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04-17-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
VA TECH SHOOTING EXCLUSIVE: African American among first two victims; plus, Blacksburg's St. Paul AME open 72 hours to help students cope.
*Armed with two handguns and several clips of ammunition, a gunman went on a rampage at Virginia Tech early Monday killing 32 people on the campus before fatally shooting himself.
A source at the Blacksburg campus tells EUR exclusively that one of the shooter's first two victims, a resident advisor at West Ambler Johnston dormitory, is said to be an African American male. He was described by several students as a "really sweet guy."
According to police, the gunman began his shooting spree at about
7:15 a.m. on the fourth floor of the high-rise coed dorm, killing the resident advisor and another student. About two hours later, the shooter was on the other side of the 2,600-acre campus storming into Norris Hall, a classroom building located about a half-mile away from West Ambler Johnston.
Thirty people were killed and 15 injured in Norris Hall. Police say at least two of the doors to the building were chained from the inside, most likely by the gunman. Some students escaped by jumping out of classroom windows in a panic. The gunman eventually committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.
Throughout the day, there were conflicting reports about whether the shooter at Norris Hall was the same killer from West Ambler Johnston. During one of the many press conference held by school president Charles Steger, Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said the witness description of the gunman who killed himself at Norris Hall did not match the description of the shooter at the dorm.
Flinchum said police had interviewed a male who was a "person of interest" in the dorm shooting who knew one of the victims, but he declined to give details.
Several prayer services were held throughout Blacksburg on Monday night. St. Paul A.M.E. church, located just off of the campus, left its doors open over night and will keep them open for the next 48 hours straight to provide non-stop comfort and counsel for the community.
"People are walking around dazed, distraught and just numb," a member of the church told EUR Monday night. "It's pretty bad. But the community is pulling together. A lot of the restaurants downtown have signs in the windows offering free food to EMS, fire and police workers."
St. Paul parishioners were busy bringing breakfast foods and air mattresses to the church late Monday and early today for its 72-hour run. Some students went to their dorms and retrieved games and musical instruments to bring back to the church, perhaps as a way to endure what President Steger described early Monday as a "tragedy of monumental proportions."
RUSSELL SIMMONS WANTS PRIVATE MEETING ON HIP HOP: Invitation-only gathering to reportedly take place Wednesday at home of Lyor Cohen.
*Allhiphop.com is reporting that HSAN Chairman Russell Simmons has called for a closed door meeting to discuss the current state of hip hop.
National attention has once again turned toward offensive and misogynistic rap lyrics after Don Imus used the word “ho” to describe members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. Many are calling the recent firing of Imus a double standard, as rappers have used the term for decades without consequence.
According to Allhiphop.com, Simmons called a meeting for Wednesday at the Manhattan home of music exec Lyor Cohen to discuss the future of hip hop, and ways in which the genre can move forward in a positive direction.
The meeting will include artists and executives who are involved in the hip hop community, the Web site reports.
VILLAGE PEOPLE SINGER WON’T BE CHARGED: Victor Willis was arrested for choking and threatening his girlfriend.
*Victor Willis, the original cop from the 70s disco group The Village People, has managed to escape a series of battery charges in connection with an assault on his girlfriend.
Prosecutors decided not to charge the former singer after he was arrested last month for allegedly choking and threatening his girlfriend. The woman told police that Willis, 55, had threatened her with a knife and had been abusive.
The writer of “YMCA” and “In the Navy” was facing charges of battery, criminal threat and domestic violence battery with no injury, said Maria Velasquez, a spokeswoman for the city attorney's office. However, prosecutors dropped the case for "evidentiary reasons," Velasquez said.
"There was simply a minor disagreement between Victor and his fiancee who are residing together in a penthouse apartment in San Diego's La Jolla area," said Alice Wolf, Willis' publicist, in a statement. "Victor loves her very much and she loves Victor."
In September, Willis was sentenced to three years' probation on drug possession charges after he agreed to enter a treatment program.
MACY GRAY ACCIDENTALLY WORKS WITH TIMBERLAKE: Singer says will.i.am got too busy; J.T. happened to be there.
*Macy Gray couldn’t be happier about her collaboration with Justin Timberlake on her new album “Big,” but admits that it may have never happened had her original producer, will.i.am, not gotten so busy with other projects.
"Will and I were doing my album, then he got really, really busy with the Black Eyed Peas touring," she told NME. "Then he got really in demand as a producer and had a lot of opportunities he didn't want to turn down. So I was kind of forced to work with other people because he was so busy.”
Enter Justin Timberlake. Macy says she was “forced to” work with the former N-Sync crooner on some of the music – and ended up being pleasantly surprised.
"That is how I ended up going to the studio with Justin; it wasn't in the original plan but it worked out great," she told NME.
COPS SAY MAN CONFESSES TO JAM MASTER JAY MURDER: He also says he had a role in shooting of Tupac associate.
*The Boston Herald is reporting that a jailed career criminal has confessed to participating in both the 2002 murder of Run DMC’s Jam Master Jay and the unsolved 1995 killing of a close associate of rapper, Tupac Shakur.
The new information surfaced as part of the federal robbery trial this month of Ronald “Tenad” Washington, who says he now expects to be charged as an accessory in the shooting death of Jam Master Jay, born Jason Mizell, and for the murder of Randy “Stretch” Walker, who rapped with Tupac on the Thug Life album, “Volume 1.”
A female witness told authorities that Washington has confessed to details of both murders.
“It’s all lies,” he tells the Herald from a Brooklyn prison. “She’s telling them that I was mad at Jay because he is doing better than I am, that I killed Stretch because he owed me something and I wanted it. She is making up lies because they threatened to deport her.”
According to the Herald, Washington is expected to be named in the Mizell and Walker cases when the federal government announces its ongoing federal investigation that promises to expose the extent of violence in the rap industry. Several law enforcement officials say that in the coming months they will unveil a sweeping indictment charging multiple rap artists for a number of violent acts.
