Eff Tha Police!! part TWO!! - T.G.F.V.

Now C'mon...we've been seeing this for 1.5 decades on videotape. Someone getting brutalized by the police unjustly. It's a known fact that criminals hold court in the streets. But all too often the police who are here to protect and serve, ARE the criminals. Who polices the police?

It's still disheartening to me that police brutality runs rampant in many police departments throughout the country (or the world for that matter). What's even more disheartening is the fact that it happens (more than likely) on a DAILY BASIS, but receives very little recognition (if any) unless it's caught on video tape. Who would've thought that a $300 video camera owned by a stranger would save someone FIFTEEN YEARS of their LIFE for allgedly assaulting a police officer??

Let's ponder that for a moment...

FIFTEEN YEARS = 5475 days = 131,400 hours = 7,884,000 minutes. That's a LONG time to have your freedom and livelihood taken away for something you didn't even do. Hell, ONE minute is too long to be incarcerated unjustly. Any type of relationship you have with people on the 'outside' world will dramatically change resulting in lost connection, out of touch-ness (I don't care if that's not a word), and general strain on the relationship that causes an obvious distance. If dude has a young child, he essentially misses out on the most fundamental years of that's child's life. If he's married or have a significant other, the relationship is (9.9 times out of 10...maybe greater) dissolved. She moves on with her life with 15 years on the table. And not saying that this happens to all inmates, but the chances that he engages in homosexual sex is much greater given the years he's facing. His life is essentially ruined if/when he gets out. Felony on your record = hard to find a decent job (if any). No way of earning a fruitful living to support oneself and getting their life together easily leads to illegal activities. OR, If he finds a woman who looks out for him and cleans him up (proverbially speaking), more than likely, this will be the beginning of a tumultuous relationship that doesn't end well for either party. Not to mention, being somewhat out of the loop of what goes on in the "free world" for FIFTEEN YEARS will fuck with someone's mental quite a bit.

Given the situation at hand, dude in the above video could have easily been a victim to this type of circumstance. Luckily for him, someone caught the whole thing on tape which proved that he wasn't the aggressor.

I will say this...

This is by no means an isolated incident. It happens ALL the time, yet no one seems to give a fuck until they actually see it for themselves. Are we that blind? Are citizens SO afraid of exercising their right to police the police????

By the way, over the past day or so, the judge has handed down the sentencing to some former Atlanta Police Dept. officers who fatally shot 92-year-old Katherine Jonhston in a botched 2006 raid. The former officers did plead guilty for the tragedy after they had planted drugs in the home of Ms. Johnston in an attempt to cover up their fatal mistake.

When you think about the Sean Bell's, the Amaduo Diallo's, the Malice Green's and countless others, N.W.A's "Fuck The Police" proves to be a VERY relevant song even 20 years later.

Thank God For Video.

What's The Fuss About??

Just a day after President Barack Obama signed a stimulus bill that will hopefully jumpstart the US economy, the cartoon above appears in the New York Post. The cartoon can be looked at in a number of ways. Here's some excerpts from a story about it in the Huffington Post:

"A cartoon likening the author of the stimulus bill, perhaps President Barack Obama, with a rabid chimpanzee graced the pages of the New York Post on Wednesday. The drawing, from famed cartoonist Sean Delonas, is rife with violent imagery and racial undertones. In it, two befuddled-looking police officers holding guns look over the dead and bleeding chimpanzee that attacked a woman in Stamford, Connecticut."

"At its most benign, the cartoon suggests that the stimulus bill was so bad, monkeys may as well have written it. Others believe it compares the president to a rabid chimp. Either way, the incorporation of violence and (on a darker level) race into politics is bound to be controversial. Perhaps that's what Delonas wanted."

Of course it didn't take long at all for Rev. Al Sharpton to add his two pennies into the discussion:

"The cartoon in today's New York Post is troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys. One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual reference to this when in the cartoon they have police saying after shooting a chimpanzee that "Now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill."

"Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African American president) and has become synonymous with him it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?"

I really paid no attention to the story or the cartoon and continued on with my Wednesday.

