You Need New Heroes

You Need New Heroes:

A Commentary on Hip Hop and Black Culture "Leaders" in Light of Recent Violence

Marvel's Black Panther and Storm

Street thugs turned rappers turned porn stars. Girls who pretend to be women, who sing to girls, convincing them to do the same. Males who preach money over everything and women who agree by a shake of the hips, not a nod of the head. Women who campaign for money the way thirsty people campaign for water. Millionaires who scoff at the poor and market to them in the same breath. Men who live off murder, greed, decadence, debauchery, theft,  harlotry, and general ignorance. Women who have elevated prostitution, deceit, seduction, envy, pride, and narcissism to a fine dark art.

You need new heroes.

Recently, two rappers and their respective entourages, got into a shoving match that escalated into a gunfight at a hip-hop awards show.

Big Surprise, I know.

Of course the two are arguing about who has the best wordplay, the most original delivery, the better beat selection, who has added more to the Hip-Hop community, and who is the best EMCEE...... Right?

Well, not exactly.

This fight, from what I can gather from bravado filled interviews, poorly crafted diss records, and a handful of Hip-Hop flame fanner sites, is that they are arguing over either who is most real (read "who lies about their street life the best") or who is the bigger snitch.

Let me add a disclaimer here. I am an active part of the Hip-Hop community, contributing  to the culture as a listener, emcee, budding producer, and aspiring historian.  I think Rick Ross is an excellent wordsmith and entertainer, who has worked hard for years underground, penning countless hits and party records before adopting his current "Supa Gangsta" persona. Young Jeezy has taken a street style further than any other non lyric driven rapper ever has, and has offered his own brand of "motivation" and "never give up" style to popular rap.

That, however, is where my praise stops.

Both of these men spout self glorifying lyrics that crap on fans and casual listeners alike. These men aren't singing about you. They aren't trying to motivate you. They are in it for self. There is not one lyric meant to inspire you to do anything other then buy their music and hate yourself just a little more.

But to be fair,it's not just them. It's about 90% of the mainstream artist out today.  Artist who , with a straight face, tell your children, and you, to buck all consequences, live like their is no tomorrow, and above all else, look out for you and you alone.

These are your heroes, your icons, your idols.

I repeat, you need new heroes.

Call me a Hip-Hop purist, call me an old soul, call me out of touch, call me a Hip-Hop romantic-better yet, call me an educated black man aware of the history and roots of the art form who is disgusted by the blaxploitation of the rap art form by popular music wrongly classified under the genre of Hip Hop. Yeah call me that.

Do you mean to tell me that Chief Keef and Nas belong to the same class of music? That SODMG and De La Soul come from the same roots? That Young Money holds a candle to the original Def Jam lineup?  There are more Gucci Mane records sold than Rakim records? Wu-Tang is a Dave Chapelle skit and Public Enemy is a Johnny Depp movie?

I didn't agree with Nas when he pronounced Hip-Hop dead. I'm starting to rethink my position.

Flash forward to this weeks BET Awards taping, and you see two artist replay a an infamous scenario on a much smaller, much more irrelevant scale. Two artists fighting for a self proclaimed title that only they care about that has no actual weight or credibility, especially in light of both artist questionable law enforcement involvement.

So in a time when this country is on the brink of economic collapse or foreign dependency, educational malfunction or with-holding, civil rights reform or restriction, emerging agendas and reformation and splitting of major political parties and their ideologies, the emergence of a global community, monetary system, government, and a convergence of world religion...you are googling who is the best at putting you down and profiting from your ignorance and poverty. Right.....

You need new heroes.

I'm often criticized for not offering solutions, only highlighting problems, so let me offer you some suggestions.

Fred Hampton- A Chicago slum resident, who through rigorous study and community organization became a prolific speaker and leader appointed to the head of national organization at only 20. While heading the Chicago chapter, Hampton instituted a free breakfast program feeding nearly 4000 kids daily, opened a free health clinic for poor Chicago residents, orchestrated a treaty between Chicago's two largest gangs and led them in positive direction towards community rebuilding, all while teaching a black history and civil law class free of charge at 6am every morning.

Now that's BAWSE.

Tousaint L'Overture-Born a slave on a Hatian plantation, and given no formal or military training, led an army of escaped and liberated slaves, defeating Napolean, who is held as one the foremost military strategists of all time, on NUMEROUS occasions to liberate Haiti from slavery and establish it as a the first free country in the Western Hemisphere for Blacks. As a direct result of France's defeat in Haiti, Napolean was forced to offload their American land holdings, known as the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the land mass holdings of a young United States.

THAT'S RIIIGHT!

These are just two of the many people you could choose to look for Motivation, or how to be a boss. There are so many other modern examples that would have you reading for millennia.

The Black School teacher who insures his students learn the value of reading.

The Black Father who DOESN'T LEAVE his children to the hands of the streets, radios, or televisions and raises his children.

The Black Mother who teaches her daughters respect for themselves, love for others, and a overwhelming sense of womanhood over harlotry.

