GHETTO BLACK MALE FELON BRAGGING RIGHTS UNPLUGGED: RAPPERS VS KILLERS

My hero's Savannah's `African American Slavery Avenger' Michael `Turtle' Thorpe. He slew privileged Jennifer Ross in the 2005 Christmas eve botched robbery when Jennifer (snootedly) refused to yield her purse to him. Jennifer and her family's privileges (wealth) were built from their forebearers' ownership of African American slaves. Her alleged slayer, Thorpe, is a direct ancestor of the African American Slave Trade.

More, the Rosses never paid their reparations!

All that said, not just any rapper should be able to receive or qualify for Ghetto Black Male Felon Bragging Rights. They, like the felons, SHOULD have to meet certain standards.

There's more...

This is the first in a series of diaries on progressive hip hop. In light of recent discussions, I thought it would be worthwhile to examine some progressive hip hop (not the kind Don Imus learned from) to see just how political it is, in what ways and on what levels political information and opinion are transmitted, and regarding which issues.

"Wishing," by Edo G and Masta Ace, is a remarkably thorough and powerful manifesto on black politics, which displays a great deal of political sophistication to express distrust for institutions of government, lament the poor material conditions of so many black Americans, criticize the maladaptive gang culture which has pervaded hip hop, and make critiques on the status quo, which, if translated into political theory or social science, could fill volumes. The first lines are simple and direct:

I wish the president would stop lyin'
Black babies would stop cryin'
And young brothers would stop dyin'
I wish the police would stop killin'
Politicians would stop stealin' and actin like they not dealin'

There's more...

Previously posted on the Young People For Blog.

This marks the end of my school and academic year, the beginning of my third decade of life, and the completion of my second year of college. It has been a year of amazing successes and advancements. I have watched the progressive movement in my area wax and wan and now begin to grow stronger than ever.

From being extremely involved on my campus' progressive groups and issues, to attending the national YP4 summit, to becoming more involved with the progressive campus issues, to watching the progressive movement build off of others' passion, this year truly marks the beginning of a movement.

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Previously posted the Young People For Blog.

This is a hot issue now and many people are chiming in. I would just like to piggy back off of the early post titled : A Response to All Hip Hop Apologists. Hip Hop is a topic that is drawing together as well as dividing people. Imus, Al Sharpton, Anderson Cooper, Oprah Winfrey, Snoop Dogg, Cam'ron, Russell Simmons, you, me, and your neighbor are all caught up in this 'issue.' Hip Hop is something that touches us all no matter what your ethnic background, home situation, or city dwelling. Hip Hop consumes you no matter what to think, no matter what you listen to, no matter where you come from.

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