Uptown Notes

I don’t think I was really prepared for those four words, but as the clock struck midnight and November 5th rolled in I started hearing and reading the words “I am an American,” from many of my friends and family. Well, much like my man Ice Cube said, “I’m here to deprogram you, don’t forget what they made your great grandmama do, your great granddaddy do without a dollar or a penny or a thank you…”. I am very thankful for an electoral victory, but an election can’t erase the reality that we came from or live in.

Just in time for some snowfall and to pay rent, I present five quick questions. 1) Now that Kanye and […]

So in bizarro world news yesterday, my phone and twitter started blowing up about the commuting of sentence that John […]

People were shocked by the passage of Prop 8 and the votes of African-Americans… should we be? “In many ways, folks have been shocked that voting for Left or progressive politics doesn’t necessarily mean that you support social justice or equality for all. I can’t help but think that we have assumed for far too long that coming from a certain background, speaking a certain tongue, wearing certain buttons inherently connects our struggles for justice. In reality, a social justice orientation is taught one, a lived one, a challenging one. If we are not forever questioning our oppressions and our own privileges I’ve come to believe we are playing party or ideological politics, not engaging in politics of change and justice. Our inability to see our connectedness and divergences in our struggles have ended up making justice for “just us.”

Do I support Barack Obama? Yes. Have I donated to the campaign of Barack Obama? Yes. Have I canvassed for Barack Obama? Yes. Will I be voting for Barack Obama? No. Yes, you read that correctly. I am not voting for Barack Obama for the office of President of the United States. On November 4th, I’m voting with my political ideals, feasibilities, and hopes. Find out why I’m voting for McKinney and Clemente (click the full post link).

Soulja Boy recently wanted to give a “Shout out to the slave masters. Without them, we’d still be in Africa! We wouldn’t be able to get this ice and tattoos.” I know what you’re thinking, but you can’t guess what I’m thinking. Check it as I weigh in on youth, history, and Hip-Hop.

“I never hit a girl, but I’d shake the shit out of you.” – Bittersweet Poetry by Kanye West The […]

So for the past few years nearly every time I hear Black men nearing a point of emotional intimacy two […]