That experiment didn’t end well; in fact, it was aborted prematurely. Peterman ended off the night going for 6 for 14 for 66 yards, no touchdowns, 5 INTs, and a lowly 17.9 QB rating. He was quickly taken out of the game in the second quarter. That means ALL of those interceptions came in the first half. While I try to figure out if that is a record (he is second in INTs for NFL debut starts), it has to be said that putting Tyrod Taylor in the game was a no brainer.

And that is the particular struggle of being a black quarterback. To be a black QB means a shorter leash and a career that may seem to be on borrowed time.

Tyrod Taylor Was The Victim of Quarterbacking While Black

To see where the problem is with the benching of Tyrod Taylor, one would have to look at his numbers for the season. Before the New Orleans game, Taylor never had a game where his QB rating was below 80 (average of 91 for the year thus far). Actually, many of his games were above 90. He has only thrown for 3 interceptions and his throwing percentage has an average of 64%. He has thrown for 11 and ran for 3 touchdowns. He is great? No. Is he suitable? Absolutely.

And yet, McDermott found it in his best power to bench a man that was actually being halfway productive in the middle of a playoff hunt? Senseless.

McDermott broke two rules of coaching in the NFL with this silly move. The first rule is that a coach should never go against their quarterback with such a move. It was hasty at best. Also, Taylor had been performing much better than previously. And then there is the other reason: no coach should give up on their QB in the middle of a playoff race. Who would take time to break up any momentum that could have been established? Sean McDermott would.

Think about this for a second: would this had happened with a white QB in Taylor’s position? In most cases, I would say no. The only time I recall anything like this was Alex Smith for Colin Kaepernick. And look at where Colin Kaepernick is now: black balled for reasons besides football. And this is the issue with black quarterbacks: there are so few of us that our performance has to be, at the very least, pretty damn productive. Otherwise, we will get pulled for any reason.

If anyone needs any further explanation on what I am speaking of, then think about what Nick Wright has to say about it all:

Tyrod Taylor, this year, is one of four different quarterbacks with 10+ touchdowns and 3 or fewer picks. The other guys are Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Alex Smith. Tyrod Taylor, for his career, has the lowest interception rate in NFL history…I’m gonna say what I thought right when this happened and it is gonna make people uncomfortable but I ask for you to listen with an open mind. This flatly does not happen to a white quarterback. The margin of error and “prove it” level for black QBs coming out of college and once they get to the pros is so drastically different than their white counterparts. That is why Russell Wilson falls to the third round behind a guy like Brandon Weeden. That is why Dak Prescott falls to the fourth round behind a guy like Christian Hackenberg. That is why Deshaun Watson is not even considered for the number one overall pick despite dominating in college year after year. That is why Tyrod Taylor falls to the sixth round and gets replaced by Nathan Peterman. In order for a black quarterback, even til this day, to be considered a blue chipper out of college, you know what you gotta do? Go win the Heisman trophy and maybe the national championship. Cam Newton did that. And then there was still debate whether or not Blaine Gabbert should have been picked ahead of him.

After all that Nick said, what is there really left to say? This isn’t guesstimation. This is historical context, facts, statistics, and real issues.

The Tyrod Taylor Saga Continues

At the end of the day, Tyrod Taylor did not get a fair shake. Sean McDermott made an obvious mistake and paid for it by losing a game that could have been won from the beginning. Then again, much of the mistake was corrected once they put Taylor back in. And this is the cycle of life for the black quarterback in the NFL: to be considered, we have to be extremely great and the shelf life is limited to being damn near mistake free. Then again, doesn’t this reflect how many black people are treated in real life?

‘Nuff Said and ‘Nuff Respect!!!

The post Tyrod Taylor and the Struggle of the Black Quarterback  appeared first on Madness & Reality.

Slim palm trees stretch outward like fingers, but those, as spectacular as they are, aren’t what I’m interested in seeing. My tío has a banana tree that he harvests annually, and a special place packed with mysteries and natural wonders my tío chose to cultivate and preserve. At least, that’s what I’ve conjured whenever thinking about it. I’ve only seen it through photos; one with my nephew beaming with his straw jíbaro hat on as he prepared to discover the secrets locked within it for himself.

I remember dreaming about finally visiting them, seeing the majesty of El Yunque, hearing the melodic songs of the coquí that are almost indistinguishable from birds, seeing the shores of Puerto Mosquito glow brighter than neon lights while an ocean of stars shimmers above it every night in reciprocation. I feel my skin tingle as the tides tickle my feet, the first time I’ve ever touched water in years since the onset of my Epilepsy. I have no fear of drowning from a seizure as I swim through the currents, for I’m one with them; I become a mermaid, a child of Yemaya Herself, returning to my home.

I remember dreaming about the air’s stickiness, a mist that permeates it in the rainforests like a curtain, and waterfalls pouring through walls of moss-covered stone that towers above me in the shape of a cul-de-sac; foliage peppers its mountains and I imagine it’s an Impressionist painting. Then, I notice something moving in the trees, but it’s just a small gang of parrots with feathers evergreen like the canopy they’re perched within. My eyes never grow tired of seeing them.

