Black culture beyond hip-hop

[Sydal]

So because a few can make it, it means everybody can make it? Get real, you're living in some sort of fantasy land. Thinking everybody can just rise up and be happy if they try. You look at surface issues and not the depth of peoples personal struggles.

YES! If a crack dealer can turn it around, and make himself worth $500 Million, then anybody can at LEAST make an average living. If Suge Knight can come from Compton, go to play football, and build a music empire...then YES, anybody can make their shit if they want to. Do I have to go on? It's not just athletes and music moguls...there are a lot of cats from the hood that work regular 9-5's and get paid like everybody else...and raise their families like everybody else...and teach their kids the right way like everybody else should be doing.

If you see on the news, all these murders, and all these people they talk to IN THE HOOD...you would hear it from the HOODS MOUTH, all of these people saying, "THIS SHIT NEEDS TO STOP". Cats that are out for themselves are deaf to those cries, and blind to the facts of what's really goin' on. Personal struggle is different for everybody...and everybody has it....and nobody has the right to tell the next man that their struggle isn't as bad as somebody else's...'cause what hurts one man, can make another man stronger.

I don't live in a fantasy world, I have reality in my face 7 days a week, fam. I have boys from the hood who handle their business, and I have boys from the Burbs who have no fuckin' clue and feed into the bullshit. Oh, and I pay no attention to the surface...all my problems are deep, so I know how deep you gotta look to see shit. You take me for an ignorant idiot, as if what I'm saying makes no sense, and you want to keep making excuses for people. Words and actions are a powerful thing, and if they are used CORRECTLY, it will uplift the most hopeless people and make them feel like they're worth something.

 

[Sydal]

IMO, If few can make it, EVERYONE needs to TRY their damn best to get out of their "hoods". Just proof that it can be done, even though the odds are definitely stacked against them. Strive to get out, if you fail, shoot, you back where you started, nothing lost.

Real spit right there.

 

[Sydal]

Explain to 4.0 students at inner city schools like Richmond High who when applying to major Univ. get shot down because their 4.0 counts as a 3.5 because of a lack of AP classes while student in Piedmont have weighted 4.0 that end up as 4.5 gpa's because of the classes offered at their school. I'm not saying that your point isn't on point, but I'm saying that some of the shit is set up and for some reason people of color are not recieving equal educational opps. But this sort of shit isn't new in this country or the world for that matter. Education at Ivy Leauge's are more than just degrees-- it is the chance to network with the ones who make the money not ern pay checks.

LEFT, are you not from Richmond? Do you not, or did you not attend Berkeley? If you did that, why don't you think anybody else can?

Ivy League schools are like fuckin 'clubs. Usually people who go to Yale or Harvard, had or has family that goes there or teaches there...it's all bullshit. Not a lot of anybody gets accepted into those schools, unless they graduate high school with A's in every single honors class, have a shitload of money, or are born into that circle. Those schools are hard for anybody to get into, not just black folks, but every average joe that doesn't do beyond perfect work prior to getting into college.

 

[City Situation]

Ivy League schools are like fuckin 'clubs. Usually people who go to Yale or Harvard, had or has family that goes there or teaches there...it's all bullshit. Not a lot of anybody gets accepted into those schools, unless they graduate high school with A's in every single honors class, have a shitload of money, or are born into that circle. Those schools are hard for anybody to get into, not just black folks, but every average joe that doesn't do beyond perfect work prior to getting into college.

I think that's what he was saying. There is an unequal opportunity.

 

[king of the O]

Explain that to the people of color constantly denied loans to start up those business ideas that they might want to put in action. Explain to 4.0 students at inner city schools like Richmond High who when applying to major Univ. get shot down because their 4.0 counts as a 3.5 because of a lack of AP classes while student in Piedmont have weighted 4.0 that end up as 4.5 gpa's because of the classes offered at their school. I'm not saying that your point isn't on point, but I'm saying that some of the shit is set up and for some reason people of color are not recieving equal educational opps. But this sort of shit isn't new in this country or the world for that matter. Education at Ivy Leauge's are more than just degrees-- it is the chance to network with the ones who make the money not ern pay checks.

If your credit is wamped, or u have no business creditials in your history of course that bank aint gonna give u a loan. sole propietors are the hardest to get a loan because of full liability. The same way people of color can pay $500 a month for a car note, with gas making a total of maybe $600 a month, thats $600 a month that can go into a lil shack that can be later be used as a fixer upper and turnin it ya business. And everybody gets taxes back, but what do they do with it, they go out and buy another car, or whatever thefuck they wasted it on. And even if someone from the hood doesn't get excepted into a major university, theres plenty of universities in the south or on the east coast that are begging cats for enrollment, they just really got to look. As for them saying there is no money to pay for it, the answer is the government. Cats don't realize the government will pay for your school. Its true ivy leagues is where the mingling is at but whos holding us back from networking with each other. U dont need a network to be successful. if cats make they own network, money will keep circulatin and eventually build up to something substantial.

