From the beginning, the African-American male has been a prized possession. In 2012, from the shores of Africa where minerals are located to the pump of black oil primed in the Gulf, the lives of African-American males are still prized commodities.
Did you know that during the time of Slavery according to Solomon Northrup that scars upon a slave’s back were considered evidence of a rebellious or unruly spirit, and hurt his sale?
In 2012, in cities across America, the lives of African-American men are ending by bullets from guns and other firearms. The value of their lives still not taken seriously. It's happening in the music industry, too only the bullets are words, beefs, gear, record sales, record contracts, promotions, demotions, maturity, youth, money, drugs, religion, ego, pride, jealousy and even success. The plantations have changed. Unfortunately, some of the slaves haven't.
History has a very uncanny way of repeating itself. Sometimes, it does it very quietly and other times it's blatant and throws its hand up in your face. For many of you following this blog, you may recall an entry about Jam Master Jay posted here after reading the book, The Big Payback by Dan Charnas. So, to learn that another African-American male had died or was murdered in a scene that was all to reminscient of another African-American male's death of the same nature four years ago in a scene quite similar in setup was revealing.
The scars of slaves some still with us and those who have passed on are crying out from the grave for us to hear them. History's right here on this page. Read it well.
Historian John Wesley Blassingame wrote a book called The Slave Community. Although, much of the book focuses on the antebellum south, I encourage you to read it with the context of the world we live in presently and how it applies to various industries today which can also be considered as the new plantation. The book was mentioned in the movie Antwone Fisher. Perhaps, it sheds some light on where and how we have learned to treat each other so cruel regardless of race, content or character. Since when did an oath to the master override the oath to God, ourselves, each other and humanity? No doubt sounds like something satanic for sure.
Who Will Cry For The Little Boy by Antwone Fisher
THE GLOBAL GRIND CONNECTION AND POINT OF IT ALL
Hip Hop : a vehicle, way, means or method that Russell Simmons and Joseph Simmns use to move drugs, guns and money locally and globally
Monopolistic : a person or entity who monopolizes; assumes complete possession or control of
Meritocracy :1: a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement
How long will this continue? How long will we allow it? How long will we tolerate it? We say we're post racial a civilized society but the number of deaths of African-American men tells a different story. While all the swagger and material wealth in the industry won't bring them back, today I remember Shakir Stewart (who was 34 and whose circumstances surrounding his death though ruled a suicide mirrors that of Chris Lighty's). I remember Jam Master Jay. I remember Trayvon Martin. I remember Paul Robeson.
And, on the second day of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, September 5, 2012,
I remember Chris Lighty, a good man who positively left his mark on the Hip Hop industry, was buried.
Russell and Joseph Simmons are responsible for this man's death.
"Slavery is still alive and well in the music business."
~ Chris Lighty
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