I've been thinking about this for a minute and was just waiting for the next black celeb to put his foot in his mouth before posting about. This time it's Dez Bryant with this:

http://www.totalprosports.com/2017/04/10/dez-bryant-says-black-people-are-the-reason-they-are-unsuccessful-not-white-people/


BTW, the biggest problem with his "no one ever had it harder than Desmond D. Bryant" story is that no matter how terrible the story he goes on to tell, the truth is that there are plenty of people from backgrounds like he described that also were not gifted athletes that allowed them to rise up out of their situation.

This is kind of why I find "successful people" have a tendency to turn obnoxious with their, "I did it, so can you".

Common & Pharrell have both been guilty of "New Black-isms".

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/19/common-pharrell-and-the-new-black-an-ignorant-mentality-that-undermines-the-black-experience.html

But the truth is what they are saying is close to, and a variation, of the less controversial message of, "we black people are amazing and have the ability to overcome any circumstances this country has thrown at us".

Stuff like:

“Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations.”
 –Dr. Mae Jemison

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” –Harriet Tubman

"You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages."
- Michelle Obama


Kind of sort of similar in theme right?


One thing I notice is that it is not only important who is delivering the message but at what point in their career they are delivering the message. People can tolerate advice from Kanye & Jay-Z on the come up about what it takes to beat the odds, but rich Kanye & Jay-Z sound obnoxious talking like that (reminds me of my friend who was a huge self-promoter when we were younger which was necessary and tolerated when he was trying to get to the top, but when he got to the top that sort of talk became obnoxious).


Anyway, when does black optimism talk of "can't nobody hold us down" turn into black denial of "we are our own worst enemies"?








**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

as the others you referenced.

Imagine Donald Trump saying it to a group of black disadvantaged youth. It would be all the way f'd up.



Not at all saying Mrs. Obama is f'd up saying it. Just reiterating the point who the speaker is matters a lot on this topic.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

You being lazy as shit.

If anything be can tell you to beat the odds it's black folk who beat the odds.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

"you need to work harder. You're not doing enough."

Imagine your parents saying it to you.



Now imagine a white dude saying it to you.

___________

Back again for the first time.

how can a rich man who was born into wealth tell folks about working harder or knowing what it's like to overcome poverty and racism?

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

I buy it. good point.


>how can a rich man who was born into wealth tell folks about
>working harder or knowing what it's like to overcome poverty
>and racism?
>
>


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

Everyone can't be a star athlete or an entertainer. If you come from humble beginnings and make a better life for you and yours that's winning.

Unfortunately too many of us think "making it" is becoming famous or super rich.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

Statistically I was sposed to be dead or in jail 20 years. I still know of people who came from my block that are posting pics on Facebook from prison.

they not comin home.

I made it.

I been in civil service 14 yrs. I'm straight with that. I'm not done livin. I made it and I still got things to do and miles to tread. It's all relative.

IG: amadu_me

"...Whateva, man..." (c) Redman

did they ever have money struggles?
did they graduate from being poor but still remember what it was like?
did they just forget about the struggle and now look at poor folk diff?
do they understand that my circumstances aren't theirs?

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

Either the statements are true or false right? If they are true then who the speaker is shouldn't really matter the right?

These are the questions I am wrestling with.

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

to quote a commenter, "it's why you call your wife baby, but would have a very different reaction if I called your wife baby."

the always been wealthy person won't have the same experience with having your heat off in the dead of winter and it wasn't due to a storm.

the level of empathy is rarely the same based on the backgrounds. sure, work hard, make better decisions is what it all boil down to when getting advice. however, if I gotta think about how I can get 2 meals outta $10, simply saying I made, so you can too doesn't help my struggle right now and shows me that you (general you), may have forgotten how hard this day to day shit is.

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

and get insecure about it.

