Archive for the ‘Social Upheaval’ Category

Primary Concerns Of The AverageBro…

Monday, January 14th, 2008

avbro coldest ice

Editor’s note: We here at DP Dot Com believe in the democratic principles of equal time for any and all presidential campaigns. RON KUCINICH, get at us. With this principle in place I turn my space (no RUPERT MURDOCH MySpace) over to fellow blogger Average Bro for his description on how BARACK OBAAMA plans to represent for issues concerning Black folks. Personally, I’m more impressed with Average Bro’s writing than I am with OBAAMA’s platform. You folks tell me what you think…

Barack, Hillary, Black America, and The White (Wo)Man’s Colder Ice

An often noted criticism, whether in the blogosphere, black talk radio, cable news, or the barbershop, is that some black folks are hesitant to vote for Barack Obama because they don’t feel he’s “addressed specific issues of interest to black people/black women”, and that this is cause for skepticism. I guess I could buy this argument if those very same people could effectively articulate the “issues” that Obama’s competitors have addressed. When you ask this question of those same folks, you either will get Standard Negro Excuse™ #271 (“What’s that got to do with anything? Answer MY question!”) or a meritless defense of another candidate (“Bill Clinton was the first black President anyway.”). Both responses smell like ass to me, especially when it’s so much easier to search for the answers to these questions with a simple Google search, as opposed to being lazy and expecting Obama, or any candidate, to come to your house and explain their stances over DiGiorno Pizza. Not that that would be a bad thing. I love DiGiorno Pizza. Cause, you know, it’s not delivery, it’s DiGiorno.

Just in case you’re interested in what Obama’s done, or is planning on doing for black America, you simply need to visit the thorough but nonthreatening well organized Civil Rights section of the official Obama website. Everything you need to know about the candidate’s stances on issues pertinent to black America is right there, spelled out in layman’s terms for people who need to be spoonfed. I’m not going to bother doing all the legwork for you when all you need to do is click the friggin’ link that follows this post and read for yourself, but here’s a few highlights of Barry’s Plan To Save Black America™. In his words, not mine.

  • GENDER PAY INEQUITY
    For every $1.00 earned by a man, the average woman receives only 77 cents, while African American women only get 67 cents and Latinas receive only 57 cents. Obama will work to overturn the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that curtails racial minorities’ and women’s ability to challenge pay discrimination. Obama will also pass the Fair Pay Act to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.
  • HATE CRIMES
    The number of hate crimes increased nearly 8 percent to 7,700 incidents in 2006. Obama will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice’s Criminal Section.
  • UNEQUAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
    African Americans and Hispanics are more than twice as likely as whites to be searched, arrested, or subdued with force when stopped by police. Disparities in drug sentencing laws, like the differential treatment of crack as opposed to powder cocaine, are unfair. Obama will ban racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies and provide federal incentives to state and local police departments to prohibit the practice.
  • FIXIN’ UP DA’ HOOD
    Obama will create 20 Promise Neighborhoods in areas that have high levels of poverty and crime and low levels of student academic achievement in cities across the nation. The Promise Neighborhoods will be modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone, which provides a full network of services, including early childhood education, youth violence prevention efforts and after-school activities, to an entire neighborhood from birth to college.
  • PROMOTING FATHERHOOD
    Obama will sign into law his Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act to remove some of the government penalties on married families, crack down on men avoiding child support payments, and ensure that payments go to families instead of state bureaucracies.
  • OBAMA’S TRACK RECORD IN ILLINOIS
    Obama has worked to promote civil rights and fairness in the criminal justice system throughout his career. As a community organizer, Obama helped 150,000 African Americans register to vote. As a civil rights lawyer, Obama litigated employment discrimination, housing discrimination, and voting rights cases. As a State Senator, Obama passed one of the country’s first racial profiling law and helped reform a broken death penalty system. And in the U.S. Senate, Obama has been a leading advocate for protecting the right to vote, helping to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act and leading the opposition against discriminatory barriers to voting.
  • THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
    Obama’s “STEP UP” plan addresses the achievement gap by supporting summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged children through partnerships between local schools and community organizations.
  • PREDATORY LENDING
    The FBI is predicting that mortgage fraud may become a criminal epidemic. In these elaborate schemes, criminals use identity theft or face-to-face scams to gain control of victims’ homes. The offenders then apply for hefty mortgage loans, take the cash, then disappear, robbing homeowners of their property and threatening the financial health of the most vulnerable members of society. Senator Obama introduced the first federal bill to combat mortgage fraud. The STOP FRAUD Act criminalizes mortgage fraud, authorizes $10 million more for anti-mortgage fraud programs and requires the FBI to update bankers on fraudulent activity in a formal, systematic way. The bill also would authorize increased federal funding for mortgage
    counseling.
  • Conspicuously absent, but probably just well hidden: Crime. There was lots of stuff about combating recidivism rates by offering ex-cons more job training, but nothing specifically about reducing murders, etc. Again, I’m sure his stances on this issue are out there, I just couldn’t locate them on his website.

