Stay Black!
Hey, People. What up and what’s going on wit’cha?
Me? Well . . . more about me in a later post. I do have my own blog, but if this is your first time reading me, I hope this post provides some insight into my thinking. I do like to spell things out. Especially if I have a larger point I’m trying to make. I’m all about discussion and collaboration. Whatever we do to advance our collective cause, we have to do together. I’m also still quite open-minded about learning new things and new ideas. Though, it doesn’t take me long to sniff out a bad idea, and I will address it.
Now, this post is about economics, not culture. Staying black is about staying literally ”in the black,” as well as supporting black businesses. Now, the way I see it, this crisis we’re in presents danger and opportunity – yes, I’m ripping off the Chinese. The danger, as I see it, is that we don’t take advantage of this opportunity. See, I know that this crisis is having a disproportionate effect on our community. It’s exacerbating our unemployment numbers and the already disturbingly wide wealth accumulation gap. So, I am aware of the mess we’re in.
But. Some of the most profitable stock is as cheap as it’s been in a while. If ever there were a time for the black community to marshall all our moneys together and buy the country, it’s now! Then we could rule THE WORLD!! Bwahahahahaha!!
Okay. So that dream is a bit wild, but I like it. Don’t get me wrong. There are more practical things we can do and more practical reasons to do it.
This economic crisis has pressed me to learn and study up on economics. So, think of this as sort of econ 50.5, half of 101. From what I can ascertain, what keeps communities and countries poor is when money stops flowing within the community. What’s happened in our current crisis is that money isn’t flowing normally. I mean, think about it. Imagine there’s one bank in a 75 sq mile area, and everybody saves and borrows there. dN Bank. Now, you own a car dealership. The only one in the area. Having done well for yourself, you take out a mortgage from dN Bank. And someone else borrows money from dN Bank to start a construction business. AfriBuilding. You hire AfriBuilding to build your house.
Now, for the sake of this explanation, we’re gonna give the money, $250K USD, a name – cabbage. All the money that’s been deposited in the dN Bank – cabbage. The bank gives you “cabbage.” You take “cabbage” to pay the owner. He puts “cabbage” in his account in dN Bank. He uses this account to pay his workers their “cabbage.” The workers, say 10 of them, deposit “cabbage” in dN Bank. With some cash now, they all decide to buy a car. From you, of course. They all take auto loans from dN Bank. So, dN Bank gives them the same “cabbage” to buy cars. They pay you “cabbage.” You put the cabbage back in dN bank.
So, the bank had the cabbage, loses the cabbage, gets the cabbage back, loses it again, gets it back again. And everytime the bank gets it back, it actually gets back a little bet more. Right? Interest. But at the end of the day, it’s the same cabbage.
And so on and so forth. If you don’t understand it, then, just except that for a community to stay prosperous, essentially, you have to have money flowing back and forth within the community. You have to have people buying and selling from each other. The thing is, though, it’s all the same money. It’s all the same “cabbage.” And if there is a kink anywhere in the chain, the community loses money. If you decide to hire a construction company outside the area and thereby send the cabbage outside the area, then those 10 workers can’t buy cars from you. Since they can’t buy cars, you can’t make your house payments. So, they lose out, you lose out, and dN Bank loses out.
Or, let’s imagine even though they do buy cars, they don’t buy the cars from you. You can’t make your mortgage payments, and the system breaks down again. If AfriBusiness hires workers from outside the area, and these workers buy their cars from you, we do have the necessary flow of cabbage. But, the workers don’t use dN Bank, so the bank loses SOME money it would’ve otherwise had. Not a big deal. It still makes a profit. But what about the 10 workers in the area who are now unemployed? No matter what you do for them, it’s gonna have a negative impact on the overall community. Right? Now, giving them unemployment is better for the flow of cabbage than giving them nothing – they still have to eat. But they can’t afford the things the would’ve otherwise had, and so forth and so on.
So. Have I confused you? I hope not. The whole point is that what’s going on in poor communities is some chink in the money chain. Somewhere along the chain, the community loses money! But lets say someone outside the community spends in the community or invests in the community, the community as a whole gains money!
