I was just watching a video used as part of the performance in the “Up in Smoke Tour” with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Ice Cube. At the end of the video, Snoop has shot another black man who is taking his last breath, with blood coming out of his mouth. Snoop looks into the camera at the predominantly white audience and says, “What do yall think? Should I smoke this nigga?” The crowd screams in approval as Dre and Snoop proceed to murder another black man in front of the crowd.

After seeing this sick display that celebrates black-on-black genocide, I figured out how we might define Commercialized hip-hop.  Commercialized hip-hop is a place where black men are financed by white-owned corporations to present themselves to predominantly white audiences as weed-smoking, sexually-promiscuous jackasses who are willing to shoot one another for almost any reason.

In case you didn’t know, gun violence is the leading cause of death among black men.  My sister does autopsies in Chicago and said that 90% of her victims are black males under the age of 30.  For some reason, the death of Trayvon Martin resonated deeply within the souls of those who followed this tragedy, but there are a few new Trayvons being shot in cold blood every single day of the week.

Congratulations black people, these have become the role models for husbands and fathers of the next generation.

Black men are dying on a regular basis and no one seems to care, but for some reason, we spend our time debating gay marriage, as if it’s the most critical civil rights issue of the last 50 years.  All the while, the black family has been decimated to the point that most of our kids are born with one statistical arm tied behind their backs, our schools can’t even buy the paint for the buildings, and black people are filling up the unemployment lines in a way that hasn’t been seen since Dougie Fresh was a teenager.

When I debated hip hop artist accountability with Michael Eric Dyson at Brown University, my point was clear:  Hip-hop music can no longer be legitimized as a medium used to glamourize and further institutionalize the most dysfunctional behavior within black America.  The packaging and mass marketing of the serial killing, drug addicted, STD-infected gangster-buffoon to white America comes at the expense of children who have the capacity to be productive citizens in our society.   The music can be appreciated with limitations, but we’ve got to stop behaving as if this stuff is normal.

The black male handbook for self-destruction is being fed to young boys from birth, and every four year old with an earring and pair of Air Jordans dreaming about his first tattoo has had his future killed before he’s even had a chance to explore it.   All of the black men with dreadlocks in their hair and guns on their hips, seeking out the weed man, and looking for enough “hoes” for the next party have also been taughtthat this is what it means to be black.  It is up to us to stop the flood of wasteful energy and ensure that our boys realize that they can be the next Barack Obama just as easily as they can become the next Lil Wayne.  He should be bragging about his law degree, not his criminal record, but our society fails to help him learn the difference.

Hip-hop artists and their corporate puppet masters must be openly and consistently rejected for their buffoonery.  The disciples of this behavior must be called out where they stand and reminded that this is no way a black man to behave.  The space of black manhood must be reclaimed by those who want our community to survive and for our kids to have a chance.  They must hear, loud and clear, that there is nothing cool about ignorance.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Syracuse University Professor and author of the forthcoming book, “The RAPP Sheet: Rising Above Psychological Poison.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

I was just watching a video used as part of the performance in the “Up in Smoke Tour” with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Ice Cube. At the end of the video, Snoop has shot another black man who is taking his last breath, with blood coming out of his mouth. Snoop looks into the camera at the predominantly white audience and says, “What do yall think? Should I smoke this n*gger?” The crowd screams in approval as Dre and Snoop proceed to murder another black man in front of the crowd.

After seeing this sick display that celebrates black-on-black genocide (Imagine if it had been a white man standing over a black man asking, “Should I kill this n*gger?”), I figured out how we might define Commercialized hip-hop.  Commercialized hip-hop is a place where black men are financed by white-owned corporations to present themselves to predominantly white audiences as weed-smoking, sexually-promiscuous jackasses who are willing to shoot one another for almost any reason.

