The Redmond Report

"I'm really happy for you, and I'ma let you finish": A Critical Analysis of the Kanye West-VMA's incident

2009-09-15T22:12:00.003-06:00

Seeing as how everyone on every social networking site is calling for him to be lynched (no, seriously, some people are calling for him to be lynched. Go on twitter and search the terms “Kanye West” and “lynch”), just as Kanye West defended Beyonce (whether she needed it or not is another story), someone needs to come to the defense of the fallen (by societal standards) 808s and Heartbreaks star. There are a number of issues that are so pervasive that no one is addressing, let’s call them the “Elephants in the room”.

The first elephant is simple: in the category of Best Female Video, 19 year old Taylor Swift’s video for “You Belong to Me” beat out videos by Pink, Lady Gaga, and finally Beyonce. The elephant lies in the ridiculous claim by the MTV VMAs that Taylor Swift’s video was better than Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” video. The fact that the dance for the video has been redone and reworked (even making its way into a Saturday Night Live skit) is testament to the fact that it was indeed the Best Video of the year, or as Kanye rightly stated, one of the best videos of all time. In a category like that Beyonce should have easily taken home the prize but she did not. She also didn’t take home the price for Best Pop video. That accolade went to Britney Spears for “Womanizer”. Again, nowhere near the accolades that were showered upon “Single Ladies” were showered upon “Womanizer”, yet Britney’s video bested Beyonce’s and she stood 0 for 2 on the night. Now, many will contend (I like to call this group, the Appeasers) that since Beyonce won Video of the Year, that all is right with the world. Still many (again, the Appeasers), will contend that Beyonce allowing Taylor Swift to come out and finish her acceptance speech after she won the Video of the Year award is further proof that Kanye was completely wrong and that Beyonce felt that Kanye was wrong. It only proves that Beyonce felt bad about the situation and wanted to smooth things over on her end, which is a legitimate concern of hers. Some have even gone further to defend Beyonce’s defeat by saying that MTV did the fair thing by giving everyone one award. However, minor research shows that just last year MTV gave Britney Spears, Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, and Video of the Year, for “Piece of Me”. Which leads me to my next poi--, err, elephant: race.

There are many who are going to immediately stop reading this because of the insistence upon some racial focus here. These people, I like to call, Post-Racialists. To their claim, I argue that to deny that there is no racial significance in Beyonce, the only woman of color who as Kanye West argued, one of the Best Videos of all time, being rationed awards to the appeasement of two white artists, is to deny the still consistent racial overtones of our society. To deny that there is no racial significance in the backlash at Kanye West that has manifested itself in racist language (a simple Twitter search of the terms “Kanye West” and “Nigger” produces astonishing results) is to deny the pervasively racist society in which we live. To deny that the there is no racial significance in the demonization of West by mass media and society a la social networking is to deny that the pseudo-scientific racial theories of inferiority and savagery that were prevalent throughout the 16^th, 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries, the legacy of which was felt in the 20^th century, has had any effect on the 21^st century. In many ways, having Kanye West, this powerful image of Blackness, verbally “attack” Taylor Swift, the All-American “Aww-Shucks” image of Whiteness, is unsettling to a lot of people, many of whom are calling for the star to be lynched. What is left out is the forced appeasement at the sacrifice, whether accepted or not, of Taylor Swift and Britney Spears (both white females) at the expense of Beyonce (a woman of color). There is a precedent in the previous year of one video receiving all three awards, and a video of the viral magnitude of Beyonce’s should have easily repeated the “hat trick” trend. I, unlike my Post-Racialist friends, am not ready to simply write the offense off as a coincidence. Finally, the demonization of Kanye West by everyone from Perez Hilton to Barack Obama, leads me to my third and final elephant: societal priorities.

We are still fighting two wars. We are engaged in a major healthcare reform debate. Yet, Kanye West’s statement (I refuse to lay the negative connotation of “outburst” on his action) has taken front page press. When Joe Wilson yelled that President Obama was a liar, it did not receive anywhere near the public outcry as did Kanye’s statement. This problem I attribute to those whom I will call Tweeters. I won’t belabor this point, but It’s a sad sign for a country when celebrities or athletes (lest we forget about Serena Williams’ weekend) are held to a higher moral standard than our elected officials. There is an alternate explanation for this phenomenon (what I term the Perez Hilton Paradox). This alternate explanation, however, will upset my Post-Racialist friends. But for the sake of scholarship, let’s just say it involves the traditional image of whites in superior conditions to blacks, and so we are socially conditioned to the image of Joe Wilson questioning President Obama. In fact, some of us are confused as to why his statement wasn’t more of an imperative (i.e., “You stop lying boy”). But that’s a topic that has been semi addressed already.

I would be remiss to finish this without taking a serious look at the fact that Kanye West apologized to Taylor Swift…more than once. The apologies, Swift has stated were sincere, but it’s the apology on the Jay Leno Show that I want to look at a bit more. Jay Leno, in a very provocative moment, asked Kanye West what his mother would think of what he did and for the first time since the death of Dr. Donda West, Kanye West was forced to get off the rollercoaster ride that was his life and see the person he has become. When Dr. West passed, Kanye was hurt. When his fiancé left him shortly after, the world that he had known and appropriated had been snatched away from him and so he placed all of his heartbreak into the one place that was left, his music. Kanye West’s Heartbreaks led him to his 808s. Since the passing of Dr. Donda West, we have seem what happens when genius and pain cohabitate. We are given the gift of a great product (808s and Heartbreaks is in my eyes a classic because of its groundbreaking concept) but the curse of the tormented soul behind the product not being nourished. Once the 808s were turned off, the beating of the heartbreak persisted. Kanye West’s decision to take some time off is probably not ideal for Hip-Hop, but it is necessary for West. In order to retain the College Dropout, we must give him his Fall Break.