J.LO AND HUBBY SUE ENQUIRER OVER DRUG STORY: Couple wants six figures for article falsely linking them to heroin scandal.
*Jennifer Lopez and her husband Marc Anthony have had just about enough of the National Enquirer. The couple has filed a lawsuit against the magazine seeking a reported “six figures” for allegedly reporting a false story that tied them to a major drug scandal.
The couple has chosen to file their lawsuit in the U.K. because its libel laws favor the celebrity, not the publication. Their attorney Paul Tweed, who specializes in bringing U.S.-based celebrities' libel cases to British and Irish courts, told The Associated Press that the lawsuit would be filed today (4/17) in a Belfast court, and in subsequent days in courts in Dublin, London and Paris.
The lawsuit also seeks an apology and retraction for an article that appeared in different versions of the Enquirer's U.S. and international editions. The version published March 12 in British and Irish editions alleged the couple was "caught up in a heroin scandal" — and reprinted a 2004 picture of Anthony standing beside photographer Michael Star, who is facing charges of heroin possession and child pornography in the U.S.
The article quoted an alleged friend of Star as saying Star and Anthony were friends. Tweed told the AP this was untrue and that Anthony didn't know Star even as an acquaintance. Anthony posed for the 2004 photograph, Tweed said, in keeping with his usual hospitality toward backstage concert fans.
MIKE TYSON SELLS PHOENIX HOME: Former boxer pockets $2.3 million for property in Paradise Valley.
*The rooftop pigeon coup had to go before a real estate agent agreed to place Mike Tyson’s home in Phoenix’s Paradise Valley on the market.
The move appears to have worked in helping the curb appeal of the 7,700-square-foot property, which just sold for $2.3 million, according to published reports. The former heavyweight champ purchased the home two years ago for $2.1 million.
Kris LaCroix, a real estate agent with the Equitable Real Estate Co. said the house is “very well-built and sits on a gorgeous lot.” As for working with Tyson, LaCroix said it was “a pleasure.”
LaCroix said the crib was initially listed at $2.45 million, but it sat on the market for more than three months without a buyer, according to the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service.
As reported yesterday, Tyson has been tapped to shoot a promotional video for an upcoming Bollywood film; and will face drug possession charges in a trial scheduled to take place August 20 in Maricopa County.
Tyson was arrested on Dec. 29 in Scottsdale and charged with felony drug possession charges and two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of drugs.
MOTHERSHIP COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU: George Clinton & Parliament/ Funkadelic kick off tour next week.
*George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic are firing up the Mothership and preparing to fly it into 20 cities as part of a major U.S. tour.
The funk trek is due to launch April 21 in Houston and spend spring and summer months on the road before wrapping August 18 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, according to Clinton's MySpace page.
The tour dates are as follows:
April 2007
21 - Houston, TX - Houston International Festival
May 2007
4 - Lafayette, LA - Grant Street Dance Hall
5 - New Orleans, LA - The Republic
8 - St. Louis, MO - The Orpheum
9 - Kansas City, MO - The Crossroads
10 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
11 - Austin, TX - Stubb's Bar-B-Q
12 - Mobile, AL - Soul Kitchen
16 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues
17 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
18 - Saint Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing
19 - North Charleston, SC - The Plex
20 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
26 - Little Rock, AR - Riverfest
June 2007
9 - Plainfield, NJ - Rhythm and Blues Festival
23 - Chicago, IL - Country Club Hills
July 2007
10 - Ottawa, Ontario - Ottawa Festival
August 2007
10 - Bridgeport, CT - Gathering of the Vibes
16 - Highland, CA - San Manuel Casino
17 - Las Vegas, NV - Orleans Casino
18 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
LIONEL RICHIE ON REHAB CULTURE: Singer says the whole practice is becoming a cliché.
*Lionel Richie is speaking out against celebrities who treat rehab as if it’s the latest accessory.
The veteran singer sounded off to WENN about those among the rich and famous who run into a bit of trouble, and then run off to rehab as a ploy to repair their image.
“I think it’s a cliché to say, ‘I’m going into rehab. I bumped my foot today — rehab; I hit my head on something — rehab,’” Richie said, according to WENN.
Ironically, the former Commodores front man said he was not referring to his own daughter, Nicole Richie, who checked into rehab recently for some kind of food-related impairment. Richie said Nicole’s case was different because she really needed the help.
DADDY YANKEE TO TOUR U.S.: Reggaeton star to hit the road in support of June release, ‘The Cartel: The Big Boss.’
*Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee is preparing a 40-city tour through the U.S. and Latin America this fall to promote his upcoming album, "The Cartel: The Big Boss," due June 5 via El Cartel/Interscope.
The U.S. leg of Da Big Boss tour kicks off Aug. 31 at the Allstate Arena in Chicago and will roll through 17 more cities before wrapping Oct. 14 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
The tour will visit such markets as Boston, New York, Miami, Las
Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Dallas, among others. Ticket prices will range from $40 to $100.
The full itinerary is as follows:
Aug. 31: Chicago (Allstate Arena)
Sept. 2: Boston (Agganis Arena @ Boston University)
Sept. 7: New York (Madison Square Garden)
Sept. 8: Washington, D.C. (Patriot Center)
Sept. 9: Uncasville, Conn. (Mohegan Sun Arena)
Sept. 14 Miami (American Airlines Arena)
Sept. 15: Orlando, Fla. (TD Waterhouse)
Sept. 21: Hidalgo, Texas (Dodge Arena)
Sept. 22: Laredo, Texas (Laredo Entertainment Center)
Sept. 23: San Antonio (AT&T Center)
Sept. 28: Phoenix (US Airways Center)
Sept. 29: Las Vegas (Mandalay Bay Events Center)
Sept. 30: Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Oct. 5: San Francisco (Cow Palace)
Oct. 6-7: Los Angeles (Gibson Amphitheatre)
Oct. 13: Dallas (American Airlines Center)
Oct. 14: Houston (Toyota Center)
MUSIC/FILM/TV BITS: Paul Wall 'Screwed'; JJ and Ann Coulter; BET's 'College Hill' Wiki.
