Change your bookmark!!!!

Wait, have you been looking for me over here? Oh no, you didn't catch the move. I'm over here! Update your bookmarks to
WWW.UPTOWNNOTES.COM.
Then when you get there you can subscribe to the new RSS feed. If you liked what you saw here, you'll love what we've got going on over there. My old posts from BlackatMichigan, DumiSays, and UptownNotes are even over there!

Black man with the permanent tan...

What you know about the title to this post????

Since my last post, I've been very busy. For the first time in a while, I've been making good progress on my academic scholarship. Looking forward to getting a couple of things out there real soon. Also, my classes have started to take a really good turn and I'm excited about their potential. Okay, now to a short yet important post.

This past weekend, aside from battling a cold, I got a chance to go check out the African American Day Parade. There were so many beautiful Black folks out in Harlem it was site to behold. I was only at the Parade for a short time, but it was great to see Red Black and Green flying everywhere. While I was excited to see the UNIA flag, I was quickly brought back to reality by the sight of a brotha with the flag in one hand and a handful of passing strangers buttocks in the other. Can we truly be thinking about Black Liberation if we continue to oppress and degrade women? As we as people strive for greater power, a greater community, we as Black men, must interrogate our position in society. Recently brother Jewel Woods put out a Black Male Privileges Checklist.

What do you find yourself answering yes to?
Do you think as a Black man in America you have privilege?
What are you willing to do to change your privilege?

On a separate but related note, when traveling home post parade and post movie, I saw cops everywhere in Harlem. This may be some of the explanation.

Thoughts on McCain's RNC Speech

They can't be serious...

Harvey Dent visits the RNC

The Daily Show recently did a great segment on GOP/RNC double speak. Some pretty amazing footage in here. Who knew that Harvey Dent was a Republican Strategist!



What you don't trust the Daily Show as a reputable news source ... fine, fine, fine, here is an AP article on the GOPs contradictions around Palin and her family.

Shout out to JF and AMB for the links!

Jay Smooth on "No Homo"

If you aren't accustomed to clicking links on the side of this page, I hope this will help. This is a videoblog by Jay Smooth, long time Hip-Hop head and host on his blog illdoctrine.com. Jay in mid August posted a guide to "no homo", he really comes with it... [not gonna say it Jay!]

Are they serious? RNC Palin Edition

1) "The Pta","Hockey Moms 4 Palin" and "small town" are those the parts I'm supposed to connect to?

2) Did Palin really spend the first 5 minutes explaining that she has a family ... how does that mesh with the GOPs insistence on leaving her family out of it?

3) Ugh, could someone check on her baby, cause the kid didn't look well?

4) Am I supposed to think being mayor matters?

5) Can you claim that you aren't a part of the power structure when you're on the ticket of the Grand Old Party?

6) Are we supposed to think that "Drill, baby, Drill!" is a real energy plan?

7) Am I to believe Palin will put Air Force One on Ebay?

8) What the hell was that powerpoint slide show in the background?

9) How many times did she say "man" when she could have said person, president, or something gender neutral?

10) And now that she talked about Obama and McCain ad naseum, can you tell me what she stands for!?!

Politics is Politricks?

"I don't fuck with politics, I don't even follow it." -Talib Kweli on the Beautiful Struggle 2004

I love Hip-Hop, no for real, I love Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop has been one of the cultural forms that I gravitated towards since I was small. Hip-Hop has been more than beats and rhymes, it helped build my ideology. It provided me access to different perspectives on the social world. I'll never forget when I heard NWA yell "Fuck Da Police." Hip-Hop spoke for me when my voice trembled. Hip-Hop hasn't been perfect, but it it's been full of perfect imperfections. While some will say it's all about the Beat, Hip-Hop WAS more than that to me. It's moments like this that make me really miss Hip-Hop. Correction, it's moments like this that I miss political Hip-Hop... or at least MY political Hip-Hop.

Now don't get it twisted, Hip-Hop is political, arguably more political than at any other point in its history. The quote above by Talib Kweli in 2004 is the type of political Hip-Hop that I'm talking about. Kweli wasn't advocating apolitical behavior, he was acknowledging the inadequecies of politics. But always, things change. I doubt Talib Kweli could even back that quote anymore, especially since he made a song about Hillary Clinton "falling back" during the primary season. With Luda freestyling for Obama, Big Boi sitting in the Oval office, and Daddy Yankee championing McCain we're seeing so much political discussion it should be cause for celebration. Hip-Hop is finally coming of age and is forming a union with Politics. Unfortunately, like most weddings, there is always someone who is disturbed by the union. That someone is me! The marriage between Hip-Hop and mainstream politics is beginning to worry me.

Now I'm not someone who has a myopia or nostalgia about Hip-Hop that romanticizes Hip-Hop. I know Hip-Hop was a party before it was political. But as a Black man in America, the personal is political. I remember sitting in high school listening to The Goats as they railed on politicians like Bill Clinton. It was an odd moment because most people I knew, including progressive Black folks, were in support of Clinton and at first I was confused. I wondered, "How can they be against Clinton? Isn't he a "good" president?" Their lyrics challenged me to see beyond a saxophone performance on Arsenio Hall and made me dig deeper to understand real politics: welfare reform, immigration, crime policy, and even the limits of politics. And yes, I began to dig into these questions in part due to Hip-Hop's critical perspective. Now, I don't think this occurred for most folks who listened to Hip-Hop (hell most of you reading this probably have never heard of the Goats) but for me, the questions that began to percolate in those years continue to power my critical thoughts today. As I got older and became more involved in social change, I realized that mainstream politics have more often than not been the enemy of social change, not the the ally. The placations that politicians offered people traditionally have come in response to serious pressures from folks outside of Capitol Hill.

I believe in grassroots activism. I believe in political participation. But I'll fight for politics that are pushed to accountability by the grassroots. I vote, I have organized people to vote, and even admonish those who don't participate in the electoral process, but I know a ballot will never be enough. I learned that from Hip-Hop. As I dug my feet into grassroots work in New Haven, Atlanta, Michigan, and New York Hip-Hop provided a soundtrack. A soundtrack that pressed me to think critically and act critically. But for some reason, right now, I feel like I'm missing that soundtrack. To be honest I don't think I noticed it was playing for years, until it went silent.

