[MCP] "minority kid burning"...
Steve Moynihan
spmoynihan at comcast.net
Thu Nov 8 18:22:25 EST 2007
What role does free will and personal responsibility play? It appears the discussion here and many other discussions revolve around a victim mentality. Are there some external factors that we cannot control? Certainly. Are some of these factors malicious? I would say yes. But at what point do we say that some things are my fault or my success? And also, as you fight against lumping one group together and generalizing, shouldn't we also be fighting against lumping "whitey" into one monolithic category that is out to destroy the black man? Record companies don't make you buy their product. I see tons of ads for McDonalds. I don't buy it - I don't like it. It's a choice. People choose to buy that awful collection of sounds. I think a lot of white kids buy it too... maybe more than blacks. So would these white kids be collateral damage in whitey's war on the black family? Are their families being destroyed by the music? It all seems a little foolish. I guess this brings me back to my original question... what role does free will play? Are we mere victims of some larger scheme and/or how do we account for our personal actions?
----- Original Message -----
From: John Lindsay
To: Multicultural Pavilion's discussion group on equity, social justice, andmulticultural education.
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: [MCP] "minority kid burning"...
Excellent comments, LaVeta and James!!!
Yep, the positive rap doesn't get anywhere near the same marketing that the negative stuff does.
We all know that "if the white-dominated news had an opportunity to report on something positive in the Black community v. something negative, they're going to embrace the negative.
I think that by examining "why smooth jazz (which is what I listen to) and other artists do NOT receive the same type of marketing as negative/gangsta rap, it should provide us with a window of clarity or framework from which to examine everthying else.
For example, whites often complain about rap music, but go out of their way to broadcast it on radio, TV music channels, and feature them during TV awards shows.
When is the last time that you saw George Benson, Stanley Clarke, Brenda Russell, Najee, Marion Meadows, Pamela Williams, Kim Waters, etc., on a TV music awards show?!
Never, right?!
This makes one wonder why the music companies these artists work for are not demanding that their artists receive top billing or more publicity on these shows.
Aren't these folks more the type of role model that you'd want your teenagers listening to or looking at?
Additionally, with whites owning the majority of the music production and distribution companies, the retail music trade, and controls the airwaves, they could easily change the entire industry overnight...but they don't want to..because they have a larger covert interest.
Hence, the exclusion of positive and significantly more talented artists doesn't make economic sense and nor does it make sense within the context of "whites complaining about gangsta rap."
However, it does make sense within the context of the "campaign to destroy the Black family."
Thus, these music companies stunt the careers and earning capacities of these positive role models in order to participate in the larger campaign to destroy the Black family, and thereby both lessen the competition for jobs and create jobs in the prisons.
James, what area of the country are you in?
We don't have TV-One here in Lexington, but our local cable provider (Insight) does include it in their channel lineup in Louisville.
I haven't seen "The Man Called Hawk," but it appears that the same thing that happened with Frank's Place occurred with "Hawk": a show with a strong and intelligent Black character was thrown in the rejects pile.
I think that with a concerted effort we could change the offerings of various cable packages.
For example, with DISH or DIRECT you don't get BET in the basic or the next level's package of shows.
And I'm no fan of what they should be calling Ghetto Entertainment Television (GET).
(will someone please smack the sh*t out of Robert Johnson for me?!)
We have got to be more energetic in this area. After all, we are spending money for these
" 'services.' "
John L.
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Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 21:19:27 -0800
From: lavetafranze at yahoo.com
To: mcp at edchange.org
Subject: Re: [MCP] "minority kid burning"...
I wrote a paper on this very issue as an undergrad as well...
It' has definitely cast a shadow on what we as American’s would have hoped would be an unbiased and truthful account of the news; when in fact it is much more than meets the eye.
For some this may be old news, for all others…
In the video documentary “Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism” by Robert Greenwald, the portrayal of the Fox News Network was depicted as a wolf’s in sheep’s clothing. The Fox News Network was scrutinized for their "interpretation" of the news. Many issues were presented via interviews with past employees, news clips of the Fox News Network’s airings, and special reports. In turn evidence against the Fox News Network and Rupert Murdoch especially was presented in the form of interviews with some of the most prominent figures in journalistic society. This video presented the Fox News Network as a malicious bully, with negative overtones, that challenges Fox’s factuality and reliability in presenting the news in a professional manor. Evidence of repetitive attempts to skew and slant the news in a biased manor was captured on video.
What's so interesting is how this was primetime news, trusted my millions.
It's eye opening!
For anyone interested....
www.outfoxed.org/
LaVeta Franzé
lavetafranze at yahoo.com
"James H. Allen" <ravissimo at academicplanet.com> wrote:
Greetings:
Indeed, there are those who religiously watch COPS, just like there are those who will spend hours on end watching all of the JUDGE shows that occupy the airwaves. There are those who believe EVERYTHING they see on television. I know it sounds ridiculous, but unfortunately it is true. Without sounding paranoid, I do believe that their is a design to all of this. First, it is designed to make society afraid, non-trusting, judgmental (for those who are not "Black") and for those who are "Black" it is designed to have project a glorified way of being tough and in a warp sense "to have power." Sure most of us have never stepped foot in jail, but after you have been there, you return to your "hood" more glorified than you were before. So now the vicious cycle gains momentum. And because WE are followers by nature-things have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Just look at the generation of young Blacks wearing their pants low-cursing like sailors-disrespecting females. These are learned behaviors, they did not enter into AMERICA with these traits. The home environment, or more certainly lack of, and the need to fit in has caused them to follow a path of self-destruction. It is as if they are in a bed of ants, and do not realize that they are being eaten alive.