    Either way you dice it, the issues have been well defined. Just because he doesn’t bring them up frequently in debates doesn’t mean he is not concerned with the issues of Black America, and by extension, America.

    Speaking of which, the whole “what’s he gonna do for us?” angle is getting real tired. Let’s not forget, Obama is running for President of the United States, not President of Compton. Black people are barely 12% of the US population nowadays, so expecting him to cater to us and only us is not just delusional, it’s dangerous.

    Black people, perhaps more so than anyone other ethnic group, are notorious for waiting for a Messiah as opposed to rolling up their sleeves and doing some actual work. No President is going to completely solve black on black crime, just as no President can solve the issues of black student underachievement, the disappearing black nuclear family, or out of wedlock births. Our problems are just that. Ours. We didn’t create all of them, but it’s counterproductive to expect someone, anyone, else to fix them.

    [Author’s Note: AvBro.com advocates working with kids in whatever capacity you find most comfortable; be it coaching, mentoring or tutoring, because I think most adults, and for that matter, teens, are already effed’ the eff’ up and thus a lost cause. If a person doesn’t have it figured out by age 18, chances are they’re doomed to a life of idiocy. Getting BET off the air, or outlawing rap music won’t fix any of that. Simply put, if you’re not doing something, anything, to directly improve your community, then please, have a Coke and a smile, and you know the rest. Man up, woman up, and help someone other than yourself! Take the AverageBro Challenge™, or do us all a favor and H.S.D.!!!]

    What angers me is the slave-like mentality with which some black people judge Obama. While it’s fair to expect a black man to bring a different sensibility to the Oval office, I think it’s borderline self-hate to question his dedication to certain issues when you wouldn’t ask the same of the other candidates. This, to me, is the embodiment of “the white man’s ice being colder”.

    [Author’s Note: Yeah, I know dry ice is technically colder than regular ice, but don’t let semantics get in the way of my point.]

    Nobody is saying you should vote for Obama “just cause’ he’s black”. That’s the definition of idiocy. But equally idiotic is not voting for him “just cause’ he’s black” without bothering to know what he advocates and pretending he doesn’t have any official stance just because you haven’t heard a 10 second soundbite on your local news. Wake up, and stop depending on barbershop word of mouth to educate you on everything!

    I’m all for being an informed voter, thus the crapload of links that follow. But if you’re going to be lazy and not do the very basic research to inform yourself about each candidate and what they stand for, yet for some reason think it’s ok to expect more of one candidate than others, then you my friend are just downright triflin’. Please do as all a favor on November 4th and stay your dumb ass at home playing PS3 and watching Judge Mathis. I don’t need your dumb vote cancelling out mine.

    Shit, where are poll taxes and literacy tests when you really need em’!!?!? Damned Jim Crow Laws!!!!

    I’ll step off my box of Lever 2000, but if you’re still unsure of where each candidate stands, please take 10 minutes to peruse their sites and get familiar. But please, whatever you do, don’t pretend that candidates haven’t directly addressed issues of interest to Black America. They all have.

    Just because you haven’t heard about it, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been said.

    Question: Have you heard other people using this “he ain’t said nothin’ ’bout helpin’ black folks” line of reasoning for not supporting Obama? How do you typically respond to this slave mentality?

    Barack Obama’s Issues Section on BarackObama.com

    Hillary’s Clinton’s Issues Section on HillaryClinton.com

    John Edwards Issues Section on JohnEdwards.com

    SNOWSTORM STYLIN’ ON ‘EM…

    Sunday, January 13th, 2008

    minx

    New York City is about to be inundated with it first brawlic winter storm of 2008. The city looks pretty for about .5 seconds after the snow has fallen before it gets turned grey from soot and grime.

    Hopefully the snow won’t snarl traffic too bad.

    No matter how it eventually comes down I look at this storm as my chance to pull out some of my deep winter I.T.’s that I use to style on fools. Just because the weather is cold outside doesn’t mean that your personal style should go on hibernation. When the temperatures drop is when I pop tags on my heatrocks, ya’ dig?!

    The snorkel with the four mink pelts has been gifted to one of the many DP style disciples. Now it’s time for me to break out the artic fox collar.

    foxy

    Artic Fox
    I kept the pelt intact so that the fox can continue its journey along with me. I dare anyone from PETA to jump bad with me. Niggas want to hate on fur, but I don’t see nobody getting naked to give the Native American back their land. Yeah, I thought so.

    tims

    Timberland Field Boots
    Shouts to A.J. Wright for selling these joints for 40 cent. These are the best boots for the urban safari that I walk through because they are lightweight and waterproof. All black makes them look like a pair of hardbody wingtips.

