Oooooh, He in trouble Now...

After this week, I can see why negroes can't come up..........instead of unifying for a common cause, we find a reason to tear each other down. Now, if I offend anyone with the following words, and I see your face everyday, you know what, so be it, this is my blog, I can say what I want, and you can post a comment if you want. But this is how I see things.

If you see injustice, speak up. When you speak up, have a sound basis for speaking up. Don't be scared when it comes to addressing the injustice. Don't be afraid of challenging the powers that be. You think Thurgood Marshall stopped when he heard the first no? F no, he kept on, cause he had a cause he believed in, and was willing to push on no matter what. You think he said, the judge said no, so that is it, let me find a new cause? Hell mf naw. There are always exceptions to rules, and when you find the exception, and create a premise on the exception, are you asking for special treatment or a hand me down? I think not. So you may ask Zee, what the hell you getting at, what are you saying? I'm saying, I am sick of my folk who suffer from the Condoleeza Rice and Clarence Thomas syndrome. I am sick of step and fetch azz negroes. Damn I said it. Whew! Now what? You not my friend? I submit, if you suffer from this disorder, I don't need you as a friend, associate, peer, or classmate anyhow.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog may or may not express the true views of this blogger.

By Chance?

My blues ain't shit to others. The daily issues that have me frowning, are nothing compared to others. That's something I gotta think about when I get frustrated.

I got an e-mail from a young lady I used to hang with back in undergrad. Man, we have not spoken, seen each other or talked in years. The e-mail starts by saying she doubts I will get the letter in time, but she wanted to confide in a friend that she always believed was straight up with her. She goes on to tell me that in Nov., she will be headed to Iraq, and that she is scared, and in her heart she believes we should not even be there, but that it is out of her control.

You know its strange, cause as I was finding other things to do but read for class, something told me to check my old e-mail address. I don't even check that account, but maybe once every two months or so. Her letter was sent on the 27th, when I was dealing with that foolishness with my classmates. I'm shaking my head cause, I may not have gotten the letter in time to respond to her letter if I was not goofing off, and that she chose to reach out to me after no communications in literally five years or so.

Katrina and Rita coverage has a diverted some of the media attention that Iraq had been getting. About two weeks ago, the 2000th soldier died there. I've blogged on the many young lives we have lost in Iraq. I know that when one enlists, they know they are signing up to be called on to defend the nation. But this so called war was is some bullshit. Politicians bitching bout spending money in Louisiana, but we blowing the bank in Iraq. Makes my blood boil, that we are there, and that every person that died there, should still be alive. These thoughts though are not comforting to someone already there or going.

Given how my brain views the situation, what words from the heart do I say to her?

Public Enemy No.?

I guess I've gotten myself in a tizzy with some of my black classmates for speaking my mind and expressing my opinion on an issue. Why is it that some people take it personally when you don't agree with their view on an issue, or question or maybe even challenge their judgment on an issue. Sometimes you have to ask questions when decisions are made by a few students and when that decision may burden the student body, or as in this case, black law students. Point is, it is business, its about doing the right thing, and you never let it get personal. My azz has damn near become an outcast, as I brace personal attacks for my views and the length I am willing to go to have the issue addressed. In the end is it worth it? You damn right!

Oh how I resist the urge to fire some shots back at my critics, but it aint even worth it. Someone has to take the higher road, but my inner self says, why it gotta be us? A good friend asked, why do you care what others think? Cause I do. Especially when it comes to my peoples. But got dang! This whole little thing does leave me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I now see the true colors of few of my classmates. And it aint pretty. At least I know who I am dealing with in the future. I will know who to put up a fight for, and who to say "oh well, tough titty." And that ain't even my style.

Will the Talented Tenth Please Stand Up

In the wake of Katrina, all of the analysis of what went wrong, and the commentary from the talking heads, I've had the opportunity to think (how dangerous), and marinate on some things. Would the conditions of those blacks in New Orleans after the storm been to the extent that they were if there existed true black leadership. In other words, if Martin and Malcolm were living, would things have been as bad as there were, in terms of the lack of organization, financial support and execution of a solid plan to get those folk out of there? I wonder. Both men had the amazing power to unite and mobilize the masses to action. Picture, immediately after the storm, either gentlemen, calling a press conference and requesting assistance from any and all. As I watched the press conference, I could see myself, dropping the remote, rising from the couch, calling my posse, and hitting the road to answer the call. No disrespect to Jesse, Al or Louis, but they do not have that type of power or following. This leads to my next thought, will there ever be any true leadership in the black community? Will there ever be a uniting of black people for a common cause, or have we been divided and conquered already? Just wondering, what if?