*Today, Houston's Paul Wall releases a "Chopped & Screwed" remix version of his sophomore album, "Get Money – Stay True,” via
SwishaHouse/Asylum/Atlantic. The original release recently debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart and No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Screwed and chopped by legendary DJ and SwishaHouse founder/owner Michael 5000 Watts, the syrupy version features Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Lil KeKe, Freeway, Juelz Santana, Trina, Jon B, Expensive Taste, Yung Redd, EClass and Crys Wall.
*In what now appears to be a successful publicity stunt, Jimmie “JJ” Walker walked the red carpet of the 5th Annual TV Land Awards with ultra conservative author Ann Coulter. The sheer randomness of their pairing sent the paparazzi into a frenzy. According to TMZ, the two are not romantically involved.
*Fans of BET’s “College Hill IV” can turn to the network-sponsored "College Hill" Wiki to track each episode, share pictures and video, and gossip about the new cast of housemates. Fans can also post questions or send shoutouts to the housemates and the show's producers, contribute to the episode guides and test their "College Hill" IQ with the ultimate fan-created "College Hill" Trivia Challenge. User-generated fansites are a growing trend, and Wetpaint (www.wetpaint.com), the consumer-friendly Wiki for collaborating and publishing online, is fueling the fire.
EVENT CALENDAR: Jazze Pha hosts BMI showcase; Pinkett book signing in L.A.; Lloyd/Mya at NY’s ‘Lifestyle Lounge’; State of Black Calif.; UpStage in Beverly Hills.
*Producer Jazze Pha, along with Atlanta's Hot 107.9's Rashaan Ali, will host an urban music showcase in the ATL presented by U.S. performing rights organization BMI. The event will be held on Thursday (4/19) at 9 p.m. at E.S.S.O. (1599 Memorial Drive) and feature the country's most promising new talent. T-Pain, Yung Joc and Fat Joe are scheduled to make guest appearances. The winner of the artist showcase will receive an impressive package of prizes designed to further advance their career.
*Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph welcomes Dr. Randall Pinkett to Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 24, as he attends a book signing and reception at the Mondrian Hotel’s Seabar Room (8440 Sunset Blvd.). Pinkett, the winner of NBC’s fourth season of “The Apprentice,” will sign copies of his book, “Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur’s Guide to Launching a Multimillion Dollar Business.” The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
*R&B singers Lloyd and Mya will be on hand at The Dodge Avenger
Lifestyle Lounge, to be presented tomorrow evening (4/18) in New York by Dodge and Essence magazine. The event will be held at the Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd St.) from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. For more details, log on to www.essence.com/events.
*The California Black Legislative Caucus will host the State of Black California Los Angeles Town Hall Meeting on Thursday (4/19) in Los Angeles. The event will include an in-depth discussion on the social, economic, and political conditions of blacks in Los Angeles and ways of improving the quality of life for all Californians. The meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Holman United Methodist Church (3320 West Adams Blvd.).
*Reggie Bush, Anthony Anderson and Regina King were among the celebs on hand for the launch of The UpStage by Samsung, exclusively from Sprint. The all day/night event dubbed, The UpStage Country Club, took place in Beverly Hills at a private residence. Other guests included Paris Hilton, Twista, and performers Gnarls Barkley.
EUR DVD REVIEW: Notes on a Scandal
DVD Features Tawdry Triangle with Two Teachers and Student
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Sheba Hart (Cate Blanchett), the new art teacher at a high school in London, finds herself soon befriended by Barbara Covett (Dame Judi Dench), a lonely colleague who happens to be a very repressed lesbian.
Sheba's straight, though mired in a passionless marriage to a much older man (Bill Nighy), and burdened by a bratty daughter (Juno Temple) and a son (Max Lewis) with Down Syndrome.
As a consequence of this middle-age malaise, she embarks on a steamy, if sordid affair with Steven Connolly (Andrew Simpson), a 15 year-old student who makes her feel young again. All is fine and dandy till the day Barbara catches the couple in a compromising position.
Curiously, rather than report Sheba, she just lets Sheba know that she's aware of the adulterous affair, and orders that it end immediately in return for a promise to keep the indiscretion private. However, like the British version of Mary Kay Letourneau, the shameless hussy just can't get enough of her veritable Vili Fualaau.
Her kinky compulsion plays right into Barbara's hands, for the sixty-something spinster has an unrequited crush on Sheba, and is not above resorting to a thinly-veiled threat of blackmail as leverage for an intimate liaison. So unfolds Notes on a Scandal, as adapted from the perhaps more appropriately titled "What Was She Thinking?" the best-selling novel by Zoe Heller.
Judi Dench enjoys a juicy role, here, as the naughty narrator who gradually becomes hopelessly obsessed with the object of her affection. Cate Blanchett is almost as intriguing as a woman with needs willing to risk her family reputation for a little something on the side. Too bad Sheba's too blinded by lust to see that her latent confidante has a selfish Sappho agenda.
Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated R for profanity and for aberrant sexual behavior.
Running time: 91 minutes
Studi 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD Extras: Director's commentary, interviews with Cate Blanchett and Bill Nighy, theatrical trailers, "Behind the Scenes" and several additional featurettes.
EUR DVD REVIEW: Smokin' Aces
DVD Features Alicia Keys' Acting Debut as Pistol Packin'
Assassin
by Kam Williams
*Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven) was a two-bit magician with a mediocre lounge act until the Mafia turned him into a Las Vegas headliner. But instead of feeling indebted to mob boss Primo Sparazza (Joseph Ruskin) for the helping hand, the creep decided to create his own competing crime organization.