For months, I've been waiting for a song that expresses an unease, disappointment, or at least concern that the election of a single political official is not enough. An artist that challenges us to think outside of a two party system. A joint that pushes us to see peace as not just as an idealized alternative, but a livable reality. A crew that knows we have to make politics work for the people. In the past, I was able to find that in the voices of Hip-Hop. My old Hip-Hop provided the perfect soundtrack to my struggle for social justice. I could pop in a tape or CD and know someone else felt my frustration with the state of the world, that someone shared my concern for change, that someone wasn't afraid to question the status quo. These type of songs, questions, and challenges probably made Chuck D nearly 20 years ago call rap "CNN for Black people."

Hmmm, maybe that's just it. Maybe he was right. Maybe he predicted it. Maybe Rap/Hip-Hop has become CNN for Black people. No really feel me, the parallels are scary. It features the same stories, same shallow analysis, same three minute clips, and runs on a loop. Maybe I don't need Rap to be Black CNN anymore.

Have I given up on Hip-Hop? Have I outgrown Hip-Hop? Am I living in the past? I think the answer to all of those is no, I'm still waiting. I still want more from Hip-Hop, I still demand more from Hip-Hop, I still believe in my Hip-Hop. Right now, the soundtrack to my struggle is silent. But I'll wait patiently, because as Greg Tate once said, "the only known alternative to hiphop is dead silence." And I'm not ready to do the work without my beloved soundtrack.

Just Wondering...

1. Did the awe of the Olympics make you completely forget about China's human rights violations?

2. Wasn't it interesting that US media kept concentrating on the general medal count, but ignored the gold medal count?

3. So you just finished with the Olympics then tuned into the DNC, what's next?

4. Is it okay that I love Michelle more than Barack?

5. Are people still serious about potentially voting for McCain?

6. Why didn't you even consider voting for Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente?

7. Am I the only one who thinks Barack Obama is a good speaker as a politician but would not hold my attention for a keynote?

8. Is it okay for me to be proud of Barack's nomination but completely dissatisfied with blind allegiance?

9. Did you think I was just gonna "join in and start a love train?"

10. If a change really did come, what would you be willing to sacrifice?

I should be writing...

but I had to share this. A rendition of Anti-Up by Bert and Ernie!

I'm still here... and over there too

I'm outside of NYC right now, but been running around and getting work done. In the meantime check out this brief interview on DailyKos. The interview was done virtually with David Boyle who has developed a the site called Obamaism.org. Check it out and leave a comment.

The Internet is a Funny Place

I like to laugh and distract myself. I'm a nerd of sorts. So here is my contribution to your procrastination:

Fail Blog

The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotations

The Power of Paint

Yesterday, the NYTimes ran a story on the mural being painted in Sunset Park by young women about military recruitment. In particular they're tackling the provision under NCLB that allows Military recruiters equal access to schools as post-secondary institutions (e.g. colleges) and access to private family information (e.g. phone numbers, etc.). In my eyes, the increased targeting of poor students (both economically disadvantaged and low performing on academic indicators) is a dangerous and discriminatory practice. While the military should be an option for people, it should not be the only one or the one forced on a segment of the population. Okay, back to the mural!

The mural, being coordinated and supervised by Katie Yamasaki via the Groundswell Mural program, is the type of work that many of our children need to be involved in. While many of our children spend summer hopping from place to place engaging in makeshift activities. The work that these young women have participated in has helped to elevate their voices, challenge their minds, and hone their aesthetic talents. Make sure you head over to the article listed above and comment, given there is an "interesting" commentary unfolding in the comments sections.

And when the mural is dedicated, make sure your voice is her'd!!!

Are you salty?

No I don't mean are you mad, I meant do you have a lot of salt in your body. Last week CNN's Black in America allowed Roland Fryer to open up the "salt sensitivity theory" of Black health again (see 31 minutes in on the first video below). If you followed my previous link to Blacksmythe's blog on Black in America you probably got a sense of why folks are so cynical of this theory and Fryer's fame for unsubstantiated or non-peer reviewed theories, but the responses below really speak to the power of popular perception.
(If you have two hours (that you'll never get back), here is Pt 1 of Black in America - The Black Woman & Family ... don't get me started on how Black women didn't get a full program)




First a press release from Dr. Thomas LaViest at John Hopkins.

MEDIA RELEASE
July 28, 2008

Johns Hopkins Health Disparities Expert Criticizes CNN Report

Baltimore – Promoting unproven theories as a key cause of the
enormous health gap between African Americans and other ethnic
groups will likely widen the gap further, said a leading researcher
working to close the gap.

Thomas A. LaVeist, PhD, Director of the Center for Health Disparities
Solutions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health was
alarmed when he saw the health care segment of CNN's "Black In
America" series and heard the salt-sensitivity theory being promoted
as a key reason to explain why blacks are unhealthy compared to
whites and other groups.

"I commend CNN and Soledad O'Brien for tackling this very important
topic, but to expose an audience to this theory is very troubling and
disappointing," LaVeist said.

During the segment, O'Brien interviewed Harvard economist Roland
Fryer who said he believes the salt-sensitive theory may be key to
unlocking why blacks on average have poor health. The salt-
sensitivity theory claims that during the transatlantic slave trade,
African slaves whose bodies held higher levels of salt were better
able to survive the long brutal voyage to the Americas. Their
descendants are now genetically disposed to hypertension and other
diseases that are tied to salt.

"This bogus theory just won't seem to die," LaVeist said. "Even
though public health researchers have discredited the theory it
continues to be promoted by people who are not knowledgeable about
the field. THE AVERAGE HEALTH CONSUMER WATCHING CNN COULD TAKE THIS
AS THE GOSPEL AND RUN WITH IT TO THEIR OWN DETRIMENT."