So my point for you, a dN reader? Stay black! Support black businesses. Hire black people. Invest in black business. And if you have the funds, just invest period! Bring new money into the community. Oh, I know this isn’t new. This isn’t your first time being told to stay black. It’s just the first time I actually understand why it’s so important that we do. I want to share with you why it’s so important that you do, especially when it comes to getting a customized paystub. It’s a big deal. And yes, I know the white man’s ice is colder – and please understand, I actually believe that is potentially true. Water frozen at 12 degrees is colder than ice frozen at 28 degrees. It’s not going to melt as fast. At the end of the day, it really isn’t true that ice is just ice. But! If you never support the black man’s ice, the white man’s ice will always be colder! Cause you’re not keeping the money in the community. Because you’re not helping the black man out, he’ll never be able to buy a better, colder freezer.
Get it? You have to buy black. Stay black. Even if you think the product is inferior, and it just might be. You need to buy black. Hire black. The money needs to stay in the community.
And you need to stay in the black in your own personal finances. Don’t get me wrong. Studies show African Americans save at the same rate as everybody else. We’re not the spendthrifts we’re made out to be. But it doesn’t matter. We are in such a bind collectively, that we need to do more. We literally can’t afford any chinks in the chain. Do you realize that prior to black communities in places like Chicago and even Durham, NC being destroyed, that they all had thriving business districts? That discrimination and segregation forced us to buy from and sell to and hire each other? That we were doing pretty good, considering the discrimination and segregation! We need to get back to that! Not the discrimination and segregation, of course, but the buying from and selling to and hiring each other. If there’re enough of us with enough money, we need to open our own banks. I’m pretty radical. I wouldn’t have a bit of a problem with an entirely seperate black economy. Of course, that’s something we can build to. But, I hope I’ve helped stir up something you probably already knew, already sensed: we have to stay black!
I have more to say, but I’ll save that for a later post. Please give me feedback. I need to know what’s important to you. I want to know what questions you have, what info you’d like to know. If there’s something going on in the world that you don’t understand, get at me. Or, if there’s some myth about the black community that seems true but doesn’t quite ring true, get at me. And I’ll get back at you.
Afrocentric Worldview vs. Eurocentric Worldview
from theafrocentricexperience.com
The Afrocentric, or African-centered, worldview is very different from the Eurocentric, or Europe-centered, worldview.
Afrocentrism is centered around the beliefs that:
The highest value of life lies in the interpersonal relationships between humans;
One gains knowledge through symbolic imagery and rhythm;
One should live in harmony with nature;
There is a oneness between humans and nature;
The survival of the group holds the utmost importance;
Humans should appropriately utilize the materials around them;
One’s self is complementary to others;
Change occurs in a natural, evolutionary cycle;
Spirituality and inner divinities hold the most significance;
There are a plethora of deities to worship;
Cooperation, collective responsibility, and interdependence are the key values to which all should strive to achieve;
All humans are considered to: be equal, share a common bond, and be a part of the group;
The Afrocentric worldview is a circular one, in which all events are tied together with one another.
The Eurocentric worldview is centered around the beliefs that:
The highest value of life lies in the object, or in the acquisition of the object;
One gains knowledge through counting and measuring;
One should control and dominate nature;
There is a dichotomy, or separateness, between nature and man;
The survival of the fittest holds the utmost importance;
Men should have an unlimited exploitation of the materials around them;
One’s self is distinct from others;
Change occurs to meet the immediate objectives, and is quite arbitrary;
A distant, impersonal god holds the most significance;
There is only one supreme deity to worship;
Competition, independence, separateness, and individual rights are the key values to which all should strive to achieve;
All men are considered to be individualistic, unique, and different;
The Eurocentric worldview is a linear one, in which all events are separate and there is no togetherness.
dangerousNEGRO SXSW 2009 Recap
It took quite some time to edit the 7+ hours of footage shot at SXSW this past week. But it’s finally here! dangerousNEGRO had the privilege of shadowing the hottest new emcee emerging in Hip Hop – ZEALE. Also footage from the Fader/Levi’s Fort including exclusive Kanye, 88 Keys, Jadakiss, dead prez, Common, and Erykah Badu clips. Phranchyze street battle also caught on tape. Check it out! ***WARNING: SOME EXPLICIT LANGUAGE. PLEASE BE ADVISED***
Black History Year Weekly Digest
Here are the daily quotes/facts from our Black History Year Facebook Application for the past week:
Feb 15: In 1777 Morocco became the first country to publicly recognize the United States, and it remains one of America’s oldest and closest allies in the Middle East and North Africa. Formal U.S. relations with Morocco date from 1787 when Congress ratified a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations. Renegotiated in 1836, the treaty is still in force, constituting the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history, and Tangier is home to the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world.