In case you didn’t know, gun violence is the leading cause of death among black men.  My sister does autopsies in Chicago and said that 90% of her victims are black males under the age of 30.  For some reason, the death of Trayvon Martin resonated deeply within the souls of those who followed this tragedy, but there are a few new Trayvons being shot in cold blood every single day of the week.

Congratulations black people, these have become the role models for husbands and fathers of the next generation.

Black men are dying on a regular basis and no one seems to care, but for some reason, we spend our time debating gay marriage, as if it’s the most critical civil rights issue of the last 50 years.  All the while, the black family has been decimated to the point that most of our kids are born with one statistical arm tied behind their backs, our schools can’t even buy the paint for the buildings, and black people are filling up the unemployment lines in a way that hasn’t been seen since Dougie Fresh was a teenager.

When I debated hip hop artist accountability with Michael Eric Dyson at Brown University, my point was clear:  Hip-hop music can no longer be legitimized as a medium used to glamourize and further institutionalize the most dysfunctional behavior within black America.  The packaging and mass marketing of the serial killing, drug addicted, STD-infected gangster-buffoon to white America comes at the expense of children who have the capacity to be productive citizens in our society.   The music can be appreciated with limitations, but we’ve got to stop behaving as if this stuff is normal.

The black male handbook for self-destruction is being fed to young boys from birth, and every four year old with an earring and pair of Air Jordans dreaming about his first tattoo has had his future killed before he’s even had a chance to explore it.   All of the black men with dreadlocks in their hair (emulating Lil Wayne, with no spiritual value whatsoever) and guns on their hips, seeking out the weed man, and looking for enough “hoes” for the next party have also been taught that this is what it means to be black.  It is up to us to stop the flood of wasteful energy and ensure that our boys realize that they can be the next Barack Obama just as easily as they can become the next Lil Wayne.  He should be bragging about his law degree, not his criminal record, but our society fails to help him learn the difference.

Hip-hop artists and their corporate puppet masters must be openly and consistently rejected for their buffoonery.  The disciples of this behavior must be called out where they stand and reminded that this is no way a black man to behave.  The space of black manhood must be reclaimed by those who want our community to survive and for our kids to have a chance.  They must hear, loud and clear, that there is nothing cool about ignorance.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Syracuse University Professor and author of the forthcoming book, “The RAPP Sheet: Rising Above Psychological Poison.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

RELATED: Trayvon Martin 7-11 Surveillance Video Released

1) Zimmerman was ordered by police to stay in his vehicle but did not heed that order. This fact alone has been the hallmark of the case from the onset. Had Zimmerman listened to the instructions from people far more qualified than he was, Trayvon would still be alive.

Zimmerman pursued Martin — and in an apparent scuffle (where Martin had the right to defend himself) — he seemed to lose the upper hand, killing the boy with a close proximity gunshot to the chest, according to the latest reports. There was also evidence of a fight between the two, and photos of a bloodied Zimmerman, supposedly corroborating his story that he was being beaten and used his weapon in self-defense.

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Simply put, Zimmerman was getting whooped up on and couldn’t take the heat so he did the most cowardly thing possible and shot an unarmed kid.

2) Sanford police displayed the incompetence of novices. Try as they may, the Sanford police cannot avoid their involvement in ruining this case and levying an injustice upon the Martin family. Not only did police not secure proper evidence, such as a series of photos of Zimmerman’s injuries from the fight with Martin, they also failed in putting his vehicle in the evidence pile since that’s where he made the call to 911, when Zimmerman reportedly noticed the teen ambling about in the neighborhood. An officer took one measly photo of Zimmerman on a cellphone camera (Trayvon’s cell is pictured above) and didn’t upload it until several days later. Police also didn’t keep the scene intact and protected from rain and the elements, essentially tainting the entire area.

Sanford police officials fumbled greatly in their response to the shooting. Zimmerman’s claims of self-defense and invoking the “Stand Your Ground” law have swung the case into limbo, assisted by the lacking efforts of investigators on the scene.

