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Republicans looking for ‘great white hope’ to counteract Obama? Congresswoman says she didn’t mean it that way

August 28, 2009 By

I thought the GOP’s Great White Hope Was Sarah Palin.. Boy the racism just don’t stop.. Folks need to check out Birth of a Nation and the history behind it.. The upward mobility of Black folks during the reconstruction caused an uproar.. The anger that so many whites in power were feeling was indescribable.. You see this now..

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Politics, coast to coast, with the L.A. Times

Republicans looking for ‘great white hope’ to counteract Obama? Congresswoman says she didn’t mean it that way

August 27, 2009 |  5:21 pm

One of the instructive (and occasionally entertaining) aspects of the presidency of Barack Obama, the nation’s first black commander in chief, has been the intermittent surfacingof traditionally submerged racial attitudes. These incidents often take form as slips of the tongue, or perhaps “jokes,” that may or may not indicate racism. But the reaction to such statements serves to remind those in the public glare that potentially offensive references to race — whether deliberate, accidental or unconscious — will be ruthlessly picked apart in the blogosphere. 

Especially if you are a Republican. (Macaca, anyone?)

The latest pol to receive a self-inflicted egg facial is Lynn Jenkins, a freshman Republican congresswoman from Kansas, who according to the Associated Press told a group of constituents Aug. 19 that the GOP is “struggling right now to find the great white hope.”  She added: “I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington.” (Poor quality video is here. Comment is at about 50 seconds.) Getprev

The tape was — naturally — turned over to the Kansas Democratic Party, whose spokesman pronounced Jenkins’s remark “a poor choice of words.”

Later, at another event,  Jenkins pleaded ignorance: “I was unaware of any negative connotation,” she said.  “And if I offended anybody, obviously, I apologize.”

Now, we don’t expect all of our legislators to be fans of boxing — nor even theater or movies, for that matter. But we find it strange that an educated person such as Jenkins, who is a certified public accountant, never knew that the phrase “great white hope” is freighted with racial animus.

“Great white hope” was coined early in the last century to describe the search for a white boxer who could regain the world heavyweight boxing title from Jack Johnson, the first African American to win it.  Johnson — and the ugly reaction of many whites to his 1908 victory — was the subject of the 1967 play “The Great White Hope,” which won a Tony for actor James Earl Jones in 1969, who also starred in the film. In 2005, PBS aired a Ken Burns documentary about Johnson, “Unforgivable Blackness.”

Liberal blogger Matt Yglesias over at Think Progress believes a comment like Jenkins’ should not shock anyone: “Now to be fair,” he writes, “there are virtually no nonwhite Republican members of Congress, so in suggesting that the party’s future hopes rest essentially on white talent, Jenkins was arguably just stating the obvious.”

Ouch.

— Robin Abcarian

Photo: Lynn Jenkins addresses her use of “great white hope” today in Kansas. Credit: Associated Press

Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Political articles, Southern Shift Tagged With: , ,

Kanye West vs George Bush-The Katrina Mix-We Remember

August 28, 2009 By

daveydbanner

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This is a Hip Hop audio mix that captures so of the thoughts sounds surounding the nation’s worst tragedy in history… In this mix you will hear from people like former Black Panther H. Rap Brown, rappers Juvenile & Master P, Mayor Ray Nagin, reporters Sam Sheppard and Geraldo Rivera and of course Kanye West and George Bush

Below is the link to the mix

logoKanyevsBush

Kanye West vs George Bush-The Katrina Mix


This is a audio mix that speaks for itself.. 5years ago.. Monday August 29 2005 Black America got her own 9-11. She was hit with an act of terrorism in New Orleans that was just as devastating if not more than what took place when those Twin Towers were felled by planes… Yes, you read that correctly.. Most people mistakenly believe that the city of New Orleans was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Lets make sure folks understand this once and for all.. Much of neighboring Mississippi was destroyed by HurricaneKatrina which hit the state with its full level 5 impact.

New Orleans which was initially in the path of Hurricane Katrina was spared at the last moment… What hit New Orleans were winds that were around level 3.. The devastation that took place in New Orleans was the city’s levees broke and the entire 9th Ward and other parts of New Orleans was flooded. Did the winds break those levees? Was it the surge of rushing water?  Thats what’s been suggested. That’s what then President  George Bush told us.. Well here’s the deal.. New Orleans was hit by several acts of terrorism. It started on Monday August 29th 2009 when those levees bursted open..

We attended the International Tribunal for Hurricane Katrina and Ritain 2007 and heard 4 days worth of testamony from residents who were still displaced from their homes. This tribunal was one that was conveened by former Congress woman Cynthia McKinney and a number of organizations in New Orleans. There were a panel of judges who came from all over the world who listened in shock as horror story after horror story was told of what went down in the aftermath of Katrina. The most telling testamonies came from resident after resident who talked about hearing a number of large explosions nearwhere the levees were breached. Talk to the residents of the Lower 9th and they will tell you emphatically those levees were blown up.  After hearing so many speak and documentaries made, where its been emphatically suggested that 9-11 was an inside job, why wouldn’t the blowing up of the levee fall under the same cloud?

But if that’s hard to swallow, lets look at the testamonies that came from engineers who did independent studies. Professor Robert Bea who headed up the engineering team from UC Berkeley spoke at the Tribunal and spoke for a couple of hours where he painstakenly showed how the levees were designed in such a way that they were ‘destined to fail’.    So negligent were the designs that one could only conclude that it was deliberate-hence an act of domestic terrorism.

We heard the horric accounts of police shootings, and vigilante killings of Blacks by roving mobs of whites. Former Black Panther Malik Raheem put together a documentary where he captured white residents bragging how they had gone on pheasant hunts to shoot Blacks seeking refuge in one of the unflooded parts of the city. He estimated there were more than 200 killings. He showed bodies of Blacks who were shot in Algiers in his documentary ‘Welcome to New Orleans’

Again, the terrorism experienced came in the aftermath of Katrina here entire communities mainly poor Blacks were run out of the city with most never to return.  I recall when San Franciso and the Bay Area was devasted by the 1989 earthquake. The entire Marina district in San Francisco home top the wealthy was destroyed. Within a year those houses were fixed. The Bay Bridge that collasped was fixed. The 880 highway that collasped was leveled and eventually replaced.. But the homes in West Oakland where the poor lived still had visible damage 5 years after the quake. In New Orleans 5 years after Katrina we still have the Lower 9th is disrepair and many of the folks still scattered around the country.  If thats not terrorism what is?

something to ponder

-Davey D-

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Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Breakdown FM Interviews, Political articles, Southern Shift Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

How I feel bout Regionalism, East vs. West Coast & topic of East Coast Bias!!

