That's not to say that there isn't a problem in the community and the music but to deny that a form of expression of a disenfranchised people degrades society and doesn't enhance it, is just ludicrous.
On the heels of the horrific shooting in Newtown, CT, we have seen a number of people, famous and otherwise, politicizing the tragedy and making certain religious assertions. While I understand the need to use this issue as a lightning rod to affect change, the focus right now should be on the kids both in Newtown and around the country. Gun control debates aside, there is a meme that has been floating around that captures the kind of religious assertion that I find disturbing.
Lets start with some facts. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution has generally been interpreted to prohibit 1) the establishment of a national religion by Congress, or the preference of one religion over another by the U.S. government. In the 1963 ruling that combined two cases, the Supreme Court determined that prayers written for public school use by the States were unconstitutional, and that the required recitation of the Lord’s Prayer or daily Bible readings violated the Establishment Clause. (see Abington Township School District v. Schempp and Murray v. Curlett) This effectively ended all prayers in schools, not just Christian prayer--albeit the majority of prayer going on in school was Christian.
This is often misinterpreted as a rebuke of God by general society and to stifle religious rights.These sentiments, however, are without basis and present a skewed argument. How fair is it to the young Hindu child to require a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in class? If you are not Muslim and your child had to pause five times a day face the east and recite the Fajr, Ruhr, Asr, Maghrib and Ishaa, I would assume that you would not take very kindly to this form of force.
The ruling was an attempt to make our public schools and our country more accepting of all systems of belief. This absurd idea that God somehow allows these tragedies to happen because he is “not allowed” in our public schools, implicates both immaturity and ignorance. If that is the manner of the deity you serve, you might want to take stock of your moral and mental faculties.
I firmly believe that all religious teachings and doctrine should be left out of public schools. I don’t expect my children’s teachers to raise my kids or to teach them what morals or practices I believe to be essential--that is my job as a parent. If you wish your child’s education to include religious doctrine there are Catholic schools and Christian academies for exactly that purpose. Public schools are just that, for the public. Last I checked, the general public consisted of a myriad of demographics with different needs, standards, and practices. What people are failing to grasp about this is that America is a free country, it is a great country, and it is a country based on the idea that its diverse population can exercise individual rights without infringing upon the rights of others.
As a Connecticut native with young family members in the area, this tragedy hit especially close to home for me. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families affected. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Recently, while perusing my often unenlightening Facebook account, I was elated to come across an amazing statement by one my favorite people ever: Jada Pinkett Smith. Her statement was in reference to "letting" Willow cut her hair:
“This subject is old but I have never answered it in its entirety.And even with this post it will remain incomplete. The question why I would LET Willow cut her hair. First the LET must be challenged. This is a world where women, girls are constantly reminded that they don’t belong to themselves; that their bodies are not their own, nor their power or self determination. I made a promise to endow my little girl with the power to always know that her body,spirit and her mind are HER domain. Willow cut her hair because her beauty, her value, her worth is not measured by the length of her hair. It’s also a statement that claims that even little girls have the RIGHT to own themselves and should not be a slave to even their mother’s deepest insecurities, hopes and desires. Even little girls should not be a slave to the preconceived ideas of what a culture believes a little girl should be.”
As many of you may have heard, the Smiths areoften criticized and questioned about the methods they use in parenting theirchildren, and while many will argue their parenting style may be a bitunorthodox, I don't think their methods are unorthodox at all.
After reading her response, I immediately began thinking about how important it is not only for our little girls, but for our little boys to know where their worth lies and where it most certainly does not. I also began to think about my childhood and some of my own freedoms I had while growing up and how thankful I am to my parents for allowing me to have them. By no stretch of the imagination were we rich or privileged by any means,but my parents made sure that I was exposed to so many things (people, ideas,experiences, etc.) - which ultimately played a major role in how I developed and how I now see and process the world.
Like the Smiths (and my parents), I hope to expose my children to everything. I want to be their first source of validation; ingraining this into their minds from the time that they are old enough to comprehend that they alone are enough. I want them to know their worth and have the freedom to express themselves and even in that, be able to stand by and live with whatever decisions they make in any area of their lives. It is my sincere prayer to raise children who are aware by creating a household where the search and acquisition of knowledge is not only encouraged, but also required. As a mother, I hope to have the courage that Jada (yes, I really believe it takes courage) has to truly embrace the idea and practice of allowing my children the freedom to find themselves and be the people they were meant to be; not what society suggests for them.
