Friday, July 24, 2009

20 Questions Friday {7.24.09}

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Love, Love, Love Shiny Black Girls.

1. Why is it so hard for Black people to understand that CNN,
Cornel West
and Dyson will always talk about Black poverty
because it makes
them money?

2. Why does Sam Adams Summer Ale taste so orangey and
delicious?


3. Why is it so hard to call family members you haven't talked to
in
a while?

4. Where did summer go?


5. Why am I itching to launch 3 new sites, one of them a Black
Vanity
Fair?

6. Have you ever taken a look at the federal budget?


7. Why isn't it required for all Congressmen and women
to disclose
their investments so that we will know where
their biases lie?


8. Why Jet Blue more expensive now?


9. What happened to Iyanla Vanzant?

10. You peeped how the Chris Brown apology video and
the Henry Louis
Gates arrest broke on the same day?

11. What do you think of
David Lindorff's piece on Henry Louis Gates
and our current police state
?

12. Did you know that Tyler Perry is the first Black major
studio owner?


13. Why Ta-Nehisi the only blogger that consistently makes
me think
of new angles?

14. Why is there no money left after the bills are paid?


15. Did you know that there are automated garbage trucks
in some cities,
which eliminates 2 good paying jobs?

16. Did you go to Rock the Bells?


17. Did you know that
Louis Proyect wrote a letter to Goldman
Sachs
offering to be their PR consultant and recommending that
they fund anti-
capitalist activities to quell the rising voice of The Left?

18. Did Tupac have potential or was he a really just a philosophical
and deep
drug addict?

19. Why was Lebron so scurred of a dunk tape getting out?


20. Why do I miss A Different World?

I got questions.

You have answers.

Big {TEEF}

17 comments:

Vee (Scratch) said...

1. It's a hustle. Why not? Dyson is ready to turn an argument into a book, into a hustle. I'm not mad.

8. I saw that coming.

9. Word?!?

11. Hmmm . . . Here's my position. Since I'm not famous and have no clout or serious financial resources to secure great legal representation, I would keep my mouth shut, ascertain the police officer's name and badge number like I normally do silently from their jacket. I may be pissed off but I just don't want a b.s. ticket, summons, DAT, arrest and definitely don't want to be the next Diallo, Louima, Reyes, Bell, etc. Now I know I can still catch a bad one just because I remained silent and complied with all their request BUT I would like to reduce those odds against me. Self-Preservation at all cost.

11.a. Question Obama speak to soon about a case he probably doesn't have the full facts on?

12. I believe that honor goes to Tim Reid. Jim Brown & Richard Pryor would have made that happen a while ago, but Pryor wasn't following Brown's militant stance and he could not stop following the pipe. The Wayans are on their way but they encountered some politics from the city of Oakland(?)

16. I'm corny, I suck. My bro said Busta killed it in Maryland.

18. Both, but mainly it was bullshit and insecurity.

19. Lebron not scared, everybody gets dunked on. It's everybody else that's making a big deal out of it. NBA players regularly get embarassed in local pick-up games like the Rucker. It's nothing.

20. Word.

Anonymous said...

1.I don’t think its hard for them/us to understand, I think that we for the most part really, really don’t like it. There is a expectation or at least a hope that such a grandoiose topic would be given “quality” treatment

3.Because there might be a reason why you haven’t called them in a while which hasn't yet gone away

4.I refuse to answer that for it makes me feel old……..

6 Other then passing glances, sadly no.

7 Probbally because they would haft to pass that such a law upon themselves

9.Last seen at the State of the Black Union, which coincidently where I fell In love with Tricia Rose

11. looks like I have something to read

12. Yeah and it made me sick just like finding out he made 75 mil last year

18 Both

19 Because image is everything, at least to Kings…..

20 Cuz you value GREAT tv.

Nicole said...

I agree 100% with number nine! Iyanla used to be every where!

M.Dot. said...

Man.

I write these 20 questions and yall give answers from the heart, but real you know every day, hood on the block answers but they be what I/WE need to hear. Feel me.

Thank.

M.dot had a long day and a long tomorrow.

