tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53835179606564810492024-03-19T14:02:57.968-05:00#MentalMasturbation-Industrious Ideas, Dynamic Discussions, and Powerful Perspectives.... E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-21522659325107087962014-11-05T05:15:00.000-06:002014-11-05T05:16:21.095-06:00DEAR BLACK PEOPLE: Social Media is NOT Your Personal Diary <center><img src="http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2014103/rs_560x415-141103170250-1024.Tamar-Braxton-Chris-Brown-Adrienne-Bailon.ms.110314_copy.jpg" /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">This online beef between Chris Brown and Tamar Braxton makes no damn sense!<br />
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Seriously, what self-respecting man with responsibilities wastes his time waging some dumb ass world-wide-web war with a semi-relevant wannabe whose claim to fame relies on her being the second-fiddle sibling of her sexier, more successful older sister whilst acting like an attention-whore of a clown on the family’s reality television series?<br />
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And while we’re talking…. what grown ass woman with some semblance of a career, kids, a spouse, and other omnipresent obligations takes the time to actually respond to a n*gga known and prone to meltdowns, melodrama, malevolence, and mayhem? <br />
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Black Twitter will have friends fighting like foes and choosing sides defending these fools! Why? I am not sure because they both come out looking like jack-asses from where I am standing. <br />
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Tamar comes across just as immature, stupid, and petty as the portrayal of Chris Brown that she’s attempting to peddle to the public sphere of influence and Chris Breezy still comes out smelling like sh*t-covered roses for launching an unnecessary viral attack on an elderly old lady. <br />
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I, for one, really would like for Chris Brown to win and do better, but these constant outbursts and repeated attacks on black women has to stop; whether he is justified or not---these incidents will only further solidify the notion of him being a brutish black man who is unfit for redemption which is a tragedy in of itself since his shenanigans habitually outshine his awesomely amazing talent.<br />
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The same can be said for Tamar Braxton. Sure, she is a horrible human being and she’ll forever walk in the shadows of Toni (as does Solange with Beyonce & Ray-J with Brandy), however unlike the younger siblings of Moesha and Deena Jones; Tamar possesses the actual ability to give her big sister a run for her money in the talents’ department.<br />
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So, while she may be a god-awful person with a soul bleak as a thousand dreaded midnights--- I still cannot deny the brilliance of her artistic acumen.<br />
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She IS a gifted creative being with an apparent aptitude for music which is why I cannot understand the motivation behind the seemingly endless amount of over-sharing done by both parties in regards to this ‘beef’ that has played and is playing itself out in the very public realms of social media.<br />
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I’m also thinking if celebrities like a Kanye West, Chris Brown, and Tamar Braxton cannot get away with over-sharing their personal drama in exceedingly public spaces like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram without looking like total douche-bags, then why do everyday John and Jane Does with nothing exceptionally special about them believe it is okay for them to share the multiple facets of their dumbassness on social media sites like it’s their own personal diary?<br />
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Where was I when everyone unanimously decided to say, ‘fuck you’ to things like mystery, intrigue, real-life support systems, introspection, common sense, and private conversations because I’m not understanding these lonely ass people who go around talking about, “No New Friends,” “I’m One Deep,” “These Hoes Ain’t Loyal,” and “Trust No N*gga/Trust No B*tch.” <br />
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I bet these dumb-ass, anti-social mantras are to blame for this recent phenomenon of over-sharing one’s drama on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram because a lot of these simple-minded Negroes are some un-trusting mofos who don’t have a circle of friends who(m) they can reach out to when shit’s not going their way…… <br />
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I mean, it’s no surprise that somebody crazy as Chris Brown is constantly poppin’ off and making an ass of himself on social media. I wouldn’t be shocked to discover that he has somehow alienated the majority of his friends with his antics. The same goes for Kanye West, Tamar Braxton, and legions of black men and women who stay glued to their electronic devices venting every detail of their dysfunctional lives with the world simply they have no one else to talk to about the sick, sad sections of their lives….<br />
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….because I don’t want to see anymore #Selfies of people’s bloodied faces following a fight on Instagram ever again! I don’t want to see couples arguing over infidelity on my newsfeed ever again. And I can definitely go away seeing the drama of former friends who hate each other now spilling every secret they ever knew about each all over Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram?<br />
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<center><b>What type(s) of #SocialMediaDrama are you tired of seeing on your timeline?<br />
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And why do you think people these days feel the need to #OverShare on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram?<br />
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SOUND OFF!!!!</center></b><br />
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<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
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<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/11/dear-black-people-social-media-is-not.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-73468949191863957142014-10-29T03:03:00.000-05:002014-10-29T03:04:29.433-05:00IGGY AZALEA'S ONLY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE SHES WHITE!!!<center><img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/04/article-2572737-1C0708CC00000578-754_634x580.jpg" /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">White privilege happens when a black person with superior talent, undeniable expertise, and expansive education are denied the opportunity for professional & economic advancement, in favor of, a Caucasian individual whose comparative credentials are clearly second-class. <br />
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It happens in Corporate America when Anglo-Saxon workers with degrees from no-name colleges are to promoted to be executive directors of entire departments over African-American colleagues whose Ivy League(and top-tier) degrees in business, medicine, law, human resources, education, and/or communications continue to hang on the walls of cramped cubicles while the no-name college degrees of lesser experienced white workers are mounted on the ivory walls of abundantly spacious corner-offices designated for upper-echelon employees. <br />
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The entertainment industry isn’t immune to such pervasive practices, in fact, Hollywood and its associated industries of radio, television, film, and music just may be the worst when it comes to promoting subpar white ability over the tour de force talent of a black artist despite all of Tinsel Town’s politically correct talk of tolerance, inclusiveness, acceptance, and equality. <br />
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Am I hating on the success of white recording artists like Iggy Azalea who benefit from their skin color in the various segments of the entertainment industry? <br />
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Absolutely not! Because I understand the culture of greed and familiarity which breeds the type of competitive environment which serves as advantageous for white entertainers especially in terms of establishing a consumable brand which resonates with the youth of middle (read: white) America who purchase the majority of hip-hop singles, albums, concert tickets, magazines, and other capital-producing products in the market place….<br />
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….because let’s face it! If it weren’t for double-standards of race & ethnicity in America, the very same double-standards many believe magically disappeared when Obama was elected president, then there would be no Iggy Azalea just as there never would have been a talentless Vanilla Ice hi-jacking M.C. Hammer’s steelo or Pat Boone attempting to re-record and repackage Little Richard’s hit songs for a more ‘mainstream,’ white audience.<br/><br/><br/> <center><img src="https://www.u-wish.com/uploads/MC_Hammer_and_Vanilla_Ice.jpg " /></center><br />
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<p style="font-size: 120%;">If there were true equality in this world and we were all judged based on the merits of our talents, the content of our character, and not the color of our skin then Amethyst Amelia Kelly(B.K.A. Iggy A.) would still be an anonymous resident with an exuberant amount of love and appreciation for the hip-hop culture, presumably dwelling somewhere below the Mason-Dixon Line. <br />
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I was initially tempted to draw parallels of the sub-par single white female rapper to the likes of Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Eminem, Sam Smith, Adele, and Robin Thicke since they’ve all benefited from studying the intricacies of black music and infusing those same elements into their personal repertoire, but I changed my mind when I realized they each had actual talent. <br />
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In fact, I’d be willing to bet each of them would still be signed to record deals had they been born as black individuals in some parallel universe existing on some otherworldly plane unseen by the eyes of mere mortal men. <br />
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Eminem is hands down one of the best emcees to ever bless the mic. His combination of creativity, witty word-play, humor, and deep-brooding angst against his mother and wife definitely brought a new energy to the rap game. <br />
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The same can be said regarding dynamic vocal talents of an Adele and Sam Smith. Or even the musicianship and electrifying performances of Elvis Presley and the Beatles. <br />
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Yes, they are all more or less appropriating black culture from musicians of African descent like Chuck Berry, Big Momma Thornton, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, and B.B. King, but their underlying musical talent is still undeniable. <br />
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Tragically, the same cannot be said about Iggy Azalea. If she were a black girl releasing hip-hop music in 2014 with Da Brat’s twenty year-old antiquated Funkdafied flow from 1994 she’d be relegated to the realm of obscurity occupied by masses of faceless black femcees competing for relevance and recognition within the recording industry.</p> <br />
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<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/szFUhX8HVOo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <br />
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<center> <p style="font-size: 120%;">WHY??? BECAUSE.....</center></p><br />
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<p style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Sonically</b>---</p><p style="font-size: 120%;">there is nothing edgy or distinctive about Iggy’s flow which differentiates her sound from creative competitors in the rap game. Her cadence, rhyme schemes, diction, and articulation can be best described as simplistically derivative; almost bordering piss-poor imitations of more competent emcees of yesteryear, who hail from the south, such as: Da Brat, Shawna, Trina, Diamond, and Princess. <br />
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<p style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Lyrically</b>---</p><p style="font-size: 120%;">she isn’t even competition for the weakest of writers since she doesn’t pen her own rhymes. Yet somehow, she has been able to find perpetual penance with the rap gods for breaking the most cardinal of all hip-hop soul sins since she continuously allows a team of slightly visible ghostwriters to construct the bulk of the composition for her hit songs. <br />
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<p style="font-size: 130%;"><b>PerformanceWise</b>---</p><p style="font-size: 120%;"> the chick has the stage presence of an impotent old man named Hubert. She has a nice body and all, but come on, she’s mind-numbingly boring and unable to deliver her rhymes via a live performance without lip-synching which is understandable for a singer who indulges in complex choreography, but what excuse does a rapper who simply struts across the stage 99.9% of the time have for not actually spittin’ 16 bars? <br />
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<p style="font-size: 120%;">Objectively speaking:<br/>
Iggy Azalea is an incompetent emcee who has been able to find astronomical success in the recording industry due to her race; particularly for being a white face performing music cultivated by another race in their indigenous space. This doesn’t make her a terrible person, nor does this make her a racist. <br />
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What it makes her is a recipient of white privilege which has manifested itself via the spoils of professional, social, and economic success in our society. <br />
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Her career serves as another example of the difficulties faced by people of color in all realms of society. I am not saying black people are incapable of achieving success. <br />
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What I am acknowledging is American society’s preference for whiteness and its ‘native’ culture which is probably apprehensive and somewhat ignorant in regards to non-white culture. <br />
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This is why a black female emcee would have to be to be three times as talented and work two times as harder to achieve the same level of success because the only thing that separates Iggy is not her talent nor her drive, but her white skin which makes it easier to sell her (and hip-hop culture) to white, middle America. <br />
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She embodies a portion of black culture in her music, but she also speaks the King’s English. She looks like the majority of consumers. They relate to her and she is acceptable and viable to consume without having to do outrageous things such as rapping about monsters, vampires, growling, and being quirky/crazy/bipolar to differentiate her brand from the pack of other female emcees as Nicki Minaj has done to separate herself from all of the other black women in hip-hop. <center><img src="http://cdn.styleblazer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/nicki-m.jpeg" /></center><br /><br />
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<p style="font-size: 120%;">Her whiteness is seen as a commodity to be capitalized upon by T.I. and this is why he, as a black male rapper, endorses her as an artist. Her whiteness is a tool to be utilized for potential earning power and this is why T.I. co-signs her, again.... it is NOT her talent.<br />
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T.I.’s co-sign as a black male rapper who is respected in the game is what also led to her financial backing and marketing in the industry. <br />
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Again, her skin color is what has led to her success and it is also what separates her from her competition....not her talent! <br />
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All in all, Iggy would not be famous or successful if she were a black rapper from Atlanta or Australia with releasing material with the same dated flow lifted from Da Brat, questionable writing skills, and yawn-worthy stage presence.</p><br />
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<center><b><p style="font-size: 140%;">YOUR THOUGHTS?!!?? <br />
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SOUND OFF!!!!</center></b>
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/10/iggy-azaleas-only-successful-because.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-33233207006640015342014-10-23T04:06:00.000-05:002014-10-23T04:07:58.978-05:00BEYONCE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED AALIYAH'S CAREER TOO!!!<center><img src="http://soundonmars.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/desktop2.jpg" /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Delusional optimism is a phrase I use to describe individuals whose unwavering faith in a tragically flawed idea, individual, and/or institution is misguided by a brand of subjective ignorance rooted in the willful acceptance of an obviously mangled misinterpretation and misunderstanding of truth. <br />
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This term comes to mind whenever I think of religious conservatives who believe in abstinence-only sexual education, people of any color who refer to America as a post racial society, and--- in the context of this particular article---deceived, yet dedicated legions of Aaliyah stans who assert that Beyonce’s earth-shattering success as a juggernaut in the entertainment industry never would have been if Timbaland & Missy’s protégé hadn’t met her untimely demise on August 25, 2001. <br />
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Do I find fans who perpetuate such fallacies to be foolish? Slightly, but one cannot blame the bulk of such a follower groupthink mentality on foolishness alone when there are a number of other variables that led to what is essentially the sanctification and worship of Aaliyah Dana Haughton as an ethereal being who has been eternally canonized in the consciousness of America’s pulsating (pop)ular culture cathedral.</p> <center><img src="http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/152/0/6/an_angel_known_as_aaliyah_by_lilisodmg-d3htd50.jpg"/><br /></center><br>