The dust settles, the smoke clears, and you're left holding your proverbial dick in your hand. Nothing has changed for the better. You're in the same position and state you were when you decided to lend a helping hand you knew would be to your own detriment. You allow your inner voice to be muffled. Your own sense of peace is exchanged for the semblance of appreciation delivered to you in half-hearted thank yous, artificial declarations of contingent love, and, what you believe to be, the ability to sleep at night feeling as though you helped someone else. The only issue with that, though, is that your peaceful sleep is disrupted because, now, you're bitter, habitually rueful, and unable to progress. You've become the stepping-stone for everyone to accomplish their hopes and dreams--a springboard to catapult your loved ones to the next stage of their lives while you remain...stuck.
There's an old saying: "You can't pour from a pitcher that's empty." Despite my gross overuse of second person pronouns (I think it's a coping mechanism. I sometimes hate to think I'm in such a preventable situation), this article, as with most of my writing, is an open letter of sorts to myself first, then to others. Constant neglect of self in favor of the advancement of others only hurts you in the long run; loss of chances in life due to lack of available resources; loss of friendships and familial ties because of your inability to express yourself. This all stems from one place, though: pleasing others. That gnawing you get when you know someone isn't satisfied with a choice you've made. That nagging you feel when you know that you've made a decision that will benefit your life greatly, but MAY cause slight and, quite possibly, temporary discomfort to those around you. Therefore, you choose to forego your own contentment and go through that cycle once more, one that always ends in you throwing a solo pity party.
Ya'll are probably reading this and saying, "This negro has yet to use 'I' once. You're right. Let me associate myself closer with this issue.
The frequency in which I (y'all like that, don't you?) find myself in this situation is quite astonishing. Many friends and family have come into my life, gotten something from me, and moved upward. Whether it be with school, employment, relationships, or anything else, they stay winning and I remain black and underemployed.
In church, they tend to tell us that God has a way of getting your attention through the many different situations that he puts you in. I disagree in part. I believe God gives us many signs that we need to back the hell up and reevaluate some shit, yet we ignore. So, he/she/whatever you prefer to call it steps back and lets us put ourselves in situations that will get our own attention.
When I think back, one-hundred-percent of the conditions I'm in are self-inflicted and completely consequential of the choices I've made. We could get into the details of the way I was raised, how what I can do for others played an intricate role in the vision of my own self-worth, but that's for another time, and another article. This shit here; this is for the healed part of me that can now accept that my self-worth isn't in what I can provide to others in terms of material items, but more in the realm of the intangible.
Listen, now, Mother Vanzant can go on tangents and pull stuff out of that kid 'n play fade, but take a portion from the message she gives above. Without keeping yourself fully capable of supporting yourself, you're doing a disservice to the world.
I hope this penetrated your souls 'n shit. Be blessed.
[Contributor's Note: Below is a letter a sister-friend of mine wrote in 2008. I thought it'd be an appropriate summation of this week's articles bolstering fearlessness, communication, and transparency. But I could have never foreseen its relevance in the wake of today's tragedy which has befallen our brothers, sisters, and babies at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It's important to live and let live while we can...in abundance...and altruistically. - juh]
what i'd tell my daughter one day.
by Afua Asiamah-Adjei
If i ever have the opportunity to be a mother and give birth to a black girl-child, I'd write her the following letter and leave it in a box where she would be allowed to read it at 11.... the supposed dawn of puberty.
Dear daughter:
It was your great god-mother, Audre Lorde who had once said this in a letter she wrote and left for me in a collection of essays: "Black women are programmed to define ourselves within this male attention and to compete with each other for it, rather than to recognize it and move upon our common interests.....For so long, we have been encouraged to view each other with suspicion, as eternal competitors, or as the visible face of our own self-rejection."
I pray you never worship self-proclaimed kings to the extent where you lose yourself, your soul and whatever is black and female....your sister's bond.
I pray you never walk the earth a scorned woman who only sees vertical dreams while laying horizontal to catch them between your thighs.
I pray you never weigh yourself down with emotional baggage of self-destruction as a broken heart rips through your chest and pierces your lungs, making it hard to breath with the pressures of what society wants you to feel as a woman...or perceives you to be as a black woman.
I pray you never plot your own demise by selling yourself short, whether by only loving black men and not ALL men; or telling yourself that you can never fall in love with another woman.
I pray you never get ugly with a vindictive streak used to slice the egos of other women, your sisters, in the spirit of jealousy over men who can never defecate stools of gold even if they tried.
I pray you will experience the good fortune of loving another black woman, and not seeing her as a mere competitor or enemy, but as a part of you.
I pray you will learn how to love as well as you've learned how to survive. Black mothers' gift to their children is survival; but my gift to you will be tenderness in which you can connect elements of the universe with a gift of grace, tolerance and self-love.
I pray you never let a man become the center of your pain upon which you project on your sisters. Not that another woman won't hurt you; but the primary reason why black women hate each other is due to competition to win the heart of a black man...the scarce "prize" they were socialized to believe in that never stays.... no matter how high he's elevated or how deep he is buried inside you.
