Since the posting of my response to the ‘Who the Hell Am I? Has Jay-Z Outgrown Hip-Hop?’ article, the responses have been overwhelmingly in agreement with the obvious point being made by my response, yet, there are those who I seem to have given the impression that I’m saying that Jay-Z, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby and others of their economic potential have not given anything back to the community, black and otherwise. This is, by no means, what’s being advocated by my response. What I am saying on the other hand is that, none of these “niggas” have ever put their image and likeness at the forefront of any real, tangible, and or substantial campaign to save the black youth of America (who need them more now than ever)! And you and I know for a well documented fact that the large majority of them will NEVER see any parts of this “Amerikkkan Dream!”
Now this does not mean that giving a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE gift to the victims of hurricane Katrina, or giving money to Columbine, the Red Cross or Tsunami relief efforts is not a wonderful thing. I am not saying that doing a concert to raise awareness for the Water Crisis in Africa, or giving to the Harlem Boys Choir or The United Negro College Fund (all of which is also being done by Bono, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) are not noble causes. But what I am advocating is that they reach out to all their rich negro friends, who in turn would reach out to organizations like the Council of Independent Black Institutions who would reach out to the Jawanza Kunjufu’s, Leonard Jeffries, Dr. Na’im Akbar’s, Dr. Asa G. Hilliard’s, III, The ASCAC (Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations), Dr. Molefi Kete Asante’s, Runoko Rashidi’s, and Ashra Kwesi’s of the world, to form a nation-wide agenda focused on taking complete control of the ECONOMIC and ACADEMIC development of our children and communities to eradicate the poverty and ignorance amongst black youth so that when the next hurricane Katrina hits, the people of the 9th Ward can afford to evacuate themselves! This is PRO-ACTIVISM not RE-ACTIVISM. I’m talking about creating a cool-rich-kids-movement amongst wealthy blacks, starting with well-to-do rappers, to use their visibility and influence to motivate the black youth to buy and invest into more than just music, clothes, cars, and alcohol. I expect more from well-to-do rappers than anyone else in the black community because the rappers are speaking directly to the community and they are listening. It was Jay-Z who said “The Streets Is Watching!” and if that’s the case then why not put your considerable financial support behind a NATIONAL BLACK AGENDA that would be designed to help uplift the very people dying in those streets!
The overwhelming majority of the wealthy black people in America only react to the problems in their communities after whites have approved the action. Like the problem with inner-city schools, Oprah did not address the issue until Bill Gates made it one of his priorities? The brother Kevin Johnson (former guard for the Phoenix Suns) had already built schools in his hood with businesses like Staples and Starbucks attached to them to employ the students who attended the schools. Here was a Blackman single handedly attacking the problems of poverty and ignorance amongst black youth and received little to no attention from his wealthy black equals until Bill Gates saw what K.J. was doing and formed an alliance with him! My position is plain, and it is clearly focused. Jewish-Americans have an uncompromising and exclusive Jewish-Agenda; Chinese-Americans have an uncompromising and exclusive Chinese-Agenda, The Koreans, The Indians, etc..all have the same type of plan to ensure their community has the proper food, clothing, shelter, education, and health care package to ensure their survival. AND THEY DON’T MAKE ANY APOLOGIES FOR DOING SO! Why are the wealthy blacks in our community so afraid to stand behind the same type of program centered around the upward mobility of their race? Every other racial group has what Dr. John Henrik Clarke called the “Essential selfness of survival”. When was the last time you’ve seen a black person working at a Chinese Cafe, Subway, or Luk Oil? Nobody ever calls China-Town racist for being Pro-Chinese or the Amish racist for having their own schools, hospitals, markets, etc. But, the only agenda the “Talented Tenth” seems to go-hard at is the agenda of getting paid, and not offending white-folk or challenging the racist status quo. And to make things even worse they are now using their image and likeness to support the agendas of other people i.e., anti-Semitism. How many years has the black community begged and pleaded with these different rappers, radio and video stations/companies to stop playing songs and showing images that glorify and romanticize buying and selling drugs, us killing each other, criminalizing the character of Blackmen, and demeaning the essence of Blackwomen? And every time the community tried to come together and stop the trend of insanity they were told that “This is all I know”, “I’m just keepin it real”, “I’m giving the people what they want”, “This is how it is”, “I have freedom of speech”, and every other weak bullshit ass excuse to justify their collusion in the exploitation of their own communities. It is a complete and utter betrayal to stand up and pledge to help end anti-Semitism, BEFORE you stand up and pledge to help end the cycle of self-hate and self-destructive behavior that is ripping your own people apart! Recently Jay-Z’s mentor, Russell Simmons was out speaking in support of DeBeers Diamond Industry? Does he not know the history of DeBeers? This is tantamount to Benjamin Netanyahu telling the Jewish world that the Hitler’s of the world have turned over a new leaf and should therefore be given another chance? Here’s a quote from John Cecil Rhodes (founder of DeBeers Diamond Company) in his article ‘Confessions of Faith’;
“I contend that we are the finest race in the world, and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race. Just fancy those parts that are at present inhabited by the most despicable specimens of human beings. What an alteration there would be if they were brought under Anglo-Saxon influence. Look again at the extra employment a new country added to our dominion gives. I contend that every acre added to our territory means in the future of birth to some more of the English race. Why should we not form a secret society with but one object, the furtherance of the British Empire and the bringing of the whole uncivilized world under British rule? Poverty is better under our flag than wealth under a foreign one. Africa is still lying ready for us, it is our duty to seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best of the most human, most honorable race this world possesses.”