 

[MaddDogg]

This has been and good thread and I would like to make a couple points.

Yup we can't have this shit between "minorities". Im not mad if I'm insulted, i'm mad that there is no unity when it is needed!

yes other minority groups as well especially blacks and latinos we are the most oppressed

them store owners dont care bout black people. They just know where to set up shop and collect dollars. I dont know 1 hood cat that believe that them arabs or asians really respect black people. And Im not talkin about the confused store owner kids who try to hard too imulate black culture.

What this article fails to address is that people of color turn to the streets to employ themselves. I think it goes against the nature of people of color to try to blend in to corporate America and kiss the White man's ass. Business in America caters to the White man and his culture. Also, American public schools celebrate White culture and criminalize the cultures of people of color and its curriculum is full of lies. American public schools are designed for the advancement of the White man and the article also fails to adress this.

I think these posts show attitudes regardless of any race that need to be cut out of society.

1. The idea of "unity" being tied to Black-Black or Black-Latino or any other combination of races. If one constantly sees "unity" as between only one race or between select other races the idea in itself is divisive.

2. Stereotyping other races as "not giving a fuck" or rigging the system to intentionally keep their people down. I am a white male and I know aspects of racism still exist and equality has not come for all people and all communities but the OPPURTUNITY for upward mobility in America does exist for all people. LEFT pointed out that some schools offer AP courses while schools in lower income neighborhoods may not but that does not mean a kid in a lower income school cannot get good grades, go to college and get a good job afterwards. There is an oppurtunity for that child to do better than his parents. The same cannot be said for a number of other countries in the world, including a number of "liberal" European states which treat blacks with "equality" but have segregated and oppressed their Muslim populations in the last generation.


3. There is not a "White Man" hiding behind a KKK sheet out to get you. Again as LEFT said, race is used as an exuse when the real issue is the haves and the have nots, the people who know people and the people who don't know people. For example, ANY COLLEGE experience (not just ivy league) allows an individual the oppurtunity to meet people of various backgrounds and skill levels and create connections down the road which can lead to a job. MOST JOBS AVAILABLE WILL NEVER BE ADVERTISED IN THE NEWSPAPER OR CRAIGSLIST BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THE COMPANY KNOW SOMEONE WHO THEY TRUST IS CAPABLE OF FILLING IT. Not just CEOs but people in HR or Managers or other mid-level employees.

I feel there were a couple of points made in the article that have not yet been adressed.
1. Why when a black child does well in school does he become and outcast from his social networks?

2. Why has the rate of high school graduation rates for Blacks remained at 70% in the last three decades?

3. If it is all but common knowledge that a person with a high school diploma makes more than a person without a high school diploma, a person with a college degree makes more than a person without a college degree, and a person with a masters degree makes more than a person without a master's degree, why are there not more African Americans graduating high school or college?

4. And I suppose, a connected question, is this failure in education connected only to the Black community, or also to students raised in one parent homes? I think there are a number of problems that arise in a one family household which affect one's ability to succeed.

 

[king of the O]

Stand up, hit the schools, speak to the younger cats, uplift the communities by showing them a better way. Start a MOVEMENT that will get talk shows booking you...news agencies wanting to talk to you...organize rallies, protests, etc. It's hard work, and it's not going to be done by one person...but if you rally the troops, words and messages spread like wildfire.

Thats true tho bruh, cats is always talkin about any publicity is good publicity, i guarantee they have more publicity if they change directions. And another thing cats dont realize their are more so called "squares" out there then all these fake ass gangstaz runnin around here. I gurantee u those 20,000+ people that be protesting in frisco all the time about iraq and all that other stuff would love to support the rap cause if it turned in a new direction.

 

[Sydal]

Thats true tho bruh, cats is always talkin about any publicity is good publicity, i guarantee they have more publicity if they change directions. And another thing cats dont realize their are more so called "squares" out there then all these fake ass gangstaz runnin around here. I gurantee u those 20,000+ people that be protesting in frisco all the time about iraq and all that other stuff would love to support the rap cause if it turned in a new direction.

Yup, I've already kicked it off with what I'm sayin' in my music...now I need folks to run with me and do what they do. I give a fuck about the dollar, I want people to hear me and fuckin' do somethin'...feel me?