Dear daughter, I pray you'll find yourself before society finds you and tell you who you should be as a black woman by implanting stones in your heart for you to throw at another black woman, the "said" source of your pain.
“If I look up 'carrot' in the dictionary, most people will acknowledge I do not know all there is to know about carrots and if I truly want to understand carrots, I should probably pick up a horticultural text book. We know that legal and medical terms are going to be, at best, simplistically represented and know we need to find a lawyer or a doctor if we want to know more. Anyone deciding to base their argument on, say, a philosophical concept or term using the dictionary is going to be laughed at at best, or automatically lose whatever argument they’re trying to make at least.
Yet the minute we move into a social justice framework, the ultimate authority changes. We don’t need lived experience, we don’t need experts who have examined centuries of social disparities and discrimination, we don’t need societal context. We don’t need sociology or history – no, we have THE DICTIONARY! That ultimate tome of oracular insight, the last word on any debate!
It’s patently ridiculous and you can see that by applying it to any other field of knowledge. But the privileged will continually trot out simplistic, twitter-style dictionary definitions as if they are the last word and the ultimate authority. No-one would drag out the dictionary to debate science with a scientist. But they’re more than willing to trot out a dictionary definition of racism over any sociological analysis. A dictionary is not the ultimate authority - they’re a rough guide for you to discover the simple meaning of words you’ve never heard before – not an ultimate definition of what the word means and all its contexts.”
You all will find that I am an invested proponent of the "first person plural" voice. One reason may be my habitual use of it at work. As the assistant coordinator of an after- school program, I've found that in a classroom setting, an all-inclusive voice is the most effective approach to universal classroom management. But beyond all of the cutesy shit, I believe the mere thought of sacrificing my comfort-zone, couched in my imagined cohort of peers, eliminates me having to assume my experiences as exclusively mine--ugh.
This, however, is not why you are here. So, onward.
I was introduced to the above conversation between Willow, Jada, and "Gammy" last May. Seven months after dissecting the first viewing, I am re-hashing my thoughts on this nearly effortless display of fearlessness by Willow. And I am reminded of just how compartmentalized I was as a child (and still am as an adult). Though my parents encouraged questioning and depth of thought in the academic arena, I was raised in a primarily "speak only when spoken to" household. This drove my intellectual, emotional, and social selves to become very isolated entities. As I grew intellectually with the aid of both parents and close family, I felt that reaching out to these same people for substantive matters would interfere with the near perfect image I'd settled into. I'd have been a fool to stir this perception; inconsiderate to detract from the attention due to the more obviously needy children in the family; and overstepping boundaries in "trying to be too grown". My emotional development was, thus, a private, self-learned journey, mostly void of meaningful guidance and cues.
They thought I had it figured out. I didn't want to prove them otherwise. (And if it's not visible, who's volunteering to shine a light into the dark for it?) Despite having recently come into understanding how all of "my parts" affect and interact with each other, it is still very important for me to constantly work through the damaging role feigned communication and emotional suppression have played in my life.
Is it possible that there is a very real fear of the truths that may surface (for better or worse) from building authentic, communication-based relationships with the people with which we share our lives? What would happen if we took the time to get to know our mothers, fathers, siblings, and cousins as well as we do those which we consider welcoming into our lives as significant others? (Or are we faking it there too?) How is the divide between the commitments of eros and agape so gaping?
Without a genuine interest in the overall well-being of another, there is no premise for any variation of healthy, sustainable love. How are we to ensure our role in this aspect if we have not invested time and some semblance of understanding the lives of our loved ones?
What happens when the familial ties are gone and we're left only with each other's messes in the way of everyone's progress? Will we still choose to co-habitate with familiar strangers even if it means haulting personal and collective progress?
It's (well past) high time I take a cue from my inner 11-year-old Willow-y self.
"Relationships are a journey...If we concentrate on how much we can love each other, we can overcome it all." - Jada Pinkett-Smith
It's a feeling we all encounter. Never failing to show us its face just
as we prepare to make a huge leap in life, fear comes in and cripples us.
It makes us think we are less than, unworthy, and even wrong for daring
to chase the very dreams and aspirations we've had our whole lives. It causes
us to second guess, and often times, it is the reason we miss out on some of
life's greatest rewards.