*rapping "La-Di-Da-Di" in my head to pass time*

Then, I stumbled across a couple of blogs that I frequent to find that people were up in arms about the cartoon. Commentors were demanding the head of the illustrator and his editor, expressing how it's a shame how people can STILL be so racist, and how they were totally SHOCKED about the cartoon. Well...well...well, needless to say, I was BEYOND SHOCKED my damn self. The cartoon and it being published in a mainstream newspaper didn't shock me AT ALL. I was SHOCKED at people still reacting this way when something like this comes out!!

Really??

First, if you're really offended by cops shooting a monkey (and you're not a member of PETA) and you think it's racist, well monkey, you might as well call yourself a monkey then. (Not to be confused with "Monk" cause I'm no monkey...hahaaa) if you're not a monkey and don't subscribe to the notion of calling Black people monkeys then that means the cops just shot a monkey...not a Black person. Simple. You may even argue that the artist (and he IS an artist with freedom to express himself as he feels) is using satire and drawing from "monkey" and its historical text to describe Black people. I may have to check, but I thought satire was supposed to be funny. And I KNOW funny. This cartoon is the anti-funny. It's obvious why he created such a work (but I'll get to that later).

Secondly, why are these grown ass muafuggas still so damn sensitive?? (I probably just offended some by calling them that...fuck 'em!) Imma need Black people in America to grow some fuggin' skin. Get...that...dirt (read: chip) off ya' shoulders please. What ever happened to "sticks and stones" and shyt? All y'all gonna do is get mad, fuss, yell, and shout...and not do a damn thing (action-wise) about it. That's all niggas do anyway is TALK. Even if you DO take action, what type of effect will it have. Someone will get fired or suspended, take a 3-6 month vacation, get another job paying MORE than the previous, and continue doing the same thing. They win. You lose. We should already know how that game goes. Imus anyone??

Thirdly, it's clear that this is all about creating the type of attention and controversy that you should come to expect with a new president. Especially with B.O. being a Black One. (Get it? B.O. = Barack Obama = "Black One"...I cracks myself up...lol!!) Perfect timing on their part. They knew how niggas would react and you fed right into it...just like some...well, niggas. Oh yeah, guess what. Newspaper sells are down, but guess who's 'bout to sell a whole bunch today?? You're right genius...the New York Post. Checkmate. Mission Accomplished.

I'm done. I'll let Chris take it from here...


Your thoughts?

I wonder how many children feel like this...

A Kid Whose Parents Just Got Divorced Writes A Book
Pretty Funny from a kid's perspective...LOL!!

Random Thoughts And Such...

What's Up My Good People!!

I haven't done a random thoughts posting in a looonnnng time and I feel it's quite overdue. It's something I used to do my myspace blog more often so I'll guess I'll just do it on this joint here. Also be sure to check out PresidentialTelevisionandFilm.ning.com for other blogs, videos, and info that's sure to keep you edutained.

Alright, let's get into it:

***THOUGHT NUMBER ONE:

FUCK THESE RUMORS!! Of course the past few days have been full of media attention, rumors, and blogs about Chris Brown and Rhianna. It's funny how everyone and there mama has something to say about this when No One besides them know the full story. I've read sites where these supposed omnipotent know-it-alls talking 'bout how CB needs his ass whooped and RiRi deserved it for giving him the herps. Media outlets have reported shyt, just to later retract their stories. Everyone's speculating and passing judgements when they don't know shyt. What part of the game is that? I guess people will be people.

Anyhow, what's kinda getting to me is people's reaction in general. I mean damn...the way some are talking about it you would think World War III had just started or the pope pimp slapped Mother Teresa or something. I'm by no means making light of what's a very serious situation (and issue that has haunted human relationships for eons), I'm just saying enough with the spreading of unvalidated information.

***THOUGHT NUMBER TWO:

I wonder do other species abuse their mates in such a way humans do. Anyone knows?

***THOUGHT NUMBER THREE:

For those who know me, you already know where you can find me every Thursday or Friday - the Barber Shop. That's right, it's a MUST that I get a funky fresh cut every week without fail. My lifespace just isn't right without it and that's just how I get down.