<p style="font-size: 120%;">And I do get ‘it’! Because we did ‘it’ to Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Tupac Shakur, and Biggie Smalls; they too were ascended to the status of iconoclastic immorality in the pantheon of Black artistic expression by countless consumers who craved their creative content, however their elevation exudes airtight deductive reasoning and logic since they <i>actualized</i> the domination of their respective genres throughout the course of their shortened life spans. <br />
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No other Reggae artist had the impact of the Bob Marley while he was still living, nor was there any other emcee who whose combined brand presence and album sells surpassed that of Tupac and Biggie while they were still alive and battling it out as the reigning kings of hip-hop; as mainstream news outlets like a CNN and New York Times reported stories of the infamous East Coast vs. West Coast beef associated with the twosome to middle-America. <br />
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The very same can be said about Marvin Gaye and his tenure as the tour de force rhythm and blues performer of his era. <br />
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These are the premier recording artists whose hybrid mixture of style and substance transformed the standard in their musical spheres of influence. They are the prototypical blueprint which future powerhouses utilize to charter their meteoric rise to super-stardom. <br />
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Simply stated, they were and still are the greats who effortlessly decimated their competitors even while still living. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said in regards to Aaliyah! <br />
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Yes, she was one the most breathe-takingly beautiful women of all-time---black, white, brown, yellow, or Technicolor---she outshines them all in the looks department. I will NEVER deny the lady’s smoldering sensuality, but I will immediately and expeditiously correct anyone who begins to wax poetic with some fictional revisionist history that paints Aaliyah as the greatest R&B singer of her time. <br />
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Such stories make for great fairy tales and fan fantasies, but let’s look at the reality of her talent, brand, album sales, movies, and other various projects predating her death, in comparison to her contemporaries. <br />
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Aaliyah burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced, Black teenage girl singing R&B alongside her main competitors, Monica & Brandy, who occupied the same space with a similar appeal as the trio vied for the attention of an indistinguishable demographic.</p> <center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXe6wYHKn96E9epLl79OjvhasIu-ZB3rYqXrVWffLuVrbB7eA685XlkW-Zp1FXS4Kz6MnCARU3N5clt92eBvvGxPPxA2KJWgcEHuB_c-OORTLAC2GMS3gnlwyNhrJV6zu5Rw2jgXOLCQd1/s1600/Aaliyah+Brandy+Monica.png"/><br /></center>
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Ironically enough, Monica & Brandy, are the stewards of careers that have cooled down considerably in current days; yet the two always possessed superior talents, larger (and more profitable) brands, and a higher number of album sales than Aaliyah when all three acts were rivals at the apex of their prime throughout the mid-90s into the early 2000s. <br />
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In fact, of the three, Brandy was the most successful and larger entertainer by far! She had her own sit-com, numerous movies, cinematic releases & duets with industry icons Diana Ross (The Boss) and Whitney Houston (prior to her fall from grace), her face was on every magazine cover, she was booking sold-out tours, and she was consistently delivering multi-platinum albums even at the time of Aaliyah’s death in 2001. <br />
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Considering the preceding facts, how can one even fathom the notion of Aaliyah somehow preventing the crowning of Beyonce as bonafide pop royalty when she co-existed alongside more successful acts (Brandy & Monica) whose careers now pale in comparison to that of the former Destiny Child’s front-woman? <br />
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Moreover, Beyonce’s burgeoning brand as an entertainer in 2001 also eclipsed that of Aaliyah. Beyonce is the better vocalist, live performer, and Destiny Child’s ‘Survivor’ project was exponentially outselling Aaliyah’s self-titled album. <br />
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It wasn’t until after Aaliyah’s death that sales of her CD sky-rocketed, yet to date the Destiny’s Child project still outsold the deceased singer’s final project by 2 million units. <br />
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Critics, professional and novice alike, are more than likely looking at the past through rose-tinted lenses and defending the legacy of Aaliyah’s unrealized potential by subtly attempting to discredit the talent, drive, and business acumen of Beyonce Knowles when speaking on a hypothetical competition between the two ladies that will never be. <br />
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So, again I ask---how would have Aaliyah have derailed Beyonce’s career in 2014 when she was nowhere close to performing the same feat to a less-polished, less-seasoned, less-talented version of the same woman thirteen years ago? <br />
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<center><b>SOUND OFF!!!!</center></b> <br />
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<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/10/beyonce-would-have-destroyed-aaliyahs.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-9261091543384365292014-04-20T08:20:00.001-05:002014-04-20T08:21:09.131-05:00THE BLACK CHURCH: Is it an Epic Failure? <center><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/UlKsbzarKsMnDr-ke5CXmAdzr0r3qTG8fRFYQIfv5AUGIziJ3Oqsn*8KYKAv-G0PiJepyg*ugj75bDnulXgot3mcDjaMEZED/RaisedinaBlackChurch.bmp" alt="Image" alt="Image" /></center><br />
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<p style="font-size: 120%;">Organized religion is nothing more than a set of bastardized rules and regulations loosely based upon a hodgepodge of spiritual teachings which align with the self-serving agenda of society’s most socially, politically, and economically influential individuals. <br />
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Tragically, the masses are indoctrinated with such ideologies and manipulated into equating these very same mandates with God’s Absolute and Divine Truth that is not to be questioned, challenged, or disobeyed. <br />
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Essentially, these pseudo-spiritual laws are utilized to secure the perpetual power of society’s elite while ensuring that everyday people are unable to encroach upon and share in the power of the wealthy and well-connected. <br />
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<IMG SRC="http://riverbankoftruth.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/1800285_740774912600263_113817891_n.jpg" ALIGN="LEFT">The easiest way to maintain authority and control a people is to give them a religion designed to keep them dependent upon the creators of that particular belief system. <br />
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This is why I am not a fan of organized religion, particularly the institution of Christianity as it exists in the African-American community. The brand of mainstream spirituality mostly promoted within the corridors of black neighborhoods was established by a group of wealthy white men in Europe who assembled, then marketed the Bible as an infallible rule book whose sole purpose was to consolidate their economic and political clout while disenfranchising the general populous. <br />
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There was no divine inspiration, nor supernatural call from the metaphysical realm which motivated these men to manufacture a book overflowing with defiled, distorted teachings of Jesus during the <a href=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWR4OJYJC18><i>Council of Nicea</i></a>.<br />
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On the contrary--- these men were driven by their own selfish greed and bloodlust for power when conceiving the Bible and a stylized form of Christianity which was created in their impure and imperfect image, yet we as African-Americans continually choose to blindly follow this particular faith system that was never intended to strengthen or empower us (on a mirco or macro-level).<br />
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The mode of Christianity practiced in the black community does nothing more than pacify and keep us content with mediocrity after our weekly display of extreme emotionalism, which is quite ironic, considering the vast multitude of church congregations in black neighborhoods through the nation. <br />
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The man-made belief system that kept us in shackles and chains for over 400 years is the very same one which continues to infiltrate black houses of worship that teach us to shuck, jive, coon, and cry in a holy man’s name while our surrounding communities continue to be ravaged by sky-rocketing rates of poverty, unemployment/underemployment, psychological instability, high school drop-out, incarceration, crime, teen pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS. <br />
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I’ll be the first to admit it! Black church houses consistently draw large crowds on a weekly basis, but I sincerely doubt that any of these same congregants are being truly empowered by the culminating experience provided via the teachings, music, and socialization opportunities.<br />
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If such empowerment were actually occurring then it would manifest itself in the revitalization of our communities, but such a victorious feat has yet to occur. And this isn’t to say that efforts aren’t being made to face Black America’s plaguing problems head-on through spiritual avenues, but clearly such actions continue to prove themselves to be highly ineffective.<br />
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Basically, the black church is currently non-proficient at empowering and serving the majority of its constituents’ needs, but maybe that’s the way it was meant to be since a great deal of our faith system is based on half-truths and lies.</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><p style="font-size: 130%;">Why is this?<br />
<br />
<br />
And how can we alter the Black Church as institution which will better serve its people?<br />
<br />
<br />
Also, is the institution of an organized Black Church even necessary to connect with God? Empower black people and black communities?<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND OFF!!!</center></b></p><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/04/the-black-church-is-it-epic-failure_20.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-37956671983145599832014-04-02T22:42:00.000-05:002014-04-02T22:43:18.711-05:00ZOE SALDANA: Color-struck Hypocrites Say She's Too Light-Skinned to Portray Nina Simone <center><img src="http://yoknyamdabale.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/nina-simone-zoe-saldana.jpg" alt="Image" alt="Image" /></center><center><b>Are we going to pretend Zoe isn't Black?</b></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">I feel sorry for the color-struck Negroes who possess bigoted, preconceived notions about Zoe Saldana due to her skin complexion and Spanish surname. Many of them believe the aforementioned attributes have awarded the actress with a sort of mystical ‘light-skinned & ethnically ambiguous privilege’ which somehow provided her with an advantage during the audition process for the role of Nina Simone. <br />
<br />
<br />
Complaints regarding Saldana’s skills as an actress are never mentioned when critics of the upcoming biopic lament the casting director’s choice for the featured role; they simply attack Saldana’s racial composition while asserting that her level of blackness is not enough to effectively capture the essence of the late songstress and civil rights’ activist. <br />
<br />
<br />
I somewhat understand the mindset of an individual who desires to see an actor who bears a striking resemblance to the person they are embodying on the silver-screen because it does make for a better viewing experience for the movie-goer, however skin complexion(especially amongst people of the African Diaspora) is only one facet of appearance.<br />
<br />
<br />
And it is true, Zoe Saldana looks nothing like Nina Simone, but I must ask what brown-skinned actress of formidable talent looks anything like the high priestess of soul---if we’re assuming the root of the issue is truly about a lack of physical similarities? Moreover, should such a shallow criteria even matter since a truly powerful performing artist can overcome such a perceived handicap. <br />
<br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://alacartebystacyyoung.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/rosa.jpeg" ALIGN="LEFT">At their core---the critiques against Ms. Saldana, her skin complexion, and her ethnicity are rooted in hypocrisy! Seriously, where was the outrage when a bronzed Angela Bassett decided to breathe life into the roles of a fair-skinned Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott-King?<br />
<br />
<br />
Why was there no large campaign against a darker-skinned woman playing lighter-skinned women in the media? And where was the heightened level of disgust when a darker Denzel Washington decided to immortalize a lighter Malcolm X in Spike Lee’s film which bears the same name of the groundbreaking human rights leader?<br />
<br />
<br />
The vocal disdain regarding Zoe Saldana’s depiction of Nina Simone and the virtual silence of Angela Bassett’s representation of Rosa Parks speaks to a troublesome, divisive categorization of, black people amongst other black people, based on the superficiality of skin complexion which refuses to die even in the year 2014!<br />
<br />
<br />
There is an unspoken, but widely accepted notion in the black community that actively minimizes the level of ‘blackness’ possessed by a person with a lighter hue of skin. This glaring double-standard makes it easier to reduce a public figure such a Beyonce Knowles or Zoe Saldana to a mere color complexion while consciously disregarding their actual ability and talent.<br />
<br />
<br />
Many argue that the ladies mentioned above have only obtained success due to their fair-skin which supposedly grants them favor with white individuals who possess the influential resources needed to advance their career in the arts & entertainment industry.<br />
<br />
<br />
And while I do understand the history behind colorism in the African-American community and the miniscule advantages provided to the biracial children of white slave masters; I still say that it is foolish, divisive, and regressive to lambast members of our community with lighter skin just as it is ignorant to treat anyone with disdain or disrespect merely because they have dark skin.<br />
<br />
<br />
Lastly---black is black, especially in the eyes of a prejudiced white person who could give a rat’s ass about our skin tone.<br />
<br />
<br />
Ironically, many of us fail to realize that we are in the race (no pun intended) together and are busy still attempting to find favor in the eyes of a racist Caucasian while berating our black brothers and sisters over something simple as skin tone?</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><p style="font-size: 130%;">Why is this?<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND OFF!!</center></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/04/zoe-saldana-color-struck-hypocrites-say.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-58399243654424423392014-03-31T22:25:00.000-05:002014-03-31T22:55:33.195-05:00ANOTHER AFFLUENZA VERDICT: Judge Saves Rich White Rapist from Prison<center><img src="http://cmsimg.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=BL&Date=20140314&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=303140054&Ref=V1&MaxW=300&Border=0&Du-Pont-heir-faces-child-sex-lawsuit" alt="Image" alt="Image" /></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">What type of justice system allows the rapist of an innocent, three year-old baby girl to remain free? And what type of message does this communicate to the little girl and countless others like her who are preyed upon by predatory monsters like Robert Richards IV? <br />
<br />
<br />
Unlike most molesters, Robert Richards IV is heir to the Du Pont family fortune which affords him an exuberant amount of financial, social, and political resources that allow him to exert influence over news outlets, governors, legislatures, and superior court judges whom all benefit from the dollars of wealthy individuals who support their various causes and campaigns.<br />
<br />
<br />
Indeed, Mr. Richards is a cold-hearted deviant who maliciously raped his own daughter; however I do not blame him for the ludicrous ruling in his court case, nor the lack of attention given to the unnerving judicial proceedings of his child molestation case by various media outlets throughout the nation.<br />
<br />
<br />
What logical sense does it make to be upset with an immoral individual who is merely following instinctual human nature and attempting to maintain a life of luxuriant comfort?<br />
<br />
<br />
The real problem lies within a judiciary system heavily impacted by a capitalist mentality which favors those with the greatest assets.<br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/epl/lowres/elections-usa-superpacs-super_pac-superpac-political_action_committees-lobbyists-epln1134l.jpg" ALIGN="LEFT">Let’s not pretend and please let us not be fooled! A collection of contributed monies from the nation’s wealthiest corporations, entities, and individuals fund the most powerful political action committees (P.A.C.s) and Interest Groups (I.G.s). These same P.A.C.s and I.G.s finance the campaigns of our Presidents, State Governors, Congressmen, and various circuit judges throughout the United States.<br />
<br />
<br />