While preparing for today's (and my first) 'Mindful Monday'
post, my mind immediately began to ponder about what topic I would choose to
blog on. I wanted to present something meaningful, maybe inspirational, but definitely honest. Well honestly, it seems as though recently my fears have become more frequent than my confidence. Somewhere along the way, between making a slight career change and moving to a new city, I failed to keep the momentum going. Somehow, I arrived at a place of uncertainty because of the very real fear I have of entering 'the professional major league' (and failing miserably). However, this week I'm turning over a new leaf. No longer am I asking myself if I'm worthy, or if I'm good enough. I'm reclaiming the power I've always had and checking all fear at the door. So today, I choose to share with you all a personal challenge that I have
decided to accept:
This week, I'm challenging myself (and all of you) to dare to be powerful by being fearless, in everything; by listening to and trusting your instincts, taking risks, and not letting possibly wonderful opportunities pass without going after them.
It is my sincere hope that each of you reading this post has had an amazing day; one that has set the tone for another week of productivity and pure awesomeness. If I may, allow me to leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
'When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.' - Audre Lorde
Hello CCB family and my
fellow YBP’s! Monday is gone, Friday has arrived, and if you don’t mind I’m
gonna sit back and let it all hang out (no seriously, these pants are tight).
Friday is for the Eduratchet: the ones who
find themselves quoting Marcus Garvey by day and singing Trinidad James by
night. Don’t act like you’re not a functional ratchet.
My name is Marissa, I’m
currently a junior in college, and I work at my university’s writing center.
At times it can be dull, but I love working there. I believe writing is a fundamental, lifelong skill, and if I can help my colleagues
strengthen their writing, in hopes that it will contribute to their success,
I’m down.
[Disclaimer: I’m not going
to mention my school’s name at anytime throughout this article for various
reasons. This being the case, if you know the school I attend, you might/might
not be surprised by what lies ahead.]
This week I stopped into my
supervisor’s office to see how she was doing.
After we chitchatted about family, school, and other aspects of life, I
asked her what she has in store for the writing center. She proceeded to tell
me at some point in time we’ll be visiting individual classes to teach writing
because the university is getting rid of basic English courses.
Whoa dere. Hold up. Huh?
I had to make sure I
understood her correctly. So, with a
confused look on my face I asked, “Are you saying
that it’s not going to be mandatory for freshmen to take English composition?”
She replies, “Yes. I’ve never seen this at any university. They feel that other courses such as music,
science, and psychology should have a writing component, and that’s where we
come in. We will be teaching writing to the students instead of their
teachers.”
Now, I feel some type of way
about this. I feel this is tragic as hell.
Let me tell you why.
By the time a person comes
to college, you would think they would be able to write a thorough, cohesive
paper. Working in the writing center has led me to believe otherwise. You
should see what I read sometimes. Some of these papers have no stop signs
(periods) or speed bumps (commas). They just leave you speechless and
breathless. Fragments, casual language, and lack of organization seem to be
regulars. Last but not least, “If I see 1 more sentence like dis I will dye.”
You might think I’m over
exaggerating—I’m not.
Now don’t get me wrong,
there are students that are extraordinary writers. I have encountered freshmen that have been
greatly prepared to write at a higher level.
Still, there are still those who were not so fortunate. Poor public
education, a lack of emphasis on education in the home, and/or a less than
satisfying past experience in writing has left various students with poor grammar and
writing mechanics. Another possible shortcoming from prior schooling could be
attributed to some teachers and their lack of motivation in their students. There are too
many instances where students are constantly being “passed through” the system,
for the benefit of the faculty and overall passing rates of the institution. A
mixture of inadequate public education, a lack of domestic influences on the value of
education, and a teacher who accepts less than proficient writing assignments
could be a lethal combination for a student experiencing their first year of
collegiate writing.
Unlike many other colleges,
my university lacks a writing component in its application process. This can be
a good or a bad thing (good for the student and bad for the school). Some people hate writing, and I can
understand that. If I could get accepted into a school without having to stress
over writing an annoying essay about myself, I’m applying! However, a person’s
writing can tell it all. To an
admissions committee, not only are they learning a student’s personal story,
they’re also judging their intellect.
I also understand that not
everyone pops out the womb with a pencil and composition notebook. Nevertheless, if the university has no way of
measuring how well a student writes, I would think that an English composition
class would be ideal. I mean, since they’ll be learning at a higher level, why
not advance their writing skills as well.
You might be asking
yourself, “Is this/it even newsworthy?
Is this girl seriously going on a rant about writing and English
classes?” Yes it is and yes I am. I
feel it’s important because writing is an essential concept that can make or
break you in the “real world”. It’s how
people judge your intelligence. It’s the
basis for communication. It’s an
essential job skill, and if my HBCU (Historically Black College/University)
decides to enact this new plan, we’re not taking steps to ensure that our
students will become competent contenders upon graduation.
If other HBCUs and PWIs
(Predominantly White Institutions) have writing components in their application
process and teach English composition, their students might be performing at a
higher caliber than a HBCU that has neither. I feel like something is wrong
with this picture. Why they gotta do us
like that?
