Holly Pierce lives in house pictured above in Buffalo, NY with her five children. "GET OUT N*****" was spray painted on the side of her house this past week. But this isn't about Pierce. She's white.
This is about her five mixed-race children. Five. Children.
So they're not threatening Pierce to leave, I'm sure the problem isn't her. They're threatening her five children, oldest being 10 years old.
But sad part is, because no one knows who did it, these children could be going to school with the very children who are probably related to the person who took a can of spray paint and sprayed this racial slur.
The theme os belongingness is easy to pick out in this situation. Why do those children not belong there? Who says who stays and who has to leave?
If someone told me to move because I'm not white, I'd point and laugh in their face.
However, these are five children, who are supposed to be free to experience childhood without this mess. Unfortunately, someone or some people in this community doesn't care to allow that freedom.
It has been reported that many members of the Buffalo community is upset about this. I would be too... I mean, not everyone in Buffalo is racist. If I were judged at one person's stupid actions because we lived in the same community, I'd be pissed.
Hopefully, they is enough of an outrage that the person/people responsible will be found.
Throughout May 26th and 27th, Toronto will be celebrating the last 200 years of various individuals that helped shape Toronto's architecture. From Fort York of 1812 to the Regent Part Arts and Culture Centre 2012, it will be 200 years of history, community, art, culture and people that shaped the great city of Toronto.
Buildings and locations to visit are as per date, in the following links:
Want a free makeover? Want to walk the cat walk (without falling) and shop for your favourite brands? From May 4th-6th, The Metro Convention Centre will be hosting this fab event for all you fashionistas and trendsetters. There will be live entertainment and celebrity appearances. Experience the glitz and glam lifestyle for yourself. Enjoy performances by Danny Fernandes and Karl Wolf, along with catwalk training sessions.
Tickets start at $18 (general) with children under 7 free.
Jason "Bad Newz" Taylor is the youngest of five siblings, and from a Jamaican and Grenadian background. "Bad Newz" was a childhood nickname derived from Taylor's skills in basketball that "just stuck" over the years. The 29 year old North York resident was soft spoken and polite when we met back in March. We were able to meet with an interview for the blog after I saw him perform as a part of the cypher, opening for Gza of Wu Tang at the Opera House in Toronto. A memorable and one of those you-had-to-be-there times of the year.
Taylor, myself, and all of the other attendees at the concert had this sort of collective effervescence, if you will. Durkheim will tell you, this can't be experienced in its exact form by those who were absent.
During our convo about the specific details of the concert, Taylor filled me in on his past dabblings with music and what he wants to pursue in the future.
Currently, Taylor is a part of band of MCs in Toronto called the Winner's Circle. He had nothing but good things to say about the current members of the group, citing that fellow artists, L The Twelfth Letter, has a promising future. Taylor spoke highly of all the members saying, "We're definitely something. We're going to do something major".
In the future, Taylor would like to venture off to work with artists like Melanie Durant, Lights and Nelly Furtado. I found it impressive that he refuses to confine himself into a little tiny box of strictly hip hop, or strictly ... whatever. The question of authenticity always lies in hip hop with how hip hop you are, and how much you are not. This all seems to be based on minor details that stray away from music. Taylor recognizes this and simply states, "I like what I like".
The topic of credibility and "going commercial" was an interesting one. My past interview with Aion Clarke divided the terms "successful" and "famous" into two different career paths. Taylor chooses to be successful over famous and definitely respected. He says, "I want people to see me. You can be famous for the wrong reasons... [clears throat] Kim Kardashian. It's not my dream to become the next Jay-Z and be a zillionaire".
Contrary to what a lot of underground artists may believe, Taylor claims that going commercial isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it would be if you were modifying your goals to suit "the money". In other words, the dedication to music is definitely redefined to suit each individual, yet the goals should remain the same-- to pursue music, for the music, not for the money.
Taylor's first CD was Queen Latifah's Black Rain, and he remembers ripping the plastic wrapper and saving his lunch money to buy it. Growing up with music constantly played at home, who is surprised that Taylor has an extensive collection of music?
So what is this rapper/cd collector/ambivalent thinker up to next? He talked about a possibility of the first EP with the Winner's Circle, and his first solo project called Dirty English.
Taylor says, there are a lot of rappers in Toronto. Dirty English is "just my entry to the pie".
The case of Hunger Games, excluding Lenny Kravitz ("Cinna")
"Hunger Games" was released March 23rd, 2012 and hit a big 152.5 million dollars at the box office.
Unfortunately, there has been an uproar on the racist tweets about the characters "Rue" and "Cinna" being black.