I remember dreaming about visiting Cabo Rojo and Las Salinas with my cousins; giant dunes of salt are taller than any buildings dotted around them. There are lagoons there with rosy, crystalline water that reflects the clouds hovering above; the sky bleeds into its surface. I hear thousands of birds travel here, feasting upon shrimp in its mangrove swamps, and make it a point to observe them for myself. Fuck the gentrified tourist resorts; these natural wonders are the true marvels.

I remember dreaming about Loíza; there’s a building there painted in the likeness of the Puerto Rican flag, and countless others in barrios with murals on them. A sea of Black faces in myriad shades abounds here. Vejigantes in brilliant, dynamic costumes with intimidating trickster masks are present at a festival taking place. If my health ever improves and my Meniere’s diminishes, I’ve often thought about trying to become one. As an Afrolatin@, this place is especially important to me, because it, like many places in Puerto Rico, proclaims that our nation is just as Black as it is “Brown”.

I remember dreaming of Museo El Cemi in Jayuya, rife with histories and narratives preserved within a building carved like the idols of its namesake; Taíno hieroglyphs chiseled into la piedra escrita; portraits hewn in stone that remind me of the people whose presence is indelible in this space. It’s even named after a Cacique, like many of our nation’s places were: Hayuya. They, however, are not the only ones whose presence is felt in this municipality; a bombing occurred here. A revolution that could’ve been is woven into every street corner. Yet, there are some, it seems, who’ve forgotten it.

I remember dreaming of San Cristobal in Old San Juan, a fort centuries old that overlooks the sea. An old, ivory church is also found here, although I’d never visit beyond the sentimental. Instead, I find myself traveling past colonial walls and obscured pathways into La Perla while I sip juice from a coconut. This place has history as well; freedmen and other non-whites were once forced to live here, segregated from the rest of the city, and that legacy shows. It took a music video beloved internationally for people to actually care about it, and even then their interest is questionable. But that’s another story.

I remember my prima showing us an aerial photo of La Parguera in Lajas, covered in greenery that buried the town adjacent it. Then, I remember Maria, that wraith of a hurricane that stripped the region bare. All I saw were demolished trees amongst the soil and a town pummeled by it; nothing was spared.

I remember hearing that Aguadilla was “destruida”; wondering if my relatives in Caguas and other places were okay, many of which were flooded; homes without roofs being subjected to seemingly endless rain; ICUs failing in hospitals, many of which, like the rest of the island, lost power; nights without the Coquí­ to comfort us with their songs. The military and FEMA neglectingour people, despite claims otherwise; mothers without milk to feed their children; disaster Capitalism rearing its head.

Of course, there was also the legion of outraged articles written by people that claimed to care about Puerto Ricans, but did not care for our brethren in the rest of the Carib. They were amazed by diet-Underwood’s indifference, but we’d long known him to be despicable. They claimed to care about the Jones Act, but did not care about the people holding our infrastructure hostage. But these are their stories, not ours. This was not my dream.

My tía and tío have a home in Aguadilla. I’ve often dreamt about it since my childhood. In my dream it has finally been restored — we’ve even planted new banana trees — although it is forever changed. All of the island is. We reported, reimagined, and revived our community. We refused to allow our oppressors to tell our narratives for us. We survived, like we always do.

I walk beaches barefooted for the first time in many years, cherishing every grain of sand that sticks to them. They will not be privatized; they will always be free. I admire the sound of the coquí in the forests at night, the timeless music and voice of the Eggún heard in Ifa drumming sessions; the looks of approval my relatives give when eating my handmade pasteles and arroz con gandules — not to forget the recaíto I made just for them. I may or may not be enjoying my prima’s coquito.

The Union’s military will never have a presence here again, and any aid they offer will be at our discretion. A board of robber barons we did not elect will no longer close down our schools or slash healthcare and the minimum wage for the employed; the police will not operate like a mob in low-income, predominantly Black communities, more will accept those like me who are LGBT, and the politicians obsessed with assimilating to further their destructive Capitalist interests will no longer have a chokehold in the political conversation.

I remember dreaming that this place will not be a colony, a “Commonwealth”, nor a state. It will not even be Puerto Rico. It will be the nation it was meant to be, with a name its people once gave it. It will be the Land of the Noble and Valiant. It will be Borikén.

– Mwatuangi

The post This Is Not a Thinkpiece About Puerto Rico appeared first on Madness & Reality.

Shannon Sharpe and the Good Smoke

Shannon Sharpe has officially made himself into a national treasure by gesturing his true blackness through his love for good smoke and drank. Yes, my beautiful ebony citizens: Shannon is a fan of Black & Milds and Hennessy. We all know that Blacks are the smoke of college campuses and strip clubs. Plus, many don’t know how to act on that ‘yak. If anyone think that Shannon Sharpe was going to deny his blackness, then they are surely mistaken.