 

[Sydal]

I remember this dude from the video of the Blood and Crip Truce Picnic in like, 1992. You can also hear the clip on THE CHRONIC! "If I had to die today, for this little African right here to have a future, I'm a dead muthafucka".

THAT is the mentality that people need. If we die trying to change the way things are, we're not forgotten. The shit didn't stop when MLK was shot...it didn't stop when Malcolm X was shot. Shit, I'm not even African American, but I'm opening my mouth because it's the right thing to do. If somebody shuts me up before I'm done, then so be it...but there will be thousands of people standing behind me ready to step up to the bloody podium.

 

[autistic]

I really love when White people explain to people of color what the problems are with their communities and what should be done about those problems.

 

[City Situation]

I really love when White people explain to people of color what the problems are with their communities and what should be done about those problems.

"A black man talks to a white man:
When I was born I was black,
When I grew up I was black,
When I'm sick I'm black,
When I go in the sun I'm black,
When I'm cold, I', black,
When I'm scared, I'm black,
When I'm sick, I'm black,
When I die I'll still be black.

But you: When you're born you're pink,
When you grow up you're white,
When you're sick, you're green,
When you go in the sun you turn red,
When you're cold you turn blue,
When you're scared, you're yellow,
When you're bruised, you're purple,
and when you die you turn grey.
And you have the nerve to call me colored."

Stop with that politically correct bullshit. I see what you're saying, but it's helping more than your sorry ass coming in and hating.

 

[Sydal]

I really love when White people explain to people of color what the problems are with their communities and what should be done about those problems.

This white dude is speaking on problems that plague more than just "people of color". I'm talkin' about drugs, violence, laziness, etc. If you're talkin' about me, I'm not EXPLAINING shit...I'm offering to help make a difference for MY children, YOUR children, and everybody else's CHILDREN!

Y'all some ignorant cats. People like me step up and speak up, and want shit to be good for everybody...and cats take cheap shots because we don't have the right skin tone to care. Fuck all that noise. I've been all over the place, and I've lost people of all races to a lot of dumb shit...and I'm not about to lose more.

 

[rawtunes]

This white dude is speaking on problems that plague more than just "people of color". I'm talkin' about drugs, violence, laziness, etc. If you're talkin' about me, I'm not EXPLAINING shit...I'm offering to help make a difference for MY children, YOUR children, and everybody else's CHILDREN!

Y'all some ignorant cats. People like me step up and speak up, and want shit to be good for everybody...and cats take cheap shots because we don't have the right skin tone to care. Fuck all that noise. I've been all over the place, and I've lost people of all races to a lot of dumb shit...and I'm not about to lose more.

i think he was talkin more about mad dogg....and it is kinda funny hearin a white person say person say what wrong with ur community...its like "do all this shit and ur community will be better" then ur like " aite coo can u help us out" white dude says "no" then ur like "fuck u bitch"..kinda how it goes


@maddogg..u make sum good points but for the most part u dot kno wut u are talkin about

1. u talked about unity...minorities must first unite becuz we all have a common hendernace especially blacks and latino...u cant unite with the people that are hindering u...especially when hey make it clear through thier actions and words that they dont want to unite with u


2. i think u were reffering to the comment about the store owners not giving a fuck about black people and if so clearly u have not been in an asian owned beauty supply or urban clothing store...they actually only have one interest gettin black money...they dont even know what the fuck they are selling they just know niggas is buyin it...and u talked about stereotyping races as intentionally keeping people down...i dont think its really that harsh of a sterotype seeing that in recent history white people thought it was thier duty to keep minorities mainly blacks down...probly 90% of whites were racist...and if blacks had not fought for thier rights in the 50s-70s things would not have change as far as racism and discrimination...i dont kno what u meant about the comment about the ap courses and inner city schools...what are supposed to be happy just becuz we can now go to college and get a job...no we want the same opportunities and not having ap courses is not offering the same opportunities...its kindas like ur saying " we gave u schools, now u can get an honest jobs, and can make more money than ur parents, now u want ap courses?? ur lucky we gave u anything?"...fuck that shit nobody should settle for less than eqaul


3. there are actual white men hiding behind kkk mask out to get blacks...what do think the kkk got completly destroyed...they just had a klan rally in sacramento like 5 years ago...if they were 100% sure they would get away with it they would kill me without hesitating....but besides that there are white people in high up positions who dont like minorities and would do anything in thier power to stop u from rising...thats one problem with white people who claim they arent racist they dont see or wanna deny that there are white people who still are racist and descriminate...and lastly u talked about the have and have nots...well in america the haves are mojority white and the have nots are minorities...so ofcourse people are gonna talk about race until that changes

