Hi Kamautu:
I really appreciate your response. You gave a lot of historical
information that I really wasn't aware of. Anyways, of what use is
historical information if no one ever learns from it. Political and social
behavior to me just seem to follow a cycle regardless of what anyone wants
to do about it.
All I have to say is that no one can make you inferior without your own
consent and no one can manipulate you without your own ignorance. Life is
all about survival and as such people may have to use others, or get used
by others or "forced" to live in symbiosis. Symbiotic existence is the
best preferred but  certainly the least attractive to us humans, which is
obviously why throughout history capitalism have overshadowed communism.


> Chika,
>
> Thanks for responding.  As I tried to indicate in one of my previous
> correspondences (below), the critique is not perfect.  There are
> disturbing things being shown and said.  In addition to the use of the
> N-word, the artist also uses the H-word and the B-word.  While he appears
> to use these words to chastise those rappers who exploit us and also
> characterize them as deviant, I don't agree with his use of them.  It
> seems likely that the artist himself is conflicted (to a certain degree we
> all are).  For instance, his vocabulary (words and images) may not be
> extensive enough for him to be able to express himself in other ways.  In
> addition, he, like the rest of us, has to deal with some degree of
> internalized racism and sexism.  Take Tupac (who in the end did more bad
> than good with his music) as an example.  He did negative songs about
> violence and sex and then turned right back around and did sensitive songs
> about the conditions that poor Blacks had to live in, racism, and Black
> women being exploited (e.g., Brenda's Got A Baby).  It was a matter of
> growth with Tupac.  Nas is another example.  Now, outside of internalized
> racism and growth, one must consider the artist's audience.  Part of his
> audience is undoubtedly that segment of hip-hop artists that he is
> critiquing.  Did he make a conscious decision to use certain language
> (words and images) in order to get their attention?  It's possible, but I
> really don't know.  Also, he shows some negative behaviors (e.g., Black
> women in sexually provocative positions) in order to critique them.  Did
> he go too far?
>
> With respect to his depiction of Afrikans and the reference that you
> pointed out, he might indeed unconsciously demean them, but I'm not sure
> that's what's going on.  If you take the whole video in context, he is
> clearly linking Afrikan Americans to Afrikans and attempting to show our
> struggle in historical terms.  When he says that "... even Afrikans are
> callin y'all Ns ..." he might be trying to express the idea that because
> hip-hop artists have helped to produce this modern day minstrel show they
> have reinforced and spread the stereotypes, negative ideas, and behaviors
> to the point that their own Afrikan brothers and sisters have begun to
> call them (Afrikan Americans) the N-word.  At this point, he depicts a
> traditional type of Afrikan warrior, but he may be attempting to convey a
> sense of irony by presenting a strong image, rather than a primitive one.
> Remember that Afrikan Americans frequently use traditional images of
> Afrika and Afrikans to depict qualities that they think Black people
> should embrace (e.g., unity, honor, strength, intelligence).  For
> instance, take Huey Newton's picture (he is seated with a spear in one
> hand and a gun in the other).
>
> While pre-colonial Afrika (like other continents) has had instances of
> slavery and classism in its history, we must remember that racism and
> classism (materialism) are structural/ systemic and world-wide forms of
> oppression that Black people did not perpetrate on the world.
> Furthermore, these forms of oppression partially function by enlisting the
> oppressed to participate mentally and physically in their own oppression
> (e.g., slave mentality and colonial mentality).  In addition, we can look
> at many examples in history where a people have participated in their own
> oppression (actually helped their oppressors, internalized their
> oppression, and exploited their own people for status and material gain).
> This happened during the nearly 400 year Roman occupation and enslavement
> of England.  It also happened during the nearly 800 year Moorish
> occupation of Spain.  For example, under both circumstances, powerful
> native leaders conspired with and fought on the side of their own
> oppressors to keep their own people subjugated.  Also, Feudalism was a
> form of slavery wherein Whites enslaved other Whites and we have seen
> instances in history wherein Europeans sold each other into slavery in
> Western Asia (the Middle East).  The root of the word slave is Slav (for
> Slavs or Slavic people).  Also, I must point out that some Afrikans sold
> other Afrikans into slavery because they were corrupt and they should be
> condemned for doing so.  However, many Afrikans were forced to sell other
> Afrikans into slavery.  For instance, before the Ashanti were forced to
> become a slave trading people they fought the British in a series of seven
> wars to abolish slavery.  Some Jews were forced to work for the Nazis