And there was no moment that made this situation more complete than the white confusion around him. Joy Taylor thought the cigar was “off brand”. Skip Bayless thought that he got it from Rite Aid. But we all know that Black & Milds are bought in the hood for the sake of freshness. Also, Black & Milds are hood royalty. With his street value cemented, Shannon Sharpe can probably go to anybody’s block and kick it.

Blackish Went Full Black with Slavery History Lesson

So, Blackish brought its season premiere on a Tuesday night. Instead of hitting on a gentle note, the show came hard. And when I say “hard”, I mean “demonstrate my blackness to the point of loss of comfort” hard. The show was all about celebrating Juneteenth. What I expected was hilarity (which occurred). What I didn’t expect was the amount of truth put into less than 30 minutes.

You see, this show’s demonstration of blackness was so entrenched that most of it stopped being funny. The School-House Rock redux for “I’m A Slave” done by The Roots was both informative and haunting. The entire cast being in a play about slavery was both a mixture of modern understanding and historical burden. All the dance routines and singing could not take away the seriousness of the subject. After a while, it stopped being polite and started getting too real.

Needless to say, I will be showing this episode in February.

Cam Newton and Sports Sexism

So, Cam Newton made a sexist statement the other day. The most hilarious part is that the statement was made to a racist sports reporter.

Oh, the irony is thicker than country corn bread.

Let me get this out of the way: Cam Newton was wrong. He shouldn’t have made reference to her gender. He should have just answered the damn question. Her being a woman is irrelevant to her job. She is just as qualified as any man to ask those type of questions. So, being surprised that a writer employed to cover your team (in particular) asked a certain question is silly as hell. Sarcasm or not.

The post The Week in Blackness: Smoke, Slavery, and Sexism appeared first on Madness & Reality.

Lonzo Ball had some interesting commentary on what was, and wasn’t hip hop. In his world, Nas is “outdated” and “nobody listens to” him anymore. In Lonzo’s world, Migos and Future reign supreme. The easily-judged-and-typically-successful music that Lonzo listens to isn’t Nas for sure. However, it has had its form of success. So, Lonzo Ball gave the opinion that was realistic as anyone his age would.

To be fair, the cameramen and directors referred to Nas as “real hip hop” that they wanted Lonzo to listen to.

As predicted through a magic 8-Ball of distinct circumstance, there has been a whirlwind of response. T.I. wasn’t thrilled by Lonzo Ball’s commentary and suggested he needed a “piss test”. Meanwhile, Nas’s manager noted that Nas doesn’t know who the “oatmeal faced” kid is. And how can we forget the roasting that Michael Rapaport gave him? All of this over some sideways commentary that should have been expected.

Then again, this brings up two issues I have: old people caring about youthful ignorance and that “real hip hop” purity crap.

Lonzo Ball is Young and Dumb

Lonzo Ball is a nineteen-year-old kid from Chino Hills, California. His ideas on hip hop are going to be lacking at best and incredibly goofy at worst. And you heard him express the worst: making it seem like Nas lost relevance. At this point, Nas is an elder statesman that has released more classic albums/tracks than Lonzo Ball has won games for the Lakers. His preferences in music are null and void unless you are in his age bracket of understanding. Therefore, what is the purpose of giving credit to those that don’t have a Mastercard of understanding?

Lonzo Ball and Hip Hop Purity

But that isn’t the biggest of the issues for me. Forget about Lonzo Ball’s commentary. Let us remember how it was all framed: the guys behind the camera wanted him to listen to some real hip hop.

And that right there begs the question: what the fuck is real hip hop?

Is Migos not real hip hop because they use rapid fire flows and flexes over autotune? Is Future not real hip hop because he has a chorus about Percocet and Molly? Is Lonzo Ball supposed to care about music that he has no connection to? Is he expected to listen to boom-bap and like it/love it? Is he lost because he enjoys 2Pac over The Notorious B.I.G.?

I’m asking all of this to help gain a bigger understanding. And the understanding is this: the only thing that matters is if the music is “good” or “bad”. All of that “real hip hop” and “fake hip hop” is for the birds. Rapping about topics that hold humanitarian values or no value at all is null and void to liking the music. And loving the music, whether the beats and lyrics are amazing or extremely necessary, is all that matters.

Lonzo Ball Is Not A Hip Hop Shot Caller

At the end of the day, Lonzo Ball doesn’t call any hip hop shots. So, let that man do and think whatever he wants. And no, I’m not telling anyone not to roast him. But, please be aware of the context of how things were presented AND who he is. Lonzo Ball likes what he likes and listens to what he listens to. His playlist isn’t going to matter if he can’t put up assists and points in the stats columns every night. Let Lonzo Ball do just that: ball.

Hopefully, he will gain more reverence for artists of the past. We still shouldn’t give a damn either way.

The post Lonzo Ball and Trash Ass Hip Hop Purity appeared first on Madness & Reality.