Initially, Aces met with a measure of success, and celebrated by overindulging in women and wine. At least until the Feds got the goods on him. Then, rather than spend the rest of his life in prison, he agreed to turn state's evidence. However, once word reached Sparazza that Aces was about to testify against him, the aging mobster offered a million-dollars to the first person to kill the back-stabbing stool pigeon.
So soon, all sorts of depraved degenerates descend on Buddy's hideout in order to be the one to cash in on the big payday. That, in a nutshell, is the point of departure of this unapologetically gruesome revenge flick.
Between beaucoup booty calls, bling and bulletry, Smokin' Aces is certainly visually-captivating from start to finish. Just don't expect its storyline to be any more sophisticated than the typical gangsta' rap video, and you won't be disappointed.
Perhaps most noteworthy is the fact that the movie marks the screen acting debuts of a couple of Grammy-winners, pop diva Alicia Keys and hip-hop artist Common, who acquit themselves quite capably in support roles as a pistol-packin' assassin and a beefy bodyguard, respectively.
The film also features a rainbow coalition of scantily-clad models seen hanging around the hedonistic Aces like refugees from a Jay-Z video. Towards the end, unfortunately, the plot makes a bizarre departure likely to disappoint those not satiated by bloodletting alone.
Fair (1 star)
Rated R for sexuality, female frontal nudity, pervasive profanity, ethnic slurs and graphic violence.
Running time: 109 minutes
Studi Universal Studios Home Video
DVD Extras: Commentaries by the director, the editor, and cast members Common, Christopher Holley and Zach Cumer, deleted scenes, extended scenes, outtakes, alternate ending, plus three featurettes.
ASK ADVICE CHICK: Answers to YOUR Dating, Sex, Life, & Love Questions!
By - AdviceChick@ameritech.net – (312) 205-0850
Sponsored by www.BlackRelationships.com
Dear Advice Chick,
*I am a 36 year old girl dating a 30 guy. We have been together for almost 1yr. He wants to spend time apart. I feel I am losing him. What should I do? What should I say?
Advice Chick replies,
He wants time apart from you so I’m feeling like you’re feeling. You are losing him, but you’ve not lost him – yet. Lord knows I wish I could wave a magic wand and make him be madly in love with you, but I can not.
Here are quite a few things that won’t keep him interested in you either. Do them if you want to do them for yourself, but not to try to hang on to a guy:
Lose weight, gain weight, get a weave, get breast implants, get butt implants, get lipo, get botox, get laser eye surgery, or dye your hair blond.
What you can do is accept the fact that something isn’t as you want it to be in your relationship. Assess this situation and decide if it’s even worth saving. If yes, tell him you may not agree with him, but understand and will step away for the time being. That’s it. I do not advocate playing games. When a man wants to leave, he will leave whether you agree or not.
Now that he’s on his lil hiatus, go ahead and call your best friend and get your crying game on. It’s ok, plus Lyfe Jennings said, “crying is like taking your soul to the Laundromat.” I agree. After a good cry you will feel a bit better. Then ask yourself, how silly is it to want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with you? You’re going to be ok, ma. Wanna chat with me about it? Join my chat this Wednesday at 8pm.
!!! CHAT with ADVICE CHICK Wednesday evening 4/18/7 at 8:00 pm (CST) in the http://www.BlackRelationships.com chat rooms!
Send YOUR questions to Advice Chick right NOW! Please put “Dear Advice Chick” in the subject line so your email isn’t deleted as spam. Thanks! advicechick@ameritech.net.
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Ask Advice Chick about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING related to dating, sex, love, and life! She is THE resident dating expert at EURweb.com, and calls on over 11 years of dating and relationship industry experience.
THE MO'KELLY REPORT: An Open Letter to Revs. Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton
Dear Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton,
*We’re at either a propitious or ominous moment, depending on one’s vantage point. It’s more that just numerology or coincidence how historical moments in our people’s past have converged as of late.
It’s the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement, the birthplace of America and “African-Americans” as we term ourselves today. It’s the 150th anniversary of the infamous Dred Scott decision and conversely the 60th anniversary of the major league debut of Jackie Robinson. And of course, we’re all aware it’s the 30th anniversary of the landmark miniseries Roots and even the 15th of the Los Angeles civil disturbances. One could argue that our ancestors are speaking in unison with a message that rang true in 1607 and all the intervening years leading up to today in 2007.
African-Americans desire and deserve leadership that can discern “right” from “righteous.”
With that in mind I took painstaking steps to retrace just how and where exactly both of you gentlemen came to hold the office of “Black Leaders” in 2007.
I don’t think I missed any general election, but you are free to correct me if I’m wrong. Also, while doing my research, I didn’t happen across any CNN exposé, USAToday editorial or even a Gallup or ESPN.com poll which quantified or qualified how either of you ascended to the throne of “Black Leader.” I even asked everyone, both young and old at my AME church and nobody could offer a clear and concise answer that satisfied my curiosity as to how we came to this point. So, I ask you the question, was it by election, appointment, military coup or executive decision? With all due respect to your respective civil rights résumés, past exploits don’t answer the question.
Nevertheless, most of the media says you are “Black Leaders,” so then it must be true, right?
That said; if you two gentlemen are “our” leaders, then ipso facto, I as an African-American am a member of your “constituency.” And if you collectively admonish African-Americans to hold their political leaders accountable, then you too must be called on to the carpet.
Although I’m a member of your “constituency,” I did not vote for either of you (read: there wasn’t a vote at all). I wasn’t consulted during the development of your platform(s) and was never apprised of any talking points you’d be using in the media.
I can say for certain that I am part of a real, measurable and sizable contingent that you do not represent. You do not speak for me and others like me for you are not in concert with our views, our mores or our socioeconomic goals. I’m part of the legions of African-Americans who believe that a press conference to declare a moratorium on the use of the N-word was as poorly conceived as the public statements made by both of you in the wake of the alleged Duke rape case. I am part of the portion of your constituency who demands its leaders be more than just “right,” but also “righteous.”
