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Fliipin'
through the channels the other day, I came across that episode of Gilligan's
Island where the band of stranded castaways rolled up on that Japanese
soldier who was still fighting WW II 20 years after it was over. I guess
homie didn't get the memo. As I sat down to write my 50 something-ish essay
on the war to save Black culture from the clutches of corporate evil doers ,
I turned to MTV2 and saw the same booty slappin' and gun clappin' that I saw
over a decade ago. I guess, I didn't get the memo either...
There has been a war going on in Black popular culture between those who
believe that the genius of black talent should be used to uplift humanity
and a corporate empire hell bent on turning little Black boys into thugz and
little Black girls into strippers. Although some may point back to earlier
conflicts between the Civil Rights folks and the promoters of
Blackploitation as the genesis of the dispute, for the Hip Hop generation
the first shots were fired somewhere between the late 80's when Ice Cube
first penned the profound statement that "life ain't nuthin' but bitches and
money and the early 90's when Snoop Dogg told the world about the joys of "doin'
it doggy style." Despite the hundreds of conferences, books, lectures etc
discussing the problem of "negativity" in Black culture, more than a decade
later Cube is still reppin' for the "g's" and Snoop is still "pimpin' ho's".
Holly'hood has not faired much better as all the righteous attempts to
promote positive images on the silver screen by 80's icons like Spike Lee
have not prevented an occasional "Soul Plane" from popping up. Perhaps
taking the biggest hit, was our last refuge of Black literature where,
classics such as the "The Bluest Eye" have been pushed off the shelf by
urban smut like "How I Seduced My Five Babies' Daddies." Even though we have
been constantly told how Black folks don’t read, these books are now taking
up major retail space at even the most lily white bookstores.
I am a member of that generation who was led to believe by groups like
Public Enemy and KRS One that Hip Hop really was going to change the world
for the better. No matter how messed up the Black reality seemed to be the
revolution was coming and it would only a matter of time before the arrows
shot by the conscious rappers and activists would pierce the hearts of even
the most incorrigible thugz and pull them into the Black empowerment
process. But in 2006, we see ourselves still in the same downward spiral.
So what happens to a Hip Hop dream too long deferred. Do we keep holding on
till all hope is gone or do we become that bitter old former 60's Black
militant turned ultra right wing conservative who hates everyone associated
with youth culture. We must first keep it real with ourselves. We must face
the sad reality that in the war for Black culture, we got whupped like that
" trick" from Hustle and Flow. Unlike that Apollo dude, who died in the ring
in that old Rocky movie, you gotta know when to throw in the towel. You've
got to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. Am I suggesting some
sort of "if you can't beat them, join them exit strategy..Don't be
ridiculous. We must cut our loses, do an assessment of what worked and
didn't work and get ready for the next phase of "tha struggle."
So, today, we are the Rap Refugees raging against the machine, throwin' the
finger at the corporate media establishment while proudly sporting 1988
throwback African medallions and Malcolm X caps as the kids with the gold
teeth in the white Tees jeer at us from their Cadillac Escalades with the
spinnin’ rims."
We are the Black culture guerillas fighting behind enemy lines taking shots
at the invincible enemy until the forces of good are once again strong
enough to wage a full scale war against the "evil Doers."
This is the mission of the "Notes from a Hip Hop Refugee in Exile" project
as, through a lecture tour, series of essays and an upcoming book, I will
aid in the process of critically examining why we lost so that we can move
forward.
So prepare for battle, as we lick our wounds, gather the troops and prepare
for Rap World War II.
This is TRUTH Minista Paul Scott signing off from exile....
Minister Paul Scott represents
The Messianic Afrikan Nation in Durham NC.
E-mail: minpaulscott
Last Update:
08/13/2006
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