Is Colin Kaepernick Better That Jay Cutler?

You can argue that Kaepernick is a better quarterback than Cutler. And yes, you’re entitled to feel that way. However, I’ll argue that in this instance it’s not about who is better, but instead, who is the better fit. I believe that Jay Cutler is the better fit for the Dolphins.

To be completely honest, if you know me, me making a case for Cutler is tantamount to sacrilege. Yes, it’s almost as bad as slapping my mother in the mouth. After all, I’m a fan of the Green Bay Packers and Cutler played for the Chicago Bears. As a Packers fan, I spent years on the right side of the NFL’s oldest rivalry giving no love to Cutler, ever. So when Chicago ended their relationship with Cutler this year, I didn’t pour out any liquor on his behalf. Basically, as a Packer fan, Brett Favre is God, Aaron Rodgers is Jesus, and Jay Cutler is an evil white devil created by Dr. Yakub. Yes, it’s that serious for me.

However, when I heard that the Dolphins were in need of a quarterback, my first thought was Jay Cutler. After all, Cutler had his best season statistically in Chicago, with Miami’s current head-coach, Adam Gase, as his offensive coordinator in 2015.

Jay Cutler Being Signed By Miami Makes Sense

The owners of NFL teams are no different from men who frequent nightclubs to get pussy, dick, or both. Like those men, all they want to do is score – as in, get some booty. They want to win. They want to win right now. And, they invest a lot of money in the pursuit of winning.

I used to be one of those guys at the club back in the day. I went to the club in hopes of, well, winning. Because of it, I overlooked a lot of women. These were women who, in my mind,  would require a lot of work and my time. In other words, in my mind, though I would’ve definitely loved to have sex with them, that shit wasn’t gonna happen that night. Maybe in the future, but not that night.

This didn’t mean that I was only focused on the drunk chicks passed out under the table in the corner. No, I’m not a rapist. And no, I’m not into the “too easy” types – that’s a problem. But best believe, on a slow night as the “last call for alcohol” drew near, when the pressure was on, I’d focus on what I’d like to call “the old faithful.”

Jay Cutler is an “Old Faithful” Quarterback

These were the women who were the for sure shot. These were the women that I’ve had the privilege of… err… seeing them naked before. Focusing on them at that time didn’t mean that I thought less of them; or that, unlike other women, they were easy. No, never that. In fact, even with them, I would strike out from time to time. Still, my chances of winning increased given our previous engagements, conversations, and relationship.

So what does this have to do with the NFL? It means that right now, teams aren’t interested in pursuing Colin Kaepernick for the same reason. It doesn’t mean he isn’t a good player. For them, it could be that he isn’t good enough. Either that or the fact that he comes with too much baggage that makes him unattractive. You know what baggage I’m talking about here. But just in case you don’t, think of it this way. Like the younger me, while I was looking to smash, the last thing I ever wanted was a long-term relationship beyond just that night. It doesn’t mean that I was opposed to future sexual encounters, however. At that time, it meant that I wasn’t trying to play step-dad or “uncle” to a set of kids that weren’t my own, all in the pursuit of an orgasm.

Jay Cutler Was the Best Fit for the Dolphins

I wasn’t trying to wake up the next day taking the kids to McDonald’s. It wasn’t worth it to me. It sounds mean, but this was where I was at that time as many single men are, and have been. This is exactly where NFL owners are today, folks.

And that my friends, is the reason the Miami Dolphins chose Jay Cutler over Colin Kaepernick. Cutler was a better fit. For them, it wasn’t about Kaepernick’s baggage. They went with a QB who already knows how they get down as opposed to teaching someone new how to give head. They’re trying to win now, and they did what was best for them.

Having taken a cost-benefit analysis themselves, I believe, like the Dolphins, other teams have as well. It’s not that he’s being blackballed as many may believe. It’s just that he isn’t good enough, and his baggage far outweighs his benefit to teams. The team needs aside, that would be, teams trying to win right now. Think about it this way. If Kaepernick was that good, why then were the San Francisco 49ers willing to cut him?

Why Didn’t the 49ers Keep Colin Kaepernick Kaepernick

in an interview with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, 49ers GM John Lynch explained why they would have cut Kaepernick had he chose not to opt out of his contract.

“… we had that conversation with him [Kaepernick]. So I don’t want to characterize it as he made a decision to leave here. We both sat down and under that current construct of his deal, it was a big number,” Lynch said. “Kyle [Shanahan] had a vision for what he wanted to do, and one thing I think Kyle was very clear and I think Colin appreciated, is that Kyle has an idea of how he’d play with Colin Kaepernick. But he preferred to run the exact offense that he ran in Atlanta last year that was record-breaking in this league. And if you change it for the quarterback, you change it for everybody on that offense. So he had a great discussion that I think gave Colin clarity, so we moved on.”

