2008: The Great Debate

First off – Happy Holidays!

I have been chilling in the D since Saturday and this break has been much needed. Just getting the opportunity to lay around the house, kick it with my family, and play with my dog, has all been a blessing. Detroit will always be home and I love getting back here!

Last night, my Dad and I had the chance to check out what I felt was one of the most inspirational movies of 2007. From the minds of Denzel Washington and Oprah Winfrey, The Great Debaters tells the story of Wiley College’s 1935-1936 Forensic Debate team. I won’t give away the movie, but I will say that it definitely motivated me to go after all my goals in this New Year. Just seeing the young people in the film rise above what others expected of them and achieve their goals, made a great impression on me.

This is the year that I will accomplish so many of the goals that I have set for myself. 2007 was the year of laying the foundation, and 2008 will be the year of seeing these projects manifest. I am excited about 2008 man. I hope that everyone goes into this year with great expectations! Happy New Year!
- Mike

Black & White

Is America still racist? On the surface, a lot of people think we aren't a racist country (anymore) and that a few ignorant voices don't represent the progress this country has made over the course of the 21 st century. However, I believe we still live in a country full of racial bigotry and social inequalities.

Recently, I heard on the radio that somewhere deep in the backwoods of southern Georgia there is a "White's Only" barbershop. There are still people using the "N" word like it is a part of their everyday vocabulary. And in popular media news, Dog The Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman called Monique Shinnery the "N" word so many times, I had to check the year on my calendar and make sure it didn't start with 18. Despite his remarks, I am sure he'll be back on television soon enough. You think he won't be? Don Imus has made his return on ABC Radio after calling the Rutgers basketball team "nappy headed hoes" and saying the basketball game looked like the "jiggaboo's vs. the wannabe's."

America steps up to defend virtually every group that has been victim of a hate crimes except African Americans. When Isaiah Washington makes light of one of his co-workers sexual preference, Washington lost his job and got scrutinized by every media outlet available. From MTV to E!, the story was everywhere and people were infuriated at his comments. When kids hang a noose on the door of a Columbia University professor, you'd be lucky to catch some relevant news about it on BET. Outside of predominantly black television and radio stations it was as if this never happened. Hell even MSNBC cancelled a story on a missing black woman in Florida so that they could cover the news of Paris Hilton being released from jail. I wonder if MSNBC will cancel a story about a missing white female when Mike Vick gets out.

To paraphrase a statement Al Sharpton made on his radio show; "when you talk about gays, it's a hate crime. When you talk about Italians, it's a hate crime. When you talk about Jews, it's a hate crime. When you talk about blacks, it's free speech." I'm no proponent of everything that comes out of Al's mouth, but this one hit the nail on the head.

We are considered inferior when it comes to achievements and superior when it comes to failure and disappointment. The top black athletes get heralded for all their prominence in their sport, but never for any greatness done outside of that. How many people know that Allen Iverson rescued a woman from an over-turned car on the highway and even went to the hospital to check on her after the fact? I'm sure there aren't that many people aware of Iverson's heroics since every person with a pulse has been forced to see Mike Vick, Barry Bonds, and Marion Jones dishonored for acts that were highly criticized and shameful to their respective sport. When we're a workhorse bringing in corporate dollars society loves us. But when we need help none of the powers-that-be even stand by our side. Barry Bonds' legacy has been tarnished for years now based on alleged steroid use and they've even sent the Feds at him to make sure a second black man doesn't sit atop Babe Ruth's home run legacy. Yet not one bit of "he won't get my hall of fame vote" talk has been thrown at Roger Clemens, who now sits right next to Bonds in the steroid-use saga.

From sports to institutes of education, television to radio, racism in America remains prominent and has experienced a resurgence in 2007. We are once again seeing the inequalities that brought out the greatness of Dr. King, Medgar Evers, Jesse Jackson (pre-'84 presidential campaign), and others. We are still living among an abundant lack of respect for the efforts incredible leaders put forth to make this Country's citizens live together in peace. Every ethnic group could make an argument for its position in the racial battles they face (d), but blacks seem to be trapped at the nucleus of the disdain and unfortunatley, we always have been.