August 28, 2009 By

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How I feel bout Regionalism, East vs. West Coast & topic of East Coast Bias!!

By DLabrie – www.hiphopcongress.com – Comment & RT

I’ve been processing the roots of the East vs. Westsince getting into Hip Hop or I’d say at least shortly after, being that I came of age during the rise of West Coast dominance. I also caught the East Coast movement in full swing when I was younger back in elementary. Despite being  from Oakland, California like many others my favs wereGangstarr, Poor Righteous Teachers, KRS, Kid N Play, Salt & Pepper, and Big Daddy Kane.

I’d say a lot of early West Coast Hip Hop favored the East coast sound the beats and rhymes were much faster and grittier from Hammer to Cube, Ice T, even N.W.A, King Tee and Too Short. There was definitely influence, love, and admiration for N.Y. It was a rap thing, as we all rooted for the underground phenomenon that would soon grow to sweep the world. Most of the music that was big at the time was East Coast that was the standard. There was even a battle between Self Destruction and All in the Same Game. Which one was better? However that doesn’t mean that hip hop wasn’t goin’ on in its own way in other places and it doesn’t mean that N.Y. has all the rights to Hip Hop.

Hip Hop is a hood thing a black culture (and now multi cultural) thing. KRS told me himself when I toured w him in 2005 that Elements of Hip Hop were already firmly embedded in places like Oakland, Chicago, Texas and Seattle. No doubt the East pushed the movement 1st. Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation being credited with being the 1st crew to take Hip Hop around the world. It was nothing to hear or see X-Clan, Mc Lyte, LL Cool J, Dougie Fresh, on the radio or on a video as the standard of Hip Hop back then. I was a fan, and I would say I liked it more than West Coast rap because I myself was brain washed by the biased back then, but also because the music was dope and the East was runnin’ shit.

 I had this convo with Crooked Iat Rock the Bells jus a day after the altercation (between Budden & Raekwon) in L.A about West Coast lyricism and growth and how that is perceived by fans. I felt that him coming from the Death Row, but also finding respect amongst Hip Hop purist it was a relative discussion.

My and my cuzzin Ayinde who got me into rap in The Town (Oakland)
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Weezy & DLabrie All Star Weekend in Denver,CO
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As I started to emcee early in high school the tide was turning. Snoopwas out (who for yall who don’t know was label mates w Crooked at one point)…and every car goin’ by was “bumping” The Chronic by Dr. Dre, but I had Redman What TheeAlbum in my walkman, I was into the wild styles of N.Y. which had lyrics u had to decipher, I was tryna escape the harsh realities of West Coast in your face rap, which I lived amongst everyday not just in rap but as a young man in East Oakland.

My older cozen’ Ayinde who knew EVERYTHING about rap started playing what he called underground rap for me I specifically remember 93 til’ Infinity, Protect Your Neck, Come Clean singles. I was hooked this was the same cuzzin’ who used to sneak play me “Davy, Davy Crockett bring on the wild frontier” and “You don’t have to front on me bitch” when I was arguably too young by our parents standards. But by now I was gravitating to groups like Pharcyde, Souls of Mischef, Tribe Called Quest and The Alcoholiks. The1st thing I heard from E-40, Mac Mall or RBLfans was “You like dat East Coast soundin’ shit, you aint from Oakland.” (all this while I’m standing on Oakland soil lol).

Funny thing is I had E-40, Too Short, The Luniz, Spice 1“tapes” too, all whom I see to this day as some of the best lyricists ever. It was like u had to choose. When I would spit everyone would say u can rap but you got that East Coast flow. I was seen almost like a traitor, niggaz would say “move to NY”, or “Your raps make no sense”, “you be usin’ them metaphors” (too quote Common“These is Similes”). I didn’t all the way get it. I jus liked the sound. Maybe I was denying my roots, or maybe the West was being generalized. I didn’t have a Jeri Curl (Lauryn), gang bang , slang crack or even smoke weed at the time. I rocked oversized head phones, wore 1 pants leg up, and freestyled, tagged, and played hoop w non hangin’ dreds and there were many like me.

Baatin of Slum Village (R.I.P) & DLabire @ both performing University of Michigan
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To this day I realized I wasn’t the norm but I also wasn’t alone. This was all part of my growth as an artist at some point The “Box”became the medium you could see East Coast, South Booty Shake, West Underground, local Oakland indie music… It actually almost turned the tide because for once you could rep your coast and not be forced to hear East Coast only. Finally things were evening out a little. The Bay was full of home pride Mob Music compilations, Hiero was doin’ songs w Tribe. and the East was kinda quiet in the mainstream outside of the Native Tongues / Nas/ Wu movement which wasn’t as big out west (at least amongst West purists). The west was sellin’ unbelievable amounts of records. The boom-bop sound of N.Y started bein’ known as Underground rap and you had to listen to the Wake Up Show or go to Berkeley to hear that here.

Long before the Southern dominated radio waves of today West Coast raised groups from the South who also followed in the footsteps of The Geto Boys & Luke started making noise w groups like Outkast, who were once accused of sounding like Hiero, and Swagger Jacking the Bay w “Players Ball”and groups like UGK, Eightball & MJG, Master P, Mystical, Goodie Mob, Trick Daddylines were getting blurred. The East even then was not really feeling the South and this formed a common bond between West and South. I recall Outkast was booed for winning “Best Rap Group” Source Award in 1995 where the event was hosted at Madison Square Garden in N.Y

M1 of dead prez, DLabrie and Dave Chapelle in San Francisco,CA

Of course 2pac played a big role during this time he was uniting the West Coast and after being shot in N.Y, going to jail and signing with Death Row he emerged a cult like figure especially out West. Suge vs. Puff became Pac vs. Biggieand eventually Death Row vs. Bad Boy. 2pac was warring with the East with much success along with Westside Connection(Ice Cube, Mack 10, WC super group formed to finally address all the East Coast hating, and set the record straight). But Tupac Shakur was originally from Brooklyn, came up in the Bay and soon became the spokesman for L.A. He had Meth and Red on his classic ALL EYES on ME. Death Row was SMASHIN on the game.