But I promises some actual essay type posts that I am known for. BIG TEEF.

Imma ask yall to do 20 questions shooooooot!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Model Minority said...

@ Vee
Re Dyson, West. The problem w/ them getting 20-30k/speaking engagement is that these cats self identify as Democratic Socialist.

There is something innately wrong with this picture. If this is your political line, then making Cravath Senior Partner Money, while lecturing and DOING NOTHING about negro poverty needs to be explained.

If they are getting paid that much, they need to do scholarly work OR Work on solutions too.
They just want to shine and thats cool. But doing it on the backs of Black poverty, I have a problem with it, because the fiddlin' we me and mine.


@Ill
Can't believe that folks agree about Tupac, interesting.

Re Lebron. I never thought of "image" as in
the weight of ONE tape overshadows a career. The cover up makes it a bigger deal than it is.

@Nicole
She is doing workshops for teens men and women.
I just miss her voice in popular culture. She brought a spiritual element that we miss.

dylan digits said...

About Ta-Nehisi and the subject of new angles... word. He's my desert island blogger, the one I would choose to read if I could retain one thing about the internet. Something about how the man is never reactionary and always seeks out the human connection with anyone and everyone, and the modesty on top of it all... but of course he hits me each time with a one two punch of emotional and intellectual honesty.

You do that, too, just not as frequently because you aren't paid to do it like he is. But I can't comment and not big you up.

We have those automatic garbage trucks here in Madison, WI. It's probably faster but as you said, two perfectly good jobs gone.

If you like orangey summer beer try to find Bell's Oberon (from Michigan, I think) and have it with a slice of orange in the glass or bottle. It's the Madison summer drink of choice.

Model Minority said...

Hey DD,

Thank you for the complement.

Ta-Nehisi inspired me way back when he wrote for The Voice. But, his blog game is nasty.

I am little big more confrontational and I challenge everyone, White Folks, Asians Folks, Black Folks and Latino folks. No one gets a free ride. We are all humans and all accountable.

I am coming to learn, (who knew?) that folks ain't really tripping off hearing that from a lady, but thats none of my business, no?


Orangey Beer, eh? Thank you. I will check for it.

Yeah, I was told about those garbage cans being in Michigan recently. Whats bugged is that you all are the leader in unemployment too.

It isn't a coincidence.

~m.

the prisoner's wife said...

4. i've been asking myself the SAME questions. it's pretty much august already. damn.

9. i heard oprah eighty-sixed her. who knows. she was all the rage for a while.

20. because there are no good shows featuring all-black casts. Different World showed another side of young, black, life. yes, people, we go to college!

the prisoner's wife said...

i have a question:

why does it seem like the most militant Negroes are light-skinned?

Vee (Scratch) said...

The thing is between West and Dyson, I'll have to admit that I don't know what they're doing at all. I don't know if they're not doing anything but there's a strong chance that they're doing something regularly. And who knows, maybe lending their time to speak, and writing actually helps a number of ways that can't be quantified? Who knows? The impact of their constant public presence mayb be great or bring balance to other public figures like Sharpton, Jackson, and other commentators like
Roland Martin and Donna Brazile.

Surprisingly Dyson's book* on Tupac, helped some young cats discover the joys of reading.
*I didn't read it, but I've been told.

I want to become a Cravath Senior Partner?!? My friend used to work there.

Model Minority said...

@ Vee @35K and hour, shouldn't we know what they are doing, given the fact they clame care about negros so damn much?

Let me lay out my arguement clearly.

Black people getting $35k/hour to lecture about Black poverty have a politcal, moral and intelecutal obligation to take their time and (some) money to HELP those people. Its really quite simple.

Democratic Socialast of America. Link.
www.sausa.org

Perhaps the difference is betwen PASSIVE help and ACTIVE help.

Passive shit makes my ass itch. I want activie, critical engagement. Or Imma have a shit to talk. #2009spade.

^^^What if we start using hashtags everywhere?

Cravath? Word? Hmmp.

Vee (Scratch) said...

I have to challenge you on that . . . with questions.