It should come as no surprise that various court rulings and drafts of legislation are formulated to benefit the very people who own the corporations which fund the P.A.C.s/I.G.s that finance the campaigns of the people who create and interpret the laws which govern our nation.<br />
<br />
<br />
This is how a biased justice system that favors the wealthy and disenfranchises the poor is created.<br />
<br />
<br />
I am no idiot. The writings on the wall clearly tell the story of an upper-echelon family who paid a hefty sum on money to suppress this shocking story. This is why the nation remained relatively ignorant of Robert Richards IV’s sexual appetite for toddlers although his trial has been dragged out in the courts of Delaware for the past six years.<br />
<br />
<br />
Moreover, I do not buy the presiding judge’s reasoning for giving Richards probation instead of prison time for the rape of his three year-old daughter.<br />
<br />
<br />
I’m sure Judge Jan Jurden doesn’t even buy the tripe that spewed forth from her own mouth as she described why he should not serve anytime in a level five federal penitentiary. Coincidentally, this leads me to believe that the Du Pont family provided her with some type of financial compensation in exchange for a favorable ruling that would prevent Richard from serving time behind bars.<br />
<br />
<br />
She stated that Robert Richards IV would “not fare well” in jail, however I must ask, “Who does?”<br />
<br />
<br />
Has the good judge forgotten that prison is not a vacation intended for a pleasantly pleasurable experience?</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><img src="http://www.moun.com/imagesup/jennifer/2008-08-03_104620_romo2003-24.jpg" alt="Image" alt="Image" /></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Additionally, Richards is six feet, four inches tall and he weighs over two-hundred and fifty pounds. I am quite sure concern for his safety or lack thereof fails to be a plausible issue especially when one considers his larger than average stature.</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><p style="font-size: 130%;">Lastly, would such concessions have been made for Robert Richards IV if he were not wealthy? Or white?<br />
<br />
<br />
Would such concessions have been made for a poor black man? Wealthy black man? Or poor white man?<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND OFF!!!</center></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/03/another-affluenza-verdict-judge-saves.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-34315819260364385562014-03-18T23:51:00.001-05:002014-03-18T23:51:53.342-05:00BLACK PARENTS: Stop Beating Your Children Like Runaway Slaves <center><img src="http://www.victoriana.com/history/images/slavery-2.jpg" alt="Image" alt="Image" /></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/I_zTutqA1zI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <center><b>View the video clip</b></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Slaves were beaten for attempting to run away much like the thirteen year old black girl in the above video-clip who fled from her parents' abusive home for three days. Her parents did not show any concern for her well-being once she returned. She received no love or compassion; on the contrary she was beaten in a public forum(much like a slave-master did his slave) by father as her mother video-taped the incident and hurled countless expletives at the young girl. Such physical, psychological, and emotional abuse is all too common in communities of color and will not in any way strengthen us as a people.<br />
<br />
<br />
Seriously, there are already too many issues plaguing the Black community. Of course, there is the perennial plight of Black singles, in addition to racial disparities in education, sky-rocketing incarceration rates amongst Black males, rising suicide rates, and an ever increasing level of nihilism and apathy that has invaded our communities. <br />
<br />
<br />
There are a number of entities that we <strong>LOVE</strong> to blame! Institutionalized racism, hip-hop culture, music, television, film, and other by-products of the entertainment industry typically find themselves on this "Most Wanted" list of culprits responsible for the decomposition of Black America.<br />
<br />
<br />
But truthfully the root of many problems which plague us as a people is found within the home. If we do not begin to take responsibility for ourselves and fight for progressive change within our own lives, then we will become epic f*ck-ups who hook-up with other epic f*ck-ups, and consequently beget another generation of f*ck-ups, and thus the cycle of f*cking up will continue.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now, do not be mistaken. I do not claim to be an expert in child-rearing, but trust that I am doing everything in my power to ensure that I become a stronger, more capable, and intelligent Black man who will raise a strong-willed, strong-minded, and self-sufficient child, instead of a perpetually weak and docile person who is of no benefit to anyone or anything.<br />
<br />
<br />
In order for this to occur we as Black people have to begin challenging the notion of what "Black parenting" is and what it looks like. It is true, we cannot raise our children in the same manner as the dominant culture; we must prepare our young ones to deal with issues White children will <strong>NEVER</strong> be forced to contend with such as: how to properly deal with police officers, being the only Black face in a public space, and learning to embrace their AfroCentric features in a world where EuroCentric standards of beauty are the norm.<br />
<br />
<br />
But this does not mean that we have to continue blindly following the <a href=http://ezinearticles.com/?Authoritarian-Parenting--Military-Style-Parenting&id=605577>bullslick</a> that a number of comedians joke about and that we value as "Black parenting." This perceived notion of an angry Black mom or dad moments away from going ballistic is exceedingly detrimental to our children and collective communities.<br />
<br />
<br />
Another eye-opening example of the foolishness that I speak about can be found in the following video clip:</p><br /><br /><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7GaK_zuVGlU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">And there you have it. Another angry black parent beating the tar out of their child on camera and posting it online for the entire world to see.<br />
<br />
<br />
View the clip. Do you agree or disagree with the parent's approach?<br />
<br />
<br />
Each time I watch such clips of furious African-American parents it bothers me because of how it accurately illustrates what occurs in many Black American households. Why? Because I've seen it played out in grocery stores, banks, and parks where overly-aggressive Black parents have hurled a barrage of expletives at their <em><strong>much younger</strong></em> children, while ordering them to stop crying before the parent gives them something to cry about.</p> <br />
<br />
<br />
<center><img src="http://www.bet.com/Assets/BET/Published/image/jpeg/a40fd113-bacc-e3a0-7966-d60f563b8565-News_BB_Crying_Girl.jpg" alt="Image" alt="Image" /></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Additionally, I am always left wondering why Black children are rarely ever given the opportunity to voice their own opinions, beliefs, and ideas without some form of physical punishment following the verbal dissension from their mother and/or father. Why don't we give our children the liberty to question our beliefs? Why don't we teach them to respectfully disagree with other individuals? Why don't we teach them to speak against governing rules and laws they find unjust? Why do we teach them to simply, "OBEY" and "DO AS YOU'RE TOLD?" <br />
<br />
<br />
Moreover, we live in an increasingly multicultural society with differing viewpoints, yet we still force our moral convictions and values down our children's throats without allowing them to develop their own. Why do we do this? And why do we utilize religious dogma to justify violence against our children, while simultaneously attempting to shame and guilt them for asserting their independence.<br />
<br />
<br />
This isn't how you raise a leader. This isn't how you raise a functioning member of society. This isn't how you raise an intellectual. I say let your children ask all the questions they want. And actually try answering their questions with sound logic. If you cannot effectively explain your reasoning behind a particular course of action concerning your child, then that may be a hint and a half that you don't know what the fuck you are doing, and you may need to slowly step away from the child, put down the freaking belt/switch/hair-brush/comb/extension cord down, lower your voice, calm down, and really think about why you are doing what you do to your child.<br />
<br />
<br />
Is it beneficial? Our children need an abundance of encouragement, love, and support from us. We do not need to continually degrade our children in the home, and then send them into a world preconditioned to tear them down because it ignorantly perceives them as a threat.<br />
<br />
<br />
The way we parent our children in the Black community has to change as times change, or we will be bitching and moaning about the same unresolved issues in 3010, and we will have nobody to blame but ourselves; not the government! not the white man! not the media! not our supervisors! not the school teachers! not the administrators! not the cops!<br />
<br />
<br />
But ourselves! We MUST do better by our children and stop treating them the way ole massa' treated his slaves!</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 130%;"><b><center>Question is, where do we begin in this quest of being better men and women who become excellent parents?</b></p></center> <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/03/black-parents-stop-beating-your.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-62559199615506952912014-03-17T06:41:00.002-05:002014-03-17T06:43:52.390-05:00FUCK THE POLICE: A Black Man's Shaky History With Law Enforcement<center><img src="http://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000003658139-mnxs6a-original.jpg?435a760"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Being a black man in America is no easy task. Our women are taught to hate us. We are conditioned to distrust one another and white people are brainwashed into seeing us as savage threats who must be controlled at every conceivable moment. <br />
<br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mUQlb-reL._SY300_.jpg" ALIGN="LEFT">Indeed, we are guilty until proven innocent in this wayward, racist nation. Sadly, I am not speaking with a sense of literary hyperbole. I wish I was exaggerating reality, but I am not; every authority figure that is given the task of exerting influence over black men (young and old) tend to abuse their power while treating us in the most inhumane and accusatory manner possible. <br />
<br />
<br />
Experience has taught me to be wary of every teacher, professor, store manager, security guard, police officer, and overly aggressive civilian who feels brave enough to carry out an unjust citizen’s arrest. This sense of caution intensifies if any of the aforementioned authority figures (actual or not) happens to be a white person since they have learned to treat me as guilty until proven innocent. <br />
<br />
<br />
My family has always taught me to present myself as a ‘harmless’ black man so that white teachers and professors would feel comfortable providing me with instruction within the academic world; this method was also employed to ensure I avoided harassment from law enforcement officials.<br />
<br />
<br />
I learned to alter my natural dialect and speak the King’s English while minimizing the bass in my voice in order to help white authority figures feel at ease in my presence. I also avoided wearing the attire of your typical black youth; however none of these precautionary measures would shield me from the very real racism, brutality, and overall dehumanizing treatment reserved especially for African-American men in our savage society.</p><br />
<center><img src="http://i43.tower.com/images/mm100357319/assimilation-blues-black-families-in-white-communities-who-beverly-daniel-tatum-paperback-cover-art.jpg"/><br /></center><br /><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Attempting to appease and please white authority figures proved to be nothing more than an exercise in futility by the age of twelve. A rude awakening occurred and I realized that it didn’t matter how well-spoken, well-dressed, mild-mannered, logical, or intelligent I was because there were still white people who would only see me as nothing but a low-down, dirty nigger with lying lips despite the true words I spoke when I was accused of selling marijuana at my predominantly white middle-school.<br />
<br />
<br />
Apparently, my name had been given to the principal as a possible campus dealer by a few of my classmates when narcotics usage became something of a pseudo-epidemic on my junior high campus.<br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/1528672_10104050303960270_2024995386_n.jpg" ALIGN="RIGHT">Common sense would have told the older white gentleman to immediately contact my parents at such an outrageous accusation, but no such actions occurred. Instead, I was interrogated by two police officers within the corridors of the building’s in-school suspension room for at least three hours before any efforts to contact my parents were made.<br />
<br />
<br />
They did not bother to ask if I was innocent. On the contrary, they seemed hell-bent on attempting to force a false confession out of me while finding out which local drug-pin employed me as a pusher on my campus. <br />
<br />
<br />
Suddenly my status as a well-behaved, straight-A student didn’t seem to matter anymore. It was not taken into consideration and I was being treated as a common criminal while still an innocent child of 12 years. Needless to say, I was urgently removed from this school by my parents following this egregious incident. <br />
<br />
<br />
However, this wouldn’t be the last time I was falsely accused and mistreated by the police before the age of eighteen. A second incident occurred during my sophomore year of high school when I attempted to break-up a fight between two classmates in the hallway as we transitioned from one class to the next.<br />
<br />
<br />
In a flash---I was tackled to the ground, handcuffed, issued a ticket for assault, and suspended for three days. I cannot help but wonder why the other two individuals who were actually fighting were not met with such harsh treatment.<br />
<br />
<br />
Is it because they were not young, black men?<br />
<br />
<br />
Shortly after my eighteenth birthday I was arrested for watching an R-rated movie at a cineplex theater. It seems the owner did not believe I was at least seventeen years old and wanted me removed from the premises for attempting to watch such a movie while being under-aged. <br />
<br />
<br />
Again, I was being falsely accused of doing something illegal by a white authority figure who assumed I was attempting to get away with breaking the law when I had done no wrong. I could not locate my state identification card which proved my actual age and I was arrested at the scene.<br />
<br />
<br />
I spent a few hours in a holding cell before being released from jail and appearing before a judge who immediately dropped the charges after I decided to ignore the public defender’s advice and actually plead not guilty and argue my case instead of accepting a plea bargain(and pleading guilty to criminal trespassing).<br />
<br />
<br />
Despite the false accusations, dehumanized treatment, and unnecessary brutality of law enforcement throughout the course of my lifetime, I still consider myself one of the lucky ones since I do not have a criminal record and have not been murdered by a crooked officer of the law. <br />
<br />
<br />
My mind flashes to thoughts of Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Sean Bell, and Amadou Diallo who were all unarmed black men falsely accused of wrongdoing and eventually assassinated at the hands of overly aggressive white civilians, cops, and security officers. <br />
<br />
<br />
Indeed, it could have been me who was murdered or locked away since it is exceedingly easy to accuse a black man, arrest a black man, and kill a black man with little to no consequences.</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><center><p style="font-size: 130%;">I wonder--- would I have endured such troublesome encounters with law enforcement had I been born white? <br />
<br />
<br />
And I also wonder would Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Sean Bell, and Amadou Diallo still be alive and breathing had they been born white men?<br />
<br />
<br />
Are black men justified in their distrust of law enforcement?<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND OFF!</b></center></p><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
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E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-41546773243878792572014-03-13T00:32:00.001-05:002014-03-13T01:22:29.636-05:00THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS TERRIBLE PRIORITIES<center><img src="http://www.vidaproject.com/Portals/208814/images/people-have-strange-priorities.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">The black community is like a brilliantly beautiful woman who has been physically, mentally, and emotionally abused by her parents and vicious lovers throughout the course of her lifetime. <br />
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Sure---we are a captivating, clever, and charming people but deep-rooted scars embedded on the very essence of our collective soul render us blind to the full potency of the transformative power which we possess.<br />
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<br />
As a whole we are riddled with insecurity and haunted by a multitude of identity issues which produces a warped mentality; this mindset manifests itself in misplaced priorities that are counterproductive to the progression of the African-American community.<br />
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<br />
And contrary to popular belief, the typical black person’s socioeconomic status plays no huge role in liberating them from the debilitating priorities which plague Black America. Money or lack thereof, will not provide a long-term solution to our psychological trauma since the average African-American is obsessed with attempting to mask our internalized self-hatred with egocentric exploits which are utilized to project an exaggerated image of affluence, power, and status that fails to accurately reflect the true state of our corresponding finances, knowledge, strength, and ability; this is true for both the rich (wo)man and poor (wo)man alike who exists within the insular corridors of the black community. <br />