Jay-Z's "Death of AutoTune"

2009-07-02T10:08:00.003-06:00

So I have to comment on Jay-Z’s “Death of Auto-Tune”. The night it came out, I listened to it about 18 times just to get the feel for it. I can’t front, I like the song. Its catchy, but it also carries the message well. As Jay says “Holdup, this ain’t a number 1 record/ This is practically assault with a deadly weapon”. He really goes hard from the first verse with this lyric:

This is anti-autotune, death of the ringtone
This ain’t for Itunes, this ain’t for sing-along

I mean, he attacks the way in which the music industry has changed so dramatically as of late. Especially hip hop. It has its place, but when the market is saturated by Ringtones and no one is buying albums anymore, thats a major problem. I mean, artists like Drake and Kid Cudi, have to release mixtapes in order to be heard. Jay’s point here is valid.

Another part of “Death of Autotune” criticizes the Hipster culture that has taken over hip hop. Jigga writes (or doesnt write actually, lol):

No lyin, your niggas’ jeans too tight
Your colors too bright, your voice too light

I’m not doggin the Hipster brand, but damn come on. Stupidridiculous pointed out to me how most people on Tumblr are talking about sneakers and shit like that and how “guys wont even talk to girls who dont know about sneakers and Jay-Z, even if they have a phat ass” lol. Shits getting out of hand. Everyone cant be a hipster. And, if you are, cool, but don’t come up to me talking about how I’m late hearing about this artist (I know, a common debate on Tumblr and in the world).

Finally, from his last verse:

You niggas singin too much,
Get back to rap you T-Pain’n too much
Ah, I’m a multi-millionaire
So how is it I’m still the hardest n—a here?
I don’t be in the project hallway
Talkin’ bout how I be in the project all day

Two things I want to point out in this pericope (if you dont know, look it up, lol). The first thing is this, his criticism of T-Pain and those people out there singing via Autotune. Especially, T-Pain. lol. Its true, every rapper, singer, artist, is using Autotune as a crutch. I saw someone comment about Wayne and Kanye using it as a crutch. I have to disagree. T-Pain’s entire career is based off of Autotune. Lil Wayne was hot (arguably) before his use of Autotune. Kanye’s career is still hot, even with his use of Autotune. Not to mention, Kanye explicitly stated that 808s was a concept album, and to be honest, it was used well for the album. The problem comes in when people like Jamie Foxx, who actually has talent, believes that he has to use Autotune because thats what the market is feening for. No. Sorry, not ok.

The other thing I briefly wanted to point out was his criticism of people “talking bout being in the project hallway”. Honestly, he’s right. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with living in the projects, but to think that somehow your credibility is magnified if you are constantly living your life in the projects is a sad thing to think. I mean, hip hop was never originally about living in poor circumstances and loving it. It was about pointing out those circumstances for the world to see and trying to get out of them. I mean, Jay-Z is someone who has show that you can develop and grow as a person and as an artist and still be successful. I mean, Reasonable Doubt was a street classic and everyone loved it, but when Jigga shows growth and produces Kingdom Come, people think he sold out.

With that said, there’s really only one way to finish this:

La Da Da Da, Hey Hey Hey, Good-Bye!

Radical Islam and Christian Privilege

2009-06-02T21:55:00.001-06:00

Am I the only one who finds it upsetting to hear stories on CNN, FOXNews and MSNBC, talk about Radical Islam? I mean, I study religion, and I know that there have been way more Radical Christians out there. Don't take this as an attack on Christianity, I "used to be" Christian (I'm currently exploring Unitarian Universalism) and I'm currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from a Methodist seminary. With that said, why is there never any talk about Radical Christians? I'll tell you why. Because America is a country of Christian Privilege. Thats right Christian Privilege. Think about the "National" Holidays, and their proximity to Christian holidays. I'm not indicting Christianity. I just think its weird that Muslims are "Radical", while Christians are "Fundamentalists". Something to think about.

Breaking the Silence...

2009-03-10T14:51:00.011-06:00

And so it seems that I return to my blog for a couple of reasons. The first, there are a number of people who have recently created blogs, and I must compete. Its in my nature. Besides that, however, there is a more legitimate reason: Chris Brown and Rihanna. I know that everyone and their mama has an opinion on the goings on between those two, however, I'd like to offer something a bit different in my analysis of the situation. So lets get to it.

Most people start here either with an exposition on how Chris Brown is awful and things of that nature, or how Rihanna is ruining her life by staying here, or even how Rihanna is ruining Chris Brown's career. While the latter is extremely ridiculous (he hit here, therefore he "ruined" his career), I'm going to ignore this whole thing. I mean, the blame lies on Chris, he allegedly hit her, no matter what degree of provocation she may have used for him to do it. But, the judgment on what happened does not fall into my lap, but into the courts (I can't help but think that some people thought I was going to say God. Why is America, despite its declining belief in Christianity a country that constantly tries to spiritualize everything? Random, I know.) So before I get myslef further entrenched in a topic I wasnt going to discuss, let me move on.

Many of you may be wondering "If you're not going to place a judgment on the case then why should we read this?" Well, to answer you, I said I wasn't going to judge Chris Brown, or Rihanna. I'm going to judge our society. There are some major issues in our society and this case with Chris Brown and Rihanna, bring light to them. One of them is that we hold celebrities to an incredibly high standard. While I personally believe that people in the limelight should operate under the assumption that they are always watched, I'm old enough to realize that celebrities are human and they screw up at times. So do we "regular folk". Its really a matter of how we react to the situation. Chris gave the stereotypical response: flowers, candy, diamonds, and apologies. Who can fault the guy for thinking this would work? He's only 19, which leads to my next topic.