Hmmmmm how did this happen? I almost missed the East coast sound at times. Pac went at everyone with a vengeance and the “WESSSYDE” tradition and throwing up the dub was formed. He even had public feuds with West Coast counterparts Snoop and Dre at some point who were no strangers to feuds w the East Coast. It seemed as if the East Coast was on the ropes. Especially after Hit Em Up, Pac had a lot of fans not feelin’ Notorious, Junior Mafia, Jay-Z, Nas, Mobb Deep, and cosigning venomous lyrics spit at other East Coast legends.

When Makaveli passed a lot of people felt the West Coast died with him. Think back of all the artists who were a part of that movement (not the dissing movement, but the One Nation Movement) on a national scale. The Outlawz, Yukmouth & Numbskull aka The Luniz, C-Bo, Dru Down, E-40, B-Legit, D-Shot,Suga-T aka The Click, Doggpound, MC Breed, Bone, Richie Rich, Digital Underground, Even east Coasters like Boot Camp Click and Treachto name a few. You can basically refer back to his rap army by hearing any Pac CD or peeping his many cameos. Many would argue he single handedly took on the East and settled the score. One thing that can not be argued he inspired a whole generation.

Mistah F.A.B & DLabrie at Bay Area Rap Summit in Oakland,CA

Let’s back track a little. When I 1st saw Biggie’s video Juicy(long b4 I knew who Puffy was) I jus knew for sure he was from the West Coast the flow, the sample, the laid backness of the song. Who knew he’d become the “King of N.Y” one day. I remember when Jay Z dropped Aint No Nigga, in Oakland we were like “this nigga stole Dru Down beat” at the time Dru Down was a signed artist nationwide I’d say maybe bigger than Jay-Z (this is up for debate).

My OG homie Lil Jof the group Flawless (who at the time was the number 1 example of West Coast bias lol ) out the blue came thru bumpin Reasonable Doubtin his firebird. I wasn’t interested at 1st, then I heard the slaps and was like okay. I noticed that Biggie, Jigga, and the East Coast sound was appreciating what we do out west and our style (Biggie said on Ready to die he was tryna’ figure out “how to sell record like Snoop”). the music was becoming less abstract more in your face. Pun, Mase, DMX, The Lox,Camron, Ja Rule, Lil Kim, Evewere all giving the West props and kickin in your face gangster shit (which I realized over time was always in East Coast music just spoken in different slang). The remix era was here and artists were working together from ALL Coasts!!

DLabrie signin autographs in Seoul, South Korea

The East Coast bias was losing steam more and more. Too Short was on Jay-Z and Biggie’s albums – Bonewas out (everyone had a Bone flow song for a minute lol), shit was everywhere. The Midwest was coming up Eminem, Nelly, Twista, Commonwere on the scene hard. The internet and technology era emerged ushering in the true “independent” artists we are more familiar with today. Fans began finding there music online, and artists were able to burn there own CD’s and push music thru early Music & Social Networking sights like Rap Station and Black Planet. This was the beginning of the Digital era. At this time I didn’t even know how to use email. Groups who were not on major labels started seeing opportunities for indie expansion. Groups could tour without a deal and get music to fans without distribution.

To say u listen to East Coast style rap was becoming a statement a lot harder to define. In these days that term doesn’t even stick with artists like Jim Jones, Murs, Jay Electronica, Mistah F.A.B and Slaughterhouse even w me DLabrie– I get love in N.Y. for my True lyricism and also for my Hyphy ties. My Homies from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens they go dumb w me when they hear my single Pity Patt produced by Bay Heavyweight Traxamillion – (Check it out here – http://bit.ly/YW0nC ) they even ask me to spit that “Bay” shit and show them the town flavor. Sometimes I have to remind them I grew up on N.Y. rap and some of my fav MC’s ever are Hip Hop purists like Wu Tang, Def Squad, and Da Bush Babies. My point is this….it’s Hip Hop……. West borrowed from East, South borrowed from West, Midwest soaked game from all over, East borrowed from Jamaica, Disco, Cowboys, R and B, Soul, Rock. We have covered the gamut, now International MC’s are borrowin’ from American Hip Hop. It’s a cycle. We have to let the old terms go. It’s been a journey for me to find my voice as an emcee. I can rock on a cut with Mos Def or Luda, hood homie Keak da Sneak or a cat who don’t speak English Overseas. I’m still Hip Hop. “Backpackers/Conscious” rappers are fed up w the stigma, “Political” rappers are sick of being held to unreal expectations, “Gangsta” rappers are pourin’ they heart out. No one wants to be put in a box anymore. All bets are fuckin’ off now. I hear rappers sayin’ when will the real rap come back, or bring back the real hip hop? Jus do you!!

Promoter Victory & DLabrie in Times Square, N.Y

Let’s evolve and stop this bullshit. If you old school do you, if you with the new shit do you. I rep the Bay hard as fuck all day to the point where I still get mad when Bay cats diss Hyphy or the Bay in general but to each they own. I don’t take it personal. I don’t decide no 1’s opinion on hip hop and how they feel and vice versa. But also I don’t wanna hit the road and be seen as jus the “Hyphy” dude either just cuz im from Oakland ‘cuz then u think im one dimensional. That’s not like my MC tag or nothin. Nor is it the Bay’s only style anymore than Crunk is ATL’s only style.

I rep the whole West Coast now Seattle, Oregon, Vegas, Cali, AZ, Southwest ! Im still pissed XXL did a whole article on Hip Hop and R and B and didn’t mention the West Coast AT ALL (barely the South) and acted as if the 1st big song of this nature was Method Man and Mary J. Blige or Rakim and Jody Watley(with all due respect). At the Same time a lot of my favs new and old are in N.Y. and the East Coast in general and I always get my game face on, and get a lil’ kid like when I touch down in the Hip Hop Mecca. I always bring my best for them. Although the playing field is a lot more leveled out now and N.Y artists and fans complain that N.Y is being overlooked in 2009, overall there’s still an East Coast bias in general, especially with a lot of the dinosaurs, publications, shows, etc. This has caused a rebellion that lead to cats formin’ they own media (Hot Block Magazine), websites (WetheWest.com) and outlets (Bring your A Game Tour) to counter that mentality. Its like lets rep our own hoods not to diss nowhere else but if the mainstream aint gonna do it like N.W.A, Cash Money, Thizz, or G.O.O.D you have to put on for your city.