I don't think the intent of any of these celebrities are really missing the point. There just seems to be this remove between people once a person gets set financially. That person might not even different personality-wise. But I'm willing to bet that that doesn't stop people from feeling like the rich person changed.

The sentiment is still true...'You can do it too'. The price you have to pay for a certain status might be different but it's still possible.

In that regard, Dez may be right to an extent (keyword--to an extent). If someone is determined to mope about how hard their life is, they are dedicated thought equity to the problem over the solution. Of course, Dez ain't 100% correct. There are plenty examples of white people deterring Black success. But white folks aren't always the problem.

Like for years, we've talked about the rate of out of wedlock kids in our community.

But whenever you bring it up, single mothers, and those raised by single mothers get up in arms about how they turned out just fine and the kids turned out just fine. Which is cool, but there's 40 million of us and like three of you.

Like when people say, hey go get an education, people in the military or people who didn't go to school or finish school will get up in arms about how they are doing just fine and didn't need no fancy book-learnin'. Which is cool, but there's 40 million of us and you ten niggas ain't but a fraction.

You can talk all sorts of shit that makes sense for Black people as a whole, (With the understanding that no one size fits all), but we 've gotten too soft and to sensitive to really hear the gospel of agency and accountability.


______________________________________________________________________________

cscpov.blogspot.com

"There's a fine line between persistence and foolishness..."
-unknown

"To Each His Reach"

Gold medal in Oppression Olympics. Dude talks all that shit, then pulls out his "Y'all ain't have it as hard as me" card, just like rappers do. It just seems mad insecure, and I don't see how folks think that kinda shit inspires anyone.

EVERYONE has struggles. Invalidating the struggles of others ("no one ever had it harder") is just a dick move.

If he was really about inspiring success, then why not focus on that?

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

You see it on these boards too with their own twists on the 'bootstrap' speeches.

Basically your Bill Cosby/Talented 10th, Dez Bryant discussion where its, 'I did it, so why can't you' not realizing that even with them making it luck had such a H-U-G-E part to play in it; what would have happened to Dez if he had smashed his kneecap in high school football.

The counterpoint is the people on the street utting in that work; community outreach, teachers, social workers...would N-E-V-E-R say that shit to the people they are dealing with because they know that top help rebuild someone's sense of self and esteem that's been beaten down by life its downright insulting to approach the problem with that type of thinking. But talented tenth ass negros have no problem being dicks, don't they, lol.

not just about black people (which they definitely do) but about other white people. Black people aren't the only ones peddling self-help to their own people.

I would also say audience is also as important as who the speaker is.

If you go into any success academy type charter school the schools are constantly drilling into the kids that they can do anything and don't let their environment hold them down. It would also seem that those schools always hold their children to a higher standard. But this is cool because they are speaking this stuff directly to the kids.


At the same time if Newt Gingrinch wants to spout this stuff at the Heritage Foundation retreat it's bullshit.

Also Common talking that talk is a bad look on Daily Show. But a black preacher in a black church wouldn't catch no slack for the same message.



**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

=======================================
Coolin...

>If you go into any success academy type charter school the
>schools are constantly drilling into the kids that they can do
>anything and don't let their environment hold them down. It
>would also seem that those schools always hold their children
>to a higher standard. But this is cool because they are
>speaking this stuff directly to the kids.

They are but it still isn't as cut/dry. For instance a kid fucks up because of something out of his control (something with the parents) they aren't going to blame them; they hold them responsible for things within their relative control.

>At the same time if Newt Gingrinch wants to spout this stuff
>at the Heritage Foundation retreat it's bullshit.
>
>Also Common talking that talk is a bad look on Daily Show. But
>a black preacher in a black church wouldn't catch no slack for
>the same message.

Black church has hella issues though for all the good it does at the same time. The same self-hate ideal I brought up is def. evident in black church.

