Random Thought #10 On Film, Soundtracks, and Black Music

Every so often, I'll watch a movie. And when I watch a movie as a music fan in general, I have to hear the soundtracks. For me, a great soundtrack could make or break a movie.  As predicted, a bad soundtrack, could really piss me off and make me become highly uninterested in a movie or show no matter how good it might be.

For example, Check out this trailer for The Interview:

This trailer is laced with Black music, and so is the entire movie. But the context of the songs is so very wrong. What does EnVogue's "Free Your Mind" have to do with anything in the movie? I saw this film and all I came away with was, what does Syl Johnson's "Is It Because I'm Black" have to do with the main characters walking up to the fortress?  That song is a very heavy song that was done unjustly by inserting it into a movie that falls into a comedy genre.  This had some great potential, but all of the misplacement of Black music, and the fake Black slang was a huge turnoff for me. I had to give it one star in hopes nothing like that would show up in my Netflix feed ever again. 

Another instance is the Deadpool trailers. Here's the first one

Here's the second one:

What does Salt N Peppa's "Shoop" have to do with the trailer? Does he sex somebody down in the movie?  In this case, I 'd have to see the movie to find out, but I suspect it doesn't fit in the entire movie. That placement of Shoop really turned me off. 

It's like the people who use Black music in their movies have no concept of context. It's like they go, "Dude! Here is a really cool Black song to put riiiight here! It'll be, like sooo awesome!"  Except with The Interview, they decided to create something of a White Blaxploitation film sprinkled with horrible slang.  It's like they don't really know anybody whose Black for real, and they had no Black writers, but somebody told them to "Black it up and make it feel more, ummm urban, ya know? Kay, thanks guys!" And a lot of the films have just one Black person in them. I don't remember if there were any Black faces in The Interview, and I probably won't see Deadpool because I'm an asshole like that when it comes to soundtracks. 

All I ask is for some accurate context for the placement of Black music in these films, especially if the show has no Black people in them and has Black music recklessly strewn throughout the entire thing. 

Am I asking too much?  Knowing the history of this sort of thing, I probably am. This is another reason why we should hold on to our own and not be so quick to "sell" them our stuff, because this is exactly why they can't have nice things. 

****Update: So I checked out Deadpool, and Shoop fits because of the relationship he has with his woman. I won't spoil it for you, but you'll get why they put it there if you go see it. 

On Gossip and Money

I wanted to write about something from a different angle.  I decided I'd tackle gossip and money and how it relates to racism. See, everybody in America comes in contact with  some form of media everyday be it TV, social media, magazine, advertisement,etc.  We have an idea of the purpose of media and how it works. We know the mainstream media outlets can be very bad, especially if you're Black in America. Black people  know the media is racist, but we don't really understand what the point of racism is and how it affects us, and why. I've gone in extensively on the blog regarding supremacy and how it's tied to respectability politics. Now I'm going to tie it in with gossip and money.

Take a look at this story, and watch the video.

This video has over two million views. I won't lie. I watched it too. But I noticed two things about videos like this:  The first thing is the fact that many people will see this and say disparaging things about her because of her presentation. Some people will turn her into a joke.  In fact,this could be why the video has over two million views in the first place. I used to see videos like these and get mad because they serve as joke material for people who express anti black sentiments. Then a light came on and I figured the following:

The people running all forms of mainstream American media are like children on the playground when it comes to Black people. It's like little kids pointing and laughing while huddled around a crude drawing of a penis. The crude penis drawing (which is represented by what they think Black people are) gets televised.   If you include money, then this is what the masses will get to see. And that's what gets them laughing.That's why things like that video become highly publicized "stories" . It's the same reason why videos designed to highlight so called 'negative characteristics' in Black people are just gossip dipped in money. That is their main focus. It could also explain why any time a Black person is put in the media for all to see, there will always be racist comments for viewing purposes at the end of the article or video.

This is also the same reason why WorldStarHipHop exists. The person who created it knew what the people want to see, and they wanted to monetize it. And unfortunately, a lot of Black people bought into it (there's that supremacy again!).

But the second thing I noticed was that the effect of this video is also the exact opposite of the first:
The woman in the video speaks like she's cool with everybody and anybody. She isn't afraid to be herself. So many people are afraid to be themselves, and that's why respectability politics exist. I can respect her for her candid-ness.  I can respect anybody who can present themselves as they are regardless of who is in front of them. 