Are we moving toward a technology age where writing proficiently isn’t important anymore? Do you feel
that it’s a high school’s job to prepare a student to write at a college level,
instead of the college itself? Do you feel as though English courses were a
waste of time in college or did they help? Let me know your thoughts.
Ladies and gents, thanks for
letting me let it all hang out. You all
enjoy your weekend. Also, on a funny
tip, here’s some tweets I found that are in dire need of spell check and a
prayer. Ya’ll enjoy!
A few years ago, I started my own company, an electrical contracting firm, and one of the many lessons I’ve learned is that people (black folk in particular) do not know how to write a résumé or conduct an interview. Is this a personal failing or a failing on the part of our community? Yes on both counts. Part of the reason we, as a people, struggle in the work place, corporate America is because we’re not aware of the invisible set of rules that, only through trial and error, do most of us discover. When we do manage to navigate the minefield of being young black and professional we forget to leave a few breadcrumbs and share the knowledge gained. We spend at least four years in undergrad learning the skills associated with our chosen field but without learning how to get the job. Its like knowing all about fish but not knowing how to use a fishing rod. Providing our voice of reason tonight will be Akil Bello,Vice President of Educational Development for Bell Curves. Look for him between the asterisks.
Now if you're like me and most of your previous work experience was mall retail, fast food, or hunched over a computer trying to get the degree to put on the résumé then you’ll think “What the hell do I put on there?” . Which leads me to résumé/interview tip one.
1.BE HONEST
The idea is to sell yourself, don't come off cocky or arrogant but don't be afraid to make your qualifications known. So, you’ve artfully fabricated a few details on your résumé. A little more work experience here, a bit of incorrect pay info there, and a few fraudulent references for good measure. With your masterpiece complete you fax or email it in. If your lucky you fool them into giving you an interview. So now you have to make up lies to complement the ones on paper and in a thorough interview you will get caught. They will call previous employers whether they’re referenced or not. Know your worth: you can't expect high pay with low experience. Lets be honest $40/hr is a bit much.However, you should go in knowing the average salary (in your state) of someone in the position your applying for. If you have no work references, use professors or mentors; anyone but your family. The idea is to use someone who can verify your work ethic. Your mother is usually not a good reference.
*Speak to your skills and accomplishment not tasks "Answered phones" should never be on a resume.. the skill is "Provided superior customer service" answered phones is simply the task that allowed you to demonstrate the skill.*
2. Be Succinct
Make sure you spell check, grammar check, and proof read your resume. In the interview, answer questions fully but do not be talkative. In my experience the more I run my mouth the more likely I am to find my foot in it in the near future.
*Don't fill [your resume] with crap.. it should probably be 1 page; it certainly shouldn't be two pages because you listed skills, references, awards activities, favorite tv shows etc.*
3. Be Aware
Be aware of your online footprint. Social media is here to stay and potential employers have no qualms about putting your name into Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google, Myspaceor even Youtube. So if you’ve got some photos up that would not be work apropriate, you're having a Facebook beef on your timeline, or a video of last Saturday made it to YouTube, you might want to clean that up. The easy solution is to either make your page(s) private or be strict about what lands on your profile. *Very common interview enders: Knowing nothing about the company you are interviewing for and not being engaging (no eye contact, no ability to expound on your skill set)*
These are not set in stone but these are some things that could help you snag that ever elusive job in your studied field for which you've spent a decent chunk of your life preparing. Résumés, at their core, are attempts to consolidate who we are and what we can do into a single piece of paper. Interviews, at their heart, try to use a small sample size to gauge who you are as a worker and an individual. Both, however, are necessary evils. A good résumé gets you in the door, a good interview gets you the job. Special thanks to Akil Bello for his help. Happy hunting!
Too often I find myself fumbling for footing in a space dense with poorly crafted songs frequently passed off to us (black women) and our younger sisters as "anthems"; anthems we are to regard are our cherished tokens of empowerment and validation. In accepting these consolation prize hymns we inherently accept the second rate, powerless images of ourselves which they project. I stumbled upon "She" by Laura Mvula via a tweet from the unparalleled Ghanaian-British soul singer, Kwabs. In this song, I see recounted an internal discourse which I (and many other black and brown women) engage in daily.
"There she waits looking for a savior; someone to save her from her dying self."
Be it consciously, or simply by virtue of natural human longing (exacerbated by the litany of "unifying" oppression among POC) it seems that we are in constant search for a "savior-figure" (I'm not speaking religiously but if it applies to you in that vein: get it how you need it); some external person or thing to champion and rescue us, voluntarily and without compensation. In passing off the commendations of the positive results in our lives to "a patch of luck" or an outside source, unduly, we are simultaneous casting negative results in our lives on our designated saviors, detracting from our ability to own and learn from our mistakes...stunting our growth.