An incredible amount of stress anguish and pressure have been put on a 19 and 20 year old. Some may say that they are celebrities and should know how to act in the public eye, but we must not forget the way in which these celebrities have grown up. From 16 onward, Chris Brown has been lauded as the best R&B artist out (although I could easily argue against it). Society has placed Chris Brown on a pedestal because of his talent and its always tough when an artist falls from grace. Especially when its happens as quickly as it has for Chris Brown. With that said, I must, in many ways, commend Rihanna in this whole thing. People have commented about how seeing Chris Brown in court was sad to see. But let us not forget that before everything became extremely public, there was just word that Chris Brown had assaulted a woman. Seemingly overnight, the hazy details became clear and we became privy to the information that the woman was Rihanna. Then, because of some guys screw up, the pictures from the police report became public. Still throughout it all, Rihan--, actually Robin has been incredibly strong and displayed incredible courage and elegance throughout this endeavor which, with the incredible involvement of the media, is admirable to say the least. Which leads me to them: The Media.

I am amazaed still that this story has gotten so much airtime. First the media couldn't believe what was going on, and broke the story so that all the world would hear. Then when it was finally known that Robin was the woman, there was an uproar with mixed reactions. Some didnt believe her and thought she was trying to ruin Chris' career (yeah, thats believable) and others just as upset at Chris Brown, with little or no regard to the woman whom he had hit...allegedly. In a matter of days, the media had swarmed the story and everyone and their mama had some sort of advice for the star-emblazoned couple. Here's why I have not said anything in the way of what the two of them should do: ITS NOT MY BUSINESS! I mean, honestly, I can say all I want what I think they should do, but if my knowledge serves me correctly, neither of them have asked me my thoughts on what they should do, so why should I just volunteer my opinion to them and then have the nerve to be upset when its not followed? For those who don't know Robin asked the judge to allow her boyfriend to see her while they were going through the court proceedings, and everyone was upset. I think its not only her business but smart. Its clear the two of them, at the very least, have some feelings for the other. So why would she not want to see her boyfriend so that they could work it out? I doubt everything, in terms of their relationsip, is immediately going to go back to the way it was, but if it does, the key thing to remember is that its THEIR relationship. Not America's. Rapper Drake has a line at the end of the Barry Bonds Freestyle on his "Comeback Season" mixtape and it goes "Keep your two cents, I ain't tryna leave you broke". Wise words that we should follow.

Finally, probably my biggest problem with this whole thing. As a result of Chris Brown allegedly assaulting Rihanna, everyone and their mama (in this case, the mama is Oprah) wants to do a show focused on Domestic Violence. Where the hell were all these shows before this? BET (whom I truly disdain from the bottom of my soul) is dedicating some time on 106 & Park towards domestic violence. First of all BET, I dont know what makes you think you're qualified to hold a show on domestic violence when you couldn't even properly handle a dispute between the male host and female host of your flagship show 106 & Park. In fact, after Terrance had verbally abused Rocsi, you sent both of them on a vacation, allowed Terrance to continue to verbally abuse her through the end of the week (when there was a guest host, he made a comment about not having to worry about the guest host having an attitude), and then made him give some sad apology accompanied by, oh what do you know, flowers. In fact, I think I now know where Chris Brown got his apology idea from. All in all, what I'm saying is this: Domestic violence should not become an issue because Chris Brown allegedly hits Rihanna. It should be an issue because for all the woman who are subject to the abuse but not platinum recording artists, their voices need to be heard as well. In fact, the irony of this whole thing is that here at Emory, I've heard some people say they will boycott Chris Brown's music from now on, which I'm completely cool with. But when I push them further and say, "why not attend the Vagina Monologues, an event where the proceeds goes towards women of Domestic Violence?", the response is that they don't have time, or don't see how that would connect.

Maybe now, we can understand that domestic violence is a raceless, classless epidemic. Maybe now, we can take a stand. But for the sake of all that is right, lets not break our silence (kind of like I did) because Chris Brown hit Rihanna...allegedly.

For more information about V-Day, a Global Movement to end Domestic Violence and also where the Vagina Monlogues in umbrella'd (no pun intended) under click here.

New stuff coming soon!!

2009-02-03T09:27:00.002-07:00

Its been a while since I've posted something and some of you make think that I've just shirked The Redmond Report. Just a quick note that I havent. I'm still adjusting to this whole graduate school thing. I'm probably going to cut back to once a week and probably on Fridays, so watch out for an entry soon!!!

Racism Still Alive We just been concealing it....

2008-11-10T21:14:00.004-07:00

On Nov. 4th, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States of America. A Black Man was elected President in a nation that still lives with the wounds and memory of slavery. While this is a historic moment in our nation's history, we must realize that the work put in to elect Barack Obama as President must not end! There are still battles to be fought, still wrongs to right. We must not think for one single moment that because he is elected President, all of the problems of the world will magically disappear. That is not the case. We must not think for one single moment that because he is elected President, the world is a much better place. That is not the case. Most importantly, we must not fall into the trap of thinking, for ONE SINGLE MOMENT, that because is elected President, racism does not exist. THAT IS NOT THE CASE!!

I am a very proud 2008 graduate of Colgate University. I will hold, forever, that it is one of the best institutions of higher education in America. However, occurrences at Colgate a week ago, let us all know that Racism is still alive. Last week, a student found disgustingly racist remarks in a bathroom in Colgate's Alumni Hall. When I first heard that someone wrote a racist remark, I was upset, but I (like most people) assumed that the person wrote "nigger" and continued on their racist way. However, I received pictures last night of what exactly was written. Needless to say, I was heartbroken. After reading what was written and carved into the bathroom, there had to be more than one person involved. For them to have the time to write "No Nigger will ever rule the White House", "Lynch them all", "They were born to be slaves and serve white people bout time for them to start doing it again", and "South will rise again", indicates that they had plenty of time to think and write and reflect (although they did not proofread).

As a graduate of Colgate University, I am outraged. As a Black Man, I am outraged. As a former leader at Colgate, I am outraged. I am not the only one who shares in this outrage. There are a number of students, alumni, faculty, and staff who are outraged. While that outrage is important and definitely well-founded, outrage is an emotion. What I'm getting at here is a very simple question: where is the action? Colgate is a very good institution, however, the students (and the university as a whole), are extremely sheltered. So when something like this occurs and there needs to be a response on the part of the students, the first inclination is to ask for permission or get approval to respond.