The young educated minds who take the time to read. Anything.

You.

That's right, YOU.

Be your own hero. Set a goal, accomplish it, inspire yourself if you have no one else to look to.

And if all else fails, or if everything succeeds, look to God Almighty.

But one thing is definitely sure....

You need new heroes.

Suspended Disbelief

Suspended Disbelief:

A Discussion On American Social Proofing

Americans will believe anything so long as its the popular belief. Its called "Social Proof", and it is running rampant in America. It's a psychological phenomena when people believe something is correct or true, even if it is opposite of what they believe, but go along with the flow no matter what. Wiki it if you like.  Its actually pretty interesting psychology.

Because of this, I seem to keep getting into arguments with people about my beliefs. Doesn't really matter what the beliefs are. If they are not the mainstream, accepted, media approved beliefs, I keep getting into arguments about them. 

Funny Thing about beliefs is that people will believe in things without any type of fact to prove them. Some people call this Faith, or "the evidence of things not seen". Faith, I understand. Faith I get. I have never seen the face of God, yet I still have Faith He exist. Its not really that far of a stretch for me personally however, because I have seen evidence of Him, if not Him personally. But I'm sure we'll get to that in just a second. 

What we have here in America, however, is not Faith. There is plenty of evidence that many peoples beliefs are just flat out wrong. Yet, they still seem to hold on to them regardless. Their might be mountains of evidence, pictures, documents, photos, video, songs, television specials, and crazy guys in the park with billboards, and Americans still refuse to drop their beliefs, or at very least even investigate for themselves whether or not the crazy guy actually does have it right. 

And its on almost every subject. Politics, Religion, Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, History, Science...and  the list goes on.   When did this become the American Norm?

Everyone learns in school that America was started for some guys trying to escape religious persecution. We learn that Americans were being mistreated by the British and bravely fought for freedom. We are taught that great, noble, righteous men etched out a set of governances to establish a great country, a "shining city on a hill". We are taught that many great men to follow would uphold these traditions of morality and greatness and help build the wonderful bastion of safety, equality, and prosperity that we live in today.

In the words of the greatest Teacher I have ever had the pleasure of learning from-
"When I was a child, I behaved as a child. When I became a man, I put childish things away."

Their are two sides to every story. Sometimes many more than that in fact. Even the Bible contains the same story from four points of view. So why is it that when it comes to the subject of America, its conduct, its history, its policy, and its leaders, there seems to be only ONE accepted truth about everything. 

One man fights for the rights of his people and he is called a Patriot and and Freedom fighter. Another is called a rebel, a dissident, a socialist, a communist, and terrorist, and a threat to the American Way. No this is not about Obama. This is about every single individual who ever had the nerve to call America the liar that she is. 

Things are not always as they seem, America. Your country is not, has not, and may never be the Shining beacon of Freedom and Liberty that it so loudly proclaims. It's history is one of bloodshed, broken promises, cover-ups, misguidance, overt oppression, colonialism, greed and hatred of a non-homogenous state. And that's just on this soil. 

It is not that I hate this country. It is that I love this countries people. Their is a difference. How have people been duped into thinking that a withdrawal from the love of the State, is a hatred for the people residing within the state? Disagreeing with the State is the America Value, not the other way around-Let me explain. 

A group of Americans think that the state is charging too much for the services that they are getting.  They feel they are being mistreated, and no one is there to speak on their behalf. Feeling left out, and with no voice, they turn to property destruction as the only means of being heard. They, dressed in a way not to divulge their identities, enter unlawfully into a place of business, armed, and began destroying thousands of dollars worth of property.  Afterwards, the merchants complain to the government that they are not being protected, to which the government sends in armed enforcers to ensure that this does not happen again. Further issues ensue, causing mass chaos and bloodshed, the Americans ultimately prevail, and are praised for it in history.Today, we call this Act The Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution. The gentleman involved are held as American heroes, and their names and actions are on the lips of school children everywhere.

Another Scenario.

A group of Americans feel that the state is openly neglecting them,and sometimes openly discriminating and attacking them even though they are tax paying citizens. They feel they are being mistreated, and this time, they have several speakers. Still, feeling left out, with only a limited voice, they turn to separation and self-protection as a means of being heard.  They began speaking to the people about the atrocities the state is committing, feeding their children the state is forcing into poverty, medically treating the citizens the state is denying healthcare to, and educating the people where the state has failed to do so, all free of charge, and at no cost to the state. They begin trying to petition and demand from the government that a change be brought about, so that no violence has to take place. The government, after hearing these complaints, and observing these actions, began to assassinate the character, ideas, and even the people delivering them both openly and secretively, until the entire group of Americans is either dead, imprisoned, exiled, or discredited and ridiculed. The people remain oppressed. America prevails. Today, we call this the Black Panther Party, and "Black Power" Movement. The gentleman and ladies involved are held as American rebels, criminals, dissidents, even terrorists. Their names and actions are held on almost no ones lips, although the rumors of their actions reside loudly in the heads of most Americans. 

