Hate, Hate…and more Hate.
OK, let’s talk about something of political interest right now….on a larger scale than Hip Hop-but don’t worry kiddies, it will be Hip Hop related!
For those of you under a rock-or maybe out of the country-in fall of 2006 some major shit cracked in this small town of 3,000 in Louisiana called Jena. Yes, I am referring to the Jena 6 story. If you have no clue what I am speaking on, please refer to http://www.freethejena6.org/ I will give you the cliff notes. (Keep in mind it’s the short version.)
Lunch hour, group of white kids every day sit under this one tree.
After awhile, some black students ask the principal if they too can sit under said tree-or if it is white only. In an attempt to not seem biased, the principal says that they may.
Next day, the black students do so.
Day after that, “someone” hangs 3 nooses from the tree.
After this a whole melee of incidents occur due to rising racial tension in this town that is 80% white-in the south none the less. Black students denied entrance into parties, getting jumped by GROWN ASS MEN that do not attend said school. A black student getting jumped, and his agressors catch no charges from law enforcement. Confrontations at local gas stations where a white kid produces a rifle-which gets snatched by the black kids he pulls it on-and the white kid gets charged with nothing while a young Mr. Bell catches some charges. A whole slew of other things happen-just read up on them.
What it all inevitably leads to is one of the white students who was involved from jump, gets jumped by 6 black students-including Mr. Bell. It is said that they beat him to the point of hospitalization-YET, THE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS JUMPED WAS ABLE TO ATTEND A SCHOOL FUNCTION LATER THAT SAME NIGHT. The 6 black students are then charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts-as ADULTS-though they were juveniles at the time-and worst of all, Mr. Bell-was only 16 and is still a juvenile-all while having served nearly a year in jail at this time.
Obviously justice is not what is happening in our southern states-or borders for that matter.
I bring this up for a few reasons-one being Hip Hop related.
1. While reading over news stories and other related material to the case, I notice how people are allowed to leave comments. This really scares me. Due to our “Immigration crisis” I have witnessed hate spewed forth against immigrants-more so stereo typing them all to be “Mexicans.” That is to be expected from a society who historically has ALWAYS spewed that type of hatred towards the new comers of this land of the free, but now, people are doing that towards these kids in a small La. Town, because people nation wide are calling for CORRECT Justice and pointing out the inherent racism in this system.
Refer to: http://www.topix.net/forum/source/kusa/TVBKHJ4KEJ1KRAH0R
Does anyone believe the 6 boys should go unpunished-NO. People the nation over are only asking for just justice. The scariest thing, is these comments in the above link do not come from southerners (well most,) but from people here in our backyard in Colorado. Watch your back…really.
2. This leads me to the Hip Hop related scenario. I was pleased with the reaction of one of the current cultures more exposed artist-Mos Def. He asked that others in his position and higher bring light to the situation and support-what was depressing about it was the lack of artist to do so. I understand that some people don’t like to get involved in anything political-but this transcends politics. These are basic human rights-of living “in a nation where we will not be judged by the color of our skin.”
Houston Legend (and one of my all time favs) Bun B of UGK stepped up to the plate as can be seen in this pic with Mighty Mos himself.
Twista, Killer Mike and a few others did what they do best-performed at a benefit concert for the Jena 6.
Refer to: http://sohh.com/articles/article.php/12582
But where were superstars like K.West and 50 Cent??? With all the media attention surrounding their album showdown, they had the media at their control/disposal, and gave absolutely no light to the subject. Mr. “George Bush doesn’t care about black people!” couldn’t say anything??? C’mon now, really. That was a let down. Was your “showdown” really more important-or did you just prove when you made the Dubya comment, that even that was a marketing ploy for the moment?
The current state of Hip Hop is controversial as ever. With cities like Dallas having “banned sagging” and ATL trying to follow suit, the Imus controversy, BBall legend Isaiah Thomas saying it is worse for white males to call black women “bitch” than black males-all while the world looks on as government officials are attempting to censor Hip Hop because it is Hip Hop's fault that thought process exist-and these big name clucks can’t make a stand??!?!?!?!?!? SMH. That’s just sad-and going to be the reason we fall.
To you Jena 6- We hope justice finds you.
