Was Stepin' Keepin' It Real? or is Minstrel Rap?

As the two above photos demonstrate, who was the real Stepin Fetchit? I wonder if someone at the NY Daily News reads my blog? Things that make you go hmmmm. The more likely reason is that others are starting to see that the current rap scene is taking us back to the 1930s. Take a gander at columnist Errol Louis' latest diatribe regarding the emergence of the minstrel rap genre. Also check out my previous entries regarding the Stepin' Fetchit/gangsta rap analogy.... links are below.

All rhyme, no reason for rap world's modern minstrels

Get Rich or Die Trying.....or New Millennium Minstrelsy

The More Things Change.......

Getting Closer to Invisibility......for real!!

Ok...this actually has nothing to do with Ralph Ellison's seminal work, Invisible Man, I just thought it makes a cool seque for yet another geek moment here at afronerd. While others (ok the dudes at American Renaissance) pontificate on backward precepts concerning superficial ethnic distinctions amongst humans, it appears that scientists are getting closer to actually making objects disappear. I mention this because racism at its core is not only morally reprehensible but inanely primitive. Let's look to the future for a change. Maybe we can cure some diseases along with not being concerned about someone's hue. More on the invisible story below:

Scientists create cloak of invisibility

And now for some actual Geek news for a change.......

I just found out that a remake of the Bionic Woman TV series is in the works. You know I had to lighten things up a bit. Sometimes I forget the blog is called afronerd. Click below for more info:

NBC Working on a Remake of the Bionic Woman

This is what they think about you......

A few months ago I highlighted the existence of American Renaissance magazine and the accompanying website,

http://www.amren.com

which many would consider to be an outlet for intellectualized racism. I visit the site quite frequently to attempt to get an understanding of what these guys are about. The site racializes everything and everyone, so suffice it to say that they espouse the Black/Brown man is the bogeyman excuse for all of the world's woes. For the last week or so I have attempted to converse with the commenters in the amren site and it is, of course, a wasted effort. We are talking about some real hardcore racial ideologues(aka racists).

I think that there are a number of disturbing trends within aspects of African-American culture which must be addressed, however amren supporters believe that certain Black pathologies apply to all Blacks and this is just false. My blog attempts to show the other side as well as critique the Black underclass subculture. Discussing facts, making Black cultural distinctions and emphasizing White corporate culpability is out of the realm of reality with these folks. I would suggest that you visit this site to see just how the inability to control our imagery warps reality for people of color as well as many White folk. Some of these people make valid points, however their grotesque adherence to warped generalizations pertaining to African-Americans (hence the racism) and their reliance on anecdotal experiences serving as fact, make our fight a difficult one. Again, this is what they think about you....Let's fight for the respect of individuality and not let the pathologies of some be representative for all of us. More on this subject below:

Promoting 'Preservation' Of Whites in Suit and Tie

Racial Profiling..the Complexity of it All...

There has been a story that has been brewing for the last couple of days regarding the possible abuse of police power and racial profiling in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. For those who may not be familiar with Park Slope, it is a middle to upper middle class section of Brooklyn whose inhabitants are of various racial strata. In this case, there have been a rash of robberies occurring in a nearby train stop, which allegedly prompted a police directive to investigate either all Black males or all Black male teenagers, specifically. After an internal investigation, local police are claiming that this directive was never issued. Now local political/community leaders as well as the media are asking for more definitive answers. Once again, I find myself confused as I often take a contrarian viewpoint when it comes to these matters.

Let me first state for the record, that any indiscriminate racial profiling is not only morally wrong but just bad police work. Where my contrarian nature comes into play deals with my belief that some profiling is necessary and impossible to avoid. When I often come across a radio or tv show that has racial profiling as the topic, the de facto Black or Latin position frequently implies that no profiling tactic should be implemented by authorities. The truth of the matter is specific profiling is a highly effective method in catching criminals. Again the operative word is specific. If one does not want to get harassed then perhaps not wearing the costume of a criminal might help in not being interviewed by the police. I'm not a supporter of current hiphop fashion trends....I fail to see these fashions on the catwalks in Paris or Milan. But again we allegedly live in a free country. My suggestion...try not to fit the stereotype, it works for me. For more on this story check out the links below.

Heats on 'Profile' Cop

Commish Says No Profiling, But Officers Say There Was

Enjoy them while you can....