> (e.g., in the concentration camps) and no one condemns them for it.
>
> OK, explanation shouldn't be used as an excuse to continue doing the wrong
> thing, so I must agree with your position that Black people have
> participated (and participate) in their own oppression and it is our
> responsibility to develop the proper respect for life (and I would add the
> material resources) that is needed to overcome our oppression (which
> consists of what others are doing to us and what we are doing to us).
> Well, I know that's a long response, but I love thinking about these
> issues.  Please give me your thoughts on my reading of these things.  I
> hope others will join the discussion as well.  I've said a lot so, unless
> you or anyone else has a specific question about an issue I've raised in
> response to the video, I'm just going to sit back and read what others
> have to say about it.  Thanks again for responding.  Take care.
>
> Kamautu
>
>> Hi Kamautu,
>> The video is quite disturbing but it does make a point. However, the
>> issues being raised by the artiste are symptoms of a problem which I
>> think
>> the artiste himself is guilty of. While listening to the song I heard
>> the
>> artiste say "even Africans are calling y'all N-word"referring to the MCs
>> or video vixens he has issues with ...but then he shows a picture of a
>> primitive African. The use of the word "even" by the artiste while
>> referring to Africans portrays the artiste's demeaning mentality towards
>> Africans. This is synonymous to when president Vincente Fox of Mexico
>> made
>> the comment that Mexican illegal immigrants in America are doing the
>> jobs
>> that "even" African Americans will not do. I think the main problem with
>> the black race as a whole is that we are so materialistic that we lose
>> our
>> sense of self in the process of material pursuit. Four hundred years ago
>> we sold our own brothers and sisters to total strangers for material
>> things. The white man did not work in isolation for slavery to happen.
>> The
>> black race played a very active role in the process. We are in no way
>> reluctant to sell deadly and addictive drugs to our own people
>> especially
>> the mothers of our children just so we can put rims on vehicles and then
>> we turn around and blame the white man for letting it happen. The rulers
>> of African nations work in cohorts with imperialistic western
>> governments
>> and embezzle billions of dollars that should have gone into nation
>> building while living their citizenry in abject poverty and then the
>> same
>> leaders turn around and blame the western world for ignoring the plight
>> of
>> Africa nations. I can really go on with this but the truth is that until
>> we as a race...the black race begin to respect life above materialism we
>> will continue to be pawns to people who know how to use material things
>> to enslave and exploit us physically, mentally, socially, economically
>> and
>> politically. Or is it also the white man's fault that the black race is
>> so
>> materialistic?
>>
>>> Dr. Coates,
>>>
>>> Greetings.  I didn't know if you were aware of this insightful and
>>> provocative video (the link is below as well as part of my
>>> correspondance
>>> with the person who sent it to me).  I must warn you that the lyrics
>>> and
>>> images are very explicit; however, they are well worth your attention.
>>> Well, I would love to know what you think about the video, so if you
>>> decide to view it please let me know what you think.  Take care.
>>>
>>> Kamautu Ashanti, ABD
>>>
>>> http://video.earwaxrecords.com/video/324b9625-a6db-43c3-a7c2-985901599b85.htm
>>>
>>> The video is very disturbing; however, it's about time that more of our
>>> brothers stand up and fight against the negativity (minstrel show
>>> madness)
>>> that has reinvaded our community via hip-hop, R&B, and film.  Even
>>> though
>>> they use certain lyrics (e.g., the N-word) that I don't agree with
>>> using
>>> under any circumstances (accept in explaining the history of the word
>>> and
>>> making my case for why we should not embrace it), I must salute them
>>> for
>>> bringing a critical and conscious critique and for fighting to save
>>> Black
>>> people from those Whites and Blacks who are currently exploiting them.
>>> Well, the video is an excellent teaching tool and, if put into the
>>> context
>>> of how we are exploited and exploit each other, should prove to be a
>>> valuable weapon in our struggle to save our people's minds.  I'll
>>> definitely pass it along to others.  Sorry it took so long for me to
>>> respond.  Drop me a line or two and let me know how you are doing.
>>> Take
>>> care.
>>>
>>> Kamautu
>>>
>>>>
>>>> If you're still there in e-mail land... tell me what you think about
>>>> this
>>>> video.  Warning, it's kind of disturbing.
>>>> http://video.earwaxrecords.com/video/324b9625-a6db-43c3-a7c2-985901599b85.htm
>>>
>>
>>
>> Chika Nwugo
>> Ph.D. Candidate
>> Miami University
>> Botany Department
>> 333 Pearson Hall
>> Office: 513-529-4259
>> Lab   : 513-529-4269
>> Cell  : 513-461-1860
>>
>>
>> In the mind of geniuses, imagination is more important than fact.
>>
>


Chika Nwugo
Ph.D. Candidate
Miami University
Botany Department
333 Pearson Hall
Office: 513-529-4259
Lab   : 513-529-4269
Cell  : 513-461-1860


In the mind of geniuses, imagination is more important than fact.