 

[City Situation]

i think he was talkin more about mad dogg....and it is kinda funny hearin a white person say person say what wrong with ur community...its like "do all this shit and ur community will be better" then ur like " aite coo can u help us out" white dude says "no" then ur like "fuck u bitch"..kinda how it goes


2. i think u were reffering to the comment about the store owners not giving a fuck about black people and if so clearly u have not been in an asian owned beauty supply or urban clothing store...they actually only have one interest gettin black money...they dont even know what the fuck they are selling they just know niggas is buyin it...and u talked about stereotyping races as intentionally keeping people down...i dont think its really that harsh of a sterotype seeing that in recent history white people thought it was thier duty to keep minorities mainly blacks down...probly 90% of whites were racist...and if blacks had not fought for thier rights in the 50s-70s things would not have change as far as racism and discrimination...i dont kno what u meant about the comment about the ap courses and inner city schools...what are supposed to be happy just becuz we can now go to college and get a job...no we want the same opportunities and not having ap courses is not offering the same opportunities...its kindas like ur saying " we gave u schools, now u can get an honest jobs, and can make more money than ur parents, now u want ap courses?? ur lucky we gave u anything?"...fuck that shit nobody should settle for less than eqaul

Very good points

 

[Black Reign]

Take a look at the continent and ask ya self? u first have to anaylze the mind-set of the African mind to find out why we act this way. then when u do that and have enough reason in your brain u can realize god put us in slavery for a reaosn.

THis is going into the Dumbass Quote of the Week files.

Thanks for the laughs kid.

 

[NinoBlakk]

i actually can agree with the view points of all yall, i agree with certain things sydal, doc, and king o all said. we all know the affects of slavery and the oppression to where we are now. the thing is right now we have more opportunity than we ever had and we dont take it. things are no harder for this generation than they were for our parents in 50's or 60's. this rap game, this quick money get rich shit, this drug shit...its not real life to me any more. its an image and a way to X yourself and your people out of their place in society. everybody in this post for the most part has said some intelligent shit. even if i disagreed with certain points i could find other points that a person made that i had to agree on. so bottom line is obviously that we all recognize its a problem. we just got to lead and help the ones amongst us that want to do right. we cant look for rappers, entertainers, politiicians, to do shit for us. for the black race we gotta start with our own families/loved ones and and work from the inside out.

 

[Sydal]

i actually can agree with the view points of all yall, i agree with certain things sydal, doc, and king o all said. we all know the affects of slavery and the oppression to where we are now. the thing is right now we have more opportunity than we ever had and we dont take it. things are no harder for this generation than they were for our parents in 50's or 60's. this rap game, this quick money get rich shit, this drug shit...its not real life to me any more. its an image and a way to X yourself and your people out of their place in society. everybody in this post for the most part has said some intelligent shit. even if i disagreed with certain points i could find other points that a person made that i had to agree on. so bottom line is obviously that we all recognize its a problem. we just got to lead and help the ones amongst us that want to do right. we cant look for rappers, entertainers, politiicians, to do shit for us. for the black race we gotta start with our own families/loved ones and and work from the inside out.

I couldn't agree with you more.

I don't want to step on any toes, but I feel as a part of this society, I need to do my job as a man and help in any way I can. It's not just for US, but it's for the kids we bring into this world. If it's building a center for kids to go do shit, learn shit, etc...I'ma find a way to do that. If it's just delivering a message, I'ma do that.

People need to stop poisoning each other, killin' each other, filling prisons, and start makin' noise...and teach each other shit that will help instead of hurt.

 

[Sydal]

3. there are actual white men hiding behind kkk mask out to get blacks...what do think the kkk got completly destroyed...they just had a klan rally in sacramento like 5 years ago...if they were 100% sure they would get away with it they would kill me without hesitating....but besides that there are white people in high up positions who dont like minorities and would do anything in thier power to stop u from rising...thats one problem with white people who claim they arent racist they dont see or wanna deny that there are white people who still are racist and descriminate...and lastly u talked about the have and have nots...well in america the haves are mojority white and the have nots are minorities...so ofcourse people are gonna talk about race until that changes

This is true, and it's fuckin' sad. If it's not the KKK, it's the closet racists that talk shit behind closed doors. What's even worse is, racist people can stand being racist, but they can't stand being on the receiving end of those comments.

