Listening to Mos def Rap abouyt "umi says" (umi meaning mother in Arabic) and reading these posts on Black thought kissing that white chick. I feel Black People need to Understand Period. As a Black Man I wake up feeling and having to deal with white people Every damn day, and all these people have to say is "we made some steps forward" fuck that!<BR> <BR> Destroyed In Everyday Life I rise to Find Myself another Black man Lost in the Maze Of White world. My Eyes hurt from trying to see the light. A thought shared by many African American Men and Women in General A loss off ones self is on the horizon with each daily breathe. Momentarily a black man will commit a crime where his reply in court will be "he did it to survive". Tonight and every other night a black man, woman, child will be killed. A society on the brink of downfall, with such easy Uprise available why? (see the LOVE IN THE 90’s BOARD). <BR> I Turn On "UMI SAY'S" by Mos Def and Try and meditate on my life and "SHINE MY LIGHT FOR THE WORLD TO SEE" the words sink inside my hurting soul. Eyes pull tears from unknown realms. WHy Out of a society Of People the strongest race suffer from Problems so Deeply rooted in One's heriditary? Surpass the bullshit about slavery and the downfall of black political leader's. Yes this a factor in the overall problem, but there is a problem within ourselve's. Why are our kids almost the highest if not, percentage of kids in the adoption system? Why are we the highest percentage of the prison system? Why do we make up the strongest portion of Poverty in the United States Of America? Is there really that much of a problem with being black? are we ashamed to stand with our pride high and demand the respect needed to survive on a daily basis? <BR> <BR>...HOLD UP, WAIT A MUTHAFUCKIN SECOND! <BR> I think I need to marinate on this shit for a min. As a culture we are grounded into this Land Deeper then any past group of people. YES BEYOND NATIVE AMERICANS. What we look at everyday during our journey through the world was built by our ancestors. The Designer clothes Most of us decide to Hide our true selves under, The fabric Has our great grandmothers and great great grandfathers blood shed all over it. This very ground we walk on, spit on, drive on, live on.....carried the many routes of freedom, to the routes of death, pain and heartache of Our beloved Love one's. We Built this Muthafucka. But we are scared to live in this Muthafucka? is there a slight problem with this attitude? the same group of people to holla gimme' my respect on street blocks are the same people scared to LIVE what we Made. Everybody is scared of the YEAR 2000 but what about the last 400 years? This Lack Of Concern Scares me because If we don't know where we been, HOW THE FUCK CAN WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE HEADED? We are the strongest race, Yet we live in fear, Fear of the police, fear of positivity, fear of work, fear of struggle, fear of commitment, fear of ourselve's. Most Importantly Fear of change. <BR> As the song Ends I think of the title of the c.d "BLACK ON BOTH SIDES" I Chuckle Lightly to myself. "BLACK ON BOTH SIDES" aint that the muthafuckin truth I think. I remember being young and telling my cousin "give me five on the black hand side" Years later I found out, that we ARE "BLACK ON BOTH SIDES" hard work, Hard live's. Black being opague and absorbing heat, and most elements. Just like my People absorbing pain, absorbing our reality, The Problem with that is.....When do we release it? I'm Releasing mine, Many a Black man or Black woman has found the means to release theirs in a positive light, and realize that this is ours for the taking, ours for the making, ours for the growth, Simply Stated this is ours. The world is ours, But Fear is not. Do you Honestly think We were AFRAID when we rode years Packed inside those slave ships?!! HELL YEAH WE WERE! but the difference is we had sense of self We had sense Of Pride. We had a sense Of Spirituality, a Sense of our Culture Our BLACKNESS, and we knew that whatever God had in Store for us. We would Overcome, Because we are His People. BLACK PEOPLE. MUTHAFUCKIN BLACK PEOPLE.<P>When Black MEN and Black WOMEN get to this frame of mind and understanding I will be aiight with see-ing a brotha kiss a white chick but until then Fuck it.<BR> <BR>If You have something you would like to say, e-mail me at Arson@ill-matik.8m.com or vist my site<P><a href="http://ill-matik.8m.com" target="_blank">http://ill-matik.8m.com<;/a><P>the revolution will be televised VIA internet in 27 days<P>Ill-inois EST-blished<P>Ill~est<BR> <BR>