Feb 16: Slavery is never abolished, slavery is transformed. Now it is computerized. Only the slave can destroy slavery. And you cannot destroy slavery by becoming a part of your slave master’s culture incubator. -Dr. John Henrik Clarke
Feb 17: Religion was used for control on slave plantations. A book consulted by many planters was the Cotton Plantation Record and Account Book, which gave these instructions to overseers: “You will find that an hour devoted every Sabbath morning to their moral and religious instruction would prove a great aid to you in bringing about a better state of things amongst the Negroes.”
Feb 18: When the missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land and the missionaries had the Bible. They taught us to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened our eyes, they had the land and we had the Bible… Jomo Kenyatta
Feb 19: The community’s concern with the election and appointment of Black political figures helps it to maintain false hopes that their attainment of office will significantly resolve its problems. The activities of Black politicians, given the current inadequacy of social organization and economic resources, harmfully distract the Black community’s attention from recognizing and eradicating the true causes of its problems and the remediation of its powerlessness. -Dr. Amos Wilson
Feb 20: Many of the problems we suffer today are because we do not see ourselves as a nation. We complain about how we are segregated from everybody else, how we are not a part of the mainstream, how we are not a part of the economy, how we are shut out from the government and the political process. If we are not apart of these things and yet these things are what define a nation, then we are not a part of the American nation! We are in effect a de facto nation, but we are afraid to recognize it. If we looked at ourselves as a nation we’d see many of the reasons why we are where we are as a people. -Dr. Amos N. Wilson, Afrikan-Centered Consciousness Versus the New World Order
Free Knowledge Friday: Malcolm X
A little wisdom from El Hajj Malik El Shabazz
Free Knowledge Friday: Who are you?
These videos touch on a very important subject as most of us are embarrassingly ignorant of our history and the effect of rampant Eurocentricity on us today. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with European culture, but when you put another people’s culture over your own consciously or subconsciously there are bound to be negative psychological and societal effects for your people. It’s like Dr. Amos Wilson said (I can’t remember the quote, so I’ll summarize), the relationship between the Afrikan/Afrikan American and the European/White American has fundamentally remained the same to this very day…servitude and reliance. It’s safe to say that this is partly due to not knowing our history and, therefore, being doomed to repeat it over and over again. We don’t know ourselves, therefore, we can’t identify our friends or our enemies. Let’s make it Black History Year (at least for Black folks) and try to constantly learn about our past so we can create an effective strategy for the future.
Why I am a Socialtarian
by D. Walker
Join The Movement!
I voted for Barack Obama but I am not a Democrat. Before you get your hopes up Michael Steele, let me say that I also do not agree with the Republican party platform. So if I don’t fit into either of those two injudicious boxes, where do I fall you ask? Well, I side with the greatest mind of the 20th century, Albert Einstein, in feeling that “we shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.” Call me a radical. Call me a dreamer. Call me whatever derogatory political name you can think of as long as you also call me a Socialtarian.
I know what you’re thinking now – what the heck is a Socialtarian? The truth is, I made up the term after realizing I equally subscribe to Socialism and many Libertarian ideals. Before you capitalist pigs and liberal lilies accuse me of being oxymoronic, take a second to think outside the box for once. Actually, to make things easier for you, let’s start inside your boxes.
First, Republicans, you guys supposedly stand for small government, fiscal responsibility, high moral standards, and deregulation of the economy. Under the Bush Administration, the federal government ballooned and became a more pervasive presence in the everyday life of Americans. “Freedom and liberty” was extended to Iraq, while I lost the right to have an untapped phone conversation at home. Even more, we squandered a couple trillion dollars in our attempt to “liberate” Iraq and “organize” Afghanistan. As far as moral standards are concerned, I’ve lost track of how many Republican public officials were tied up in corruption, sex, and crime scandals in the past few years (to be fair, I can say the same for Democrats, but this is not a cornerstone of their platform).