Most research scientists who work on this public health problem would
agree that some of the key health disparity causes are:

• Blacks are exposed to more environmental toxins because of
residential segregation
• Blacks have less access to quality healthcare
• Higher levels of poverty among African Americans
• Higher levels of use of harmful products such as cigarettes
• Less healthy diets
• Less healthy foods in African American communities
• Residing in more stressful environments

"To suggest that health disparities are caused by a gene that exists
in African Americans and does not exist in others is ridiculous.
There are no genes found in only one race group," LaVeist
said. "Hypertension and all other major causes of death are caused by
a complex set of factors. They are not single gene diseases. If race
disparities were primarily caused by a gene, that gene would have to
cause hypertension and cancer and diabetes and glaucoma, and Crohn's
disease and asthma and HIV-AIDS and every other condition that is
more prevalent in blacks and we know no one gene does that."

"I respect professor Fryer, but quoting an economist as an expert on
health disparities is like interviewing me for a story about why gas
prices have spiked," LaVeist said. "Not only are researchers at
Hopkins working on this problem, but people are working on this issue
right there in Atlanta where CNN is headquartered. The problem of
health disparities is complex. By trying to reduce it to a simplistic
explanation we risk having health care providers, policymakers and
patients feel there is nothing they can do to address the issue."

About Thomas LaVeist:
As the William C. and Nancy F. Richardson Professor in Health Policy,
and Director of the Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions
at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. LaVeist has
studied the major healthcare gaps in America, the trends causing them
and the problems they create. His work is enabling healthcare
organizations and individuals to prepare for a new America—a minority
majority.

Second, an editorial by Osagie Obasogie penned a little over a year ago in response to Oprah's show advancing the same bogus salty theory.

Both commentaries I received via the Spirit of 1848 listserv, thanks for sharing Shak-G.

I wish I had more hands...

so I could give CNN Black in America four thumbs down!!!

Really too disgusted to comment on it, but if you want a decent flavor of what was running through my mind, check out BlackSmythe's live blog post on it!

Tune in at 9...

Tonight, Monday July 21st, I'll be featured as a panelist on Lynn Doyle's It's your call. We'll be continuing the conversation about Jesse Jackson, Black political leadership, and the controversies surrounding both. The show airs regionally on Comcast's Cn8 or can be streamed live from here if you're outside one of the designated regions. We'll be taping live and it has a call-in format, so drop us a line.

Tune in Sunday to Keep Hope Alive Radio

Sunday morning I will be appearing on Jesse Jackson's radio show Keep Hope Alive Radio which is syndicated nationally. This week Marc Lamont Hill will be filling in for Rev. Jackson. We will be discussing Civil Rights leadership and contemporary politics. Find out where and when you can hear the show locally here. Tune in and give us your perspective.

And yes I know this is some late notice...

UPDATE: The show is now available online here!!! After Sunday it will be available in the Audio Archive.

Truth/Reconciliation: Morehouse on my Mind by Jafari S. Allen

I am linking to a post by Jafari Sinclaire Allen about Morehouse, sexuality, and community. Jafari was before my time at Morehouse, but he lays out some heavy, powerful, and challenging issues in his post about his time at Morehouse, Atlanta, and beyond. Please, please, please ... did I mention please, give it a read. It eloquently displays many of the questions that plagued me about the brotherhood at Morehouse, the larger Black community and the greater potential for social change. Brother Jafari, thank you for caring enough to share.


For those who don't know, Morehouse is my alma mater and I hold her near and dear to my heart. I have always wished that Morehouse offered a freshman year course like Spelman College's African Diaspora and the World, but one that focused on issues of gender privilege, sexuality, and leadership. Maybe we will get there someday... hopefully soon.

Harlem's Homeless Renaissance

At about 1 in the morning I strolled along the main artery of Harlem, 125th street. As I walked from East to West I got to thinking about the transformation that Harlem is undergoing. Some call it gentrification, revitalization, land grab, urban pioneering, no matter what you call it, things are changing. When we talk about gentrification, we talk about those who have homes, but we forget those who go without consistent shelter.

As I passed the State building, I watched homeless citizens hover on concrete benches. As they lay resting, it almost looked like they were at perfect peace. Like the stone that was their pallet was made by Sealy mattresses, but that's likely not true. As they lay huddled beneath Adam Clayton Powell with his top coat flapping in the wind, I began to wonder what he would have thought? Did he think about these Harlemites? I began to wonder, do today's heroes of Harlem think about them?

The juxtaposition of the consummate Black political figure to the Black homeless was more than a sight. A sight would be too transient, too dissimive, too temporary. No, for the folks seeking refuge under ACP's cape, poverty was not temporary or passing, it was their long term reality. As Harlem undergoes yet another Renaissance I wonder what is to come of the folks who never saw the booms of prosperity? The folks that didn't have leases to be tricked out of. Are the stares that folks shoot them on 125th tonight the same as the stares that newcomers to Harlem will shoot them in 10 years? Or will they even be there?

Hidden Hip-Hop: Independent's Day

No, you won't see this on BET, you won't see this on CNN, you won't see this... pretty much anywhere but you're computer. But this is why I still love Hip-Hop. This is why I still have hope, this is why I know that Detroit is in good hands. Check this video beneath of Invincible, Finale, and a host of Detroit activists dropping science on the D.


True I'm no longer BlackatMichigan but lord knows the Mitten always has a place in my heart. And make sure to cop Invincible's full length album, she's a beast!!!!!!! And because I know most of ya'll won't click the link, you better recognize she's even co-signed by Jean Grae. Don't take my word for it, take hers,

Invincible is a problem, always has been. Wonderfully humble, a humanitarian, an amazing and caring person just in general. All that and she'll rip your mic to shreds and then set it on fire. I don't even think she fully understands how dope she is. She's a true lyricist. She's been here for a long time going extra hard at this, no new jack here at all. She has an amazing fighter's spirit... Cause let's all be real about how the world perceives her based on appearance alone is a ridiculously large cross to bear. That woman is a beast and I have no idea how she manages to keep getting better with her art while saving the entire world. People complain about not having any role models or rappers not taking responsibility for their communities...well then respect this woman right here and give her her credit for her fight and everything she's accomplished thus far.

the gospel

"hard to be a spiritual being when shit is shaking what you believe in."

It's just sex, right?