Do you know how much they're contributing in terms of resources, time and money? If so, what or who determines whether their contributions are passive or active? What more would you have them do? Which method is more effective and has produced concrete results?

Note, there are many folks who have done so much for our communities but many people are just not aware of their contributions. Curious, who in your humble opinion is talking about poverty and actively doing something about it?

M.Dot. said...

I have to challenge you on that . . . with questions.
Thats cool. Thats why I write and blog, and talk, and take the time. Dialog and questions is how we move forward.

Do you know how much they're contributing in terms of resources, time and money?
====
That I don't know is irrelevant.
My critique still stands.
If

If so, what or who determines whether their contributions are passive or active?
====
Off the top of the dome, Passive is something that is done without thought or concern with a specific outcome.

What more would you have them do?
======
Practice economics that are inline with the politics that they claim to identify with.
Or make $35k/hour talking about something other than low income poor children.
The internet, Neoliberal finance, Theology. Something.


Which method is more effective and has produced concrete results?
=====
Your question presumes concrete results,
or that I am looking FOR concrete results.

The most powerful and revolutionary of changes are NOT concrete, they are the changes in the hearts of minds of people who comprise our society.
The last week weeks I have been reaching into my network and trying to peep intergenerational organizations that work directly with young folks.

3 Questions for you, my dear V.

1. Given my arguement, what stops you from holding Dyson/West accountable?

2. Why are you given to speculate about what they could be doing rather than taking their record for what it is?

3. As young Black people who care about Black children, what is our role in all of this?

Vee (Scratch) said...

I'll try to answer your questions succinctly :-)
-----
1. What stops me? I just don't know what they're currently involved in or what they have recently participated in.

2. Their just highly recognized tenured professors that get paid well for their speaking engagements. That's their record as far as I know. Many folks have passionately contributed to some movements and community-based efforts but chose to remain quiet about their actions. There is a possibility that some of their charitable or community-based efforts go largely unknown.

There's a small possibility that Cornel West's foray into hip hop may spark the hearts and minds of some young people. (Ok, that's a stretch.)

3. Our role? From where I stand or should I say my personal crusade with the number of children I come in contact with. I simply try to teach them the value of an education and the value of having a plan.

Model Minority said...

1. What stops me? I just don't know what they're currently involved in or what they have recently participated in.

Ok, and Boom! Here it is. I see as important
to hold both corporations, individuals and institutions accountable, especially when they are MAKING MONEY OFF OF TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

Don't you think that by setting the barrier "knowing" that it is a convenient way avoiding holding them accountable?

2. Their just highly recognized tenured professors that get paid well for their speaking engagements.
=====
Based in your facts, I look crazy, talking about this. Lets restate the facts.

Dyson/West are Black professors who receive est 10-35k/hour to talk to crowds about Black poverty, while doing, little strategically, about such poverty.

These are Black people, who are self identified democratic socialist (people who by their very definition believe in the equitable distribution of resources so that the NEEDS to ALL of societies members are met.)

That's their record as far as I know. Many folks have passionately contributed to some movements and community-based efforts but chose to remain quiet about their actions. There is a possibility that some of their charitable or community-based efforts go largely unknown.

Why are you given to speculate?
What harm is being done in critiquing these Black men publicly? How can we expect/ create justice from the White Power Structure when we are afraid of critiquing ourselves?

There's a small possibility that Cornel West's foray into hip hop may spark the hearts and minds of some young people. (Ok, that's a stretch.)

What responsibility does a Black Academic who gets $35K/hour to speak on Black Poverty, what responsibility does this person have to low income Black young people?

3. Our role? From where I stand or should I say my personal crusade with the number of children I come in contact with. I simply try to teach them the value of an education and the value of having a plan.

What is our collective role?

Unknown said...

New essay "The Gates Affair:Why We Care" yours to publish
Dear readers and webmasters,

Author Daniel Bruno Sanz has written an essay about Gatesgate.  We encourage its publication and distribution.
 
                                                          Regards,
 
                                                          Navas S.
 
 
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
 
- 4th Amendment to the The Constitution of the United States of America

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