Those Republicans I find most intriguing are the purportedly “Conservative” members of the party. Basing your belief system on “Christian” standards, you paradoxically subscribe to inequality, intolerance, and greed. I remember debating with many of you when Joe The Plumber exposed Barack Obama’s tax plan as “socialist.” You guys threw a temper tantrum and completely lost your bearings! The very same Republicans that argued that the foundations of American law should be more reflective of the Bible, were the same people that acknowledged that there should be no spreading of the wealth; there should be no universal healthcare; their tax dollars should not fund the rebuilding of better schools in neighborhoods they don’t live in. Well why don’t we check what the Bible says? Turn to 1 Corinthians 12:24-26. Are you ready?
“… God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, [25] so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. [26] If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
Don’t get me started on the countless other verses I could quote that undoubtedly prove the Bible is actually a socialistic doctrine. So how can you “evangelical/morally conservative” Republicans sleep in peace knowing that you actually do not wish to see social equality? I’ve never understood how you could wholeheartedly agree with the Bible, yet refuse to subscribe to the belief that at least some portion of the country’s wealth should be divided to eliminate poverty, grant universal healthcare, and promote a better education system for children in ALL communities. It baffles me how you can quote Jesus in one breath and then tell me you don’t care about the greater welfare of your fellow citizens in the next breath. I’ve even had conversations with many of you that seem to believe poor people are only poor because they chose not to work hard; you are completely ignorant to the socio economic factors that facilitate the perpetual cycle of poverty in the US and abroad. The main factor is your GREED; your unwillingness to share for the greater benefit of the entire group. Only after starting out with an equal chance at success, would it be fair to acknowledge that a person’s ultimate failures or triumphs were completely self induced.
On to the Democrats. You guys don’t seem to have as much of a problem tossing money around. You also claim to be proponents of equal rights. But tossing money around willy nilly, and promoting a class of citizens dependent upon degrading welfare systems is not what I envision as conducive to a greater America. Don’t give hungry people a fish and tell them to eat merrily; teach the people to fish so that they may feed themselves and others! This starts with education. Don’t blow our tax dollars on public housing facilities and benefit programs for lazy, uneducated people that will only pass down more ignorance to their offspring. Create a universal standard for public education and public school facilities starting at Kindergarten. Bailout our failing education system, not the corporations that will continue to erode our ethics, and deplete our financial resources.
In the area of equal rights, Democrats are all talk. Look at the issue of gay marriage for example. Whatever your religious affiliation, there is nothing in the Constitution that denies gay people the fundamental right to marry. Yet, many top Democrats, including our 44th President, stand firmly in ignorance with the Right Wing when it comes to preventing gays from marriage. I am a Christian, I go to Bible Study every Wednesday and church every Sunday. I would like to study MA in Biblical Studies Israel abroad. The religious studies usually focus on teaching the principles and beliefs of a certain religion, such as Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. However, international universities and colleges also offer inter-religious degrees, or comparative religion classes, leading to careers in Education, Clergy, Social Work, or Community Service. But even I can see that the doctrine which governs the United States is the Constitution, not the Bible. Why should I care whether two men or two women want to marry each other anyway? As a straight male, this does not make dating more competitive for me. It actually makes it easier, as those lesbians I might have hit on can more easily display that they’re off limits. Are most Americans worried that the country will become somehow gayer if we allow homosexuals to marry? Do you think that if we prevent them from marrying that they’ll eventually go away? This is ludicrous!
This brings me to why I consider myself a Socialtarian. I side with the Bible in believing that it is our job to collectively support one another. I also believe in the inalienable rights of man – Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Anything that prevents these principles from manifesting is unjust and wasteful. In our current state, capitalism unfairly lumps a large chunk of wealth into the hands of a tiny segment of our population. This fosters the poverty, crime, and desperation that generates 90 percent of the world’s problems. In the words of Einstein,
“the economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers, the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labor — not by force, but on the whole in faithful compliance with legally established rules (Why Socialism by Albert Einstein).”
If we were to distribute the country’s finances in a socialistic manner that specifically focused on the promotion of equal education, then poverty, crime, and other socioeconomic factors would cease to exist.