So there you have it, Colin Kaepernick really isn’t all that. He’s a one-dimensional and seriously inaccurate quarterback. To be fair, Cutler’s accuracy problems are also a concern and has been well documented. Nonetheless, Cutler is a better fit with the Dolphins. Unlike Kaepernick, he’s already familiar with the offensive scheme, the plays, and the verbiage. Cutler being signed before Kaepernick isn’t good evidence of Kaepernick being blackballed.

The post I Can’t Believe I’m Defending Jay Cutler appeared first on Madness & Reality.

However, all good things must come to an end. Moving forward, I cannot see myself giving anymore of my time and earspace to The Breakfast Club.

The reason for my decision is simple: The Breakfast Club has become a radio show that promotes fuck shit. Either that or they have always promoted fuck shit. Whichever one comes first.

The Breakfast Club Being On Some Bullshit

In recent weeks, The Breakfast Club has had some of the most colorful interviews with questionable characters that said profoundly shaky things or did even worse.

Let me run down the line so it all makes sense:

• Umar Johnson has been on there a couple of times in recent history. The last time, he made some off-putting remarks about interracial marriage. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, his ideals on interracial marriage aren’t supported by any worthwhile evidence. And all that conjecture lead to him being on Roland Martin’s show to defend his “honor” and his “credentials”. An infinite waste of time over someone that exudes arrogance and allocated Gofundme funds.
• Wesley Muhammad was on the show trying to educate the masses on the weaponization of marijuana. You know: because marijuana is put out there to make sure that black men become feminized and black women become manly. Mind you, he didn’t bring up any relevant evidence. Also, Muhammad did very little to explain how any of this will affect white people and other races that smoke as much marijuana as black people do. Still, we all should trust Muhammad because he sounds good. I get it now.
• Rick Ross was on the show mentioning how he could never sign a female artist. His reasoning: because he would try and fuck her. You guessed it: all that money being spent would have him feeling like that pussy is his to have. Plus, the picture he took with Angela Yee was extremely creepy and mad suspect.
• The final straw: Lil Duval’s transphobic commentary. A day after having Janet Mock on the show, they bring in Lil Duval. And Lil Duval unleashes under the guise of not “being politically correct”. He stated these exact words: “This might sound messed up and I don’t care — but she’s dying. I don’t care. If one did that to me and didn’t tell me, I’d probably be so mad I’d kill them.” Meanwhile, DJ Envy, Charlemagne The God, and Yee entertained themselves with his nonsense.

Yeah, I’m done with that show.

The Breakfast Club Are Trash Peddlers

The Breakfast Club has a sanitation problem when it comes to what they put out on the airwaves. It didn’t cross anyone’s mind that certain things do not need to be said? In less than a week, there has been nothing but ideas of misogyny, transphobia, misogynoir, murder, and mayhem being promoted on the show. The hosts did very little; half the time, they entertained the trashiness. I thought this was a radio show and not waste pick up. But, I digress.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I can leave them alone. I am not going to support a show that doesn’t have the simple respect for the lives of women or people within the LBGTQ community. And I am damn sure not going to give time to people that allow the promotion of murderous ideas within realistic situations. Maybe they are trying to keep up with ratings. Or maybe they are just proficient at promoting rubbish.

I don’t listen to trash; I put it in the garbage where it belongs.

The post The Breakfast Club Is The Radio Show For Fuck Shit appeared first on Madness & Reality.

Hell, I said this was going to happen as soon as I saw it.

And this isn’t a bragging session. I have friends that can attest to me seeing the writing on the wall before the proverbial spray cans were bought. I was awaiting the fallout once people voiced their displeasure. I was waiting on the reactions from the Mike Vicks, Ray Lewises, and the Kordell Stewarts. Deep in the depths of my soul, I KNEW (not suspected) that Colin Kaepernick was going to be blackballed.

Why? Because William C. Rhoden taught me.

Want proof? Cool.

Colin Kaepernick and What William C. Rhoden Taught Me

Let us get into the meat of this discussion.

From my standpoint, 40 Million Dollar Slaves is a practical Bible on these type of sports entertainment issues. We all know about the problems that occurred with Tommy Smith and John Carlos after the 1968 Black Power salute. Remember Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf? The fallout of Craig Hodges’ career after his letter to the president? How Ali was practically shunned just to be seen as a hero through revisionist history? 40 Million Dollar Slaves gets into all of that.

Why so many athletes may stay quiet: page 244 notes that “When you’re making $200,000 every two weeks, it’s hard to get angry about much of anything.”

Why are there black athletes telling Kaep not to “be so loud”: page 194 states that “The ultimate effect of the Conveyor Belt is not so much to deliver young black athletes to the pros, but to deliver them with the correct mentality. They learn not to rock the boat, to get along, they learn by inference about the benevolent superiority of the white man and enter into tacit agreement to let the system operate without comment. By the time they reach the NBA, the NFL, or Major League Baseball, black athletes have put themselves on intellectual self check: You don’t even have to guard them, they’ll miss the shot.”

