Talk of the Town

By Peace Out

April 15, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

I have finally declared myself “post-judiced.” I was never “pre-judiced.” I protested for equal rights when I was in high school in the early 70’s. I wrote columns supporting civil rights for my college school newspaper. I argued with my friends whenever they had derogatory things to say about African-Americans.

No more. I haven’t pre-judged anyone’s culture. Instead, I have watched and learned. I have seen black culture absolutely waste and trash the opportunities that the civil rights movement provided. The predominant black culture now embraces mindless violence, dependency, criminality, anti-intellectualism, and irresponsibility. Now, most black chilfren grow up with no father. If they try to excel in school, they are ridiculed and attacked by their peers. They listen to music, and are bombarded by cultural imperatives, that urge them to disrespect women, embrace violence, and rejoice in crime. No large group of African-American youths can gather together any more without a high probability of violence and looting (thank God there’s no more Freaknik, for that very reason).

To be sure, there are many fine African-Americans (example, Bill Cosby) who have chosen not to live this way, and for them, I feel true empathy. But, a far, far higher percentage of black Americans — compared to any other demographic group — have chosen to live as I described above.

So, I was never pre-judiced. I supported African-Americans as long as I could. But, sorry, you’ve lost me. I’m now solidly post-judiced.

By Ann C

April 15, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

I’m sorry, but the Bill Cosby rap thing is interesting. I’m surprised he didn’t release it at the PLAYBOY MUSIC FESTIVAL he has hosted off and on for many many years. I’m not hating him; I’m just exposing the truth.

By Chandler

April 15, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

There was a time when “Black” music was The Blues. It was original, soul-stirring and touched people of all races and economic dispositions. Today there is Hip-Hop, not even a genuine musical genre itself (basically guys who steal Blues and Soul riffs as their ‘Music’). The pillars of this ‘genre’ are: drug use, abuse and sales, degradation of and violence against women, violence against fellow humans and the wanton pursuit of money and material wealth at the cost of fellow human, even those of your own sub-culture. The craziest part is that I hear females repeating these lyrics that refer to women as w******* and that adult members of these sub-cultures seem to accept and even embrace Hip-Hop Culture, thereby legitimizing it in the eyes of their children. I was in high school in the late 80’s, the prime-time of Heavy Metal, and even then I thought it was quite harsh, but RATT, Poison and Motley Crue don’t hold a candle to what is heard daily on Black radio in Atlanta today. To express your thoughts and feelings is every American’s right. To glorify the abuse of women, or killing someone, or the sales of illicit drugs is akin to yelling fire in a crowded theater.

By radlydawg

April 15, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

What did the simpleton Forest Gump say? “Stupid is, as stupid does”. Very well put Forest!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ignorance is ruining this country and a large portion of a whole race of people!!!! Wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And stop blaming others for your poor choices about what’s important in life!!! Oh well….”it’s only your future and the future of our county”!! Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By James

April 15, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this

Ever watch First 48? It breaks my heart to see some of these young men break down and cry like a baby after having confessed to killing someone for “disrecpting them”. They’re not so tough then. It totally breaks my heart that knowing that if that same kid was put into a different environment then perhaps he could be taking the SAT exam but instead he’s headed to prison for 15-20 years. His life is ruined. All in the name of what? Street cred? A little respect? Some bling? So sad and pathetic.

By themansgonnagetyou

April 15, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this

yea, all 70 year olds are real hip on the what is groovy, dude. these swinging tones will be the hippests tracks ever put on the airwaves, cats

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 15, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this

Turn off the radio, get up off your ignorant behinds and go listen to some real hip hop. Soulja Boy is not a rapper.

Neither is Bill Cosby, who is about 40 years too old to be rapping.

By AfroDawg

April 15, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this

Tell me something, who died and left you people in charge? Why is it that a certain segment of this country’s populace feel that they’ve cornered the market on correct behavior? I see scores of well meaning, educated,family oriented blacks going about their lives everyday, but those aren’t the people you all want to see. I’m sure Bill Cosby is a nice fellow, but he doesn’t speak for 30 million black people in this country. Why doesn’t someone address alcoholism, meth use, snooty out of control kids, and the dependence on meds to cope with the rough spots of life that most of us downtrodden people have to live with everyday.