That's what people want to boil it down to. This morning the Root is running two pieces on "sex tourism" to Brazil and other "third world" locales. I pen a direct review of Jewel Woods and Karen Hunter's book "Don't Blame it on Rio" and Mark Sawyer does a indirect review of the book as he discusses the representation of Brazilian women in American popular imagination and scholarship.

I decided to write the review after traveling to Boca Chica, Dominican Republic and seeing many of the things that Woods wrote about come to life. I think that the book can open a dialogue that we are seriously in need of around Black middle class men and the lack of accountability that we are allowed to operate with. Yes Virginia, Black male privilege does exist and we need to uncover it, discuss it, and act upon it. Give my piece a read here. No doubt that many of the responses will try to compartmentalize the actions of these "prostituting" brothas, or claim it's just like sex tourism from other groups, but I think even if it's like processes that happen in other groups, we really need to begin to address it with care, because it's having serious effects.

Mark Sawyer, a scholar I respect very much, does a great job of discussing the relationship between "developed" and "developing" nations and characterizations of women. While Sawyer pans Woods and Hunter's book, he then goes on to suggest there is something that makes Westerners look upon Brazilian women, and others, as mere sexual objects. I'd contend that thing is male privilege coupled with financial capital ... which are central to Woods and Hunter's book. Additionally, Sawyer brings up a question that was troubling me as I read "Don't Blame it on Rio," who are Black women? It is likely that many of the women that these Black male tourists are cavorting with are of African descent, but this Diasporic connection becomes dissolved into sex. By saying being with women from Brazil, DR, Cuba, etc is weakening the Black community, are we too narrowly defining the Diaspora? And before you say it, yes I do know men who have traveled abroad, met women, married them, though they are fewer in number then the ones I know who have just slept with women and returned to the US.

A little while back I wrote, "what if everyone knew Black was beautiful?" it was triggered by some deep conversations I had with brothas and sisters in the DR about Blackness and its negativity. Will we ever truly forge a Diaspora? I wonder how do we, as African-Americans, contribute to these negative images as we transverse borders. Alright, that's enough of me opening cans of worms, I'll have to revisit some of this later. Thoughts?

And still more questions... critiques edition

The only way to make it better is to lovingly critique, right?

1) What am I more disappointed in, the one million "a millie" freestyles or that Wayne sold a millie in a week?

2)Why is the Nas and Green Lantern tape so banging? And why does it make me nervous for the album?

3) Did anyone peep Nas taking on the Hegelian Master-Slave dialectic? Or have I read too much theory of late?

4)Why can't I get enough of public access rap shows?

5) Why am I waiting so hard for Immortal Technique's album?

6)What would have happened if Obama's folks let them sit where they should have been seated?

7) When did everyone in NYC decide to root against the Lakers (and yeah I'm still a Lakers fan)?

8) Does Lil Wayne know menstration is not a venereal disease? Freudian freestyle anyone?

9) Why within 20 minutes of being on the beach in the Dominican Republic did multiple "Morenos" call me nigga?

10) What if all my people truly knew "Black is Beautiful"?

11) What happens when love is not enough?

12) Why do people think wanting my due is being a capitalist, when it's clearly just my Marxian understanding of the value of my labor?

13) Why were more people outraged about Tim Russert's death than the R. Kelly decision?

14)Why are you "so anti it don't even matter"?

15) Why am I so ignorant for putting the little White kid's picture so big?

Harlem Blues and the Barack Buzz

This week I had a chance to do an interview with Newsweek.com regarding the significance of Barack Obama's campaign and Harlem. The short video entitled, "Martin, Malcolm, Barack?" features me and multiple Harlem artists. Click here to check it out.

Like all journalism, whether print or multimedia, I always find myself wondering how things become whittled down. We really discussed a great deal in the interview which was about a half an hour. We discussed current day Harlem, its history, Black politics, Black leadership, really the whole gamut. But even with the editing, I think the piece was successful. Check it out.

Update: For some reason this video seems to be very difficult to maintain a link to. I've changed the url a couple of times and as of 1m on June 26th this link is active. I hope the video doesn't disappear from cyberspace! And shout out to UptownFlavor.com where I pulled the link from!

All before my morning coffee...

Getting up for me usually involves a regiment of reading, eating, washing, and coffee. Before I could get to the last three, I was awakened by two things, but not by coffee.

First the news that the Mets fired Willie Randolph arrived. Now anyone could have seen it coming, but it was when they fired him that really got me. I stayed up past 1 to watch the Mets win and then went to bed. Apparently in the wee hours of the morning, they released Randolph, Peterson (thank God), and Nieto. In many ways, they've captured my feelings about it on metsblog here.

And tucked amidst my political, social, and sports rantings, I occasionally delve into the emotional. I must say a thank you for the letter I received today. I contains some of the truest things that have ever had said to me and I'll use it for its purposes. Thank you for pushing me to be "the northeast wind, pushing, cajoling, and inspiring greatness in myself and others." (If you didn't know, that's what Dumi means).

Now to get to that morning coffee.

Mirrors of Truth

Let go of your worries

and be completely clear-hearted,

like the face of a mirror

that contains no images.

If you want a clear mirror,

behold yourself

and see the shameless truth,

which the mirror reflects.

If metal can be polished

to a mirror-like finish,

what polishing might the mirror

of the heart require?

Between the mirror and the heart

is this single difference:

the heart conceals secrets,

while the mirror does not.

-Rumi

Been around the world and I, I, I...

So I was traveling this past week and didn't get a chance to hit you with anything new. But now I'm back in the States and I wanted to quickly to tell you to check out the Addicted to Race podcast that I guest co-hosted with Carmen Van Kerchove. In continuing with the theme of world travel, the podcast features a variety of subjects from media coverage of Mynamar, the MLK monument in DC, to Hip-Hop and accountability. As always, I had a great time cutting it up with Carmen, one of the sharpest cats out there on Race and Pop culture!

And on a side, but related note to my traveling, I'll be taking some time to reorganize my stuff over the next while, so posts may be slow.