as i read your post, my feelings were mixed. Mos intended that album as an expression of the beauty of being black. The beauty that includes the struggle of his ancestors, and the overcoming of some of society's obstacles. Yet, I feel it isn't necessary to attack white people as a whole, which he clearly did, in order to contrast the beauty of blackness to the (as you stated) "white world". Especially when he is referring to genres of music as black. Last time I listened to music it didn't have a color. Maybe the album just wasn't for me, maybe I'm not listening to the right music, or I was missing something. So I decided not to pay my $17.95 to support someone else's views.<P>Being a female of mixed descent (italian and romanian/boricua), I can't begin to say that I empathize with the struggle of Black Americans. Especially in the subject of slavery. But lets face it, every ethnicity or culture went through some sort of struggle to establish themselves in this land we call the "united" states. However, many white AND black(in skin)have lost touch with their roots. <P>You said, "If we don't know where we been, HOW THE FUCK CAN WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE HEADED?" ..It is one thing to be aware of your history, but another to re-live it by attaching a societal stigma to your view (that white people can't relate to black people, as if we are seperate species)..and no matter whose world people may claim it to be.. this world remains created by a Higher Power..<BR> <BR>as gandhi said "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." .. It is important for us to stop attaching traditional views to the present..but to innovate and constantly change the views to be more positive.. <P>Being a third generation American, I am still aware of the way my descendants were treated as outcasts in this society. My Romanian grandfather came to America, escaping communism and Nazis, to find a white man burning down his car because he tried to form an alliance among his immigrant co-workers. My Puerto Rican and Italian grandparents were offered the lowliest of jobs or no jobs at all, and struggled to stay alive, dodging typical stereotypes and racism. <P>That's exactly what all of this comes down to. Racism. That's where it stemmed from, and it has grown into something that blinds people from seeing past it..and we use the simple word "racism" to describe this as if it's some un-complex matter..<P>I have experienced racial discrimination myself by the overwhelming ignorant mass that plagues society.. my family has been discriminated against by black AND white people... and yet I have no anger towards them..i know what it's like to be called a "cracker bitch" by black or latino people I don't even know, walking down the street..Since the color of my skin must describe so much about my background or my views..or be called a "WAP" or a "spic" by white and black people..and never once have I judged a person, black or white..their unknowing and ignorance of what my family has been through only strengthens my understanding of the outside world..<P>I don't look to other people to understand my life, I live my life based on love.. the only one true thing I've ever experienced, from both black and white people....no stigmas attacheD.<P>WE, as people, must accept ourselves..accept our backgrounds..and accept the past.. once we accomplish this, we will be able to unite based on intellect and love, rather than alienate ourselves from people because of their skin color, believing that the person behind the skin cannot understand us for that simple reason.. until we can accomplish peace within ourselves, it seems absurd to sit here and stress BT kissing a white female because we can't ACCEPT it..<P><P>-cassandrA<BR>-prophe-tEss-<BR>-ca*tESs*trophE <P><BR>

all the stuff u said has nothing to do w/ thought kissing a jewish girl<BR>this topic has been played to death<BR>bottom line: stop blaming white people today for the way things are, i am white, and i have done nothing but live my life, that is all. if u believe the history of my race is a reason to hate me, then u my friend r ignorant.<BR>

>stop blaming white people today for the <BR>>way things are, i am white, <BR>>and i have done nothing but <BR>>live my life, that is all. <P>it's probably true (since i dont know you, i cant say for certain) that you have not spited or discriminated against another. but just because you yourself have not does not mean others don't. i have no hatred for today's white people for the bondage of the africans, but saying that white people are not at fault for the current mistreatment of blacks is false. today's discrimination is a direct result of past ideas - that blacks were inferior. if that ideology never existed, society would not be at it's current status. <P>BUT blaming white people for one's own shortcomings and failures is definitely ignorant (is this what you were getting at?). if a person has the heart and drive, nothing can hold him/her back. <P>> if u believe the history <BR>>of my race is a reason <BR>>to hate me, then u my <BR>>friend r ignorant. <P>ditto. <BR>--------<P>W.O.P. what!<P><a href="http://focushiphop.cjb.net" target="_blank">http://focushiphop.cjb.net<;/a>

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r.i.p.
hdw 04.04.61 - 07.30.99
dtw 05.12.58 - 08.14.02

http://www.okaymentary.com

Every white person has said what you said "i didn't do anything"...well who the fuck is then? <P>Y'all like to act like shit is over...ummm there's an innocent brother shot at 41 times...dead , there's disproportionate jail sentences & police harassment, there's school inequities, there's environmental racism, there's the confederate flag, there's job discrimination, there's Guillian, Bush, Buchanan...there's a bunch of shit...times ain't changed, mothafuckas just took down the "no blacks allowed signs".<P>When white give up white skin priviledge then we can talk but when's the last time you DEMANDED to see the numbers & make sure people were hired fairly, admitted to schools fairly, stop & frisked equally, etc? You don't so living your life in white skin priviledge bliss makes you an accessory to to the crime. <P>

i dont even hardly post no more, i dont have to cuz EVERY SINGLE TIME i have something to say i discover you already said it just the way i wouldve. i swear i knew you in another life.<BR>respect <P>"la petit, dont leave yo' hair in that comb, you better burn it. somebody gone take it and put a root on you."-my grandma

one <BR>tabs<P><BR>

Beat that "it wasnt me it was my Anscecstors" horse all you want but the bottom line is "black people" will not let the shit go till we are looked at "equally in todays society" Lil' somethin for you to think about before you say "you guys are equal" . Think Of this you go and buy a brand new puppy. The puppy has never been trained and it is used to doing what puppies do. So you beat it and train it and every time it does something well you give it a treat. and when it doesnt you beat the shit out of it. By beating that puppy you install fear to do what "you" say is "right" and you "treat" it with some "scraps" off of your "plate" or you take him for a "Walk" or let him of his "chain" after while the puppy thinks you are "treating" him so well, becuase you "give him scraps" for doing well. You "let him off his chain" and "let him run free" that he stands by yourside because you are his "master" or his "freind", but thats the only life he knows is a "trained life of being beat, and rewarded for what YOU think is RIGHT" he doesnt know that he should be able to run free and live his kind.<P>Think about that.<P><a href="http://ill-matik.8m.com" target="_blank">http://ill-matik.8m.com<;/a><P>the revolution will be televised VIA internet in 26 days<P>ILL-inois EST-ablished<P>Ill~est

