Over the last decade and a half I have noticed a startling and frightening trend. It's gotten worse with every single year and it has reached a critical and dangerous point. I am speaking of course about the American news media. The American news media has become a fountain of distortions, indoctrination, and misinformation. Americans are being literally mind fucked every single say by news outlets all across this country. We are being controlled and conditioned and many of us don't even realize it.
The majority of major news outlets in America don't report. They distort. Very little of what the news media does involves actual reporting. The vast majority of what they do involves conditioning your mind to accept a certain narrative or viewpoint. It is a very deliberate process designed to keep you under control. They will distort a story and spin it in order to perpetuate a certain ideology. The process has been going on for some time now and it follows a very set pattern. While news outlets like Fox News are clearly the worst of the worst, they are by no means alone.
The next time you watch the news pay attention to how the story is presented to you. Initially you'll get a journalist or news anchor reporting the story. Almost immediately after the journalist reports on the story he or she will defer to a panel of consultants and contributors who will give their OPINIONS on the story. This is a deliberate tactic designed to weave a certain narrative. Almost all news networks do it. They'll have lawyers, doctors, retired veterans, and other "professionals" offering their opinions on an issue. This is done to lend credibility and weight to otherwise useless opinions.
Ask yourself simple questions. Why do I need someone to tell me what to think about a story? Why should I give a shit what Sean Hannity or Al Sharpton or Don Lemon thinks about the story? Why can't I make up my own mind about how I feel about a story? Why am I listening to this panel tell me what they think? Do they think I cannot think for myself?
The act of distorting not reporting is not new. That said though, today it is completely out of hand. We have networks and news outlets literally conditioning people to accept certain ideals and viewpoints. We have news outlets fleecing the public by feeding them false information, half truths, and useless opinions. It has become rampant and out of control and the result is a blind and completely ignorant populace incapable of critical thinking.
When you watch the news, do so objectively. Trust nothing. Cross reference what you hear and see. Don't rely on one news outlet for all of your information. Get your information from multiple sources and CHECK those sources. You owe it to yourself to get to the truth and if you leave it to CNN, MSNBC, or Fox News you will be blind and misinformed.
The American news media does not report. It distorts. The result is a massive mind fuck so powerful it's crippling the minds of the American people. It's frightening. It's out of control. With each day it gets worse. It's time we start asking more from the American media.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
Thugs and Patriots
I wanted to write today about something I've been thinking about. There is a saying. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Now I'm not sure I believe that or agree with that. But it's becoming clear to me that the American media does. At least the root premise of it anyway. I'm convinced of this. Case in point:
Just a few short years ago it was considered "patriotic" to resist big government tyranny. It was considered "patriotic" to stand up to a increasingly militarized police force and to challenge what was described as a near despotic government. It was considered to "patriotic" to form well regulated militias and to be prepared for armed resistance. Patriotic Americans walked through the streets armed with AR-15s, AK-74s, and other firearms in a brazen show of force. They carried antagonistic signs like "JUST TRY TO TAKE MY GUN" and "WE CAME IN PEACE....THIS TIME!!". At times, as in the case with Cliven Bundy, they even pointed their weapons at the federal government and law enforcement agents. These Americans were applauded for their "courage" and heralded as protectors and defenders of the Constitution. They were encouraged to resist the government and to fight if necessary. It was their right as Americans.
What's strange though is that I look at what is happening in Ferguson and NY and there is a very different narrative. In fact, it's almost the exact opposite. Those who are marching against militarized police and police brutality are labeled malcontents, trouble makers, and thugs. Non-compliance is no longer considered patriotic. It is considered criminal. Those who encouraged protestors armed with semi-automatic rifles are now criticizing and berating unarmed protestors. Those who once encouraged Americans to resist an increasingly militarized police force who were buying bullets and arms by the truckload are now telling others to obey and comply. What was once patriotic is now treasonous. Pointing a sniper rifle at a federal officer on the Bundy ranch? You're a patriot. Throwing a bottle at a military style Humvee in Ferguson? You are a thug, a criminal, and you belong in jail.
So it would appear, at least to me, that one man's patriot is another man's thug. What makes one action patriotic and another criminal? Obviously I have my ideas but I don't think I need to state them. Besides. I want to know what others think. I want to see how others rationalize this seemingly blatant double standard. When am I a thug? When am I a patriot? When do I get to protest? How am I supposed to protest? Why am I a patriot when I'm looking down the scope of a .308 but a criminal when I throw a brick at a window?
Just things that I'm thinking about.
Just a few short years ago it was considered "patriotic" to resist big government tyranny. It was considered "patriotic" to stand up to a increasingly militarized police force and to challenge what was described as a near despotic government. It was considered to "patriotic" to form well regulated militias and to be prepared for armed resistance. Patriotic Americans walked through the streets armed with AR-15s, AK-74s, and other firearms in a brazen show of force. They carried antagonistic signs like "JUST TRY TO TAKE MY GUN" and "WE CAME IN PEACE....THIS TIME!!". At times, as in the case with Cliven Bundy, they even pointed their weapons at the federal government and law enforcement agents. These Americans were applauded for their "courage" and heralded as protectors and defenders of the Constitution. They were encouraged to resist the government and to fight if necessary. It was their right as Americans.
What's strange though is that I look at what is happening in Ferguson and NY and there is a very different narrative. In fact, it's almost the exact opposite. Those who are marching against militarized police and police brutality are labeled malcontents, trouble makers, and thugs. Non-compliance is no longer considered patriotic. It is considered criminal. Those who encouraged protestors armed with semi-automatic rifles are now criticizing and berating unarmed protestors. Those who once encouraged Americans to resist an increasingly militarized police force who were buying bullets and arms by the truckload are now telling others to obey and comply. What was once patriotic is now treasonous. Pointing a sniper rifle at a federal officer on the Bundy ranch? You're a patriot. Throwing a bottle at a military style Humvee in Ferguson? You are a thug, a criminal, and you belong in jail.
So it would appear, at least to me, that one man's patriot is another man's thug. What makes one action patriotic and another criminal? Obviously I have my ideas but I don't think I need to state them. Besides. I want to know what others think. I want to see how others rationalize this seemingly blatant double standard. When am I a thug? When am I a patriot? When do I get to protest? How am I supposed to protest? Why am I a patriot when I'm looking down the scope of a .308 but a criminal when I throw a brick at a window?
Just things that I'm thinking about.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Shifting the Blame: Calling Out Racism is the New Racism
There is a growing phenomenon in America. A phenomenon that has grown exponentially over the past few years. I've written about it before and since then it's grown even greater. It's one that has me scratching my head in utter disbelief at times I will admit. What is this phenomenon I'm speaking of? The NEW racism. Apparently, we have reached a point in America where calling out racism is in fact racist. We've reached a point where pointing out injustice has become injustice. We've reached a point where people are outraged at the outrage. I often find myself confused and astonished by this? How the hell did this happen? When did calling out injustice become worse than the injustice we are calling out? When did it be become OK to be outraged at those who are outraged at bigotry? When did it become racist to oppose racism?
We've all heard it before. All of us. Whenever there is a manifestation of racial injustice in America(which unfortunately is all too often) there will always and inevitably be someone expressing their "concerns" and "frustrations" about those who stand against it. Always. You've heard them. You've seen them. You'll be talking about Eric Garner and out of nowhere they'll bring up Al Sharpton. You'll be talking about Rekia Boyd and out of nowhere they'll bring up Jesse Jackson. You'll be talking about racial injustice and out of nowhere they'll bring up Barack Obama. They will go out of their way to shift the conversation from injustice to something or someone completely irrelevant to the issue. They'll make false equivalencies. They'll ask idiotic questions like "Why aren't you concerned about black on black crime?" or "Why don't civil rights leaders speak out when someone white dies?". They'll blame protestors for fanning the flames of conflict. They will shift the onus and responsibility from those who commit injustice to those who are fighting and resisting it.
Let me be clear. If you are more concerned about say Al Sharpton than you are about police choking an unarmed man to death you are the part of the problem. If you are more concerned about say Jesse Jackson than a SWAT team throwing a flash bang into a home and maiming a child you are part of the problem. If you are more concerned about what Obama had to say about Trayvon Martin than the fact that Trayvon Martin is dead, well....I think you get it.
You see, we aren't fooled by you. You aren't really concerned about issues in the inner city. You aren't concerned about black on black crime, gangs, drug, teen pregnancy or any of those other things you try to distract people with when they are justifiably angry about social injustice. You don't give a shit. You don't. The only time you'll even mention it is when racism and social injustice rears it head and the only purpose of you doing it is to placate and misdirect.
The news media in particular has become quite adept at shifting blame. High profile personalities like Don Lemon for example have all but mastered the art of misdirection. Fox News, in addition to being a fountain of misinformation, has turned shifting blame into an art form. Even local and online publications and news outlets engaged in shameless victim blaming and shifting responsibility. A young man gets killed? Someone somewhere will attempt to shift the conversation to young black thuggery. A young woman gets raped? Someone somewhere will attempt to shift the conversation to teen pregnancy or black women out of wedlock or welfare recipients. It happens without fail.