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been “right” to preach self-defense for African-Americans and self-preservation through violence. Many did argue it was the “right” thing to do; you both know this truth all too well. But non-violence was the righteous response.
Righteousness is the culmination of upright, circumspect and honorable words and deeds that benefit the whole of humanity, not just Black folks. Righteousness supersedes color, gender or any social construct developed in Jamestown 1607, or promulgated in the German army in 2007. Righteousness possesses immeasurable compassion and an unflinching, keen stare. If this were math class, this would be my geometric proof. All things righteous are inherently right but not all things “right” are righteous.
I desire righteous leadership.
I desire more than stale platitudes that fit nicely into newscast highlight packages. I demand leadership who understands the reasons you Rev. Jackson and you Rev. Sharpton should be compelled to apologize for rushing to judge the accused in the Duke lacrosse case are inextricably linked to why you rightfully berated Don Imus to do the same. Your desire to be righteous must outweigh your desire to whimsically demand apologies.
I desire, deserve and demand only righteous leadership.
It’s no longer enough to scare corporate America into withdrawing its support from a White radio host who disrespects African-American women. Righteous leadership knows the disrespect of African-American women is far more pervasive than just a single morning show…and acts accordingly.
Righteous leadership understands that any course of action leading to a social climate even MORE hostile to African-Americans just for the sake of being “right”…is simply wrong. Such unrighteous leadership is reminiscent of why this country continues to struggle for success in Iraq. Despite how “right” America may have been in wanting to depose Saddam Hussein, our invasion and occupation were anything but righteous in nature.
I need a new brand of African-American leadership, one which understands the cost of ill-conceived decision-making and its dire consequences. I’m talking about leadership that understands why bludgeoning an ant with a sledgehammer is a bad idea on any and all occasions. It’s leadership that understands that although the ant is gone, there is now a gaping hole in the floor, the wall and uncontrollable openings for thousands more ants to follow.
The Don Imus debacle did not broker more respect for African-Americans, it simply bred more contempt.
Righteous leadership understands a priority that bringing Don Imus on a radio show which only airs on 21 station around the country, three of which are in Little Rock, Arkansas…for the sake of “apologizing to the whole of African-Americans” is a joke. It’s antithetical to righteousness and in lock-step with the gross self-aggrandizement so often associated with “Black Leaders.”
It begs the question…how can a “Black Leader” purport to speak for the wide and varied African-American masses when his “message” isn’t even heard by the masses? Last I checked, 21 stations, (none in the top-5 markets in America) are ill-equipped to reach the majority of African-Americans, much less accurately gauge our collective consciousness. 1/7th of African-Americans don't live in Little Rock.
Righteous leadership doesn’t need this explained to them either Rev. Sharpton, it already knows better.
If the goal was reaching the greatest amount of Black radio listeners with his apology, he should’ve been steered to the Tom Joyner Morning Show. If the goal was forwarding an individual agenda, then mission accomplished. Righteous leadership would’ve eschewed ego and ratings and instead opted for common sense and the greater good.
I can no longer accept these paltry, tarnished trinkets of lukewarm affection. I need more than just threats of protest in front of CBS. I need the same in front of BET too.
My Sistahs, my wonderful partners in African-Americandom are catching far more hell than just Don Imus and truly righteous leadership implicitly understands these truths. I need someone who we as African-Americans don’t have to worry about the scarlet letter “h” of hypocrisy staining their precious $1000.00 suits. That is to say, neither the scarlet letter nor the $1000.00 suits. I need leadership intuitively aware that justice, honor and respect are not mutually exclusive “either/or” propositions but instead a “both/and/all” end destination.
It is no longer enough to offer empty rhetoric packaged in fiery oratory, served with opulent garnish. It’s time for something more substantive than smooth, slicked-back no-lye relaxed hair and coarse criticism of Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy.
I need righteous leadership and I must have it now.
African-Americans have always been in need of advocates, but also we need someone who is at least capable of self-critique in a personal and collective sense. We as African-Americans must stop acting as if the whole of our problems are to be blamed on someone else. Righteous leadership appreciates the value of a broom and dust pan and is open to the idea of cleaning our own house in addition to just complaining about the neighbors’ yards.
If neither of you is capable of that, then please vacate your office, abdicate your throne…whatever one needs to do to rescind your “power.” And then post the job openings on Blackamericaweb.com and see if we can do better elsewhere.
In 1989, film director Spike Lee said to “Do the Right Thing.” My reformulation of that advice is to “do the righteous thing.”
I, along with the whole of African-Americans desire, deserve and demand leadership more concerned with righteousness and less with being “right”... in front of the camera.
Oh…and speaking of anniversaries, this November marks the 20th anniversary of Tawana Brawley too…just FYI.
Morris W. O'Kelly
The Mo'Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse...as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mokellyreport.blogspot.com. Morris W. O'Kelly can be reached at mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.
THE BRIDGE: The Real Nappy Headed Hoes
By Darryl James
“Ceas know all his hoes come to my door, then go to his floor to f—k some more.”
Biggie Smalls, from “I’m F—king You Tonight.”
*Seriously. Let’s be honest. How many of you not only recognize those words, but love the song and other songs like it?
And if you love the music that disses you and calls you hoes, then why are you upset when someone else recognizes that you like to be called hoes?
Damn! Did Darryl James just go there?
You’re damned right I did.
If there weren’t so many hoes in our community, there wouldn’t be any debate about these filthy rappers who disrespect Black women, themselves and the rest of us by making such insulting garbage.
But hoes keep dancing to this bullcrap and hoes keep making weak ass excuses for not gathering around them and beating them to within an inch of their worthless lives or at least becoming serious about shutting them down.
Hoes want to celebrate being called hoes, but make up silly rules, like: “Rappers can call me hoes, but white men can’t call me hoes.”
