First I wanna say, im going to attemt to make thsi the most popular section..because by far its the most important...On to business...does any feel like Mumia is being exploited??...I mean everything has him on its..T-shirts,albums etc etc..I guess info on him and other Political Prisoners getting out is the main focus...but why is there such an up roar about him and not Mutula,Born ALLAH(Whose now free) etc etc..also Where does the money go from various products..Like HipHop for respect does all money go to his defense or just a dollar per album...basically like a record deal..if Rawkus is making a profit thats wack in my opinion.
Make August Young_Isa quote month - Love him or Him..Just have a quote by Young_Isa or about Young_Isa
Click my Links there more intelligent that 62.38% of what I normally post.
1. "RE: Mumia - Exploited??" In response to Reply # 0
where does the money go?
Is hip-hop for respect, donated music (as in, they don't get paid?)
Who makes everything else? just cats? it's good to raise consciousness, but I wonder if it's somebody made 100 of these, or some sweatshop made 100,000 of these...
hmm...
Wal-Mart
the NRA
the GOP... ha! that's how george dubuya got his 23M
So, are you saying that Mumia is being expoited by the very people who are supporting him? Kind of like how all the hippies/socialists on campus have Free Mumia! posters and t-shirts? So the very people who claim to be against capitalization/exploitation are exploiting Mumia to prove that they are "down for the cause"? I mean, most people have no idea about other political prisoners other than Mumia. I'd like to think of this as the "Che Guevara Syndrome" where people latch onto a symbol that they may or may not know a lot about in order to show that their contempt for "the Man" and that their down with the whole protesting trend (and in many cases and for many people it is just the latest trend) Hmmmmmmm...
As for the HipHop for Respect CD, I don't know how they split up the proceeds. I agree though, if Rawkus or the MCs took a cut of the profits that would be wack. Either way, I get an uneasy feeling whenever the selling point of any commercial product is that "a portion of the proceeds go to charity X". Using guilt as part of the marketing plan doesn't sit well with me.
---------------------------------------- Not every end is a goal. The end of a melody is not its goal; however, if the melody has not reached its end, it would also not have reached its goal. A parable. --Nietzsche
4. "I dont know about Profits..." In response to Reply # 2
But if Mumia's a way for otherwise unknowing people to become part of the movement....If it opens doors for new freedom fighters...Thats a good thing. Usually people who become a part of Mumia's struggle are inclined to learn about other problems. Like prison Industrial complex, and other political prisoners I know I was. All the fundraising we do in San Diego is 100% sent to Lenny Weinglass and the team. We also got some reggae compilations of local artists we sell, I've performed at a few benefit shows down here.
I took the cynical route in my response, oh well. You have to admit that there are quite a few folks who run around talking about "Free Mumia!" just to be cool. I agree though that learning about Mumia can be a gateway to learning about other important contemporary issues.
---------------------------------------- Not every end is a goal. The end of a melody is not its goal; however, if the melody has not reached its end, it would also not have reached its goal. A parable. --Nietzsche
>Kind of like >how all the hippies/socialists on >campus have Free Mumia! posters >and t-shirts? So the >very people who claim to >be against capitalization/exploitation are exploiting >Mumia to prove that they >are "down for the cause"? > I mean, most people >have no idea about other >political prisoners other than Mumia.
This is sadly similar to the "X" craze awhile back. Folks were plastering themselves with Malcom X paraphernalia to show they were down for...what?...the movie? Ornery (AIM/IM OKOrnery)
And the ones that do are pretty easy to spot and are annoying as hell.
---------------------------------------- Not every end is a goal. The end of a melody is not its goal; however, if the melody has not reached its end, it would also not have reached its goal. A parable. --Nietzsche
3. "RE: Mumia - Exploited??" In response to Reply # 0
On >to business...does any feel like >Mumia is being exploited??...I mean >everything has him on its..T-shirts,albums >etc etc..I guess info on >him and other Political Prisoners >getting out is the main >focus...but why is there such >an up roar about him >and not Mutula,Born ALLAH(Whose now >free) etc etc..
I don't think there is any reason to get mad at people for following one specific political cause. I mean a lot of people's first exposure to some form of a political resistance is related to a popular figure who has some name recognition. It seems like once people are interested in that figure they are much more open to being educated about other people who are currently incarcerated.