3) Trayvon Martin’s reported weed use does not justify his killing. The media rabidly attacked Trayvon Martin’s school suspension due to being caught with a bag of marijuana, although several accounts from friends and others say that Martin was not a violent kid and was considered a decent student by his instructors. If smoking weed is a crime, many so-called pillars of the community should be struck down as well for their marijuana-fueled dalliances as teenagers. The medical examiner’s report that THC was found in Martin’s system became headline news this week, an unnecessary by-product of the highly sensationalized case.

Marijuana may be largely illegal, but it is hardly a precursor to a life of crime. Nor does it incite fits of violent rage in boys simply trying to go home to watch a basketball game with his family.

4) Pulling a page from Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin — and any human being — has the right to defend him or herself. Say what you will of that night, Zimmerman was an unknown to Martin. In a world where young people are kidnapped and sexually assaulted by older men, you simply can’t run up on someone these days without good cause or proper protocol. According to the girlfriend of Trayvon Martin, who was on the phone with him before he perished, Martin felt that he was being followed. And considering it was dark, he reportedly darted off to avoid confrontation in the pursuit.

Zimmerman confronted the boy and had the added and hidden confidence of his firearm to aid him. Although witness accounts are scant and conflicting, it’s not hard to assume that Martin didn’t take kindly to being chased and cornered. With Martin getting the best of Zimmerman, again according to witness accounts, Zimmerman should have taken the fair one and waited for the cops.

It is unconscionable that much of the media is trying to justify Zimmerman’s killing of Trayvon by saying that evidence shows Trayvon didn’t go down without a fight. In this case, it is unacceptable that Trayvon fighting for his life would somehow place a halo over Zimmerman’s head. In the end, he pulled the trigger and that is what should be focused on.

At the core of the case is this: a 28-year-old law enforcement hopeful played cowboy for a night and got beaten up by what he felt was some random thug. It is very likely that his ego couldn’t take being beaten, so it is easy to imagine that he shot the boy to save face.

Defense attorney Mark O’Mara will likely try to use details about Trayvon’s life that simply don’t matter, delving deep into the personal life of a teenaged boy still trying to find himself. Maybe Trayvon wasn’t perfect, but who can make that claim at  the age of 17?

One fact is clear: George Zimmerman is a murderer and a coward who deserves not one bit of mercy. With hope, justice will prevail in this case.

Sound off!

SEE ALSO: Trayvon Martin: Smoking Weed Does Not Justify Murder

But Mr. Wright has been resurrected from the dead by right-wing conservatives again, The Washington Post reports. A super PAC has on the table a proposal that may bring the controversy back to light.

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SEE ALSO: 2nd Grader Reprimanded For Donning Black Face For MLK Project

But that says nothing about right-wing Republicans in Mitt’s party hellbent on racializing this year’s election. As Washington Post writer Rahiel Tesfamariam notes, the possibility of any attack on Obama’s relationship with Wright can tap into America’s ignorance of the Black church and Blacks in general.

The Jeremiah Wright controversy was about much more than what many believed to be unpatriotic sound bites coming from an Afro-centric sanctuary on the Southside of Chicago; it was also about advertising campaigns and conservative media outlets capitalizing on mainstream America’s discomfort with and lack of knowledge about black identity, culture and spiritual practices. The controversy sought to situate Obama outside of the “normative” American religious narrative by implying that he embraced a radical strand of Christianity, black liberation theology, that was not only subversive – but also hateful.

For Black America, this is a non-issue, but, given the sluggish economy, and relentless attacks on Obama’s identity, a proposal questioning how influential Wright’s views are in Obama’s current thinking is not so farfetched.

When President Obama remarked that “if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” for example, the latter could be enough to make some question whether Obama is truly the closeted Black racial the GOP “warned” that he would be as President.

It is a ridiculous assumption, we know.

But, given how aggressive the Tea Party has been about the “Birther” issue, nothing seems out of line for right-wing fanatics with money. But the real test for “post-racial” America is this: Will we fall for it, again?