Thats a all out simple and plain bold face lie. I dont know ONE person other then GOD who can honestly say they have never judged a person.<BR>If you look at a person and say "OOO he or she is so fine" thats judging a person by how they look. SO don't say that I'm pretty sure that's not what you meant. <P>Secondly.....I'm not saying other people don't go through everyday struggles. Other races even white people have their race relation problems, WHat I am saying / and what im talking about I know because I am black, I know because My Grandmother got killed "trying to preach equality" and her White husband killed her. I know from My mother being a Mulatto all the stress she goe's through and what she has taught me as being a BLACK man in this society what to expect. We possibly can Not absolutly turn the other cheek when we are being treated fucked up. SO many people say move on. WOuld you move on "if I a big ass Gorilla killed half of your family?" you'd be mad at all Gorilla's. If the tables were turned and you went to get on the bus and they told you Get to the back of the bus? You wouldnt look at black people differently?, If when you went to school and this white teacher is showing you "BLack people spraying white people with hoses, and Turning DOgs loose on them by the masses" when that film ended you would "turn the other cheeck" and act like it's all over? Thats like touching the stove when it';s hot you learn not to fuck with it again. same thing here. Fuckin with white people Is a No No...same people who sent dogs on my people, same people I wasnt good enough to drink from the same water fountain? same People who were enslaved by the SPaniards, Turn around and enslaved my people? WHo came in and Raped my great great grandmothers? these same people who fed us the scraps from pigs? (where do you think chitterlings (pig intestines) pig feet, Hog Malls (sound to close to balls I have no idea what that is) and so on? Same people who auctioned us off for Money? MAN PLEASE?! your out ya damn mind.<P>Third This applies to black thought kissing the jewish girl for one reason. It will be tolerable if Black People Knew about themselves, and where they came from but so many people are lost in this "melting pot" theory that the kiss sheds more ignorance on my people.<P>the music you listen to today "rock and roll" "rap" R & B Country and so on.........came from black people.<P>DO your research.

first of all, if you understood what JUDGEMENT was, maybe you would have understood what i said..i guess you're forcing me to quote webster.."a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion" .. AUTHORITATIVE .. i have never made a formal authoritative opinion on anything..especially on an ENTIRE race because of things I can't control .. yes my skin is not black.. but my great great great grandaddy didn't own yours .. sorry to direct your hate of my skin color into non-existence.. my parents don't contribute or take advantage of their skin color in society either.. they have worked just as hard as the next man to get where they are..and now you'll probably tell me a black person would have to work twice as hard as my parents to be in their place.. well believe what you want.. but take responsibility for YOURSELF without living the events of the past and taking it out on the people of the present..don't take it out on an ENTIRE race based on SKIN COLOR..or based on what happened to your grandmother.. there are good people in this world, and bad people in this world.. and not every bad person falls under ONE race.. can you understand how wrong it is to judge everyone this way? that's as wrong as those white people doing everything they did to your ancestors primarily based on YOUR skin color.. and what are you doing? trying to BLAME somebody.. <P>i may not agree with everything you say, however your comments do hold some truth.....<P>.. but MUSIC does not have a COLOR.. and you cannot acredit genres of music to a race.. to say music is me because i am black is like saying just because im a black person, i have contributed to music.. and that the latino and white people who have also contributed to music have no connection to it .. should they be discredited because the first people to pioneer a genre of music were of a certain color? no, music is eternal.. and it will continue to evolve... yes most genres of music were created by black people, but does that make the music created within the genre forever, black? especially when many black people have abandoned that music over<BR>time.. and when people of other races have embraced it, it is as though they are plotting against it, or taking advantage of someone else's music..should we seperate ourselves because we believe music belongs to certain colors of people? or unite because of our common love for music? ..music isn't owned by races, and it doesn't belong to any particular person.. i wasn't attacking the fact that the origin of certain music was created by black people, we're fully aware of that.. i was simply stating the alienation of other races in music.. certain races believe music belongs to them because a fraction of their race created it..<P>and if you can't at least respect this, i am sure you are a hypocrite.. because at least one piece of music you have heard and felt has been from a person, white, purple, green, or yellow.. and it shouldn't matter what color the person who created the music is.. what should matter is the music itself..