Colgate as an institution has a pretty clear history of what happens when something of this magnitude occurs. In 1969, members of the Association for Black Collegians held a sit-demanding an cultural living center. From their demands, both the HRC and ALANA cultural center were created. In 2001, when Colgate professor Barry Shain (who is still a member of the faculty) made incendiary remarks in an email to a black female student, that black students took easier courses, and that liberal-minded professors were easier on black students, there were meetings and then there were sit-ins.

So what is the major difference between those events and the events of last week? ACTION! I commend the current Colgate students for what they have done thus far. It's easy for me as an Alumni to sit here and say what I would have done if I were there, but until thrust into that situation there's no telling. And while, I know that we as Alumni support you all, I'm hesitant to make this an Alumni event of sorts. I say that in order to convey to current students that we as Alumni cannot overtake your experience. You are at Colgate right now. You are the future of that institution and of this country. And you do not need permission from anyone (administration or alumni) to express your feelings in whatever way you see fit!

Let me repeat that: YOU DO NOT NEED PERMISSION FROM ANYONE (ADMINISTRATION OR ALUMNI) TO EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS!!!!

Some may ask, well, what are your demands from these protests? And while you may very well come up with demands later on or have them now, the reasoning is very simple: Some people got together and decided that writing racist remarks in a bathroom was a good idea and disrupted my day, education, life, so I want them to be just as disrupted by my presence despite their actions. That's what protest is about. Its not about appeasement, its about discomfort. And from that discomfort, reaching a place of coexistence.

Considering where we have come from in our nation's history, I think most major pundits are erroneously correct when they say that as a result of Barack Obama's selection, "we have come full circle". Instead of doing a 180 and having some change, we are back, in many ways, to where we started. The only way to effect change is to continue fighting. As the fight song indicates, Fight fight fight for Dear Old Colgate. But most importantly, FIGHT FOR YOURSELF!!

Sarah Palin and Tall

2008-09-24T12:21:00.005-06:00

After about a month long hiatus, I have finally gotten a breather to blog again. Clearly from the title, my aim is Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin, the current governor of Alaska. In a very transparent move to try and woo the disgruntled Hilary voters, John McCain decided to "pick up" Sarah Palin as a running mate. Now the question of why I have pick up in quotations may arise, so let me explain. In "pick-up" basketball, there is really no thought process involved in choosing who will be on your team. You simply choose someone based on their physical appearance at the time. While I'm sure Palin's physical appearance as a "milf" did not play any factor in her being chosen, to John McCain she was the best looking player on the team at the time. She has undoubtedly energized the Republican base (well, at least about two weeks ago she did) and brought in a very interesting dynamic to the race. In one sweeping motion, John McCain has single-handedly removed himself from the race for President. The two major characters of this campaign are Barack Obama and Sarah Palin and while some joke that McCain will not survive his first-year in office, it is remarkable how quickly he has become an afterthought in the campaign.

So why the title? Why the play on the Patricia McLachlan children's book? Well, quite simply, Sarah Palin is plain. There is nothing remarkable about her outside of her newfound celebrity "milf" status and her down-right ignorant view of the world. To believe that her experience as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska where the biggest event to come before her was the debate over the installation of a new skating facility. Compared to Barack Obama's experience as a community organizer on the Southside of Chicago, where he dealt with issues facing the actual livelihood of people, not their forms of entertainment.

And thats what Sarah Palin has become for a number of people: a form of entertainment. Tina Fey's SNL spoof was by far one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed, and I had the common sense to have the sound up, unlike some VP candidates. Her foreign policy credentials are sub-par at best. Barack Obama did a major tour around Europe and even gave a speech in front of thousands. Palin met with nine foreign dignitaries (one of whom was Bono) in New York City. My best friend, Gabby, is meeting with the President of Iran today. In New York City. Is she more qualified than Palin to run for VP or even President? (My honest answer to this question is yes. She's truly amazing) John McCain has run himself out of the race. Its apparent that even his own voters are more energized by his running-mate than him. Should we sit around and wait for John McCain to die, in order to reenergize the country via a VP pick who's presidency, as so eloquently put by Matt Damon (aka, Jason Bourne, who definitely has more foreign policy experience than Palin), would be "like a really bad Disney movie"? I think Walt is rolling over in his grave.

Musings on Change and Christianity

2008-08-08T15:16:00.011-06:00

You got to make that change man
Cuz they don't come too often
And when they do come
You gotta be smart enough to know when to change
Like Sam Cooke say change gon' come nephew
And you better believe that
-Snoop Dogg in John Legend's "I Can Change"

I know that it has been a while since I last blogged, but as many of you know I'm making the move down to Atlanta tomorrow (CRAZY!!) . While I've been packing my things and reminiscing about my time at Colgate, I have continuously thought about the concept and idea of change. While I've been thinking about change, the quote by Snoop Dogg popped into my head. I never thought I'd be quoting Snoop in my blog but you never know when the quote fits. With that said, undoubtedly, the biggest change and challenge I am going to experience. First off, I'm moving to Atlanta. While I am definitely excited, I have been in upstate New York, for four year. I have been in the Northeast and exposed to the liberal ideologies which pretty much have had a huge impact on my thinking. So, going to the stereotypically conservative South is a major change that I will have to get used to. While the move is huge, I think the education that I am going for is probably going to be the most challenging part of this whole thing, so the remainder of this blog post will be dedicated to my thoughts on that and the Change I think necessary both within myself and in my prospective field. With change, though, you have two options, get run over or adapt. So like Snoop says, I'm gonna be smart enough to adapt.

Most of you know I'm going for my Masters of Divinity at Candler which is a great school. There are leading scholars that will definitely provide with the in-depth education necessary to be a leading scholar in the field of religion. But the decision to attend Candler does not come without some reservations. My biggest concern, as I have told Gabby numerous times, is that I am far too liberal for the degree I am pursuing. I have very liberal ideas about religion and Christianity and I believe they may conflict with the thoughts of many of my classmates (if you know me, you know what I'm talking about).

