EAST COAST CRITICS ARE BIASED: A THOROUGH TAKE ON HIP-HOP, POLITICS, AND POPULAR CULTURE
Saturday, June 09, 2007
It's Time To Take Affirmative Action Son; So Long As You're Not An African-American....
Okay, read this article. If you have time, check out this one too. Then, refresh your memory:
It's no secret that African-Americans have a hard enough time getting along amongst ourselves, but, as I just pointed out, when you throw Black people from other places into the mix, the shit can really hit the fan. Hell, I probably contributed to Black native/immigrant tensions well over a year ago with this one. The tensions aren't that hard to break down though: look, the general African-American consensus is that Black immigrants are ashamed to be grouped with African-Americans (by White people of course), as if they believe themselves to be better than us -- especially the Caribbeans who are quick to throw their flag up in your face to let you know that they're not like your Black ass.
For those that fuck with The Sopranos, a great cite to this behavior is the episode two weeks ago when that African rode his bike into A.J.'s friend's car door. Whenever A.J.'s friend called the African a nigger, instead of just slapping the shit out of that Rocky lover, the African hastily approaches the Italian to let him know that, "I am not a nigger! I am of Somalian descent! I am very educated! Bla, bla, bla!" At which point the Italian and his Italian friends proceeded to kick that "nigger's" ass....That shit is so crazy -- crazy that the African didn't care about the blatant disrespect of being called a nigger, but cared more about the fact that a White boy would dare group his extra-Black ass with that of an African-American; whom he impliedly must believe aren't as educated as his extra-Black ass -- so educated that he decided it was an intelligent idea to ride his bike solo through an Italian neighborhood at night....
My personal belief is that immigrant Blacks think they are better than us because as a whole, at least financially, they are doing better than us. My hypothesis consists of two reasons (by all means, please call me on it if I am wrong):
(1) We all know that most of the countries that Black immigrants come from are shit holes (once you leave the beach anyway). As much as African-Americans like to point out how bad the White man has done us, if he's done us "bad," then there is no word for what he's done to these Black immigrants' native countries. Seeing as how White people aren't trying to live in those countries (they just need to exploit them for every resource before moving on), they'll give money to a small percentage of the Black population in that particular country to keep the poorer Blacks from doing anything drastic. The heirs of that "keep them quiet" money then make their way over here to America -- not only wealthier than most African-Americans, but also, wealthier than most White Americans. They attend private high schools in the Northeast (I have my sources to confirm), and then, they get into all of the top-notch institutions of higher education. Then, ironically, as much as these Black immigrants hate it, the top-notch institutions will represent their extra-Black asses as African-Americans on their "diversity brochures;" and tout in U.S. News and Report how the astounding 19% minority population on their campus is higher than the 17% minority population on another....
(2) The other type of Black immigrant is the one that I have a little more respect for. This is the Black immigrant who lacks the "sadity" standards that we as African-Americans have come to expect due to the atrocious conditions that said immigrant became accustomed to in his/her original shit hole country. This immigrant is able to live under anything with a roof, with any number of his fellow immigrants, with no fear of American rodents or pests due to the size of the insects and beasts that ran rampant in his home country, and work at any job because the minimum wage in this country is a 353% increase of what he was making back home.
Due to what African-Americans would view as a sacrifice by this immigrant, the immigrant's children will have a better chance at success than most of these lazy ass African-American's kids (who were never instilled with that Black immigrant work ethic), even though said immigrant's life will never amount to shit. Some sources of mine at Howard told me that there were always minor to moderate tensions on campus between African-American kids and either Black immigrants themselves, or, the children of Black immigrants. I figured it had to bother the African-Americans at Howard because let's face it, 97% of them are beyond boojie as it is anyway; there is nothing more irritating to a Jack-and-Jill-esque African-American than the sight of someone else that is doing better than them; especially a "new money" child of this second type of Black immigrant. But, that's neither here nor there....