"She's tired. But she don't stop."
But in this search, when (or if ) we ever meet an expected end, many of us are met by a house of mirrors upon crossing the finish line: ourselves in all of our divinely-crafted forms. In coming face to face with ourselves, we are faced with the decision of either utilizing the tools of the woman before us or neatly tuck her away and continuing to search for that which we've already witnessed in ourselves.
It is too easy to be faced with your own potential (sans an audience) and simply choose to side-step her in an effort to avoid the inevitable 360° life-reformation, new responsibilities, and temporary heartache of the loss of a sense of (static) normalcy.
"She heard a small voice say, 'You don't stop. You belong to me.' "
What if this sentence was the foundation of our approach to (1) ourselves and (2) the women/girls in our midst? What would a university/neighborhood/(shit...)club filled with women who claimed their stake in the women around them, without sorority, religious, or any other obligatory ties look like? How do we forge a culture of all-inclusive ownership; one that reinforces our strengths, acknowledges and tenderly advises our weaknesses, and more importantly lends to the self-efficacy of anyone within 7 degrees of these relationships? We've tried shaming our sisters into transcendence. We've given discipline and punishment in hopes of facilitating betterment the good ol' college try. We even utilized the wiles of isolation and alienation. It's never too late to get up and decide not to stop. Try today.
Hip-Hop's struggle is analogous to the African-American struggle in America. We're constantly called upon to justify our existence, our culture and its value to America's "melting pot". At what point are we going to see a national (or in this case global) trial on Rock & Roll, movies, or TV? As African-Americans one of our greatest struggles is proving that we, as a people, aren't monolithic. Even our forms of expression are judged by it's worst factors. That's not to say that there isn't a problem in the community and the music but to deny that a form of expression of a disenfranchised people degrades society and doesn't enhance it, is just ludicrous. Why is it that our 'bad' is always worse?
Give it a watch and share your thoughts. (i know its long but you can skip around)
"My job is to some how make them curious enough or persuade them, by hook or crook, to become more aware of themselves and where they came from and what they are into and what is already there and just to bring it out. This is what compels me to compel them. And I will do it by whatever means necessary." - Nina Simone
The classically trained vocalist, Rolyndria Anderson, breathes new life into the Nina Simone staple, "Four Women", in closing her senior recital at Winston-Salem State University. I could go on and on about the beauty, integrity, and initiative of this woman...forever. So instead, I will say "BRAVA, sis," and hope you all enjoy this brilliant interpretation of a Nina classic...
*Author’s Note*
Janae is to thank for the ridiculously wonderful (and long) addition to my title. Yaaas. Ashe.
Today, on my initial post for CCB, want to speak to my fellow YBPs (Young Black Professionals – Yes, I made that up. Yes I'm aware of how not catchy it is. Let me cook.) about an issue that many of us will, if we haven't already, encounter as we become budding professionals in each of our respective disciplines.
We've all been there; recent grad, elated to have landed your first gig in your field of study. Everything is wonderful until 'it' happens: Your first professional conflict and you're faced with the challenge (and stigma) of being seen as 'The Angry Black Co-Worker'
'It' (finally) happened to me.
On a seemingly normal day, I went to work with the intention and expectation of…well…working. I prepared for my day as I normally do, arrived and exchanged pleasantries with everyone, as usual, and began to work.
Then this exchange took place:
Raheem:
(in such a nonchalant, as-a-matter-of-fact manner)
“Jack and Amy (white people) told me how you blanked on them this morning…You might want to chill…You don't want to be known as the 'Angry Black Chick' “
Me: (completely caught off guard) “Pause. Wait, Negro say what?!”
Then Raheem repeats what he said and continued on to another subject as if none of what he'd just said to me was an issue.
I stopped him. I had to.
First, I was taken aback by the comment that I 'blanked'
Blanked?! At work?!
*holds up 'C'Mon Son!!!' sign*
I'd never give someone the satisfaction of taking me out of my happy place at work. Hmph.
Second, - Wait, so the event in question was a conflict? Now this is news to me, because all I did was simply report an issue and suggest what we (and by 'we' I mean ALL of us employees could do to prevent further possible job-costing mishaps like the one we (and by 'we', I mean 'me') had to fix.
Third, since when did me being assertive make me angry? If Raheem were there, he would have seen the (so not angry) exchange and said/thought otherwise.
Folks, I work for an intense, and at times, very stressful, broadcasting company. That means in order to make it in that type of environment, you have got to have a tough skin and not take anything personally. At the end of the day, no one wants to be the one to blame when we have an issue as important as the one I addressed with my two co-workers.
Listen, Content doesn't air correctly--->We draw unemployment checks---> Sallie Mae doesn't get paid---> Applications get sent to Onyx, Magic City, The Pyramid---> Things get unreasonably real. I don't want to imagine.