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<br />
It seems like black people put working to increase knowledge, skills, and a stronger work ethic on the proverbial back-burner while we remain preoccupied with placing a primary focus on trying to “stunt,” “look like money,” and/or “dress for success.”<br />
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<br />
Tragically, this exceedingly detrimental mentality of image over substance is slowly, but surely ravaging and unraveling the black community at the core of its very seams.<br />
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<br />
<IMG SRC="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6f3lyTD4S1qmg8fmo1_500.jpg" ALIGN="LEFT">This is why we have branches of the NAACP, 100 Black Men, and The National Urban League concerned with criticizing the fashion choices of the youth instead of working to create programs which will actually empower young black people.<br />
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Seriously, why are African-American organizations wasting precious time and money launching various ‘anti-sagging’ campaigns which lambast African-American males who choose to show a portion of their undergarments with low-riding jeans? <br />
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Why prejudge the young black man and place sole focus on his fashions (which many older blacks deem inappropriate and not the look of ‘success’) instead of laboring to organize a mentorship program? Why not start a drive to help purchase suits, dress-shirts, and ties for these same young black men? Why not provide them with corporate interview training? Resume building workshops? And teaching them networking skills?<br />
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Why are organizations which are designed to strengthen the black community overly concerned with the outer-image instead of choosing to scratch beneath the surface and seek a solution to the real problems plaguing the African-American community?<br />
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Sagging pants aren’t destroying the lives of young black men! It is high unemployment rates and high incarceration rates which inhibit the growth of young black men? Why take the time to focus on such a basic non-issue such as sagging pants?<br />
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<br />
Similarly, we have a multitude of black parents who would rather cheer for their children at the local elementary school’s track and field day instead of attending a parent-teacher night and keeping in constant communication with the educator who instructs their offspring on a daily basis. Likewise, there are a large number of African-American mothers and fathers who would rather utilize their finances to purchase designer clothing rather than responsibly spending money on tutoring services for their child. Many would rather their child appear to be stylish, affluent, and well-known rather than equipping them with the skills and work-ethic needed to grow into self-sufficient and productive adults.</p><br />
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<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Consequently, many youth of the black community are indirectly encouraged to worship and place an elevated value on items such as Air Jordans and Dr. Dre’s Beats Headphones (which are a total waste of money unless one is a working musician or producer in a studio creating profitable music for recording artists.) Many times the desire to obtain material things can lead to violent occurrences.<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FQOsowMAlGI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Yes, we live in a consumer culture and I am sure that our white counterparts also waste an exuberant amount of money on non-essential name brand items, but we must realize that our community is much smaller in numbers and on average we earn less than our white brethren; yet, our astronomically frivolous spending habits prevent us from accumulating any savings as a collective whole while we line the pockets of countless corporations who intentionally market their products to us.</p><br />
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<b><center><p style="font-size: 140%;">African-American spending power is nearing $1.1 Trillion, yet we are unable to effectively fund H.B.C.U.s or own large lots of land as a community. Why is this?<br />
<br />
<br />
And moreover, why must the black community continue acting like the beautiful abused girl who attempts to hide their insecurity, lack of self-worth, and identity issues behind projected images of affluence and power rather than working to truly strengthen ourselves with knowledge, skill, wisdom, and purpose?<br />
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SOUND OFF!!!</b></center></p>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/03/the-black-community-has-terrible.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-59543743712383114922014-03-09T10:01:00.000-05:002014-03-09T10:02:27.921-05:00SON OF GOD: Why is He Always White?<center><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ae/Son_of_God_film_poster.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">So, let me get this straight! Ninety-nine point nine percent of the historical events that occurred in the Bible took place in Africa and/or the Middle East, yet I am supposed to believe that God, His Son, His Angels, His Prophets, and all other divine conduits of good that appear in various religious texts are white people whom all descend from Western European nations? <br />
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It is definitely an interestingly, ironic phenomena. Consider the fact, that I (and most black people of the Judeo-Christian school of faith) have always attended a predominantly African-American house of worship; yet all the supernatural iconography of our collective church temple(s) display racialized depictions of religious heroes which essentially requires all black congregants to relinquish total control of their lives to a blonde, blue-eyed god-man possessing pale ivory skin.</p><br />
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<br />
<IMG SRC="http://witnessed.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/jesus-christ.jpg" ALIGN="LEFT"><p style="font-size: 120%;">We are supposedly made in the image of an almighty God, yet as black people, we are taught that it is a privilege and an honor for us to eternally elevate, praise, worship, and serve a white man who looks nothing like us while relying on him to meet all of our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs via our unwavering faith; consequently, anything less would be considered a sin. <br />
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It is quite insulting to have people of the African Diaspora praying to an all-powerful white figure who we are dependent upon for love, peace, solace, redemption, and salvation within a black institution especially considering the four-hundred plus years of systematic disenfranchisement and dehumanization of African-Americans at the hands of our Caucasian oppressors. <br />
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There are some who say that the color of the Creator is not important. They assert that God is a spirit and physical representations of him do not matter, but of course, I respectfully disagree with proponents of this mentality simply because Christianity is not a safe-haven of racial harmony which helps shield people of color from institutionalized discrimination.</p> <br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KouN9IsY8os" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Most white people who support such an ideology have proven to be quite irritating, especially when they fail to understand how their race and physical features are looked upon as the standard default. However, I am more upset with black individuals who are uncomfortable with seeing depictions of a black Jesus or a black angel.<br />
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It does not make sense to me in 2014. Seriously, take a look at the Sistine Chapel, or better yet take a look at the image of Jesus at your local church’s baptism pool. I am willing to bet that God and all of his angels are not depicted as black in either of these artistic renderings.<br />
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When I was a child actively involved in my weekly Sunday school program we would often watch cartoons that helped enhance our understanding of certain spiritual teachings. Even as a kid, I noticed the discriminatory casting of the religious cartoons. Heroes such as Moses, Joshua, David, John the Baptist, and Jesus were always depicted as white people. Conversely--- evil antagonists, such as: Cain, Jezebel, Herod, Goliath, and even Satan were shown to be darker, more ethnic people with whom I shared physical characteristics.<br />
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<br />
Tragically---such subtle, racist propaganda continues to manifest itself in various forms of contemporary religious art and entertainment. Most recently, there was controversy surrounding the motion picture, “Son of God.” In the film, Satan was actually depicted as an ethnic individual who actually bears a strong resemblance to President Obama while Jesus is once again portrayed with distinguishable Eurocentric features.</p><br />
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<br />
<center><img src="http://nairobiwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/son-400x242.jpg"/><br /></center><br /><br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Such casting was also present in the History Channel’s, “The Bible,” Passion of the Christ, The Nativity Story, The Ten Commandments, and The Da Vinci Code which displayed Jesus’ descendents as white Frenchmen.</p><br />
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<center><b><p style="font-size: 140%;">Seriously, why must religious history continue to be white-washed?<br />
<br />
<br />
And why can’t we have biblical heroes portrayed by people of color without it causing a backlash or ruckus? <br />
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SOUND OFF!!!</center></b></p> <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/03/son-of-god-why-is-he-always-white.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-3756418545943442632014-03-05T23:40:00.000-06:002014-03-05T23:40:47.624-06:00LIL' BOOSIE: It's Stupid to be Excited About His Release from Prison<center><img src="http://static.djbooth.net/pics-artist-rec/Lil_Boosie_3.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">You know what really grinds my gears? Logging onto social media and witnessing the foolishness of African-Americans who seem hopelessly trapped in a debilitating cycle of what appears to be endless despair. I am talking about those individuals whose timelines have transformed into virtual wastelands cluttered with stereotypical images of narcotics paraphernalia (related to marijuana & ecstasy pills), rest in peace (R.I.P.) posts, and futile petitions which literally demand the liberty of their incarcerated friend (or family member) utilizing the idiotic phrase, ‘free my nigga.’ <br />
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I do not mean to sound condescending, nor judgmental; but seriously, whose life is overflowing with such destructive darkness and why would anyone be so quick to constantly share such sorrowful and tragic details of their life as if it were a badge of honor which validates their misguided beliefs regarding what it means to be authentically ‘real’ and ‘black.’</p><br />
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<IMG SRC="http://www.mememaker.net/static/images/memes/854284.jpg" ALIGN="LEFT"><p style="font-size: 120%;">The most irritating posts that literally cause me to release deep, agitated sighs as I massage my temples are asinine pleads of ‘free my nigga’ which consistently appear on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine.<br />
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Yes, I realize the American justice system is unfair and black people (especially black males) are disproportionately imprisoned for non-violent crimes which incur stiffer penalties than their white-counterparts, but we must stop treating loved ones who are sent to jail as if they are heroes worthy of praise.<br />
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Seriously, what is the purpose of launching an online campaign which publicizes the jailing of one’s friend or family member? The level of agitation increases when members of social media, black members in particular, unite to call for the freedom of a celebrity.<br />
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This would be an exceedingly laudable action if the public figure(s) whom they were calling attention to were political prisoners who were locked away for fighting against systematic injustices which affect the disenfranchised people of a particular culture.<br />
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<br />
However, there is nothing revolutionary about the people whose emancipation black members of social media are silently demanding. None of these celebrated public figures have been inspired by the example set for us by Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, and Assata Shakur whom all fought for the empowerment and enfranchisement of oppressed people throughout the span of their commendable mortal lives.</p><br />
<center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjfSLGxJsDJWGhqq31ZQBN2fDQIKL-4ATnWIK5LGP5-QERohuoJ6boP5xXnB7n8dCqGLS4yWQKC7QP4oart5hX95rC1oSqfFq_Ig3JE5IhBb9hCMlWJZvY_qJWmJQp3bIVfXRw7alH5Q/s1600/martin-luther-king-being-arrested.jpg"/><br /></center><br /><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Heck, I would even be proud if more black people spoke against the Florida legislative system and used social media to protest the bogus bondage of <a href=" http://www.thenation.com/blog/178641/marissa-alexander-now-faces-60-years-prison-firing-warning-shot-self-defense"><i>Marissa Alexander </a></i>, however the voices whose souls cry out for such justice are outnumbered by those who want to see the release of entertainers such as Lil Boosie whose major contributions to the world leave a lot to be desired in terms of purposeful substance.<br />
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<br />
Yet, legions of African-Americans (old and young) alike have found themselves to be vocal supporters of a hip-hop artist who essentially murdered another black man in cold blood.</p><br />
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<b><center><p style="font-size: 130%;">What is respectable or commendable about such actions and why are my people so ready to elevate such a person?<br />
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Is there some level of pathology which causes us to support such foolishness?<br />
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And lastly, why are so many individuals excited about his recent, reported release from prison?<br />
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SOUND OFF!!!</p></b></center>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/03/lil-boosie-its-stupid-to-be-excited.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-76269217240686109132014-03-04T21:53:00.000-06:002014-03-04T22:55:19.835-06:00THE NFL NIGGA PENALTY: Wrong, Unnecessary, & Unfair <center><img src="http://alltheragefaces.com/img/usercreated/508a7c8db997f.png"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">I am not a fan of the majority attempting to control the behavior and cultural artifacts of the minority, especially when the majority is comprised of the most privileged groups who dwell within a society. <br />
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One of the most important cultural artifacts that a people possess is their language; their words, non-verbal cues, and other unique methods of building bonds and exchanging information, ideas, concepts, emotions, thoughts, and opinions which is extremely important for the progressive development of a particular community of people (and should not be policed by outsiders who do not fully understand the mode of communication native to a particular culture). <br />
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Therefore--- men have no right to tell women they are not allowed to use the word, “bitch” amongst themselves. White people do not have the right to tell black people they should not utilize the word, “nigga” and straight people have no business telling gay people they are barred from allowing the words faggot, dyke, and butch to escape from their lips.</p> <br />
<br /><br />
<center><img src="http://michellevillalobos.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/censored-woman-double-standard-at-work.jpg"/><br /></center><br /><br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">I’m sure everyone has their own personal opinions, perceptions, and attitudes regarding which words and behavior should be classified as vulgar, and that is understandable; however, the issue becomes problematic when the dominant, more influential groups create arbitrary rules and punishments which dictate the actions of traditionally disenfranchised factions of people. <br />
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Such actions restrict the members of each insular community whom have no problem with using terms which can be viewed as offensive outside the confines of their social spaces. As I stated earlier, this type of social engineering seeks to control the behavior of the minority group while making members of the minority group feel more comfortable and at ease with individuals from the less powerful faction of people. <br />
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This is why I have a problem with the National Football League’s undeniable, discriminatory decision to penalize players who utter the word, “nigga” on the gridiron because let’s be honest here; a majority of the NFL’s players are black men under the age of 30 who more than likely use the word on a daily basis while casually interacting with their contemporaries in various social situations. <br />
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And let’s not forget---the NFL is essentially forcing young black men to censor their language while their passion and emotions are running high during the pressure and excitement of a professional football game.</p><br />