The problem with many African American athletes that permeates once things go wrong: page 83 has us understand that “…the Achilles heel of African American athletes to this day: the failure to anticipate, plan, and organize; the wholesale dependence on a racist white power structure for sustenance; and surprise and consternation when the money and support is withdrawn.”

The integration of college sports without the inclusion within the power structure: page 135 explains that “Integration into sports — as opposed to integration at the ballot box or public conveyances — was a winning proposition for the whites who controlled the sports-industrial complex. They could move to exploit black muscle and talent, thus sucking the life out of black institutions, while at the same time giving themselves credit for being humanitarians. Integration also exposed white fans to a manner of athleticism and style of play that many had not previously seen. It also introduced a type of showmanship that made the college game appealing to audiences for television’s expanding sports programming.”

I could go on and on.

Colin Kaepernick and Repeating History of Athletes That Revolt

At the end of the day, history repeats like the water cycle. And the best way to prepare is to have an umbrella or stay in. We knew this was coming. If we didn’t, we didn’t read enough about it. At least most of us kept a pancho.

Meanwhile, keep that umbrella over Kaep as his days of revolt evolve. Oh, and keep reading.

Buy the book here:

40 Million Dollar Slaves

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I agree with Ray when he said that Colin needs to speak up for himself. I mean, who can better sell Colin Kaepernick to NFL teams than Colin Kaepernick?

“The football field is our sanctuary,” Lewis said. “If you do nothing else, young man, get back on the football field and let your play speak for itself. And what you do off the field, don’t let too many people know, because they gonna judge you anyway, no matter what you do, no matter if it’s good or bad.”

Lewis is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Ravens, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he knows what it takes to make it in the NFL. Having had a run-in with the law himself and beating a murder charge, there’s also no doubt that Lewis understands damage control as it relates to the NFL brand. A devout Christian, Lewis said he prays for Kaepernick and has his name in his Bible. He also called Kaepernick a “brother for life.”

A devout Christian, Lewis said he prays for Kaepernick and has his name in his Bible. He also called Kaepernick a “brother for life.”

“If people really want to help you, if they really want to help you, man, they’ll pray for you, brother,” said Lewis. “They’ll lead you the right way and stop encouraging you to be caught up in some of this nonsense. The battles you fighting, brother, people way before us have been fighting these for many, many, many years,” he added.

All that religiosity aside, again, I agree with what Ray Lewis said. But that other shit he said? C’mon, bruh! NFL players get annual awards for their very public activism work.

So no, that’s rubbish.

Just Stick To On-Field Football Commentary, Ray Lewis

In fact, charitable work and social advocacy are encouraged because it bodes well for the NFL brand. It’s the reason the NFL does its best to “protect the shield,” as they say. Because, with NFL being the number one sport in America, it’s understandable why, to them, image and branding are everything. Which, when you think about the stand Kaepernick took last year as a personal demonstration against racial injustices vis-a-vis police violence, it makes sense why he’s having a hard time finding a job in the NFL.

Which is bullshit in itself when you consider that there are NFL players like Malcolm Jenkins and others who publicly do advocacy work related to racial justice. In fact, Jenkins was one of four current and former NFL players who met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss police brutality and criminal justice reform in 2016. Guess what? They still have spots on NFL teams, and they don’t appear to be “blackballed” like Kaepernick.

Okay, so they didn’t choose to sit or kneel during the national anthem before games like Kaepernick. I get it – what he did was a lot bolder. Yet and still, Kaepernick announced earlier this year that he has no intention to pursue similar protests in the future. While this is certainly a concern for teams, contrary to Ray Lewis’ advice, Kaepernick’s off-field activism should not matter. All that matters – or should matter – is his talent and skill.

While I believe that Ray Lewis genuinely meant well, to me, it’s apparent that he didn’t convey what e truly meant to say. The tragedy here is that he made this a public gesture. Which, to me, says that it was more about Ray Lewis than Colin Kaepernick. If it wasn’t, a simple private phone call to Kaepernick would have sufficed, yes? Especially if Lewis really wants to see Kaepernick signed by the Baltimore Ravens.

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]]> http://www.rippdemup.com/race-article/ray-lewis-kaepernick-activism-private/feed/ 0 http://www.rippdemup.com/entertainment/black-folks-ashamed-black-celebrities-disappoint/ http://www.rippdemup.com/entertainment/black-folks-ashamed-black-celebrities-disappoint/#respond Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:02:12 +0000 http://www.rippdemup.com/?p=34379   Over at a forum named Lipstick Alley, there’s a thread that asks if there are any black celebrities that hasn’t let you down yet. I guess ‘letting down’ refers within the range of declaring that all lives matter to run-ins with the law. In one week, celebrity news has been on fire with three […]

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Over at a forum named Lipstick Alley, there’s a thread that asks if there are any black celebrities that hasn’t let you down yet. I guess ‘letting down’ refers within the range of declaring that all lives matter to run-ins with the law.