Then of course we have the RAP music. Now, RAP in and of itself is not bad, BUT what is the content of the message. Therein lies the problem. The message is disrespect, drugs, violence, and a get it "by any means necessary." Malcolm would roll over in his grave if he thought his words would be used in such regard. There have been attempts by Rappers to perform RAP intended to raise the consciousness of the "BLACK MAN", but the music industry will not promote RAP that is intended to have a positive message, only that which fits into the self degradation that I mention above.
You see, it still feels good to believe that "YOU" are better than someone else. If you cannot do it by force (slavery), then you do it subliminally. It is an inherited fault of Humanity. When you find those who try to pull their fellow man up with them, those are persons that has elected to advance up the ladder of Humanity. I am troubled to say-that most people choose not to take that journey. The discussions we have on this site are unlike most anywhere. At least we are willing to discuss the issues and attempt to formulate through intelligent exchange, a possible way that we might change our environment. But, you must see the MASTER PLAN, to have people to be made to feel AFRAID. Homeland Security, Immigration Issues, "War of Terror", "Weapons of Mass Destruction", Mushroom clouds, etc. Etc. ETC. So people just say we will trust our government to do what is best for US, because they feel the government will have their best interest at heart. So they become mindless followers, instead of choosing to be independent thinkers.
Now, there have attempts to have positive role models on television-One that I really thought was excellent was A MAN CALLED HAWK. It had 13 episodes and then was not continued. I have tried in vain to find out how I could get these episodes for my community, but I have met a stone wall at every turn. I believe that "HAWK" was such a positive example of a MAN-especially a BLACK MAN that the network was either paid off, or told to take it off the air. If anyone has access to how I may obtain A Man Called hawk, I would truly be appreciative. I have an afterschool outreach-if anyone has any other suggestive movies that I can show my group, please email me. Thanks.
I am because We are, We are therefore, I am
~ James H. Allen ~
www.knowledge-first.org
jhallen at knowledge-first.org
----- Original Message -----
From: John Lindsay
To: Multicultural Pavilion's discussion group on equity, social justice, andmulticultural education.
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:38 PM
Subject: Re: [MCP] "minority kid burning"...
Thanks!
I remember writing an essay about "Blacks portrayal in the media" while an undergrad, and one of the sources I cited was an article demonstrating how the show "COPS" and other similar TV programs were presenting crime as if the rates were going through the roof...while in reality the violent crime rate had dropped.
So we must always be attentive to how the media seeks to influence public opinions through deceptive means.
I don't think people actively watch shows like COPS like they may do with the news.
Thus, such lies are more likely to enter their unconsciousness without a challenge.
Oh, by the way, the other violent crime that isn't included in the stats I posted are those stemming from defective products.
We can't allow the powers-that-be to be the only ones that define "what violent crime is."
John L.
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Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2007 12:42:45 -0800
From: lavetafranze at yahoo.com
To: mcp at edchange.org
Subject: Re: [MCP] "minority kid burning"...
Isn't it amazing that these aren't the same statistics we see in mainstream media?
(sarcasm intended)
Kind of makes me say hmmmmm????
Also, would you cite this? I would like to look at some other statistics as well.
Thanks for the info!
John Lindsay <jclind2 at msn.com> wrote
Blacks do not have a monopoly on violence:
Arrests by Race, 2002
Percent distribution1
Offense charged White Black American
Indian or
Alaskan
Native Asian
or
Pacific
Islander
Total 71.5% 25.7% 1.3% 1.6%
Murder2 45.9 50.1 2.4 1.6
Forcible rape 62.0 36.0 1.1 1.0
Robbery 38.6 58.9 0.5 2.0
Aggravated assault 60.8 36.7 1.2 1.3
Burglary 72.4 25.2 1.1 1.3
Larceny-theft 70.1 26.5 2.4 2.1
Motor vehicle theft 58.3 38.3 1.4 2.0
Arson 80.7 17.6 0.8 0.9
Other assaults 62.9 34.7 1.2 1.2
Forgery and counterfeiting 78.1 19.5 0.9 1.5
Fraud 66.1 32.0 0.7 1.2
Embezzlement 69.3 28.6 0.1 2.0
Stolen property—buying,
receiving, possessing 56.5 41.4 0.7 1.4
Vandalism 81.0 16.6 1.2 1.2
Weapons possession 67.1 30.7 0.8 1.3
Prostitution 43.8 54.6 0.5 1.1
Sex offenses, except
forcible rape
and prostitution 72.1% 26.0% 0.8% 1.2%
Drug abuse violation 73.2 24.9 0.9 1.0
Gambling 11.4 85.7 2.9
Offenses against family
and children 73.8 23.5 0.9 1.8
Driving under
the influence 93.3 4.1 1.8 0.8
Liquor laws 92.2 4.4 2.5 0.9
Drunkenness 90.0 7.4 1.9 0.7
Disorderly conduct 63.9 34.0 1.2 0.8
Vagrancy 75.6 22.8 0.9 0.7
All other offenses
except traffic 74.9 22.3 1.2 1.6
Suspicion 69.7 28.2 0.6 1.5
Curfew and loitering
law violations 68.6 28.8 1.1 1.5
Runaways 75.8 18.4 1.3 4.5
NOTE: For arrests 18 years and older. Total number of estimated arrests: 13.7 million.
1. Because of rounding, the percentages may not add up to total.
2. Includes nonnegligent manslaughter.
Source: Crime in the United States, 2002, FBI, Uniform Crime Reports.
John L.
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