As we move into 2015 society's approach to racism seems to be one of "deal with it". Racism is here to stay and it's not going away. Keep your head down, keep quiet about it and hope to the high heavens it doesn't affect you too much. Speak on it and YOU are a racist. Challenge it and YOU are a bigot. Resist it and YOU are the trouble maker. Challenging racism has become the new racism.
I suppose that would make me a racist. I suppose that makes me a hateful person. I suppose that makes me an angry black man. So be it.....
We've all heard it before. All of us. Whenever there is a manifestation of racial injustice in America(which unfortunately is all too often) there will always and inevitably be someone expressing their "concerns" and "frustrations" about those who stand against it. Always. You've heard them. You've seen them. You'll be talking about Eric Garner and out of nowhere they'll bring up Al Sharpton. You'll be talking about Rekia Boyd and out of nowhere they'll bring up Jesse Jackson. You'll be talking about racial injustice and out of nowhere they'll bring up Barack Obama. They will go out of their way to shift the conversation from injustice to something or someone completely irrelevant to the issue. They'll make false equivalencies. They'll ask idiotic questions like "Why aren't you concerned about black on black crime?" or "Why don't civil rights leaders speak out when someone white dies?". They'll blame protestors for fanning the flames of conflict. They will shift the onus and responsibility from those who commit injustice to those who are fighting and resisting it.
Let me be clear. If you are more concerned about say Al Sharpton than you are about police choking an unarmed man to death you are the part of the problem. If you are more concerned about say Jesse Jackson than a SWAT team throwing a flash bang into a home and maiming a child you are part of the problem. If you are more concerned about what Obama had to say about Trayvon Martin than the fact that Trayvon Martin is dead, well....I think you get it.
You see, we aren't fooled by you. You aren't really concerned about issues in the inner city. You aren't concerned about black on black crime, gangs, drug, teen pregnancy or any of those other things you try to distract people with when they are justifiably angry about social injustice. You don't give a shit. You don't. The only time you'll even mention it is when racism and social injustice rears it head and the only purpose of you doing it is to placate and misdirect.
The news media in particular has become quite adept at shifting blame. High profile personalities like Don Lemon for example have all but mastered the art of misdirection. Fox News, in addition to being a fountain of misinformation, has turned shifting blame into an art form. Even local and online publications and news outlets engaged in shameless victim blaming and shifting responsibility. A young man gets killed? Someone somewhere will attempt to shift the conversation to young black thuggery. A young woman gets raped? Someone somewhere will attempt to shift the conversation to teen pregnancy or black women out of wedlock or welfare recipients. It happens without fail.
As we move into 2015 society's approach to racism seems to be one of "deal with it". Racism is here to stay and it's not going away. Keep your head down, keep quiet about it and hope to the high heavens it doesn't affect you too much. Speak on it and YOU are a racist. Challenge it and YOU are a bigot. Resist it and YOU are the trouble maker. Challenging racism has become the new racism.
I suppose that would make me a racist. I suppose that makes me a hateful person. I suppose that makes me an angry black man. So be it.....
Thursday, December 4, 2014
A Tale of Two Americas
America. Land of the free. Home of the brave. In America we have been indoctrinated with superficial patriotism. We have been indoctrinated with images of pride and freedom. We have been imbued with an almost overwhelming sense of self righteousness. If you allow the average American to tell it, America is a free and open country where anyone can be and do anything regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, or religion. This image persists even in the face of the undeniable fact that nothing could be further from the truth.
You see there is America and then there is the America that exists in our minds. There is the real America and the America that has been manufactured and indoctrinated into the hearts and souls of it's citizens. What's amazing is that the manufactured, illusory image of America is always the dominant one. We consistently reject the truth. We always accept the false image. In fact, not only will we consistently reject the truth, we will take issue with anyone who even attempts to speak it.
For example, we are taught to believe that the Founding Fathers of this country were champions of freedom who discovered a new land and built a nation where all men and women could live free and prosper. We eat that image up. But it's not the truth. The truth is that the Founding Fathers were slave owners who saw blacks as 3/5 of a person. They were misogynists who believed women did not have the right or even the intellectual capacity to vote or own land. They were murderers who drove Mexicans south and brought the Native Americans to the brink of extinction.
Now those are facts. I didn't make a single word of that up. But if I were to speak that truth, most Americans would lose their minds. They would seethe with rage and anger. I would be called everything from racist to unpatriotic. I would told things like "If you don't like this country, LEAVE!" Even though nothing I've said is false.
I'll give you another example. America is a racist nation. That is an undeniable truth. America was founded on white male supremacy. Again blacks were considered 3/5 of a person. Women did not possess the same rights as men. Native Americans were viewed as savages and pushed from their land. America has a history of racism, discrimination, and civil unrest. Less than 50 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King was violently shot and killed. Dr. King fought tirelessly for equal rights and change. He was an advocate of non-violence, even in the face of it. Even as he was stoned, jailed, and attacked he still refused to raise his hands to his opponents. Ultimately he was shot in the head. Even today black people do not enjoy equal justice and opportunity under the law. Blacks still make less than their white counterparts per average for doing relatively the same work. Hate speech is a regular occurrence. Then there is the criminal justice system. One has only to ask the families of Eric Garner, Mike Brown, and Tamir Price about justice to understand that the criminal justice system sees blacks in particular as criminals almost by default.
Again, those are facts. Harsh facts to be sure. But facts nonetheless. But if I speak those facts aloud? Well, I shouldn't have to tell anyone what will happen and what will be said about me.
It's not just from whites. Should I speak the truth to power many other black people will rage as well. I've learned a long time ago there are black people who are completely invested in Illusory America. I like to compare it in some ways to the Matrix. It doesn't matter if they aren't really eating steak. As long as they believe they are eating steak, that's all that matters. When given the option to see America as it exists versus illusory America, they will choose illusory America 10/10 times.
So here we are. Living in two Americas. The America that exists in reality and the one that exists in our minds. What's sad is that the more the America that exists in reality asserts itself, the harder we cling to the America that exists in our minds. Because of this, any progress we make toward making our nation truly better will be slow and painstaking. You don't fix what you wont acknowledge as broken. We will never escape the hell as long as we collectively cling to the illusion that we are living in heaven.
You see there is America and then there is the America that exists in our minds. There is the real America and the America that has been manufactured and indoctrinated into the hearts and souls of it's citizens. What's amazing is that the manufactured, illusory image of America is always the dominant one. We consistently reject the truth. We always accept the false image. In fact, not only will we consistently reject the truth, we will take issue with anyone who even attempts to speak it.
For example, we are taught to believe that the Founding Fathers of this country were champions of freedom who discovered a new land and built a nation where all men and women could live free and prosper. We eat that image up. But it's not the truth. The truth is that the Founding Fathers were slave owners who saw blacks as 3/5 of a person. They were misogynists who believed women did not have the right or even the intellectual capacity to vote or own land. They were murderers who drove Mexicans south and brought the Native Americans to the brink of extinction.
Now those are facts. I didn't make a single word of that up. But if I were to speak that truth, most Americans would lose their minds. They would seethe with rage and anger. I would be called everything from racist to unpatriotic. I would told things like "If you don't like this country, LEAVE!" Even though nothing I've said is false.
I'll give you another example. America is a racist nation. That is an undeniable truth. America was founded on white male supremacy. Again blacks were considered 3/5 of a person. Women did not possess the same rights as men. Native Americans were viewed as savages and pushed from their land. America has a history of racism, discrimination, and civil unrest. Less than 50 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King was violently shot and killed. Dr. King fought tirelessly for equal rights and change. He was an advocate of non-violence, even in the face of it. Even as he was stoned, jailed, and attacked he still refused to raise his hands to his opponents. Ultimately he was shot in the head. Even today black people do not enjoy equal justice and opportunity under the law. Blacks still make less than their white counterparts per average for doing relatively the same work. Hate speech is a regular occurrence. Then there is the criminal justice system. One has only to ask the families of Eric Garner, Mike Brown, and Tamir Price about justice to understand that the criminal justice system sees blacks in particular as criminals almost by default.
Again, those are facts. Harsh facts to be sure. But facts nonetheless. But if I speak those facts aloud? Well, I shouldn't have to tell anyone what will happen and what will be said about me.
It's not just from whites. Should I speak the truth to power many other black people will rage as well. I've learned a long time ago there are black people who are completely invested in Illusory America. I like to compare it in some ways to the Matrix. It doesn't matter if they aren't really eating steak. As long as they believe they are eating steak, that's all that matters. When given the option to see America as it exists versus illusory America, they will choose illusory America 10/10 times.