>>yes most genres of music were created by black people, but does that make the music created within the genre forever, black?>><P>No, but when the overwhelming majority of the artists in that genre are black, it will be defined as black. We are not simply classfying music by the color of its originators but by the color of the most visible current artists.<P>>>especially when many black people have abandoned that music over time.>><P>Err, what music are you talking about?<P>>>and when people of other races have embraced it, it is as though they are plotting against it, or taking advantage of someone else's music.>><P>Okay, why does it seem that they are taking advantage of 'black' music? Because white society has consistently spat on everything black -- then adopted it. Take the black artists that preceded Elvis. They were dismissed as typical 'oversexed nasty Negroes'. But when Elvis the Pelvis came along he was able to take the same music and make it into something widely enjoyed. Sure, the Puritans of the day never embraced it but America went crazy for black music in whiteface. It still does. Look at Christina Aguilera, Back Street Boobs, and Britney Spears. Those are all R&B (music that has black paternity) singers that have multiplatinum hits. If black acts were singing those same songs and doing those same moves, they would go gold or maybe 1x platinum. That white acts can take 'black' music and be far more successful feels like exploitation.<P>I know that the world is more than black and white, so I am going to address issues with other races. I am not sure that blacks would feel as resentful of Latinos adopting 'black' music since we do not have a particularly tumultuous history with one another. As far as Asians go, there is some bad blood. Blacks tend to think that Asians look down on us but want to throw a hair store or liquor store or restaraunt on every corner in the ghetto. I am not asking you to agree with why blacks often feel that our music is exploited, but I think you should understand the rationale.<P>>>should we seperate ourselves because we believe music belongs to certain colors of people? or unite because of our common love for music? ..music isn't owned by races, and it doesn't belong to any particular person.>><P>Of course we should unite. But blacks have been and continue to be separated from the mainstream of society by being disproportionately subjected to poverty, discrimination, and limited opportunities. To a great degree, this has engendered the emergence of a separate culture. And blacks are protective of this culture. As long as we are disproportionately poor, too often don't have the educations that whites enjoy, mostly live in fear of the police, we will not fully share in the American Dream. If we cannot have that dream, some believe, can't we at least have our own institutions and art forms?<P>>>i wasn't attacking the fact that the origin of certain music was created by black people, we're fully aware of that.>><P>We know that but how many white people are willing to admit it? Or how many are willing to admit it without implying that the black origins of the music were crude and white people refined the music and 'took it to that next level'?<BR> <P>>>i was simply stating the alienation of other races in music.. certain races believe music belongs to them because a fraction of their race created it..>><P>That races and nationalities believe that an aspect of their culture belongs to them because a fraction of those people created it is nothing new or controversial. Maybe two Japanese people invented the kimono but every Japanese person would say that the kimono 'belongs to them' because they are of the same ethnicity.<P>>>and it shouldn't matter what color the person who created the music is.. what should matter is the music itself.>><P>Of course it should not matter. But as long as race matters in all other arenas of life, it will matter in music. <P><P><BR>By way of introduction, my name is Reyniére (Ren-yair). I am an 18 year old black woman attending Columbia University in NYC. Potential English major and newbie to the okayworld. What I really want to know is, When is the okaystore going to open again so I can get a glow in the dark okaythong to throw at D on March 16th? Going to the concert or just want to talk, e-mail me. AIM Reyniere99.

......actually, not that i'm in the mood for caring about what other people think anymore.. i realize it's just a waste of my CARING.. most of you strong opinionated people will probably never understand anyone but yourselves..i'd rather not live in this labeling world..where you succept to everything that's happening around you...i guess there are "us" and "them" .. "us" meaning the people who have gotten past traditional views and formed their own.. and "them" as the exact opposite.. people who want to live in the realm where nothing changes.. well i got news for "them" .. aint nothing changing for you EVER.. your anger for white people or other ethnicitys is only limiting your knowledge !<P> for my whole life everywhere i have gone people have had the decency to live in their own world, realizing that the rest of the world ("them") wont ever change.. i see black guys kiss white girls and vice versa EVERYDAY at school..and i NEVER have once "cringed" .. maybe it's because i live in Miami.. and i was brought up not to judge people because of color, but because of who they are as people.. if my parents had judged people like that i wouldn't be alive today..( my mother's parents didn't want them getting married because of ethnic differences..)..<P>maybe because i go to school in Little Haiti (the projects) and i get on buses to go home, where i am the only person with light skin.. and i understand what it is to be stared at.. <P>u people sound like a bunch of ASSHOLES ..get over yourselves..for real.. you act like everything that happens distantly in this world affects u personally.. brittney spears and christina aguilera and WhoeverTF u want to throw in there is going multiplatinum and yes, black people are buying their CDs too.. .. (and they're not considered RnB artists, they're considered Pop artists..) and if they were black, it doesn't mean they would go gold.. because im sure Missy Elliot, Destiny's Child, Blaque, and whoever else, is going platinum.. what about puff daddy or master p or the hotboys? are they white too? no. what about Jay-Z and will smith and Dr. dre? what about Tyrese and Ginuwine and Brandy and Monica? and they've gone platinum..Wow.. a few white artists come out and there's a craze over them, and suddenly IF they were black they wouldnt be where they are.. it has nothing to do with color.. im sorry.. a lot more black artists are in the mainstream spotlight these days.. and most of them, black and white, are WACK AS HELL ..once again, music has no color in MY eyes... maybe not in society's eyes or this world's eyes.. call me anti-society.. i wont lower myself to live in this superficial ass world.. and allow myself to give in to it..<P>eff everyone<BR>-c a s s a n d r a<P>"what have i done to deserve this?<BR>am i happy?<BR>happiness is a mediocre standard for a middle class existence<BR>i see through smiles <BR>and smell truth in the distance<P>beyond one dimensional smiles and laughter <BR>lies the hereafter:<BR>where tears echo laughter<BR><BR>divide a smile by a tear<BR>times fear<BR>equals mere truth<P>that simply swells in the air<BR>but if that's the case <BR>all i have to do is breathe<BR>and all else will follow<BR>that's why drums are hollow<BR>..and i like drums<BR>..drums are good..but i can't think straight<BR>i lack the attention span to meditate<BR>my attention spans galaxies<BR>here and now are immense<BR>seconds are secular<BR>moments are mine<BR>self is illusion<BR>music's divine ...."<BR>-Saul Williams "untimely meditations