Outside of my liberal ideologies, I also believe that there may be some major contention between myself and so-called Evangelicals. In fact, I find myself to be totally antithetical to Evangelical ideas. In many ways, they scare me. If you've ever seen Jesus Camp , then you can understand part of what I mean. I have somewhat of a problem with a political Evangelical lobby as I believe that it directly violates the separation of church and state, as well as perpetuate a staggering dependence on Christian privilege that America has developed.

Therefore, so I don't sound like someone who complains all the time without offering a solution, I will attempt to explain some of my thoughts. First off, I feel that Christianity is offered as an option to any and everyone, but I don't feel that I have to approach people and tell them that they can be saved today. Since I use a lot of sports analogies, I'll use one here to further explain. When you're on a team, there are two types of leaders. There are the leaders who are always yelling and telling you what to do and essentially marginalize members of the team. When that happens the team gets divided and nobody accomplishes anything. On the other hand, there are leaders who lead by example. People who do everything right and people approach that person and they pull a team and country together. I imagine myself as one of the latter type of Christian leaders. So I would rather have someone approach me and ask me about my faith than to go and proclaim it to someone who may have an abject opinion of it after talking to me.

Secondly, I feel that Christianity's biggest message should be that of love for fellow humans. I feel that Christianity has a pretty bad habit of judging many different people who don't fit the traditional mold. In my life, I have met some very interesting people who I might not have met if I had prejudged them. So in my opinion love for fellow man should be a guiding principle for Christians.

Finally, my major point of contention is my personal belief that sin is equal. I feel like sometimes there are people who say that homosexuals are such a bad thing, but are cheating on their wives. People who condemn someone as a sinner and ignore there own sins. I feel that if people would consider themselves sinners as well, this world would be a little more compassionate and a little more understanding.

Well, as many of you can see, my idea of Christianity is a little more progressive than most. We'll see how it plays out once I get down there. But since I like feedback. I know many of you have an opinion on religion and Christianity and I want to hear your perspectives. So, thoughts?

P.S--Some people might find the picture above offensive. I'm sorry if it does. But I feel like, If you can't laugh at yourself a little, then you are missing out on life.

NaS' Masterpiece

2008-07-29T17:29:00.004-06:00

About a week and a half ago, I became the owner of one of the greatest hip hop albums ever. Trust me when I say that I am not exaggerating. Nasty NaS makes a triumphant return with this politically-charged, controversy-laden polemic set to incredible beats. Everytime I listen to this album I get goosebumps. It has the feel of Hip-Hop is Dead, but its more raw. It has more emotion in it. Needless to say, NaS really brings it in this album but doesnt get the credit he deserved. Unlike a certain artist who sold "A Milli" on incredible hype and codeine-laced lyrics, NaS actually takes a stand against adversaries Bill O'Reilly and Fox News in both song and petition. In a time where we are on the cusp of our first Black President, but still at war and in need of a "Hero", NaS comes through like the Dark Knight.

I am somewhat upset at the media uproar over NaS' decision to change the title of the album from Nigger. I think there was, in many ways, an infringement upon his freedom to artistically express himself. I really dont believe, after listening to the album nonstop, that NaS attempted to title it nigger because he does a very good job at attempting to rewire the thinking behind the word. His album does not limit the term to simply black people but all oppressed people. I mean, there was not nearly as much of an uproar when Randall Kennedy published his book titled Nigger. It also does the same thing in trying to "defang" the word. Your thoughts?

Frenzy Friday - State of the Race

2008-07-25T18:08:00.009-06:00

As promised, I begin my Frenzy Friday (working title) with this post. I recently watched CNN's Special Report: Black in America. While the special was only 4 hours total, I feel it gave a minor glimpse of of how it is to be a Black person in America, however, it is the responsibility of Black people throughout the country to provide our own voice. It is not CNN's responsibility to provide solutions to the problems of the community (although they did provide examples), it is our responsibility. With that said, I want to focus my thoughts on one segment of the show that I think is extremely important for our community to discuss: the issue of Black male/female relationships.

There is a pervasive problem in the culture with male treatment of women. Women are not seen in a very positive light by male members within the community and it seems to spread out into the general population. In watching CNN's special, there were three main areas that they focused on that I want to tackle. Issues of the Black Family, Dating and Relationships, and Portrayal in the Media. It is generally my practice, and probably academically driven, that I provide some history and for the sake of some credibility I will do so here, albeit less than I normally would.

Historically speaking, the Black Family was doomed from the day it set foot on this continent. It benefited slave traders to break up the family, so they did just that. Needless to say, the lack of men in the families, led enslaved women on plantations to lead an almost matriarchal society. The men married and had children on plantations and were shipped off to another plantation without any care or concern for the welfare of the family. So many men ended up fathering many families and wedding many different women on different plantations. So from a historical standpoint, its no wonder that there are 70% of Black women who are single parents. However, to place the blame solely on a historical basis would be irresponsible and wrong.

So this problem of the Black Family, and also the lack of men in these families, stems from the breakdown in the relationships between Black Men and Black Women. Some Black men who I have spoken to have said that Black Women are "materialistic", "too picky", "setting the standard to high". Personally, I believe that this thought process is what dooms the Black Male to the life that he lives, and in many ways is dooming the Black family and ultimately the Black race. In the CNN special, the 3 major factors that separated Black Men from Black Women were education, economy, and incarceration. In many ways the disparity begins with the fact that Black Women have an overwhelming command of the academy compared to Black Men (a 3:1 ratio). This of course leads to poorer economic conditions, which lend themselves to increasing incarceration. But is that the brunt of it? Black Women have been the staple of the race, being both the bearer of life and, in recent years, the bread-winner. So is that where the problems lie? Has systematic racism completely emasculated the Black Man and left the woman "in charge"? Or is the Black Man simply intimidated by strong, intelligent, educated, beautiful women who will challenge the establishment and status quo? Part of me thinks he is. Why you ask?