So here we are. Living in two Americas. The America that exists in reality and the one that exists in our minds. What's sad is that the more the America that exists in reality asserts itself, the harder we cling to the America that exists in our minds. Because of this, any progress we make toward making our nation truly better will be slow and painstaking. You don't fix what you wont acknowledge as broken. We will never escape the hell as long as we collectively cling to the illusion that we are living in heaven.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
You Don't Know Bill Cosby. Stop Pretending You Do
I want to preface this blog posting by saying by no means am I implying guilt or innocence with this post. I do however want to make a clear point.
I've heard several people say over the past few weeks that there is no way that Bill Cosby could possibly be guilty of the allegations of rape and sexual misconduct that have been brought against him. I've talked to people who have staunchly and rigorously defended Cosby against his accusers. What has baffled me to be quite honest is not that they are defending him but the reasons why they are defending him. I've heard people say "I grew up with Bill Cosby. I grew up watching Bill Cosby. Cosby could never do anything like that." If you are one of those people then I must tell you that I find your position...well...ridiculous.
First of all let's deal in reality. Bill Cosby is a comedian and an actor. The beloved characters you grew up watching are just that. Characters. Heathcliff Huxtable is not real. The animated characters you grew to love are not real. The man that was on stage telling jokes that made you laugh until your sides ached was simply doing what comedians do.
Let's be honest. Bill Cosby has touched all of our lives in some way and many of us have fond memories of him whether it be from stage, movies, TV sitcoms, or animated cartoons. But we should not dismiss the charges against him just because at one time he made us feel good. We should not be so quick to defend him simply because he made us smile or laugh. Rape is a very serious crime and we should treat it as such. Blind reverence is a very dangerous thing and if Mr. Cosby is guilty of these charges he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I've been very critical of Cosby for a long time and I will readily admit that. I've taken issue with Cosby's condescending approach and tone to young black people. I've sharply criticized his comments regarding struggling black Americans. That said, this is not an attempt to strike at Cosby. As I said, this blog posting is not about suggesting guilt or innocence. It's about why we shouldn't dismiss these allegations simply because it's Bill Cosby.
You didn't grow up with Cosby. You grew up with characters on television, stage, and movies. You grew up with animated shows and stand-up routines. You don't know Bill Cosby. Stop acting as if you do.
I've heard several people say over the past few weeks that there is no way that Bill Cosby could possibly be guilty of the allegations of rape and sexual misconduct that have been brought against him. I've talked to people who have staunchly and rigorously defended Cosby against his accusers. What has baffled me to be quite honest is not that they are defending him but the reasons why they are defending him. I've heard people say "I grew up with Bill Cosby. I grew up watching Bill Cosby. Cosby could never do anything like that." If you are one of those people then I must tell you that I find your position...well...ridiculous.
First of all let's deal in reality. Bill Cosby is a comedian and an actor. The beloved characters you grew up watching are just that. Characters. Heathcliff Huxtable is not real. The animated characters you grew to love are not real. The man that was on stage telling jokes that made you laugh until your sides ached was simply doing what comedians do.
Let's be honest. Bill Cosby has touched all of our lives in some way and many of us have fond memories of him whether it be from stage, movies, TV sitcoms, or animated cartoons. But we should not dismiss the charges against him just because at one time he made us feel good. We should not be so quick to defend him simply because he made us smile or laugh. Rape is a very serious crime and we should treat it as such. Blind reverence is a very dangerous thing and if Mr. Cosby is guilty of these charges he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I've been very critical of Cosby for a long time and I will readily admit that. I've taken issue with Cosby's condescending approach and tone to young black people. I've sharply criticized his comments regarding struggling black Americans. That said, this is not an attempt to strike at Cosby. As I said, this blog posting is not about suggesting guilt or innocence. It's about why we shouldn't dismiss these allegations simply because it's Bill Cosby.
You didn't grow up with Cosby. You grew up with characters on television, stage, and movies. You grew up with animated shows and stand-up routines. You don't know Bill Cosby. Stop acting as if you do.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Why Marching and Non Violence Isn't Enough: The Genius of MLK
I want to talk a bit about the genius that was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In the wake of the grand jury decision regarding Darren Wilson I can't help but think of him. He was more than just a charismatic leader of men. He was more than just a well spoken minister. He was an incredible man. He was a genius.
We often lose sight of the true MLK and the magnificence of what he was able to accomplish. We are often blinded by the light so to speak. We often try to put MLK into a box. When we think of MLK we think of "I have A Dream" and "We Shall Overcome". We think of marches and speeches. We often miss the true substance. We often forget one of the most important lessons MLK tried to teach us. That lesson is that marching and singing alone isn't enough. If we want to see true change we must decisive and definitive actions.
MLK chose the path of non violence for a number of important reasons. He knew that we could not over power the system at that time. He knew that we were outgunned and outmanned and force was not a feasible option. He knew that our message would be diluted through violence and bloodshed. So he chose a different path. That said, he also knew that marching and singing would not be enough. He knew that while non violence would ensure that we could not be dismissed or framed as violent thugs looking to cause harm, it would also not be enough.
MLK knew that it is impossible to appeal to the morality of your oppressor. Your oppressor is completely aware of their actions. They are completely conscious of what they are doing to you. Appealing to their morality is useless. So MLK chose a different path. He attacked the system economically and socially. And it worked.
Think about the bus boycott for example. Black people showed their collective economic power and crippled the public transit system. He showed our oppressors that he knew where to strike them and that he had the ability to rally black people together to make that strike. That's why the American establishment was so afraid of him. Because they knew that through King's inspiration Black people could cripple the system. J.Edgar Hoover called MLK the most dangerous negro in America. They knew what King knew. That those marches and songs were not the means to fight. They were the rallying cry.
Those marches and songs were for US not for our oppressor. They were meant to inspire us. They were meant to encourage us. They were meant to embolden us. Once inspired, encouraged, and emboldened we had the fortitude to do what was necessary. Imagine what we could do today. Imagine if we decided to stay home from work and keep our money in our pockets on Black Friday. Imagine if we came together and did something of SUBSTANCE.
We are so busy marching, singing, rallying and listening to weak ass milksop leaders that we are missing a great lesson that Dr. King tried to teach us. Non violence isn't enough. Marching isn't enough. Unless we want to see cities on fire we need to do more than just sing and march. Our people are crying out for justice and they will have it one way or the other. It's time we remember one of King's most important lessons.
We often lose sight of the true MLK and the magnificence of what he was able to accomplish. We are often blinded by the light so to speak. We often try to put MLK into a box. When we think of MLK we think of "I have A Dream" and "We Shall Overcome". We think of marches and speeches. We often miss the true substance. We often forget one of the most important lessons MLK tried to teach us. That lesson is that marching and singing alone isn't enough. If we want to see true change we must decisive and definitive actions.
MLK chose the path of non violence for a number of important reasons. He knew that we could not over power the system at that time. He knew that we were outgunned and outmanned and force was not a feasible option. He knew that our message would be diluted through violence and bloodshed. So he chose a different path. That said, he also knew that marching and singing would not be enough. He knew that while non violence would ensure that we could not be dismissed or framed as violent thugs looking to cause harm, it would also not be enough.
MLK knew that it is impossible to appeal to the morality of your oppressor. Your oppressor is completely aware of their actions. They are completely conscious of what they are doing to you. Appealing to their morality is useless. So MLK chose a different path. He attacked the system economically and socially. And it worked.
Think about the bus boycott for example. Black people showed their collective economic power and crippled the public transit system. He showed our oppressors that he knew where to strike them and that he had the ability to rally black people together to make that strike. That's why the American establishment was so afraid of him. Because they knew that through King's inspiration Black people could cripple the system. J.Edgar Hoover called MLK the most dangerous negro in America. They knew what King knew. That those marches and songs were not the means to fight. They were the rallying cry.
Those marches and songs were for US not for our oppressor. They were meant to inspire us. They were meant to encourage us. They were meant to embolden us. Once inspired, encouraged, and emboldened we had the fortitude to do what was necessary. Imagine what we could do today. Imagine if we decided to stay home from work and keep our money in our pockets on Black Friday. Imagine if we came together and did something of SUBSTANCE.
We are so busy marching, singing, rallying and listening to weak ass milksop leaders that we are missing a great lesson that Dr. King tried to teach us. Non violence isn't enough. Marching isn't enough. Unless we want to see cities on fire we need to do more than just sing and march. Our people are crying out for justice and they will have it one way or the other. It's time we remember one of King's most important lessons.
Missing Our Leaders....Especially Now
When I was young I was a troubled young man with anger issues. I often fought and got into all manner of trouble. One of the ways I was taught to control my emotions is to write. I find that when I'm consumed with emotion, writing helps me "see my thoughts" and control my energy. On the eve of the grand jury's decision regarding Darren Wilson I again find myself consumed with emotion. I imagine I'll be writing quite a bit.....
It's times like these when I wish we had leaders like Malcolm and Martin still with us. It's times like these when I wish we had leaders with the fortitude of the elders and not these milksop cowards we've got running around now.