>......actually, not that i'm in the mood <BR>>for caring about what other people <BR>>think anymore.. <P>Then why post?<P>i realize it's just <BR>>a waste of my CARING.. most <BR>>of you strong opinionated people will <BR>>probably never understand anyone but yourselves..<P>Not true, but if you would like to think so, go for it. <P>>i'd <BR>>rather not live in this labeling <BR>>world..where you succept to everything that's <BR>>happening around you...i guess there are <BR>>"us" and "them" .. "us" meaning <BR>>the people who have gotten past <BR>>traditional views and formed their own.. <BR>>and "them" as the exact opposite.. <P>So people who use labels are "them"? The unenlightened? Hate to tell you this, but we all use labels. It's convenient and it's even necessary. Male. Female. Black. White.. Okayplayer. Okayasshole. Some are nice, some are not. But you just used labels yourelf--- "us" and "them".<P><BR>>people who want to live in <BR>>the realm where nothing changes.. well <BR>>i got news for "them" .. <BR>>aint nothing changing for you EVER.. <BR>>your anger for white people or <BR>>other ethnicitys is only limiting your <BR>>knowledge ! <P>If this was directed towards me let me say this. I am not angry at white people or people of any other ethnicity in general. That is profoundly stupid and people who feel that way never make any advances. Describing the situation of race relations and perceptions is not lashing out at whites or anyone else. It is just describing what is as I see it.<P>> for my whole life everywhere i <BR>>have gone people have <BR>>had the decency to live in <BR>>their own world, realizing that the <BR>>rest of the world ("them") wont <BR>>ever change.. i see black guys <BR>>kiss white girls and vice versa <BR>>EVERYDAY at school..and i NEVER have <BR>>once "cringed" .. maybe it's because <BR>>i live in Miami.. and i <BR>>was brought up not to judge <BR>>people because of color, but because <BR>>of who they are as people.. <BR>>if my parents had judged people <BR>>like that i wouldn't be alive <BR>>today..( my mother's parents didn't want <BR>>them getting married because of ethnic <BR>>differences..).. <BR>>maybe because i go to school in <BR>>Little Haiti (the projects) and i <BR>>get on buses to go home, <BR>>where i am the only person <BR>>with light skin.. and <BR>>i understand <BR>>what it is to be stared <BR>>at.. <P>No one is asking you to prove taht you have a struggle or are a good person. You don't see color. YOu don't have a racist urge in your body? Wonderful. All I am saying is that the rest of the world does not operate on the level that you claim to operate on.<P>>u people sound like a bunch of <BR>>ASSHOLES ..get over yourselves..for real.. you <BR>>act like everything that happens distantly <BR>>in this world affects u personally.. <P>Immature statement.<P>>brittney spears and christina aguilera and <BR>>WhoeverTF u want to throw in <BR>>there is going multiplatinum and yes, <BR>>black people are buying their CDs <BR>>too.. .. (and they're not considered <BR>>RnB artists, they're considered Pop artists..) <P>No, they aren't considered R&B artists but they are. Their music has the elements of R&B although it is popish. Why do you think that Hot 97 plays that crap? <P>>and if they were black, it <BR>>doesn't mean they would go gold.. <BR>>because im sure Missy Elliot, Destiny's <BR>>Child, Blaque, and whoever else, is <BR>>going platinum.<BR>You are not completely correct. Check Billboard, hon. But your point is well taken. Some black R&B groups do very well. But white groups have a far easier time. <P><BR> what about puff daddy <BR>>or master p or the hotboys? <BR>>are they white too? no. what <BR>>about Jay-Z and will smith and <BR>>Dr. dre? what about Tyrese and <BR>>Ginuwine and Brandy and Monica? and <BR>>they've gone platinum..Wow.. a few white <BR>>artists come out and there's a <BR>>craze over them, and suddenly IF <BR>>they were black they wouldnt be <BR>>where they are.. it has nothing <BR>>to do with color.. im sorry.. <P>Why is it that people want to act as if white skin privilege does not exist anymore? You're sorry? No one has asked you to apologize. But it is a fact. <P>>a lot more black artists are <BR>>in the mainstream spotlight these days.. <P>Yes. And? <P>>and most of them, black and <BR>>white, are WACK AS HELL <P>Uh huh. <P>>..once <BR>>again, music has no color in <BR>>MY eyes... maybe not in society's <BR>>eyes or this world's eyes.. call <BR>>me anti-society.. <BR>>i wont lower myself <BR>>to live in this superficial ass <BR>>world.. and allow myself to give <BR>>in to it.. <P>Hold on to your ideals but you cannot deny what is real or attempt to marginalize other peoples' struggles. I am not asking you to say, "Yes! HipHop is black! Die Eminem, die!" but I am asking you to grasp where that mentality comes from. <P>>eff everyone -c a s s a n d r a <P>we love you too.<P><P><P><P>