So with everything that is going on between African-Americans and Black immigrants (and African-Americans and scores of other immigrant minorities) let me go ahead and dedicate this post to (1) all suburban African-American slackers (i.e. all the "I think I'm from the hood chicks/niggas" when in actuality I'm from The Valley, Farmington Hills, Long Island, or the North Side of Chicago); (2) to all of the African-Americans who think that standardized tests don't accurately reflect potential capabilities (okay, yes, I fully acknowledge that standardized tests are "culturally biased" as Furious let us all know, but, if you're trying to thrive in this culturally biased society, you can't use that shit as an excuse -- ever); and (3) to all of the African-Americans out there who for some reason mistakenly believe that affirmative action is still intended for your Black ass....
With California's Proposition 209 in full effect for the last eleven years, Michigan's Proposition 2 being passed not too long ago, Texas' ban on affirmative action, and the hoopla surrounding Gratz v. Bollinger, it's not surprising to say that White people are beyond sick of "preferences" in terms of race -- but not other preferences that benefit themselves such as the traditional "good ol' boy" system; or letting the dumbest of the dumb play sports in collegiate athletic programs to bring in money for the entire university and/or alumni office pools (money that the athletes are forbidden to receive -- just ask Chris Webber); and White people's favorite preference of all -- the legacy preference. It's crazy too, because Michigan and Cali (especially Cali) are consistently "blue states" that trump their liberalism in the face of "red states," but hide their liberalism once inside the ballot box. Shit, White people hate the word "affirmative action" as much as African-Americans hate the sight of the Confederate Flag....
It must be noted though -- all of these bans on affirmative action have to do with eliminating state-sanctioned affirmative action programs relating to admissions into state schools, the awarding of state contracts, and obtaining state employment. Most African-Americans are optimistic to see that a majority of private employers still have diversity committees that actively seek minorities on a daily basis. Sigh, it sucks that I always see everything before all other African-Americans catch wind to shit (excluding my faithful readers of course)....
Let's look at it from a law perspective, shall we? In this country, only 1 in 25 lawyers are a minority (so it's obviously much less of a percentage if we just focus on African-American lawyers). In my first-year law school section this past year, sad as it is to say, in New York City at that, I was the ONLY African-American in the class (the other minorities included three Asians, one Indian, and a Dominican -- out of close to 40 students). Nevertheless, as much as African-Americans want to believe that they can score around a 153 on the LSAT and get into Yale due to this disparity (see Clarence Thomas above), those days are LONG gone. Who wants that anyway? Seeing as how law school is graded on the curve, if you scored a 153 on the LSAT and the rest of your class scored a 170, I'll suffice to say that you will be intentionally omitting your GPA from your resume....
Hell, I hear suburban African-Americans talk all the time, "Awww man, if you want to get in to that high-ranked school, all you have to do is get such-and-such score, and because you're Black, you'll be fine!!!" Once again, that logic is ceasing to exist more and more with each academic year. As relates to med school, yes, there was a time that stellar med schools had to admit African-Americans with less-than-stellar MCAT scores because face it, you needed African-American doctors to tend to African-American communities. Well, you don't need that anymore!!! Not with all of the Black immigrants with much higher MCAT scores (due to once again (1) their parents had a lot of "keep them quiet" money to send them to private schools, or (2) they have a better work ethic instilled from their parents who come from shit hole countries). As far as med schools are concerned, those Black immigrants can tend to the African-American community regardless of the cultural differences because as far as they're concerned, black skin is black skin....
Delving further, tell me, when's the last time your doctor's last name didn't begin with Patel or Kim? With all of the Indians, East Asians, and Black immigrants in med school, these schools are (1) more than easily meeting diversity standards to keep the NAACP off their asses, and (2) not having to negatively affect the median GPA of their entering classes -- as was the case when you had an African-American with a mediocre MCAT score of 14 that knew he could apply to NYU and have a pretty damn good chance of getting in -- so long as his undergraduate grades were decent (or maybe even not); because he knew that med schools had to hit their diversity requirements....
Now honestly, I'm indifferent to the term "diversity," but, most of my African-American colleagues praise its name, even though in actuality, "diversity" is not what they want. For some reason, even in this global economy that we live in right now, many African-Americans my age believe the word diversity to be a code word for "African-American" -- in the same way that the code word "urban" is used. For people of my parents' generation, yes, "diversity" meant "African-American" because back then, it was a Black and White world (Black being African-American -- not Black immigrant). These days, "diversity" actually means "diversity...."