These fools don't do anything. They'll show up and organize a rally or march, run their mouths, march, raise some money and disappear. They'll placate us with honeyed words and patronize us with useless platitudes.
Most importantly they'll tell us "violence is not the answer" without providing any answer of their own. Our young people need guidance. Help. Leadership. They are despondent and frustrated over a society that seems to want the dead. They aren't receiving equal justice under the law. They tell our young people to "be smart" but they wont provide a reasonable and pragmatic solution. They wont arm them with a means to properly resist and oppose the system. Again they'll just offer useless platitudes and nothing of substance.
Then it hits me and I'm reminded of the truth. We can't rely on our "leaders". We must be our own leaders. Each one must teach one. We have to find our own way and not depend on these suited weasels to assist us. Still, even with that understanding, we could sure use Malcolm right now....
It's times like these when I wish we had leaders like Malcolm and Martin still with us. It's times like these when I wish we had leaders with the fortitude of the elders and not these milksop cowards we've got running around now.
These fools don't do anything. They'll show up and organize a rally or march, run their mouths, march, raise some money and disappear. They'll placate us with honeyed words and patronize us with useless platitudes.
Most importantly they'll tell us "violence is not the answer" without providing any answer of their own. Our young people need guidance. Help. Leadership. They are despondent and frustrated over a society that seems to want the dead. They aren't receiving equal justice under the law. They tell our young people to "be smart" but they wont provide a reasonable and pragmatic solution. They wont arm them with a means to properly resist and oppose the system. Again they'll just offer useless platitudes and nothing of substance.
Then it hits me and I'm reminded of the truth. We can't rely on our "leaders". We must be our own leaders. Each one must teach one. We have to find our own way and not depend on these suited weasels to assist us. Still, even with that understanding, we could sure use Malcolm right now....
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
The Ray Rice Incident: Why Some of My Brothers Need to Stop the Nonsense
I'm going to be short and to the point.
My brothers we need to stop. Seriously. Stop. I'm growing weary of hearing the same bigoted, oppressive, and privileged logic used by racists being applied to black women. The Ray Rice incident has really exposed some of you. It's really frustrating for me as a seasoned brother trying to do what little I can, to see us being set back by our own arrogance, ignorance, and misogyny.
We are never, and I repeat, NEVER going to heal the rift that exists between black men and women if we engage in the same type of victim blaming, excuse making fuckery we constantly go in on racist whites for. We love to go on at length about how Black women are Queens and how they are the Mother of the Earth and the foundation of the family. But for some reason when the time comes for us to speak on her behalf, far too many of us lose our voice and even more of us start parroting the same demented foolishness we hear coming from bigoted racists.
Cut the shit. Please. Domestic violence is a serious problem. I don't want to hear shit about Rice losing his job, how women are gold diggers, how she provoked him, how this is a distraction, or any of that other shit you're using to justify domestic violence. Just stop it.
I don't believe you when you say you care about black people or the black experience when you've got all kinds of excuses for Rice dripping from you lips. I don't hear you when you speak of social injustice but then take an apologetic tone to domestic violence.
You get angry when racist whites suggest Eric Garner had it coming. You get angry when racist whites suggest Trayvon had it coming. You get angry when racist whites suggest Mike Brown had it coming. Then you sit there and suggest that Janay had it coming. Stop that nonsense. Enough with the victim blaming. I really can't stand it. Cut it the hell out. I will hear no more of it.
Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Check me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Check out the radio show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/docsinn
My brothers we need to stop. Seriously. Stop. I'm growing weary of hearing the same bigoted, oppressive, and privileged logic used by racists being applied to black women. The Ray Rice incident has really exposed some of you. It's really frustrating for me as a seasoned brother trying to do what little I can, to see us being set back by our own arrogance, ignorance, and misogyny.
We are never, and I repeat, NEVER going to heal the rift that exists between black men and women if we engage in the same type of victim blaming, excuse making fuckery we constantly go in on racist whites for. We love to go on at length about how Black women are Queens and how they are the Mother of the Earth and the foundation of the family. But for some reason when the time comes for us to speak on her behalf, far too many of us lose our voice and even more of us start parroting the same demented foolishness we hear coming from bigoted racists.
Cut the shit. Please. Domestic violence is a serious problem. I don't want to hear shit about Rice losing his job, how women are gold diggers, how she provoked him, how this is a distraction, or any of that other shit you're using to justify domestic violence. Just stop it.
I don't believe you when you say you care about black people or the black experience when you've got all kinds of excuses for Rice dripping from you lips. I don't hear you when you speak of social injustice but then take an apologetic tone to domestic violence.
You get angry when racist whites suggest Eric Garner had it coming. You get angry when racist whites suggest Trayvon had it coming. You get angry when racist whites suggest Mike Brown had it coming. Then you sit there and suggest that Janay had it coming. Stop that nonsense. Enough with the victim blaming. I really can't stand it. Cut it the hell out. I will hear no more of it.
Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Check me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Check out the radio show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/docsinn
Sunday, July 27, 2014
No One is Safe From Police Brutality
I am going to be straight, blunt, and to the point. There is no point in dancing around this issue any longer. It's time we accepted the undeniable truth. If you live in America you are not safe from police brutality. In America today anyone runs the risk of being beaten, assaulted, and killed by law enforcement. It is a fact.
Children. Women. The elderly. Doesn't matter. We are all targets and at any given time we could easily become statistics. It boggles the mind how often police brutality occurs. We've almost become desensitized to it. The killings of brothers like Eric Garner, sisters like Rekia Boyd, and children like Aiyana Stanley have become commonplace. Beatings and assaults have become a regular occurrence. We have become fodder. They were put here to protect us, but no one protects us from them.
This is not just the truth for my black brothers and sisters. This is not just the truth for my Mexican, Spanish, and Latino brothers and sisters. We've lived with this truth since this country was founded. Guess what white people? Today you aren't safe either. Some of you seem to believe you are immune to police brutality. You believe that those who have been brutalized by law enforcement brought it on themselves. If only they hadn't resisted right? If only they just complied right? If only they learned to respect and obey the law right? Wrong. Your naivete is largely the reason why police brutality exists. What's more, the odds grow stronger every day that you too will become a victim. A victim of police brutality and of your naïve viewpoint.
Don't believe me? I could tell you the story of how the police threw a disabled man out of his wheelchair and onto the ground. I could tell you the story of how an elderly white man was assaulted after leaving church. I could tell the story of police beating a homeless man to death as he screamed. I could tell you the story of a white woman kicked in the face by police during a peaceful protest.
It doesn't matter who you are. Your children are not safe. Your loved ones are not safe. You. Are. Not. Safe. What's more, it's only going to get worse until we come to this undeniable conclusion and start speaking out against this injustice. Or you could stay silent. As I often say to anyone who will listen your silence condemns us all. Including you. One day it will be your son. Or your daughter. Or your father. Or your mother. Or....you.
Find your voice. Speak out. No one is safe from police brutality.
Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Visit me on FB https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Check out my vids http://youtube.com/officialdocsinn
Thanks for reading
Children. Women. The elderly. Doesn't matter. We are all targets and at any given time we could easily become statistics. It boggles the mind how often police brutality occurs. We've almost become desensitized to it. The killings of brothers like Eric Garner, sisters like Rekia Boyd, and children like Aiyana Stanley have become commonplace. Beatings and assaults have become a regular occurrence. We have become fodder. They were put here to protect us, but no one protects us from them.
This is not just the truth for my black brothers and sisters. This is not just the truth for my Mexican, Spanish, and Latino brothers and sisters. We've lived with this truth since this country was founded. Guess what white people? Today you aren't safe either. Some of you seem to believe you are immune to police brutality. You believe that those who have been brutalized by law enforcement brought it on themselves. If only they hadn't resisted right? If only they just complied right? If only they learned to respect and obey the law right? Wrong. Your naivete is largely the reason why police brutality exists. What's more, the odds grow stronger every day that you too will become a victim. A victim of police brutality and of your naïve viewpoint.
Don't believe me? I could tell you the story of how the police threw a disabled man out of his wheelchair and onto the ground. I could tell you the story of how an elderly white man was assaulted after leaving church. I could tell the story of police beating a homeless man to death as he screamed. I could tell you the story of a white woman kicked in the face by police during a peaceful protest.
It doesn't matter who you are. Your children are not safe. Your loved ones are not safe. You. Are. Not. Safe. What's more, it's only going to get worse until we come to this undeniable conclusion and start speaking out against this injustice. Or you could stay silent. As I often say to anyone who will listen your silence condemns us all. Including you. One day it will be your son. Or your daughter. Or your father. Or your mother. Or....you.
Find your voice. Speak out. No one is safe from police brutality.
Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Visit me on FB https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Check out my vids http://youtube.com/officialdocsinn
Thanks for reading
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Why I left the Game Years Ago
Respect. Thank you for reading. For those of you who know Doc Sinn well, you remember that at one time I was an emcee. I was once a part of one the most influential underground Hip Hop groups in the Carolinas. If you've been following me long enough, you also remember that even before that I had a record deal and my group was distributed by Atlantic records. There was a time in my life where Hip Hop music was all encompassing and there was nothing more important to me than writing rhymes and making songs. You also know that I abruptly left the game in my early 30s and started focusing strictly on producing, writing, and social activism. Many have theorized why I left the game and I've never talked about it much. I've heard people say I did it because I wanted to focus on my family. I've heard people say I became disgruntled with my associates and bandmates. I've heard people say a lot of things. Well I want to clear the air. Just for my own benefit. It's just something I want to write about and something I want to do. And I want to do it now.
I didn't leave the game because of family. My wifey and family are the ultimate support unit. They'd follow me and stand behind me no matter what. I had all the support that I needed. They didn't take me away from Hip Hop. I also didn't do it because I fell out with my people. I love them. They are my brothers and sisters. Sure there were tough times. Sometimes there were cross words exchanged. But those were also some great times and I don't regret a second of it. There isn't a single negative feeling I have about anyone I shared a mic with. In fact, right now I want to acknowledge Shef Seenya, Mr. Rozzi, TreZure the Black Widow, Big Ski, Dreadswaye, LS, and Doc Hairston. They are family. They will always be family. I will always be there for them and they for me.
I left the game for one reason. The game changed. Or should I say, the direction of the game changed. When I was going hard and emceeing heavy, emcees were considered artisans. We were wordsmiths. We were judged by our ability to create rhymes. By our ability to formulate our thoughts and weave them into verses. Emcees were lyricists. Not only that but Hip Hop was more than a business, it was a culture. I immersed myself in that culture. I was an apex predator. My goal was to be the most prolific lyricist possible. To manifest every aspect of Hip Hop culture. I loved it. I lived it. Then, as I said, the game changed.
At first, life was good. Hip Hop became mainstream. Hip Hop artists were enjoying massive success. The type of success one can only dream of. Double and triple platinum records. Multi-million dollar deals. Endorsements. You name it. Hip Hop music had arrived. It was what we thought we all wanted as artists. Unfortunately there was also a horrible side effect. Record labels and music companies who had neither care nor interest in Hip Hop culture saw the music as simply a cash cow. As such, min/maxing became the law of the land. Labels wanted maximum profit for minimum effort. Music became disposable. Artists became disposable. Hip Hop culture became disposable. The seeds were sown for what we see today. A broken genre. A mirage. A facsimile of what Hip Hop was and what it used to be.
At first the change was gradual. The DJ was phased out as an integral part of Hip Hop groups. Song production became more and more simplistic. Then the floodgates opened. The standard bar plummeted for what qualified as an emcee. This had a massive impact on female rappers in particular. A woman's skill on the mic meant nothing. If she wasn't selling her ass, she wasn't selling. As such, the female emcee went from prominent to nearly extinct within a few short years. The culture was no longer a focal point. Getting as much fast money as you can was all that mattered. Suddenly it didn't matter so much how skilled you were. Or how hot your 16s were. If you had the right gimmick and could turn a fast dollar, little else was important. Now I love fast money as much as anyone. But I also love Hip Hop culture. I knew at that moment I had to make a personal decision.
I am a proud man. I am a principled man. I live by my own code I live by my own sense of honor. After everything I had invested in the game, there was no way I was going to dumb down who I was. What I was. What I do. I couldn't. I couldn't be a part of it anymore. I also realized that as long as I was still emceeing there would always be a part of me that resented what the game became. I would never love Hip Hop the same way. So I unplugged my speakers, dropped my mic, and walked away.
I still write. I'll likely write until I die. But I don't ever think about coming back. For one, I'm too old. I'm in my early 40s now. Hip Hop is a young man's game. But more importantly, I'm just not inspired anymore. I don't love it like I did. Maybe one day that'll change. Maybe something will hit me and I'll pick the mic back up. But as of yet, that hasn't happened.
I also want to be clear about something. This isn't some old man's rant or an older man whining about the "good old days". To be clear, as I said before, Hip Hop is a young man's game. When I was 20, I wasn't going to let some 40 year old cat tell me how to rock. So now that I'm that 40 year old cat I'm not going to try to talk down to the youth. It's not about old vs. young or new school versus old school. It's about the quality of music. There are several artists near my age rocking who quite frankly sound terrible. I still see Hip Hop through the eyes of an artisan and the art as been lost.
Emcees should care about their music. They should work at it and that work should reflect in their music. I don't see it.
I don't pass judgment on those who are still grinding in the name of true Hip Hop culture. I applaud them. I don't set myself above them. In fact I admire their fortitude and willingness to press on in the name of good music. I just couldn't do it. In many ways they are far better than me. To those emcees I say "Keep rocking. Keep doing what you do."
Twenty years ago if you told me that mainstream Hip Hop would be little more that sugar coated pop music in a hard candy shell I'd have laughed at you. If you had told me emcees today would be a joke compared to emcees then I would've told you to go fuck yourself. But that is where we are. I made a decision. This why I made it. I don't know if it's the right one or the wrong one. But it's the one I made. I stand by it. I live with it. Thank you for reading.
Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Get at me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
I didn't leave the game because of family. My wifey and family are the ultimate support unit. They'd follow me and stand behind me no matter what. I had all the support that I needed. They didn't take me away from Hip Hop. I also didn't do it because I fell out with my people. I love them. They are my brothers and sisters. Sure there were tough times. Sometimes there were cross words exchanged. But those were also some great times and I don't regret a second of it. There isn't a single negative feeling I have about anyone I shared a mic with. In fact, right now I want to acknowledge Shef Seenya, Mr. Rozzi, TreZure the Black Widow, Big Ski, Dreadswaye, LS, and Doc Hairston. They are family. They will always be family. I will always be there for them and they for me.
I left the game for one reason. The game changed. Or should I say, the direction of the game changed. When I was going hard and emceeing heavy, emcees were considered artisans. We were wordsmiths. We were judged by our ability to create rhymes. By our ability to formulate our thoughts and weave them into verses. Emcees were lyricists. Not only that but Hip Hop was more than a business, it was a culture. I immersed myself in that culture. I was an apex predator. My goal was to be the most prolific lyricist possible. To manifest every aspect of Hip Hop culture. I loved it. I lived it. Then, as I said, the game changed.
At first, life was good. Hip Hop became mainstream. Hip Hop artists were enjoying massive success. The type of success one can only dream of. Double and triple platinum records. Multi-million dollar deals. Endorsements. You name it. Hip Hop music had arrived. It was what we thought we all wanted as artists. Unfortunately there was also a horrible side effect. Record labels and music companies who had neither care nor interest in Hip Hop culture saw the music as simply a cash cow. As such, min/maxing became the law of the land. Labels wanted maximum profit for minimum effort. Music became disposable. Artists became disposable. Hip Hop culture became disposable. The seeds were sown for what we see today. A broken genre. A mirage. A facsimile of what Hip Hop was and what it used to be.
At first the change was gradual. The DJ was phased out as an integral part of Hip Hop groups. Song production became more and more simplistic. Then the floodgates opened. The standard bar plummeted for what qualified as an emcee. This had a massive impact on female rappers in particular. A woman's skill on the mic meant nothing. If she wasn't selling her ass, she wasn't selling. As such, the female emcee went from prominent to nearly extinct within a few short years. The culture was no longer a focal point. Getting as much fast money as you can was all that mattered. Suddenly it didn't matter so much how skilled you were. Or how hot your 16s were. If you had the right gimmick and could turn a fast dollar, little else was important. Now I love fast money as much as anyone. But I also love Hip Hop culture. I knew at that moment I had to make a personal decision.
I am a proud man. I am a principled man. I live by my own code I live by my own sense of honor. After everything I had invested in the game, there was no way I was going to dumb down who I was. What I was. What I do. I couldn't. I couldn't be a part of it anymore. I also realized that as long as I was still emceeing there would always be a part of me that resented what the game became. I would never love Hip Hop the same way. So I unplugged my speakers, dropped my mic, and walked away.
I still write. I'll likely write until I die. But I don't ever think about coming back. For one, I'm too old. I'm in my early 40s now. Hip Hop is a young man's game. But more importantly, I'm just not inspired anymore. I don't love it like I did. Maybe one day that'll change. Maybe something will hit me and I'll pick the mic back up. But as of yet, that hasn't happened.
I also want to be clear about something. This isn't some old man's rant or an older man whining about the "good old days". To be clear, as I said before, Hip Hop is a young man's game. When I was 20, I wasn't going to let some 40 year old cat tell me how to rock. So now that I'm that 40 year old cat I'm not going to try to talk down to the youth. It's not about old vs. young or new school versus old school. It's about the quality of music. There are several artists near my age rocking who quite frankly sound terrible. I still see Hip Hop through the eyes of an artisan and the art as been lost.
Emcees should care about their music. They should work at it and that work should reflect in their music. I don't see it.