Ok the next entry I will elaborate on the music situation but I couldn't resist and provide you with another musical moment....a recent one. This was a BET award special which included a tribute to Chaka Khan. Notice how into the music the audience was during this broadcast. Why no one wants to play the real music anymore? Your guess is as good as mine but I do know that this level of talent will not be around forever and then what will we do? Are Rihanna,Yung Joc or TI supposed to carry the torch? Heaven help us.

What happened to the music?

What happened to the music? This is a question that I ask myself almost on a daily basis. I sincerely try to listen and get into the current musical landscape but I can't seem to get a connection to anything that remotely challenges or excites me. I'm not going to blame hiphop entirely for my dilemma....just partly. It pains me to think that I can't find the next Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder or Prince amongst today's artists but then the corporate structure is not exactly willing to invest in musical talent as it once did. In my estimation, Black music was the first casualty in the war against good music. No one seems to notice that we really do not have bands anymore in the Black music category. The only ones that come to mind in the modern era are Mint Condition, The Roots and Robert Randolph's Family Band. Well, actually let me rephrase that....more bands come to mind if you count the brief popularity of neo-soul during the mid-nineties but without corporate and public support, that glimmer of hope has fallen by the wasteside.

It has been stated before that hiphop came into prominence because of the cutting of school music programs dating back to the mid 1970s which I am inclined to believe. But now we are at least two generations removed from learning music theory and playing instruments and the seams are starting to burst. Even if you evaluate hiphop closely, generation Y discusses music in terms of fashion, cd sales and violence and not lyrical dexterity or content. What is going on and how can this be turned around? I think I may have some answers which I will address in my next entry. Meanwhile check out the clip below and remember how things used to be:

Enough with the Urban Legend emails people!!!

I'm pretty sure that you have received an email or two(or a hundred) that denotes some kind of controversy that stirs a fire in the belly and demands immediate attention. I retrieve these kind of emails almost daily....whether it's a repeal of the Voting Rights Act or the alleged death of Jaleel White, one must make it incumbant upon himself to verify the facts. The latest email I received dealt with the alleged popularity of the pre-teen Aryan folk act, Prussian Blue(check out their video above). Think of the Olsen twins wrapped in swastika robes. These girls came into the public consciousness via a ABC Primetime interview which showcased their prodigious musical talent as they espoused their racist ideology.

According to the email, Blue reached #4 on the Billboard charts with 91,000 copies sold. The email further detailed how this popularity spells doom for Black people if a racist musical act has found popularity. Rev. Jesse Jackson was even quoted in the email. Of course me being forever skeptical, researched this story (as I have with many nebulous emails) and found no evidence that the story was factual. But truth be told, I almost wish it were true. Why not have a hate group reach the top of the charts? Heck one could argue that the present musical landscape is already full of hate music. If the email were true, perhaps we would have an actual referendum on gangsta/bling music and decide whether it should get the amount of airplay and attention that it presently receives. One could only hope. I see a Prussian Blue, G-Unit tour in the future. Sounds like a plan. Check out the email in question below:

Racist Group #4 On Billboard

Queensbridge Projects........a history.....

First off, I must apologize for not blogging with greater frequency. I promise that for the month of October going forward I will commit to more entries. I'm always a sucker for the contrarian. A few days ago I just happened to be listening to Air America radio when I came across an interview with Selena Blake. Not only is Ms. Blake a resident of the infamous Queensbridge projects but also a documentarian of Queensbridge: The Other Side, a film showcasing an alternate view of the nation's largest project development. I will be the first to say that I am not a fan of the projects...any project development, not just Queensbridge. But I am keenly aware that just because someone is from the projects doesn't mean they are about the projects. Unfortunately, the commercialized hiphop music that is presently being force fed the public did not get that memo. For those who are not from New York, you may be familiar with Queensbridge as it is the birthplace for many New York based rap acts-Nas, Havoc of Mobb Deep, Mc Shan, Marly Marl, Roxanne Shante and a whole host of others have called Queensbridge home. For more info regarding Ms. Blake's efforts, check out the links below:

Queensbridge the Other Side

Queensbridge, the Other Side Focuses on Housing Project

Did I ever say that we are in Real Trouble?