I’m sure some will be angry that a writer is using the word ho as well.
Before I go on with my sarcastic tirade, let me make it clear that Don Imus should be placed on notice right now, that he has an ass kicking coming for disrespecting those young Black women who did nothing to deserve such ugly, ignorant disrespect.
This is a mess and it will only get messier.
But, really, for all the finger pointing and charges of sexism and oppression by some of my own deluded sisters, some of you are buying music by stupid ass rappers and laughing at comedians who also call you bitches and hoes.
Don’t lie. I’ve seen you at the club acting all sophisticated, with your Cosmopolitan Martini until the beat cranks up under bitch and ho lyrics and you jump up, exclaiming: “That’s my song!”
And, no equivocating--you are some of the same women who are now outraged that Imus has become the new exposed racist of the month.
Some women are asserting that we should be more concerned with the sexist content of Imus’ statement than the racist nature, ignoring the fact that he didn’t just call them generic foul names, but used code words referring specifically to the race of those young Black women. Only Black people are referred to as “nappy headed,” and stupid ass rappers have helped to codify our women as “hoes.”
We just don’t learn.
Some of us thought that a change was coming after Michael Richards showed the entire world what is often lurking in the heart of an otherwise regular guy. Those of us who watched Seinfeld saw Richards as a frenetic and weird funnyman, but walking around the world, he appeared to be an average guy.
An average guy who is a vicious racist.
Just like Don Imus.
And, like Richards, Imus felt compelled to apologize and to seek forgiveness from the Black community.
According to media experts, including Richard Levick, a communications strategist, this is really the standard program for media icons after disintegrating into racist unsheathing.
“He has got to go out to the source of the criticism, seek absolution and hope that at some point…people will reach out to him,” said Levick.
But really, f—k Don Imus! And, f—k any moronic Black person who reached out to him, especially Al Sharpton.
The nation is in racial disarray right now, while some of us pretend that we have evolved, that we have had a revolution embodied in the word “Nigger,” or that rappers can be excused.
We were just handed a clear sign of what many Americans think of us when Michael Richards had his meltdown and acted as he does when comfortable, which includes calling us Niggers.
So, why is anyone surprised that Don Imus also felt comfortable?
But really, why aren’t Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and all the alphabet soup organizations protesting against the stupid ass rappers and comedians, while calling for a boycott of these ignorant Black losers who call Black women bitches and hoes all the time?
The answer is because they are nappy headed hoes themselves.
Really, who but a nappy headed ho would draw some imaginary line between being crapped on by stupid ass rappers and a stupid ass racist? If a Black man punches you in the mouth, wouldn’t it draw the same blood as being punched in the mouth by a white racist?
And, of course, America’s favorite coon, Snoop Dogg had to weigh in with his stupid ass comments, equivocating stupidly with that sellout Bob Johnson of BET infamy, drawing an imaginary line between the hoes rappers name and the hoes named by whites.
Those are two ignorant nappy headed hoes. Snoop said it in a song: “Now all you hookers and hoes know how I feel..”
Now that Don Imus has been fired, Al Sharpton says he plans to go after the recording companies because he believes that they force the rappers to make derogatory lyrics.
That’s one of the silliest things I have heard in a long time.
Sure, we should hold the recording companies responsible, but only after taking the rappers themselves to task. If there are no records made calling Black women bitches and hoes, there would be no way for the recording companies to market and promote them.
So, what is crazy old Darryl James trying to say? It’s simple—Don Imus or any other racist can only feel comfortable calling my sisters nappy headed hoes in an environment where Blacks are denigrating themselves and other Blacks are excusing it.
So, yeah, since we hear these stupid ass rap bastards disrespecting Black women as well as themselves on the radio daily, how dare we try to stop Don Imus from participating? We all know that Black culture becomes pop culture, so why wouldn’t the new Black culture of self effacement become popular?
Why is anyone surprised?
And why are people going to be upset that I’m calling Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and that bitch Snoop some nappy headed hoes? Let those damn perms grow out and check to find that they are nappy at the roots, baby.
Clearly, they are hoes in every sense of the word because only hoes would excuse the behavior of one pimp while chastising another for the same behavior. If they weren’t hoes, they would have already been trying to shut down rap music in its current form today. But they won’t, because they are conflicted about their status as hoes.
Many Black women have been standing idly by or seeking to participate. Even Queen Latifah, a woman who has the nerve to refer to herself as royalty stood by when a group of Black women were being paraded around on the world stage on leashes at the Academy Awards, while some dead brained House Niggers sang: “Whoop that trick!” I remember her ignorant words after watching that shameful parade: “Why wasn’t I included in that?”
She once asked with strength and pride: “Who you calling a bitch?” Now she wants to be a ho.
So, what’s a pimp to think, dawg? If some Black women want to act like hoes and still others want to celebrate that existence, how dare anyone get upset when the entire group of them are labeled as such?
It’s not like there is some huge concerted effort to stop ALL references to Black women as bitches and hoes.
So, one stupid ass racist lost his job. Will that really stop anything? More than likely not, at least until we turn on ourselves with the same vengeance and outrage.
Either we are going to tell the entire world--which includes stupid ass rappers and stupid ass comedians—that Black women are not bitches and hoes, or we need to make sure that there is no moral outrage when other people call them that.
And before we ask racists to stop disrespecting Black women and before Black women demand that Black men take responsibility for the negativity, Black women must first reject the labels.
So, in conclusion, ALL of you nappy headed hoes (men AND women) need to shut up and sit down while you are being labeled correctly.
Because if you didn’t like being called hoes, you would stop hoeing, right?
Freak it, baby. You gotta let a ho be a ho!
Darryl James is an award-winning author who is now a filmmaker. His first mini-movie, "Crack," was released in March of 2006. He is currently filming a full length documentary. James’ latest book, "Bridging The Black Gender Gap," is the basis of his lectures and seminars. Previous installments of this column can now be viewed at www.bridgecolumn.com. James can be reached at djames@theblackgendergap.com.