"A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion." - Chinese Proverb<P>.. i apologize for making an immature statement like i did. Race relation is the only thing that gets me heated these days. I understand where that mentality you spoke of comes from, and I choose not to engage in it myself. I just wish other people would be more understanding. So, personally, I choose not to take the action of caring that other people have opinions which I think are wrong. All it leads to is me getting pissed, and I'd rather not take the time to voice my opinion when all I get is negative feedback and analytical replies, breaking down every sentence I say.. my Fault.<BR>-cassandra

okayhug.<P><P><P>_____________________<BR>Okaylurker no longer.<BR>Sig coming soon...

umm.. By The Way.. last time i checked God wasn't a person..<P>

You placating shit on everyone else is the same shit you claim white folks do to you! I think I'm a pretty honest bitch . . and I say the word "bitch" because I can be . . . in any event the problem that I believe whites are on is that y'all don't understand your PRIVILEGE. Like you have the PRIVILEGE to say itwasn't your fault or to be able to live your life without stereotypes. I htink the fact that you take it as "your fault" has to do with some inner layers of guilt that has nothing to do with IllNoize or ay of the people of color on the screen.<BR>My problem with what you're saying Ill is that it AIN'T there fault. Because they are a people of "power" they hold a privilege. If you had a privilege, how would you use it? If you had some power what would you use it for? I have long legs and an ass, i use that power when seen fit. Many women do, we don't have brut strength to contend with so you use what works.<BR>For example: Lions are kings of the jungle, generaly they have the most power. Do elephants walk around trying to be Lions? Fuck no, they walk around, saggy balls and all, trying to be the best damn elephants they can be . . .<BR>Black folks are mad because they can't be white oftentimes. Then play the blame game because we can't get what we want or we let fear compensate out goals.<BR>I worked in 2 school districts. Sacramento City & Compton Unified, both in Cali. Sacramento's scores were much higher and teh direction they sent ALL of their students (me being an alumnae) was towards college and the "American" goal of education to better onesself.<BR>Compton? Took out the college center, and openly accepts that their students will NOT make it to college. Comtpon is run by black & Latino people. Now you tell me the fucking problem? I was harrassed and threatened by black parents to make it good not white!<BR>But on the other hand, I don't see no privileged white folks running to the ghetto to make a difference. They turn their heads AND THAT is where you are to blame. AS a human being for knowing shit like this happens, for allowing the Sacramento City Unified School District to pass off their20 year old books to Compton, and for the dummies in Compton's Administration to truly believe that those books are new! IT's bullshit! I had to leave becuase I was scratching my hair out and I took it very personal.<BR>All I;m saying is that each has their own bread to bring to the table. If it's hard to be black, well gotdamnit it just is! So you think of other ways around the box. White folks ain't helping so help yourself. Who knows what the next flick BT might do? I tell you what, Bamboozled has one thousand times more fucked up stereotypes than Brooklyn babylon ever will. Wait'll you see that minstrel shit. I dare say the conversation will be the same.<BR>Tiny

to feel the way you feel, think the way you think, say the things you say. As am I. As is everyone else. <BR>I met Mos Def recently (see the pic on the Okayplayer directory) and found him to be grounded, calm, and very nice. I talked with him for a few and I did not feel for one minute that he was patronizing me with conversation. His energy and spiritual intellect is amazing to me. I have talked with Common also - last March - I saw the same qualities in him - he emits radiance and power and he's just dayum cool. Black Thought is kind and strong - he doesn't take any shit but at the same time he doesn't talk down to people (at least not that I've seen).<BR>No one has to like the way I live my life or the the way anyone else does either, but I have little tolerance for people who judge me harshly without knowing me. <BR>You are entitled to talk to people about your thoughts on existence, however you might want to know that in order to educate people you have to make sure they are listening to you first. I'm not quite sure if some of the words you wrote in the "Brooklyn Babylon" post were very welcome, for the simple fact that you came off forceably and quite nasty. <BR>After reading what you wrote here I can understand your point of view much better. I respect your opinion even though I don't agree with everything you say. I do agree that people need to look inward first before looking out at the rest of the world. When we point a finger there are three pointing back at ourselves.<BR>There has been a lot of talk lately about interracial dating and the likes. I've seen comments (and heard that they are being said as well) such as "eff white women", "fuck those white bitches" "white women are whores" - alladat. That type of talk is just not called for.<BR>When I meet you I would really like to sit down and talk with you. One of my very good friends, Ken-Do (with the group Black Anger) has been a friend to me going on 13 years now. He has never had a relationship with a white woman and never would. He always jokes that if I were black we'd have about 10 babies by now - but he'd never date me because of his principles about race mixing - and I thoroughly respect him because he talks TO me, not AT me, about his beliefs.<BR>I'm glad that you chose to talk about your feelings here - just be ready to hear what others have to say as well.<BR>So when you see me at the Reunion - come and say hi. And I'll try to hold back from kissing you <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/wink.gif"> <BR>Dove<BR>~Sheepish Lordess of Chaos~<P>People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do.<P>"...its about time that we get back 2 the true essence in many aspects of life. folks so busy with tha peel they forget about the banana.." - Okayplayer Nubia<P>