It’s like affirmative action give a fair chance to everyone. Some of yall are right, it’s not comin’ directly from the artists and not always the fans either. You can’t like what u don’t know about. Some cats I met in N.Y thought the Bay was just E-40, Too Short and I Got 5 on It. Maybe the Occasional Humpy/Hammerreference cuz that’s all they hear in the mainstream but many rappers get shine on the internet from other places now. This is why it’s important that no matter where you’re from get out of your area and spread your movement. Don’t blame anyone else for not having exposure take matters into your own hands. One thing I like about the Bay is Different types of Artists from ALL OVER THE WORLD travel here every day and WE SHOW LOVE. It makes for a good scene where everyone can grow as artists and see different perspectives. Let’s allow for a bigger mind state then jus Biggie, Jay Z and Nas, grimy street raps with beat breaks, break dancing and grafitti.

 Even in N.Y that’s not the only thing crackin’ anymore. That will always be the foundation – but let rappers sing, do auto tune, dance, have fun, krump, snap, go dumb, Earl Flynn, say Tech 9 is the best, T.I or Wayne, San Quinn or Mac Dre, let a nigga make a song for the harmony and not jus for complicated lyrics, or just be different then what you like. It’s hard to look past your own opinion but don’t be “The Mad Rapper” or the Closed minded type of fan that can’t handle Wayne playing guitar or Andre 3000 doin’ falsetto in 2009. After I say all this shit I’m still gonna throw on my Illmatic tape listen to it a week straight on repeat and say its better than almost every album ever made and hold myself to that standard. ALL EYES ON ME is my shit too, and SouthernPlayalistic and Resurrection. Much respect to ALL regions, WE ALL have something to offer. It’s hip hop better yet its music…………

by DLabrie

DLabrie Debut coming soon

Original Article by Davey D – LINK –

Before there was 50 There was Tim Dog-Remembering the East-West Coast War

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How Did Senator Edward Kennedy’s Work Affect Young People?

August 27, 2009 By

daveydbanner

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Almost every politician likes to utter the cliches of ‘helping’ or reaching out to the young people. Very few do more than roll up take a few pictures and bounce until the next photo op. Very few have taken the steps to craft legislation that would lead to young people being empowered. The conventional wisdom is that young people don’t vote so why bother doing anything for a segment of the population that doesn’t vote or put much pressure on to move in a particular political direction. Such was not the case with Ted Kennedy. He took that aspect of his career very seriously.

Our good friends at MTV lay out a few of Kennedy’s accomplishments with respect to creating and pushing bills designed to help young people. We hope folks take this to heart and commit themselves in following on those footsteps with the goal of taking the late Senator’s legacy to new heights.

-Davey D-

How Did Senator Edward Kennedy’s Work Affect Young People?

Late senator helped lower voting age to 18 and sponsored many college grant and loan programs.

By Gil Kaufman

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1619575/20090826/index.jhtml

Young people lost a key ally in the Senate with his passing

Young people lost a key ally in the Senate with his passing

Senator Edward Kennedy

was known for many things in his 46-year Senate career, including a tenacity that could put the fear into presidents both Democratic and Republican, a willingness to work with colleagues across the aisle to pass major legislation and a focus on improving the lives of children and young people. For decades, Kennedy, who passed away on Tuesday at 77 after a long battle with brain cancer, sponsored a number of bills that greatly enriched the lives of America’s youth.

One of Kennedy’s early triumphs was his participation in creating the National Teachers Corps, part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 that helped to provide scholarships for teachers who agreed to spend two years working in economically disadvantaged communities in the U.S., training them to work in low income, inner-city and rural schools. Three years later, he also championed the Bilingual Education Act of 1968, which required schools to offer bilingual education programs.

 Another of his most lasting legacies for young voters is his amendment of the Voting Rights Act in 1970, which laid the groundwork for a constitutional amendment lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.

Kennedy was one of the key supporters of equal rights for female high school and college athletes under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which protected women from discrimination in educational institutions and increased opportunities for women to participate in college sports. In 1975, Kennedy was the original co-sponsor of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (later the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), which required free and appropriate education for children with disabilities in every state. He would also later sponsor legislation authorizing grants for early learning for infants and toddlers with disabilities and a child-care act for members of the military that is still considered one of the best child-care systems in the country.

Among his initiatives in the 1990s that impacted the lives of young Americans: the repeal of the ban on women serving as combat aviators in the armed services, an expansion of the early education Head Start program, a $500 million appropriation to expand the Summer Jobs for Youth Program and the establishment of the Direct Lending Program, which allowed the Department of Education to provide low-cost loans to college students to cover educational expenses.

The senator offered his crucial sponsorship to another important bill in 1993, helping to secure the passage of the National Community Service Trust Act, which created AmeriCorps, a program that offers educational grants for more than 75,000 students a year who agree to do volunteer service after college.

In one of his most controversial legislative initiatives, Kennedy worked with President Bush in 2001 to pass the No Child Left Behind educational act, an often-maligned bill that set standards for schools in an effort to close achievement gaps.

Long an advocate for an increase in the minimum wage — which affects many young workers — Kennedy finally succeeded in 2007 in passing the first increase in the federal minimum wage in more than a decade, from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. That year, he also worked on the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which authorized the biggest increase in student aid since the G.I. Bill in 1944 and included a loan-forgiveness program that allows more college graduates to go into public service.

In one of his final efforts on behalf of young Americans, Kennedy co-sponsored the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act, which expanded grants to low-income students, worked to reform the student loan marketplace, simplified the process of applying for federal financial aid and held colleges more accountable for their costs.

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Filed Under: 2009-Daily Hip Hop News, Political articles, Southern Shift Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Ted Kennedy’s Legacy in the Black Community

August 27, 2009 By

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The passing of Senator Edward Kennedy meant the end of an era especially for a lot of elders and vets of the Civil Rights struggle

The passing of Senator Edward Kennedy meant the end of an era especially for a lot of elders and vets of the Civil Rights struggle

When you talk to alot of elders in the community you hear them remark fondly about the ‘Age of Camelot’ in the early 60s. This was when a young John F Kennedy ascended to the White House against all odds and his two brothers Robert and Edward aka ‘Ted’ came along with him and took high profile seats in the government. Robert became Attorney General and Ted went onto start what would be a 47 year tenure in the Senate.