This past year for example I attended a bunch of diversity receptions for various law firms and public interest organizations in New York (because they always had great food and parting gifts such as cool umbrellas or money clips). When I would arrive, there would be about 10 African-Americans, 20 "other" Blacks, and a majority Indian, East Asian, etc. out of well over 100 participants. Contrary to the one African-American that heads up every law firm's diversity committee, I tell future African-American lawyers right now, these law firms don't need your Black ass anymore unless you are truly on your shit! I'm talking 165 LSAT, 3.5 GPA or better in law school, and law school experience such as moot court or journals. Admittedly, I can't speak for law firms in all cities, because all cities aren't New York, but I'm telling you, the days of the less-than-qualified African-American working on the least challenging cases for a Fortune 500 firm are over. Why?
Because unless you're the more-than-qualified African-American, the law firm doesn't need you -- especially in this global economy. First of all, if the firm is just dying to hire a Black, they can bring in one of the Black immigrants that I've referenced throughout this post. Not only will the Black immigrant be more qualified, he will be able to help the firm in the event that the firm has to facilitate a merger of one white corporation with another -- a corportation that just happens to be exploiting a resource out of said immigrant's native shit hole of a country....
In this global economy, partners in major law firms throughout the country are ridding their firms of the antiquated "good ol' boy" system in favor of diversity. These partners know that if they want to make money with China's global emergence, or India's global emergence, or to take advantage of any other country's global emergence, they're going to need minorities from those particular countries working in their firms. In a sense, these firms are taking affirmative action back to it's original goal -- which was to make sure that more-than-qualified minorities (i.e. African-Americans) were able to procure positions in the face of a "good ol' boy" system that systematically kept them out. These firms are now able to kill two birds with one stone because (1) having a nationally diverse staff (note that I didn't say racially diverse staff) helps make money in this global economy; and (2) the nationally diverse staff still allows the firm to meet EEOC requirements for companies that employ over 100 people (without having to hire less-than-qualified African-Americans!!!). Even though I am speaking in terms of law, I'm sure that you can apply the points that I'm making to whatever professional path you are currently taking, or planning to take in the future....
In wrapping up, I hope it is clear to everyone, especially the African-Americans of my generation and of generations to come, that the "entitlement" we have seemed to develop with affirmative action is a thing of the past. If you're out and about and you hear one African-American say to another, "Yeah, so since you're Black, if you're trying to get into Columbia, all you'll need is such-and-such score even though they normally require much higher," be sure to slap that asshole for me. Even though Black immigrants hate to be grouped with African-Americans, African-Americans better start taking them into account when thinking about their higher educational or professional paths. Just realize that as a native African-American, you are no different than a White American when it comes to business dealings on a global level. All White Americans know is America, and all African-Americans know is America. Black immigrants, like other immigrants, can provide perspectives about other places on Earth that White Americans and African-Americans wouldn't know shit about. On top of that, due to the two types of Black immigrants, they are predisposed to doing better than your average African-American anyway....
So with that African-Americans, it's time for us to go back to the days of our grandparents', when the phrase was, "You can't just be as good as the White man, you have to be ten times better than the White man just to stay a little bit ahead...." All the bullshitting and slacking by the suburban "I think I'm hood chicks/niggas" must stop now; assuming that y'all fools are trying to do something with your lives other than rapping or promoting parties for rappers. At this point, you idiots are more expendable than ever because aside from the fact that you are now competing with Black immigrants, whom the companies and schools can easily portray as African-Americans, you are competing with minorities from all over the world! Get the fuck over yourselves, your hollow optimism in the light of Gratz v. Bollinger, and the fact that affirmative action helped your parents, and boss the fuck up. Peace....
Excellent!!! Well said my good man. I have always believed in the "we must be 10 times better, we're working behind enemy lines, spook by the door, etc." strategies of success.
Black people (american, slave descendants) cannot be too comfortable in believing that the American dream is our right just cause we have Oprah and Ken Chinault repping at country clubs and in Marin County.
Due to the policies passing in the most recent years, it's obvious that our "clout" has greatly diminished. Latinos have the same aspirations, seem to be willing to work it out, spend their money on the Madison Avenue offerings (notice the commercials?) and are growing leaps and bounds due to immigration(legal and illegal), multiple country streams (can you say Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador down for the Hispanic box?) and regular ole' fashioned procreation.