It appears that the Oprah versus HipHop story just will not die. Trust the media to perpetuate a story for the public's prurient interest. I just happened to log into my AOL account when the main story centering around Oprah is some misguided fan who insists on promoting Oprah for president via his website. Needless to say, Oprah and her capable legal team are not amused. But low and behold, the adjacent story dealt with Oprah's alleged disdain for hiphop. I'm sure you have heard the story before so I will not repeat it but....it truly amazes me how this woman(and others) are being forced to love hiphop. Many of the artists as well as their supporters are delusional as it relates to the current coon imagery of the commercial music idiom. The constant use of "nigga" in place of true lyricism, the bling and misogyny....oh yeah....what's not to love? Take a look at the link below and check out the comments....we really need divine intervention folks.

Oprah Winfrey, enemy of hip-hop

On second thought not much to say.....

....regarding the last post. I suspect that the post regarding the dismantling of the KKK was a farce but the point was made. The key is.....will anything be done to turn things around?

Is it a Joke?......a Proposal?....or Reality

One of my friends hipped me to this supposition earlier today....feel free to take a look. I will comment later.

The Klu Klux Klan Disbands: Leaves Their Job To TOP Selling Rap Artist

I'll Be Black....I Mean Back......I Mean Puerto Rican?

Well, we know how rare it is for a politician to put a foot in his/her mouth.....right? I guess California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger must have missed the memo. For reasons unknown, the gravity of this occurrence already appears to be losing some ground but it remains a wacky story nonetheless. A March 06' conference the governator had with advisors was recently leaked in which Arnold was taped having a discussion about the specific nationality of a Latin political rival. What makes the conversation especially disturbing is the governor pontificating about Latins from Cuba and Puerto Rico being "hot" because of the admixture of Black and latin bloodlines.

This can be dissected on many levels. Of course this is not the type of discourse a government official should be having but will Black folk protest when there are more obvious examples of disrespect (CBS, BET, MTV, Gangsta Rap, etc) that demand attention. And haven't we heard this before amongst Black folk themselves about the lineage of many Latin cultures. The amazing part is that you have a foreign White person that is aware of nuances that many people of color refuse to admit to. Only time will tell. Check out more on this story by clicking on the link below:

Schwarzenegger: Cubans, Puerto Ricans 'all very hot'

Let's See What Will Happen

Just keeping everyone informed.....I emailed (as well as sent regular mail) a letter requesting consideration for a Black Alternative Music channel on Sirius Satellite. Check out my letter and Sirius' response. Let's see if they will do the honorable thing.

Message: Dear Sirs:

This brief letter is in regards to a request that I think will be
beneficial to your current roster of music channels. I am a recent
Sirius subscriber and I am highly pleased with the variety that your
programming entails. What would make your service even more pleasurable
would entail more progressive music programming as it relates to
African-American music. Perhaps the greatest disservice to current
Black culture is the perception that hip-hop and commercial r & b are
the only styles of music that people of color (as well as others)
produce and listen to.

I hope that Sirius, in contrast to the current state of terrestrial
radio, would consider a Black or Urban alternative radio channel. There
are a number of Black artists that are beyond conventional
categorization and in my estimation, are deserving of airplay. Artists
such as Bad Brains, Prince, Fishbone, 24-7 Spyz, Vernon Reid, Res, The
Roots as well as many of the neo-soul artists have yet to really get
comparable airplay in comparison to their hip-hop/r&b counterparts. I
have yet to see something like this considered in terrestrial radio.
Please uphold your revolutionary stance and consider a broader scope for
Black music for all to enjoy.

And now their response:

Subject: Re: Music Programming (KMM5026418I6774L0KM)


Dear Desmond,

Thank you for writing to us here at SIRIUS. We appreciate your comments
about our music programming. SIRIUS remains dedicated to providing an
unparalleled variety of music programming on all of our commercial-free
music channels in virtually every genre. Our channels are designed to
provide listeners of every listening preference all the music they want
to hear.

We continually rely on customer feedback like yours and research to
enhance your entertainment experience. As we strive to create the most
diverse listening experience available, we find that the feedback we
receive is crucial to our success! We are forwarding your comments to
the appropriate programming team for consideration.

Please visit our website at www.sirius.com/WHATSONSIRIUS for our current
lineup, schedules and programming highlights. Thanks again for your
thoughts and for your continued support of SIRIUS.

We are committed to providing you with the best in customer care. If
you have any more questions, please feel free to contact SIRIUS Customer
Care. For your convenience, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week at:

1-888-539-SIRIUS (7474)

As well as by email at:

www.sirius.com/customercare

Sincerely,

Debra G
SIRIUS Customer Care

For those who care-Tom Cruise's Baby

I know this is not a usual Afronerd topic...but I will explain why later today.
Enjoy and try not to gag.