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<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zSGYSpJJacI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Sure, they will still be allowed to release some steam by exclaiming, “shit,” “fuck,” “god damn,” and other expletives which can be perceived as equally offensive, yet black players are banned from utilizing the one pejorative term that is specific to their culture.</p> <br />
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<b><center><p style="font-size: 130%;">Why not eradicate the usage of all offensively profane terms if it is a matter of moralistic standards? <br />
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Why is the word, “nigga” being singled out amongst a professional sports league which is comprised mostly of young black men? <br />
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<br />
Is this another subtle, but not so-subtle display of white supremacy meant to control individuals of the African Diaspora, specifically, black American males?</p></b></center> <br />
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<b><center><p style="font-size: 140%;">SOUND OFF!!!</center></b></p> <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/03/the-nfl-nigga-penalty-wrong-unnecessary.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-63332668983930952232014-03-03T22:37:00.002-06:002014-03-03T23:08:06.598-06:0012 YEARS A SLAVE: Refusing to Support the Film Is Not Pro-Black<center><img src="http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140303&t=2&i=852326887&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=580&pl=378&r=CBREA220EIY00"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">I do not understand exceedingly militant individuals of the African Diaspora, particularly black Americans, who refuse to support films such as 12 Years a Slave. Typically, they would be the very people complaining about the lack of black excellence within corridors of the lily-white film industry while also lambasting the Hollywood establishment for its lack of black representation. <br />
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Their short-sighted vision and apparent lack of artistic sensitivity will not allow them to celebrate creative content which portrays African-Americans as anything that is not noble.<br />
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They do not care that 12 Years a Slave is an authentically black film that was written by a black person (who was inspired by the original memoirs of Solomon Northup---a black man), directed by a black person, produced by a black person, and comprised of a cast of predominantly black thespians whose collective labor produced a monumental buzz of celebratory notoriety which eventually garnered an epic Best Picture win for the film (and Best Supporting Actress win for Lupita Nyong’o) at this year’s Oscar ceremony.</p><br />
<center><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51D9XEz5BBL._SX200_.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Their passionate disdain will only allow them to proclaim their displeasure of seeing black people as criminals, mentally disturbed, abusive, subservient, disenfranchised, overweight, or unattractive on the silver or small-screen since it apparently paints a dreadful, stereotypical portrait of blackness to be consumed by the Caucasian masses.<br />
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<br />
They also wonder why influential factions of the entertainment industry such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences celebrate such ‘negative’ portrayals of the black community. <br />
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I'd agree with this sentiment if the Academy didn't have a predilection for deeply troubled, broken, and controversial characters. <br />
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White people aren't winning Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors’ Guild Awards for portraying bland, boring saints on screen. They are winning for playing murders, child-abusers, rapists, meth addicts, and sex-addicted white trash.</p><br />
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<br />
<IMG SRC="http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2012/specials/oscars/beauty/viola-davis-435.jpg" ALIGN="LEFT"><p style="font-size: 120%;">Viola Davis' words come to mind:<br />
<i>"That mindset... is absolutely destroying the black artist. The black artist cannot live in a revisionist place. The black artist can only tell the truth about humanity. Humanity is messy. People are messy. Caucasian actors know that. They understand that. They understand that when you bring a human being to life you show all the flaws as well as the beauty. We, as African American artists, are more concerned with image and message and not execution. Which is why every time you see our images they've been watered down to a point where they are not realistic at all. It's like all of our humanity has been washed out. We as artists cannot be politicians. We as artists can only be truth tellers."</i><br />
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<br />
I am inclined to agree with Oscar-nominated actress who was given grief by members of African-American community following her portrayal as a domestic worker in 2011’s, “The Help.”<br />
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<br />
Seriously, why are we as black people still concerned with how we are perceived by Caucasians? Moreover, why do we as black people have a problem with consuming content which displays the ugliness of our community?<br />
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Why do we have a problem with slavery, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights Movement? They were and still are a huge part of the black experience in America. <br />
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Why ignore art inspired by our dark past? Ignoring and refusing to acknowledge the truth about our history isn't going to make it go away.</p><br />
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<br />
<center><img src="https://www.wttw.com/img/dto/dto1-broadside-slaves-at-auction.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">The Jews do not ignore films that tell their story. They do not boycott films about the Holocaust, nor the Passover. Or any story about Moses and the 10 Commandments because it is their history.<br />
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Now, I will say, that I would appreciate a fresh perspective on the slave narrative and Civil Rights. I would like to see more dominate voices telling our story without a white savior.<br />
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I'd like to see stories that highlight a black hero such as Nat Turner or Harriet Tubman or the Haitian Revolution; none of these stories justify nor excuse the racial transgressions of white people.<br />
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<br />
But, would we as a people complain about these films as well? And why can’t black artists be celebrated without receiving some sort of illogical and unjust criticism from members of their own community?</p><br />
<b><center><p style="font-size: 130%;">SOUND OFF!!!</p></center></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/03/12-years-slave-refusing-to-support-film.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-7464508086846049382014-03-02T20:25:00.000-06:002014-03-02T20:26:26.903-06:00LUPITA NYONG'O & Black People's Problem with Dark-Skinned Girls Like Her<center><img src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t34/1957505_10203213025389210_234773937_n.jpg?oh=cd07a8977bdbdfbf04b85b3156e19683&oe=5315C272"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">There are not a multitude of black starlets with extremely dark skin who are embraced by the mainstream media. Sure, Gabourey Sidibe became a darling of the award show circuit a few years ago following her portrayal of Precious in Lee Daniels’ film of the same name; but she was not lauded for her beauty, style, or poise. In fact, her large stature garnered much more attention and criticism than the complexion of her skin. <br />
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<br />
<IMG SRC="http://cdn.necolebitchie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Screen-Shot-2013-05-17-at-12.10.45-PM.png" ALIGN="LEFT">Conversely, Gabrielle Union has been lauded as a chocolate beauty; however, she has yet to receive accolades outside the confines of her niche, African-American audience. Yes, we love her within the black community, but her brand as an entertainer has yet to extend beyond us.<br />
<br />
<br />
Moreover, Union’s abilities as an actress isn’t necessarily something I would categorize as ‘epic.’ I am still awaiting the moment when she delivers a transcendent tour de force performance via the silver or small-screen.<br />
<br />
<br />
Her good looks and amazing body are definitely assets which have allowed her to maintain a career despite her lackluster talent in our shallow, self-absorbed society which adores heavily made-up faces, hair weaves, and other artificial enhancements.<br />
<br />
<br />
Because let’s be honest here---we judge our performance artists on much more than their talent. We do not want to spend our hard-earned cash or time looking at an ugly person on-screen, especially if that person is an entertainer of the fairer sex; this fact cannot be denied in our male-dominated society.<br />
<br />
<br />
We are a greedy people who want our entertainers to possess the best of both worlds in terms of extraordinary talent and good looks before we elevate them to superstar status.<br />
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This can be problematic for many dark-skinned women of African descent whose physical features are often looked upon as undesirable, unattractive, and outright unacceptable within the ivory inseams of the Hollywood system.<br />
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<br />
It is rare that we mere mortals are endowed with an undeniable African goddess blessed with haunting, otherworldly beauty; but this is exactly what the world has been given in the person of Lupita Nyong'o!</p><br />
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<br />
<center><img src="http://www.bongocelebrity.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Lupita.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">She is the perfect personification of monumental ability and stunning good looks. The proof is in her silent domination of each and every red carpet that she has privileged with presence, in addition to her sobering performance of Patsey in the Academy-Award nominated film, “12 Years a Slave.”<br />
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Surprisingly--- her deep dark mahogany skin, athletically slim frame, broad bright smile, and close-cut natural coif have been celebrated and endorsed as desirable, attractive, and beautiful by the mainstream media.<br />
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<br />
This is a stark contrast to the typical fair-skinned African-American woman with hair extensions and light-colored eyes which is usually embraced by the media. It is good to finally see both aspects of black beauty endorsed by the media.<br />
<br />
<br />
Ironically, there have been many people of African descent who have taken to social media in order to devalue and attack the beauty of natural, dark-skinned women. They basically argue that a black woman with Lupita’s features is not beautiful, attractive, or desirable.</p><br />
<center><img src="https://scontent-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t34/1974484_10203213022349134_1399889218_n.jpg?oh=1ad63f97079766ebbb460f7bdc7af948&oe=531636A9"/><br /></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">It sincerely grieves my heart when I think of the legions of self-hating black individuals who fail to see the beauty of a woman who does not possess fair skin, stringy-straight hair, and light eyes.<br />
<br />
<br />
When they attack the beauty of a public figure such a Lupita, they are essentially telling all little black girls that they cannot be beautiful within their own skin and that they must change in order to be perceived that way.<br />
<br />
<br />
They are silently promoting an agenda that fools adult women into continually purchasing chemical hair straighteners, weaves, colored contact lenses, and skin bleaching treatments utilized by everyday women throughout the African diaspora and celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim, and Vivica A. Fox.<br />
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<br />
It is continual mental warfare against black women everywhere. And if you do not believe me, then tell me the last time you saw a white woman who was consumed with altering her natural features. Have you ever seen a white woman purchase afro-weaves, dark-colored contact lenses, and browning agents for their skin?<br />
<br />
<br />
It is an awful reality, but sadly we cannot simply place blame on outside members of the African-American community. We are the culprits telling Lupita and other dark-skinned women that they are ugly, while the mainstream media embraces and celebrates them as gorgeous.<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><p style="font-size: 130%;">Why is this?<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND OFF!!!</b><br />
<br />
<br /> </p></center>
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/03/lupita-nyongo-black-peoples-problem.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-26142024622177159272014-02-27T10:05:00.000-06:002014-02-27T10:06:08.760-06:00#ThrowbackThursday: BLACK TV SHOWS OF THE 90s<center><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/565bebe0c9078bd5b4dc07daa74e01b7/tumblr_mruax4GDT81qbu7u4o4_r1_500.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">We need more television programming like The Cosby Show, A Different World, Family Matters, Living Single, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire on the airwaves in 2014! I don’t know what has happened, but it seems like every network is focused on intentionally presenting African-Americans and our culture in the worst possible light. <br />
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<br />
There are many who will tell me to relax and not to take television so seriously, but I simply cannot give in to such simplified thinking when I am an individual who realizes the full influential power which media wields over the individuals who idly consume it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<IMG SRC="http://www.yoism.org/images/Obey.GIF" ALIGN="LEFT">Seriously, let’s put on our thinking caps and critically consider the very real authority that television, film, radio, newspapers, magazine, and other forms of media have over our daily lives. It is not a conspiracy theory, but a reality of our world.<br />
<br />
<br />
Why else do major corporations and politicians pay millions upon millions of dollars to create marketing and ad campaigns? The decision to do so isn’t haphazard, nor is it supported without any detailed analytical research! Campaign managers and CEOS of these entities know the very real power of the media and choose to utilize it to push their products on us.<br />
<br />
<br />
They see the influence which media possesses over the mass consciousness. So, why do we continue to fool ourselves and pretend that the content which we consume bears no influence on our consciousness and the way we perceive reality?<br />
<br />
<br />
I’m trying my best not to sound like an old fogy who constantly complains about contemporary culture while looking back at the past with rose-colored lenses and forgetting the problematic occurrences of the previous era because I know that nostalgia can get to the best of us; however, I do not believe that is what I’m doing here simply because the facts do not lie.<br />
<br />
<br />
Shows such as A Different World had a definite impact on the black viewers who watched it. During the course of the show African-American enrollment in both historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominantly white institutions (PWIs) rose a monumental 300%. Many professors, enrollment counselors, and black college students of that era specifically cited the television program as one of the main reasons they wanted to attend college.</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bnTlxbNueVA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">They saw other young, intelligent black people who desired an education and it made them want to go-out and acquire their own college degree. Moreover, the black television shows of the prior era displayed black people with dignity and a moral compass which guided them to make responsible decisions; the characters were far from perfect, but they at least made smarter choices concerning their day-to-day life. Such African-American representation is all but absent in today’s television programming.<br />
<br />
<br />
Currently---we are being force-fed emotionally and intellectually immature housewives whose lives are overflowing with relational drama and glorified corporate side-pieces that many of us foolishly defend and celebrate as progress.<br />
<br />
<br />
I simply do not understand what is so forward-thinking about marvelously ignorant black people with degrees who possess the emotional and moralistic depth of a children’s wading pool.<br />
<br />
<br />
The programs are entertaining, but they are doing very little to empower African-Americans. I knew there was a problem when I saw black women equating themselves to Kerry Washington’s, ‘Olivia Pope’ character. The problem seemed to intensify with BET’s ‘I Am Mary Jane’ campaign which essentially lured black women into posting web-cam videos which explained how they were similar to the character of Mary Jane (an inconsiderate mistress of a married man). I do not comprehend.</p><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><b><p style="font-size: 140%;">As African-Americans are we so desperate for depictions of ourselves in the media, that we’ll settle for the worst representations?<br />
<br />
<br />