"Don't let me die in vain"

Byron Hurt, director of Hip Hop:Beyond Beats and Rhymes, has just produced an AMAZING short film on reaction to the Sean Bell Verdict. I found out about it from the article that he wrote on TheRoot.com and I encourage you to click this video and then do something!

Is College for You? Posted at theRoot.com

Here is an article that I penned for theRoot.com on the question, "Is college for everyone?"

About a year and half ago, I was in a conversation with a 17-year-old about college, and she said to me, "My aunt has a master's degree, and she delivers pizza for Domino's. What's that say about going to college?" I hesitated for a minute and responded, "No offense, but it doesn't tell me much about college, but it tells me a lot about your aunt." While I am sure there are some grocery baggers with Ph.D.s and there are engineers-turned-janitors, in the long run, most people who attend college, of some sort, get better access to jobs, housing and other things that are central to getting ahead in America. We know that continued education beyond high school strongly increases income, is related to better health and improves the chances of being employed. Now this doesn't mean that everyone will experience the same successes, but that's because college is a gateway to opportunity; it's not an "ace in the hole," a guaranteed fix or a magic bullet.

Also, this piece is part of a roundtable with pieces from Melissa Harris-Lacewell and John McWhorter.

It's not a game: race, sports, and justice

A very peculiar thing happened last week, Willie Randolph went from bad manager, to bad guy in the eyes of the media. During the past couple of weeks, the Mets have continued to fall in the National League East, a division they were favored to win. Willie Randolph is cool, sometimes too cool, he sticks behind his players, he doesn't throw water coolers, he gives you glimpses of his immense frustration with grown men who can't seem to throw, catch or hit a small ball. But Randolph became the center of a media storm recently when he interviewed with the Bergen Record (yeah, I never heard of it either) and he commented on the way the Mets network SNY portrayed him. He felt that the network was portraying him unfairly and in many ways attempting to vilify him. The article says,

"Is it racial?" Randolph asked. "Huh? It smells a little bit."

Asked directly if he believes black managers are held to different standards than their white counterparts, Randolph said: "I don't know how to put my finger on it, but I think there's something there. Herman Edwards did pretty well here and he won a couple of playoff [games], and they were pretty hard on Herm. Isiah [Thomas] didn't do a great job, but they beat up Isiah pretty good. ... I don't know if people are used to a certain figurehead. There's something weird about it.

"I think it's very important ... that I handle myself in a way that the [African-American managers] coming behind me will get the opportunities, too ... ."

Those words, set off a firestorm in NY. No longer was the issue was Willie a poor manager, but it was Willie is playing the race card? (I'm glad that Matt Cerone had the courage to "question" the notion of the race card) Like most Black folks who realize their job hangs on a string, Randolph quickly apologized for his statement.Here I excerpt from the NYTimes' coverage.

“I want to apologize to Met ownership and SNY and my team for the unnecessary distraction that I created, and I caused, the last couple days,” Randolph said. “I shouldn’t have said what I said. It was a mistake; there are no excuses for that.

“The fact of life is we have not been playing well as a team. When that happens you are going to get criticized for that. I take full responsibility for what I said out of frustration. I wanted to publicly apologize.”

He continued on

“I never said anything about anybody being a racist,” Randolph said. “What I said was kind of like what it felt like to me.”

Asked why he issued an apology, Randolph said, “I just felt like it was something I needed to do.” When asked if we was told to apologize, he said, “No."

Randolph said he tried to contact the Mets’ owners Wednesday, but did not reach them.

This morning I visited Metsblog to see why my team keeps sliding further in the hole but I was quickly greeted with a post on Randolph's meeting with the Mets front office. Now with a team that is below .500 you expect this meeting to be about "changes" on the field, they suggest the meeting is first about Randolph's comments to the media.

We live in a society where the smallest mention of the role of race, can set off a firestorm. The idea that we live in a perfectly equal society should be laughable. A few years ago Gary Sheffield resurfaced the issue race and baseball, only to be met with heavy resistance. Willie knew that if he was going to actually keep his job, he would have to squelch a legitimate dialogue. While some folks argue the race card is the way that people weaken race relations, in reality, we all too seldom acknowledge the vulnerability that people of color face to discrimination. Saying something happened to you because of your race is sometimes more of a hazard to your well being than the original race-related offense. The culture of fear that Americans live in regarding racism has lead folks to truncate or all together eliminate dialogue about the consequences and meaning of race and racism (yes, they are different).

I'll close with a recent anecdote from a close friend who is a successful African-American male. A week or so ago, my friend walked into a late night convenience store to get a snack. As he thumbed the snacks, he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out his wallet, as he realized they didn't have his snacks, he put his wallet back into his pocket. As he began to walk out of the store an entering White customer in cut offs and a tee shirt said to him, "You gonna pay for that?" To which he looked back in bewilderment. My friend, with constitution said, "Excuse me, who are you?" To which the man responded, "A friend of the owner. Are you gonna pay for that or just take it?" At that moment my friend had a crossroads. He could either reach into his suit's pocket and retrieve his wallet to demonstrate he had not taken any snacks or could ignore the man accusing him of theft.

Before completing the story, my friend asked me, "What would you have done?" I thought and offered a measured response, "I don't think there is a 'winning answer.' It's like the tipping dilemma. You go to a restaurant, a waiter or waitress treats you poorly because they think Black people don't tip well. You in turn can either tip well for poor service and try challenge the stereotype or tip poorly given the service." As we sat on the phone discussing options, I was reminded that no matter how much education (we both have PhDs), income (we have successfully broken into the middle class), or accolades we gather, we remain vulnerable to racism and sometimes paralyzed by it. No degree, clothing, or social analysis can fully protect us from the pollution of racism. People argue that racial bigotry is wrong, but have we reached the point where calling out the bigotry is even worse in public opinion than the bigotry?

Awaiting the "Gender" speech... keep waiting.

Jewel Woods offers a really good commentary on the difficulty of a national gender dialogue.

Many commentators within the black community argued that it was “inevitable” that Senator Obama would have to give a speech on “race”. Not only in light of the comments by Rev. Wright, but also because of pressure within the black community by opinion-framers like Tavis Smiley to have him address issues like Katrina, unemployment, education, incarceration, and other issues that have disproportionately impacted Black America in the past, and continue to impact Black America in the present.

