateful word. Given the historical context of the "N" word, it’s assumed that those who represent these negative characteristics must be Black. However, as I have just explained, this word represents particular characteristics, NOT a race of people.

                The popular animated TV show “The Boondocks” has been harshly criticized by many of us in the Black community. The heavy use of vulgar language and controversial concepts sometimes make it difficult to communicate the underlying message in each episode. However, this show sheds light on issues and behaviors that negatively represent the Black community. As the caricature of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. describes in this clip, the ignorant behaviors associated with the Black community (especially in hip-hop) have created a subculture completely insensitive to the sacrifices made by the generation of the Civil Rights Movement. Again, it’s not just Black people who have created the ignorance of this subculture, but Black people have become the target to represent this type of behavior from popular media. I believe this video is a representation of how most Black people feel about the state of the Black community, but it’s difficult to broadly communicate this message if it's not addressed directly.

                So what does this mean for the future? Well, I believe the more open and direct we can be about issues that scar our community; the better we can heal the wounds that make us vulnerable to further infection from negative stereotypes and bigotry. 

A lesson in Black Identity (The Black and/or African Diaspora)

Gordon, E. (2007). The Austin School Manifesto: An Approach to the Black or African Diaspora. Cultural Dynamics. http://cdy.sagepub.com/content/19/1/93.full.pdf+html

Living in a post-power movement society, we seem to struggle with defining our identities. Throughout the world-wide Black community, there are various sets of values, language and norms that create our cultural identities. Often we ignore these differences and attempt to conceptualize the Black identity in one box, not realizing that ignorance of these differences is the basis of racism itself. In an article titled “An Approach to the Black or African Diaspora,” Dr. Edmond T. Gordon (University of Texas) describes the new movement and definition of the term Black and/or African Diaspora. He states, “we have consciously chosen to employ the term African Diaspora to disrupt the traditional ways that Africa and its peoples have been reified as sites of savagery and underdevelopment… Instead, we seek to critically resituate Africa within both historical and contemporary global processes of racial formation and the politics of Blackness.” In other words, this term represents an entire race of people worldwide that share roots in many cultural perspectives while living in various countries. These roots represent a common bond through political and social progress, history, education and a number of other characteristics that define being Black in a country predominately owned by Whites. For example, American citizens who are Black share a similar history with Brazilian citizens who are Black, Peruvian citizens who are Black, Columbian citizens who are Black, and all of the [insert country here] citizens who are Black.

You’re probably asking yourself, “Why is this important so many years after the Civil Rights movement?” For the first time in African-American history WE have defined a term that is representative of our people. Much like for Mexican-Americans, the Chicano movement was instrumental in unifying the community and establishing a culture to maintain identity while occupying a new space. The Black Diaspora operates in a similar capacity. The forced migration of enslaved Africans in the US and South America, coupled with the dismantled history and culture of our ancestors has never provided an opportunity for us to define ourselves. Until now, Black Americans have been defined as representations of a White society. This new movement is based on representing our identity in the way WE should be represented.

Black Male Masculinity

A documentary film by Byron Hurt. Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes

It’s ironic that we criticize hip-hop for the degrading, violent and misguided images of masculinity, when the history of our culture idolizes these qualities in every other form of entertainment. By no means am I supporting or pacifying the negative aspects of hip-hop, but I find it interesting that the same judgments we place on hip-hop are for the same actions we see in films by popular White men. Who produced “Scarface?” Who produced “The Terminator?” Who was the terminator in “The Terminator?” Yet, for some reason, we tend to be more critical of these hyper-masculine behaviors in hip-hop. Unfortunately, I don’t think it is a coincidence that these are the same behaviors that Black men have been type-casted to posses.

                In the film “Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes,” Byron Hurt examines the content and images that are expressed in our mainstream hip-hop society. As a hip-hop connoisseur, Hurt questions the messages that the music industry is sending to young men and women in the Black community. Although he doesn’t get many answers from people creating the music, the response from the people who are affected by the music demonstrates how the content destroys the values and unity within the Black community. I want to make it clear that not ALL hip-hop is destructive, but typically, the music that is mass produced and distributed is the music that negatively affects our communities the most. But, why? Many people believe that it’s because the record executives (White men) promoting the music, have never experienced the reality that this lifestyle represents. As popular rapper Jadakiss describes, “the big-man that, at the end of the day stamps the check… all scratch white [men].” They have no allegiance to the Black community, so as long as they can make money, they could care less rather or not it is destroyed.

                Although I do enjoy listening to some hip-hop myself, I am still vexed at why the destructive content is still accepted within the Black community. After so many years of recognizing its ability to instill negativity within our society, why haven’t these artists been outcast from mainstream?

