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Boston Globe Article Features Baratunde as Blogger

In an excellent piece (and I'm not saying that because she wrote about Jack & Jill Politics or quoted me or used my photo :)), Vanessa Jones of the Boston Globe wrote a story titled "Blog is Beautiful: People of color challenge mainstream views online" which ran in today's paper. Here's what I like

• she doesn't just focus on black bloggers • she doesn't make the story about bloggers of color struggling for a seat at the table of "white bloggers" as so many other stories do • i think she captured a good part of the nature of blogging as a conversation and follows that conversation into posts, comments and the airwaves of mainstream media, showing blogger influence well beyond the blog itself

While I think all of us bloggers can, at times, get an inflated sense of importance thinking we are the revolution, there is no doubt that we're an important part of it. Keep on keepin on.

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NYC and LA Screenings of "The Souls of Black Girls" (This Wknd)

Just heard about this and want to get out the word.

The Souls of Black Girls is a provocative news documentary that takes a critical look at media images--how they are instituted, established and controlled. The documentary also examines the relationship between the historical and existing media images of women of color and raises the question of whether they may be suffering from a self-image disorder as a result of trying to attain the standards of beauty that are celebrated in media images.

The documentary features candid interviews with young women discussing their self-image and social commentary from Actresses Regina King and Jada Pinkett Smith, PBS Washington Week Moderator Gwen Ifill, Rapper/Political Activist Chuck D, and Cultural Critic Michaela Angela Davis, among others. The Souls of Black Girls is a piece that attempts to provoke honest dialogue and critical thinking among women of color about media images and our present condition—internally and externally.




Saturday

New York - October, 20 2007 - 3:45P
Harlem International Film Festival (Schomburg Center)
515 Malcolm X Blvd (Corner of 135th Street)
Harlem , New York|33 10037

Los Angeles - October, 20 2007 - 6:00P
African American Film Marketplace and the S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase
5300 Melrose Ave
Hollywood , CA
Cost: 10.00

Sunday

October, 21 2007 - 3:30P
African American Film Marketplace and the S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase
5300 Melrose Ave
Hollywood , CA

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House to Hold Hearings on the BUSINESS of Stereotypes and Degrading Images

(cross-posted to Jack and Jill Politics) Tip of the hat to Eddie Griffin (no not that one) for the heads up about this. Today, Tuesday September 25th, a House Subommittee will hold a hearing on the following: From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Hearing 10:00 a.m. in room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building you can view the live stream with Windows Media Player starting about 10 minutes before the hearing begins. Variety, in many ways the official entertainment industry magazine, wrote about the hearings back on September 4th.

A new front on the content wars may be opening when Congress holds its first hearing specifically into media "stereotypes and degradation" of women -- particularly African- American women -- later this month.

Hearing, not yet officially announced and tentatively skedded for Sept. 25, will focus primarily on hip-hop lyrics and videos, which critics have frequently derided for explicit misogyny aimed largely at black women.

But other media will likely come under scrutiny, too.

"I want to engage not just the music industry but the entertainment industry at large to be part of a solution," said Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, which will hold the hearing.

Just as his colleagues on other committees have summoned TV execs to be grilled on sexual or violent content, Rush wants to hear from the leaders of companies purveying rap music. The intent is to examine commercial practices behind the music's most controversial content.

According to the subcommittee website, the hearings will consist of three panels with a variety of witnesses. Panel 1 (the c-walkers) Phillipe P. Dauman, President & CEO, Viacom Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Chairman & CEO, Warner Music Group Doug Morris, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group Alfred C. Liggins III, President & CEO, Radio One Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of the Board, Take-Two Interactive Software (creators of the Grand Theft Auto game franchise) Panel 2 (the artists) Percy Miller, aka Master P Levell Crump, aka David Banner Panel 3 (the akademiks) I provide links to their bios or books, etc. Tracy Sharpley-Whiting, PhD @ Vanderbilt Andrew Rojecki, Phd @ Univ of Illinois Chicago Faye WIlliams, PhD & Chair Nat'l Congress of Black Women Lisa Fager Bediako, President of Industry Ears Karen Dill, PhD @ Lenoi-Rhyne College This should be very interesting. I won't be able to tune in, but I hope someone can report back on some highlights. Congress has a habit of dragging content executives to the Hill when there is a public outcry of inappropriate images, especially where children are the intended audience. Criticisms of the media as a "vast wasteland" date back nearly to the medium's beginning in former FCC Chairman Newton Minow's famous 1961 speech. As an artist and "content creator" myself, I don't relish the idea of legislation dictating what I can and cannot say, but I'm interested in what this hearing will bring out. The title suggests they will do more than drag a few artists and execs up in order to rub their noses in filthy content. Being about the business of stereotypes, we could see some interesting data on the affects of images and sound on the audience and the profits behind such. I was in high school when I first saw C. Delores Tucker protesting "gangster rap," and she honestly irked me to no end. When I saw her, she was rude, mean and didn't seem to want to listen. I can't say that's how she is, but that was my impression and I wanted none of it. Let folks play what they will, I thought. But the marketplace of images isn't so fairly balanced as to let just the "market" decide, and saying that violent images don't affect people is plain wrong. As a friend of mine put it so well once, "there's a multibillion dollar industry predicated on the idea that images and sound make people do sh*t. It's called advertising."