Anywho, back to the issue at hand...
Why is ok for our Caucasian counterparts to be competitive, assertive, and demanding, even, in the workplace but when we are, our approach is somehow problematic? What do you do? Happily conform? Make them (yes, 'them') feel comfortable by not showing concern/voicing your opinion?
*sighs*
What gives?
Funny how college prepares us for everything but how to deal.
So, people of CCB (this acronym is perfect, btw.), Have you ever been in the 'Let me turn myself down so that I don't intimidate anyone (and by 'anyone' I mean ‘yt’ people)' situation? How did it make you feel? Do you feel pressure in the workplace because of the double standards that we still must face? Speak on it!
How much does love have to physically hurt before we acknowledge it is time to move forward?
We all know Chris Brown aka Light Ike played a game of roll bounce on Rihanna's face Grammy Night 2009 and with his most recent outburst on Twitter + the deletion of his account it only seems right to discuss. Now I know plenty of people feel as though we should "let it go," and also hide under the fact that "we don't know what REALLY happened that night," but come on guys are we going to be that lackadaisical in acknowledging his pettiness that has ensued since the attack. How can we let it go if Mr. Breezy continues to respond to every person that mentions the attack to him?
African Americans, the demography that will be scrutinized here, must learn that it is OK to voice an opinion about something that does not concern us. Things that are swept under the rug and skeletons in families closets have perpetuated the sanity of African Americans for too long because it is somehow easier to ignore the fact it happened than discourse to seek help and closure for certain events e.g. rape, incest, or domestic violence.
It is really painful for me to hear the views and opinions on the Rihanna-Chris Brown situation from my peers because when it boils down to it people either believe they "love each other" so they are entitled to work it out or "that's their situation not mine." My sweet brown boys and girls, what would happen if YOU were to get TKO'd by your lover of some sort, and your support system was not there because its not their business? Would you still feel as lethargic? How would you react to the whispers of you being called weak for returning to your assailant? Yes, Rihanna is fully capable of making her own decisions, but just because she Instagrams a few washed up Ghandi quotes about unrequited love and tweets cute little photos of the two laughing it up over champagne and cereal, that makes it OK for her to be stupid as hell and go back to this nigga? African American have a higher overall rate of intimate violence and black women experience a 35% higher rate of domestic violence than Caucasian women. Is our retention to these ain't shit niggas to blame? Possibly vice versa as well because of course, some of you crazed females are beating up your men too, as well as the homosexuals.
Chris Brown has flown off the handle repeatedly on Twitter at people that continue to vilify him, but in his maturation he needs to realize people will NEVER FORGET. Ike will forever be known to have beaten Tina, Brandy will never live down killing a woman, Michael Jackson, even in his death will always be accused as a child molester. Sidenote: I am heavily into pop culture so I really do try and stay unbiased to celebrities and their legal troubles, but this whole situation is on a different level because the delicacy of the crime and opinions it formulated. The situation sheds lights on a mass of immaturity that continues to receive a pass because of their stardom (I suppose that whats it attributed to, no?) People need to understand their self worth and stop selling themselves short for "love." The inability to resist someones company does not equate to loving, neither does missing their sex, or that connection that you two may have had. Cocaine makes you feel like you can skydive from the heavens into a bowl of freshly seasoned collard greens but is the continuance of use beneficial? All I'm saying is our relationships are the future statistics; are we going to let those numbers decline because we are not strong enough to stand up for ourselves and the right to be treated respectfully and safely?
For
those who don't follow me on twitter (or haven't dedicated a marginal portion of their life to climbing in my windows and snatching my thoughts up)...[FIRST: what are you waiting for?!]...second: I am a avid lover of all things beautiful, inventive,
passion-filled, rousing music. I was first introduced to Rudy Currence by a member of my
“Auntie Team”, Irene (eye-rizz). She posted a video of his “You Bring MeDown” on her twitter page and I haven't looked back since. I listened to that song (edit: it wasn’t EVEN the entire song, just an
excerpt) at least 20 times a day for the next few weeks.
I
recently had the opportunity to attend my first Rudy Currence concert last
month at Marymount University. (TIP: If you live near a college, you NEED to get hip
to their events. They’re typically free, or very cheap, and terribly excellent… a la,
this show). After the show, I sat down with Rudy for a freestyled leisurely
interview.
Though
blaring, the coffee shop in which the concert was held, played a delightful mix
of neo-soul, appropriately accompanying the interview.