And why do we support such representations? Why do they continue to be shown?<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND OFF!!!</p></center></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/02/throwbackthursday-black-tv-shows-of-90s.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-53500683202337358492014-02-25T00:08:00.002-06:002014-02-25T00:21:06.368-06:00SCHOOL DAZE: The New Class <center><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2b/School_Daze_film_poster.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">I sincerely hope Spike Lee isn’t ruining the legacy of one of the most amazingly thought-provoking cinematic creations ever released as he labors to release a sequel to the controversial classic. <br />
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<br />
The prolific filmmaker recently announced his completion of a script for the long-awaited sequel while assuring fans a fresh approach to the topics of class, colorism, South African apartheid, and Greek life that were initially introduced in the 1988 original. <br />
<br />
<br />
While I do applaud his decision to produce a sequel and explore the contemporary subjects of homosexuality, bullying, and a modernized look at the intake orientation (pledge) process of predominantly black fraternities and sororities; I cannot help but wonder what a re-make of the film would look like on-screen. <br />
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<br />
Who would embody the beloved characters of Dap, Half-Pint, Jane, and Rachel? <br />
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Believe me, it took a concentrated amount of mental energy to compose this updated cast-list simply because black Hollywood is aging and there isn’t an abundance of young black thespians replacing our living legends. <br />
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<br />
Moreover, this current generation of African-American performers simply aren’t triple-threats who are equally proficient in the fields of acting, singing, and dancing like their predecessors.<br />
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<br /> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5HUUvQ3Yac8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<br /> One of the elements that made School Daze such an amazing artistic work were the multifaceted performances of the actors and actresses who gave life to Spike Lee’s cinematic vision of a historically black college and university(HBCU) under turmoil during its annual homecoming weekend. <br />
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<br />
However, all hope is not lost. There are still a few shining beacons of light whom I believe would work together to create an epic re-boot of School Daze.<br />
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<br />
<center>This list is as follows:</p><br />
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<br />
<p style="font-size: 130%;"><b>THE LEADING CAST:<br />
<br /> </b>
Dap- Derek Luke<br />
Julian- Michael B. Jordan<br />
Half-Pint- Evan Ross<br />
Jane Toussaint - Beyonce Knowles<br />
Rachel Meadows- Lupita Nyong’o<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>THE WANNABES:<br />
<br /></b>
Jurnee Smollett<br />
Raven Simone<br />
Carmen Ejogo<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>THE JIGGABOOS:<br />
<br /></b>
Tika Sumpter<br />
Nicole Beharie<br />
Rutina Wesley<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>THE GAMMAS:<br />
<br /></b>
Chris Brown<br />
Nate Parker<br />
Lance Gross<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>THE FELLAS:<br />
<br /></b>
Jordan- Tristian Wilds<br />
Edge- Elijah Kelley<br />
Booker T- Tyler James Williams<br />
Grady- Anthony Mackie<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>THE ADMINISTRATION:<br />
<br /></b>
President McPherson- Laurence Fishburne<br />
Mrs. McPherson- Jasmine Guy<br />
Coach Odom- Samuel L. Jackson</p><br />
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<br /></center>
<b><center>Do you agree or disagree with the casting choices?<br />
<br />
<br />
Who are your casting choices?<br />
<br />
<br />
Are you looking forward to Spike Lee’s sequel?<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND OFF!!!</center><br />
<br />
<br /></b>
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/02/school-daze-new-class.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-87304891103075954372014-02-24T00:04:00.003-06:002014-02-24T00:36:04.441-06:00MICHAEL B. JORDAN: Black Man On Fire<center><img src="http://www.twogeekynerds.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/fantastic-four-reboot-chronicle-star-the-new-human-torch.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Take note of this young brother because he is definitely one of the shining stars who is destined to become a major power-player in Hollywood. If Kevin Hart is the heir to adjoining comedic thrones of Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, and Chris Tucker; then Michael B. Jordan is a disciple of the Denzel Washington meant to usher in a new era of fresh black thespian talent who are bankable in the cinematic industry. <br />
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I have been watching his career progression and must say that he is making major moves. I appreciate the diversity of his roles. He is quite apt at playing distinctly different characters with discernible ease. This is a skill which will serve him well in avoiding stereotypical typecasts which can derail and drastically shorten the shelf-life of the black actor’s career. <br />
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<br />
Certainly, he is an actor’s actor who executes amazing comedic and dramatic roles with equal effectiveness. I still cannot believe the same man who delivered a sobering depiction of Oscar Grant in “Fruitvale Station” also starred alongside Zac Efron in “That Awkward Moment.” Each film and accompanying character is worlds apart in terms of tone, disposition, and attitude. <br />
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I hope he is able to do the same and challenge audiences with his upcoming role as the Human Torch in the next blockbuster installment of the Fantastic Four! There has already been major backlash concerning his casting in the film. <br />
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It seems that there are a number of raging fan-boys who have a problem with a black man portraying a character who has traditionally been shown with blonde hair, blue eyes, and superpowers equal to his white, superhuman sister. <br />
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Being something of a science fiction geek who happens to be black, I do hope the writers of the film find an organically believable plot-point which thoroughly introduces an African-American man into a Caucasian family dynamic overflowing with supernatural abilities since I do despise seeing sci-fi characters of African descent receiving minimal character development. <br />
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<br />
Because we do not want Michael B. Jordan to fall prey to “The Halle Berry Curse” which can be best described as a critically acclaimed black actor whose attempt of embodying a supernatural character on film is a cataclysmic failure! <br />
<br />
<br />
I doubt this will happen since his range is greater than that of Ms. Berry, but we shall see. Either way, I have no doubt of this young actor’s brilliance as a performer and the future of Hollywood. <br />
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<br />
I look forward to seeing him in the Fantastic Four and many more roles to come because it is definitely time for a new crop of black actors. Heaven knows we all love the Denzel Washingtons, Angela Bassetts, Halle Berrys, Nia Longs, and Terrence Howards; but they have been working for over two decades...
It is time for new black talent, don’t you think?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><center>SOUND OFF!!!</b></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/02/michael-b-jordan-black-man-on-fire.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-4283835450544614222014-02-20T08:46:00.002-06:002014-02-20T08:46:50.274-06:00WHITE PEOPLE: ARE THEY THE ENEMY?<center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JMGJA4wRG2WHZXIZxBNTz_Wginm9bYXOfXhA1-dPWqdp0t2JJzm5rHV_NChjb2MbRKAoSHaAolX4C_65eWw0cz_DbvStajAhnvxV5hAAdaovuKP8Y1TOUF_NqMJsIN6pAlL6OVRueb0/s1600/942067_292791167524337_1928129533_n.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Let’s be clear, I have a huge disdain for the effects of European colonialism. I get sick to my stomach when I think of all the savage brutality carried out against people of color throughout the world at the hands of white Europeans. <br />
<br />
<br />
I am disgusted by the various images of white Jesus that are shoved down my throat at various houses of worship mainly populated by brown and black people. I am saddened when I think of the beautiful African, Indian, and Asian who have been taught to hate their ethnic features. Seriously, why are countless people of color in their native country bleaching their skin, wearing blue contacts, and dying their hair blonde while treating Caucasians as if they were gods and goddesses? <br />
<br />
<br />
And I harbor an endless supply of silent frustration concerning the perpetual dehumanization of black people living in America. I am not one of those foolish individuals who believe we are all the same. America is not a post-racial society, nor a joyous melting pot of humanity; that idealistic fantasy died a slow and painful death after I received rude awakening after rude awakening of life’s reality for a black man living in an ivory-clad society that worships whiteness.<br />
<br />
<br />
Do I have a chip on my shoulder? Possibly! But, I will not make any apologies for being concerned about the state of Black America! There are a multitude of complex problems plaguing our existence in every realm of reality and we must engage in spiritual, psychological, and sociopolitical warfare if we are ever to effectively defeat these debilitating issues.<br />
<br />
<br />
See---there are delusional folks who fail to see that we are at war, therefore they refuse to name names and explicitly identify their enemy, but this must be done or else all of our efforts to progress will be in vain.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, who(m) or what, ensures that cycles of economic, educational, political, and social inequalities continually reduce the quality of life for people of color domestically and abroad? Who(m) or what is it that tells an African-American that their ethnic dialect, naturally kinky hair, and dark skin is improper? <br />
<br />
<br />
Who(m) or what is it that automatically portrays the black individual as less intelligent, less diligent, less logical, and less safe? Who(m) or what creates legislation that disproportionately incarcerate people of color? Who(m) or what causes a huge economic gap between the white and black worker? <br />
<br />
<br />
Are white people whom we fight against? Collectively, they do wield more power and influence than people of color throughout the world?<br />
<br />
<br />
Or is our enemy more elusive? Is it a system designed to suppress the empowerment of black people and other people of color while disproportionately giving an abundance of resources to white individuals?<br />
<br />
<br />
Who(m) created this system?<br />
<br />
<br />
And who is our enemy in this daily war that we face?<br />
<br />
<br /></p>
<center><p style="font-size: 140%;"> SOUND OFF!! </center></p><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/02/white-people-are-they-enemy.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-63790591792947041592014-02-18T08:55:00.000-06:002014-02-18T09:31:11.270-06:00IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A BLACK PERSON TO SURVIVE & BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT WHITE APPROVAL?<center><img src="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/d-white-people-approved-rubber-stamp-huge-background-36604052.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">It is virtually impossible for a black person to survive in this world without the approval of a white person. I hate to admit, but it’s true. This subtle form of white supremacy still lingers in our contemporary society. <br />
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<br />
Speaking strictly from a sociopolitical perspective, African-Americans do not wield very much power in comparison to our white counterparts. Our perspective, our customs, and our unique culture are not held in high esteem by the majority of individuals existing outside of that environment. <br />
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<br />
Conversely---white, Anglo-Saxon cultural practices are projected as the normalized standard by which all other ethnic groups are expected to imitate as their own distinct, personal heritage is measured against Caucasian culture. <br />
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<br />
I am not saying that all white people are wicked individuals who must be obliterated from the face of this earth, however many of them do hold prejudices against people of color that are rooted in ignorant inexperience which festers as a direct result of our increasingly segregated society.<br />
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<br />
Sadly, the burden of challenging such regressively racist ideologies rests squarely on the shoulders of black people and other ethnic minorities who must labor to prove their worth to white individuals who view them from a skewed focal point.<br />
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It has become the unfortunate, eternal responsibility of black individuals everywhere to prove they are not the realization of a white person’s worst fears about black people; we do this to survive in this world in all areas of our social and professional lives.<br />
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<br />
From birth---a black child is taught to psychologically disarm white individuals who readily view them as a threat. As a protective, preemptive strike black elders instruct their children to present themselves with a smile, congenial disposition, and properly fitted attire. <br />
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Tragically---a misplaced scowl, disagreeable temperament, and even sagging pants can spell disaster for the black individual who crosses path with the wrong white person and their racist attitudes concerning African-Americans. There are numerous cases of innocent, unarmed black people being executed by overly-aggressive white people whose ignorance allowed them to feel threatened by black people who harbored no ill-will against them.<br />
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<br />
So yes! The approval of a white person would have literally ensured the survival of the countless African-Americans who have been shot-down by bewildered white people, but this subtle brand of white supremacy extends far beyond these violent occurrences.<br />
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<br />
We worry about our physical safety in public spaces, but many of us also spend a considerable amount of time working to ensure we are able to financially provide for ourselves in the workforce. <br />
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Race is a major component of office politics for the black professional that is not often discussed in an open, mature, and adult manner; it is challenging for the minority colleague in a predominantly white environment, especially one who is focused on quickly ascending the corporate ladder.<br />
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Instinctively, we know that it will take much more than an explemary performance to acquire promotions and positions of power. A large portion of achieving success in our professional lives requires us to play the game of office politics and establish key social connections within the work environment. <br />
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Many of those key connections will be made with white individuals whom many African-Americans must charm in order to disarm their pre-established beliefs regarding black people.<br />
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A black person laboring to gain a promotion does not want to be thought of as ‘disagreeable,’ ‘difficult,’ or ‘not being a team player.’ Again, we find ourselves presenting who we are with a smile and congenial disposition to ensure we are thought of in a positive manner by a Caucasian individual who could either help or hinder us in our career progression; which in essence is either increasing or decreasing our earning power in terms of dollars and cents!<br />
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I know this is how the world works, but I wish it was different. I grow tired of attempting to prove my worth to ignorant individuals to simply ‘get ahead.’ I do wish Black people did not have to go-along, to get-along in our society.<br />
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<br /></p>
<center><b><p style="font-size: 140%;">Will this ever change? If so, how?<br />
<br />
<br />
Or will Black Americans always be forced to gain the approval of white people in order to survive in our society?<br />
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SOUND OFF!</center></p></b>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/02/is-it-possible-for-black-person-to.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-22677645876060167352014-02-17T10:39:00.001-06:002014-02-17T10:39:45.428-06:00WILL AGGRESSIVE WHITE MEN LIKE MICHAEL DUNN ALWAYS BE ACQUITTED OF MURDERING UNARMED BLACK MEN? <center><img src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/54e72c33bc34bbc685ad657c9a000b6b9fcd0b1d/c=0-0-2400-1806&r=x383&c=540x380/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/02/16//1392589319000-AP-Loud-Music-Killing.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Insanity is when savage behavior is justified and normalized in the malignant thoughts of a disturbed mind. This problem is exacerbated when the collective consciousness of a people choose to embrace such a primitive psychological pathology. <br />
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<br />
White America suffers from a staggering sickness rooted deeply in its corroding core. It is a debilitating ailment that makes it okay to routinely dehumanize, discredit, and disrespect all people of color.<br />
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We commonly refer to this troublesome virus as racism! Tragically, communities and clusters of people who are afflicted with this chronic condition rarely ever seeks treatment; thus allowing the sickness to readily multiply and infect everything around it.<br />