To hear the elders tell it, the Kennedy brothers brought with them a youthful energy that inspired hope and gave people a sense of empowerment. It’s that energy that has led many to compare President Obama to what they saw and felt with the Kennedys. For Black folks, the Kennedy brothers underscored that hope. For the first time those who were struggling to dismantle the nation’s harsh Jim Crow Laws, the Kennedy’s were an unexpected friend in the White House. For many, there was an understanding that while people were sitting in at lunch counters, boycotting buses, integrating schools and boldly challenging voting right laws, the wicked brutality they experienced oftentimes at the hands of southern police with the full support of local and state government, the Kennedy’s were the federal answer that would eventually triumph.

When John and later Robert Kennedy were killed many in the Black community took it hard. Those involved in the Civil Rights struggle felt they lost key allies and Ted was the one kernel of hope they had left. Him speaking out forcefully and championing numerous causes that spoke to the poor and down trodden during the reign of President Ronald Regan was a blessing that kept many connected to the Age of Camelot.  Him endorsing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, struck a major chord and went along ways amongst those old enough to remember.  

For those who are younger, Senator Kennedy was the large, robust grey haired Senator who was called a liberal and would make his points loud and passionately in the Senate chambers. He was a good guy if you rolled with his politics, but he didn’t evoke that same emotional connection I could see with my mom and others who watched the tributes playing on TV yesterday. The passing of Senator Edward Kennedy was truly the end of an era especially for an older generation. He will be missed.

 -Davey D-

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Ted Kennedy’s Legacy in the Black Community

The Loop 21, Commentary, Marvin King, Review it on NewsTrust

I was deeply saddened upon hearing that Ted Kennedy, the Lion of the Senate, had died due to a brain tumor. I was sad because the Kennedy clan lost another of its leaders, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, just two weeks ago. But even more so because I really believe that Kennedy represents the last of a breed, and I’m afraid my daughter will grow up in a world where people like Kennedy, who actually serve the people, are no more.

Kennedy was special because of his tireless work for the dispossessed, the immigrant, the disenfranchised, the poor, the everyman and every woman that makes America great.

As a man of privilege, Kennedy did not know poverty, but as he came from a family of immigrants, he recognized that if we could establish a level playing field, anyone in America can succeed. Given the proper tools and sufficient opportunity, Kennedy believed all Americans could reach loftier perches.

And for that purpose he worked. For more than 40 years, he worked in the Senate to provide us with that opportunity. As a staunch supporter of President Johnson’s Great Society, Kennedy made sure segregationist congressmen did not water down critical legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. His first piece of legislation, the Hart-Celler Act of 1965, opened up American immigration policy to be more inclusive of immigrants from places other than Europe. His vision, one of pragmatic fairness for all Americans, will not and cannot be easily replaced.

Massachusetts has a relatively small black population, just 7 percent, yet he acted as if winning the black vote was the key to electoral success. Like his brother John F. Kennedy, who submitted the original Civil Rights Act, Ted realized that America could not fulfill its promise as long as it treated Blacks as second-class citizens. It was extra meaningful then when Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama early in the primary season, despite his longstanding friendship with the Clintons. Kennedy understood before most of us what the symbolic benefit of an Obama presidency would mean.

Kennedy was always a proud liberal and never compromised his beliefs, even though he occasionally sought political compromise. This was most evident in 2001 when he reached across the aisle to work with Republicans in crafting No Child Left Behind, because he believed we must do something to improve our schools. Yet, he always remained a true Democrat; he bitterly complained when those same Republicans failed to adequately fund NCLB.

Kennedy was at his best in 1980 when he challenged Jimmy Carter for the Democratic presidential nomination. In an America moving to the right, Kennedy called for a more liberal platform. Although his bid to unseat Carter failed, Kennedy shined a bright light on the issues he believed Congress and the president had neglected, most notably assistance for the poor in fighting nasty rates of inflation and unemployment.

His loss will be, and already is, greatly felt in the great health care debate. The Senate could use his calming influence during the greatest domestic policy debate in a generation. Hopefully, congressional Democrats can summon Kennedy’s courage and vision and pass meaningful reform that would make him proud.

source: http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=92706c93c2931ccdce8b69065da988f4
Marvin King is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Mississippiand writes the blog King Politics.

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The Kennedy brothers ushered in the Age of Camelot

The Kennedy brothers ushered in the Age of Camelot

 

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Fidel Castro says racist right-wingers fight Obama

August 26, 2009 By

 daveydbanner 

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Rise Up Hip Hop Nation: “I Wish I Were Wrong”

Professor Tina Wright gives a great analysis of both Reuter's and Fidel's Castro's articles on Race and Barack Obama

Professor Tina Wright highlights two columns, one by a Reuter's and the other by Fidel's Castro which gives an indepth analysis of Race and Barack Obama

I have had a number of conversations with friends about Castro and Cuba as a model for social justice. I always give credit to the regime for its health care and education systems, but am not as enthusiastic about Cuba as a model as other progressives, leftists, or revolutionaries seem to be.

– I argue that the people’s power for self determination is undermined by a life long leader, but my sparring partners rationalize the need for a strong leader as the only way to fight US imperialism.

– I say that their isolation could have been used to demonstrate complete self sustainability (agriculture for example) and there would be no need to be a part of the “world market” but Cuba supporters think that is impossible for Cuba to be completely self sustaining…not sure why however…

Fidel Castro offers up a column that shows more empathy and not criticism for Barack Obama

Fidel Castro offers up a column that shows more empathy and not criticism for Barack Obama

– I argue that a true socialist country despite its history would not show the same racialized poverty (and racism in general) that permeates the rest of the world, but they say history takes time to correct.

I offer this to say, I am not a Castro supporter or hater. In theory, I believe his ideology is correct. In practice, it loses its credibility (as long as Cuba is a class and race based non-democratic society…which it is).

But I completely agree with Castro’s latest analysis of Obama’s challenges. With the racist white supremacist unable to accept Obama as president, he is being attacked fiercely. Instead of recognizing this and its repercussions on the future, many on the left are caught up in petty politics and also blaming Obama for not being all they want him to be. In getting caught in that trap, I see an opportunity for real democracy slipping quickly.

