I didn’t watch the CNN “Black in America” special, so I really don’t have much to say about it. After seeing the brother in the stovepipe hat shouting spoken word, I couldn’t really get much further, although can appreciate a brother getting exposure for his artistic hustle. I’ve heard that Pt. 2 , which focused on black men concentrated on the usual ills – deadbeat dads, incarceration, etc. etc. But since in my life I know a variety of black men, imperfect for sure, who belie most of the stereotypes, I didn’t need CNN to tell me any different.
That said, I’d like to give props to two very different brothers this week:
1. Nas is one. His latest CD Untitled with its provocative cover of him with whip marks on his back says as much as anyone needs to know about black men in America. But actually listening to the album was a pleasure. Absolutely the most brilliant CD in hip-hop in the last five, if not ten years, Nas puts stellar beats to some of his most articulate, intelligent lyrics ever.
His song “Sly Fox,” a brilliant critique of Fox News, was the catalyst for Nas personally delivering boxes containing over 620,000 signatures calling for an end to Fox’s racist programming to Fox’ New York headquarters. (The network refused to accept the petition.) Strike one for a return to rap’s social consciousness. Nas’ album ends, appropriately, with “Black President,” his ode to Barack Obama, with it’s triumphant “They said…!” chorus featuring the voice of the O Man himself.
2. Obama’s also had a busy week. On a “world” tour that encompassed Israel, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Germany, Britain and France, the O Man had plenty of highlights (how about, in front of cameras, dropping a sweet 20-foot shot into the basket in Kuwait) but he put his foot in it with his speech yesterday in Germany. To a crowd estimated at 200,000, Obama said, basically, we need to come together as a global society and recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Now I can get with that. McCain’s folks, though, took umbrage, probably because they realize a brother was looking real Presidential on the trip. You think McCain could pull 200,000 to hear him talk anywhere? Look, the race ain’t over yet. But on this trip, Obama stood firmly on the world stage where he rightfully belongs. Now CNN might not know how brothers really get down, but here’s at least two celebrated ones we can be proud of this week.
-Hellifiknow