I don't pass judgment on those who are still grinding in the name of true Hip Hop culture. I applaud them. I don't set myself above them. In fact I admire their fortitude and willingness to press on in the name of good music. I just couldn't do it. In many ways they are far better than me. To those emcees I say "Keep rocking. Keep doing what you do."
Twenty years ago if you told me that mainstream Hip Hop would be little more that sugar coated pop music in a hard candy shell I'd have laughed at you. If you had told me emcees today would be a joke compared to emcees then I would've told you to go fuck yourself. But that is where we are. I made a decision. This why I made it. I don't know if it's the right one or the wrong one. But it's the one I made. I stand by it. I live with it. Thank you for reading.
Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Get at me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
We All Should Be Outraged At the Kidnapping of 240+ Girls by Boko Haram
Respect Everyone. Thank you for reading. This is directed and those of you with families(which is pretty much all of you). I want you to picture something in your mind's eye. Imagine going to pick up your child from school. When you arrive at the school, imagine seeing police cars, flashing lights, and government vehicles and personnel. Imagine being told your child and several other children were taken at gunpoint by armed terrorists. Imagine receiving a phone call that your son or daughter, or your brother or sister was abducted while sitting in class. Now imagine that those who took your children announced your children would be sold into slavery and prostitution. Imagine the government and law enforcement being slow to act. Imagine it happening AGAIN just a few weeks later in a neighboring city where you live. Stop there and just think about how you'd feel.
That is how the families of nearly 250 girls in Nigeria feels. It was reported today that Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped 8 more girls ages 12-15 from their village. (Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27298614 ). This is in the wake of Boko Haram kidnapping 234 girls from their school on April 14. This is an absolute catastrophe. There is no way to overstate how horrible this is. It is impossible to overstate how terrible this is. Yet for some reason, we have heard nothing from military leaders, political leaders, or the media. The only thing more outrageous to me about what has happened to these poor girls is how casually we've been ignoring it.
We constantly hear talk of fighting for freedom. We constantly hear talk of fighting injustice. We constantly hear talk of fighting oppression. So why the silence? Where is our outrage? Where is the media? You want me to be outraged over Iraq. Over Afghanistan. Over Benghazi. Where is your outrage over Boko Haram? Why isn't this story trending on Twitter? CNN had us chasing an airplane for weeks. Why isn't CNN chasing our girls? Fox wants us to mourn four dead Americans in Benghazi. Who mourns for nearly 250 lost girls?
The fact that we are so disconnected from what is happening in Nigeria is both sad and deeply troubling. What does it take for this story to take center stage? How many more girls? How long will military forces in Nigeria as well as around the world allow this to go on? When will top ranking Republicans and Democrats speak on this at length? When will the President?
Imagine these were your children. In your neighborhood. In your towns. Imagine terrorists running up into schools and neighborhoods snatching your seeds. Your sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and cousins. Our collective silence on this is both shameful and disgusting. We should all be outraged right now. And I'm outraged that we are not.
Thank you for reading. Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Check me out on FB https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
That is how the families of nearly 250 girls in Nigeria feels. It was reported today that Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped 8 more girls ages 12-15 from their village. (Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27298614 ). This is in the wake of Boko Haram kidnapping 234 girls from their school on April 14. This is an absolute catastrophe. There is no way to overstate how horrible this is. It is impossible to overstate how terrible this is. Yet for some reason, we have heard nothing from military leaders, political leaders, or the media. The only thing more outrageous to me about what has happened to these poor girls is how casually we've been ignoring it.
We constantly hear talk of fighting for freedom. We constantly hear talk of fighting injustice. We constantly hear talk of fighting oppression. So why the silence? Where is our outrage? Where is the media? You want me to be outraged over Iraq. Over Afghanistan. Over Benghazi. Where is your outrage over Boko Haram? Why isn't this story trending on Twitter? CNN had us chasing an airplane for weeks. Why isn't CNN chasing our girls? Fox wants us to mourn four dead Americans in Benghazi. Who mourns for nearly 250 lost girls?
The fact that we are so disconnected from what is happening in Nigeria is both sad and deeply troubling. What does it take for this story to take center stage? How many more girls? How long will military forces in Nigeria as well as around the world allow this to go on? When will top ranking Republicans and Democrats speak on this at length? When will the President?
Imagine these were your children. In your neighborhood. In your towns. Imagine terrorists running up into schools and neighborhoods snatching your seeds. Your sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and cousins. Our collective silence on this is both shameful and disgusting. We should all be outraged right now. And I'm outraged that we are not.
Thank you for reading. Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Check me out on FB https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Friday, May 2, 2014
"Doc Sinn Why Do You Focus So Much on Race?"
Respect everyone. In this blog entry I want to address a question I'm frequently asked. A week doesn't go by without someone asking me this question. I am always puzzled by it even though I understand why they are asking. It does get tiresome though so whenever someone asks me this question from now on I will refer them to this blog. If you are like me and hear this question often yourself, feel free to refer your inquisitors to this blog as well.
On the surface the question seems to be a rather simple one: "Doc Sinn why do you focus so much on race?". The question is often presented in a non threatening way and appears to come from a place of curiosity and even innocence. But in reality few questions are more ignorant and more annoying. Few questions grate the nerves more. Let me explain why.
For starters, as I have said many times, racism is woven into the fabric of America. This country was founded on racism and centuries later this country continues to function based on it's tenets. A day doesn't go by without us seeing or experiencing racism in this country and abroad. It's literally everywhere. It's in the workplace. It's in entertainment. It's in sports. It's in politics. It imbues every aspect of our lives. It's in our faces every day of our lives. So the real question is not why do I focus so much on race as much as it is "How can I NOT focus on it?"
But that's not really what makes the question annoying. What makes the question annoying is that it's very much a rhetorical question. The answer to why one would focus on race in this country is brutally obvious. But those who ask the question already know this. They are not asking because they are curious. No. When you ask me "Doc Sinn why do you focus so much on race?" what you are really saying to me is "Doc Sinn I don't like that you are focusing on race. It makes me feel uncomfortable and I want you to stop talking about it. I don't want to deal with this so why are you talking about it? Stop."
Now some of you are saying "That's not true.". But it is true. How does one look at a black person(or any person of color) in America and ask that person "Why do you focus on race?". Knowing how this country was founded. Seeing how society treats "minorities". Witnessing the hatred and discrimination people of color experience. Seeing the constant injustice. Observing the systemic imbalance that promotes a caste system based on skin color. Truth be told, the question is almost an affront. It's almost disrespectful. It is akin to asking "Why are so focused on that foot on your throat?" or "Why are you focused on that gun to your head?".
I'm sorry was that example extreme? Tell that to the families of Trayvon Martin. Or Rekia Boyd. Or Ayana Stanley. Or Jordan Davis. Tell that to families of the young boy who was killed taking out trash. Or the elderly woman who was accosted by police and thrown onto a highway after a traffic stop. Or the young black man who was shot in the back. Or the Mexican brother who was kicked in the face while handcuffed and lying on his stomach.
So while I'm not mad at you, before you ask me "Doc Sinn why do you focus so much on race?" I want you to consider the society we live in. I want you to consider my people's history in this country. I want you to think about how America was founded. I want you think about all the hatred that exists in this country and in this world. By then you'll have answered your own question.
Thanks for reading. Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Check me out on FB https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
On the surface the question seems to be a rather simple one: "Doc Sinn why do you focus so much on race?". The question is often presented in a non threatening way and appears to come from a place of curiosity and even innocence. But in reality few questions are more ignorant and more annoying. Few questions grate the nerves more. Let me explain why.
For starters, as I have said many times, racism is woven into the fabric of America. This country was founded on racism and centuries later this country continues to function based on it's tenets. A day doesn't go by without us seeing or experiencing racism in this country and abroad. It's literally everywhere. It's in the workplace. It's in entertainment. It's in sports. It's in politics. It imbues every aspect of our lives. It's in our faces every day of our lives. So the real question is not why do I focus so much on race as much as it is "How can I NOT focus on it?"
But that's not really what makes the question annoying. What makes the question annoying is that it's very much a rhetorical question. The answer to why one would focus on race in this country is brutally obvious. But those who ask the question already know this. They are not asking because they are curious. No. When you ask me "Doc Sinn why do you focus so much on race?" what you are really saying to me is "Doc Sinn I don't like that you are focusing on race. It makes me feel uncomfortable and I want you to stop talking about it. I don't want to deal with this so why are you talking about it? Stop."
Now some of you are saying "That's not true.". But it is true. How does one look at a black person(or any person of color) in America and ask that person "Why do you focus on race?". Knowing how this country was founded. Seeing how society treats "minorities". Witnessing the hatred and discrimination people of color experience. Seeing the constant injustice. Observing the systemic imbalance that promotes a caste system based on skin color. Truth be told, the question is almost an affront. It's almost disrespectful. It is akin to asking "Why are so focused on that foot on your throat?" or "Why are you focused on that gun to your head?".