If action trumps criticism, progressives can have all they want with an Obama administration…but if we continue to let white nationalist fascists frame the mainstream dialogue, an opportunity is wasted for radical change. Read this analysis from Castro carefully…and if you want social justice for all people…take heed.

Written by Tina Wright

http://riseuphiphopnation.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-wish-i-were-wrong.html

below are links to the articles in question

Fidel Castro ‘s latest column is an interesting read. Here is the synopsis by Reuters:

Fidel Castro says racist right-wingers fight Obama
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSB30869920090825I Wish I Were Wrong!

 Here is Fidel’s entire column (English translation):

I Wish i Was Wrong

http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/cuba/2009-08-25/i-wish-i-were-wrong/

—————————————————-

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Juelz Arrested For Threatening Girlfriend; Released

August 26, 2009 By

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JulezSantanaObviously in light of Chris Brown sentencing and the incident at 50 cent’s mansion, we need some help. Women being threatened and beat is something that needs deeper attention from everyone, men and women, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. ..

Juelz Arrested For Threatening Girlfriend; Released

By Roman Wolfe

http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2009/08/25/21910943.aspx

Harlem rapper Juelz Santana was arrested this morning (August 25) after allegedly threatening to kill the mother of his child.

 According to reports, the woman called 911 this morning during a domestic dispute at their Teaneck, New Jersey home.

 Although the wife did not need medical attention, Juelz, born LaRon James, was officially arrested on domestic battery charges.

 “Police were called to Juelz Santana’s home in Teaneck, New Jersey at 10:00 am after an argument between him and his son’s mother,” a rep for Juelz confirmed with AllHipHop.com. “LaRon James p/k/a Juelz Santana was then arrested and after review of the incident, police quickly released him. Santana is now resting comfortably at his home.”

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Jackson’s Death Ruled as a Homicide

August 25, 2009 By

daveydbanner

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This is such a sad story all the way around and even with this assertion form LAPD, its still mired in controversy. For starters we have a guy, Michael Jackson who had a serious drug addiction. His money and fame allowed him to continue getting drugs in spite of interventions from family and friends.  Jackson is not unique in having addictions, he’s just more well known and richer then most.  What have we as a society done to deal with this problem? It goes above and beyond MJ.

Next we have a police department that seems eager to make a name for itself. What better way then to verociously after the folks responsible for administering drugs to Jackson.  Now by no means am I suggesting that Conrad Murray or anyone else should be let off the hook. If they gave Jackson drugs then they should go to jail if that’s what caused his death. In the case of Murray whats being reported is unbelievable. He made bunch of phone calls, didn’t tell the EMR folks he gave him propophol. The whole thing stinks.

My concern is that this is a problem of epidemic proportions especially throughout Hollywood. Why wait till now? Why haven’t we seen this ‘stellar’ police work when we saw other stars  dealing with drug addictions? Why haven’t we seen LAPD dedicating themselves to shutting down the network of doctors who illegally administer drugs? Is this about putting a dent in a problem or making a name off the King of Pop?

-Davey D-

MICHAEL JACKSON DEATH RULED A HOMICIDE: Coroner finds lethal doses of propofol in singer’s body during autopsy.

http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur55577.cfm

Police say that Michael Jackson's death was a homicide

Police say that Michael Jackson's death was a homicide

L.A. County coroner’s officials found lethal levels of the powerful anesthetic propofol after examining Michael Jackson’sbody, according to a search warrant affidavit unsealed today in Houston, reports the Los Angeles Times.      

The search warrant states that Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, told Los Angeles Police Department detectives that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks. He had been giving Jackson 50 milligrams of propofol every night using an intravenous line, according to the court records.       

But Murray told detectives he felt Jackson was becoming addicted to the substance and began trying to wean the pop star off the drugs. He lowered the dosage to 25 milligrams and mixed it with two other sedatives, lorazepam and midazolam. On June 23, two days before Jackson’s death, he administered those two medications and withheld the propofol. 

The arrest of Dr Conrad Murray may soon happen although he and his lawyers are maintaining his innocence

The arrest of Dr Conrad Murray may soon happen although he and his lawyers are maintaining his innocence

On the morning Jackson died, Murray tried to induce sleep without using propofol, according to the affidavit. He said he gave Jackson valium at 1:30 a.m. When that didn’t work, he said, he injected lorazepam intravenously at 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., when Jackson was still awake, Murray administered midazolam.       

Over the next few hours, Murray said he gave Jackson various drugs. Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.       

 Although Murray acknowledged to police that he administered propofol, authorities said they could find no evidence that he had purchased, ordered or obtained the medication under his medical license or Drug Enforcement Administration tracking number. However, police detectives saw about eight bottles of propofol in the house along with other vials and pills that had been prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Murray, Dr. Arnold Klein andDr. Allan Metzger.       

Other drugs that were confiscated in the search included valium, tamsulosin, lorazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, trazodone and tizanidine. They also found propofol in Murray’s medical bag. Murray told detectives that he was not the first doctor to administer the powerful anesthetic to Jackson.      

At least two unidentified doctors gave Jackson propofol in Germany. Between March and April 2009, Murray said he called Las Vegas doctor David Adamsat Jackson’s request to arrange for Adams to administer propofol. Murray said he was present at a cosmetologist’s office, where Adams used propofol to sedate Jackson. Since he began treating Jackson, Murray said he repeatedly asked the pop star what other physicians were treating Jackson and what drugs they were prescribing. But Jackson declined to provide the information, Murray told authorities.

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Should Rap Artists Have a Morality Clause in Their Contracts?

August 25, 2009 By

daveydbanner

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DaveyD-leather-225This is an interesting concept (having a morality clause) that has obviously grown out of the frustration that many  feel when they hear about a high paid recording artists acting out in public or is accused of committing a crime. The most recent incident being a stash of drugs found in the home of Jadakiss who at press time was not arrested or wanted by police. While a morality clause may have some effect in the NFL or NBA it is likely not to work in the music arena for a number of reasons. 

First, the NFL and NBA are institutions that long ago had the foresight to see that having a good image could be profitable.  As a result they’ve worked hard to control their public image by taking a number of steps ranging from disallowing TV networks to use their name or likeness to imposing dress codes on players when appearing in public.  Their theory is that the league is bigger and more important then one individual player.