I remember thinking about the image of the Black Man in prison and the Black Man in school and thinking that the scholarly Black Man is an exception rather than the rule. I'm not sure how the stats reflect on that but its something that the majority of people undoubtedly believe. However, I cannot help but think about the fact that the majority of the images that the world sees of Black Women are them showcasing their assets on music videos with some rapper or other male in a power position. Yet, the stats actually show the exact opposite. Black women are effectively running the show in Black America. So, why is there a disparity in the real and the actual for Black Women?

I must admit I was asked to write this post by my best friend, an incredibly strong and brilliant Black woman. Her concern, which is the concern of Black Women from coast to coast, is what must or can Black women do to marry or even date inside of the race? My belief is that they keep being themselves. The problem isn't Black Women, its Black Men. Believe me, there are plenty of Black Men doing the positive thing and fighting stereotypes and making a way for themselves in legitimate ways around the country. But those stories are not being broadcasted and Black Boys have no legitimate role models outside of mediocre, misogynistic rap stars. They absorb the images of the Black man in dominate positions on TV, although those positions are often the result of some illegitimate activities. I used to believe that my difference in opinion came from my experience with positive, strong females in my life (read: My mother, sisters, aunts, friends). However, I have seen the exact same experiences used to explain reasons why they shouldn't respect women because these women are not their mothers, sisters, aunts, friends, and therefore are not deserving of this respect.

So where do the repairs begin? It has to start with Black Men. It has to start with us holding ourselves accountable and holding each other accountable for respecting ourselves and our beautiful sisters. We have to take responsibility for the plight of our people. Its only through us that we can make the change necessary.

Wow, that was a ton, but its definitely a discussion that needs to happen. So let's discuss. Your thoughts?

Quick Update

2008-07-23T14:26:00.000-06:00

Just checking in to let you all know whats up. Some of you know about the "groundbreaking CNN Special Black in America" that debuts tonight at 9pm. Its a two day special with today tackling Black Women and Family and tomorrow tackling The Black Man. Needless to say, I have had this special on my calendar since I first heard about it and Im glad its finally here. I've read great reviews thus far, but I have read some skepticism from Black people. Im sure there will be some critiques and things of that nature.

But here's a quick rundown of what Friday's blog entries (Yes, entries as in multiple) will address:

-A review of the Black in America special
-A beginning to a discussion on Black Female/Male relations as requested by my best friend, Gabby.
-Also, seeing as how I'm going into Seminary (ETA in Atlanta: 20 days), I want to have a frank discussion about church issues, from my own very liberal standpoint and get some feedback.
-There may also be a review of two really good albums. Tryin to mix it up a little.

I'm tempted to do multiple entries that are really thought out every friday and I'm working on a title for it. Stay Tuned because this week ought to be good.

Check out The Blueprint!!!

2008-07-16T18:26:00.004-06:00

Arkitekt and I joined up on a blog post to talk about Obama's recent appearance on the cover of the New Yorker. Its the first in what will hopefully be a good conversation series. Check it out here.

Self Reliance and the NAACP

2008-07-15T18:09:00.001-06:00

Watching Bill O'Reilly and his talking points made me start to think about Barack Obama and the so-called "Self-Reliance" tour. There seems to be a disconnect by O'Reilly and many others in understanding Obama's message on self-reliance that he has delivered. Obama's message is one of personal reliance. O'Reilly, in his brilliance of No-Spin reporting, attempted to portray Obama's message of self-reliance as being something that only Obama could do in front of the NAACP. Excuse me for stating the obvious, but duh Bill. Barack is talking about personal accountability, specifically within the Black community of which he is a member. He has the right and, in many ways, the responsibility to preach personal accountability to the Black community. The personal accountability that Obama preaches should lead to holding our government to a higher level of accountability. Is not that what we need now? A government who the people can hold accountable. A government who the people can trust. We must start by trusting ourselves.

Legacy of Leadership

2008-07-10T20:34:00.004-06:00

I originally planned on posting about Jesse Jackson's ridiculous comments but my man Nellz did as good of a job as I would have, so I definitely urge you to go and check it out (arkitekt's blueprint). Yet, there is something I want to address with this entry and thats the legacy of leadership. Since before the end of the Civil Rights movement (or what tons of people say is the end, seeing as how the movement isnt over), there has been a fight for prominence and leadership of the "black community". I have argued before, and again argue now, that beginning April 5, 1968 (the day after the assassination of Dr. King), there has been a constant struggle for the control of the continuation of the movement. With no recognized leader present to take the lead, the movement lost its luster and was in an uproar. However, it would be historically myopic to constrict the power struggle to this time period. In fact, there were noted struggles between King's SCLC and Stokley Carmichael's SNCC over the direction of the movement and perceptions of leadership. Carmichael and SNCC were upset that King was getting most of the media attention, while they were doing "most of the work". They were also fed up with the continued non-violence of the movement and were seeking to convert the movement to the militant strand that preached Black Power. King feared that the slogan of Black Power would confuse white people, as it did, and further hurt the movement, again as it did. So the fight over mission and strategy, as well as recognition plagued the movement early on, however, after the death of King, the leadership struggles of the movement were amplified by a need for a leader to continue the movement. The death of King led the selfless to become selfish and led them to stray away from the flock like sheep without a master. It is known by many that King declared Ralph Abernathy to lead the movement. However, Abernathy's lack of leadership ability and vision (at least in comparison to MLK) led to his losing control of SCLC and lead to the rise of Jesse Jackson amongst other people. So what then is the legacy of Dr.King's Leadership? Barack Obama seems to be next in the trend of charismatic, compassionate, intelligent leadership needed to transform this country into what it claims to be: One nation, under God, indivisble, with liberty and justice for all. So why the hate from Jesse Jackson? The answer is that it is a problem that is endemic to the Black Community, as well as our national community. You see, the Civil Right generation is exiting the stage and they are having a hard time dealing with a society that is working to be more integrated and globalized. The problems that people of color faced during the Civil Rights generation's heyday have become problems for more than one group of people and the post-Civil Rights generation is looking to correct all problems not just one. It is a multifaceted attack on the social and institutional ills of our society. So it is a shift from the days of marching and boycotting that is understandably unsettling for them to experience this dramatic shift. What Jesse Jackson said is inexcusable. To make matters worse, the questionable Al Sharpton came to his defense. It didnt help much. There is new leadership in place to take this country to the heights that it should be taken to. While the "old guard" is much appreciated, it is time for a change that can be seen and felt. Besides, Jesse and Al, in the past 21 years, havent spoken for a cause that I think they should be speaking on. Neither of them (both Reverends) defended Jeremiah Wright. They both remind me of the Rev. Rollo Goodlove . Your thoughts?