Black Marriage Negotiations Pt 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mHoTmSdrkY&feature=related

I think these BMN videos speak much truth in an offensively funny manner. Although I don’t agree that we should be stereotyping Black or White men and women, these videos demonstrate the truth about the perspectives we have of each other. This particular video is a depiction of what Black women want Black men to recognize about White women. Although what is stated is not necessarily true in every case, there tends to be a belief/fear that White women only want successful Black men for their assets. Furthermore, there are cultural aspects of the Black identity that are rarely understood or acknowledged by members of another ethnicity, which often makes us feel undervalued and underappreciated in an interracial relationship. Although I feel race should have little/nothing to do with attraction, interracial relationships often force one of the partners to assimilate. This usually leads to a number of social problems that jeopardize the relationship itself, or the relationships with family and friends.

I believe addressing these perspectives in an open forum (the internet) is necessary to exploit the unrealistic and racist thoughts and behaviors expressed by many. Acknowledging these issues is a positive step towards understanding our differences and diminishing ignorance. 

Black Marriage Negotiations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgyg8vEHraE

The Black Marriage Negotiation (BMN) videos are an interesting way to express the Black man’s fear of marrying a Black woman. Although I do not believe many Black women fit the description of the abrasive, unrealistic, and demanding women portrayed in the video, the depictions of the strong, independent Black woman seem to have a negative affect on Black men. It sends the message that men should not be attracted to women who have success. Why? I have no idea, but I think this mindset is irrational and pathetic. I would argue that if you talk to any man who is married to a “dependent” woman, he’ll tell you her lack of “independence” hinders his ability to be happy. Furthermore, I believe we are forgetting that the “independent” woman is doing what ANY adult should be doing. We never refer to any man as an “independent” man for taking care of his responsibilities as a single father, homeowner, businessperson, etc. So why do we assume that a Black woman capable of doing all of these things is some kind of phenomenon? Do we not expect Black women have a full-time job, a house, a car and be successful? Although I applaud any person (especially Black women) for not being dependent on another, being an adult means we are supposed to be independent and successful, however it is you define “success.”

Naked White Angel on a Black Man...

The controversial new album cover for Kanye West’s “My Dark Twisted Fantasy” is simply an expression of artistic freedom. To me, freedom of expression is the basis of any art form. Kanye West has been known to push the envelope of acceptable content (art or behavior), and his reasoning for using this album cover is no different than, “because he can.” People are criticizing him for his use of anti-Christ imagery, which I’m not disagreeing, but we are forgetting he is simply an artist. As stated in a verse from his song entitled The Good Life, “Go ahead and change the style up, and if people hate, then let them hate, and watch the money pile up.” The truth about the mainstream music industry that many people are forgetting is that it’s a business fueled by entertainment and controversy. Although some people may want to spread a particular message, most are there to make money by any means necessary. And unfortunately, mainstream hip-hop has become the epitome of human exploitation for financial wealth.

"Knock Knock"

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Knock+Knock+Def+poetry&aq=f

This spoken word artist sends a very powerful message to Black men about our position in the world. Many Black men tend to be misguided by the variations of messages we receive in the media. The swagger that we are suppose to posses through hip-hop. The Whiteness that we’re suppose to posses in the business and educational fields. How a man is suppose to be tender and caring towards their woman and their children. The reality is that many of these messages tend to conflict with one another, so men are forced to be one or the other. For young Black men, there are only a couple of professions in which one can practice all of these qualities. Those are drug dealers or rappers. Both of which are made popular through violence and hypermasuclinity, and can gain more street credibility by serving jail time. In this passage he says, “I write these words and try to heal and father myself, and I dream of a father who says the words my father who did not…” I believe this is one of the biggest burdens we struggle with as Black men. We have been conditioned to believe that there are so few Black fathers, that even a good Black father (and there are many) is seen as subpar. Furthermore, with so few variations of representations we see in the mainstream, we are forced to choose the images that are available. Instead, we should be choosing for ourselves which image we want to portray. There are limitations to drug dealing, there are limitations to being a rapper, there are limitations to being an athlete, yet many of us are drawn to those outlets to try to prove ourselves to a society who cares very little about us. Instead we should be creating our own representations of our images. We should be forcing everyone else to accept us for who we are, and not place judgments on us from what they’ve seen from other people. This is not only for Black men, but for ALL men, and women. I believe this video should be a reflection of the image that we all should have of ourselves. Strong enough to knock and be heard, but also humble enough to let other people’s knocks to be heard as well