This where I draw the line. I do not wish to see a federal government that confiscates every dollar earned, nor one that strives to eliminate a difference in income between dish washers and brain surgeons. I merely wish to see the United States become a place where every child is born with a perfectly equal shot at success and the attainment of wealth. Every man is guaranteed life, which correlates to the preservation of existence, a right only secured through universal healthcare. Each man is also ensured liberty in this country. Therefore, I side with the Libertarian party’s call “for a world in which all individuals can freely exercise the natural right of sole dominion over their own lives.” Outside of making sure every citizen starts on equal ground, I do not need the federal or state government to be my third parent. For example, I should not be subject to incarceration for using drugs. If a person wants to damage their own body and it doesn’t affect others then let them be. If crack was legal, would you go out and smoke some today? I highly doubt it, so why the need for such foolish laws? All I demand the government to do is collect funds and apply them directly to the elimination of poverty, education and health disparities so that I may pursue my happiness… then get the hell out of the way. So take note you foxes and wolves, a ferocious beast is on the prowl for you – the Socialtarian.
**** Visit www.dwalkerspeaking.com for more commentary from Demetrius D. Walker*****
dangerousNEXT: REO
Spitting Flames In The Booth
It’s so cold in the D… only because Detroit transplant, Reo, has brought his flame spitting to H-Town. In a city that already boasts a naturally warm climate, Reo has only supplied more heat with his mixtape mastery and Waynesque work ethic. The D.O.E Records alum has made quite a name for himself with features on the Smart Is The New Gangsta Mixtape by dangerousNEGRO and handling half the bars on the Devilz Night Mixtape with G-Hustler. Reo is a revolutionary wrath inducer, trapped inside the body of an emcee. dN|Be Apparel caught up with him yesterday for an interesting chat. Check it out:
1. What makes you a dangerous emcee?
Reo: The fact that I am educated, intelligent, and informed. The fact that I offer more than rhymes that reflect my reality, but a solution to escape those realities. I don’t think many cats offer that. They kick stories about how they’re in the hood. How they sale drugs, but that’s exactly what the powers that be want us to think. So the dangerous part is not just the ability to escape because that’s potential energy. It’s not the fact that you escaped. The dangerous part is showing someone else how to do what you’ve done and to succeed in those tasks that you’ve accomplished, but keep in mind that this is done while maintaining your dignity and respect.
2. Who are some of your influences (musical and otherwise)?
Reo: As a kid I always wanted to be Run D.M.C. because they came on the scene and did Rock Music in their own way. They didn’t compromise their character by dressing in them funny outfits. It was done how they wanted it. And I realized that as a kid. I’ve always wanted to make beautiful music like Stevie Wonder. Poetic Like Nas, loved like Biggie, respected like Pac, and rich like Jigga.
3. What is your goal in this whole Hip Hop thing?
Reo: My Goal…my goal is to get my voice heard. I want to be able to touch the world with my ideas and experiences and just share my thought patterns with insightful people. After that I’m comming to collect my checks ya heard!
4. Spit your dopest bar to date!
Reo: My background far from the playground, I seek currency Never do I play around
5. Who are your top 5 dead or alive?
Reo: hate this question cause it’s so many cats that I appreciate. So I’m say (and not in no particular order)
KRS-One, Nas, Jigga, Big, Rakim…and then Imma sneak Andre 3000 in there with Scarface, the D.O.C, Ice Cube (of course)…hahaha it’s just too many great people to list top 5.
6. What can we expect from you in the next year?
Reo: You can expect two types of projects. Two official release projects and then some mixtape stuff. In terms of the official projects; expect one late spring which will be a solo release (finally) and then in the fall I’m going to do something with Str8Shoota from D.O.E Records and that should be crazy. Then you can always expect to find mixtapes with some H-town cats. I’ve been working with some guys in Houston doing some mixtape stuff, a singer by the name of J-Iz and a rapper G-Hustler. So all this music should be exciting.
Stay tuned for big things from Reo coming soon!
Yes We Can featuring Scram Jones, Rhymefest, Saigon, and dN!
Check out Scram Jones’ new prObama video featuring Rhymefest and Saigon. Rhymefest can be seen rocking the classic dN|Be Apparel Definition! Support lyrical Hip Hop folks!
dangerousNEXT: ZEALE
Zeale
dangerousNEGRO was in the building at KRS-One’s Stop The Violence Tour in Houston this past weekend. Hosted by M1 from dead prez, we knew we were in for an exciting show. As the anticipation built up for The Blastmaster KRS-One to rip the stage, an act surprisingly stole the show!