It is important to address this issue with the thoughts of racism, but also more specifically on the concept of belongingness, and what it means to assign individuals by race to belonging or not belonging in a certain place and time.
Think he should've started off this tweet with "KKK" instead? Fits the tweet doesn't it?
Most of the twitter users that were "mentioned" on Twitter by other users outraged by the racists tweets have deleted their accounts.
Rue
We are all aware of the anonymity of the internet and how this serves as a shield for people to act under prejudice, racism, sexism and so on. This is a prime example of "tweeting" behind this shield, but also an indicator of how much racism still exists. The blog post communicates the surprise that racism is prevalent in our current and younger generation, however, I don't believe this is news. We assume that the generations of our parents and grandparents are MORE racist and less understanding of difference than the current or younger generation.
As invisible as it may seem, it is certainly prevalent. This is an example.
First off, the 'What Goes Around' Video, that was different. Most of your videos are comedy and skits and this one wasn't, why is that?
MP: Basically, I thought of a series, just thinking and brainstorming. I wanted to do something serious, knew it had to do with love and romance. So I was thinking how I can start it off, and leave people confused. Read the comments on YouTube, people got confused...”
Yeah, I read the comments. People were like, “I don't get it” and “What's going to happen next?”
MP: It was perfect, they wanted more, and begged me to make episode two. I have 5 episodes, it will be a total episodes of 5. It was exactly what you were going for.
What about “Sh*t Toronto People Say”, was that following the trend that was going on on YouTube?
MP: Yeah, definitely. I noticed there was not Toronto one.
But when I planned to release it, some people in Toronto seemed to [have] planned to do it that same week.
Then Drake retweeted it and it blew up from there....
Yeah, he tweeted about it...Said something...
MP: He said something like, “I'm dying doggie LOL”... From there it was Sh*t Jamaican People Say.
There was another one out that someone did, but it was bad, So I had to represent. So I called Slynky. People wanted part 2 really bad, and I agreed. Sh*t Jamaican People Say Part 2... I did it because it [Part 1] didn't even cover all the material. And there are still more to do...
Ok, what about Jamaican Death Bed and who is the girl in that video? She was so funny...!
MP: I literally was watching this show and someone was in the deathbed. The family were saying their goodbyes. I was high [laughs] and I developed an idea for it. Someone else came up with the idea of the will though, at first I was just gonna roast them before I die.
The girl is my friend Savannah, I've known her for a long time.
I think she was perfect for the role [laughs]
MP: Yeah, she's going to be in more videos.
I saw some older videos too, and “Look Your Worst Challenge”? Where did that come from?
MP: That was literally how we start making videos. After that one, people were like “Hey, you guys should do more” and all that. There are these two girls that do a make-up tutorial on YouTube and people love it--- Angie's Choice?--- and we did our own video, used our friends' make up. We didn't know what mascara was and the video, it was all natural and improvised because we didn't know how to put on make up or anything about it.
I can hear some girl's voices in the video, was that your friends it looked like they was handing you make up.
MP: Yeah, it was their make up [laughs]
Moving on from that one, there is the “Wray and Nephew Challenge”? That was so nasty [laughs] how was that? Everyone has to take a shot without making a face?
MP: Yeah, we got tons of responses off of YouTube with that, people were going in.
Isn't it like 60% or something...
MP: Yeah [laughs]
Any success stories?
MP: Yeah, some people were able to do it. It's not too too bad, nothing like the Cinnamon Challenge.
What's the Cinnamon Challenge?
MP: You've never heard of the Cinnamon Challenge?!
No... [laughs]
MP: You have to take a spoonful of cinnamon and try to eat it, it's impossible, it soaks up any-- like put cinnamon in water, it will kill it... So when you eat [a spoonful of] cinnamon all you see it POOF! People coughing it out.
Oh cuz you're inhaling and it's all...
MP: Yeah, it's crazy.
Marlon pulled up some videos on YouTube on the Cinnamon Challege and the Wray and Nephew Challenge and told me about the ones he thought were good, right in the middle of the interview, so that I get an idea of what he's talking about. A stand up guy.
Geraldo Rivera provides an alternative explanation for racial profiling and discrimination, and some parenting advice. Hoodies.
I own a few hoodies, but I guess if I go with Rivera's comments, I'm not subject to being shot because I'm not black? Rivera states, "I am urging the parents of black and latino youngsters particularly not to let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as much as George Zimmerman was..."
ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW...?
First of all, Rivera says the hoodie is just as responsible as Zimmerman because the hoodie is associated with violence, criminal and gang related activities and so on.
Let's be real. Were black people tortured, lynched, burned, killed and enslaved because they wore hoodies?
I swear it was because of hegemony, power-based violence, racism, discrimination, prejudice... need I go on?