So I'm glad I got to see the video. It gave me a chance to write this blog and shine some unpredictable light on mainstream American media and what they're trying to do. 

So if you're tired of negative images of Black people in the media, our only choice is to change our perspective so it doesn't match theirs, question mainstream media's motives, create and/or support our own media outlets designed to mold our own great narrative as a people, and keep it moving. 

2016: New Year, New hopes, New Life

TL;DR: Another New Years Post.

What can I say. This year has been hectic. So many things have happened to me to the point where I don't know what's going to happen between now and the summer. I have no idea where I'll be. I hope to be in a better place financially, and become grounded, since I have been recently uprooted. I'm reinventing my life. I've had the chance to ask myself what I needed to do to change myself for the better. I looked really deep into myself and I found ugly subconscious things that explained my past self. It explained my thinking, and it lead me to where I'm at today, and I'm so grateful for the experience because its making me a better person. But don't get it twisted. I'm not recanting anything I wrote in these blog entries. There's no way in hell I should be sorry or remorseful for any of it, and I will not let anybody tell me otherwise.

Now that I got that out of the way:

I'm glad for what I learned because it enables me to help others. My goal is to be able to break everything down in a way that anybody could understand as long as they learn, and actually think about what they are told regardless if was written by somebody with multiple academic accolades. I want to be able to clearly explain it to someone without said accolades and not have them miss a beat. Once I could effectively do that, then I will teach others (that is if I haven't already because I have no idea who is reading this blog or not).

However, I can't say I know all because that is impossible. I keep finding out new stuff everyday, and to be honest, that new stuff keeps me grounded and on my toes. I like it that way because once a person gets stagnant, then that's how a person becomes a "big fish in a little pond" which is also known as falling victim to supremacy. And I can't go out like that. Not after all I've been through.

Anyway, What do you have in store for the New Year? What have you learned in 2015?

Random Thought #9 On Blindingly Bright Optimisim

I know what you're thinking. You're probably thinking that I'm starting to falter a bit. Well, yes and no. Yes, because I've often wondered if people actually think that I just might be stupid for having such hope for Black people and the situation we're in.  Some of us are still marching, and still praying. Some of us even want to vote for Donald Trump after all of the fuckery we've been through. I've had the misfortune of speaking to one person who was a supporter of his, and one who seemed to let on like he was going to say he'd vote for him.  I couldn't let either one of them go. I've decided to make it my goal to wake them up.


I had been thinking about this for some time, and I've asked myself, "Am I doing too much and asking too much of  myself?  Am I doing the unthinkable? Am I straight up stupid for even trying to go there?  Am I too optimistic for trying to wake up people like this?"


I waffled with the following thoughts:

The Black folks who fall into this group range from the solitary Black employee of (insert any company) to college student, or any Black person registered to vote. Hell, as far as I'm concerned, I could be trying to wake up Clarence Thomas or Ben Carson themselves, and we know some of us see them fools look like they're so asleep that they might as well be flat-lined.


 It's like people are more interested in using Harriet Tubman's quote, “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.” just to provide themselves with the quick ability to throw away the Black person who just doesn't "get it".  


But that's the problem.  People are so quick to claim each other as "lost" that it seems like they're just itching to wash their hands clean of the so called "lost ones" and move on.  And that's not really moving on. That's wanting to be slathered in validation, which is something I can't get behind. So still I push on.  Again, am I stupid for doing so?  Am I opening myself to be hurt? Am I opening myself up to more stress?  Am I causing more damage to  my health?


I don't know. But I can say that it is a luxury to put my feelings before anything here. But my health is very important to me, so I've got to get it better. In order to do that, I've got to get my New Years goals in order as well.  I'm going to have to put all of my multitasking skills to the test, that's for sure. This means less sleep than before, which affects my health.


Do you see what I'm going through, LOL!


Anyway. I'm going to keep going. Nobody said this was going to be extra easy. Oh well. I'm already off to a good start. I've got to keep my head up despite how bleak things can look, and I hope you can too. 

Thanksgiving Post

Yeah. Thanksgiving. One of America's favorite holidays. It's where people have to endure their families, put on appearances, and avoid politics just so they could be guaranteed a spot at the next gathering.