    I.T.'s

    I.T.s

    P.R.L. Lambswool ski sweater
    You already know how I get down with my ‘Lo lifestyle and this I.T. has been on my mind something serious. The knit pattern on the yoke is on some ski lodge chillout shit which makes me the the flyest nigga on the block shoveling snow.

    lo skully

    P.R.L. knit hat
    A nice chunky wool cotton blend knit hat from you know who. Its the same shade of oatmeal as the sweater design. Yes, you can hate me now.

    g shock

    G-Shock wristwatch
    If I had rapper type connections I might have the Bathing Ape x Casio G-Shock, but since I am just a regular fly nigga since 1985 I have to do my shit regular fly nigga style. You should already know that I got it for cheap though. Another forty dollar ($40) score deep in the heart of the greatest city on the planet. Holla at me if you want to copp one.

    Philadelphia Loves Hip-Hop…

    Saturday, January 12th, 2008

    love park

    Philly’s jig mayor MIKE NUTTER goes in hard on ‘Rapper’s Delight’. Now if he could just keep the jigs that live in Camden from killing everyone in his city…

    link via Sean Stevenson via Nah’Right dot com

    ATOMIC DOG

    Friday, January 11th, 2008

    vick

    .
    MICHAEL VICK was not an aberration for how Black folks get down as dog owners. Yes, he was the exaggeration of the truth, but Black folks on the whole are some of the worst dog owners ever. At least Chinese folks eat their dogs. One could argue that there is merit in using canines as a sustainable foodsource.

    Here’s my problem…

    A whole bunch of white moves back into Crown Heights and they bring their pets. The Blacks that want to “act” like they are all environmental and into recycling and all that phony shit go out and get dogs too. I used to blame the white for leaving dog shit on the curb until I stayed at the house of some white and peeped how they bought plastic bags SPECIFICALLY for picking up dog shit.

    *Now ain’t that a bitch? Saving the environment and still buying more plastic bags. Let’s face it, white can mitigate anything.*

    So if white isn’t disrespecting the ‘hood by leaving the dog shit on the curb who the fuck is doing this shit? Yep, Blacks with dogs. Should’a never let you niggas watch ‘Lassie’! For real, if I was mayor I would arrest any Black with a dog. If them fools ain’t fighting dogs they are letting their dog sully the sidewalks with shit.

    Take a look at this crap on the corner of Kingston Ave and Sterling Place.

    turd

    turd

    I got all into my doo doo detective mode and I have determined that is a Nike ACG bootprint in that turd.

    Hmmm, let me find out Combat Jack has a dog…

    turd

    OFFENSE AS DEFENSE…

    Thursday, January 10th, 2008

    rocket

    ROGER CLEMENS gets offended that you would accuse him of cheating, when all he was doing was trying to remain competitive in a league where some of these players are husbanded to grow over six foot tall and more than two hundred and fifty pounds.

    SID FERNANDEZ stand the fuck up!

    Blame everyone else except for CLEMENS for the choices he made. Blame a eugenics project deep in a Dominican forest. ALEX RODRIGUEZ doesn’t use steroids. Blame the radiation from Veiques. It pollutes the ground water and makes everyone who touches it a masterful baseball player. It was blessed many years ago by Sr. CLEMENTE and now a fountain springs from the ground.

    Seriously, what is it about people from Texas and reality? ROGER CLEMENS needs to sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up. Baseball fans, ne, sports fans like myself KNOW that shitbag was on the crack. We didn’t give a fuck either. Whatever makes someone hit a ball 500 feet or throw a ball 100 miles per hour was never our concern. I don’t even know who started this steroids shit in the first place? This is American sports for chrissakes. If you aren’t on some shit then you aren’t making the team.

    What I see as fucked the fuck up is ROGER CLEMENS desire to throw everyone but himself under the bus. CLEMENS could care less that his former trainer has a child with a grave medical condition. All CLEMENS wants is to maintain his ability to golf anywhere, anytime and to continue to sell his balls to the highest bidder [ll]. Eff you ROGER. Eff you and the over 90mph fastball that you rode in here on.

    I’ve used this page to defend all the baseball players that have been accused of using steroids or human growth hormone because I understand the nature of professional sports and the window with which even the most talented and gifted players have to compete is tiny. As a fan and consumer I also recognized the role that management and ownership plays in supplying athletes with whatever they need to perform.

    Don’t you realize how desperate the MLB was to rekindle some interest in their sport after the player’s strike canceled their flagship event? The owners set their players up with trainers and doctors and doctored the baseball for good measure as well. McGWIRE, CLEMENS and BONDS drank the Kool-Aid and now the MLB is throwing them under the bus. Payback is a B.I. There’s still no excuse for CLEMENS treatment of his trainer. Part time Christian ANDY PETTITE has obviously been taking it in the butt from ROGER on the regulack so before any more wild shit finds its way to the papers my suggestion for CLEMENS is to put on a ‘Ho Sit Down’ jersey.

    You’ve just been named the starting pitcher [ll].