Stadium Seating + Change= Win?

2008-07-07T18:48:00.004-06:00

Barack Obama and the DNC has decided to hold Obama's nomination in Mile-High Stadium, home to the Denver Broncos. The stadium hold 75,000, which is monstrous compared to the original venue which would hold 20,000. I mean, the man can pack a house, but 75,000 people. He's officially reached Rockstar status. With the message of change, is this a good direction for politics? Barack Obama has run on the message of change, and it has successfully carried him through the primaries. But how long, will simply the message last in the general campaign? McCain is constantly attacking Barack Obama for not having a firm stance on issues, but is it possible for someone (read McCain) to have too firm of a stance? There's an excitement in this country, and even around the world, in hopes that Barack Obama and his message of change will take the election. I must say personally, that I am extremely excited for the future of this country. But can America take 4 years of McBush policies? To put it bluntly, this country is going to hell in a handbasket, when most of the world hates us, gas costs an arm and a leg, the economy is shit, and Iran telling America to "Just Bring It" if it wants to go to war. We are in dire need of change and I may be the only one who believes that even symbolic change may change the attitudes of this country. Colgate University President, Rebecca Chopp, has said numerous times, somtimes you have to believe in something before you can change your actions. Does America qualify for that type of attitude now?

Independence Day...but for whom?

2008-07-03T18:59:00.007-06:00

So I am in the process of writing a really good blog entry about my thesis project on the Black Church, but its a really involved entry and I dont want to mess it up. However, I just thought about independence day since its July 4th (well at least on the east coast and in the flood ravaged midwest). Thinking about independence day and the fact that it ended the fight for the country we live in now, my DuBoisian double consciousness makes me think about the ramifications of Independence Day on Black people. You see 17th Century slavery was essentially breaking in the slaves. It was, in comparison, one of the harshest times for those who were enslaved. Beatings were brutal, rapes were rampant, and families were separated relentlessly in order to further cement the horrible institution. In the 18th century, things were better, but not by so much. So in 1776, there were no distinct difference for those forced into the condition of slavery, when the whole of teh country celebrated its independence. While I understand that it is the day the colonies of the United States becomes independent, there was no immediate benefit to those who were enslaved. So I propose a new Independence day: Juneteenth. A little history, June 19th or juneteenth (as the derivation from the portmanteau of the two words June and 19th), is not the day of the signing of the emancipation proclamation (September 22, 1862) or the day in which it took effect (January 1, 1863). Its not even the day in which the Emancipation Proclamation was ratified into the Constitution as the Thirteenth Amendment (December 18, 1865). Instead, it commemorates the day, June 19, 1865, in which the federal government rode into Texas to enforce the passing of the law, thereby using federal authority to free the slaves. It became the day when the United States government (for not so noble reason, but they did it anyway) used their full military force to free the enslaved African Americans. So why is it not considered a federal holiday like Independence Day? As it stands only 29 states recognize it as a state holiday. Where are the other 21? For a country that is still reeling from the after effects of slavery, the celebration of a holiday like Juneteenth can do wonders for the nation and would be the first in a few steps that hopefully would lead to a federal apology for slavery. I mean, the federal government has already apologized to Native Americans for the way they were (mis-) treated. Why not apologize to African-Americans? If not an apology, lets at least make it a federal holiday and begin repairing the psyche of the United States.

Hip-Hop vs. America, II: My Thoughts

2008-06-27T18:24:00.011-06:00

The BET Special is back and this time they dealt with the relationships between black women and men, a topic for the ages. I really like the intellectual wing of BET, BET News, too bad its only a seemingly minor venture for a company that is concerned with keeping the masses numb (I'll talk about my dissatisfaction with BET on another day). Yet, this special was good. I love the mix of intellectuals and hip-hop artists/industry people and media insiders. It allows everyone to have the opportunity to speak and represent their different industries. However, this time, it seems that the Hip Hop/industry people came with a bit of a chip on their shoulders. They were really on the defensive from the start and it seems like the show opened with yelling and screaming. While the program was great, I still feel that it is too short of a program for BET. They need to do something major on this issue (kinda like CNN's Black in America coming in July), but I doubt we will see that anytime soon. I must say though that I am completely appalled by the comments and ideology of Rev. Eugene Rivers. Rivers is a Pentecostal minister and "christian activist", however he had some incredibly conservative, narrow-minded and misogynist viewpoints. He tried to make the argument that Black Women wanted to see more strong black men and not an increase in strong black women. At first I couldnt believe a man who preaches the gospel could make statements that were so unfair, unjust and misogynistic. One of my favorite intellectuals, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson (who was also on the panel and began to look increasingly more frustrated by Rivers) on the first part of this special last year coined the term "ecclesiastical apartheid" to describe the way in which women constitute 75-80% of the congregations but cannot lead the church, and not only did Rivers scoff at the use of the term, but also at the idea that there was a problem. He said that since Black Women weren't on the whole leaving the Black Church then there was no problem. As Dyson and Dr. Marc Lamont Hill (another respectable brother who is on my blogroll), tried to explain the misogynistic pathology that these women have ingrained in them, Rivers refused to accept this idea and even resorted to referring to David Banner as "Doc", commending him for agreeing with his claim. This is a problem that I have with the Church as a whole. Well, one of the many. Its my honest opinion, that the Church has been used for so long to subjugate different groups of people (i.e., non-christians Post-Constantine, Blacks during Slavery, and now women). The Bible is read with an oppressive ideology and once a group steps outside of the realm of the oppressed, they take on that "empire" theology that all is well with the world because all is well with them. If they see someone from the oppressed group actually making it, they believe that it is very possible for everyone of that group, not understanding that the person is the exception, not the rule. We as black men (and I'll be the first to admit that I haven't always been the best at this, but I am working on it) need to stand up for the black women who love us unconditionally. We need to see strong black women on TV, who are focused on making a change to the patriarchal system that controls the world right now. And since everything in the Black community seemingly starts in the church, it needs to start with more black women, and women in general, being put into the leadership roles within the church. We need to end the patriarchal pathoology that America has pimped since the beginning. We need a change and we, as Black Men in America, need to stand arm in arm with Black Women in pursuit of that change.