I agree there are things we can critique 'among folks' that we don't want anyone else talking about. The bootstrap thing though is such a tired tirade tho and simplistic; many of the people they are speaking to FIRMLY feel that they are doing their best in their situation. Thus to come in with this outside world view thinking you're speaking truth to someone to tell them to go to college when they are a 25 year old ex-felon without a high school diploma and even the local fast food joint won't even hire em.

As far as ofay goes we all know they love a bootstrap story because it helps them feel better then the others; that they are 'self made'. Shit, listening to that S-Town podcast its fascinating how even the trashiest of white trash still believes they are better then people who find a way to be poorer and the negros.

Cause niggas will always take shit to heart and illogical extremes.

"I made it, so can you"

gets twisted into "well the gaul of this high falutin' nigga, we can't all catch a football you jack n jill ass nigga, got a white girl as soon as you got on, tommy bahama shirt wearin', bougie muhfucka, I'm out here breakin' my back every day in theez skreets nigga!"

But all that was actually said was "I made it, so can you" Most of the disdain is inferred by the listener. Niggas never wanna adapt what was said to their own circumstances to see how they can win a little more.
______________________________________________________________________________

cscpov.blogspot.com

"There's a fine line between persistence and foolishness..."
-unknown

"To Each His Reach"

at most...niggas will make 1000001546546541 excuses as to why THEY can't...

they say nothin about the person who 'made it'


they ain't concerned with what the talented 10th doin....it's the other way around

=======================================
Coolin...

I have.

as well as hearing the 225654565855 reasons why they can't do it.

And trust, people usually are saying all of that in one way or another but it's usually behind someone's back or after the person left or how they tell the story to someone else at a bar or party a few weeks later.
______________________________________________________________________________

cscpov.blogspot.com

"There's a fine line between persistence and foolishness..."
-unknown

"To Each His Reach"

=======================================
Coolin...

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

the assumption that I'm not working hard enough (or as hard as *you* think you did) is kinda bothersome?

really?

the difference being talked TO (we need to...) vs. being talked about (y'all/they need to...)

Dez made it where he is with a whole lot of work and a whole lot of luck.
If he wants to deny the luck, that's on him.

-----

I really need to figure out my password.

Lucky he didn't blow out his knee?
Lucky because he didn't run the streets with his people and end up in jail?
Lucky because he worked hard and took advantage of damn near ever opportunity given to him?

see, I think we view these finished products and say luck was involved but for 17 to 21 years most of these athletes are grinding.

How many of us would wear a diaper to sell records like Puffy?
How many of us would go to small as towns to do the news like Oprah?
How many of us would sell all our furniture to sew clothes in the house like FUBU?

Just sayin' most of these Black folk put in mad work to make it

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

>Lucky he didn't blow out his knee?


Damn straight! I think there have been tons of talented athletes who would be playing professional sports but for a career ending injury (as well as ton who didn't make it because they just didn't have the drive).



>Lucky because he didn't run the streets with his people and
>end up in jail?

No that's not luck. You can get credit for that.


>Lucky because he worked hard and took advantage of damn near
>ever opportunity given to him?
>

No that's not luck. You can get credit for that.


>see, I think we view these finished products and say luck was
>involved but for 17 to 21 years most of these athletes are
>grinding.

Sure.


>
>How many of us would wear a diaper to sell records like
>Puffy?


Don't know the exact story you references but we all know alot of dudes hustling records out the trunk of they car. There is even a bit of luck that Puffy is from NYC where that ambition can be met with oppotunities you wouldn't find in suffolk, va.

Look at the Neptunes. If Teddy Riley didn't open a studio in Va Beach, would we know who those guys are? Maybe not.

>How many of us would go to small as towns to do the news like
>Oprah?

A lot of people do it though. Certain amount of luck and a whole lot of drive got her to where she is. That's why that Rae Dawn Chong hate was so interesting. What RDC was making fun of and criticizing Oprah for is exactly what got her to the top (with a dash of luck).



>How many of us would sell all our furniture to sew clothes in
>the house like FUBU?