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Quoted in the Boston Phoenix

Mike Miliard at the Boston Phoenix recently wrote a piece about the practice of scam-baiting, wasting the time of those largely Nigerian Internet scammers who try to get your bank account info by telling you some relative had to flee the country and needs you to help get the funds. Even though Mike works for the competing paper to the Dig (carries my column), I spent some time on the phone with him. The main point of the story is similar to one written in the Atlantic recently: that the baiting tactics of those fighting the scammers (such as 419eater.com) often have the feel of extreme humiliation and racism. Joe Keohane of Boston Magazine points out, "I'm of the mind that when someone tries to steal your life savings and you have no legal recourse to speak of, you’re well within your rights to humiliate them as badly as you see fit." I mostly agree with that. After all, I call myself a "vigilante pundit" so I can't be against all forms of vigilanteism. There are, however, some though I talked to Miliard about a bunch of other points, including:
  • the unavoidably racist appearance of a bunch of black people on a website, essentially branded with the techie version of the phrase "owned"
  • the perverse Robin Hood-ish justice that a poor African nation is redistributing a tiny piece of global wealth with scams like these
  • my admiration for the scam-baiters who tie the hands of scammers and keep them from hurting generous, if naive, people
  • and more ish

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Read a Muh'fuckin Press Release (Weekly DIg)

Originally published in Baratunde’s bi-weekly GOODCRIMETHINK column in the September 12, 2007 edition of Boston’s Weekly Dig "Read a Book" is a rap video that has blown up online over the past few months, and in mainstream media over the past few weeks. Created by poet and activist Bomani "D'Mite" Armah, the video is a send-up of the misplaced priorities promoted by popular rap music: grillz, spinning rims, ass, drugs, ass, guns and, of course, ass. The song is short on length and lyrics, simply urging the public to "Read a book, read a book, read a muh'fuckin' book." It also asks that individuals raise their kids, wear deodorant, buy some land and drink water. While there is explicit language and ample booty shaking in the video, satirists, obviously enough, must use the tools and techniques employed by the target of their satire. We could listen to another angry lecture from Bill Cosby, or we could hear a challenge, with a beat, to rap artists, executives and the consuming public to act reasonably. "Buy some land?" When's the last time you heard that kind of sense? I love the video, but, unsurprisingly, the Reverend Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition don't. Rather than praising the video for its evisceration of pop culture images that are literally killing black America by supporting unhealthy eating, unsustainable consumption and a threatening image that itches the trigger finger of an already gun-happy, black-bashing law enforcement community, Jackson and company have gone out of their way to condemn the video. Some choice quotes from their press release: "Billed as a satirical look at popular culture, a viewer is left with the distinct impression that nothing matters, that life is futile, knowledge fruitless, manners meaningless." Actually, I was left with the distinct impression that I should read a book, read a book, read a book. "A common definition of satire is witty language used to convey insults or scorn. The video is plenteously scornful and insulting, but not of crassness. The video insults reading, personal hygiene, family values and frugality. 'Read a Book' heaps scorn on positive values and (un)intentionally celebrates ignorance. The narrator is obviously illiterate, unkempt and disrespectful. So who takes his advice seriously?" Apparently, Rainbow/PUSH does. How can you define satire and then interpret art literally, all in the same paragraph? That takes a special kind of incompetence. "I was prepared to forgive the crude language and lack of creativity if there was a message encouraging viewers to read and otherwise conduct themselves responsibly. I was disappointed. The simplistic repetitive rhyme and tune made it clear that the creator had not taken his own advice, i.e. to Read a Book." Hmm. How could the song encourage the viewers to read? How about naming the song "Read a Book" and repeating it ad nauseam? So, no more press releases from Rainbow/PUSH, OK? Of all the no-good rap videos that disgrace our screens, they had to focus on the one that actually says something? It hurts that the people who advanced the civil rights movement, when poets and actors and musicians played such a vital role in opening the public's eyes and challenging the system, are now so blind to the same role being played by today's artists. Unless, of course, Rainbow/PUSH's press release was itself a work of satire, targeting an increasingly out-of-touch and irrelevant generation of has-been civil rights leaders. That might explain why the video version of the press release featured Jackson making it rain $100 bills on his baby mama with money he extorted from white folks who use the N-word. BARATUNDE THURSTON IS A COMEDIAN AND AUTHOR. HIS COLUMN RUNS BIWEEKLY. IF YOU CAN'T READ A BOOK, AT LEAST TRY TO READ BARATUNDE.COM.