This is what Russell is supporting. This is the same imperialist Euro/European-American agenda that put us in the projects from the jump! Just look around the world at how they are moving landmarks and claiming territory! When I watch the BET Hip-Hop Awards or the NAACP Awards, I see all the rich “niggas” who “made-it” on the red-carpet eloquently articulating the names of the European designers that made their outfits, and I say to myself there is soo much POWER in that room, enough power to change the condition of the black MASSES virtually overnight! WHERE IS THE BLACK AGENDA?
Inside the following books are just a few agenda’s, blueprints and plans that we can use to help create the kind of change and build the type of infrastructure that we need to help turn all this around. The only thing we need is a small group of people with a high visibility/influence and a strong financial foundation to help get these ideas off the ground.
Blueprint for Black Power (A Moral, Political and Economic Imperative for the Twenty-First Century) by: Amos N. Wilson
Awakening the Natural Genius of Black Children by: Amos N. Wilson
The Developmental Psychology of the Black Child by: Amos N. Wilson
Understanding Black Adolescent Male Violence (its Remediation and Prevention) by: Amos N. Wilson
Nationbuilding (Theory & Practice in Afrikan Centered Education) by: Kwame Agyei Akoto
The Rebirth of African Civilization by: Chancellor Williams
The Education of the Negro by: Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson
Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys (vol. 1, 2 and 3) by: Jawanza Kunjufu
Critical Issues in Educating African American Youth by: Jawanza Kunjufu
Motivating and Preparing Black youth for Success by: Jawanza Kunjufu
To Be Popular or Smart: The Black Peer Group by: Jawanza Kunjufu
Black Students/Middle Class Teachers by: Jawanza Kunjufu
The SANKOFA Movement: ReAfrikanization and the Reality of War by: Kwame Agyei & Akua Nson Akoto
(PLEASE ADD ON!)
WISE INTELLIGENT
Proper
Education
Always
Counters
Exploitation
2007 is the year of Solutions and Success!
all this time ya mofo been drinking bud , nobody was saying nothing ,now a black man is trying to do his thing and the white man wants to exploit him , it became a problem,intelligent man , get a job ,cause it’s not working, let these dudes eat, cause that beer been in the hood for years, why don’t you do something bout it, don’t complaint bout jay-z, complaint to the white man, ttell them not to bring that shit in the hood.the beers is like drug except ,it’s legal i don’t see you talking bout crack in the hood
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Thanks for the intelligent response.
Once I started to notice the power and influence of the hiphop community alone, a few things came to mind. I always hear about the car detailing and customizing shops that provide artists with vehicles for videos and such. A lot of those shops get crazy cash to add to an already expensive car. I believe that with a few focused individuals a real small car company can be started for all of those that want the exclusive/ limited edition rides. I’m not sure if that sorta thing has been set into work for black people, but it’s something to consider. When we “make it” we give it right back starting with the “nice car”. The market is there with every black rapper, singer, actor, athlete, athlete that wants to be a rapper, singer or actor making a nice buck.
Companies like Aston Martin and Maserati make small numbers of cars and sell them with huge price tags. Television shows like Pimp My Ride show how the craftsmen practically build a car. With a new body design, imported parts like the engines, a cool name (mentioned in a rapper’s summer hit)and one in a video and on the road, it may be the start of something. Race car drivers/ mechanics have been blowing big money building vehicles for mad years to race and black people with a few dollars blow big money on vehicles to basically cruise around in. It’s the same idea with spending $200 on basketball shoes that never get the chance to run the court.
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