Lot of cats do it though. Not all turn out be success stories.

>
>Just sayin' most of these Black folk put in mad work to make
>it
>

Agreed but that alone wouldn't have gotten them to their level. Still some luch involved.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

My boy is from VA and made it in music. Every time an artist came through D.C., Richmond or Norfolk he was outside hustling. Dude would read the cassette tapes for names of managers and hound them.

Ego and fear are the reason a lot of people don't make it in that industry.

and I'm not sure if Dez is saying "get rich like me" or just saying you can make it out if you work hard.

Ionno... maybe I'm missing it but I think Dez and others are saying you can make it out. Doesn't mean you will make it big...

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

On the same hand you say that people can make it out if they try hard enough is the same one that you acknowledge the system targets and and preys upon minorities and the most vulnerable.

-----

I really need to figure out my password.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

All I'm saying is to acknowledge the road blocks. That black Americans that "make it" do so in spite of a system that's historically set up to prey on them not making it.

-----

I really need to figure out my password.

You just told me to acknowledge it.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

His entire reality of making it is that he worked hard enough to be successful from a physical stand point
How many times did he avoid a staph infection, or a car accident, or an on field injury? That's luck.
Any time everything has to go perfectly right for you to be successful then that's luck.
You don't have to be oprah or diddy to be a success. Not being them isn't failure.
But the reason black folks make it or don't is a lot flimsier than people that have "made it" are willing to admit.
I can run a list of 10 things off the top of my head that if things had went different for MY life then it would've been a lot different or non existent. I'm not special. I worked hard and got lucky.

-----

I really need to figure out my password.

We have no idea what Dez went through as a child.

also, plenty of athletes are getting injured in HS and college and some still make it due to the advancement in medicine.

I don't think it's luck to avoid a serious injury.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

>I don't think it's luck to avoid a serious injury.

Then that's where we end this conversation.

-----

I really need to figure out my password.

ending or chnaging injuries?

in this context life=luck when life doesn't block our success

Let me sport my Air Hyperbole 2010s in peace. (c) ansomble

Building repetoires (c) spm since 1983

I don't believe that's luck

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

no matter how perfect you drive, it only takes one nigga to not do some shit right and fuck your whole shit up.

You can do shit to minimize the risk involved, but still.

genetically, this nigga hit the powerball

♚♚♚♚

#BYLUG >>> https://goo.gl/1ooFp6

♚♚♚♚

screamin' mothafuck a 12 /
bitches ain't shit /
cops ain't neither /
they huntin' my people /

- i. rashad

♚♚♚♚

That thought is what keeps me humble and hungry.

I have a unique name for a first and last combination but it's not THAT unique. I'm one spelling typo away from a whole host of mugshots and bill collectors.

-----

I really need to figure out my password.

Theme here that I think causes the kost resentment is capitalism in general. These bootstrap comments come across as disengenuous because ultimately capitalism is a ponzi scheme: it is not designed for everybody to make it. It is engineered to manufacture poverty, and that poverty is profitable.

Dez is lucky to have skills that can be converted to a highly exploitable field because without an NFL he wouldn't necessarily be thriving the same way with those same gifts. It'd be like saying "hey yall, if you work hard, be 6'3, run fast, and jump high, you might can make it too". Everybody can't follow his path to success.

We would need to overhaul our entire system to be one that put human needs first as a priority, and THEN allowed for a profit incentive. Until then, yeah I hope Dez's knee doesn't go out, or the high school senior behind him trying to work just as hard to make it.

