Funny how when a young black male is shot to death by a police officer, the black community and its leaders come running out of their homes to protest and look for immediate justice. I am not defending the police here. That incident in Queens last December was an absolute tragedy. Sean Bell did not deseve to die, and I agree there should be a lot anger throughout the community. The protest rallies to seek justice in this case are all fine and good.
Now let's talk about another senseless murder. The murder of Denver Broncos CB Darrent Williams.
So now where is Al Sharpton? Where are the Black Panthers? And how about Jesse Jackson, where's he at? And where are the 100 Blacks for Law Enforcement? They should all be leading protest rallies for the purpose of an end to black on black crime or the purpose of just getting guns off the street or both. But no, when a young black man is shot to death with multiple bullets fired in a plain old black on black crime, all of these leaders hide in their condos and in their homes. Nobody wants to get involved. It's as if they all accept it as ho-hum just another black male killed.
And how about when little 6 year old Lisa is shot to death with a stray bullet on her way home from school. Where are the community leaders in these types of cases. Where's Al Sharpton? Where are the Black Panthers? Where's Jesse Jackson? And where are the 100 Blacks for Law Enforcement? I guess these type of senseless murders in the community are not worth their time.
There are a record number of murders being committed these days in the black community of Newark, New Jersey. It is an absolute crisis! So where's Al Sharpton? Where are the Panthers? Where's Jesse and the 100 Blacks? They're all hiding in their condos not looking to get involved and why? Well, I suppose black on black murders are just not juicy enough. There's is no political gain to get involved in any of that stuff. Al Sharpton wants to be seen on the "Larry King Live" show and the 11 o'clock news. And the only way he gets on those TV programs is if he comes out to protest and rally against just those good old juicy police shootings. The rest of the dead black men? Al doesn't care. Panthers don't care. Jesse doesn't care. Neither do the 100 Blacks for Law Enforcement.
They are all fooling the black community.
Check out this article on espn.com It says basically the same thing.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...mp;lid=tab3pos1
Full Version: So where are the protest rallies?
Amazin, I agree there should be more outcry. But I have to wonder: are people in Williams's home community speaking out and marching? Where are they? Is his family calling for the police to ensure that this kind of thing doesn't occur? What about local Black community leaders? Who are they and are they speaking out? That's where the impetus should come from, from regular people who're fed up. Rev. Al does get involved in a lot of New York-area events right off the bat, while Jesse Jackson Sr. usually waits until he can get the maximum possible attention and then he steps in, but often in New York City, at least in my experience, people in the community come forward to initiate these protests. For example, when Rashawn Brazell was killed, or when Kevin Aviance was brutally attacked, or when Emanuel Xavier was attacked, it was community folks, not the bigwhigs, who got the protests going.
Black on Black crime doesn't provoke enough outrage among many people, it's sad to say, and it really does point to what I see as an overriding sense of fatality, of resignation, of frustration that things won't and can't change, and in some cases, especially as it's promoted by some of the music community and by corporations that are pimping them, by cynicism and nihilism. When Cornel West spoke about and criticized Black nihilism, there were people who immediately rushed out and mocked him, but ask yourself, if a person doesn't really care about other human beings, doesn't care if they or he lives or dies, and promotes a violent, deadly system, isn't that a form of nihilism? There are too many people making money off nihilism and tragedy, though, for it to end anytime soon. I just saw that 50 Cent has partnered with MTV to sell novellas about his "street" experiences! My God, don't Black children and ALL American children--since the majority of consumers of hiphop are White--need some other views of Black life at this point? That vast majority of us ARE NOT street criminals. I'm not saying we shouldn't have the truth of some people's lives out there, but when that's ALL corporations really want to promote--either that, or Black elites, rather than the vast majority of hardworking, working, middle-class and upper-middle class Black people's experiences, it's a problem.
So I come back to my original point. Where are the people in Darrent Williams's community? Have they identified the shooter, and are they demanding that the police take action? Are other multimillionaire Black athletes going to commit some of their time and money to ensuring that potential future killers perhaps receive the kinds of education and upbringing they need so they don't go that route? Are we as Black people demanding this enough of them?