By Here it is....

April 16, 2008 12:53 AM | Link to this

I said a hip hop hip hip a hippity hop and up jump a boogy and a bam to the boogyity the bam……………..now what you hear is not a ;0…….can’t beat em join em ….. to some degree at least and embrace your affliction thereby escaping it so that you owm amd are nevr owned…..seen?

By Charles

April 16, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

To Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, and others of similar dispositions:

Many members of Generation X and generation Y are disgusted, bitter, and angry. Some express their bitterness via hip-hop. I’m sure they don’t understand the source of their bitterness, and baby-boomers aren’t teaching them anything of substance, real value; just more lies.

The explanation provided by prominent baby-boomers and their minions for the disgust, bitterness and anger exhibited by many members of generation X and Y is rather glib. Some say with a straight face, “it’s because black families don’t have fathers in the household”. Now I’m a baby-boomer and a man of faith. But given such a deceitful and disgusting explanation, gangsta rap seems to be an acceptable outlet for their added frustration.

Here is some straight talk my friends. Generation X and Y are disgusted, bitter, and angry because prominent baby-boomers have misled them. For the love of money, they have willfully allowed two black generations to be born into the world without a pot to use collectively. African American children have no institutions capable of meeting their basic needs, food, clothing, shelter, employment, education, etc. They are hopelessly dependent on and subject to the will of other groups of people that have institutions for their spiritual/ physical survival on earth. By default, many are forced to “taxi to the dark side” if they are to live a life with basic necessities.

As for me, I can’t be hypocritical and criticize hip-hopers without having first castigated baby-boomers. Any black person born into the world without physical structures/ institutions to give them support is within his/her rights to speak forcefully about their dismal plight without apologies.

By gwardan

April 16, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

” Why doesn’t someone address alcoholism, meth use, snooty out of control kids, and the dependence on meds to cope with the rough spots of life that most of us downtrodden people have to live with everyday. ” Are you Fing kidding? People address it everyday and it is called living your life the way your suppose to. No one speaks for all the people out there. Cosby hip hop sounds like a bad joke to me though. Why doesn’t he get together with Bob Barker and they can do some real old school stuff.

By Foxy Foster

April 16, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

I have one question. “Why do we care?”

By Danielle

April 16, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

James, The First 48 is one of my favorite shows and I totally agree. Seeing those accused killers break down as the reality of what they’re facing hits them is heartbreaking. Plus, the victims extend beyond the accused killers and the murder victims. At death or incarceration, many of them leave children and other loved ones behind because of some foolishness and foolish, life-changing decisions. Quite sad. However, I appreciate the show for allowing us to peek into real murder investigations. I encourage my younger brothers (17 and 19) to watch in hopes that they see how poor decision making, hanging with the wrong crowd, and acting impulsively can wreck promising lives.

Having said that, I admire Bill Cosby for taking a stand but he should stick to his day job and try reaching out to young people using his comedy.

By Why?

April 16, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

They listen to music, and are bombarded by cultural imperatives, that urge them to disrespect women, embrace violence, and rejoice in crime.

It is very interesting, Peace Out, that you generalized a whole race of people due to the stupidity and ignorance of some. What’s even more interesting is that you don’t realize that white kids are buying more hip hop and rap than black kids. The major record companies—owned by whites—have paid these idiots to degrade themselves. Also, was Eminem—the rapper who made a song about killing his wife and mother—a black rapper? Do you have a problem with Hugh Hefner and his “playmates”?

I do agree that there are some blacks who denegrate themselves. The media loves to show that. It is very rare to see the other side of “blackdom”—the side that denounces the foolery and is using every opportunity to succeed legitimately without demoralizing itself.