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The racism that I speak of makes it okay for both, minor and major transgressions, to be carried out against all people of color. This illness makes an otherwise logical individual scoff at the notion of a Messiah with chocolate skin, kinky hair, and chestnut brown eyes.<br />
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It encourages the Caucasian educator to minimize the intelligence of their black pupils and it gives an otherwise mild-mannered white man the authority to play the role of judge, juror, and executioner when inflicting fatal violence against innocent, unarmed Black people. <br />
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In a normal and sane world an individual who wrongfully assassinates another citizen is punished for their actions; however---in our sick, sad, and twisted world race plays a major factor in determining how justice is given to the murdered victim.<br />
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A white man who kills another white man is handled properly. However, a case which involves a white man killing a black man will not be handled with the same level of objective professionalism due our nation’s system of institutionalized racism.<br />
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Socially---a severe psychological stigma is attached to all Black people. We are portrayed as societal deviants who are naturally predisposed to irrational and violent behavior. We are the misunderstood ‘other’ who is always viewed as a threat, while the white person is always perceived as morally and intellectually superiors whose mistreatment of the African-American is understandable.<br />
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Legally—laws designed to empower and protect the white individual are created each day in local, regional, and national legislatures. This empowers white people to terminate any ‘undesirable’ black person they deem unworthy of living.<br />
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This lethal combination of sociopolitical actions makes it almost impossible for the black family seeking justice for their slain fathers, brothers, sons, and uncles!<br />
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The odds are definitely stacked in the favor of white aggressor. Their supporters laud them as heroes for rightfully ‘standing their ground’ against endless legions of so-called dangerous black men.<br />
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As a Black man, I fear for my own life. What if I cross paths with an overzealous white man who believes that I am threat to his safety when I am simply living my life and minding my own business?<br />
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When I am armed with nothing but my dark skin, kinky hair, and ‘urban’ attire should a white man be allowed to stalk me, apprehend me, and then put a bullet through my skull?<br />
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Should I adhere to the severe mental illness of America and work to prove my life’s value to white Americans, near and far, by wearing a full suit and tie at all times while speaking nothing but the King’s English and acknowledging the de facto authority of an anonymous white vigilante who believes he has the right to police me?<br />
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I’m tired of shedding tears for innocent Black men who were killed at the hands of aggressive white men who are set free by a jury of their peers following court case after court case of the same scenario.<br />
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Murdering unarmed Black men has become something of a normalized behavior that is readily justified by the majority of this nation’s white citizens!<br />
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<br />
But what can we do aside from being outraged and saddened by such events? It seems like everything has stacked against us?<br />
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<br />
</p>
<center>The burning question always remain:<br />
<br />
<br /><b><p style="font-size: 140%;">What can be done to stop this seemingly endless cycle of fatal violence against black men at the hands of white men? <br />
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What can be done to ensure that another white man will not be set free for his unjust crimes? <br />
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SOUND OFF!<br />
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<br />
</p></b></center>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Black Youth Project, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/02/will-aggressive-white-men-like-michael.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-53090659644497570322014-02-06T05:00:00.000-06:002014-02-06T05:19:49.841-06:00#THROWBACK THURSDAY: UNDERSTANDING WHY THE TRAGIC MULATTO HATED BEING BLACK VIA "IMITATION OF LIFE" <center><img src="http://www.separatecinema.com/images/detail_images/Micheux/lrgpic23.jpg"/><br /></center><br />
<p style="font-size: 120%;">The Black characters in this narrative irritate me. Annie is a subservient, reincarnated Mammy who fails to instill any sense of Black pride in her daughter. Conversely, Sarah Jane is a self-hating spoiled brat who worships all things white while categorically despising all things Black including her ever-gracious and eternally-loving mother. <br />
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The underlying motivations of the tragic mulatto are easily understood. She doesn't hate being Black. On the contrary, she did not want to exist as a second-class citizen whose only option in life was to become an underpaid and over-worked domestic who received little-to-no respect from her white superiors; she observed such menial and meager behavior from her mother throughout the course of her lifetime. <br />
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None of the white people within Annie’s world knew of her existence aside from her duties as a caretaker. They knew nothing of her heavy involvement as a community leader within neither her church, nor her active role as a Shriner despite having known and resided within the same household with the Black housekeeper for over a decade. <br />
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Sarah Jane wanted to break free from such subjugated anonymity. She didn’t want to date or be courted by African-American suitors whom she believed were destined to live-out their days as waiters, bus-boys, and chauffeurs.<br />
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Again, I get it! She did not want to live a life where she was forced to accommodate whites while ignoring her own needs---however I cannot comprehend why she would continue in her attempts of dating Caucasians after she was brutally beaten by a white boy who discovers her true ethnicity following his romantic involvement with her.<br /><br />
<br /> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0WgenwfYmwk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Her desire to pass for white seems to eradicate her common sense. Sarah Jane’s lack of intelligence becomes painstakingly apparent after Annie grows tired of her daughter’s restlessly rebellious behavior and decides to send her to an all-Black university.<br />
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This rare opportunity literally provided the young lady with the resources needed to liberate herself from the debilitating cycles of socioeconomic impoverishment that she hated within the African-American community. <br />
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Sarah Jane was afforded the luxury of education as a tool of empowerment at a predominantly Black institution where she could have studied to be a doctor, business-woman, lawyer, or educator. No longer would she have had to worry about the very same factors which plagued the lives of most African-Americans who had no choice but to work as Black servants in order to survive and make ends’ meet during the 1950s.<br />
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However, she wasted her golden ticket and chose to flee from the collegiate atmosphere. She did not run away and work to enroll in a predominantly white institution. No, that would have been too much like right.<br />
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Instead, her blind faith and adoration for whiteness ultimately caused her to officially disown her mother(until her untimely death) and become an exotic dancer in a trashy nightclub.<br />
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Why one would choose to become a white stripper instead of a black collegiate student is beyond me!<br />
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A vast majority of the blame can be placed squarely on the shoulders of Annie Johnson. She was an excessively loving mother to Sarah Jane, yet she possessed a limited perspective of Blackness which inhibited her from teaching her daughter to be proud of her heritage as an African-American woman.<br />
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Annie could only show her daughter a world where Black people where inferior to whites.<br />
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The polar opposite lives of Annie and Ms. Lora (her white employer) serve as a startling realization of this anguishing reality---Lora was rich, famous, and fabulous. She lived an extravagant life of excitement which included fancy gourmet dinner parties, fashion-forward clothing, lavish movie premiers, and international trips around the world.<br />
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This was the type of lifestyle that an impressionable Sarah Jane worshiped. This was the type of life that Sarah Jane viewed as inaccessible to Black people who were stuck doing all the cooking and cleaning of those who lived the glamorous life.<br />
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Sarah Jane could not fathom the existence of the Black professional during the 1950s. She knew nothing of those people of color who were free from the de facto white supremacy of the day and this is why she chose to utilize her extremely fair skin, deny her Blackness, and live as a white woman “passing.”<br />
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Tragically, there are still many African-Americans work to minimize their Blackness in hopes of ascending the socioeconomic ladder of success. There are those who bleach their skin, chemically alter the natural texture of their hair, and wear colored contacts.</p><br />
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<center><p style="font-size: 140%;">Are such behaviors rooted in self-hatred?<br />
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Or are they smart precautions needed to increase the African-American’s chances of success in our overwhelmingly white-dominated society?<br />
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<br />
What are your thoughts?<br />
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Let us know!<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND OFF!!!<br />
<br />
<br /></p></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Grio, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/02/throwback-thursday-understanding-why.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-58931084102311795452014-02-03T13:11:00.000-06:002014-02-03T13:44:44.985-06:00DEAR IGNORANT WHITE GARBAGE: <center><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/b1d65dfbc3a8b687d878542f3eb09c77/tumblr_inline_n0ee5xmOvF1qawfnh.png"/><br /><b>And they say we're living in a post-racial society</b> </center><br />
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<p style="font-size: 120%;">Please check your marvelously ignorant statements at the door. America is not a homogenous nation overflowing with blonde, blue-eyed Anglo-Saxons of Western European descent, nor does our nation possess an official language. <br />
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The de facto language of these United States happens to be English since men and women from various Western European nations sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and accidentally stumbled upon a land rightfully belonging to the Native Americans. <br />
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Naturally---your egocentric, self-entitled ancestors referred to their accidental happenstance as a “discovery” and implemented a horrific genocide that nearly killed the entire non-English speaking population of Native Americans on this continent. <br />
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Isn’t the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Man%27s_Burden"><i> white man's burden </a></i> something else? But, wait! Completely obliterating the Native Americans wasn’t enough for your ancestors. Since they were categorically inept, ignorant, and incapable of successfully cultivating their newly stolen land; a plan was created to acquire the assistance of much more virile, intelligent, and competent individuals to assist them in building an industrious nation. <br />
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Too bad your ancestors were too under-handed, vile, and cold-hearted to actually pay these individuals a fair wage for their work. Instead, they chose dehumanize these brilliantly beautiful people and force the vile institution of slavery upon them. <br />
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It was Black people! My people, who built this nation from scratch when your people were too stuck on stupid to figure out how to do it on their own. If we aren’t American, then I don’t know what is… <br />
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I am sure we did not come to these shores speaking English, but did that stop your ancestors from kidnapping us and accomplishing what they couldn’t by building this nation?<center><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/f12420c9a5b51c4b2b453365fdecb512/tumblr_inline_n0eg64IQhs1qawfnh.png"/><br /></center>
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<p style="font-size: 120%;">And oh yeah--- if you didn’t know America literally stole the majority of the current-day Southwest from Mexico. <br />
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It seems like your ancestors have a history of claiming something that isn’t rightfully theirs, much like your half-baked attempts of claiming that Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, and people of Middle-Eastern descend should be excluded from this inclusive land. <br />
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Your white rage sickens me and I do hope you seek psychiatric treatment for the extreme case of racism before it destroys what is left of your miniscule mind. <br />
-A Black Man <br />
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PS: <i>Please research this nation’s history of international terrorism. I’d suggest starting with Hiroshima and finishing with how the American government put Saddaam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden in power during the 1980s.</i><br />
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<br />
PPS: <i>If you have a problem with anything that I've stated you may contact me. My information is listed below!</i></p><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Grio, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://www.mental-masturbation.com/2014/02/dear-ignorant-white-garbage.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-69709658511925896012014-02-03T06:30:00.000-06:002014-02-03T09:04:07.135-06:00WHY BRUNO MARS' HALFTIME SHOW WAS BETTER THAN BEYONCE'S <center><img src="http://timeentertainment.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/superbowl-halftime6.jpg?w=720"/><br /><b>Get into the thundering drum solo!</b> </center><br />
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<p style="font-size: 120%;">Let’s be clear! There is a major difference between notoriety and talent. Rhianna is much more popular than Corrine Bailey Rae, but the latter artist possesses undeniably greater talent. A similar comparison can be made between Beyonce Knowles and Bruno Mars.<br />
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<br />
Sure, Beyonce is a bombshell beauty who’s acquired a legion of excessively dedicated fans, massive media coverage, an extensively elite discography, and record-shattering album sales; however, her talent as an entertainer <i><u>and</u></i> artist doesn’t even begin to rival the musicianship of Bruno Mars. <br />
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For starters, Bruno Mars simply has a more diversified arsenal of creative abilities at his disposal. He is a true connoisseur of music whose artistic ability has afforded him the opportunity to create timeless material which supersedes any Beyonce-driven project that has been produced by the perennial pop-princess. <br />
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Lyrically, he gives his listeners intriguing themes enveloped in masterfully crafted phrasings which flow perfectly with the compelling sounds of his eclectic instrumentation; this isn’t to say that Beyonce isn’t a gifted writer, but her catchy pop-tunes simply pale in comparison.<br />
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Yes, she was able to set records by releasing her latest project via iTunes without any previous promotion, but this speaks to her impeccable marketing team’s ability to utilize her far-reaching social capital and online presence as leverage in the ‘anti-advertising’ campaign of Knowles’ self-titled album. The ability to accomplish such a feat speaks more to her team’s business acumen rather than her artistic capability. <br />
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Also, let’s consider the amount of time it took the National Football League to invite Beyonce to be featured as a solo half-time show performer; her first solo album was released in 2004, yet she did not perform as a solo artist in the Super Bowl half-time show until January 2013. <br />
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<br />
Similarly, Bruno Mars’ first solo project was released in 2010 and as we all saw he was highlighted as a solo performer at this year’s Super Bowl half-time show. It took Bruno Mars four years to achieve this epic career move, while it took nine years to arrive at the Super Bowl as a half-time solo act. <br />
<br />
<br />
Bruno’s superior talent in the realm of music has clearly elevated him to such an honorable position at a much quicker pace. The numbers do not lie. <br />
<br />
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However, I will not discount Beyonce’s performance talent. I will be fair in my critical analysis; surely the essence of technical perfection, soul, and stage presence flow through the woman’s veins because she has consistently delivered the earth-shattering live performances over the past decade. <br />