Black on Black crime doesn't provoke enough outrage among many people, it's sad to say, and it really does point to what I see as an overriding sense of fatality, of resignation, of frustration that things won't and can't change, and in some cases, especially as it's promoted by some of the music community and by corporations that are pimping them, by cynicism and nihilism. When Cornel West spoke about and criticized Black nihilism, there were people who immediately rushed out and mocked him, but ask yourself, if a person doesn't really care about other human beings, doesn't care if they or he lives or dies, and promotes a violent, deadly system, isn't that a form of nihilism? There are too many people making money off nihilism and tragedy, though, for it to end anytime soon. I just saw that 50 Cent has partnered with MTV to sell novellas about his "street" experiences! My God, don't Black children and ALL American children--since the majority of consumers of hiphop are White--need some other views of Black life at this point? That vast majority of us ARE NOT street criminals. I'm not saying we shouldn't have the truth of some people's lives out there, but when that's ALL corporations really want to promote--either that, or Black elites, rather than the vast majority of hardworking, working, middle-class and upper-middle class Black people's experiences, it's a problem.
So I come back to my original point. Where are the people in Darrent Williams's community? Have they identified the shooter, and are they demanding that the police take action? Are other multimillionaire Black athletes going to commit some of their time and money to ensuring that potential future killers perhaps receive the kinds of education and upbringing they need so they don't go that route? Are we as Black people demanding this enough of them?
QUOTE(fantomas @ Jan 6 2007, 08:19 PM) 
I just saw that 50 Cent has partnered with MTV to sell novellas about his "street" experiences! My God, don't Black children and ALL American children--since the majority of consumers of hiphop are White--need some other views of Black life at this point?
This is an excellent point.These songs and videos that are disrespecting just about every race,gender and orientation need to stop.I am so glad I did not grow up with this stuff because it's hard enough watching a younger generation destroy itself.The real question is how do you fix it? How you make people start respecting other people as well as theirselves.How you get them to understand that taking someone else's life is a horrible,unforgivable crime?Even though I am not African American, living in Detroit does give me an entirely different perspective but unfortunately the future still looks bleak.It's too bad that so many of the hip-hop fans out there are not able to look beyond the stereotypes.I honestly am surprised that the majority of hip-hop consumers are "white" as fantomas stated.
I agree and wonder where the outrage of black-on-black violence is. Why is there no protest on behalf of a murdered NFL player? I find this to be both tragic and disturbing.
QUOTE(just eddie @ Jan 6 2007, 07:38 PM)
I honestly am surprised that the majority of hip-hop consumers are "white" as fantomas stated.
The main buyers of rap music from artists such as 50 cent are suburban white kids who can afford to buy a $14 CD on a whim and pretend to be gangsta, when in reality they have no understanding of what living on the streets would really mean.
QUOTE(Illini_fan @ Jan 8 2007, 06:51 PM)
The main buyers of rap music from artists such as 50 cent are suburban white kids who can afford to buy a $14 CD on a whim and pretend to be gangsta, when in reality they have no understanding of what living on the streets would really mean.
Honestly,I believe that is as much of a stereotype as any.How many of these "performers" even know about life on the street.What a joke!These "kids" are more curious about the freedom,such as the freedom to ignore any curfew,the freedom to steal,the freedom to fight,the freedom to drink and use drugs,and the freedom to be sexually active regardless of the outcome,which is what so many of the raps seem to epitomize.Yep,just make it rhyme and add a little music to the background and you just might have a million seller.Whoever is buying this shit,whether they are black,white,latino et al,they obviously are very gullible.Meanwhile you can always count on a few idiots to emulate these videos in the worst possible way.Oh and by the way Illini,the music those "white" kids were buying 40 years ago was a MILLION times better!
QUOTE(just eddie @ Jan 8 2007, 07:29 PM)
Honestly,I believe that is as much of a stereotype as any.How many of these "performers" even know about life on the street.What a joke!These "kids" are more curious about the freedom,such as the freedom to ignore any curfew,the freedom to steal,the freedom to fight,the freedom to drink and use drugs,and the freedom to be sexually active regardless of the outcome,which is what so many of the raps seem to epitomize.Yep,just make it rhyme and add a little music to the background and you just might have a million seller.Whoever is buying this shit,whether they are black,white,latino et al,they obviously are very gullible.Meanwhile you can always count on a few idiots to emulate these videos in the worst possible way.Oh and by the way Illini,the music those "white" kids were buying 40 years ago was a MILLION times better!
And I agree with you about the music 40 years ago. I will take Stevie Wonder over Nelly any day.