In 1903, W.E.B. DuBois, wrote The Talented Tenth. Below are a few excerpts from it, and my commentary. What do you think? "The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education, then, among Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the Worst, in their own and other races." First, I do not think DuBois intended to exclude women from the equation. Today, there is no doubt that women are doing the damn thing and are likely a great majority within the talented tenth. It is his contention that those educated blacks will be the ones to take charge and lead. How do we identify these educated individuals? How do we charge them with such a mission? Must they accept such a challenge? How many people have you talked with regarding Katrina who said they were angry because they felt helpless in their desire to help? "If we make money the object of man-training, we shall develop money-makers but not necessarily men;" Is it safe to say that today, those who have been educated, have forgotten about the charge because they are consumed with their own desire to come up? "The Talented Tenth rises and pulls all that are worth the saving up to their vantage ground. This is the history of human progress; and the two historic mistakes which have hindered that progress were the thinking first that no more could ever rise save the few already risen; or second, that it would better the uprisen to pull the risen down." I need not even comment. Re-read that and marinate on it a bit..... "All men cannot go to college but some men must; every isolated group or nation must have its yeast," This was in 1903, are you the first to attend college, graduate from college, or attend graduate school in your family "illustrate vividly the function of the college-bred Negro. He is, as he ought to be, the group leader, the man who sets the ideals of the community where he lives, directs its thoughts and heads its social movements. It need hardly be argued that the Negro people need social leadership more than most groups; that they have no traditions to fall back upon, no long established customs, no strong family ties, no well defined social classes. All these things must be slowly and painfully evolved." These educated individuals are not answering the call. Ever lose your cell phone, and it's on vibrate, so you call it from the house phone, you can hear it vibrating, but you just can't figure out where it is coming from so you can answer it. This may not be the best example, but I know you get my point. We see how f'd up things are in the black community, but I assert, most folk don't even know e where the start. Could this why the Talented Tenth have been silent? "The preacher was, even before the war, the group leader of the Negroes, and the church their greatest social institution. Naturally this preacher was ignorant and often immoral, and the problem of replacing the older type by better educated men has been a difficult one." Damn, was he in Memphis when he wrote this. We got three churches on every four corners, and the communities are still f'd up. " If you do not lift them up, they will pull you down. Education and work are the levers to uplift a people. Work alone will not do it unless inspired by the right ideals and guided by intelligence. Education must not simply teach work — it must teach Life. The Talented Tenth of the Negro race must be made leaders of thought and missionaries of culture among their people. No others can do this work and Negro colleges must train men for it. The Negro race, like all other races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men." If you do not lift them up, they will pull you down....what! Senseless black on black crime occurring everyday in this country. I must again add my disclaimer that it must be saved by both exceptional men and women, no doubt. So when does the movement start? When will the Talented Tenth Step up? I'm waiting.......

If you want to read The Talented Tenth in its entirety, http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=174

Motivation...

A pretty nice photo of the Mighty Mississippi. I took it as I wrapped up some reading down at Harbor Town Park.

I came across an article written by Dr. Cornel West relating to Katrina. He really broke it down, as it pertains to the social effects. Take the time and check it out. Here is an excerpt, "Bush talks about God, but he has forgotten the point of prophetic Christianity is compassion and justice for those who have least. Hip-hop has the anger that comes out of post-industrial, free-market America, but it lacks the progressiveness that produces organisations that will threaten the status quo. There has not been a giant since King, someone prepared to die and create an insurgency where many are prepared to die to upset the corporate elite. The Democrats are spineless" The Observer Here is the link, http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,1567247,00.html

Thought of the day.......Even when I think I have worked hard enough, I know that I can work harder, so stop thinking about it and do it!

I'm just asking....

Prayers to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. I am just curious. Given the billions we have spent and are spending in Iraq, the tax cuts that have been given and the Highway Bill giveaways, where are we going to find the 62 billion that has been allocated to New Orleans and Mississippi. It strikes me as odd that Republican lawmakers are saying whoa nelly, we can't just be spending money free willy at this moment. These questions in my opinion should have been asked long before the hurricane. We are blowing the bank in Iraq, now we wondering how we are gonna pay for New Orleans. That's just like me spending all my scholarship money buying spinners for the Pinto, then when its time to buy my books for classes, I'm holding my hands out. I wonder if Washington has to adhere to the new Bankruptcy Bill.

"We are reaching a perfect political storm," said Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama. "We have all the earmarks of a rush to spend money that is very dangerous." Read the article, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/09/national/nationalspecial/09costs.html?hp&ex=1126324800&en=321e4054c1e346b9&ei=5094&partner=homepage

bartcop.com

It's Friday, I'm out!!!!!

God Help New Orleans

Words don't even describe the pain that is felt, sitting in the comfort of my home, watching the chaos in New Orleans. This is a natural disaster, and we can't stop mother nature, but I am going to just say this, and you can say what you want. I am going to point the finger. If you accidently cut your finger, you respond by taking care to stop the bleeding, you stop the bleeding with the necessary equipment, tools Gonna do my best not to cuss while typing. What the f is the purpose of a state having National Guard units, when the majority of the units are in mf'n Iraq, getting killed, killing and supposedly rebuilding? Aint enough law enforcement or troops to f'n handle the damn looters and thugs shooting at helicopters and rescuers. Who sent the guard to Iraq? I wonder who? Yea you already know where I am going with it. This is an excerpt from an article, click the link to read the whole thing..... "In early 2004, as the cost of the conflict in Iraq soared, President Bush proposed spending less than 20 percent of what the Corps said was needed for Lake Pontchartrain, according to a Feb. 16, 2004, article, in New Orleans City Business. On June 8, 2004, Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; told the Times-Picayune: "It appears that the money has been moved in the president's budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that's the price we pay. Nobody locally is happy that the levees can't be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us."

Now they say this was predicted back during 9/11, or at least predicted such a catastrophe was possible if the levees were not raised. Congress and Bush punk azz cut the funding. Who's to say the redesigned levees would have held, but f it, I am on a roll, yea, I am pointing the finger.

In Memphis, gas stations are trying to hike the price of gas, folk freaking out and stuff, taking gas cans and filling them up. I don't know if this is just another excuse for them to raise prices or if it is legit. I think it is price gouging, but...

Yea, I have been hard getting on the looters, but I did say I understand it, the media aint s@#t though, I got this pic from Bartcop.com, you see the difference? Yo that is some BS. Why the F FEMA underfunded? We a f'n superpower. We talking bout we don't know where the ten billion gonna come from? What the f?

Did that fool "Bush" say don't buy gas if you don't have to? I may be a little irrational right now, been reading my cases tonight, watching the news, got me kinda out there. Or my azz might have a point. Man I hope my mom's ain't reading my blog, I am gonna get it for cussin.......... God Bless all those people in New Orleans and Mississippi suffering.