It's just us. No one else is making any more "Black" people except us. If we aren't willing to teach our kids that we have not reached the promised land, we may be counted out before we know it.
The race for economic parity, political worth, wealth access, etc. is on and poppin'. As black folks, will we be contenders? or are we doing the Marlon Brando? "I coulda been a contenda!!"
Well wishes to you in the NYC! Be sure to keep yo' cutie pie kulcha'd up at all the "free" events NYC has to offer. Jazz at Riverside (best fish sandwiches and Roy Hargrove!!), Lincoln Center presents, street fairs, ...
I haft to agree with you, I mean you can tell from their facial gestures and their body language and what not. As for Caribbean people, Africans’ attitude toward us is not that bad, once they hear us talk, but there's still a little anti-social behavior. My brother once told me that an African guy told him the reason is that West Indians are closer to them in culture than African Americans.
They don’t want to have nothing to do with us. They don’t want no parts of Black Americans.
They always stick to themselves. They have their own businesses and everything here in Atlanta, and they are always by themselves. They're never with us.
You know what I had an African guy to tell me one time? I am not really an African! Can you believe that? He said I was born in America, and my blood’s not pure. So I'm not really an African!
Born and raised in Brazzaville, Congo, I really took offense to your bigtoed comments.
Let me ask you and Phil something;
What's African about black Americans? Were they born here? No. Have they lived here? No. Do they know the first thing about the modern African cultures we live in? I don't think so. In fact, calling yourself "African" is about as deep and culturally sensitive as saying you're a Rasta because you bought a bong at a hemp shop.
A small gathering of "African Americans" Being black doesn't make you African. And for any black American who chooses to claim brotherhood or sisterhood from afar I have one name: Racist. I'm African. The sun might give me cancer, but I was born here and I don't mind dying here one day if they can't cut the moles off before they fester. That makes me the real thing.
No less African than me, but probably not as proud, are those who're here because they have no choice - because no other country wants more digruntled poor white people, and because the Rand-Dollar exchange rate is so shitty they'll never escape, not even for a package holiday, even though they really want to. The trash who feel it just hasn't been the same place since the "blacks taking over". Sure, they're morons. But at least they're our fucking morons. They're here to stay, just like me.
However vastly I proudly differ from my fellow Africans, we share something very important. We're the real natives, and we're here to stay.
Real Africans: often red rather than black. But what if you're a black American and you still really want the right to call yourself African? Then allow us to call your bluff. Step 1. Take your USA passport, throw it away, and apply for SA citizenship. Step 2. Move here with all your money and stay. We'll welcome you and your accent. Unlike many Americans, I don't spend my life trying to keep people away out of my country so that monkeys like George Bush can bomb them in theirs.
Perhaps I'm being a touch uptight here, but why should Americans run the world, AND have the right to borrow my birthright as a fashion statement whenever it takes their fancy?
I don't see African-Americans borrowing 'your' birthright as a fashion statement.
We are who we are based on our ancestors only. We all live to make claims on what we feel is inherently ours to claim, thereby attempting to alienate anyone who does not possess the same background.
All: When we focus so much on these differences we end up bringing so much more upon ourselves. Sure there may be Africans who feel that American-born blacks are lazy. Sure there are plenty of American-born blacks who feel that Africans would have nothing to do with them [and so, bump em].
We have plenty to learn from one another in order to realize that no one group is superior than another. The thread's focus was to highlight the need to avoid complacency when it comes to work and academics because of being black.
As far as Africans feeling that they are better than African-Americans, I wouldn't believe that this is the case as a whole. While I would agree that an African would take pride in his success and accomplishments (just like any African-American), I think that tensions escalate in the dealings between the two "types"--and I use that word very very loosely--in isolated situations.
Why we take these isolated 'hatin' events and spread it across the board is beyond me. Native Africans as well as African-Americans must realize that the disorder that we experience must be turned around over time. The bullshyt fed into our brains through television and media outlets really hurt us and some of we are fool enough to allow it to continue.
This is a beautifully written post. Those are the only words that I can come up with, and even those pale in comparison to what I have just read.
Unfortunately, the watered down approach to what many black people see as an 'in' to corporate Amerikka include some jaded misconceptions about how and why affimative action came to be. The reason why there are so many who (rightfully) dissent from this position, is because in fact, that it is REAL that there are authentic standards that need to be met, both personally and professionally, or you will land flat on your ass, regardless to what color you are. . .