Maybe our problem starts in-house. As a group we barely respect each other, so it’s a contradiction to expect other ethnicities to. Without situations like the infamous “Jena 6”, we typically remain divided as a people. We fight amongst ourselves more than we combat racism and discrimination. We ask for equality among others, when most of us are drawn to social circles based on class description and popularity. We don’t look at each other equally and until we do, it’s hard to imagine that anyone else will.
-Ant

Real Recognize Real

My boy Mark was getting to know this girl Charde and things seemed like they were going fine. She’s busy with school and extra curricular activities so, on the surface it seems like she wouldn’t have time to date or get to know anyone. However he works about 70 hrs a week between two jobs so her schedule doesn’t exactly leave him at home waiting for the phone to ring. They had an understanding that each other’s schedule came first and that outside of that they’d talk and hang out when they could. Sounds fair right?

The very first time they were supposed to go out she cancelled last minute saying for her to go out that night would be a hindrance on study time. Mark understood this but she went on to explain that she rarely goes out even with friends so for her to go out with him is basically a chore. This was the first sign of trouble. No man wants to take a woman out on a date that she’ll spend staring at her watch and glancing at her planner. Charde was persistent in saying she didn’t mean any harm and that she really would like to reschedule.

Her real feelings were on the table the minute she backed out of the first date and she should’ve stuck to them regardless of whether my boy would’ve been mad at her or not. Instead she wanted to keep her polished image so they rescheduled and went out a few days later. On their second date though, she pulled the same move; she backed out at the last minute saying it was school and not him. She went on to have another change of heart and in an attempt not to come off rude she invited him over after she studied and they hung out at her apartment.

Once again she put her true feelings out there only to try to make herself look good by giving Mark the option to settle for less than what was initially planned. Then on a third attempt at a date he asked her out to dinner with his family. While he wasn’t trying to intimidate her, she might not have been ready to meet his folks, which is understandable. Nevertheless she accepted and even called to confirm the date a few days prior to it. Then on the day of, he hears nothing from her and he finally calls her later that afternoon to make sure they were on and what happens? Charde cancelled again, this time saying she had one more final and it would be her hardest. She probably wouldn’t have even talked to him had he not called.

A syllabus is given out at the beginning of each semester so you know when you have finals and you’re perfectly aware that if your hardest exam is your last one you’ll need to be adequately prepared. Why plan a date during your finals? Why call to confirm a few days before just to cancel the day of? Why keep making plans with someone you’re obviously not willing to bend at the schedule for? The answer is simple; she isn’t being real.

Telling people what they want to hear is not always good. When your wife asks if she looks fat in her new dress you don’t say yes, because she asked you for reassurance that she’s still beautiful. When a man asks a woman out on a date, she shouldn’t say yes based off not wanting to break his ego. She should say yes because she wants to go, and in no way make him feel like she’s doing him a service by accepting his offer. However if she really does have prior engagements that will keep her from going out, she should simply say no in the beginning, that way problems are avoided and he can respect her honesty enough to ask her out later. On the other hand if she’s not interested in him like that, she should just say so. Women are terrified of rejection (i.e. the reason most of them never approach men they’re attracted to), so they assume we are the same way and that they have to play nice to spare our feelings. However since we’re usually the aggressors when it comes to dating, rejection is something we anticipate.

Being real and being rude are two different qualities. If you don’t want to go out just tell us up front and our pride will gladly keep us from approaching you again in that manner. If you can’t go out when we ask, you can be honest about that too. We have a lot more to do in our lives than to prepare for a date that you knew wasn’t going to happen when you accepted it. Most men have a thick skin and lost the fear of rejection the minute they started talking to you, so just keep it real. Tell us what’s on your mind without being offensive about it. Being considerate of someone’s feelings means not being rude when you tell them how you feel, but that shouldn’t jeopardize being honest.

Ant

Dirty Politics: Shame On You, Hill

The most recent mud slinging in the 2008 Presidential Race has really taken me by surprise. The defaming remarks of Senator Hillary Clinton’s now former campaign co-chairman, Bill Shaheen, will go down as one of the most blatant examples of dirty politics. Presenting Senator Obama as a drug addict in effort to thwart attention from the dwindling poll position of Clinton showed lack a class, tact, and showed the general downfall of the Clinton campaign.

