Uptown Notes

Swagger.

Swagger jacking.

Swagger like us.

Swag.

I’ve had enough of swagger. Not because I think swagger is a “bad thing”. But because it has reached its limits in the hip-hop lexicon. I’m hoping in the next few months swagger goes the way of “grown and sexy”, “the g funk era“, and the practice of raising the roof. Yeah, I know some people still use these terms and do the dance, but every time you hear them, you should look at someone with a scowl and hope they realize their wrong ways.

There are kajillion commentaries and songs about swagger, but honestly, it’s an empty term. It could mean a million things, but now-a-days it’s about a deep as a mixtape reference to Barack Obama. For example, on Urban Dictionary the definition with the most hits is,

How one presents him or her self to the world. Swagger is shown from how the person handles a situation. It can also be shown in the person’s walk.

Ugh, well have we learned anything from that definition? Well actually I think we have. In a way I kind of feel like swagger has become hip-hop culture’s most recent holy grail. Everyone’s on quest for it, claim they have it, but ultimately there claims and quests reveal their own ego, rather than reality. In the end, if you can defined by a single term, that probably means you need to step your game life up.

This weekend, the City College campus will be filled with fresh young and old minds grappling with issues of inequality and access. I’m proud to say that City College is hosting the first CUNY Social Forum. The event will take place October 17th – 19th and will feature a great range of presentations, workshops, and organizations. If you’re not familiar with the significance of Social Forums click here. If you’re a activist, come out. If you’re an aspiring activist, come out. If you’re concerned, come out. If you’re not concerned, you’re not paying attention! And for that reason you should come out. The organizers have really gotten a number of issues on the table for discussion and action. Whether it’s increases in tuition, changing of standards for admission, or health care there will be a venue and voice for it this weekend. So hop on the train and get informed and active with the best of em.

Not too long ago, I lamented the docility of Hip-Hop given our current political moment. I definitely got a number of great responses and wanted to share a video with you that I just watched that definitely is not “mainstream” Hip-Hop or “mainstream” politics, so its voice is clear, unapologetic, and puts the pressure on em! Now keep in mind, Killer Mike is angry. On “Rap is Dead” (years before Nas said anything) he said, “I’ll be glad when, my music is mad again.” So don’t click this if you’re not ready to hear mad hip-hop and are disturbed easily!

That warning in part goes out to my mom because she told me she was disturbed by some of the language on my blog. I assured her that I’ve never sworn in my life, I only quote people who swear, I cannot tell a lie I chopped down that cherry tree, and that I discovered America. You know we just celebrated “Columbus Day” so I had to get in the lying spirit.

In a recent Supreme Court decision, Connecticut overturned a ban on same sex marriage. We’re third in line to do it, but nonetheless, biggup! Yes, I did just bring biggup back. I think it’s key that we fight for progessive politics that we make sure that marginalized communities across the board get represented and respected. It’s a great day to be from the 23rd Blackest state.

Bryron Hurt has quickly become one of my favorite documentary makers. I was first introduced to his work by Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes and he continues to shine. His more recent piece entitled, “Barack & Curtis” does an excellent job of going being dichotomies of masculinity, challenging historical narrative, and most importantly creating space for a new discussion of what it mean to be a Black man in America. The piece is short at ten minutes, but well crafted. Check it out the documentary here (not sure how long he’ll leave it up) and show the brotha some love over at www.bhurt.com.

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

The above line played on my ipod as I arrived to Grand Central. Each time I’ve heard this line and changed the “but I’d” to “nor.” This is strange practice I developed as an adolescent when I heard lyrics I didn’t want to repeat or feared repeating them in front of my parents. I’d change niggas to brothas, you know the drill. It sort of provides a psychological space for me to relate to the sentiment of the artist, but put my own spin on it. Well, when I was revising Kanye’s lyric in my head this time something rung about the danger of the line. Earlier in the day I was talking to one of my best friends about another close friend who has anger issues, particularly towards women. I concluded the topic by telling friend, “I’m gonna have to ask my boy who is a domestic violence expert, I just don’t know.” My conclusion was much less a solution than a throw away, since I’d reached that same conclusion before but never followed through. How do we truly begin to break cycles of domestic violence? I’m not sure, and listening to Kanye didn’t move me closer to figuring that painful issue out.

