Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Get on the Train.

It's really been a minute since i've blogged or even read blogs. The train of life seems to be larger and faster than my train of thought lately. i've been encountering new horizons at every turn, whether it's at home, with my other people's, or at work.

before i continue, i emplore ya'll to check this site NeosoulCafe.com it is definitely playing some good music. Soul music. Why is it only black artist seem to be able to produce soul music? what, white folk are soulless? hmmm...

Anyways. I heard today in reports that American Movie Classic (AMC) channel broadcasted the movie, Birth of a Nation, last night. In Atlanta one of the morning show host, was upset about its showing, and the portrayal of Black folks in the movie. it cast a deeply disparaging view of an America where "we" are allowed to be free. We rape white women, are shiftless, lazy, good for nothings. We are considered renegades... until the Mighty KKKlan arrives on the scene to tame the "wild beasts".

So i listen to this radio host knocking the broadcast of such a vile piece, in todays modern era. How this movie can affect race relations, and the like.

Then i say to myself... i coulda swore this was the same host i hear playing self-denegrating music on the radio, and in the clubs he deejays. the same host i called once before because their morning local school "shout out" list aired adjacent to a Captain Morgans/Alcoholic Kool-Aid commercial. The hypocrisy is running rampant, and the number of messages we are sending to the youth, and the adults are ridiculous. And the message that usually gets heard, is the one with a finger snap on the track, or the one with Lil' Jon screamin' on it, or the one that has the catchy hook, the hook that is geared towards pre-schoolers.

We sometimes shout at the blatant signs of racism, but do little about the more subversive acts of it. Why?

Do we really think we have the power if "we" are the ones calling ourselves lazy, whoremongering, irresponsible people? i guess as long as it ain't nobody but us doing it, it's okay.

Peace.

6 comments:

knibilnats said...

insightful post. you're right, its easier to argue against the past, than challenge yourself.

Brea said...

Wow, well said. When I go out with friends, I often get lip for not knowing the latest hip-hop songs. I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in any music that sends such negative messages.

Abeni said...

True,we all have to choose not to dishonor ourselves.

brooklyn babe said...

Those "subtle" signs, are way more damaging.... true said we always go after the obvious ones...

nikki said...

i love this post. for one, i thought it was important to show that movie so folk could recognize just how deeply entrenched the entire racist agenda was in the southern states of the u.s.

i don't know which dj you speak of (probably frank ski with his preachy, self-righteous ass), but i think we should all write a letter to him telling him he's being a hypocrite and why we feel this way.

VerseOne said...

you're are correct Nik. it was frank ski. i'm down for letter writing. that's my new past time. my only problem with writing some of his stature, is that he can still disregard the comments of the few. but maybe he'll get a little bit of sense out of it before he tosses it.

Peace.