________________________________________________
R.I.P. Soulgyal <3
SUPA NERD LLC.
Knowledge Meets Nature
Musica Negra
#13irteen

always has and always will be bullshit without a huge paradigm shift on where and how power is designated

Let me sport my Air Hyperbole 2010s in peace. (c) ansomble

Building repetoires (c) spm since 1983

because i never would've expected him to even think about these things. and while i do think he's part right, hopefully he pursues this and can get educated on some of his wrong points there

<--- Big Baller World Order

shit like this only gives a more intimate tour of the island on which any remotely successful black person will (eventually) find him/herself marooned.

it seems harder for af-am's to look around at the conditions of those outside our immediate circle - especially after having achieved anything noteworthy. and when we do peer outside our facade of creature comforts - it's mainly to judge or dole out disdain.

white man really did a doozy on us. we're damn near incapable of weighing our accomplishments against the plight our entire people. i think this is mainly bc we'very been so thoroughly pwned, that it's just flat-out easier to lament about the problems of those nigga over there w/their nigga mentalities...

kick in the dick is i KNOW FOR A FACT all these indians in this bldg sending bread back home to mumbai or whatever & probably feel a sense of pride when doing so.

seent a dude out on my lunch break so dark i had to do a dbl take. nigga looked like he was kin to me. NOPE. straight outta hindustan.

ANYWAYS, i know every nigga can'take be jim br-- err, ali -- but c(tf)mon it's not hard to keep dumb shit like this out the press. it emboldens the r̶a̶c̶i̶s̶t̶ misguided mf's that joe schmoes like me have to work alongside.

♚♚♚♚

#BYLUG >>> https://goo.gl/1ooFp6

♚♚♚♚

screamin' mothafuck a 12 /
bitches ain't shit /
cops ain't neither /
they huntin' my people /

- i. rashad

♚♚♚♚

Homeboy had to discipline his moms to make sure she was acting right, being the MAN in the household, yet we out here making excuses and complaining.
</'casm>

.

♚♚♚♚

#BYLUG >>> https://goo.gl/1ooFp6

♚♚♚♚

screamin' mothafuck a 12 /
bitches ain't shit /
cops ain't neither /
they huntin' my people /

- i. rashad

♚♚♚♚

"Get ready....for your blessing....."

save for the gov't of course - that's like paying the light bill

♚♚♚♚

#BYLUG >>> https://goo.gl/1ooFp6

♚♚♚♚

screamin' mothafuck a 12 /
bitches ain't shit /
cops ain't neither /
they huntin' my people /

- i. rashad

♚♚♚♚

but both suffer the same fatal flaw

not being based in reality

Let me sport my Air Hyperbole 2010s in peace. (c) ansomble

Building repetoires (c) spm since 1983

optimism indeed....but there's reality in it.




"Get ready....for your blessing....."

based on reality in this case deals with likelihood, not whether something is possible

Let me sport my Air Hyperbole 2010s in peace. (c) ansomble

Building repetoires (c) spm since 1983

second one sounds encouraging.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

"Get ready....for your blessing....."

<--- Big Baller World Order

"Get ready....for your blessing....."

I mainly talked about, "here is how I did it. It's worth trying".

I also gave very specific advice. Do X. Do Y.

I hate when people give shitty advice like "work harder" or "do better".



**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

on any task that's NOT involving manual effort...then you might as well be shouting "RED BALLOONS!" at them....





"Get ready....for your blessing....."

are much better than vague sayings like work harder. examples help build potential avenues and outcomes.

work hard and the cliches of that ilk, don't provide clear paths.

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

can't have the group the majority of your culture views as less than human discussing that reality on the microphone you provided them. Even if you don't support the view of the majority culture.

social and cultural ideals of a people and society that are the complete antitheses of us and looks to parasite off of our lives for better or worse.

What is successful?

I rather own the team than play for it does that mean Dez is not successful?

I rather use my mind to make a living than my physical skills which diminish quickly after few year of insane work and dangerous continual impact

is that successful?

I rather not work for a corporation but partner and eventually write checks to have other work for me does that mean Dez ain't successful?

What is success?

That is defined by identity, culture, nation, ethnicity etc.