This has never been the cased with the music industry. Here we’re talking about an institution that has never been shy about flirting with unsavory elements in our society, either as performers or as behind the scenes executives and employees. Such associations have added to the lore and often cited ethos -sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. In other words, the music industry has thrived off  of having a bad boy rebellious image. Sadly much of that drama filled image is crafted and planned out with the same precision and calculation as the NFL and NBA seek  to move away from trouble.

Second point,  professional sports leagues have a  small number of people who get paid lots of money with very few entry points for one to rebound if they blow their opportunity. Hence its easier to police a sports league compared to the music business which has a lot more entry points. In the  NFL or NBA  players can barred or suspended.  There is no music industry that you can bar one from. You might restrict airplay or stop someone from performing at a concert , but they can always go and do things on the indy tip and record or perform somewhere else.  Putting the word banned or suspended next to their name  will probably result in an artist enjoying more notoriety thus increasing their popularity.

The NFL and NBA is one big institution that controls all aspects of its business. It controls TV, radio, magazines etc. the Music Bizis a made up of a bunch of  individual parts that have symbiotic relationships to one another.  Its by choice we all work hand in hand, but we don’t have to especially if we have economic interests at stake. For example, if Interscope records decides to suspend 50 Cent, that has little bearing on what I  do as a radio programmer. I may still play his music, show his video or highlight him in magazine.  In addition, oftentimes its members of an artists’ entourage that kick up dust and cause drama hitting,  Who do you suspend there?

Third point, The Music Industry has built its business around shady behavior. Controversy and beef are major selling points. Artists going to jail and having brushes with the law have far too often enhanced their attraction and validated them or their record labels who seem to be determined  to garner ‘street cred’. In short bad behavior is rewarded.

Here’s a couple ofexamples.  A few years ago Jay-Z stabbed record executive Lance Un Rivera after it was revealed that he was bootlegging Jigga’s music.  Was Jay-Z suspended? Did he stop receiving airplay? Did MTV/BET tell him he was no longer welcome at their award shows?  Hell naw. The incident made him seem more ‘real’ in the eyes of fans and sadly in the eyes of radio and video executives who often live vicariously through these artists. Some of these folks felt they themselves got street cred from playing or being in good with Jay-Z and his Roc-A-Fella Fam.

Now imagine if any of us stabbed a collegue? It would be a wrap unless we were former Vice President Dick Cheney who shot his boy in the face during a hunting trip-but lets not digress. My point here is Jay-Z was seen as a hero, not by young impressionable children, but by grown ass men and women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s who work in the music industry who make decisions to present or not present music and images to millions all over the world.

Another example involves The Game and his entourage a couple of years ago. They  came to a Washington DC radio station WYKS to do an interview and wound up and beating  down a popular DJ named X-Zulu. According to the story, they were angry when the DJ made what they felt was an off the cuff remark.  (according to reports he said the blue tooth headset one of Game’s people was wearing made them look like a Klingon from Star Trek fame). 

Radio One which owns WYKS was at first furious with Game and ceased playing his records. However, other stations around the country continued to play him without hesitation. Game later went back into the studio and recorded a new verse to his popular song ‘Hate it or Love It’ where he actually bragged about the incident which sent the deejay to the hospital. Many radio executives had no problem playing that song on their airwaves including Radio One. In fact WYKS eventually resumed playing Game.

The grumblings around the industry was that lots of money was put forth to make sure Game’s music was played and put in heavy rotation. When the station ceased playing his songs, the money (payola) was asked to be returned. Rather then do that the station opted to, play his music. Oh well, so much for morality clauses. If anything maybe its the executive in this industry that need morality clauses..

What I find fascinating about this is that record labels when needed can and do exert control over their artists. They control where artists can do interviews on major radio stations, what concerts they perform at and what magazine’s they grant interviews. This control is all tied into the type of promotion and managing of image that the labels feel they need to have in order to ensure a successful promotion of an album. If an artist doesn’t comply, the label doesn’t promote their record. Over the years I’ve seen labels shut down concerts, have station visits stopped and letters from their lawyers demanding we stop playing a record. Rarely have I seen them push to have us shut things down because an artist did something wrong to the community. I have seen this happen when record executives themselves got beaten up… Like I said a morality clause needs to be imposed upon record executives

something to ponder

-Davey D-

Goodell Effect not always good for NFL but may be good for rap music artist

by Ooh Papi

http://www.playahata.com/?p=7068

NFL logoRoger S.”The Hammer” Goodell is the Commissioner of the National Football League (NFL), he was chosen to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue in 2006. He is nicknamed “the hammer” because he has been very tough on most NFL players.

Most think he has been to tough at times in fact Terrell Owens said that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been unfair to suspended quarterback Michael Vick and that the union and more players need to speak out. In an interview with ESPN’s George Smith, Owens said he was surprised more players haven’t spoken up in support of Vick and that, “the commissioner needs to go sit in jail for 23 months” to see what it’s like to sit behind bars.”I think it’s unfortunate,” Owens said. “I think the way the commissioner has handled it, I think it’s unfair to Michael Vick. I think he’s done the time for what he’s done. I don’t think it’s really fair for him to be suspended four more games. That’s almost like kicking a dead horse in the ground.”

Remy Ma sghould've had a morality clause in her recording contract

Remy Ma sghould've had a morality clause in her recording contract

However his reputation for toughness has impressed many. In fact, his style may be making its way over to the Warner Music Group and other music labels. Attorney Lauren Raysor’s called a press conference today and asked record labels to put a“Goodell effect” into rappers contracts. For those who don’t know Raysor is the attorney who helped put Bronx rapper Remy Ma behind bars for shooting her client Makeda Barnes-Joseph.

Raysor propositioned that labels put a “morality clause” in their artists’ contracts, providing monetary incentive for artists to not engage in violent or criminal acts. She compared the music industry to the NFL, which enforces codes of conduct stricter than ever since the Republican raised Goodell took over.

Raysor made it clear she wasn’t trying to run amok on free speech / 1st Amendment rights or destroy gangsta rap lyrics and emphasized “It is your outside behavior we are talking about; we’re not talking about what you write.”

What Raysor wants to see become a contractual matter to prevent violence in hip hop is a contractual agreement from artist that will govern acts of contempt, scorn or ridicule that will tend to shock, insult or offend the community, or ridicule public morality or decency, or prejudice the company, producer, and others in the public or in the industry in general

Raysor is looking to meet with label execs in an effort put the morals clause into effect and if this dialogue is picked up in the blogosphere then it will surely be an anecdotal mark in the timeline of rap music’s evolution.