QUOTE(amazin12 @ Jan 7 2007, 12:18 AM)
There are a record number of murders being committed these days in the black community of Newark, New Jersey. It is an absolute crisis! http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...mp;lid=tab3pos1
Newark had 106 murders last year, a record. And there have already been five so far this year. Most, if not all are drug or gang related and most of the victims are under 21 years old. You do get some outcry from the public, but not nearly enough to make a difference. In Newark, the police department is creating a new drug unit to help put an end to all the killing. Will it work? Hard to say. Sadly, the mentality among a lot of people is that the killings are just a fact of life. You hate to make the comparison, but it's almost like Baghdad. People see and hear the violence, take cover when it happens, then continue to go about their business once it's over.
QUOTE(jerseyguy @ Jan 9 2007, 09:30 AM)
Newark had 106 murders last year, a record.
Don't feel bad,I live in Detroit.
2006 Stats. were not available.(2005) Stats:
Population:900,932
Murder:354
Forcible Rape:589
Robbery:6820
Aggravated Assault: 13477
Burglary: 15304
Larceny Theft: 17383
Vehicle Theft: 21285
The murder rates in many big cities, after declining in the late 1990s, have actually risen. New York, fortunately, is anomaly, though I can vividly recall when it was held up as Exhibit A of "murder" and urban danger.
Back to hiphop consumption, yes, I believe more than one set of statistics have shown that White young people are the major consumers--at least in terms of purchasing power and units purchased--of most hiphop CDs and it's probably even higher with music downloads, given the digital divide. I've gone to more than one hiphop concert where I as a Black person was a minority in the room, along with the musicians performing onstage. I say more power to everyone to enjoy whatever music they like. The problem, however, is that given the paucity of PUBLIC role models for young Black people AND the power of the music and entertainment industries to disseminate negative images and representations, which ALL of us internalize, the negative models disproportionately impact young Black people, especially young Black men. I am even more convinced of this now than I was years ago. I also think that these images fuel racism and negative views of Black people, especially Black males, as young White people and Whites in general who may have little contact with Black people basically see these images as representing the whole of Black America. I know many people may laugh at this, and yes, I am not at all calling for there to be restrictions on hiphop representations or ANY kind of censorship, but I do think these images have a powerful and negative effect, on multiple levels and in multiple ways.
BTW, Norman Mailer wrote about White youth rebellion decades ago when he talked about the "White Negro." Be it ragtime, jazz (bebop), rock and roll, rhythm & blues, blues alone, hiphop, techno, or any of the other musical forms and related artistic and popular forms (like dances, lingo, etc.) that have developed out of Black American (and American) cultural crucibles, if they represent opportunities for rebellion, resistance to conformity and repression, and oppositionality, White young people--and eventually the society in general--have embraced them. And the societal nabobs have often denounced this process, usually despite being ill-informed--no, ignorant--about what they were talking about. Think about the people who denounce ALL hiphop and rap as if it's all about violence and gross materiality (which is really so American it's not funny--isn't the president and the culture in general always whipping us up to shop, shop, shop???). We're at the point where shopping is equated with a kind of patriotic duty and sacrifice. That's a tragedy of undescribed proportions.
Back to hiphop consumption, yes, I believe more than one set of statistics have shown that White young people are the major consumers--at least in terms of purchasing power and units purchased--of most hiphop CDs and it's probably even higher with music downloads, given the digital divide. I've gone to more than one hiphop concert where I as a Black person was a minority in the room, along with the musicians performing onstage. I say more power to everyone to enjoy whatever music they like. The problem, however, is that given the paucity of PUBLIC role models for young Black people AND the power of the music and entertainment industries to disseminate negative images and representations, which ALL of us internalize, the negative models disproportionately impact young Black people, especially young Black men. I am even more convinced of this now than I was years ago. I also think that these images fuel racism and negative views of Black people, especially Black males, as young White people and Whites in general who may have little contact with Black people basically see these images as representing the whole of Black America. I know many people may laugh at this, and yes, I am not at all calling for there to be restrictions on hiphop representations or ANY kind of censorship, but I do think these images have a powerful and negative effect, on multiple levels and in multiple ways.