I sure hope not.

What do you think?

RELATED: Shaunie O’Neal On ‘BBW’ Backlash: We Will Be More Positive

The week started with “Basketball Wives” Executive Producer Shaunie O’Neal admitting that the next installment of the show isn’t going to consist of as much fighting as there has been in the past.

This was a shocking thing to hear from the woman who has been laughing all the way to the bank as other women of color make absolute fools out of themselves.

Shaunie is the ultimate businesswoman, so to hear that she was walking away from her cash cow of violence told me that something might be up.

Then there were the ever-so-reflective remarks by the deeply bitter Tami Roman, who said that she has deleted her Twitter account so that she doesn’t have to wake up and deal with negativity every day.  Tami swears she’s not a bully and that she is simply a product of abusive experiences in her own past.

Sorry, Tami, but every bully says this.

The truth is that every murderer, rapist, and child molester usually has a terrible story to tell about how their own abuse fueled their desire to hurt others.  Not that we shouldn’t have empathy, but perhaps those of us who are encouraged to continue the cycle of abuse need to seek productive psychotherapy instead.

Finally, there is the “amazing” Evelyn Lozada, who made remarks about how she has become reflective of her behavior on television.

I am not sure how deep those reflections went, for I am sure that she was only reflecting on how empty her bank account will be if she continues down the road of unpopularity.

The fact is that all of this reflection, contemplation and deep revelation by the Basketball Baby Mamas (almost none of them were actually married to any athlete, making them either groupies, ex-girlfriends, or child support recipients) is likely due to the financial pressure of losing corporate sponsors because of the activity on their show.

The world has stood up to the bullies of reality TV and told them that they aren’t going to take it anymore.   A petition started on Change.org led the way, and people around the country have let corporate sponsors know that they are not interested in supporting companies that finance a show that teaches young girls how to bully one another at school.  Beyond this, there is the constant struggle for women of color to overcome their own negative images in media, and this challenge doesn’t get easier when women are signing up to behave like angry football players.

The calming of the Basketball Baby Mamas is a lesson for both the bullies on this show and for the rest of us.  It says that if we want something to change, we should demand it.  It also says that if we want a better future for our children, we must fight for it.  It’s time to rise above this psychological poison.

SEE ALSO: Why Sodomy Is A Civil Right

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and author of the forthcoming book, “The RAPP Sheet: Rising Above Psychological Poison.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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It wouldn’t matter if Trayvon had a joint in his pocket and beat the hell out of George Zimmerman in an attempt to protect himself, it still could not minimize the fact that this child — Tracy and Sybrina’s baby — was profiled, menaced, then viciously murdered by a vigilante neighborhood watch captain with a God complex who couldn’t just stay in his vehicle.

I wish someone would “break” that news.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing about the autopsy results that changes these facts:

1.) Trayvon Martin was transported to a morgue, labeled as a John Doe, and was there for days while his father frantically searched for him.

2.) George Zimmerman, who was literally standing next to the smoking gun, was not required to submit to a drug test, neither on the scene nor later at the police station.

3.)  The media has consistently attempted to deflect from the fact that Trayvon was simply on his way home when he was murdered — and that all other information is merely a tactic to vilify this child.

4.) State Prosecutor Angela Corey was privy to every, single ounce of evidence and she still found it necessary to charge George Zimmerman with second degree murder.

Bottom line: Trayvon Martin is dead. He is a child who is not here to defend himself and the fact that adults are now trying to murder his reputation is beyond reprehensible.

As we move forward, hopefully, people will remember who the victim here truly is — and it’s not a man who is recorded on a 911 tape saying that “these assholes always get away.”

George Zimmerman made it his business to make sure that Trayvon Martin did not get away. That is the only fact that matters.