Folks do need to realize though that, even though there are lots of racist folks out there...there are tons of folks that are not...genuinely nice people that love everybody...love culture. How many times have I been called White Boy or Cracker? Quite a few, but fuck the ones who say it, and god bless the ones that are above that. It's not fair to be on the receiving end when you're not into all that nonsense...but I understand why it's like that.

When I saw my folks going to prison, gettin' shot, dying...I made it my business to try to do somethin' for everybody...because I don't want to see the next generation goin' through the same shit. It's depressing....and it all causes more shit to pop off.

 

[king of the O]

THis is going into the Dumbass Quote of the Week files.

Thanks for the laughs kid.

U can laugh all u want bruh, but ok theres two options: 1) Either we were to WEAK to defend our selves against whites during slavery or 2) Slavery happened for a reason

I know when u read this shit, u get angry and the fire within u burns, but hey!, i know we weren't just to weak to defend ourselves so there was a reason behind slavery just like theres a reason behind everything so think to yourself why were we put in slavery.

 

[MaddDogg]

i think he was talkin more about mad dogg....and it is kinda funny hearin a white person say person say what wrong with ur community...its like "do all this shit and ur community will be better" then ur like " aite coo can u help us out" white dude says "no" then ur like "fuck u bitch"..kinda how it goes


@maddogg..u make sum good points but for the most part u dot kno wut u are talkin about

1. u talked about unity...minorities must first unite becuz we all have a common hendernace especially blacks and latino...u cant unite with the people that are hindering u...especially when hey make it clear through thier actions and words that they dont want to unite with u


2. i think u were reffering to the comment about the store owners not giving a fuck about black people and if so clearly u have not been in an asian owned beauty supply or urban clothing store...they actually only have one interest gettin black money...they dont even know what the fuck they are selling they just know niggas is buyin it...and u talked about stereotyping races as intentionally keeping people down...i dont think its really that harsh of a sterotype seeing that in recent history white people thought it was thier duty to keep minorities mainly blacks down...probly 90% of whites were racist...and if blacks had not fought for thier rights in the 50s-70s things would not have change as far as racism and discrimination...i dont kno what u meant about the comment about the ap courses and inner city schools...what are supposed to be happy just becuz we can now go to college and get a job...no we want the same opportunities and not having ap courses is not offering the same opportunities...its kindas like ur saying " we gave u schools, now u can get an honest jobs, and can make more money than ur parents, now u want ap courses?? ur lucky we gave u anything?"...fuck that shit nobody should settle for less than eqaul


3. there are actual white men hiding behind kkk mask out to get blacks...what do think the kkk got completly destroyed...they just had a klan rally in sacramento like 5 years ago...if they were 100% sure they would get away with it they would kill me without hesitating....but besides that there are white people in high up positions who dont like minorities and would do anything in thier power to stop u from rising...thats one problem with white people who claim they arent racist they dont see or wanna deny that there are white people who still are racist and descriminate...and lastly u talked about the have and have nots...well in america the haves are mojority white and the have nots are minorities...so ofcourse people are gonna talk about race until that changes

I dont mean to bring up old news but I havent been on here and would like to clarify what I meant.

1. If we worked together to unite as neighbors, city residents, Americans, etc. the effect would be much more powerful than creating an alliance against a race that you say is hindering you. There are also poor white and asian people who have been hindered by the system. Like LEFT said race is a cloak for the real problems we have in this country.

2. If they weren't Asians and Arabs trying to get your money they'd be black people getting your money. Fold.

My comment about schools was not saying things are equal. Things can never be equal. There will always be that rich white guy from Harvard who has a silver spoon in his mouth that is despised by Blacks and Latinos and also by poor or middle class white people, but if there is a path to upward mobility or a high risk path to get rich quick and possibly be killed or go to jail and not learn skills that will provide for long term sustainability a choice has to be made and that is the choice of an individual regardlesss of race.

3. I did not mean that the KKK physically doesn't exist, I meant the idea of the white man keeping minorities down is less and less significant compared to the idea of getting in with people you know and having the inside track on life and jobs compared to one who does not network and meet a diverse crowd and individuals who will be doing the hiring and firing in companies. Like I said there are haves and have nots. There are lots of whites that are haves, but would you agree in the past few generations you are also seeing Black, Latino and Asian "haves" as well? Their children will always have an easy route and they will always have connections to find their way places easier more than any poor White, Black or Latino.

As a White person I did not post to "solve" the problems of the black community. There are many problems in the Black community that I cannot cope with or understand 100% because I am not from a black community. If you read the first sentence of my post you would see I was referring to all races and I believe that the attitudes displayed by the posters I qouted are counter-productive to improving the system for all races and income levels.