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CNN Wildly Misses the Mark with Read a Book

Cross-posted to Jack & Jill Politics Not that I am surprised, but it is infuriating to watch the folks at CNN butcher the "Read a Book" video. They compare it to Schoolhouse Rock! Schoolhouse Rock was not satire! If you can stomach it, please watch the clip below. The entire presentation of the story was wrong including the use of the black parents who are angry at the video. Where is this anger over "A Bay Bay" etc?

It is just too ironic that BET is being taken to task by the likes of CNN over THIS video.

And the host, Tony Harris, needs to check himself. Brotha's been watching Bill O'Reilly too much. In the real world, the right people are probably getting the message of "Read a Book," but I can't help but be frustrated at the massive distraction that shows like this CNN farce are to the real work that needs to be done which is to reclaim the images and messages of our people from those who have sold us self-destruction in the name of profits.

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Jesse Jackson Really Needs to Read a Book... explaining what satire is

Cross-posted to Jack & Jill Politics under "Jack Turner" Just over a month ago, I posted the video of "Read a Book" by poet, activist and not-a-rapper Bomani "D'Mite" Armah. The video has been blowing up on YouTube (over 800,000 views) and BET (debuted on July 20 and is one of the few BET airings to make me proud). Tomorrow, Saturday September 1, Bomani will be on CNN at 10:30pm, and the video will hit BET's 106 & Park again on Tuesday September 4. You can vote for the video to be number 1. "Read a Book" has been garnering much-deserved praise and mainstream attention for the biting satire that it is, shining light on the sadly misplaced priorities of black popular culture, especially in pop rap music. The song is average length at just under three minutes, but the lyrics basically come down to 10 lines (warning, some explicit language)
Read a book! Read a book! Read a muh'fuckin book! Not a sports page (what) not a magazine (who) But a book nigga, a fuckin book nigga (YEAHHH~!) Raise yo' kids, raise yo' kids, raise yo' God damn kids Your body needs water - so DRINK THAT SHIT Buy some land, buy some land (what) FUCK SPINNIN RIMS Brush yo' teeth, brush yo' teeth, brush yo' God damn teeth Wear deodorant nigga, wear deodorant nigga It's called Speed Stick (bitch) it's not expensive (bitch) Read a book! Read a book! Read a muh'fuckin book!
Yes there is explicit language and lotsa booty shakin in the video, but satirists must use the tools and techniques employed by the subject of their satire. Sure we could listen to another angry lecture from Bill Cosby, or we could hear, in these 10 short lines to a catchy beat, Bomani challenge rap artists and the consuming public to use our resources in a more reasonable fashion. Seriously? "Buy some land?" When is the last time you heard a black leader talk about the importance of real wealth accumulation? How many preachers are advising their flock to do more than contribute to his Cadillac fund? (I know I'm generalizing but I'm just sayin). I get the message in the video, and I know my friends do as well, but poor Reverend Jackson and the folks over at Rainbow PUSH are unsurprisingly out of touch. Rather than praising the video for its effort to challenge the pop cultural images that are literally killing black America by supporting unhealthy eating, unsustainable consumption and a threatening image that tightens the trigger finger on an already gun-happy, black-bashing law enforcement community, Jackson & Co went out of their way to condemn the video. You've got to read it to believe it.
CHICAGO and ATLANTA (August 23, 2007) The following is a statement released on behalf of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, from Attorney Janice Mathis, Vice President and Executive Director of Peachtree Street Project, Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Mathis's commentary comes after the release of a rap video, "Read a Book" on YouTube and BET. If Benjamin E. Mayes challenged us to reach for the stars, the not-a-rapper video "Read a Book" on YouTube takes us into the abyss. Billed as a satirical look at popular culture, a viewer is left with the distinct impression that nothing matters, that life is futile, knowledge fruitless, manners meaningless.
Wrong!
A common definition of satire is witty language used to convey insults or scorn. The video is plenteously scornful and insulting, but not of crassness. The video insults reading, personal hygiene, family values and frugality. "Read a Book" heaps scorn on positive values and (un)intentionally celebrates ignorance. The narrator is obviously illiterate, unkempt and disrespectful. So who takes his advice seriously?