<----

Soundcloud.com/aquil84

(HIP HOP)
http://aquil.bandcamp.com

yeah jerry jones or whatever but there's no getting around the fact that ANY pro athlete (esp a future hof like dez) has worked harder than most of us & has endured buddhist monk levels of pain to even get to this level.

that's not even mentioning the pay, fame, and the god-like status they're afforded in their respective hometowns / colleges.

nigga got at least 2-3 cities / towns he can go to RIGHT TODAY & get a free meal / coaching gig

& that's not dick riding - maybe a little bit - but they still facts.

♚♚♚♚

#BYLUG >>> https://goo.gl/1ooFp6

♚♚♚♚

screamin' mothafuck a 12 /
bitches ain't shit /
cops ain't neither /
they huntin' my people /

- i. rashad

♚♚♚♚

When your own culture promotes you it's of value to your community and when another culture promotes you it's of value to their community

that could have just easily passed him up for someone else if they wanted to.

Rest In Peace, Bad News Brown

.

♚♚♚♚

#BYLUG >>> https://goo.gl/1ooFp6

♚♚♚♚

screamin' mothafuck a 12 /
bitches ain't shit /
cops ain't neither /
they huntin' my people /

- i. rashad

♚♚♚♚

he was poor, he's not poor anymore. success! hopefully he can keep itn once his playing days are done. you don't have to be the owner/creator to be considered a success.

I'm sure he knowsmost nfl careers are 3 years or so. he can take his nfl money and create a biz, hire black people, etc. 50/50 chance of that biz being a hit.

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

you start out working poor and end up solid middle class.. SUCCESS

hell, you start out middle class and end up middle class and are HAPPY.. that's SUCCESS.

Too many of us think filthy rich or we failed. That's how you end up miserable.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

What about the person that gets out of jail and gets a job paying minimum wage are they successful? They went from slavery and pennies to a few dollars a day.

My point is success is dictated by culture which is shaped by identity.

I am not saying he ain't successful but what is success.

Individuals set goals and reach them sure that is success but what is successful? Its relative.

Other wise Dez is talking out of his ass and needs a history/ sociology lesson.

<----

Soundcloud.com/aquil84

(HIP HOP)
http://aquil.bandcamp.com

>What about the person that gets out of jail and gets a job
>paying minimum wage are they successful? They went from
>slavery and pennies to a few dollars a day.

this is success, but hopefully this minimum wage gig is to followed up with the next level up. but yeah getting a job after a prison stint can be major first step to build more successes on.

>
>My point is success is dictated by culture which is shaped by
>identity.
>


>I am not saying he ain't successful but what is success.
>
>Individuals set goals and reach them sure that is success but
>what is successful? Its relative.

so this is all semantics. we agree that success is relative. its also measured on a continuum by peers, society, etc. it matters where you are and where you go from there.
>
>Other wise Dez is talking out of his ass and needs a history/
>sociology lesson.

yup

>
>

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

Advice from successful ppl is often useless because:

A: What people attribute to their success is going to be tainted by their view of themselves, their memory and humans knack for pattern recognition (connecting the dots)

B: We dont know what the fuck we are doing... but we got here. (People are actually scared to admit that)


I will say that you DO have to have unbound optimism in order to succeed. It is way too easy to create metal roadblocks along the way that say "you can't". So the denial isn't such a bad thing. I mean the odds are insane.

Double 0
DJ/Producer/Artist
Producer in Kidz In The Hall
-------------------------------------------
twitter: @godouble0
IG: @godouble0
www.thinklikearapper.com

I don't think success should be measured by how much better you're doing fiscally compared to your elders. Or how much less oppressive society is compared to your elders. Whenever someone speaks on their success and doesn't attribute their motivation around those pivot points, they seem to be bashed for it. That's a problem.

I should be able to consider myself a success and not have to reference or quantify any race-based items as hurdles that I had to overcome. My success shouldn't be measured by that or valued any more or less by those race based metrics.