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She has created unforgettable moments that will forever be indelibly imprinted on the consciousness of our culture. Who could forget the first moment she performed, “Crazy In Love” or “Single Ladies”? <br />
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And let us not forget the moment she revealed her pregnancy to the world during the 2011 MTV Music Awards. I do not even have to mention the name of the song which she performed. It is common knowledge which helps illustrate the point of her being a nearly ‘flawless’ performer. <br />
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<br />
Unfortunately, Beyonce isn’t an immaculate being. <br />
<br />
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Many of her performances have fallen short. Her opening performance at this year’s Grammys was lackluster. The same can be said about her performance at Super Bowl XLVII. It seems as if her ability to be a showstopper is waning. <br />
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<br />
Conversely, Bruno Mars’ penchant for moving crowds with his James Brown-inspired shows has grown exponentially! This was apparent at this year’s Super Bowl half-time show. <br />
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Every moment of the show was electrifying! From the thundering drum solo to the Red Hot Chili Peppers interludes to the closing number. The man certainly gives an amazing show with a feel-good vibe that bests previous acts of the last few years.</p> <br />
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<center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hX3YLz6QOP8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6ZzkCJSu_m0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<center> Question still remains though:<br />
<br />
<br />
<p style="font-size: 140%;">Which performance do you prefer and why?<br />
<br />
<br />
Did this year’s performance elevate Bruno Mars to superstar status?</center><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Grio, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
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E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-72996157514812855232014-01-30T14:31:00.001-06:002014-01-30T16:18:22.044-06:00#THROWBACK THURSDAY: THE BLATANT RACISM AND SEXISM OF NIPPLEGATE <center><img src="http://www.looptheloop.de/webarbeit/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/nipplegate.jpg"/><br /><b>Does the black bedazzled breast offend you?</b> </center>
<p style="font-size: 120%;">Ten years ago the mainstream media conspired to ruin the career of an iconic Black female within the arts and entertainment industry while simultaneously seeking to protect, preserve, and promote the career of a young white male who existed within the realm of that very same professional sphere.<br />
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That’s right! It’s been ten years since Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s bare black breast for the entire world to see during a live telecast of their prime-time performance during Super Bowl XXXVIII. <br />
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Of course the blind sheep of the world united in their gross overreaction of the incident and painted Janet Jackson as a bewitching harlot whose mammary glands possessed enough potent power to single-handedly cause of the collapse of civilized society in mere moments; all while choosing to develop selective amnesia concerning Justin Timberlake’s role in the debacle. <br />
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Timberlake was a coward who reveled in the cocoon of his white male privilege as influential members of the media railroaded Jackson. He never defended her, nor did he acknowledge his fault; instead he allowed her to serve as a scapegoat who absorbed every ounce of negative attention which her race and gender were unable to effectively shield her from. <br />
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Many will argue that such a mentality is pessimistic, counterproductive, absurd, and paranoid; however the writings on the wall say differently. <br />
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How else can we explain why Janet Jackson was banned from making television and radio appearances by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Viacom following the incident?<br />
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Consider the intensity of such a punishment for a recording artist who utilizes those very same venues to publicize, advertise, and market their career. Not only was Janet Jackson prohibited from conducting interviews to defend herself following the fall-out of the Nipplegate scandal, but her songs and music videos were barred from playing on any television and radio station that was owned by Viacom; this list includes BET, VH1, MTV, and the vast majority of major radio stations throughout the nation.<br />
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Her career was thoroughly ruined as a result of the world seeing briefly seeing bare black breast for five seconds. The severity of the punishment did not fit the crime, but this is no surprise since African-Americans are habitually given harsher disciplinary penalties for lesser transgressions than their white counterparts (who usually receive a mere slap on the wrist or nothing at all.)<br />
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Must I remind you of George Zimmerman who was set free with no consequences after he shot and killed an unarmed young Black man in the state of Florida? His legal defense team utilized the state’s, “Stand Your Ground” law in conjunction with good-old fashioned race-baiting as the crux of their argument to accomplish this biased feat. <br />
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Meanwhile, Marissa Alexander was sentenced to twenty plus years in prison for firing warning shots towards her abusive husband (who was not killed). The Stand Your Ground defense did not quite work in her favor; apparently she was the wrong skin color and/or gender for the legislative system to benefit her. <br />
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The same narrative repeats itself time after time in our nation regardless of the venue, whether it is the entertainment industry, our legal system, our education system, or corporate America---<br />
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White people will always be allowed to do wrong and find sympathy with the media and/or court system which will turns a blind eye their sins. How else can a young white man claim to suffer from ‘affluenza’ after becoming intoxicated and murdering four people without receiving any genuine repercussions for his actions? <br />
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Or tell me why Justin Timberlake’s career flourished following the Nipplegate scandal as Janet Jackson’s epic career exponentially diminished? Why wasn’t Justin Timberlake banned from the airwaves by the FCC and Viacom even though he was just as wrong as Ms. Jackson during the incident; in fact, he was the one who removed the fabric which exposed her breast!<br />
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Since that time he has somehow managed to be embraced by the African-American community while releasing numerous multi-platinum albums which were actively promoted utilizing Viacom-owned television and radio stations. Moreover, he has launched a burgeoning film career as well.</p> <br />
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<br />
<center>The question still remains though:</center>
<p style="font-size: 140%;">WHY DO BLACK PEOPLE RECEIVE HARSHER PUNISHMENTS FOR LESSER CRIMES THAN OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS?<br />
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<br />
ALSO, HOW DOES MEDIA BIAS FACTOR INTO HOW AN INDIVIDUAL IS PERCEIVED WHEN CONSIDERING THEIR RACE & GENDER?</p></center><br />
<br />
<center><p style="font-size: 140%;">TALK TO US!<br />
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<br />
SOUND OFF!</p></center></p> <br />
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<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Grio, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://edotreed.blogspot.com/2014/01/throwback-thursday-blatant-racism-and.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383517960656481049.post-58285691087464858892014-01-29T06:43:00.000-06:002014-01-29T07:04:10.341-06:00THE BLACK STRUGGLE VS. THE GAY STRUGGLE <center><img src="https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/q71/s720x720/1655912_722126067809342_106703003_n.jpg"/><br /><b>Seriously, is Gay the New Black?</b> </center>
<p style="font-size: 120%;">
I’m annoyed by gay people who choose to appropriate the entire Civil Rights Movement to selfishly promote their LGBT agenda while categorically demonizing African-American individuals, our values, and our beliefs.<br />
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It is much more than a mere insult. It is a deplorably apocalyptic transgression that must cease and desist immediately! What good and common sense does it make for one group of people to usurp the revolutionary tactics of another subset of humanity while continuously utilizing their culture as a proverbial whipping boy?<br />
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This is what the white, upper-middle class homosexual and their privileged proponents do to the Black American; borrow from our culture and paint us as dehumanized monsters in the mainstream media as they turn a blind eye and silent ear to our plight.<br />
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In an idealized world such disrespect would not occur. Classist and egregious members of the LGBT community would not scapegoat Black people while mounting their movement upon the backs of the very same people whose presence gives them pause. <br />
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Yes! I’m being harsh and unforgiving, but it’s because I’ve grown tired of searching for compassion and idly standing by as a Black bisexual man who has bear witness to a multitude of contemptuous behaviors directed at ethnic minorities such as myself within the LGBT community. There are many who attempt to discredit and edit the truth given to the masses, but the ugly-truth cannot be changed, nor contained because racism plagues the gay community.<br />
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Popular ideologies portray the LGBT community as a harmonious, understanding, and tolerant community, but this simply is not the reality of the situation. African-Americans and other ethnic minorities are mercilessly marginalized within the corridors of the same-gender loving community.<br />
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Black men are still vilified and reduced within the insular gay community while Black lesbian and their struggle are perpetually ignored. This is why I choose to define myself as a Black man first and a bisexual man second while aligning myself with the injustice and inequalities that all Black men and women face on a daily basis.<br />
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Sure, the fight for same-sex marriage equality is a noble cause; however, I am more concerned with the silent societal struggles that Black men and women face each day.<br />
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<IMG SRC="http://cdn.madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/trayvonmartin-shepard-fairey.jpg" ALIGN="LEFT">Must I bring up Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, or any of the other countless unarmed Black men who were murdered in cold blood by their white aggressors (who have yet to face any jail-time).<br />
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Tragically--- the very same could happen to me, simply because of my skin color, if I am unlucky enough to find myself at the wrong place at the wrong time. Many will say that the same could occur due to my sexuality, but I highly doubt it since 99.9% of society will see a Black man before they see anything else. <br />
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My sexuality is something that must be disclosed. The same cannot be said for my race and the numerous tragedies that could befall me simply because I am Black.
The mainstream media does not help resolve anything. The rift between the Black community and LGBT community is intensified due to messages communicated to the general public via newspapers, magazines, news programs, and creative content(such as music, film, and television). <br />
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Ironically, these same popular venues all but silence African-American culture, our triumphs, and tragedies while making it trendy and ‘cool’ to promote gay culture, its triumphs, and its tragedies.<br />
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Think back to 2008 when Barack Obama was first running for president. The battle for gay rights was in full swing with an abundance of passion and fervor! Immediately thereafter, a popular slogan emerged that spread like wild-fire.</p><br />
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<center><b><p style="font-size: 140%;">"GAY IS THE NEW BLACK"</p></b></center><br />
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<p style="font-size: 120%;"> The slogan was a battle-cry amongst many supporters of equal rights for members of the LGBT community, however the phrase left a sour taste in the mouth of many individuals throughout the African Diaspora. It was meant to be controversial, but it was also totally irresponsible. It widened the divide between the Black and LGBT Community. <br />
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Many Black people (including myself) viewed it as a phrase that inadvertently announced homosexuals as the ‘New Negroes’ of America. Such a mentality also suggests the eradication of racism, prejudice, and bias towards Black Americans. This simply isn’t the case.<br />
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Moreover, the phrase ignores the fact that there are indeed Black people who are gay and bisexual. So no, Gay is NOT the New Black. I do not respect the media for even perpetuating such foolishness and stirring such unnecessary division between African-Americans and homosexuals. <br />
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Nor will I ever forget the members of the LGBT community within the state of California who hurled sand in the eyes of Black people when we were wrongfully scapegoated as the reason Proposition 8 did not pass during November of that same year. <br />
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It was disheartening to see a multitude of angry white gay men and women ‘negro-bashing’ the Black community for something that was not our fault. <br />
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Fast-forward to 2014 and you’ll see similar actions continuing to manifest themselves in our realm. LGBT propaganda is still being presented as trendy, hip, and cool while information regarding African-American issues remain ignored by the mainstream media.<br />
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The latest example occurred this past Sunday at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. Macklemore’s domination of the hip-hop categories was purely political. Let us not pretend that it was not because his talent is not superior to the abilities of Kendrick Lamar, Drake, J. Cole, or Kanye; nor did he produce a better album than any of the aforementioned rap-stars.<br />
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Once again, the mainstream media found a way to promote a white, upper-middle class agenda at the expense of Black culture. Each African-American artist with superior talent was effectively minimized during the Grammy ceremony to make room for a white artist who promoted a ‘trendy gay agenda’ to a nationwide audience. The mass wedding was commendable, but I’d be a fool if I didn’t see it as the pandering political move that it was.</p><br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CUM6JKkcYH4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<p style="font-size: 120%;"> I cannot help but wonder if a Black hip-hop artist would be allowed to produce such a grand performance that emphasized the mass murder of unarmed Black men by white vigilantes during a crème de la crème entertainment awards show broadcast on network television during primetime? <br />
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The optimist in me would like to believe so, but the slightly pessimistic realist in me knows better.</p> <br />
<br />
<br />
<center>The question still remains though:
<p style="font-size: 140%;"> Why does the LGBT community continually disrespect the African-American community while mounting their causes upon the backs of the same Black men and women whom they devalue?<br />
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What role does the mainstream media play within the division between African-American community and LGBT community?<br />
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<br />
What steps can be taken to resolve these issues?<br />
<br />
<br />
Talk to us!<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND OFF!!!</p></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author:</b>
<P ALIGN=Left><i>E. Reed is an all-around writer, cultural critic, blogger, poet, and public speaker hailing from the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! He’s an extremely opinionated young chap whose knack for “over”-analyzing simple and complex ideologies has earned him the opportunity to serve as a contributor for publications, such as, The Daily Texan, The Grio, MUSED Magazine, TheFreshXpress, Phi Beta Sigma Gazette(Mu Rho Chapter), and Dallas Morning News. He is also a proud social media addict who enjoys stimulating and fluent rounds of meticulous #MentalMasturbation ! For more, click </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MentalMass"><b>HERE</b></a> <i>to follow his blog. Or tweet him </i><b>@MENTAL_MASS</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Click</i> <a name="fb_share" type="button_count" href="http://edotreed.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-black-struggle-vs-gay-struggle.html"<b>HERE</b></a> <i>to share this article via Facebook.</i>
E. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01859878771720685348noreply@blogger.com3