I'm sorry was that example extreme? Tell that to the families of Trayvon Martin. Or Rekia Boyd. Or Ayana Stanley. Or Jordan Davis. Tell that to families of the young boy who was killed taking out trash. Or the elderly woman who was accosted by police and thrown onto a highway after a traffic stop. Or the young black man who was shot in the back. Or the Mexican brother who was kicked in the face while handcuffed and lying on his stomach.
So while I'm not mad at you, before you ask me "Doc Sinn why do you focus so much on race?" I want you to consider the society we live in. I want you to consider my people's history in this country. I want you to think about how America was founded. I want you think about all the hatred that exists in this country and in this world. By then you'll have answered your own question.
Thanks for reading. Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Check me out on FB https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Thursday, May 1, 2014
My Brothers: It's Past Time To Speak Up
I am speaking to my brothers right now. I am also speaking to men in general. I am speaking to the strong minded, strong willed Alpha males of our communities. The stand up, stand strong, focus minded men of our communities. The fathers, sons, and brothers that are the pillars of their families. My brothers, there is a catastrophe taking place. A near epic crisis. This is not hyperbole. It is the truth. An ugly truth that up until now we have not really spoken about. That crisis involves our sisters. Our wives. Our daughters. Brothers, our women are suffering. Badly. And it's time we said something about it and did something about it.
I've been married a long time. I have a son and two beautiful daughters whom I love deeply. It pains me to see what our women are suffering through. This isn't an attempt to pander to women. This is an attempt to shake us out of our collective, apathetic funk. Our women are going through a ton of shit right now and it's really high time we collectively took notice.
We need to speak to our fellow brothers. Oftentimes females are dismissed as loud, angry, man hating feminists when they speak of the issues that plague them. Such stereotypes seem to make it easy for us to ignore their pleas. That is where we need to step in. We who count ourselves among the strong minded Alphas. We need to get a hold of our brothers and let them know that this is serious. It's on us to start healing the black family and so far we have been deficient.
I know some of my brothers are reading this and are already dismissing my words. I know you are. You've been trained to. We've all been trained to. So I want to hit you with some hard math. Math we have been collectively ignoring. These are just three glaring examples of the struggles our women face:
One in five women have been sexually assaulted in college. One in five.( Source: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/new-obama-group-tackles-sexual-violence-on-campus-102479.html ) If you have daughters or a sister that number should shake you to your foundation. As a father with two girls that will soon be heading off to school it's disturbing.
One in three women have been raped in the military. The MILITARY. One in three. (Source: http://www.care2.com/causes/war-among-comrades-1-in-3-women-raped-in-the-military.html ) A woman in the military is more likely to be raped by fellow soldiers than killed in combat.
Two weeks ago 234 girls in Nigeria were abducted and are now being sold to Boko Haram militants. (Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kidnapped-nigeria-school-girls-reportedly-sold-as-brides-to-islamic-boko-haram-militants/). Innocent girls who likely being raped, assaulted, and treated like trash as I write this.
Now look at those three stories and combine them with the everyday stories you read about rape and domestic violence. "Crisis" and "catastrophe" doesn't seem that far fetched now does it?
It goes deeper than that as well. How many young boys are not learning how to be men because we haven't taught them how? How many young girls are suffering with bad men because we didn't teach our daughters what a good man looks like? We need to own this stuff my brothers. That's what a man does. A man owns problems and then solves them. That's what we do. That's one of our many callings. We need to own this crisis and start working on ways to fix it. But we can't fix what we don't acknowledge as broken and collectively we've been too quiet.
I'm also not going to offer the proverbial phrase "there are good men out here". Because I already know we're out here. We've BEEN out here. What our sisters need is for those of us that are out here to make some NOISE. Let you voice be heard. This isn't about pandering or patronizing. This is about your wives. Your ladies. Your mothers. Your sisters. Your daughters. This is about helping them. Keeping them safe. Making sure they have what they need. They are counting on us to do what we do. We need to start delivering and we haven't been doing enough.
So lift your voice up. Get your hands dirty. It's time to confront this crisis. Your wifey is worth it. Your mother is worth it. Your daughter is worth it. Your sisters is worth it. Alphas where you at?
Thanks for reading. Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Check me out on FB https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
I've been married a long time. I have a son and two beautiful daughters whom I love deeply. It pains me to see what our women are suffering through. This isn't an attempt to pander to women. This is an attempt to shake us out of our collective, apathetic funk. Our women are going through a ton of shit right now and it's really high time we collectively took notice.
We need to speak to our fellow brothers. Oftentimes females are dismissed as loud, angry, man hating feminists when they speak of the issues that plague them. Such stereotypes seem to make it easy for us to ignore their pleas. That is where we need to step in. We who count ourselves among the strong minded Alphas. We need to get a hold of our brothers and let them know that this is serious. It's on us to start healing the black family and so far we have been deficient.
I know some of my brothers are reading this and are already dismissing my words. I know you are. You've been trained to. We've all been trained to. So I want to hit you with some hard math. Math we have been collectively ignoring. These are just three glaring examples of the struggles our women face:
One in five women have been sexually assaulted in college. One in five.( Source: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/new-obama-group-tackles-sexual-violence-on-campus-102479.html ) If you have daughters or a sister that number should shake you to your foundation. As a father with two girls that will soon be heading off to school it's disturbing.
One in three women have been raped in the military. The MILITARY. One in three. (Source: http://www.care2.com/causes/war-among-comrades-1-in-3-women-raped-in-the-military.html ) A woman in the military is more likely to be raped by fellow soldiers than killed in combat.
Two weeks ago 234 girls in Nigeria were abducted and are now being sold to Boko Haram militants. (Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kidnapped-nigeria-school-girls-reportedly-sold-as-brides-to-islamic-boko-haram-militants/). Innocent girls who likely being raped, assaulted, and treated like trash as I write this.
Now look at those three stories and combine them with the everyday stories you read about rape and domestic violence. "Crisis" and "catastrophe" doesn't seem that far fetched now does it?
It goes deeper than that as well. How many young boys are not learning how to be men because we haven't taught them how? How many young girls are suffering with bad men because we didn't teach our daughters what a good man looks like? We need to own this stuff my brothers. That's what a man does. A man owns problems and then solves them. That's what we do. That's one of our many callings. We need to own this crisis and start working on ways to fix it. But we can't fix what we don't acknowledge as broken and collectively we've been too quiet.
I'm also not going to offer the proverbial phrase "there are good men out here". Because I already know we're out here. We've BEEN out here. What our sisters need is for those of us that are out here to make some NOISE. Let you voice be heard. This isn't about pandering or patronizing. This is about your wives. Your ladies. Your mothers. Your sisters. Your daughters. This is about helping them. Keeping them safe. Making sure they have what they need. They are counting on us to do what we do. We need to start delivering and we haven't been doing enough.
So lift your voice up. Get your hands dirty. It's time to confront this crisis. Your wifey is worth it. Your mother is worth it. Your daughter is worth it. Your sisters is worth it. Alphas where you at?
Thanks for reading. Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
Check me out on FB https://www.facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Monday, April 28, 2014
How Donald Sterling Inadvertently Exposed the NAACP
Greetings everyone. Today I want to build on something that I've been thinking about since this story broke. By now you've heard the infamous Donald Sterling audio. For the few of you that are unaware of what I'm talking about, Donald Sterling is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. He was recently caught on tape verbally chastising his extremely young girlfriend V. Stiviano for taking pictures with blacks and being seen with minorities. He took great offense to her taking a picture on Instagram with Magic Johnson and launched into a tirade about how he does not want her to be seen with black people or to bring black people to "his" games. The audio can be heard here: http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/26/donald-sterling-clippers-owner-black-people-racist-audio-magic-johnson/.
Now it goes without saying that Donald Sterling is a bigoted lowlife who's slave master's mentality has no place anywhere, particularly in professional sports. I fully intend to build on that in another blog posting. But I wanted to speak about a different aspect of all this. An aspect that not many people may be aware of. Before this story broke, Donald Sterling was tapped by the NAACP to receive a lifetime achievement award. Check the link here: http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/26/donald-sterling-naacp-audio-racist-l-a-clippers/
This is not the first time that Sterling has been praised or awarded by the NAACP either. Which beggars the question: "How does such an obvious bigot receive such high praise from an organization like the NAACP?" An organization that supposedly is committed to the advancement of "people of color" and fighting racism and discrimination?
I have always been critical of the NAACP. First and foremost, as my brother Lanfia Toure pointed out, they are long overdue for a name change. But my criticism has really been about their lack of involvement with any serious issues that affect the black community. They are largely silent on injustice in the black community. When they do speak they offer a few obligatory empty speeches and platitudes, raise a few dollars for themselves, and disappear. They don't do anything tangible or of any real substance. Now some people may feel differently and that is fine. But in my view, the fact that a blatantly racist white man can consistently receive awards and accolades from an organization that is supposed to be diametrically opposed to individuals like him, is another example of why the NAACP serves virtually no purpose other than to enrich themselves.