However, was it ever “inevitable” that Senator Clinton would have to give a speech on gender? And is it inevitable now that Senator Clinton will respond to the comments of her surrogates or the demands within the women's/feminist movement that insist she talk about issues of gender the way that constituents within the black community have consistently called for Senator Obama to address issues of race?

Woods, who recently authored Don't Blame Rio, is the founder and Executive Director of the Renaissance Male Project is an emergent voice on masculinty, gender, and race. Catch his star as it rises.

For your visual stimulation

Carmen over at Racialicious compiled two great guerilla visual art campaigns by Michelle Schwartz and ResistRacism. The Canadian Club Whisky adds that have been running have been redefined by some savvy badasses. Follow the link and keep clicking. I love subversive art!

A Movie Premiere in Harlem...

So yesterday was an important day in recent Harlem history... I think. The new Indiana Jones movie had a premiere at the Magic Johnson's in Harlem. One of my colleagues was walking down 126th yesterday and folks were huddled up outside he asked one of the men standing, "What's going on here?"
The man responded, "It's the Indiana Jones Premiere."
To which my colleague responded, "Wow!"
To which the man responded, "What you you thought we were just local, we're [Harlem] international."

I'm not even sure what to say about this, so much... to say, here are some pics.

Happy Birthday Brother Malcolm

May 19th marks the birth of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz b.k.a. Malcolm X. Since I first read the Alex Haley autobiography at 15, I've felt compelled towards, challenged by, and connected to Malcolm X. I know that each of us has adapted Malcolm in our own ways, I think Robin Kelly captured it when he said,

"Malcolm X has been called many things: Pan-Africanist, father of Black Power, religious fanatic, closet conservative, incipient socialist, and a menace to society. The meaning of his public life — his politics and ideology — is contested in part because his entire body of work consists of a few dozen speeches and a collaborative autobiography whose veracity is challenged. Malcolm has become a sort of tabula rasa, or blank slate, on which people of different positions can write their own interpretations of his politics and legacy. Chuck D of the rap group Public Enemy and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas can both declare Malcolm X their hero."

On this day, the date of his birth, I imagine our ancestor would love more than simple memorial. Instead, he would demand reflection upon what his teachings meant for not only the individual but our collectivity. I'll begin: Beneath the video is on Malcolm's calls for unity in the African Diaspora. For many years, I have personally struggled with loving "the roots" of the tree. Having encountered great resistance to being African-American and desiring to be considered "African" by my continental brothers and sisters, I became embittered with our Continental brothers and sisters. However, in interrogating my prejudices and perceptions, I found that my prejudgements were largely based on limited sight and an incomplete view of the ways in which colonial history continues to permeate the thinking of Africans throughout the Diaspora. Over the past year and continuing this year, I will continue to draw greater connection with the continental Africans of present, not just conceptions of our ancestors from the Continent. Thank you Brother Malcolm for taking the time to share your words, works, and worship. Rest in Peace.

MFs wanna bring the 90s back...

it's okay, that's where they made me at



This had me dying laughing!!!!

The Questions ya'll.

1) Why do folks think holding the door for me at Popeye's or handing me a paper towel in the club bathroom deserves a tip?

2) Isn't it a coincidence once Rev. Al starts making noise about Sean Bell his tax issues begin to make national news? And why will that deter some of ya'll in a fight for justice?

3) Who is Black and isn't proud of Barack Obama?

4) Who was taking note about what Barack said about the Sean Bell case?

5) How come we get tired if there are 2 "conscious songs" on the radio, but we are never tire from our feast of drug, gun, and sex talk on repeat?

6) Do you still think "radio program" is a figure of speech (shout out to DPz)?

7) Why when you get to the finish line is the starting line right behind it?

8) Why did so many people post shout outs to their Momma's on facebook, does your momma have a facebook account?

9) Why do we keep ignoring all the "natural" disasters?

10) What are the ingredients for a perfect summer?

Don't Vote, the world is ending, according to some rappers

Okay, I'm getting really sick of reading political commentary by rappers talking about the world ending. Not that I don't think we live in Babylon, but using the potential end of the world as a rationale for not voting is silly. If it's going to end, go out and vote and then let it end. Two folks in particular have got me thinking on this:
Lil Wayne:

Who do you want to take the White House?

Barack, I guess, but I can’t make a real opinion. I ain’t watching no debates. I just want my people to understand that Hillary and Barack are not running for president–they running to be able to run for president. There’s a Republican party, too–we ain’t about to win, fool! A woman or a black man versus an old white dude? Fcuk no! They gonna be like, This black-ass nigga trying to come in my Oval Office? Fcuuuuuk no. The world about to end in 2012 anyway. ‘Cause the Mayans made calendars, and they stop at 2012. I got encyclopedias on the bus. The world is gonna end as we know it. You can see it already. A planet doesn’t exist: There’s no more Pluto. Planes are flying into buildings–and not just the Twin Towers, but dudes who play baseball are flying planes into buildings. Mosquitoes bite you and you die. And a black man and a woman are running for president!

DMX in XXL in March excerpted below:

So you’re not following the race. You can’t vote right?
Nope. (dumi's note: wouldn't this be a good time to mention felon disenfranchisement if that's the reason he can't vote?)

Is that why you’re not following it?
No, because it’s just—it doesn’t matter. They’re gonna do what they’re gonna do. It doesn’t really make a difference. These are the last years.

But it would be pretty big if we had a first Black president. That would be huge.
I mean, I guess…. What, they gon’ give a dog a bone? There you go. Ooh, we have a Black president now. They should’ve done that shit a long time ago, we wouldn’t be in the fuckin’ position we in now. With world war coming up right now. They done fucked this shit up then give it to the Black people, “Here you take it. Take my mess.”

Right, exactly.
It’s all a fuckin’ setup. It’s all a setup. All fuckin’ bullshit. All bullshit. I don’t give a fuck about none of that.