To be honest, it's just a big exercise in phoniness while you're surrounded by food. That's it. People have asked me if I was doing anything for Thanksgiving. I've said the following in return:
"Why do I need to celebrate Thanksgiving? What is there to be thankful for as a Black person in America? We could die just going about our daily business and people expect us to be thankful? For what?! What kind of lunacy is that?

Anybody who says otherwise can kindly GET..(see photo below)

It's batshit crazy. Are we supposed to be thankful for being alive? Should those of us who are alive be thankful some rabid White terrorist didn't shoot us or beat us while protesting?  That sounds like some (to borrow the language from our beloved #WokeCommunity) 'slave foolishness'."

That's why I've been really happy about the backlash regarding the astoundingly hypocritical American reactions towards people not wanting to accept refugees or people perceived as "others"in reference towards Christmas as well as anti Thanksgiving related articles such as, 

Manning: Thanksgiving Myth Creates Fairytale of Land Theft, Betrayal, Genocide,

The Truth About Thanksgiving: What They Never Taught You in School


or what United American Indians call it, the "National Day of Mourning" , which is actually observed as such in Plymouth Mass.

All of the anti Thanksgiving articles, and memes that laugh at Americans refusing to accept Syrian refugees because of "ISIS" have given me life.

And I'll never ever forget this gem:


If there is  something to be thankful for, I'll thank those who are dedicated towards telling the entire truth and not letting their presence get erased. And no. That doesn't include White people because (let history tell it,) they destroyed, looted, pillaged, murdered, raped, stole,beat, and forced their way into everybody else's faces to the point of being considered the so called norm on their terms, and then threw violent, and or insufferable tantrums when people got tired of their shit. 


That is all.

Oh, and also Boycott Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas and any commerce driven holiday and put that money towards Black businesses.

Here's some links, names/websites of businesses, and a Google search result for you in order to get started*:

http://www.blackenterprise.com/lists/be-100s-2014

Some Etsy shop owners:
http://www.blacketsy.com

Beauty Supplies:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/arabellesicardi/blackout-beauty-friday#.lg0WkXvZ6

Black women owned online stores:
http://www.mycoloures.com/2014/12/30-black-woman-owned-online-stores-to.html?m=1

Black Business Network
http://www.blackbusinessnetwork.com/Home/

NOIMOA staple goods
http://noimoa.com/staple-goods-10-ordering-will-begin-november-1-2015/

Clothing:
http://www.blackownedclothing.com

Black Opal Cosmetics

Magnolia Cosmetics

Black Radiance

Iman Cosmetics

a blog

http://blackownedbusiness.me/

headwraps and clothing

100 Black-Owned Restaurants and Bars in New York City and Brooklyn

Sex shop

Organic hand made soaps and bath oils

Negash Apparel and Footwear

Skin and Hair products


 We've still got this. We can do it.
*No, none of these are mine, nor am I getting commission (I wish). I did this because it's necessary.

France, Syria, ISIS, etc

I had to wait on this one because I was so flustered. Well, maybe flustered was the wrong word. To tell you the truth, I can't condense my feelings into one word. I've had a combination of feelings ranging from depressed, angry irritated, giddy like a lunatic, anxious, sad, and reflective.

As you know, people have been upset about seeing Black people with the France flag over their profile pictures. I've had a few in my friends list. That list has been shortened quite a bit, but it doesn't do me any good because there are a lot of friends who have friends who have friends with that flag over their profile picture anyway, so if I truly wanted to delete it from my page, I'd have to get rid of facebook entirely. But since I need it for the nature of my work, I'd have to keep it up. 

Sigh.

But that's not all. Black people are really pissed at those who have that flag over their profile pictures.

That's completely understandable.

But what's really killing me is Black people worrying about the refugees. They say things like, "People swear you can only be concerned about one thing." or "Multitask, it can be done and it does not negate the hard work we must do to change our reality in America nor the compassion we should feel!"  <<<< -_-

 Here's why:

How are people going to be concerned about what's going on over there. Black people stand the chance of dying just by doing day to day activities, be it by cops or some deranged idiots threatening to shoot them while going to school, or a movie theatre, or while going anywhere. Somebody could call in a false call while we're shopping and POW! You life could be over because somebody called the police to say you had a gun when you didn't. And the caller could say they were "just messing around". 