“Let freedom ring with a buckshot, but just not yet, first we truly need to understand the nature of the threat…” –Ras Kass
OK, let’s talk about something of political interest right now….on a larger scale than Hip Hop-but don’t worry kiddies, it will be Hip Hop related!
For those of you under a rock-or maybe out of the country-in fall of 2006 some major shit cracked in this small town of 3,000 in Louisiana called Jena. Yes, I am referring to the Jena 6 story. If you have no clue what I am speaking on, please refer to http://www.freethejena6.org/ I will give you the cliff notes. (Keep in mind it’s the short version.)
Lunch hour, group of white kids every day sit under this one tree.
After awhile, some black students ask the principal if they too can sit under said tree-or if it is white only. In an attempt to not seem biased, the principal says that they may.
Next day, the black students do so.
Day after that, “someone” hangs 3 nooses from the tree.
After this a whole melee of incidents occur due to rising racial tension in this town that is 80% white-in the south none the less. Black students denied entrance into parties, getting jumped by GROWN ASS MEN that do not attend said school. A black student getting jumped, and his agressors catch no charges from law enforcement. Confrontations at local gas stations where a white kid produces a rifle-which gets snatched by the black kids he pulls it on-and the white kid gets charged with nothing while a young Mr. Bell catches some charges. A whole slew of other things happen-just read up on them.
What it all inevitably leads to is one of the white students who was involved from jump, gets jumped by 6 black students-including Mr. Bell. It is said that they beat him to the point of hospitalization-YET, THE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS JUMPED WAS ABLE TO ATTEND A SCHOOL FUNCTION LATER THAT SAME NIGHT. The 6 black students are then charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts-as ADULTS-though they were juveniles at the time-and worst of all, Mr. Bell-was only 16 and is still a juvenile-all while having served nearly a year in jail at this time.
Obviously justice is not what is happening in our southern states-or borders for that matter.
I bring this up for a few reasons-one being Hip Hop related.
1. While reading over news stories and other related material to the case, I notice how people are allowed to leave comments. This really scares me. Due to our “Immigration crisis” I have witnessed hate spewed forth against immigrants-more so stereo typing them all to be “Mexicans.” That is to be expected from a society who historically has ALWAYS spewed that type of hatred towards the new comers of this land of the free, but now, people are doing that towards these kids in a small La. Town, because people nation wide are calling for CORRECT Justice and pointing out the inherent racism in this system.
Refer to: http://www.topix.net/forum/source/kusa/TVBKHJ4KEJ1KRAH0R
Does anyone believe the 6 boys should go unpunished-NO. People the nation over are only asking for just justice. The scariest thing, is these comments in the above link do not come from southerners (well most,) but from people here in our backyard in Colorado. Watch your back…really.
2. This leads me to the Hip Hop related scenario. I was pleased with the reaction of one of the current cultures more exposed artist-Mos Def. He asked that others in his position and higher bring light to the situation and support-what was depressing about it was the lack of artist to do so. I understand that some people don’t like to get involved in anything political-but this transcends politics. These are basic human rights-of living “in a nation where we will not be judged by the color of our skin.”
Houston Legend (and one of my all time favs) Bun B of UGK stepped up to the plate as can be seen in this pic with Mighty Mos himself.
Twista, Killer Mike and a few others did what they do best-performed at a benefit concert for the Jena 6.
Refer to: http://sohh.com/articles/article.php/12582
But where were superstars like K.West and 50 Cent??? With all the media attention surrounding their album showdown, they had the media at their control/disposal, and gave absolutely no light to the subject. Mr. “George Bush doesn’t care about black people!” couldn’t say anything??? C’mon now, really. That was a let down. Was your “showdown” really more important-or did you just prove when you made the Dubya comment, that even that was a marketing ploy for the moment?
The current state of Hip Hop is controversial as ever. With cities like Dallas having “banned sagging” and ATL trying to follow suit, the Imus controversy, BBall legend Isaiah Thomas saying it is worse for white males to call black women “bitch” than black males-all while the world looks on as government officials are attempting to censor Hip Hop because it is Hip Hop's fault that thought process exist-and these big name clucks can’t make a stand??!?!?!?!?!? SMH. That’s just sad-and going to be the reason we fall.
To you Jena 6- We hope justice finds you.
“Let freedom ring with a buckshot, but just not yet, first we truly need to understand the nature of the threat…” –Ras Kass