*”What
kind of man would I be?” – Mint Condition plays*
Juh: Awesome
performance. Incredible, Incredible. I really liked your combination of a
little bit of R&B with a little bit of gospel and classic rock. Is this
reflective of a typical set or were these adjustments made because of the
venue? (Marymount
is a Christian University)
[A
friend of Rudy’s interjects, introducing himself and taking a seat. The more
the merrier! I’d noticed a patch of harmony coming from his direction earlier
in the evening:
“I heard your harmonies
and I was like..”WHOAH who brought in the church?!”
Friend: Yea, that definitely was NOT me. I
have a terrible voice. Like very bad. I love karaoke but I do it as a joke. I
do ridiculous stuff like the Pussycat Dolls.]
-The
focus returns to Rudy-
Rudy:
Partially, yea. I always try to adapt my show to my audience to make sure I’m
connecting with what they’re in tune with while still doing my thing and
getting into my zone. Until I get an entire structured production of a show together, it
will continue to be that organic, free flowing mix of genres.
“Church members saying
‘He’s so talented. Why he wanna sing R&B music? Excuse me, what does Reverend Currence think about it?’ Since you wanna know, my dad is so
supportive. Since you wanna know, my momma’s in management.”
I was surprised when you mentioned that you
were a PK (Preacher’s Kid). What has been that experience?
For
me, it was just important that I stayed true to myself. I grew up in south. So
a lot of people were asking why I wasn’t singing gospel. But my thing is: why
should we put God in a box? Many were concerned that I was moving towards
secular music. I think it’s important that you first have a relationship with
Christ. The relationship should be the focus. I
make sure I keep a maintain a level of positivity in my music but I don’t limit myself to
a single genre.
[Rudy's friend attests to power of Rudy’s
music] I'm not a very religious person. But [Rudy's] music provides a spiritual lifting that anyone could take away from the experience. I don’t go to church. But I think the positivity in the message is important. So it’s cool that I
can come to his shows and get a piece of that.
*”Do You Remember?” – Jill Scott comes on*
[That, in my opinion is
one of the greatest powers of music, the ability to rouse people emotionally, spiritually, psychologically. It’s one of the primary reasons many black
churches thrive.]
Are you on tour right
now?
I’m
spot dating. I’ll
be in North Carolina at UNC Pembrook. Then I’ll be at Michigan for a showcase
So
I'm doing a lots of spot dating all over the east coast and mid-west.
So you’ve recently
signed with a label? (And by recently what I REALLY meant was two years ago
-_-)
Yes,
I signed with DTP (Disturbing the Peace). It’s been a great learning
experience. I’ve received several opportunities and platforms. I did a song with Quincy Jones called "Soul Bossa Nostra" featuring Naturally 7. We performed it on The View. So far I’ve had three nationally-broadcasted performance opportunities.
Some artists lament their artistic transition from indie life to the major leagues. Do you find that being
signed has limited you creatively? Do you feel like you’ve been placed into a
box?
It’s
more political now. But, I think anytime you're dealing with such a transition, you have to balance both worlds. When you're independent you learn the business as opposed to being
plugged into a machine and just being told that all you have to do is sing. So I’m
thankful for my independent background. And I think one misconception is that once you
get signed, you don’t have to work anymore. And that simply is not so.
*Music
ends*
You’ve truly grown into
your gift. What has been the greatest moment since you’ve signed?
We
were shooting the video for Quincy Jones' single. We were in LA. He tells me about all of
his experiences. Mind you, this is the man that produced Michael Jackson and he
asked me to sing something for him. Once I finished he was like “Wow! You’re
special.” And for him to have said that, as someone that has worked with
Michael Jackson, that will stay with me forever.
What is the most
embarassing or craziest thing that’s happened to you? Have you been mobbed by
groupies or...
I don't know.
That’s hard. Life, in general, is CRAZY. People say some crazy things on Twitter
and Facebook. I’m always reading Youtube comments and Twitter mentions. People are
crazy! One girl asked me to "adorn” her. Lots of “Will you marry me?” requests. It’s all
crazy to me.
Five random questions. Here we go:
What is your favorite
midnight snack?
Whatever’s
around. I’m not picky. I’m always up late so im always eating late.
What color is your tooth
brush?
I think
it’s Blue. It might be blue. May be purple. Might be Blue and purple.
What was the first
cartoon you fell in love with?
Thundercats
Whose your favorite
powder puff girl?
The
blond one.
*upon further research, the CCB fact-checking agency confirmed that aforementioned "blond puff" was, indeed, Bubbles.*
What is at the foundation of your passion for music?
For
me, music is therapeutic. And though it’s secular, it’s still ministry for me.
It’s still a message. I've always had a heart for people so I always want people
to leave my shows encouraged and inspired. Life has a way of bringing us down sometimes and I just want to take away from my music a message of
positivity to spread around the world.
The seventh Episode of the "Kawai Kronicles" will debut December 3, 2012 on Rudy's Youtube Channel.