I was having a similar discussion with a friend of mine last week. My beef was that people seem to have spent a lot of time organizing on behalf of Mumia when there are plenty of death row inmates in Pennsyvlania and other states who have suffered much more injustice and do not have the financial and legal support that Mumia has. My friend pointed out that, while it may be true that Mumia has a much greater benefit of support than most other death row inmates, a lot of people who have become interested in death row issues through the Mumia case are expanding to work on other cases or challenging more systemic problems. Seems like a good thing to me . . .
7. "Depends on what you want" In response to Reply # 6
If you want only people who are truly committed to make a longstanding contribution to a fight for justice, then maybe it is wack.
But if you want the "millions for mumia" then a lot of those are going to be less than fully committed.
I have the same struggle a lot of the time. I have been doing anti-dp/criminal defense work for the past couple of years. Everytime people just want to talk about Mumia, what he has suffered, how oppressive judges are etc. "No shit", I generally think, and then I tend to get mad that people only seem to get upset about this type of injustice when it applies to someone who is deemed "political" and doesn't seem to rally as much around someone who may not have Mumia's political leanings.
But then I remember that they are here because they care, and this is a great chance to talk to them about issues beyond the specific case, and get them involved in other struggles and issues.
I can tell you first hand that there is a waiting list for people to get in to see Mumia. A ladyfriend was fortunate enough to spend time with him and upon meeting her, he encouraged her to learn about the prisoners at SCI Greene and to make sure she came back to visit them.
I have never been to see Mumia myself, but all reports are that he is a generous man who cares about his "colleagues" and is in the struggle with goals larger than simply saving his own life.
This was in another post, but it is applicable here...
"If we get this guy, we can get anyone."---a guard at SCI Greene responding to a question about how important Mumia's case is to the death penalty in the United States
You can question the motives of some of the people who have latched onto his movement, but I don't believe you can question Mumia.
A good point was raised in this post about other political prisoners and I wondered if folks think the same argument can be applied to Leonard Peltier. He is not nearly the icon that Mumia is, but I think his case draws similar interest from folks who follow humanitarian trends.
---I'm here---
"Ten out of ten heroin addicts started out on milk."---from Arliss
Mumia's known as the "Voice of the Voiceless" Bitch about the people who " Are just tryin to be cool" Thats fucking wack! Your fist in the air for Mumia is a fist for ALL PRISONERS!!!! Whats next? Do you support the death penalty? Look! If G.W.Bush becomes president were all FUCKED! And if you want to waste you time on these issues saying " He/She just wants to be down they're not real" You're doing exactly that. Quit wasting your breath and get ready to scream like fuck in Philly and LA the next couple weeks!
My point was not to say that political action should be replaced with navel gazing about our motivations as it relates to particular people. However, I do think that the phenomenon of Mumia as poster person for the death penalty raises serious issues, and I think that there are dangers to focusing too much on Mumia to the detriment of other people on death row.
I never said ALL Mumia supporters. My point is that it's annoying when Mumia, Che, Malcolm, are treated as the flavor of the month by people who just want to portray some cool, rebellious Rage Against the Machine Capitalism is the Devil type image.
And yes, I do support the death penalty for killers who can be unwaveringly proven guilty (none of this cirumstancial evidence BS, it's gotta be witnesses, DNA, the whole nine for someone to fry/hang/get injected)
---------------------------------------- Not every end is a goal. The end of a melody is not its goal; however, if the melody has not reached its end, it would also not have reached its goal. A parable. --Nietzsche
16. "RE: You just gotta wonder....." In response to Reply # 0
....exactly how do cats cut the money they get for records or whatever??? And how much of it, when sent to the right organization, actually goes into the defense fund or funds or whatever???? You really have no way of knowing how loot gets diviied up....none....that's just my two cents. See my post on Mumia if it's still on this screen....you shouldn't have to pay a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$ for justice............
18. "RE: Mumia - Exploited??" In response to Reply # 0
>Like HipHop for respect does >all money go to his >defense or just a dollar >per album...
to my knowledge, all the "proceeds" from "hip-hop for respect" were earmarked for the DIALLO family and the costs of their pursuit for justice (their civil trial against NYPD is still going down, I believe). When they say all proceeds, that means once the label gets its money back from the cost of producing and marketing the product, the *profit* goes to the intended beneficiaries, the Diallo family.