http://UrbLife.com
http://twitter.com/FlyLikeDove
http://instagram.com/FlyLikeDove
http://Facebook.com/FlyLikeDove
http://flylikedove.contently.com

you couldn't post this in the other post concerning this topic?<P>i me--<P>wait am i about to fall for the ol' "i need attention post. so lemme post a post that even though is like the other post i wanna see how many people post to my post-post?....." <P>oh no. not again. y'all can waste your breath if y'all want....i pass....<P><P><P><P><P><BR>THE SOULQUARIANS<BR>chewy (quest).....jan<BR>luke (d)........feb <BR>lando (jaydee)......feb<BR>cp30 (james poyser).....jan<BR>r2d2 (jazzy jeff)......jan<BR>hans (chaos)........jan<BR>anakin (lil mike)......feb<P>honorary members:<BR>kelo- soulacorn.......jan<BR>common- soulcies......march<BR>erykah- soulcies......feb<BR>

check the resume

organix-93
(from the ground up)-94
do you want more?!!???!-95
illadelph halflife-96
things fall apart-99
(the legendary)-99
the roots come alive-99
phrenology-2002
the tipping point-2004
(the roots present...) 2004
homegrown: the beginne

LOL ?uest,<P>in case one of the board moderators ever gives up, you'll make a perfect substitute ... hehe<P><BR>krewc<BR><a href="http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators" target="_blank">http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators<;/a><P>'We've got to change our own minds about each other. We have to see each other with new eyes. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. We have to come together with warmth'<BR>

krewcial
www.krewcial.com
www.myspace.com/krewcial
www.okayplayer.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=23051&forum=lesson

http://www.23hq.com/krewcial/photo/1085564?album_id=1085556

Nashville recording sessions : www.krewcial.com/nashville

THE SOULQUARIANS<BR>chewy (quest).....jan<BR>luke (d)........feb <BR>lando (jaydee)......feb<BR>cp30 (james poyser).....jan<BR>r2d2 (jazzy jeff)......jan<BR>hans (chaos)........jan<BR>anakin (lil mike)......feb<P>honorary members:<BR>kelo- soulacorn.......jan<BR>common- soulcies......march<BR>erykah- soulcies......feb<BR>

check the resume

organix-93
(from the ground up)-94
do you want more?!!???!-95
illadelph halflife-96
things fall apart-99
(the legendary)-99
the roots come alive-99
phrenology-2002
the tipping point-2004
(the roots present...) 2004
homegrown: the beginne

then you should have been sleeping for the next day's rehearsal ... <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/wink.gif"> <P>haha<P>krewcial<BR><a href="http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators" target="_blank">http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators<;/a><P>'We've got to change our own minds about each other. We have to see each other with new eyes. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. We have to come together with warmth'<BR>

krewcial
www.krewcial.com
www.myspace.com/krewcial
www.okayplayer.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=23051&forum=lesson

http://www.23hq.com/krewcial/photo/1085564?album_id=1085556

Nashville recording sessions : www.krewcial.com/nashville

I hit post instead of reply, but then again you Know what i was doin better then I do.<P>ill~est

But I will say this much, and its the last time I say it, the ish about thought kissin a white girl, so effin what??? Hes acting out some ish that coulda happened back during that turbulent period. He never claimed to be your or my leader/role model, just a dope mc, now turned hopefully dope thespian. Im sure he wouldve accepted a role that was in good taste, so just wait till the movie drops then talk ish, but even then it will just be an acting role. <P>I was feeling you on how we as a people need to get things together, but I feel like I can do nothing but live my life the way I feel is right and try to get to a point where me and my family and friends are straight in the future. <P>I also agree though that this has been posted about previously and coulda went under those threads.<P>Peace<P><P>"Intellectual property I got the title and the deed, I pay rent with the tears and sweat and what I bleed"- Talib Kweli<P>"You got hamburger beef I'll french fry ya cause drag done ate your food"- Drag-On

that my tag for this board was supposed to be a joke. Damn. Y?all want a real issue to discuss? Go to the General boards and check my post on Cali prop 21.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
giving you true posts since 1999 - effa charter member

"I can assure you, we won't be putting money into a society which is not transparent and corrupt."
-George W Bush