By Don Imus

April 16, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Once children are born into a certain situation that is all they know until they are not exposed to something else. Sadly it is almost impossible to completely change their mindset afer being raised in areas where ignorance and violence is breed. The most impressionalble time in a humans life is between birth and adolescents. Many children are born into these situations and just continue this deadly cycle. I would love to see how all of these people on this blog would have turned out if they were born into this. I do not and will not ever defend ignorance but I also know that it is completely unfair to judge someone without walking a mile in their shoes. Im not judging the counless amounts of young white drug abusers and sellers. What about them, whats their excuse and why do they get a pass??????????????????????

By Peace Out

April 16, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

“Why,” you raise an interesting point, which deserves discussion. Many white kids DO listen to the same music, mostly as a form of limited rebellion (same as kids here always have, particularly beginning with rock n’ roll in the 50’s). yet, white kids generally (and I’ll always qualify it, because of course there are exceptions) don’t engage in the same mindlessly violent and criminal activities that African-American youth do (and don’t argue that point — crime statistics are so incredibly skewed as to defeat any argument that black kids are more often singled out by the police, etc.).

Why? White kids more often (again, not always) are brought up with TWO parents involved who teach them values. They also live within a larger community that values education, and personal and financial responsibility, and law-abiding behavior.

You know (and I can speak with some authority, knowing many respectable older black citizens who tell me what life was like in the black communities in the 40’s and 50’s), black family life didn’t used to be so different. They admirably held values (and valued education!) within their communities even in the face of unjust — and often vicious — racism.

Then, “civil rights happened.” African-Americans were provided (gradually, admittedly) the same types of educational and employment opportunities as everyone else. At the same time, welfare programs were instituted to help advance and “mainstream” black families.

The “black response”? Crime skyrocketed in black communities. Dependency, single-parent homes, drug use … all skyrocketed. Popular black culture began actively to denigrate education and employment. Black music turned from the positive and moving expressions of blues and jazz and Motown to the mysogenistic and violent and downright racist lyrcs of rap. Crime became glorified. Financial responsibility was sacrificed at the altar of “bling” and “look at me” lifestyles of drug dealers, rap artists and irresponsible professional athletes.

So where are we? White America — belatedly, admittedly — provided African Americans with the civil rights they deserved, and offered a helping hand in the form of various welfare and affirmative action programs. Many African-Americans have responsibly taken these opportunites, and thrived. To them, my hat is off.

But, an astonishingly high percentage of blacks have turned their backs on responsibility and embraced crime and violence and dependency, and turned their backs on education and responsibility.

WHY??? Other demographic groups continue to come to this country, and thrive. Yet, blacks seem intent on cutting their own throats by embracing the very lifestyle that is epitomized by rap. While racism still exists to some degree, undoubtedly, NO reasonable person can argue that personal choices made by African-Americans is the prime and predominant reason so many of them fail.

So, you wonder why whites are so bewildered by the whole hip-hop phenomenon?

By gwardan

April 16, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this

Becaue you were raised in ignorance does not mean you have to be ignorant. People change everyday and grow out of there mindset. I just wonder when it became such a horrid thing to say somethings are just right vs. wrong and being the most ghetto guy on your block became exceptable.

By Voice of Reason

April 16, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this

Charles, please grow up and not be an apologists for the abhorrent conduct of so many young people. Hip-hop and rap music has been a major contributing factor for the downfall in the Black community.

If you are angry about some things, channel that energy into something positive to change them. Cussing and calling women—especially us Black women—all out of our name is vile and unacceptable. If you’re a man of faith, as you say, teach young Black boys to be decent MEN, not slovenly, unfocused hoodrats that can’t speak proper English, don’t want to go to school and don’t know how to say “Hello, Sister, how are you?” Grow the hell up. It’s time for folks to stop making excuses. I am a WITNESS that we CAN rise above our circumstances. I know, ‘cuz I did just that.

By Political Foreskin

April 18, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

I wrote a hip hop song. Hope you like it: “Get down and be funky. (boom shacka lacka lacka, boom shacka lacka lacka). Get down and be funky. (boom shacka lacka lacka. boom shacka lacka lacka). Go downtown. turn around. Be a clown. Lose that frown. Get down and be funky. (boom shacka lacka lacka. Boom shacka lacka lacka)