With that said.....I don't take it wrong when someone offers encouragement or advice to the black diaspora and it downplays the obstacle of racism.

I do firmly believe that racism is perhaps one of the SMALLEST hurdles any black person in America needs to overcome for success.


"Get ready....for your blessing....."

and a few dollars in the bank that's success to me.

I grew up in the burbs but we were poor as shit in the burbs. Most of my friends were poor as shit and relatives in the hood were REALLY poor as shit.

When I see my people with jobs, families and a house where the lights and heat stay on that's success to me.

everything after that is gravy IMO.

I think far too often we compare success to the things we see on TV and in magazines.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

there is a lot swirling in my head on this (most of it is around conceptual reductionism, but i'm still chewing on that) but for the sake of this response, if one is willing to consider a statistical view of this topic what we have is what I describe in the title

you have people in the lower tier of the 1% looking at those in the lower tier of the 99% and saying "be more like me" (ignoring the rarity of their circumstances and how they arrived there) rather than - and this is to the point of differentiation between the bryant and jemison-type comments - "this is possible, strive for it"

in the case of the latter (keep pushing even when you run into obstacles) you are creating possibility and encouraging drive

in the former (I made it, you don't have any excuse not to) you are making accusation of failure

trying to be succinct, hope that makes sense

>there is a lot swirling in my head on this (most of it is
>around conceptual reductionism, but i'm still chewing on that)
>but for the sake of this response, if one is willing to
>consider a statistical view of this topic what we have is what
>I describe in the title
>you have people in the lower tier of the 1% looking at those
>in the lower tier of the 99% and saying "be more like me"
>(ignoring the rarity of their circumstances and how they
>arrived there) rather than - and this is to the point of
>differentiation between the bryant and jemison-type comments -
>"this is possible, strive for it"

>in the case of the latter (keep pushing even when you run into
>obstacles) you are creating possibility and encouraging drive

I think people need to assess exactly how the person doing the encouraging is measuring success and the situation. If you have a sports hero talking to a little black kid at the local gym about sport success then yeah, statistics are really stacked against them from jump just based on the field. And that's independent of race for the most part...

But if that same person is just talking the general black public about rising above whatever level you feel you need rise above to feel like you've succeeded...then I say they keep the pep talks coming by any means necessary.


>in the former (I made it, you don't have any excuse not to)
>you are making accusation of failure

yeah, this is just old school version of "Man Up Dawg!" Basically folks that don't know WHAT to say or HOW to encourage just fall back on it. They indeed need to do better.

>trying to be succinct, hope that makes sense


"Get ready....for your blessing....."

or are they saying anything at all

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Coolin...

if you mean AFTER being told "your life sucks because you're lazy" then they (we?) generally say "screw you"

or are you talking about something else?

I made the statement in #28 that I don't see the '99' worried about, talking down about, overly concerned with

in my experience this always tends to be a one sided discussion with the 1% speaking on the 99

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Coolin...

the existence of this post (and conversations like this) are the pushback from the 99%

and the others just casually dismiss it

i peep that a lot of the prosperity mega church culture tends to agree though

Let me sport my Air Hyperbole 2010s in peace. (c) ansomble

Building repetoires (c) spm since 1983

everyone to be "successful" by white male USA standards it is actually the opposite.

Niggas still carry around the brands aka (LAST NAMES) of people that colonized them to make an INSANE profit to build the banks, insurance companies, counties, railways, iron mine, cotton fields etc.

I mean Black folk still represent the largest slave population percentage wise via prisons and guess who profits from them.......


But you don't work hard enough for your minimum wage.

You don't have enough skills to be exploited for your labor so we exploit your time and energy until you are ready to die.

Niggas need to know their lane and be as humble as they are to their coaches when they start talking out of their asses.

<----

Soundcloud.com/aquil84

(HIP HOP)
http://aquil.bandcamp.com

and you don't even need to be smart to get that part.

__________________________________________
CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!!
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Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell
Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this