The initial purpose of affirmative action, as you know, were to adjust some gross disparities when it came to hiring and granting of jobs (contractually). This is not defined by dumbing yourself down, or using the race card to get what you want, or even worse, protesting what you didn't get.
There is a heirarchy (sp) everywhere you go. And it's not just education that is going to take us over the edge. It's getting out of the 'me and mines' mentality, and establishing character, and community, working your ass off, and seeing everything come to fruition. That's what takes people over the edge.
To summate how you closed up (which, oddly enough, sounds like a thinly disguised closing argument), we have to be taller, stronger, and better. It's a cold hard truth, but the truth, nonetheless.
Thanks for your inspiring, brillant post. Always a pleasure to read.
I found your post interesting, but with a lot of loop holes. You claim that foreign blacks don't want anything to with Black Americans, but you don't go into detail about how american blacks can be prejudice among themselves. When I was high school, a lot of the black american kids thought they were to good to hang out with the African kids. I have also seen black americans give better treatment to Carribeans, Black Latinos, and North East African Women over typical black Africas, even though the groups they are nicer to don't think of them as shit. If you are an attractive black foreigner, you are considered exotic, but if you're not, you have an accent,or have nothing to offer, then you're treated with disdain. I 've learned to accept this growing up.I was born in the states, but I consider myself African because my parents are. I have never thought because of it, but I've come across a lot of people who thought they were better than me. Still, you know what? I don't really give a care because I have Jesus, I'm in college, I going to be a lawyer someday, and I come from money. Yes, I come from money. My parents don't, but when they came here they went to college and worked hard so that I could say that. But most of all we need to come together and get over all this mess. I try my best to forgive anyone who has ever said anything ignorant about me and I don't discriminate against anyone. People should start doing the same.
Name: Phil E-Mail: Philh826@aol.com Location: New York, New York About Me: My roots in Detroit, MI, I possess a dual degree in Criminal Justice/Sociology from Georgia State University in Atlanta, and will be adding a law degree to those credentials this upcoming May in an attempt to help our young brothers and sisters who continue to get caught up in the bullshit of our criminal justice system. I just so happen to detest 99% of all New York Hip-Hop critics; you know, the ones who start shit by generalizing YOUR particular cultural situation knowing good and damn well that most of these fools haven't set foot in all five boroughs, let alone your locality. Nevertheless, through their ethnocentrism, they somehow corral the arrogance to tell you why their lives, regional culture, and musical tastes are superior to yours. Shiiiit. Born in L.A., I've lived in Detroit, ATL, NYC, (a temporary stint) in DC, and have managed to step foot on four continents. There is no way in hell that I could take one more "intellectual" NYC Hip-Hop critic trying to stunt on me with their baseless "sophisticated and cosmopolitan" views. In recognition of my irritations, I bestowed upon the world this blog. Peace...
Great to see you back!!
Excellent!!! Well said my good man. I have always believed in the "we must be 10 times better, we're working behind enemy lines, spook by the door, etc." strategies of success.
Black people (american, slave descendants) cannot be too comfortable in believing that the American dream is our right just cause we have Oprah and Ken Chinault repping at country clubs and in Marin County.
Due to the policies passing in the most recent years, it's obvious that our "clout" has greatly diminished. Latinos have the same aspirations, seem to be willing to work it out, spend their money on the Madison Avenue offerings (notice the commercials?) and are growing leaps and bounds due to immigration(legal and illegal), multiple country streams (can you say Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador down for the Hispanic box?) and regular ole' fashioned procreation.
It's just us. No one else is making any more "Black" people except us. If we aren't willing to teach our kids that we have not reached the promised land, we may be counted out before we know it.
The race for economic parity, political worth, wealth access, etc. is on and poppin'. As black folks, will we be contenders? or are we doing the Marlon Brando? "I coulda been a contenda!!"
Well wishes to you in the NYC! Be sure to keep yo' cutie pie kulcha'd up at all the "free" events NYC has to offer. Jazz at Riverside (best fish sandwiches and Roy Hargrove!!), Lincoln Center presents, street fairs, ...
Oooh I miss the city! Take care!