In one week, celebrity news has been on fire with three jaw-dropping stories concerning black male celebrities. Black Twitter was lit with hilarious tweets and memes, but are some of those behind those tweets secretly embarrassed by a triple-decker sandwich of fuckery?

Anyway, by now you’ve heard of them. Legendary R&B crooner and womanizing child molester R. Kelly was accused of holding a “sex cult” for adult women supposedly against their will. Usher was revealed to be involved in a lawsuit for giving his ex-lover herpes, and now faces another one from another woman for the same reason. (Please God, please don’t let there be more!) And famed comedian was reported to have been cheated on his pregnant wife.

It’s not been a good week for black men in this country thanks to three famous black men with obvious sex issues. No doubt there are black folks who are sighing over this and are praying that it doesn’t get any worse as they are still reeling over the Bill Cosby saga that’s cooled down for now. But soon, another scandal involving a famous black person, likely male, will surface catching the attention of numerous tabloid and gossip outlets.

When it comes to famous black folks, some of us hold them up as high as the stars. We expect them not to mess up, because we know we’re collectively judged if they do. People believe in the racist stereotype of the sex-crazed black brute whose lust for vaginas supersedes restraint and morals.

Bill Cosby’s a drug-inducing rapist. R. Kelly’s goes after young girls with passion. Usher gave an STD to a the women he slept with while cheating on his wife with another woman claiming she’s exposed even though she never said she actually had an STD and is gearing for a huge lawsuit. Finally, Kevin Hart can’t seem to be faithful to save his 5-foot life. With the scandals surrounding them, black men – as usual – have to work extra hard to break a strong stereotype made stronger by these recent stories.

Black people are in a paradox in a matrix of racism. We are held to impossible standards while being viewed as “less than human”. We can’t screw up. If we do, it “proves” our race is inferior. The same conviction is not as swift, applicable or damning for white folks.

Prior to this week, another comedian is caught in a legal battle involving STD’s, only it’s Jim Carrey. Like Usher, Carrey is accused of giving his ex-girlfriend STD’s. And it gets worse. The troubled comedian is also accused of giving her prescription drugs while she was depressed which led to her suicide. To date, he faces two wrongful death lawsuits.

Then we have Charlie Sheen, a famous actor who’s revealed himself to be HIV positive. He’s now being sued by his ex-girlfriend for exposing her to the virus. This is the second lawsuit he’s facing of this nature.

Yes, both Carrey’s and Sheen’s cases are tepid topics. But are they seen as shady as Usher? Are their stories even given as much attention? In a way, they are, but as much as black folks tune in to get the latest on their idols, I doubt they paid attention.

The three aforementioned black male celebrities are definitely catching heat for these stories from the black community, but are the two white celebrities being slammed and ridiculed by white audiences, and are their reputations in jeopardy?

When a role model makes mistakes or falls hard, it has a powerful effect on some of their fans and supporters in how they view their work. It’s no different among black people.

It’s now impossible not to feel disgusted listening to R. Kelly’s songs on the radio or out at a party. Those days of enjoying and rocking to such hits as “Bump N’ Grind, Down Low, Ignition” and “Step In the Name of Love” are long gone, because we know they are sung by a perverted child molester.

Even though The Cosby Show is back on the air, it’s not as fun anymore, because we now know that Dr. Cliff Huxtable was played by an accused serial rapist.

But with Jim Carrey and Charlie Sheen, it’s not as painful to process for obvious reasons. Their white male privilege makes it seem that their problems are not as serious or damaging to their careers or to the white gaze of supreme white innocence. I admit that I was disappointed by these allegations along with knowing that a Power Ranger murdered someone and Hulk Hogan using the n-word.

However, with minorities, it’s a slightly different story. We see black celebrities and roles models as evidence that one can make it in a racist world. We see them as the hammers breaking racist stereotypes, and we apply intense pressure on them not to screw up. If they do, they’ll have to work extra hard to put their reputations back together and regain the love and respect of their fans. If they want to, that is.

We also hope that they’re aware of what black people are going through and do something about it. We don’t want them to forget where they came from much less that they’re still black in America no matter how rich and famous they are. Sadly, some have, and they’re no longer on the invite list for our barbecues.

So yeah, it was a shitty week for black male celebrities due to their own actions, but it always reflects on the image of the overall nature of the black male. It shouldn’t, but this is how racism works. But their shame shouldn’t be blanketed across the group. Like several members of the forum stated, we shouldn’t expect much of them in the first place other than what they can do. They’re not gods, angels, saviors or saints. They’re mortals. Talented yet flawed mortals. Some more seriously flawed than others.