SEE ALSO:

Obama’s Patronizing Visit To ‘The View’

10 Tips For Black Men Pulled Over By Police

SEE ALSO: Obama’s Patronizing Visit To ‘The View’

I read the headline with curiosity, as Klein explains that Michelle was going to leave Barack, after he’d been badly defeated in his run for the Illinois state senate against Bobby Rush.  The family was broke, and Michelle allegedly felt that Barack was being unrealistic in his political aspirations.  The Obamas themselves have admitted to running into “rough patches” during their marriage, but I’m sure most of us get the “made-for-TV” version of their marital challenges.

There is an old saying that “we must spend a few years living like no one else will in order to spend the rest of our lives living like no one else can.”  In no place does this message resonate more than it does in the marriage of Barack and Michelle Obama.  Even if every detail of Klein’s remarks are not entirely true, there are some things we can learn.  Here is a short list:

1) Marriage is not a fairy tale:  Most people who stay together for decades don’t march through years of marriage with comfort and flying colors.  Instead, they have to fight, grind, and remain focused on their objective.  We often hear about people ending their relationships because they “just weren’t happy anymore,” or “I fell out of love with my partner,” as if marriage is like a piece of gum that you replace when the sugar runs out. If you think of love as a perpetual source of instant gratification, then it’s probably best that you never get married.

2) If you aren’t ready for the volatility, then don’t get on the ride: For every woman who fantasizes about being married to the next Barack Obama, the truth is that most people don’t have what it takes.  High rewards require high risk and the ability to stomach significant disappointments.  Those who think that marriage should be comfortable and stable all the time should never consider marrying a man with Barack Obama-like ambitions (or you could also line up with all the women who start chasing the man once he becomes successful).  Obama is a man willing to sacrifice everything in order to achieve his dream, and most women would not be able to live with that kind of risk.

3) Never give up on yourself:  Most successful people become highly familiar with failure during their climb to the top.  Part of the reason that Barack has been so successful in politics and life is that he learned the value of remaining persistent when things aren’t going his way.    Your entire life can change in an instant, and the only people who get to experience the sunrise after the rain are the ones who decided to hang in there.

4) Things are almost never what they seem to be:  Anyone who truly believed that the Obama marriage was as perfect as it appears to be is flat-out delusional. Living your life based on a fantasy is a one-way ticket to disappointment. Don’t believe everything you read and realize that celebrities have problems, just like the rest of us. A strong relationship is possible for anyone, but it’s silly to think that it’s going to happen without a great deal of really hard work and commitment.  So, if none of your relationships are lasting longer than a few months, the truth is that you’re probably not built to be an Obama.

SEE ALSO:

Man Arrested In Highway Deaths Didn’t Pose As Cop

$90M Manhattan Penthouse Sets Record

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and author of the forthcoming book, “The RAPP Sheet: Rising Above Psychological Poison.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

Chuck Brown, known to the world as the “Godfather of Go-Go” has died at the age of 75. Brown died Wednesday at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He had contracted pnemonia while being hospitalized earlier this month. Brown’s daughter Cookie Whiting said funeral arrangements are underway.

Chuck “Chuck Baby” Brown’s unique style started in the 1960′s and exceeded all genres from r &b, hip hop, jazz, funk to salsa music. He covered r & b, jazz, blues, hip hop and gave all songs a new meaning. He played all songs for nearly one hour a piece. Brown called it “Go-Go because it would not stop.” Brown traded in five cartons of cigarettes for a guitar while in jail and taught himself how to play. And the rest, is “go-go” history.

Brown headlined concerts all across the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) and the world with his non-stop “go-go” style. There were no afterparties following a Chuck Brown concert because his performance was a “before and after party.” His concerts were packed and standing room only.

One of my most memorable moments of Chuck Brown is when he invited me on stage to dance at his last concert in Richmond on February 11, 2012. He supported many causes for the people especially those living with Sickle Cell Disease.