Now the NAACP could probably be forgiven if this was some new revelation. They could probably be given a pass if this were something out of the blue. But the truth is that Donald Sterling's history of racism and racially charged remarks is well documented. Just ask former players and those who have worked for him like Baron Davis and NBA legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar. In 2009 NBA legend Elgin Baylor filed a wrongful termination suit against Sterling and is quoted saying that Sterling has a vision of a "southern plantation structure" for the team. In 2006 the Justice Department accused Sterling of housing discrimination. This was the second of such allegations levied against him. How does the NAACP not know this? How do you tap an individual for a Lifetime Achievement Award with these types of blemishes? A simple google search reveals all sorts of issues with race surrounding Sterling.
Had this tape not been released to the public, the NAACP would've awarded Sterling with a Lifetime Achievement Award, put his money in their collective pockets, and gone about their way. Meanwhile, Sterling would have continued his racist practices and espousing his racist beliefs(albeit probably not nearly as publicly). It is, in my view, another clear example of how the NAACP has sold us out and is just another instrument of the establishment used to keep us placated. Once again the NAACP has been exposed for being what they are. Donald Sterling's racist rant has, among many other things, reaffirmed that the NAACP is hardly interested in the "advancement of colored people" and far more interested in the advancement of their finances.
Thank you for reading. Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
On FB: http://facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Now it goes without saying that Donald Sterling is a bigoted lowlife who's slave master's mentality has no place anywhere, particularly in professional sports. I fully intend to build on that in another blog posting. But I wanted to speak about a different aspect of all this. An aspect that not many people may be aware of. Before this story broke, Donald Sterling was tapped by the NAACP to receive a lifetime achievement award. Check the link here: http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/26/donald-sterling-naacp-audio-racist-l-a-clippers/
This is not the first time that Sterling has been praised or awarded by the NAACP either. Which beggars the question: "How does such an obvious bigot receive such high praise from an organization like the NAACP?" An organization that supposedly is committed to the advancement of "people of color" and fighting racism and discrimination?
I have always been critical of the NAACP. First and foremost, as my brother Lanfia Toure pointed out, they are long overdue for a name change. But my criticism has really been about their lack of involvement with any serious issues that affect the black community. They are largely silent on injustice in the black community. When they do speak they offer a few obligatory empty speeches and platitudes, raise a few dollars for themselves, and disappear. They don't do anything tangible or of any real substance. Now some people may feel differently and that is fine. But in my view, the fact that a blatantly racist white man can consistently receive awards and accolades from an organization that is supposed to be diametrically opposed to individuals like him, is another example of why the NAACP serves virtually no purpose other than to enrich themselves.
Now the NAACP could probably be forgiven if this was some new revelation. They could probably be given a pass if this were something out of the blue. But the truth is that Donald Sterling's history of racism and racially charged remarks is well documented. Just ask former players and those who have worked for him like Baron Davis and NBA legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar. In 2009 NBA legend Elgin Baylor filed a wrongful termination suit against Sterling and is quoted saying that Sterling has a vision of a "southern plantation structure" for the team. In 2006 the Justice Department accused Sterling of housing discrimination. This was the second of such allegations levied against him. How does the NAACP not know this? How do you tap an individual for a Lifetime Achievement Award with these types of blemishes? A simple google search reveals all sorts of issues with race surrounding Sterling.
Had this tape not been released to the public, the NAACP would've awarded Sterling with a Lifetime Achievement Award, put his money in their collective pockets, and gone about their way. Meanwhile, Sterling would have continued his racist practices and espousing his racist beliefs(albeit probably not nearly as publicly). It is, in my view, another clear example of how the NAACP has sold us out and is just another instrument of the establishment used to keep us placated. Once again the NAACP has been exposed for being what they are. Donald Sterling's racist rant has, among many other things, reaffirmed that the NAACP is hardly interested in the "advancement of colored people" and far more interested in the advancement of their finances.
Thank you for reading. Follow me on Twitter @DocSinn
On FB: http://facebook.com/officialdocsinn
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Southern Strategy: Why It Works
It's been awhile since I've been on my blog. I've been working on several projects and building on several different things. That said, I love writing and I wanted to return to one of my original labors of love. So seeing as how this is an election year I wanted to hit the ground running with this blog entry. You can also check out this article and other articles I've written at gettheblackmindright.com.
As I have stated many times, racism is woven into the very fabric of American society. America was founded on racism. It should come as no surprise then that it is also woven into the fabric of American politics. Again this has been the case since this country was founded. It is one of the driving forces being policy and politcs, whether for good or for ill. It was the case long before Richard Nixon and Barry Goldwater helped coin the phrase “Southern Strategy”. The “Southern Strategy” is as old as America itself and until there is a monumental shift in social consciousness it will always be a part of our consciousness.
For those that are unaware of what the “Southern Strategy” is, it is basically a strategy where political candidates gain support by pandering to racists and perpetuating hate and stereotypes against people of color. Now in a sane world such a strategy would be abhorrent, despicable, and doomed to failure. But since time immemorial the Southern Strategy has propelled candidate after candidate to power and has proven to be a winning formula. Exploiting fear and hatred has become reliable path to power, particularly for fringe conservatives seeking office in heavily red states.
The Southern Strategy has been in play for a very long time and permeates every aspect of American politics. One has only to listen to fringe right wing politicians or spend some time listening to conservative radio to see first hand just how prevalent the “Southern Strategy” is in American politics. Politicians have become adept at using fear and discrimination as tools to influence voters and sway public opinion. This is in large part due to the biggest reason in my view that the Southern Strategy is so successful. That reason is the hatred that exists in the hearts of the American people.
Americans want to pretend that they aren’t racist. We like to pretend we live in a post racial society where race does not matter. But time and again Americans prove that nothing could be further from the truth, particularly where politics is concerned. Our approach to issues like Immigration reform, aid for the poor, education, and unemployment is saturated with racial overtones. Issues of race are played up, often in an attempt to blind voters with their own hatred. American voters often vote against their own interests because they are motivated by the bigotry in their own hearts. It is a strategy that succeeds over and over again.
Lyndon Johnson once said(paraphrasing) that if you convince the cheapest white man that he’s better than the best colored man he won’t notice you picking his pocket. That is the very essence of the Southern Strategy. That is why it continues to work. Because America, even in the year 2014, continues to be infested with bigots and racists. As I said earlier, until there is a monumental shift in the consciousness of America, the Southern Strategy will continue to be used in politics. And it will continue to work.
For more on the history of the Southern Strategy check out this link. Thanks for reading. Peace and blessings brothers and sisters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy
As I have stated many times, racism is woven into the very fabric of American society. America was founded on racism. It should come as no surprise then that it is also woven into the fabric of American politics. Again this has been the case since this country was founded. It is one of the driving forces being policy and politcs, whether for good or for ill. It was the case long before Richard Nixon and Barry Goldwater helped coin the phrase “Southern Strategy”. The “Southern Strategy” is as old as America itself and until there is a monumental shift in social consciousness it will always be a part of our consciousness.
For those that are unaware of what the “Southern Strategy” is, it is basically a strategy where political candidates gain support by pandering to racists and perpetuating hate and stereotypes against people of color. Now in a sane world such a strategy would be abhorrent, despicable, and doomed to failure. But since time immemorial the Southern Strategy has propelled candidate after candidate to power and has proven to be a winning formula. Exploiting fear and hatred has become reliable path to power, particularly for fringe conservatives seeking office in heavily red states.
The Southern Strategy has been in play for a very long time and permeates every aspect of American politics. One has only to listen to fringe right wing politicians or spend some time listening to conservative radio to see first hand just how prevalent the “Southern Strategy” is in American politics. Politicians have become adept at using fear and discrimination as tools to influence voters and sway public opinion. This is in large part due to the biggest reason in my view that the Southern Strategy is so successful. That reason is the hatred that exists in the hearts of the American people.
Americans want to pretend that they aren’t racist. We like to pretend we live in a post racial society where race does not matter. But time and again Americans prove that nothing could be further from the truth, particularly where politics is concerned. Our approach to issues like Immigration reform, aid for the poor, education, and unemployment is saturated with racial overtones. Issues of race are played up, often in an attempt to blind voters with their own hatred. American voters often vote against their own interests because they are motivated by the bigotry in their own hearts. It is a strategy that succeeds over and over again.
Lyndon Johnson once said(paraphrasing) that if you convince the cheapest white man that he’s better than the best colored man he won’t notice you picking his pocket. That is the very essence of the Southern Strategy. That is why it continues to work. Because America, even in the year 2014, continues to be infested with bigots and racists. As I said earlier, until there is a monumental shift in the consciousness of America, the Southern Strategy will continue to be used in politics. And it will continue to work.
For more on the history of the Southern Strategy check out this link. Thanks for reading. Peace and blessings brothers and sisters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy
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