Sharpton's Civil Disobediance Campaign this Wednesday

Political cartoon courtesy of http://www.mikhaela.net/

This Wednesday May 7th at 3pm around the city of New York, Al Sharpton is conducting a set of pray-ins to disrupt normal activity.

"The civil rights activist, who has promised to "close this city down" to protest last month's verdict, said protesters would stage a "pray-in" Wednesday at half a dozen places in the city, including the police headquarters."

The locations are as follows:
* Third Avenue at 125th Street;
* Park Avenue at 34th Street;
* Third Avenue at 60th Street;
* Varick and Houston Streets;
* One Police Plaza;
* 415 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.
Hat tip to Gothamist ... well, I have mixed feelings about linking there given the comments on the post. Blogs are amazing formats to display unfettered racial attitudes.

On a related note, for the folks who read this and say, "what is protesting going to do?" I think it's important that we remember that protests are building moments in movements. Civil Disobedience, which was one of the bedrocks of the Civil Rights Movement, can still be used to raise awareness and galvanize people to a point of action. As the old saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day." Our resistance cannot be confined to a moment, nor should it be defined by a moment. Look at these moments that Sharpton is facilitating as building blocks, not end points.

For your understanding of Black Liberation Theology

In the case that you haven't had a clear discussion of Black Liberation Theology, check out this Times article (hat tip to JCP)and if you're uptown or actually near a computer. The Schomburg is going to have a great event on May 12th from 6:30-9:30 entitled "Understanding Black Liberation Theology: A 40 Year Retrospective". The event will feature various experts and be simulcast.

This is the diagram that sits at the entrance to the Schomburg. One of my favorites! Unfortunately they don't have a picture available for purchase at the store, only a very expensive original print. Maybe one day they'll make it available!

Now that's beef!

I've been thinking recently about "beef" in part as I watch TV, movies, or even as I sit in public places in eat. I'm really feeling Mos' verse from What's Beef.

Yo, Beef is not what Jay said to Nas,
Beef is when working niggas can't find jobs.
So they try to find niggas to rob,
Try to find bigger guns so they can finish the job.
Beef is when a crack-kid can't find moms,
cause they in a pine box, or locked behind bars.
Beef ain't the summer Jam on Hot 97.
Beef is the Cocaine and AIDS epidemics.
Beef don't come with a radio edit.
Beef is when the judge's callin you defendant.
Beef, it come with a long jail sentence,
Handed down to you in a few short minutes.
Beef is when your girl come through for a visit,
talkin bout she pregnant, by some other nigga.
Beef is high blood pressure, and bad credit;
Need a loan for your home and you're too broke to get it.
And all your little kids is doin' is gettin bigger,
You try to not raise them around the wild niggas.
Beef is when a gold-digger got your seed in her,
A manicured hand out, like, "Pay me nigga,
Or I'm tellin your wife,
And startin up some foul rumors that'll ruin your life."
Beef is when a gangster ain't doing it right,
And other gangsters then decide to do with his life.
Beef is not what these famous niggas would do in the mic,
Beef is what George Bush would do in a fight. (that's right)
Beef is not what Ja said to 50.
Beef is Weldon Irvine not being here with me.
When a soldier ends his life with his own gun,
Beef is trying to figure out what to tell his son.
Beef is oil prices and Geopolitics;
Beef is Iraq, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip.
Some beef is big, and some beef is small,
But what y'all call beef is no beef at all.
Beef is real life, happenin every day,
And its real-er than the songs that you gave to Kayslay.
This has been a Black Star P.S.A.
From Mos Def, Pretty Flaco, Black Dante,
From the Black Star Embassy B to the K!

Too Stupid for words

Remind me not to eat random food I find laying on tables... oh wait I have enough sense not to do that to start with.

Talk at Pomona College

If you're in the Los Angeles area or particularly at Pomona College I'll be doing a talk there on Thursday at noon. The flier is below, I look forward to checking out the sagehens.

Somebody get the gauze...

... In a month or so my ears are going to bleeding. Bill Cosby, Black America's favorite father, has decided to release a Hip-Hop album next month. Thankfully Cosby had the foresight to not rap on it ... thank you God, for real! But the album will be 'positive'. Call me the eternal cynic but there are very few rap albums that have fit this mold over the years that have been worth listening to. If you're not wearing a dashiki, locks or flowers, I don't want to hear it. And for all the folks who have been wondering about Cosby's recent rantings and if they a function of "old Black man disease" then check out this Atlantic Monthly article. For the record, I think the Atlantic monthly article is interesting but really skews what conservatism means and personal responsibility is.

1 picture = how many words?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. One of the most striking images I've ever encountered and occasionally have on my desktop is "The Soiling of Old Glory." For me, the image captured the complex (albeit negative) emotions that surrounded busing as a solution to school segregation. While we often think of racial antagonisms as rooted in the South, these tensions were present all over the nation. The stain of racism is sometimes deepest in the parts of the country where White and Black live near, but not always next to, where we compete for resources, and where the things to be gained from hatred are the smallest. Boston, in the case of this photo, typifies that reality. Recently Slate ran a slideshow series on the image to accompany the new book on it. I don't have the book, but I wonder could words ever capture the meanings and magnitude of this photo. I surely know I couldn't.

A Sunday Chuckle

So the "national dialog" on race has begun. Here is a HILARIOUS take on it.

Thanks to Atlasien on Rachel's Tavern for posting it first.

Butter Nut Reduction.

Okay, so this video is pretty funny, it's from SUPERDELUXE. It made smile.

Step Into a World... again?

I'm sort of in a different mood today. I could tell from the first time I woke up that I'd be moving and thinking a little different. For a couple of moments now I've been caught up in nostalgia of the past, but I know that the past is just that. As I was looking at HarlemWorld the other day I saw that reality. It was recently announced that Harlem will be the new home to a luxury car dealership. I had to pause and think for a while about it. Think about it, not just about gentrification, I know all about that. In fact, I've put some of my feelings out there already.