Brown is known for his chart topper “Bustin Loose” in the 1970′s with the Soul Searchers. Brown graced us with hits like “Wind Me Up Chuck” “Run Joe” “Go-Go- Swing” “Money” “Block Party” “It’s Love with Jill Scott” and he won a grammy for that duet. Also, cover hits like “Family Affair” “Moody’s Mood for Love” “Playing Your Game Baby” and host of others.

Ladies and gentlemen please enjoy what would have been his final interview with me and performance in Richmond. We interviewed on February 1, 2012.

Heaven sent for his angel, R.I.P Chuck Brown

 
The Queen of Disco, singer Donna Summer died this morning at 63 years old, after a battle with cancer, reports TMZ.

“Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith,” the singer’s family said in a statement. “While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can’t express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time.”

Summer was a 5-time Grammy winner who shot to superstardom in the ’70s with iconic hits like “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.”

She continued her dominance in the ’80s with “She Works Hard for the Money” and “This Time I Know It’s for Real.”

Summer was the first female artist to chart with back-to-back multi-platinum double albums.

She appeared in the 1978 film, “Thank God It’s Friday,” which won the best original song Oscar for “Last Dance.” Summer also appeared on the 1990s hit TV show “Family Matters.”

Summer and her producer Giorgio Moroder defined the dance music era of the ’70s and influenced several artists to join the disco craze as well.

Summer married Brooklyn Dreams singer Bruce Sudano back in 1980. Summer had three daughters and four grandchildren.

SEE ALSO: Obama’s Patronizing Visit To ‘The View’

Talib argued that, if anything, Obama is indeed a symbol, but his presence does not negate a longstanding systematic problem in this country. To him we are not ”post-racial” but in fact “most-racial.” Have enough noticed? I’m guessing not from his series of politically themed tweets.

Talib Kweli writes:

These “we got a black president everything is great” losers kill me lol

This is how backwards ppl are. In 08 I was asked in more than one interview, if Obama wins, what would I have left to rap about? As much respect as I have for Obama as a man & historical figure, the president is a symbol.

Post racial society? Nah. Most racial society. Stop #stopandfrisk

There are MANY criticisms of Obama that I feel are accurate. But when u call him a socialist u expose yourself as a Fox News watching moron.

The president can be criticized for his record. No need to make stuff up just because you don’t understand your real reason 4 disliking him. Obama is Christian, a capitalist and a shrewd politician. He is not a Muslim or a socialist. Even if he was, so what?

I pray for the brain cells of those who posed Talib such an asinine question, but shouldn’t they be revisiting the aftermath of those post-racial proclamations more anyway?

Why not dissect the overt racism President Obama’s political opposition has leveled against him since he was sworn in? We had plenty of well-intentioned — albeit grossly superficial — fantasy works on America’s potential in light of his candidacy.

How about something revisiting the reality? The boldly racist, consistently xenophobic, vitriol often hurled Obama’s way.

Watch President Obama on “The View” this week:

Even during his appearance on “The View,” President Obama (pictured below) responded to Sherri Shepherd’s question about how competitive his reelection bid will be by quipping, “When your name is Barack Obama it’s always going be tight.”

There are countless other examples of divide to highlight, too. Say Travyon Martin’s death and the racial divide with respect to the perception of his killing, or the spectacle less-subtle Americans have made of it – i.e. using Trayvon’s image to sell target sheets. There’s a lingering hostility in the air as it pertains to race, and while it would be wrong to not denote improvement, it’s even more so to sweep it under a dusty rug completely.

Just a week ago, I tweeted: “How are all of you post-Black, post-racial, and other post-posturing folks enjoying the headlines of the week?”

I never got an answer, but perhaps I’m just as silly to expect that I’d ever get an answer on that or any one similar to it. What to do? I’m not sure, but I guess I’ll start humming Mariah in the meantime.

Tell us!

Michael Arceneaux is a Houston-bred, Howard-educated writer currently based in Los Angeles. You can read more of his work on his site, The Cynical Ones. Follow him on Twitter: @youngsinick