Apparently, Rainbow PUSH does. How do you go about giving a definition of satire and then interpret art literally, all in the same paragraph? That takes a special kind of incompetence for which the word "incompetence" does not suffice.
The best Hip-hop is clever, with allusions to politics, history, great music and literature. Part of the fun is finding the hidden meaning.
...which you clearly did not do!
I was prepared to forgive the crude language and lack of creativity if there was as message encouraging viewers to read and otherwise conduct themselves responsibly. I was disappointed. The simplistic repetitive rhyme and tune made it clear that the creator had not taken his own advice, i.e. to Read a Book.
Uh, the title of the song is READ. A. BOOK. That was the point. Do we really need to spell it out? Maybe Bomani can drop a track called R - E - A - D A B - O - O - K and deliver it personally to Jackson.
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a progressive organization protecting, defending and expanding civil rights to improve economic and educational opportunity. The organization is headquartered at 930 E. 50th St. in Chicago. For more information about the RainbowPUSH Coalition, please visit the organization's website, www.rainbowpush.org or telephone (773) 373-3366. To get additional information, please call the number listed above.
That's it. No more press releases from Rainbow PUSH. We have songs out there like "A Bay Bay" and you're gonna focus on the one hip hop song that actually says something??You have just disqualified yourself from speaking on behalf of anyone. I cannot believe that the people who were there during the Civil Rights Movement, when poets and actors and musicians played such a vital role in opening the public's eyes and challenging the system are so blind to the same role being played by today's artist/activists. It's possible, of course, that Rainbow PUSH's press release was itself a work of satire, making fun of an increasingly out of touch and irrelevant generation of has-been Civil Rights leaders.

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Mieka Pauley Video and Free NYC Concert

Yo mi familia, On a pretty regular basis I try to promote the activism and artistry of fellow travelers. Right now, I want to do a promo for singer/songwriter Mieka Pauley, who I've known since she was a busker in Harvard Square and sang for tips in Starbucks. Mieka's doing a free concert this Tuesday August 28 as a preview for her new album, Elijah Drop Your Gun 5pm FREE 5pm FREE Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen Street New York City 10002 212.477.4155 between E. Houston and Stanton take the F and V subway to 2nd ave On a semi-related note, a fan of Mieka's recorded this video of her performing "We're All Gonna Die" at a show last night. I doubt she'll be playing this at Rockwood, but it's a damn cool song and a nice video too, so get a preview of the preview right here.

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CNN/YouTube Debate Highlights - Reparations

(cross-posted to Jack & Jill Politics) Last night's "user generated" Democratic debate was incredible. It proved to me that we don't need a mainstream media to "mediate" all of our political discussions. Many times I was shocked into applause or laughter or just deeper levels of shock by the directness and depth of the questions asked. Only two struck me as approaching the silly or trite: one, which used a snowman character to ask about global warming and another, in which a man-on-the-street asked Democrats if they would raise taxes like they always do. Otherwise there were heartfelt questions about healthcare which dramatized the point with personal tails, There were several dealing with issues of race, both directly and indirectly including how the response to Katrina might have been different if it happened in an "affluent white city" and more. I don't have time to link to all of them now, but I wanted to focus on the biggest shocker for me. A brotha out of Boston asked about reparations for slavery. Seeing the post-debate analysis, it turns out that this moment in the debate marked the absolute lowest in viewer satisfaction (surprise surprise). You can se the mood drop on CNN charts as soon as the man starts to speak, but here it is for those who've missed it. The question. Oh, and Dennis Kucinich is for reparations, btw.

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