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]]> http://www.rippdemup.com/entertainment/black-folks-ashamed-black-celebrities-disappoint/feed/ 0 http://www.rippdemup.com/culture-article/going-3-prominent-detroit-natives-reflect-1967-riot/ Sun, 23 Jul 2017 23:16:00 +0000 http://www.rippdemup.com/?p=34238 Enlarge this image Former Detroit police chief Ike McKinnon (L), Motown musician David Coffey (center), and former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer (R). Denise Guerra/NPR hide caption toggle caption Denise Guerra/NPR Detroit has faced a tumultuous past, but the most painful week in Detroit’s modern history arguably happened exactly 50 years ago. On July 23, 1967, […]

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Former Detroit police chief Ike McKinnon (L), Motown musician David Coffey (center), and former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer (R). Denise Guerra/NPR hide caption

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Denise Guerra/NPR

Detroit has faced a tumultuous past, but the most painful week in Detroit’s modern history arguably happened exactly 50 years ago. On July 23, 1967, after decades of discrimination, poverty, and mistreatment by police, many black citizens of Detroit erupted in violence. Some call that five-day period of burning and looting the “riots;” others call it the “uprising” or the “rebellion.”

Detroiters have had 50 years to contemplate the reasons for the civil unrest, and at our Going There event at WDET in Detroit, NPR’s Michel Martin spoke with three guests who remember where they were when the five-day rebellion started. They spoke with Michel about how that week of unrest changed their relationship with the city of Detroit, what impact the rebellion had on the city, and what the future holds.

Dennis Archer is former mayor of Detroit and a former Michigan Supreme Court judge. Ike McKinnon was one of the first African-Americans on the Detroit police force, and ultimately became police chief. Dennis Coffey is a former session guitarist for the Motown record label, and was in studio recording an album when someone came running to tell him the city was burning.

Interview Highlights

On how the cops were told to deal with the civil unrest

McKinnon: Go out and lock people up. We were woefully unprepared to handle what occurred. We had received no training. And we could not have handled the situation because at that time we had close to 1,600,000 people [in Detroit]. And if you have 5,500 police officers — and all of us were not on duty at one time — and if we try and stop a rebellion as such, or people looting, it was impossible to do so. So we were undermanned to handle this.

On the roving police squads that terrorized the city

Coffey: Back in the mid-50s, they had two patrolmen in the front and two detectives in the back, and the detectives in the back had shotguns. And so they rolled down the window and said, “What are you guys doing?” Well, we’re walking home from school. And they said, “Do you know there’s an ordinance? You can’t have more than two people in a group.” And we said, “Yes sir.” Because the reputation — when they said do something, you did it.

McKinnon: I’d seen this before of other young men, but never to me. And at this point they grabbed, threw me up against the car, and proceeded to beat me. And I was, “But sir, but sir!” I’m asking — and the more I ask, the more they beat. And the look of anger — extreme anger — on these officers’ face, with the name-calling and beating. And they were good at what they did, I should tell you. They beat me between my neck and my belt. And toward the end of it — I’ll never forget this — they said, “Get your black ass out of here.” And I ran home. And I never told my parents. …[T]he reason being if you told your parents, they would go to the precinct and they would get locked up or beaten also.

On the cause of the rebellion

Archer: You’ve heard the explanation already, in terms of what people of color and whites as well were subjected to. But let’s talk about economics. The federal government would not allow blacks to have mortgages. You couldn’t live in certain neighborhoods. And when you consider that you couldn’t go into certain restaurants, and certain hotels and businesses if you happened to be black. … When people are able to live and they’re comfortable, and they’re able to do what they pretty much want to do… you take that away, and you strip people of hope or dignity and the like? You set up an environment that can be explosive.

On how white cops brutalized black cops

McKinnon: After about an 18-hour shift, I came off at the Chicago Boulevard and made a left turn, and as I passed the overpass to the freeway, these two white police officers pulled me over. And I was in uniform — had my shield on — people think it’s a badge but it’s a shield. I had my “2” for the precinct I was at. And you could clearly see I was a police officer. I was stopped by these two white police officers — one was an older guy with gray hair – but he got out of the car with his partner. And they said to me, “Get out of the car.”

I said, “Police officer! Police officer!” And I smiled, the way I am right now. And as I stepped out of the car, the officer with the short stub-nosed silver gun, he said, “Tonight you’re gonna die.” And he didn’t stop there; he said the N-word. And I looked at him, and I couldn’t believe this was happening. And as I looked at him, it was as if time froze. And when time freezes — and when there are exceptional circumstances — your senses are heightened. And I could see his finger pulling the trigger. And as I dove back into my car he started shooting at me.

Archer: If we could invite in the 100 or so police officers who were African-American who were working in their precincts, you would hear a lot of similar stories, in terms of how guns were pulled on them in the precincts, and how they were fussed at, cussed at, and white officers saying, “I’m not going to ride with that blankity-blank.”

… And then I would just ask us to speed forward for a moment, and then you wonder why there’s a group called “Black Lives Matter.” And why those issues are very relevant today, as they were back then. And then when you start thinking about what we’re hearing in terms of the divisiveness that’s being openly talked about today, it hurts our country, it hurts our cities, it hurts people and it hurts all of us.

NPR’s Stacey Samuel edited this story for Radio. NPR’s Ashley Young produced this for radio. NPR’s Maquita Peters produced this story for the Web.

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