As a young African-American male who generally finds great pride in the opportunity to vote and express my opinion in the political arena, this type of political under-handing gives me a sense of helplessness. The fact that so much attention is given to who has smoked a joint or what foreign affairs experience a candidate may have, diminishes the focus of making this country a better place to live. The fact that in 2007, we still struggle as a country with health care, public education, social security, and poverty shows that there is no time for the political campaigns of yester-year.

A personality contest is not what we need. We need a race that is focused on ebullient change. Clinton claims that these comments weren’t endorsed by her or her campaign and has since apologized to Obama. Yet, I feel that if the public perception of these comments weren't negative, this behavior wouldn’t have been admonished by her or her team.

Hill, thanks for making a decision that was already visible, crystal clear. Obama in 08!

- Mike

The New School of Hip-Hop

In this post-Don Imus era of Hip-Hop, much attention has been put on the negative elements of modern rap music, namely degradation of women and promotion of violence. Yet, in the midst of all this controversy, a seemingly quiet breath of fresh air has blown into the rap game. Enter stage left, the resurgence of dookie gold rope chains, high top Reeboks, and vintage Hip-Hop essence galore.

The Cool Kids, Proton, and Christian Rich are all apart of the freshman class of Hip-Hop. From throwback imaging to distinctively futuristic production, each of these new kids brings something ultra-unique to the table. Not fitting into the cookie-cutter mold of current rap standards, these rap duos bring the elements of true Hip-Hop back to grace. Story telling, braggadocios banter, catchy melodies, and generally fun lyrics are themes ever present in each group’s catalogue of work.

Scroll down for a little more info on each group and be sure to check out their individual Myspace pages:

The Cool Kids

Hailing from Detroit and Chicago, The Cool Kids are all about the 80’s. From their throwback garb to their understated production, The Cool Kids will make you want to break out your spray paint and tag the block.

Joints To Check For: “88” & “Black Mags”


Christian Rich


Christian Rich have more in common than their love of rhyming, they are twin brothers. And aside from the biological bond, these brothers produce all of their own futuristic beats and have even branched out into their own clothing (Christina Rich Goods).

Joints To Check For: “Countdown” & “Supastar”


Proton

The dudes of Proton meld the sounds of old and new through varied production and interchangeable flows. Each song gives a different vibe and shows a depth of artistry that is definitely needed in the rap world of present.

Joints To Check For: “Good Guys” & “Ready To Go”


** The Main Pic at the top is The Retro Kids. If you aren’t up on them, Check out this NY times article on them.**

Mind Ya' Business

After hanging with a female friend a few days ago, I realized one very odd thing about young black women; they have all the knowledge in the world to notice when a guy isn't right. What makes that odd you ask…the fact that they don't apply this knowledge to their own personal lives.

Women are quick to point out the obvious flaws in other women's relationships and even do it with some pride behind their opinions. My friend and I sat up watching tv and I sat in awe listening to her go hard on one of the characters from the show we were watching. My friend was upset that the character was letting her boyfriend play her. The reason it shocked me was because my friend has let herself look foolish in a few of her past relationships, and some current ones.

On the same token another friend of mine has sat up and angrily spoke about the infidelity a mutual friend of ours is experiencing in her relationship. Her boyfriend is cheating on her and apparently not even trying to hide it. What makes my friends attitude odd is that she was a habitual cheater in her most recent relationship. She felt no need to even apologize for her own actions in her relationship, but scolded our friend for being "dumb enough to get cheated on."

It's almost some sort of karmic double standard sense given to women. They have the ability to recognize errors in relationships that they are impartial on, however they are blind to the subjective failings within their own courtship.
A lot of women like to walk around parading as if they are in the perfect relationship, when behind closed doors they truly aren't happy with the way things are going. It's even logical to think that if they front like they're happy when they really aren't, that they will at least address the issues they have with their significant other when they're out of the public eye. However, most women get so used to putting on this front for the scrutinizing public that they get caught up in their own acting abilities and forget that they have real issues to deal with.

Some women read the Essence magazine where Kim Porter stated she was content with not being married to Diddy, and all they could say is how stupid she was for staying in this dead end relationship with a known cheater. There are a million cases, both celebrity scandal and around the way gossip, where women have sat up and given their "expert" opinions on how stupid another woman is being for putting up with the relationship she's in. Oddly enough a lot of these women have been through something similar or worse. The moral of the story is, when women are led to be all up in someone else's relationship business, they really should be keeping an eye on their own.

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-Ant