But really what does it mean to live in a place where the poor and the rich meet, but never really meet? NY is gotham city, it is the place where race, class, and reality have to come together, but somehow never do. It's almost a dream world. As I thought about this, I could hear the Blondie and KRS mash up (yeah, we didn't call it that when it came out but that's what it would be called now) Step Into a World. The airy vocals of Deborah Harry of Blondie, the chanting and braggadocio of KRS collide to capture a sound clash. But it's the clash that's beautiful and slightly cacophonous, full but empty? It's all there, but something is missing. In many ways, it's almost like the 80s in redux.

While it's easy to talk about progress and distress, in reality, people are at the center of these battles between development, renewal, and changes. In many ways the only thing left are our memories, but what happens when memories fade? What happens when the place you want to take someone to remember is no longer there? How do we create new memories? Can we really even "create" memories?

When the Sociological becomes Personal

My job as a professor really gives me a great opportunity to talk to folks about the sociology that we live through everyday. This past week in my Sociology of the African-American Experience we had some involved conversations about Black men, unemployment, and culture. We, like good sociologists, talked about the structural issues associated with getting ahead, the cultural dimensions of what it takes to keep jobs, and the ways employers view urban Black men. The conversation was maginificant, but when I asked students what could be done to shift Black men's employment opportunities, it felt like all our suggestions were like tossing starfish into the ocean one by one. That however is not the biggest issues of when the sociological becomes personal, it is when we have to individually make sense of larger sociological problems like unemployment, etc.

This morning I was leaving the train station and watched a man struggle down the steps with a large suitcase. As he descended the stairs clumsily, I saw a man about 45 or so begin to descend next to him, but not heading down the stairs. As I watched, the second man reached his hand into the pocket of the man with the suitcase. For a minute the men were so close I thought, wait they must know each other. Then the man with the suitcase felt his hand and looked over and noticed it was a pickpocket attempt. Immediately the man with the suitcase was like, "Hey!" and took the other man's hand out of his pocket. The guy who was attempting the pickpocket buzzed down the steps and tried to divert attention by yelling, "Don't block the stairs again man!"

As an onlooker I had like ten things going through simultaneously.Here were a few, "what would I have done if it was my pocket?" I wondered, "Why didn't you say anything?" "Should you call the cops?" "What good would calling the cops do?" When the issues of the world become personal, are we able to understand and contextualize behavior or do we go back to saying folks who do crime, etc. are just deviant? It's too easy to dismiss the situation and suggest that the offender is just a bad apple. It's also too simple to say that there are no jobs. In both cases, we know NOTHING about the life of the guy who attempted the pickpocket. But I think when things become personal, we too easily forget about the context that informs the behaviors folks employ to "make it." In many conversations among friends and colleagues, over the years, I've heard folks provide context to all sorts of actions but when it came to their personal well being being threatened discussions began to sound like AM talk radio. When the sociological becomes personal, what is your first reaction... and your second?

On American Empire?

The video beneath is powerful, truthful, and only 8 and a half minutes. Please watch.


It is an adaptation from Howard Zinn's new graphic novel A People's History of Empire. Yeah, that's right, Zinn has a graphic novel. I think his commentary is quite appropriate given King's speech on April 4th, 1967.

40 years, One day and the reconstruction of Dr. King's Legacy

Inevitably April 4th will be marked all over the internet with folks interpreting King's legacy. I look forward to reading these reflections, but I can't help but find it ironic that we are able to tap into his true legacy more on his death then on the day that he has a nationally recognized holiday. As we contemplate a national holiday for another American giant, the issue of co-optation looms large. While it is beautiful to celebrate King's legacy on the day that he was taken from us, it would be even more beautiful to take back his holiday to its true meaning.

Part of the reason that I think the holiday has become such a thorn in the side to folks with progressive politics is that Martin's legacy has been distilled, sanitized, and re-packaged to be comfortable. There was nothing comfortable about what he called for and there was little that was popular about his opinion. Remember, just days after the March on Washington, four little girls lost their lives in Birmingham. But that will never make it in a McDonald's commercial. That will never be the subject of a school play. But how do we remind folks, particularly Black folks, that Dr. King embraced a radical tradition, a tradition of challenge, a tradition of forgiveness, and a tradition of change?

For me, it starts with shattering myths that suggest we have reached the mountain top. It continues by entering the difficult conversations about race and poverty. These conversations will involve not only talking about structure but also how our own individual actions contribute to everyday inequality.It moves towards King's vision when it goes from our heads to our hearts then to our hands.

Fanning the Flames

Recently I had the opportunity to appear on the O'Reilly factor to discuss the comment of Rev. Jeremiah Wright. While my appearance was short, I got a lot of really positive feedback (one negative comment to date). What is most interesting to me about the controversy of Wright's comments is the degree to which the media will continue to fan these comments into the public eye. The comments by Wright, which were not new, were recently catapulted to the national spotlight. After a disavowal of Wright, a public speech, and a kajillion news stories, there is still this sick media fascination with bringing up the Jeremiah Wright issue. Clearly it's become the media's version of the Boogie Man for Obama's campaign. While I think it is important for this matter to be discussed, I think it's been given more than its fair share of media attention. We'll soon be nearing a month. Can we give it a rest, I'm sure the folks who have made the decision to hate Obama for an affiliation with Wright are no longer even listening. I'm sure the folks who are supporting Obama are no longer even listening. And for the undecided, I wonder why you would be listening to a soundbyte from someone who is not Barack Obama. Can we stop fanning the flames already?

Welcome to Uptown Notes

So after moving across country, migrating my old blogs around (BlackatMichigan and Dumi Says) I've finally found a home. Thanks for all that have been bearing with my moves and been following my writings, rants, and commentaries. If you're reading this you're part of a special club. Unfortunately I don't have any cool decoder rings to give you, but it's the thought that counts anyway, right? If you're reading this you've been in the know about my intellectual and social development or were recently turned onto my perspective. Uptownnotes is my new web home where I'll vet ideas, request insights, and give you a look from my point of view.

What's in a name?

Basically, I'm in New York City but I spend most of my time uptown. I work, live, and play where the yellow cabs don't usually come. While I like to check out other folks' perspectives on the city, in reality, I tend to see things from a different point of view. So I look forward to bringing you some sketches of my uptown notes.


For more images of upper Manhattan rarely seen check out InwoodPix.