cuz we're going in circles...<P>Fact: Brooklyn Babylon is A MOVIE and I bet you don't even know the history of Crown Heights...<P>Fact: If you do not like what the movie is about, DON'T SUPPORT IT. Support Troi (an independent black film that shows black people in a sensual, erotic, sexy light. Hey no white girl kissing!), rent or buy Hav Plenty, rent or buy Rosewood, rent or buy Sankofa, rent or buy a black movie period. Buy a book from Nkriu(sp). Go to a black vendor and buy stuff. You have soooo many alternatives than agruing on a board about fiction.<P>Fact: Improv!? thinks that the folks doing the most complaining ain't doing shit to bring black folks into the forefront. Make your own movie. Teach a child. Speak with your elders. Read a book. Join an organization THAT WORKS. Complaining about a movie that hasn't even COME out yet is wack. Complaining about an ACTED OUT KISS is bullshit. Tari...oops Black Thought kissing a white woman DOES NOT MEAN HE DOES THAT IN REAL LIFE and if he does, WHO CARES? If you feel that strong about it, don't support! "Simple ain't it..." <P>Fact: this is a losing battle folks. When I say that, please do not think that I'm defeated. I saying redirect your energy. This is a concept WE as a people do not seem to have a firm grasp on...<P>Uno<BR>Improv!? (listening to "A Song for Assata" by Common and crying...yes it's that beautiful...)<P>"Stakes are high like my uncle is/ we both got problems, he never confronted his"---Common, "Time Travellin'"<P>Support Okayplayer.com and <a href="http://www.Boondocks.net" target="_blank">http://www.Boondocks.net<;/a> (for all you lazy mofos lol)

_________________________
Man up

“Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist”---George Carlin

"If your house ain't in order, you ain't in order" - Toni Cade <BR>

...are we still on this isht?<BR>-kevin<P>"without awareness, there is no life... only activity"

~~~~~

<BR>>When Black MEN and Black WOMEN get <BR>>to this frame of mind and <BR>>understanding I will be aiight with <BR>>see-ing a brotha kiss a white <BR>>chick but until then Fuck it. <BR>"without awareness, there is no life... only activity"<P>...i have a question... do you mean ALL black men and ALL black women? 'cause if you do, that'd mean i'd have to have a moratorium on hookin' up with my (white/asian) girlfriend until the whole of our populace becomes aware?<BR>...well damn. should i forsake true love and find a brown sugar princess to tide me over? (j/k)<BR><img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/happy.gif"><BR>-kev

~~~~~

love overcomes all of this ish...and love is between two souls, two hearts...both of which are not found in skin color...<P>i feel that LOVE and MUSIC are 2 small sparks of divinity that God has given to the mankind...love and music are found on earth and will be found in heaven...(please don't turn this into a religion thing, thats just how i personally feel)<P>I have read every post on this subject, and it completely disturbs and depresses me. i joined this forum because what i read seemed to be INTELLIGENT ideas on music being exchanged from people from a variety of backgrounds...black, white, asian, latino, american indian, whatever. from these ideas, i could learn, grow, and advance myself as a man...instead i read arguments between people of different races over who "owns" what genre of music...wtf?!? no one owns music. i respect the eff out of the INDIVIDUALS who pioneered new music and the INDIVIDUALS who continue to express what is inside of them through musical exploration. That is beautiful. Thinking about this almost brings me to tears because i see<P>-"this is mine!"<BR>--"well, this is mine"<BR>-"yeah, but you wouldn't have that if such and such didn't do it first!"<BR>--"you can't have this or that because you are different from me."<P>this is a line of thought followed by children. <P>music and love, when they are PURE, transcend all boundaries. personally i need both of them to make it through each day...and i am thankful for both of them...when i first heard "voodoo" i lent it out to sooooo many people (both white and black) that when i got it back it was too scratched to listen to, so i had to buy another copy. i wanted EVERYONE to experience what i had heard, because it was/is a work of art. i feel that is how we should view music...we should respect it and share it. ifeel that is how we should view love...we should respect it and share it. to all the okayplayers who feel where i am comin from, ya'll are the ones i want to know and learn from...<P>

we spoke on AIM. I am stepping away from this debate. I have said everything I really have to say as well as I think it can be said. A lot of things depress me about the current racial situation. I'm just saying that this idea of one people owning a music genre is an understandable -although not supportable- outgrowth of cultural pride and oppression. We all stand where we do on this topic and as the discussion becomes more and more emotional, it becomes less and less of a discourse and more like a series of monologues. Unless anyone has anything really new and thought-provoking, I'm out on this thread. If you do, bring it on. It's been an interesting ride. <P>

Frankly, I am appalled at the message that you put out. I am a white chic myself and I don't oppress anyone. I love all people no matter if they are green with orange pokka-dots. For someone who is so against racism you sure sound like a racist to me. I date black men or white men because they are men, my grandfather gives them a hard time yes, but he gives everyone a hard time. I agree that there are still some peolple who can't live in this century, but there aren't enough of them to have held your people back for this many years. If a man has to commit a crime to survive that is because he has no education and that is his own god damn fault!!!!! It is only common sense that you can't support your self with out a skill or trade. It is up to the individual to get that. I find it appalling that you blame the white man for your hard ships. Yes they did suppress you at one time but that was years ago. I am not saying that things are equal as they should be but they are not unfair to the point that your people have to turn to a life of crime just to survive in the "white world". The world is what you make it my brother. I know a very wealthy black man that went to school and got his. He doen't see the world as a "white world" he says that it is his world. He has a nice house, in a very nice neighborhood, he drives a nice car, and has nice things, he still has a black accent, and he still knows were he came from. Yet your people criticize him for all he has made him self. They say that he sold out. Now explain that. It is time you hold your own self accountable for your own actions. I hope that I haven't offend anyone with my words. It all most brings tears to my eyes that the color of ones skin can determine the charecter of his soul. <BR> Love,<BR> Shanna Cook