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The Media Crisis of 2009-Radio Needs to Embrace the Future

August 25, 2009 By

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The Media Crisis of 2009

By Jerry Del Colliano
http://insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com/2009/08/media-crisis-of-2009.html

Jerry_Colliano-225Terry Teachout wrote an excellent article recently in The Wall Street Journal about lessons the media industry can learn from the last big technological and sociological revolution when television replaced radio.

In The New-Media Crisis of 1949 the author accurately framed the debate over what to do with the Internet, mobile space and social networking. Just as important, by inference he was giving us a view of what not to do.

My purpose in bringing this up is to add some additional content to the issue specifically targeting radio, music and new media.

Ironically, networks played a role in the previous technological revolution.

The early, popular radio shows were networked across the country and by 1949 — at the advent of commercial television — there were 85 million radios tuned in to hear these national programs.

By contrast, today, Repeater Radio and voice tracking exist not to offer one-of-a-kind talent to a nation but to offer one-of-a-kind cost savings to consolidators.

There were only 1.3 million TV sets in use — mostly on the East Coast — by 1949.

Unlike today — when the Internet, cell phone, social networking and file sharing became available for exactly the opposite reason — it was free and more readily available.

Some of my USC students felt that even though the Internet is everywhere, the devices upon which to access it were not available to all socioeconomic groups. So there was a parallel — televisions cost about half of what a new car would run you 60 years ago — and a laptop isn’t cheap today.

It was, as Teachout points out, that the rise of network TV due to the laying of coaxial cable between a number of major cities made the new medium available if not affordable.

Radio stars were big back in the day — so big that many didn’t want to cross over to television. Some did — successfully. Some did not. Careers, thus, were prolonged or eliminated by a radio star’s ability to make the transition to radio’s new competitor.

Today, we see radio groups embracing the Internet only in a cursory way — repurposing radio shows, streaming terrestrial formats online and inserting different and less expensive commercials.

That’s not much of a business plan for the future when there is no future in it.

Talent is mired in terrestrial radio unable or unwilling to see podcasting as the new radio, the Internet as simply a delivery system and not a format category and social networking the “coaxial cable” of the future — is not the product, not the content — only a component.

Fred Allen, one of the biggest radio stars that never made it in TV insisted that radio was still better because the listener “had to use his imagination” (quoting WSJ).

Oops.

Doesn’t this kind of remind you of what is happening in the radio business right now in 2009?

The “for us or against us” attitude that permeates radio (i.e., you’re either a radio person or not). By radio person that would be someone who works in a terrestrial station and takes a lot of crap from management that doesn’t see the future. Dare to say that radio is over — and you’ll be lynched (figuratively speaking).

In the Journal article, three “lessons” were offered that I would like to comment on:

Lesson #1

“Network TV lost vast amounts of money in its early years. It was only because the existing radio networks were willing to subsidize TV that it survived—leaving CBS and NBC at the top of the heap in the ’50s and ’60s, just as they had been in the ’30s and ’40s. The old media of today have a similar chance to prosper tomorrow if they can survive the heavy financial losses that they’re incurring while they develop workable new-media business models”.

Aah!

Can you see the difference already?

Radio groups today are not willing to subsidize their future competitor that is the Internet/mobile space. In fact, radio groups stubbornly refuse to invest anything in the burgeoning new technology.

Most large and small radio groups have no Internet strategy, limited understanding, no funds budgeted to the media that will likely surpass radio for good this time.

Unlike the early days of television where radio interests were developing radio with pictures, radio now is a minor player at best in the future of webcasting, mobile content and social networking.

Lesson # 2

“Established radio performers such as Benny and Hope, who embraced TV on its own visually oriented terms, flourished well into the ’60s. Everyone else—including Fred Allen—vanished into the dumpster of entertainment history. The same fate awaits contemporary old-media figures unwilling to grapple with the challenge of the new media, no matter how popular they may be today”.

That’s right — radio’s biggest names today will vanish like the dinosaurs into ancient history.

As I like to point out, the ones who will invest and innovate in new media — particularly podcasting — may go on and count themselves as the few and the fortunate to transcend a dying medium into a growing industry.

History repeats itself.

There is a reason why the old saw still rings true.

And why does history repeat itself?

Because we never seem to be willing to learn our lessons from it — so, any radio talent looking to end his or her career need simply to stay where they are in a medium that is about to be replaced by a new one in which radio has little interest.

Lesson #3

“Americans of all ages embraced TV unhesitatingly. They felt no loyalty to network radio, the medium that had entertained and informed them for a quarter-century. When something came along that they deemed superior, they switched off their radios without a second thought. That’s the biggest lesson taught by the new-media crisis of 1949. Nostalgia, like guilt, is a rope that wears thin”.

Radio people need to read and reread that last paragraph.

An entire new generation of 80 million are in the process of departing for new media leaving terrestrial radio with no growth potential and no real way to survive ten years from today. That is a fact.

Even older available listeners have taken to Facebook, downloading songs to iPods, embracing Twitter, watching YouTube — to mention a few — all at the expense of their radio listening time.

The monopoly radio had in cars for years has come to an end — the car radio is now called the entertainment center.

Satellite radio was to become the next radio and all it managed to do was be a costly part of this entertainment center not a stark contrast to its competitor — terrestrial radio.

Radio listeners have embraced new media and continue to gobble it up at a record pace. Still, radio groups exist as though they have no competition and everything is still beautiful.

The lessons are many but they are happening in real time and cannot be ignored.

There is a reason why radio operators in the 1940’s supported and subsidized its eventual replacement — television.

It’s because these leaders then saw a vision of the future and wanted to be part of it.

By contrast, today’s radio consolidators refuse to acknowledge let alone subsidize what may very well be their technological and sociological replacement — the Internet and mobile space for exactly the opposite reason.

They can’t see the vision and don’t want to be part of what it considers the enemy — not the future.

This Wall Street Journal piece is excellent if you have the time to read it — click here.

I hope this discussion has resonated with you as it has with me and I encourage you to share it with your media friends.

The richness of radio is its talented managers, salespeople and on-air performers. They are being forced to take their futures to new media without any industry leadership.

That did not happen in 1949.

But it must happen in 2009 if they are to find a place in the digital future.

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