On the other hand, some people look like they've recently become allergic to barber clippers. I'm not one to knock the next for having their own style (regardless of how peculiar and fucked up it is), but DAMN. Do these cats have friends or just a bunch of 'yes' men? Friends don't let friends do THAT shyt.

On a sidenote, at what point in an artist's career do they just become so egotistical where they say "Fugg It...I don't need a stylist. I can do this shyt myself!!" They're absolutely right. They CAN do it themselves, but doing it RIGHT is a whole 'nother thing.

Which brings me to...

***THOUGHT NUMBER FOUR:

Why do so many artists feel like they can do EV-ER-Y-THING? I feel like there's definitely truth in the saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none." If you're hot or hot and people are going to naturally gravitate towards you, but there are some things that you KNOW that you shouldn't be doing.

At least respect folks that actually do the shyt and get pointers from them first or get a fuggin' mentor. Just because you rapdoesnt mean that you should direct your own video. Just because you sing and can perform onstage does not translate to you being a good thespian.

Some people are triple threats and whatnot, but most aren't...so cut that shyt out.

***THOUGHT NUMBER FIVE:

I read a story today talking about how KFC has gone through drastic measures to keep their "secret" recipe unknown to the public for several decades now. They just found a new home that will house I guess the original paper that the eleven herbs and spices were written on.

Have anyone had KFC lately?

I'm not Chef BoyArdee or anything but I can tell you what's in their chicken. Grease, Grease, and mo' Grease...that is all. It's not tasty. It's quite uninspiring. And I don't even fuck with their "sides"...lol!! Now Pop-eyes, that's my shyt!!

***THOUGHT NUMBER SIX:

I was on one of my favorite sites, VSB, earlier, and the Champ basically gave three good things that someone can do if they don't have no one to spend Valentine's Day with. Very Funny Shyt!! My suggestion was this:

"Monk { 02.11.09 at 9:31 am }
“I got an idea, that I wanna share / You don’t like it, so what, I don’t care”

*Cool points to whoever can guess what HipHop classic these lyrics came from*

Here’s my idea:

In the words of Junior Mafia, “F*ck bytchez, Get Money…F*ck n*ggaz, Get Money!!”

That’s right!! While everyone else is out spending money that they really don’t have, you can be making it. If you’re a poet, put your pen to the pad, and write some romantic lovey-dovey words and sell them shyts. Be as creative as you wanna be. Make floral arrangements and sell them shyts. Make your own goodie bag of treats with various chocolates and candies, tie it to a bottle of wine and sell them shyts. Everything’s over-priced any way, so create a price point that’ll help you beat out the competition but still make a good profit. If you’re not doing anything during the day on Friday, fill up the tank and be that “special delivery” guy/gal and charge people to deliver gifts to their loved ones while at work. Put an ad on craigslist if you want to advertise.

Whether you’re lonely or not at the end of the night, you’ll feel a lot better in the company of presidents."

I'm by no way suggesting that money is a replacement for love, but I am suggesting that large companies aren't the only ones who should cash in on this. Cease the moment and shyt.

***THOUGHT NUMBER SEVEN:

Damn. Barack been in office almost a month already and he haven't painted the White House BLACK yet?? What's he waitin' on for cryin' out loud?? I thought he was about "change"??????

That's all for now...catch you next episode.

Throwback Video: "You Must Learn" by BDP

In honor of Black History Month, I just wanted to post this video from one of the greatest emcees of all time, KRS-ONE and his BDP crew. It's hard to believe that this song came out TWENTY YEARS AGO. 1989...WOW!! Actually, after listening to Kris' verses in this song, it inspired me to look up some of the historical figures he mentioned and I learned a lot. I vividly remembering finding out that Madame C.J. Walker did not only just invent the straightening comb, but she was the first female (black or white) who became a millionaire through her own business. I thank KRS (and HipHop) for that.
Anyway, enjoy and spread the knowledge and shyt.

Oh yeah, I have a pleasantly delightful post that will provide a little more insight to the GREATNESS of Madame C.J.Walker later in the week. Stay Tuned.