Game Changers: Shaka Jamal, Jasiri X, Cheo Tyehimba Davey D
Click the link below to listen to the conversation on Hard Knock Radio about Black male images and how to go from negative to positive..Our guests include Oakland film maker Shaka Jamal, Pittsburgh rapper Jasiri X and Game Changer Project Executive director Cheo Tyehimba
The Game Changers Project is the hands down answer to the mass amounts of negative images that of Black people, in particular Black men that have long bombarded our community..For those who have bemoaned that situation, then you definitely wanna peep out the solutions offered and call to action, put forth by the brothers I had on our Hard Knock Radio show yesterday. We went into depth about heroes in our community and how and why they should be highlighted.
Jesus El a True Game Changer
As Jasiri X noted there is a lot for us to celebrate.. Many in our community are hungering for the spotlight to be shun on folks who are beating the odds and making it crack for themselves and the community. During yesterday’s compelling show we focused on the micro documentaries done on Oakland native Jesus El who does acrobatic dunking and Pittsburgh activist and X-Clan co-founder Paradise Gray
We talked about an array of topic starting with the death of Margret Thatcher, to the how corporate media develops images, to the systemic dehumanization of Black people to the controversy around Rick Ross.. We also focused on the specific steps that have been taken to bring about victories and why we should be getting behind and celebrating the success of Game Changers.. Check out two of the mini-docs below.. For more in-depth information on the Game Changers Project go to their website http://gamechangersproject.org/the-project.php
Jesus El: http://vimeo.com/52181079#
Paradise Gray: http://vimeo.com/55547420
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Wanna remind folks that tomorrow (wed April 10th 2013) President Obama will present his budget proposal.. Within that proposal are plans to cut social security to the tune of $112 billion dollars..Social security is already suffering in two main ways.. First, its being called an entitlement and we see very little correction with that labeling. Words are important, because it implies that folks who receive social security are somehow gaming the system vs having paid into it over a lifetime.. In short Social security is being ‘dehumanized’.. It’s being made to sound like a poison..
Been thinking about this fall out and the anger everyone has expressed toward LL Cool J around his involvement in the Brad Paisley song ‘Accidental Racist‘. Yeah its a corny song and folks have been getting their clown on about that.. But it’s also brought about a lot of anger, much of directed at LL vs Paisley.
In looking at the LL Cool J situation and the anger around it, what came across was a guy not wanting to make waves. Seemed like he was playing it safe.. Maybe he did it for his career after all Hollywood is fickle. Maybe he was afraid he might lose some friends or step on toes.. LL is no dummy.. He’s been around for minute..
Now I’m in no way saying LL’s song Accidental Racist is anywhere on the level of the Truth and Reconciliation process in South Africa, but the anger and frustration I’ve seen expressed reminds me of the sentiments I saw expressed when folks first heard about the process..Our collective outlook on compromise and forgiveness has been complicated by what we been taught about ‘holding grudges’ and seeking revenge.. Some of us have been informed by our religious or spiritual beliefs… Some of us have been informed by societal dictates.. It gets confusing with no real blue print.. Many of us have been taught that seeking justice is the akin to seeking revenge and hence many have avoided it like the plague.
Pittsburgh rapper and activist Jasiri X has been on fire… His new album Ascension is masterpiece spawning several videos which are on point and inspiring.. The music is soulful.. The subject matter is thoughtful.. He’s also been focusing on subject matter that takes you deeper terrain then we normally travel in Hip Hop, but has been rooted in a tradition of African-American music ala Afrika Bambaataa, George Clinton and Sun-Ra before him.. He’s been talking about life and times beyond our earthly dimensions as well as religion…Cuts like Wheels best illustrate this.. The videos to the song Pillars featuring Brother Ali also touch in that direction..
In recent weeks there’s been far too much violence directed at our sisters, mothers, daughters and women in general.. It ranges from the reaction to Steubenville rape verdict and the local NAACP President Royal Mayo saying she wasn’t really a victim to the recent Rick Ross song advocating ‘date rape’..to highly publicized gang rapes in India to on going assaults in our own military where they say as much as 30% of the women enlisted have been assaulted..
In response to Beyonce telling women they are B–tches and to bow down and Rick Ross rapping about date raping someone, there are some who tried to explain that we should leave such artists alone and that they have FREEDOM of SPEECH.. Lets get a couple of things clear..
This is not about telling artists they don’t have freedom of speech or there is one particular party line they gotta adhere to..This is about waking up folks and making it very clear who’s imperialistic interests some who call themselves artists are furthering..It’s about shining a bright light on the deep pocketed nefarious forces behind the work being hawked to the masses..