>basically like a record >deal..if Rawkus is making a >profit thats wack in my >opinion.
No, I don't think they're making a profit. My understanding is all the proceeds go to the Diallo family.
For "The Unbound Project", 50% of the proceeds (profit) goes to the Mumia defense team. So, if you can cop that, do so...good music for a good cause.
9 out of 10 people with two arms find something interesting about http://www.theamphibians.com This summer: new audio, same odd sense of humor. Don't get "left" out, mossie your two-armed self on over and check it out.
>For "The Unbound Project", 50% of >the proceeds (profit) goes to >the Mumia defense team. So, >if you can cop that, >do so...good music for a >good cause.
ps: the reason why they are probably keeping 50% of the profit is b/c that is the first project for that label, so they are probably going to use the remaining 50% to put out positive projects in the future OR repay investors who financed this first project. Don't get it twisted and think they're greedy, because I know Frank Sosa (key figure behind "Unbound") and he's down for the cause and a cool cat.
9 out of 10 people with two arms find something interesting about http://www.theamphibians.com This summer: new audio, same odd sense of humor. Don't get "left" out, mossie your two-armed self on over and check it out.
23july2000 u can't have my fire/they fear'd ur flame/& so sprayed caustic foam out of dbl sided lips/speakin like pale faces w/broken peace pipes/U BLK/U UGLY/U INK SPOT/which in it's translation of nigganglish resounded to/I AM BLK/ I AM UGLY/I DON'T HAVE IT SO I CAN'T WANNA LOVE U/beautiful transcriptionist u are...dark elegy/that heightens midnight stars/which pale in daylight u spot of convection.../u say fierce real slow & be sayin "fire"/turn ur faces now to ur bricked bahamanian sphinx/look at her in ur wanton NEED to be DARK as the meetin of mary's thighs/to be as BLK as sun spots as UGLY as her heretofore eradicated nose/LOOK!!! at that blk girl gone blk gone blue beyond blue beyond u lookit fire y'all... leavin them w/burnt faces -k l moore one...- the bad bitch asighn4jane
"respect my month or lick my rump! -fire da BITCH
________________________________________ who gonna check me boo?!
21. "RE: how can saving someone's life" In response to Reply # 20
You said it!
JUSTICE August Quotes: -------------------------------- Bitch Quote: "I deuche pussy nigga's with Uzi's, Susie's BITCH ass aint wakin up after how I smacked that stupid floozy"- Jamarcus of Contructive R.U.K.U.S. Young Isa Quote:" What is JUSTICE talking about anyway?" Whatever The Fuck I Want Quote:" All this shit is disposable"-bfnh
23july2000 u can't have my fire/they fear'd ur flame/& so sprayed caustic foam out of dbl sided lips/speakin like pale faces w/broken peace pipes/U BLK/U UGLY/U INK SPOT/which in it's translation of nigganglish resounded to/I AM BLK/ I AM UGLY/I DON'T HAVE IT SO I CAN'T WANNA LOVE U/beautiful transcriptionist u are...dark elegy/that heightens midnight stars/which pale in daylight u spot of convection.../u say fierce real slow & be sayin "fire"/turn ur faces now to ur bricked bahamanian sphinx/look at her in ur wanton NEED to be DARK as the meetin of mary's thighs/to be as BLK as sun spots as UGLY as her heretofore eradicated nose/LOOK!!! at that blk girl gone blk gone blue beyond blue beyond u lookit fire y'all... leavin them w/burnt faces -k l moore one...- the bad bitch asighn4jane
"respect my month or lick my rump! -fire da BITCH
________________________________________ who gonna check me boo?!
JUSTICE August Quotes: -------------------------------- Bitch Quote: "I deuche pussy nigga's with Uzi's, Susie's BITCH ass aint wakin up after how I smacked that stupid floozy"- Jamarcus of Contructive R.U.K.U.S. Young Isa Quote:" What is JUSTICE talking about anyway?" Whatever The Fuck I Want Quote:" All this shit is disposable"-bfnh
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
Okay Activist Archives
}> 