I'm saying we need to work on what's going on in order to preserve our lives first, then we can think global. Americans have this drive that tells us that we really need to put everybody's situations above ours regardless if we stand the chance of dying. 

But if you notice, America will do whatever it takes to save themselves first and foremost. 

When a plane is crashing and the oxygen masks come down, the flight attendant tells you to use the mask first and then help the others. 

We stand the chance of dying. But we want to help others and be concerned for others before making sure we don't die first.   -_-


Let me say it again:
When a plane is crashing and the oxygen masks come down, the flight attendant tells you to use the mask first and then help the others. 

We stand the chance of dying. But we want to help others and be concerned for others before making sure we don't die first. 

Think about that for a second.

Does anybody see what I'm trying to say here?

Somebody brought up the idea of welcoming the Syrians because they feel they could make them into allies for the Black cause. But here's the thing:
Why are we constantly looking for others to "help" us? Why can't we do this on our own? It's clear that not many "others" in this country want to help us already. In fact, a lot of "others" are very anti- black. Whose to say that Syrians don't harbor any anti-blackness? And if they did, who would want to have to start all over in order to educate them and persuade them to do the right thing? We'd just be starting all over again and not working with what we have already. 

Yeah. Standing up against police brutality and oppression in America IS doing the right thing so we can live. I'm just saying we've got to secure our lives first before we do anything else. 

Besides, this is up to the American government to decide whether or not THEY want to receive refugees or not. What good does it do US? 

I ask them this:

What would you guys say if America actually did receive Syrian refugees. 

And the first thing they did was shit on Black people?

What would you say then? Would you act surprised? Would you pray for them some more? What would you do? And I'm dead serious with these questions. Dead. Serious.

As for me, I don't really care whether this country takes them in or not. I'd rather secure my life and not complain about the media about how every time something horrible happens to us, they don't portray us in a good light or downplay the incidents when they made it painfully obvious they fucking hate us and will show the world that we are to be hated every chance they get.

How many times do people need the media to tell them in so many words before they get the point? How many?

Another question I asked was:

Does anybody remember Hurricane Katrina? Do they remember how the media called all of the relocated Black people refugees? Do they remember how they were treated the entire way through? Does anybody remember the paraphrased respectability and morality rhetoric the media pushed while the people were dying? Do they remember how people were saying things like, "Well, they should have had hurricaine insurance. Why were they living there in the first place? Were they too lazy to work harder so they could get out of there? They were just too lazy to get out of there in the first place. Those people are always looking for handouts. I don't want them in my state! It's called responsibility folks!"

I remember that very well because I started a new job, and I was concerned about how Hurricane Katrina was handled, BUT I had enough sense to just sit back and listen to what people were saying so I could get a good feel about the workplace and the people in it. Somebody straight up said, "I don't care about those people. They should have had insurance."

Meanwhile, they themselves currently live in an area on an earthquake fault where the earthquake is overdue by five hundred years. And earthquake insurance is separate from regular home owner's insurance, and is also much more expensive to get.  -_-

Think about that.

As for me, I'm just going to watch people act crazy, get paranoid over ISIS and talk shit about how they aren't going to let refugees come over here, and how they're going to protect America. It's comedy. Pure comedy

Random thought #8: On Safe Spaces

We all know how there are safe spaces for domestic violence victims, folks who are LGBTQ, ex religious people, victims of child abuse/child molestation, sexual assault victims, etc right?

And we all know that the safe places are there to provide a space where they won't get shamed for being LGBTQ, harassed for leaving their religions, being abused/molested as children, or being shamed or harassed for being sexually assaulted, etc, right?

We know how anti LGBTQ, extremely religious people, child abusers/pedophiles and committers of sexual assault, etc aren't allowed in these groups, right? What would someone think if people of that caliber tried to enter those safe spaces for validation or infiltration purposes? What would those people look like if they tried to infiltrate said spaces?

Well. That's the exact reason why Black people seek safe spaces. They want to have a place where they don't get abused for existing, or letting their hair down. They want a space where they can talk about their experiences in the world they live in and exist. That is all. And when people go to those safe spaces for the sole reason of trying to infiltrate or be validated, then what kind of people are they?

Anyway, that's what I was thinking about lately.