The Katrina Chronicles.....or Why Rap is the New Disco

I just wanted to rant about something else that I noticed with the Katrina tragedy. What happened to the artistic response from our (so-called)musicians? HipHop has been quoted ad infinitum(since Chuck D's infamous remark 15 years ago) as being the CNN for the Black community. Perhaps at one time this was true but how does one explain the absence of music detailing the event? The only hiphop artist of note that has a single coming out about Katrina is Mos Def. What about the countless other artists? This is why Juan Williams, Bill Cosby, Stanley Crouch and others have come out so strongly against the current state of hiphop. A devastating event has wrecked havoc against Black and poor people and all we get to encapsulate the tragedy is more glutes, grills and gangstas? Dead bodies floating in filthy water isn't enough? Please tell me an (internal)revolution is forthcoming.

911 vs. Katrina?.....is it a fair match-up?

I recently had a conversation with a colleague that felt personally offended by Mayor Ray Nagin's(New Orleans) ground zero "hole in the ground" remarks. For those unfamiliar with Nagin's comments, he essentially was responding to criticism (from New Yorkers in this instance) regarding the perceived stagnation of the rebuilding of New Orleans after the Hurricane Katrina devastation. To paraphrase Nagin, he rebutted that New York is not in a position to criticize because it has been five years and they have not fixed ground zero(hence the hole in the ground assertion).

I, for one, agree with the intent of the Mayor's statement but felt that the wording was unwise considering that last week he was in New York asking for monetary aid. Sometimes you have to make concessions when you are seeking help from people. Anyway, this discourse with my coworker quickly sequed into a heated 911 vs Katrina discussion-which disaster was more tragic. The premise is really an unfair one. But sometimes I feel that Black and poor life just doesn't weigh in with some folks. As devastating as 911 was, New York City's infrastructure was minimally harmed. New Orleans is a city and not a building. I just could not convey this to the colleague in question.

A life is a life but there are no million dollar claim settlements going to the Katrina's victims and their families (as it was for the 911 victims). It also did not take 5 days to respond after September 11th as it did with the gulf coast. Whatever side of the fence you may be on with this subject, one thing that we all can agree on is.....the government severely dropped the ball in preparedness in both cases. Let's cross our fingers and hope that there are no immediate future debacles laying in wait for comparisons.....one can only hope.

It's Time To get Sirius....

I don't want to give the reader the impression that I have become a shill for Sirius Satellite radio but....I think it might be the next best thing since sliced (corn)bread. I purchased stock in the company a few weeks before Howard Stern announced his move from terrestrial to extra-terrestrial airwaves, so suffice it to say, I became a fan before I went out and copped a unit. It is an initially expensive endeavor(as I purchased a lifetime subscription) but the variety of music and programming blows away the competition on FM. I have also taken it upon myself to draft a letter to Sirius imploring them to consider a Black alternative music selection where artists that have notoriously been unable to fit with what is the expected music format(r & B, hip-hop) can be heard. Where else can Fishbone, Bad Brains, 24-7 Spyz, Prince, The Roots, Vernon Reid gain an audience? No one else believes that Black culture is a diversified entity. Sirius does have classic hiphop as well as several Jazz channels(which is sorely needed on FM) but there is still room for improvement. Perhaps there is hope for Black music yet...time to get sirius.

Survivor as a social experiment......please

I'm not going to commit too much time to this subject as it is pretty self explanatory in it's stupidity. CBS in a desperate effort to boost sagging Survivor ratings has submitted what they are calling a social experiment by pitting teams against each other based on race. Talk about a novel idea....really. God forbid they came up with a urban Survivor in which players attempt to survive in a Katrina/New Orleans environment. That would be a true social experiment and perhaps give some of the proceeds to the Katrina victims. I guess that would require too much thought on the part of CBS executives. Is this really 2006? Your guess is as good as mine. Check out Stanley Crouch's take on the Survivor story:

Give CBS black eye for 'Survivor' segregation

Time for an Adult Swim

I just wanted to provide a quick mention of one of my favorite pastimes, viewing Adult Swim programming. Take a look at a Scooby-Doo redux (above)featuring David Cross and Gary Coleman. And another show that I have taken a shine to is The Venture Bros.,(below) a show that is comedic spin on The Jonny Quest show from the 60s. Sit back enjoy and prepare to laugh.