Sounding like a Slim Shady/Andre 3000 hybrid, Zeale (pronounced Zilly) took the stage in front of a restless crowd. As usual, spectators were a bit skeptical of hearing brand new material. Zeale gripped the mic and rocked the spot like very few emcees can! Listening to Zeale was like hearing Hip Hop in the the 23rd century. As he performed “Haterz and Robotz,” I found myself checking my phone to make sure I was still in the year 2009. Just when I was assured that I was indeed only 9 years into the new millenium, Zeale’s hypeman started taking words from the audience, which Zeale in turn threw into a freestyle. Everyone’s jaw dropped as Zeale figured out a way to spontaneously rhyme “revolutionary,” “apathy,” “combustion,” and several other words on the spot. I came to see arguably the greatest rapper of all time in KRS-One, and left grinning about the birth of the new legend – ZEALE.
After his show, I knew I had to reach out to the cat. He is the epitome of Young. Gifted. Black. Peep the exclusive interview he granted dangerousNEGRO:
1. What makes you a dangerous emcee?
My arsenal. I have mastered an acclaimed ability to freestyle with and as one of the best in the world. (World Rap Championship Finalist, NY) I have also proven to have one of the most dangerously hype live shows and a ridiculous ability to capture “swagger” in my recording and song writing capabilities.
2. Who are some of your influences (musical and otherwise)?
Obama, MLK, Talib Kweli, BIG, Jay-Z, Outkast, Radiohead, Pink Floyd
3. What is your goal in this whole Hip Hop thing?
To become one of the greatest performers and lyricist to date. And I will.
4. Spit your dopest bar to date!
“I’m here to stay, and I won’t go away…So I’m like racism in the U.S.A.”
5. Who are your top 5 dead or alive?
Jay-Z, BIG, Andre 3000, Nas, Eminem (Young Eminem)
6. What can we expect from you in the next year?
International notoriety, national movie appearance, more releases, bigger tours, more “dangerousness”
-Check my myspace at www.zeale32.com
Be on the lookout for this brother…. The future is now!
Why dangerousNEGRO?
by Tre B.
www.dangerousnegro.com
If you don’t know about dangerousNEGRO, read about us. For those of you that do know about us, you may wonder why we chose the name dangerousNEGRO, or even why what we’re doing is so important.
To answer the first question, the name dangerousNEGRO is a tribute to past Afrikan and Afrikan American leaders throughout history who were dangerous because they posed a threat to the status quo and made a significant positive impact on the Black community. Some people may have a problem with the term Negro; frankly speaking these people don’t know the history of the term. DuBois, Garvey, Malcolm X, and Dr. King all used this term to describe Black people. In another 20 years, the term “Black” will probably be seen in the same light as “Negro” is today, but it is what it is.
To the second point. dangerousNEGRO is important for the same reason conscious rap is important. We are the Nas and the Dead Prez of the clothing industry. Most artists just make you dance or nod your head a bit, but conscious artists make you think as well. Other clothing lines may simply have interesting designs and be very artistic, funny, or display your social/economic status. We use your body as a billboard to advertise social consciousness and group identity in an attempt to uplift the Black community and people who identify with it. Mainstream media and fashion are waging an ideological war against positive Black images by glorifying coonery and all types of negative Black stereotypes, we are the soldiers fighting back. We are a visual representation of the Black Empowerment Movement. Our clothing line is our uniform.
It is important for there to be alternative viewpoints coming from Black folks other that what you see in mainstream media because ideas and ideology have power to influence individuals consciously and sub-consciously. It’s important for socially aware people to be able to identify with other people who share their interests so they know they are not alone. There are plenty of us out there that don’t fall into those boxes they try to put us in, and wearing dangerousNEGRO is one way you can display to the world that you are one of those people. The more of us we see out there, the more we can be confident in our power to get together and improve things on a massive level.
dangerousNEGRO is committed to Black empowerment, we just happen to use fashion and entertainment as a means to that end. When you see someone wearing dangerousNEGRO there’s a high probability that they share our commitment.
MLK was a Revolutionary
by Tre B
Equality in a society based on one group dominating all others is a revolutionary concept. MLK was a revolutionary.
Don’t get it twisted, despite the watered-down, docile version of the man they show you on TV and in tributes around this time of year MLK was really a revolutionary. The reason he’s not with us today is because those revolutionary tendencies were showing through with more force with regard to the war in Vietnam and the economic empowerment of poor people in this nation. He was truly a dangerous Negro, a Black man that defied that status quo and couldn’t be controlled like some of his contemporaries that are still with us today.