THE ROBERTSON TREATMENT – Volume 10, Edition 6 : TRAVEL DIARY “Homespun Fun” in Gatlinburg, TN
*The only thing I knew about Gatlinburg before my recent visit there was that entertainer Dolly Parton grew up somewhere in the vicinity. I knew that and also the fact that not too many African Americans called the place home. Although I’m a fan of Parton’s, I never really got into country music, still I gamely went on this trip figuring that it would provide me with a taste of American life that I never knew before. Boy, was I in for an experience of a life time.
Getting There
Home of America’s most visited National Park, Gatlinburg is conveniently accessible (by road or air) from most points U.S. cities. I flew in by air (with one connection) from Los Angeles in less than half a day, which left me with enough time to get into town with still enough time to take on the town.
Accommodations
Gatlinburg offers a range of hotel accommodation ranging from basic to opulent, which is an important point for travelers on a budget or with children. During my stay I was housed at what was located only a short drive from the town’s main strip.
Culture
Old school, white bread Americana is what Gatlinburg is all about, and my knee-jerk inclination as an African American male was that much of what I would see would go over my head. Imagine my surprise as I found myself connecting with it all: the people, their history and way of life. In fact, this realization resulted in an epiphany that as corny as it sounds was simply that all of God’s children are pretty much the same.
Culinary Delights
The food in Gatlinburg is strictly homespun Americana. Featuring pancakes, steaks and loads of hot fried chicken, the food in Gatlinburg will definitely boast your palette as it fondly reminds you of your grandmother’s home spun cooking.
Tour Guide
Our group had been in Gatlinburg for a few days when I had the good fortune to go on a tour of the mountain with a native guide. Now having traveled literally around the world as a journalist the one thing that I always look for is the “moment” when the place I’m visiting becomes real to me. It’s a magic moment that I always look for, when the smells, sounds and sights of a particular destination all merge together as one. Up until this particular tour, my experiences in Gatlinburg had been pleasant, but not truly memorable or special. Well that all changed on this tour as our guide delivered commentary that weaved the incredible folklore of the region with intimate details about the history and culture on the original settler’s in the regions. I was mesmerized by her storytelling, and after a few sips of the potent “white lighting” that she brought along for our journey, I was literally intoxicated with the old mountain. Seriously, that tour provided me with the moment that I was looking for, giving me a memory that I could took away into my subconscious forever.
Final Thoughts
Gatlinburg is still a place permanently framed by courage and resiliency of the people who settled here many years ago. Although their history is not one that I share, my stay there left me with a profound respect and appreciation for the land and its people. I look forward to going back.
####
BEST BETS – DVD
The Last King of Scotland (Fox Home Entertainment)
This fairly-faithful adaptation of the best selling novel of the same name was directed by Kevin MacDonald who must be credited with coaxing an Oscar-winning performance out of Forest Whitaker, even if in service of a mediocre melodrama. For while Whitaker’s interpretation of Idi Amin is admittedly mesmerizing, what’s nevertheless disappointing is the script’s reluctance to humanize its antagonist, settling instead to portray him as that stereotypical mental patient (ala Hannibal Lector) who alternates unpredictably between the polar opposites of a refined charm and sheer brutality.
The picture co-stars James McAvoy as Dr. Nicholas Garrigan, a recent med school grad who arrives in the country planning to practice among the poor. However, after being recruited as the head-of-state personal physician, he soon finds himself at the beck-and-call of Amin, serving also as a confidante, sidekick and stand-in at the presidential palace.
Enjoying a Mercedes convertible and other considerable perks of his plumb position, Garrigan initially has no problem with his job. But as evidence of the wholesale ethnic cleansing unfolding across the countryside is gradually revealed, he becomes acutely aware of his boss’ penchant for cruelty and of his own implied complicity as a medical mercenary. Then, when members of the cabinet start disappearing, too, the doctor suddenly has a reason to fear for his own safety, since he’s become infatuated with one of Amin’s neglected wives (Kerry Washington).
More fiction than fact, The Last King of Scotland is less an historical epic than an unlikely-buddy flick about a carefree adventurer completely compromised and corrupted by the embodiment of evil. Recommended for the opportunity to witness Whitaker at his very best, despite the fact the gifted actor was restricted by a screenplay which failed to imbue his character with a complex range of emotions or motivations.
Good (2 stars)
Rated R for sex, expletives, male and female frontal nudity, graphic violence and gruesome images.
Running time: 121 minutes
Studi 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Theatrical trailer, international trailer, alternate scenes, deleted scenes, director’s commentary, casting session, an Idi Amin documentary, plus a Forest Whitaker featurette. – Kam Williams
AUTOMOTIVE SPIN
2007 Lincoln Navigator
Ford’s first full-size SUV has gotten even better. Already an eye-popping SUV, the new Navigator has added an extra 15 inches to its already massive size, making it one of the longest in its class. Talk about “head of the class,” when you’re driving this baby, you’re at the “top” of the class. Highly functional and surprisingly efficient on gas, everything about this vehicle all but guarantees a first-rate experience.
Wow Factor: The Lincoln Navigator is dripping with BLING! The new Navigator sports a large chromed grille and "power dome" hood to emphasize its size and power. The SUV is also surprisingly easy to maneuver through big city traffic considering its size. But then why worry, because when you’re driving this car other drivers will be too busy watching you.
Ride: Navigator’s 5.4L 3V SOHC V8 Engine coupled with the 6-Speed Automatic O/D Transmission gives this road warrior great speed and agility for such a large vehicle. Add to that standard features like stability control, dual-zone automatic climate control and rear parking sensors and what you have is a superior riding experience.