BTW, Norman Mailer wrote about White youth rebellion decades ago when he talked about the "White Negro." Be it ragtime, jazz (bebop), rock and roll, rhythm & blues, blues alone, hiphop, techno, or any of the other musical forms and related artistic and popular forms (like dances, lingo, etc.) that have developed out of Black American (and American) cultural crucibles, if they represent opportunities for rebellion, resistance to conformity and repression, and oppositionality, White young people--and eventually the society in general--have embraced them. And the societal nabobs have often denounced this process, usually despite being ill-informed--no, ignorant--about what they were talking about. Think about the people who denounce ALL hiphop and rap as if it's all about violence and gross materiality (which is really so American it's not funny--isn't the president and the culture in general always whipping us up to shop, shop, shop???). We're at the point where shopping is equated with a kind of patriotic duty and sacrifice. That's a tragedy of undescribed proportions.
NIMBY rules. It is the same philosophy that convinces us that fighting them over there (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq) will keep them from coming here.
Relatively safe communities are not as compelled to worry about crime in other neighborhoods.
I suspect MLK would have taken his battle for equality to the next level had he lived. He had already started with the support of the strikes in Memphis and opposition to the Vietnam War's consuming resources needed at home - either of which may have contributed to his assassination more than blind racism.
It never ceases to amaze me how gullible we are in this country as a people. The recent story about this young boy who was held hostage or whatever for four years highlighted it. How much more mature are those young men and women dieing in Iraq for what they believe(d?) is the protection of their homeland?
We will not believe that racism could possibly be at the root of the disparity between the black and white communities no matter how often statistics suggest it. It is not in our interest and not in our back yards. (I'm not racist and no one I know is racist so it must be their own faught that they haven't caught up in 50 years after 300+ years of slavery and discrimination is our unwritten motto).
One can not force-feed freedom to occupied Iraq or buy it in occupied urban neighborhoods. We must allow.
Relatively safe communities are not as compelled to worry about crime in other neighborhoods.
I suspect MLK would have taken his battle for equality to the next level had he lived. He had already started with the support of the strikes in Memphis and opposition to the Vietnam War's consuming resources needed at home - either of which may have contributed to his assassination more than blind racism.
It never ceases to amaze me how gullible we are in this country as a people. The recent story about this young boy who was held hostage or whatever for four years highlighted it. How much more mature are those young men and women dieing in Iraq for what they believe(d?) is the protection of their homeland?
We will not believe that racism could possibly be at the root of the disparity between the black and white communities no matter how often statistics suggest it. It is not in our interest and not in our back yards. (I'm not racist and no one I know is racist so it must be their own faught that they haven't caught up in 50 years after 300+ years of slavery and discrimination is our unwritten motto).
One can not force-feed freedom to occupied Iraq or buy it in occupied urban neighborhoods. We must allow.
It's been over a year now ... I hope Kevin is all right.
It doesn't help much to call black on black crime racist, does it? Especially when the violence is so self directed - and usually over stuff like gang involvement and selling drugs. In San Francisco, the two most violent areas with the highest murder rates are in western addition and bayview/hunters point. And mostly black on black, with the age of the victims being shockingly young. Mostly over drugs and of course gang issues. And then of course, there's Oakland.
Stronger family units and a good education are still what's needed most. While having a strong father and a good education doesn't solve everything, it sure does help an innocent kid resist the temptation to go down the wrong path.
I don't think modern culture with its emphasis on power, greed, and flash is particularly empowering to anyone, but rap music tends to be a reflection of what's going on in some of the worst environments. It's the last place kids should look for guidance and inspiration.
In the age of Oprah though, there are plenty of leaders and good examples. It's a matter of being directed towards a positive place. Back to parenting...
Stronger family units and a good education are still what's needed most. While having a strong father and a good education doesn't solve everything, it sure does help an innocent kid resist the temptation to go down the wrong path.
I don't think modern culture with its emphasis on power, greed, and flash is particularly empowering to anyone, but rap music tends to be a reflection of what's going on in some of the worst environments. It's the last place kids should look for guidance and inspiration.
In the age of Oprah though, there are plenty of leaders and good examples. It's a matter of being directed towards a positive place. Back to parenting...
Amen, Bryan. As long as parents don't want to do the job of parenting, it will continue to be a problem for society, regardless of race. There are oodles of bad white parents, so it is not limited to any racial group. And no, dumping your evil spawns at grandma's house doesn't cut it as good parenting. I wonder what will happen to those grandparents when THEY need help.
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