Update :

Thank you to Tommy D for asking a very relevant question about the pathology that Black Women, and women in general, have that affects them. What Dyson and Hill were referring to in explaining that there are women in power positions, but are still held captive to patriarchy is the fact that patriarchy looks for a certain type of women to lead. The woman must, in many ways, be very much like a man. Look at the Democratic primaries. There was a lot of sexism thrown at Hilary, especially after she cried on national TV. People began to question her ability to lead because she was showing too much feminine emotion. That is the problem with this patriarchal pathology it forces a stereotype of what women in power should look, or act like. And the common standard is a woman who can hang with the good old boys as long as she doesn't try to take over or make any distinct changes. Hope that explains the baseline problem with patriarchal systems.

Former Sheriff Shaq

2008-06-26T22:23:00.004-06:00

At an event in a NYC nightclub, Phoenix Suns Center, Shaquille O'Neal spit a freestyle that included the now oft-quoted line "Kobe, tell me how my ass taste". The free-style diss was directed towards LA Lakers star and NBA MVP Kobe Bryant. As a result of this, Shaquille O'Neal has had his sheriff status in Maricopa county revoked. The sheriff, Joe Arpaio, who describes himself as America's toughest sheriff, explains that if any of his other deputies were to use that type of language, the same would have happened to them. But I cannot help but see the hypocrisy in this. The Sheriff who criticizes Shaq's behavior, is known for feeding his inmates green bologna and clothing them in pink underwear. Granted they are prisoners and have been convicted of some crime, to place them at a health risk with spoiled food and to humiliate them is morally wrong. Who is this guy to try an impose some values onto Shaquille O'Neal? Where is the government in looking into the way these prisoners are treated? It seems the detainees at Gitmo have more rights than the inmates in Maricopa County. While Shaq's freestyle has sent shockwaves, it is decidedly whack with minor pithy lines and it is worth nowhere near the attention that it is getting. Besides, its overshadowing Shaq's platinum (who knew) album, that was also decidedly horrible, Shaq Diesel.

Talking White

2008-06-25T18:52:00.004-06:00

Ralph Nader has stepped out of his damn mind and said that Barack Obama is "talking white" and taking advantage of "white guilt". Nader says that Barack has yet to speak on what can be blanketed as black issues (i.e., the housing market, payday loans, etc.) and is trying to stay away from the issues that Jessie Jackson used in his campaign. I agree that Barack has not explicitly spoken on black issues, however after hearing his economic and social change plans, I think they will help America as a whole and that is by far the constituency that I think the President should respond to. I think Obama needs to essentially prove himself to the everyone in America and we as Black people should hold him to the same standard as we would hold a white candidate. However, Nader, is totally off base with his comment and somebody needs to shut him up. He says that Barack is pretending to be white so that he doesnt challenge the establishmnet. Two things, I think about when I hear this statement is what does pretending to be white mean? Is white a state of being that educated people attain? I dont think so. Outside of pigmentation, race, biologically speaking, has very little to do with how a person acts or behaves. So Nader's comments are not substantial on that point. The second thing that comes to mind is, does being white mean you automatically dont challenge the status quo, or cannot challenge the establishment? I'm troubled by Nader's comment (and the fact that he has decided to re-enter because he is not satisfied with the candidate) because it is these type of senseless attacks that continuously bring the focus off of the issues. If Nader wants to draw attention to himself do it in another way. America is ready for change. There have been 8 years of continuous deception and ignorance on the behalf of the Bush Administration, and I for one am very excited to see what happens with the next President of the United States. But with Nader coming out, Barack has said that he simply is trying to get attention, which is entirely believable. Barack is going to do what he did when Hilary tried to pull the same stunts. If you dont remember, let me refresh your memory...

The Return of Don Imus

2008-06-24T21:17:00.000-06:00

So after Nappy Headed Hoes, Don Imus got another show. While I would talk about the ADHD-like behavior of "outraged" people like the Rev. Al Sharpton (seeing as how they were outraged until he was fired, after which they dropped the issue and its relation to hip-hop), there are more important issues to address. Imus recently talked about Adam Jones and addressed race in his talk. Now the entire world is in uproar and again calling Imus racist. But unlike some people, I cannot co-sign it. If Imus is telling the truth (which I think he is), we cant possibly condemn the guy for actually trying to make an issue thats constantly researched and condemned: disparities in arrests and convictions for Blacks. So why is this such a big deal for America? No one has even addressed the turnaround of the Player formerly known as Pacman. Jones, who has began working with NFL Legend, Deion "Primetime" Sanders, and is actually turning his life around. Seems like DuBois was right when he said the problem of the twentieth, and I would argue America, is the problem of the color line. Your thoughts?

Allow me to reintroduce myself...

2008-06-24T21:09:00.001-06:00

So, at the urging of one of my friends, I have decided to start my own blog. It will undoubtedly give me something to do and a place to vent on a wide range of issues. The name of the blog is The Redmond Report which is a throwback to my old high school column. While that column focused primarily on sports, I think I'm gonna talk about a lot of things on here. But if there's something that you wanna know my position on, let me know. So for now, this is the first entry.