This is just one small example of Mis-History and the ability to propagandize, positively or negatively, the results of time past. 

Have you ever researched America's past for yourself? Not what you were taught umpteen years ago in a class where your were more interested in the person's clothes or lack therof next to you than rather or not what you were being told was true, but the actual American History. Are you aware of the broken Native treaties, The Seminole Wars, The French and Indian Wars, the Economic Necessity of the Civil War, the Zapata Letter, The Tuskeegee Project, COINTELPRO, the philosophies and practices of J. Edgar Hoover, The Angela Davis Case, The Cuban Embargo, The Hawaiian Takeover, The Imperialistic ideas of Roosevelt, the Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemings Affair, The 3/5ths clause of the Constitution, The American Racial Makup pre-1620, The French Revolution, Emmit Till, Medgar Evers, Mumia Abu Jamal, Phildelphia MOVE, the need to ratify the African-American vote every 20--odd years to keep it effective, The newly approved FBI Nationwide surveillance system, the practices of Housing Authorities splitting males from poor families and restricting college enrollment...etc. 
If not, then you have some reading to do. 

I do not wish do destroy the idea of America the Beautiful, only to highlight America the Liar.
Contrary to popular television, their is no such thing as a Pretty Little Liar.

On on the topic of World History and  Religon, you might want to check out The Star of David, The Askenazi Jews, The Portrait of Christ and Ceasar Borgia, the Constinian Conversion of Christianity into Rome and the Continuance of Pagan Worship in the Christian Church, The Ethnic Identities of Beethoven, King George, Tutenkhamen, The First Buddha Siddartha Guatama, Abraham Lincoln, the first Samurai  Sakanouye Tamura Maro, the languages and identities of the Native North and South Americans, and while your at it, check out the History of Nimrod and Samuramis.

It is time you started doing some research into what you believe. Children are taught, because they know nothing. As an adult, it is your job to verify what you know. You have an obligation to the generations to follow you not to drop the ball. We are in an age where information is virtually inescapable. Their is no excuse for ignorance in the Information Age.

For Those of you needing a Biblical push to do so the bible states

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth." and also

"My people perish for lack of knowledge.."

Its time to put childish things away. 

Its time to stop believing in lies and research truth. 

Don't be a victim of Social Proof.

Wake Up, Wise Up, Stay Up.

Da Beast

Open Letter To Single Mothers

Dear Single Mother (aka Baby Momma),



I'm sorry he doesn't come around or take care of his kids. But in all honesty, what did you expect? He didn't ask to marry you. He didn't even take you somewhere nice to hit it. You let him go raw in the truck. This is your decision. You could have easily prevented this entire situation. But you didn't. Time to take responsibility. Stop talking about all men like that in front of your child. What do you think this is doing to their image of men in general? What about any relationship they might want to enjoy with their father, just like you wanted when you were little? Is it the child's fault that you were silly enough to sleep with a man you weren't sure would be there forever? Is it the child's fault mommy likes "bad boys" or " soldiers" or dates men with no jobs or degrees or cars or knowledge of God or sense enough to use a condom at very least? Let's be honest, your baby daddy was crap before you had his baby, but you thought he was sexy. Don't blame that on him. You fell for it. That's you. Unless he raped you, your just as responsible for being a single mom as he is.

What a child needs is a Mother...

 Obviously I'm not talking neccesarily to divorced mothers, as those situations vary. 

If you left your husband for the safety of yourself or your children ( including infidelity-stds are DEADLY) , I applaud you.But if you left him because things got tight financially, then you jumped the gun. You are meant to be his helper and his support, not his dependent. If you aren't with your man because "he was trying to control me" (non-abusively) then you will never find a man. Being a wife ( that is your goal right?) is about submission. Let me rephrase that for you "independent women" readers. If you don't love, respect. trust, believe in, or are willing to follow that man's lead where ever he leads you, then why did you open your legs? Men are not just walking around handing out babies. There's a process-maybe you remember it? Or are you blaming the a-a-a-a-alcohol? Or the weed? Or the pills? Or are you not sure who should be signing the checks? 

...not a Model.

Look, have a little respect for yourself, sista.  Get out the club looking for Mr. Right. He's not there. He has work in the morning. Don't confuse boys with men. You don't keep finding bad men, you keep accepting bad boys. What do you have to offer a man? He already has a car, a job, a home, and a goal for his life. He wants a lover, not a fling. He wants a meal, not a paper bag. He wants a clean home to come home to, not a bill from the maid. He wants a family, not visitation rights and wage garnishment. He wants to lead you, not be belittled by you. Can you offer those things? Have you become the WOMAN that a MAN wants? Don't be fooled by this "independent woman" foolishness. Even Beyonce got married. Think about it. 

Keep This from happening Single Mothers!

If not for you then for your children. How can they learn to really love a spouse if they've never seen it? How can they learn to abstain if they meet a new dude every couple weeks? How can you discipline and nurture and not confuse that child? It wasn't meant to be that way. You made a mistake. Now wake up before you make more that lead your child down the same path.

 

Yarahyahu