Oscar Grant
Check out these two new designs by dN|Be apparel.
The whole situation around Oscar Grant is ridiculous and for every one of these incidents that hits the news, you gotta believe that there’s countless others. It’s ok to get mad and vent that frustration via protests and whatnot, but we also need results. When things like this happen we need to at least try to work within the system to get justice if for no other reason than to say that we tried, so if/when it fails they’ll know why they suddenly see ish burning to the ground. One organization that efficiently works within the system is colorofchange.org. Please visit, sign up, and support.
Justice or Just Us?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3gc9BNeMFE]
How many times will I have to post one of these in 2009? I’m truly disgusted. 2009 is barely 10 days old and already there have been 3 Black men SHOT IN THE BACK BY POLICE. President Obama, please introduce a Universal Code of Police Conduct as soon as you take office. You’ll be receiving a letter from me shortly.
The American Criminal Justice System Needs To Be Revamped Part 2
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQxBg5Jxp7c&eurl=http://dwalkerspeaking.blogspot.com/2009/01/american-criminal-justice-system-needs.html&feature=player_embedded]
Today is my birthday. I woke up to hundreds of facebook messages, text messages, emails, and voice messages wishing me many more years of life and happiness. I was all smiles until I viewed the footage of Oscar Grant being brutally murdered at the hands of the “good guys.” Never have I been so completely disgusted in my entire LIFE. This blog cannot contain the fury and rage that I feel right now. I just watched a black man murdered as he was completely debilitated and restrained by two officers while facing down on the concrete. He will not ever wake up to another Happy Birthday again.
In what universe is this acceptable behavior? I’m not sure if anything so cowardly and barbaric has ever been recorded. This makes the Rodney King beating look like a walk in the park. An officer of the law ended a man’s life over what? What could Oscar Grant have possibly said that warranted a bullet to the back?
Last February I found myself and a close friend in a very similar situation. I was scheduled to speak at Indiana State University the next morning when my buddy decided to show me around Indianapolis. We stopped at a club downtown where we were promised VIP entrance by the venue’s promoter. As we waited for entrance, a few overly aggressive police officers told us we were not allowed to wait for the promoter to grant us entrance and that we must exit the immediate vicinity. After trying to explain our situation one officer promptly cuffed my friend. When I objected to this, the other officer who was standing behind me sucker punched me in the back of the head. As I turned around to protect myself, I was forced to the ground, cuffed, and hit again by both officers repeatedly. They encouraged me to “keep talking” so they could gladly provide more severe punishment, as a third cop instigated the incident. After busting my ear lobe open, the officers leaned me against their police car in the freezing cold weather and left me there for about 30 minutes. Once I finally convinced them to let me go, they threatened more punishment if I did not immediately leave the premises without knowledge of their badge numbers and names. This all took place in front of a nightclub where hundreds of people stood in line awaiting entrance. Nobody moved or attempted to come to my aid.
The police are the gateway to the American Criminal Justice System. They seek the “criminals” that fill up our jails. Who do you turn to when the guardians of the law exceed commonly justifiable behavior? The law? Hmm… How can the law hold the guardians of the law accountable when they exceed the law? Look at the results of the Rodney King beating, the Sean Bell shooting, and Amadou Diallo incident. Justice was not served. Our current laws, law enforcement officials, and the American Criminal Justice System cannot bring justice in their current form.
I propose that President Obama develops a bill to restructure the criminal justice system as we know it. In this bill I encourage uniform police behavior standards across all 50 states. I also advocate the downfall of prison privitization, as this fuels the prison industrial complex. Laws need to be changed, beginning with those that affect non violent offenders. Change is needed. How many times will we allow what you just saw to happen from coast to coast before we lobby our government for CHANGE?
***UPDATE***
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL9X09eu7JA]
Still not seeing a trend here? When are we going to do something about this? How many times will we accept that it was just a police “mistake” when a young Black man is brutally assaulted by law officials?
Free Knowledge
This one comes to you from Dr. Ray Hagins. For our readers that haven’t started learning about their African heritage and might not make it through the whole video, skip to minute 7:00 and watch from there to the very end. Powerful stuff people.