As I arrived to my train platform I turned the lyric over and over in my mind and then suddenly I witnessed a man leap and nearly tackle an accompanying female onto the train track which was occupied by a trash train. I, nor the 30 some odd people on the platform, could seem to believe our eyes. We all froze in confusion. The offender then fell to the ground with the woman to hug her, almost as if to make sure she was alright.  As we stood on the platform, none of us spoke, none of us voiced concern, none of us queried the woman still down, we all sat there paralyzed. When she stood up to all our looking eyes it was almost as if we diverted our eyes in unison. Almost like we were ashamed to be looking. I remained locked on the couple, but said nothing. Most of the rest of the platform turned their attention to the arriving train. Old school Chicago sociologists used to write about the malaise that befell city residents. An indifference to stimuli small and large, an even keelness that may be a necessary adaptation to living in a city of millions in such close proximity. In my time in NYC, I’ve joked about the arrival of this malaise with friends, but I fully saw the veil fall before me when I boarded the train with the other witnesses.

As I rode to the next stop, a million rationalizations flashed through my head for what I saw and justifications for my silence. I thought of the million conversations I’ve had about compromising my safety and being told not to do so. I thought, “maybe he has PTSD and when he heard the clang of trash bags being thrown on the train he had a flashback.” All sorts of far out things ran through my mind, still none of these things quailed my stomach.

As we arrived at the next stop I couldn’t take my/our inaction, so I decided to return to see if they were still there. I steeled myself for my return. I had no idea if they would still be there and if they were there what I would do or say. I ran across the platform to a train to reverse my trip. I returned to the platform at Grand Central to find them boarding the train into another car than the one that I was exiting. I hopped out and as they got on, she saw me. We made eye contact and I mouthed “are you okay?” While his back was turned she nodded her head and mouthed “yeah.”

This is no tale of heroism. In fact, I don’t even know what would have happened if she said “no” or anything else. In a way, I feel like the answer she provided was for both of our comforts. I know domestic violence is often a long process fraught with personal, financial, and social issues. The disconnection that I felt fall between her and I when I watched her get tackled is still disturbing me. It only reminds me of the conversations I’ve had with close friends, women who I consider sisters, that have suffered in both emotionally and physically abusive relationships. Facing oppression in a moment often makes a person feel powerless, sadly I felt that way tonight.  This post has no solutions, no conclusion, it’s just a painful reflection on the world we live in and the one we must confront if we want to make it a better place to be for all.

A lot can change in a year, heck a couple of months. The city of Detroit has been through a lot: Kwame, proposed Automaker bailouts, population loss, threats of election disenfranchisement but is that all that’s happening in the D? While we know it’s so cold there, what lies on the horizon for the Motor City and its surrounding towns? What can the past tell us about the future of the area? And what are the people close to the Metro area saying about the role race plays in all this?

Tune into WTVS Detroit Public Television tonight to see me and a panel of experts discuss the role of race in Metro Detroit. The fourth installment of Bridging the Racial Divide hosted by Emery King and Paul Smith covers topics including black political leadership, the urban suburban divide, and the greatest hopes for Detroit’s future. I’m joined by an esteemed panel Dave Bing candidate for mayor of Detroit, Rochelle Riley of the Detroit Free Press, Nolan Finley of the Detroit News, Peter Karmanos business and civic leader in Detroit, and Krista Hartoutunian attorney.

If the television is not your medium, check out the simulcast on WDET 101.9 FM and WJR 760 AM. You can check out all four installments of Bridging the Racial Divide on WTVS’ Video on Demand page.

What you know about the title to this post????

Since my last post, I’ve been very busy. For the first time in a while, I’ve been making good progress on my academic scholarship. Looking forward to getting a couple of things out there real soon. Also, my classes have started to take a really good turn and I’m excited about their potential. Okay, now to a short yet important post.

This past weekend, aside from battling a cold, I got a chance to go check out the African American Day Parade. There were so many beautiful Black folks out in Harlem it was site to behold. I was only at the Parade for a short time, but it was great to see Red Black and Green flying everywhere. While I was excited to see the UNIA flag, I was quickly brought back to reality by the sight of a brotha with the flag in one hand and a handful of passing strangers buttocks in the other. Can we truly be thinking about Black Liberation if we continue to oppress and degrade women? As we as people strive for greater power, a greater community, we as Black men, must interrogate our position in society. Recently brother Jewel Woods put out a Black Male Privileges Checklist.

What do you find yourself answering yes to?
Do you think as a Black man in America you have privilege?
What are you willing to do to change your privilege?

On a separate but related note, when traveling home post parade and post movie, I saw cops everywhere in Harlem. This may be some of the explanation.

They can’t be serious…

The Daily Show recently did a great segment on GOP/RNC double speak. Some pretty amazing footage in here. Who knew that Harvey Dent was a Republican Strategist!

What you don’t trust the Daily Show as a reputable news source … fine, fine, fine, here is an AP article on the GOPs contradictions around Palin and her family.

Shout out to JF and AMB for the links!