Comfort: From the moment you open the door, you’ll know that you’re in for a luxurious ride. With a super cool power deploying running board (that greets you like a mechanical red carpet), to adjustable pedals that automatically accommodate you instead of the other way around, Navigator is all about comfort. At nearly 15 inches longer than previous models my ride had copious amounts of storage capacity, plus a fully-functional third row enabling drivers to load in even more passengers. I’m not going to even talk about the plush leather seats that will add to your comfort on long road trips and busy city driving.
Spin Control: Offering a near perfect blend of modern sophistication and old Lincoln style the Lincoln Navigator is perfect for showing off and adding versatility to your everyday driving experience. Although it comes with a somewhat hefty price tag (MSRP beginning at $45,000), in my opinion it’s more than worth the money.
Grade: B
Visit: www. robertsontreatment.com
Email: syndicatedcolumn@ robertsontreatment.com
Copyright 2007, Robertson Treatment
BETWEEN THE LINES: Imus, Repentant and Fired—Rappers, Unrepentant and Uninspired: Now Comes The Real Challenge
Anthony Asadullah Samad
*The door of intolerance to racially offensive commentary shut pretty quickly on Don Imus last week.
As quickly as he piled to his producer’s “tough hoes” comments with a “nappy headed hoes” follow-up, activists and opinion leaders piled on with a feeding frenzy reminiscent of a hog call at dinner time. Imus was mush by the end of the feeding, and repentant, and fired from both his media gigs (NBC and CBS).
In the dialogue however, was a conversation about how the black community could be so unforgiving with Imus’ language but so unscrutinizing about the lyrics of dozens of rappers that use the same language.
A whole lot of people have been waiting for the door to crack on this conversation about degrading rap lyrics. I thought it would happen last year when “It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp” won an Oscar.
However, black people were so obviously conflicted (happy or shocked) that the real conversation about what the song was really saying never took place. But it’s taking place now and the rappers are already on the defensive (or offensive, depending on how you look at it).
Russell Simmons, whom I have a great deal of respect for, is advancing his “regulating rap could lead to censorship” argument. The “free speech” cry is an argument that comes up time everytime the call to regulate radio and television stations that use public airwaves to promote offensive lyrics. Lyrics that incite violence, promote rape and other hyper-sexual activities, and for degrading the humanity of a person or any group of people is not covered under free speech.
Public ignorance allowed most to believe that this is “protected (free) speech,” but nothing that disrupts the public order, or endangers the public is covered under free speech. Vulgarity and extreme verbal assault is a permitted restriction or unprotected (as Imus found out), so we really ought to stop allowing rappers to hide behind the free speech shield. Then there are those who don’t get it at all.
The unrepentant rappers who either don’t understand what they’re doing to open the door of hatred and racial casting of African Americans, or in acting as true capitalist mercenaries that put money before everything—don’t care about the racial backlash created when they “keep it real.” For instance, when they asked Snoop Dogg about his use of the language that Imus got fired for, his response was that he’s not talking about all women when he uses the word, “just the ghetto hoes.”
Uh huh. I’m sure that when Imus’ conversation started out, saying that the Rutgers girls had tattoos…tough demeanor…and of course, nappy hair…his inference was that they were from the rough side of town, or as Snoop would call them, “ghetto hoes.” What’s the difference here?
There is none. And for the past twenty years there has been a constant twisting, even defending, this type irrational justification. Before there was “shock jocks,” there was “shock rap.” But shock rap, the so called “keeping it real” street life, like “shock” talk radio to follow, have only been able to attack the despised and defenseless.
When rap attacked the powerful and complicit, it was repulsed and restricted. Ice T’s “Cop Killer” and Public Enemy’s “Who’s Criminal” are just two instances of rappers who tried to attack police and political corruption on the airwaves, only to have their music “censored” as not in the public interest. But any music that assaulted the dignity and imagery of African Americans had an “open mike.”
Twelve years ago, a group in Los Angeles (of which I was a part of) waged a series of protests and boycotts against radio stations that played music with the words, “Nigga,” “*itch” or “Ho” in the lyric. One station, which is now out of business, was recalcitrant in complying with the community’s desire to take these songs off the radio, and even used black people to defend the station’s policy (the free speech argument) and even used the airwaves to personally attack activists (including myself) calling for the elimination of offensive lyrics in rap music. What followed was the radio stations colluded with the record companies and began running “promos” thanking 92.3 “The Beat” (I can call their name because they’re no longer in existence) for “Keeping it real—fo’ shizzle, my nizzels (rap code for “for sure, my Niggas). Competition (for audience ratings) being what it was, once one station started playing gutter rap, they all started playing it. Everything went downhill from there. Now we’re looking at a whole generation of rapper that came of age in the late 1990s and early 2000s from Jay Z to 50 Cent to The Game and some I probably don’t even know that are more raw than the generation before them. And more successful. We’d be foolish to think rappers are going to leave all that money on the table to restore “black dignity” in rap music. Yet, that’s what we’re asking them (and expecting them) to do. The black community is now back at that same tipping point, inspired by reactions to the likes of Michael Richards and Don Imus that show racism and ignorance isn’t dead. But the conversation from the rap community is still the same, uninspiring and unrepentant.
How do you convince a whole genre that you can be good and not vulgar or demeaning to the race? How do you convince a whole genre that the censorship argument is a false one, because the real issue here is one of exploitation—not of just the rapper’s desire to overcome economic oppression but of the community that is still trying to overcome the effects of racial stigmatization. The community is trying to reject the stigmas of racism and genocide at the same time. Where we once thought we were winning the fight against racism, we now know that our own narcissistic attraction to violent and self-degrading behavior has become the sword in the hands of our enemy. Gangs have literally put the Klan out of business on the violence front, and the radio has become the torch for which hateful furry now spreads. Who lights the flame? You could say programmers. You could say record companies. You could say the rap artists. One thing is for sure. Like the Don Imus situation, it will be a lot easier to shut down the record companies and programmers than these rappe
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