I understand partially of what Rivera is saying. I mean, many people may look at a black or latino man with a hoodie and get feelings of suspicion. But IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE HOODIE.
Geraldo is not only classifying the hoodie as the reason for violence, but he also shows WHO wears the hoodie that is dangerous. Let's face it, if I was wearing one, I wouldn't be subject to Zimmerman targeting me. It is about who is wearing it--- a black or latino male.
Doesn't this sound a lot like subjecting someone to hate crimes and tortures because they wear a burqa or a turbin because in ignorant people's minds, they're apparently associated with 9/11?
Doesn't this sound a lot like the Toronto Police Officer who held a presentation at York University claiming that if women didn't want to get raped, they should stop dressing like sluts?
Why is it that people dressing a certain way subjects them to violence and discrimination and why should people stop dressing the way they want because people like Zimmerman are narrow-minded and ignorant?
Why should we change the way we dress, speak, walk, and LIVE to the likeness of people like Zimmerman?
Is Rivera saying that if Martin was wearing a dress shirt that he wouldn't have been shot? What if he was wearing a dress shirt and holding a knife versus a hoodie and holding a pack of Skittles?
Hoodies aren't representative of criminals, hoodies are representative of the ignorant minds that believe all hoodie-wearing black and latino teens are criminals. Ignorant minds including Geraldo Rivera.
Blaming the hoodie takes blame away from people like Zimmerman... the trigger-happy, power tripping, cop wannabe.
It is also an issue of who belongs where. Perhaps Zimmerman believed Martin didn't belong in his community. In addition, it is that Zimmerman felt the threat of black masculinity, and classified black men as a danger to his own.
Geraldo Rivera claimed that after he made those comments, his own son told him he was ashamed of him and his comments. If the media outrage wasn't a clue, perhaps your own son being ashamed of you is.
Geraldo is saying "don't let your children wear hoodies", instead of saying, "don't be racist".
There is a big difference.
WE DONT NEED TO CHANGE OUR CLOTHES WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK
The Canadian Government apologized for residential schools.
The stereotypes still exists.
Colonialism hasn't been eliminated, it still exists through new forms:
The foolish actions of a teacher in Wisconsin toward an Aboriginal student early March 2012, proves that it still exists...
_________
Miranda Washinawatok, 12-- Wisconsin
Miranda Washinawatok, a 7th grader, at Sacred Heart High School, was banned from playing in her high school basketball game after her teacher overheard her teaching fellow students how to say "please", "hello" and "thank you" in her Menominee language.
Julie Gurta, Washinawatok's teacher, reacted angrily and punished the student. The same story in history of residential schools--- denying Aboriginal people the right to speak their own language, have faith in their own belief, to live their own lives.
Gurta, of Polish decent, believed that the student was saying "bad words". The question isn't what bad words was the student teaching her peers, but why did Gurta assume it was bad?
Aboriginal heritage has been seen (historically) as uncivilized, "bad", and in direct opposition or threat to Christianity and whiteness.
Gurta reacting in this manner is based on assimilation ideologies, and makes visible the ideas of who belongs and who doesn't. The same ideologies that was the basis for Whites that forced Aboriginal children from their homes and families and into residential schools. Their heritage was forced denounced, language forgotten and anyone deviating from this was physically and psychologically punished.
Although the school board seems apologetic, Julie Gurta has yet to accept any blame.
Ohio: Club Promoters decide to take the trending topic to the clubs
Discrimination and privilege isn't manifested between races, but within races as well. Think of your own race, and think of the hierarchies within your race based on skin tone, citizenship, "authenticity"...
You don't have to be black to relate to what I am saying in this post. Competition exists WITHIN races, WITHIN genders, WITHIN any social marker. But blackness is used as an example due to the recent events mentioned.....
If you're on Twitter, you've heard of the hashtag/trending topic #TeamLightSkinned and #TeamDarkSkinned. Although Twitter is known for its humourous trending topics, there is a far more cultural, political and historical context to the skin tones of the black community that makes it offensive. It is worse when this is taken beyond Twitter, and into the real lives of real black people.
Behind the anonymity of Twitter and other social networking sites, people will tweet anything, without the fear of getting caught, without personal responsibility and without the concern that their tweets reflect on their own self-worth.
Aside from the controversy from the event pictured above in Ohio, there was another one last month:
Black women labelled light or dark skinned were put into competition. How is this judged exactly? ... Are black women who are light seen as more attractive so they may win the competition? How black women who are dark skinned seen as more "authentic" so that is their chance?
How do you even bring yourself to rate black women based on their skin tones. Do black women not have more value than this?--- Where is the respect?
How you define your identity is not just through how you view yourself. It is a reflection of others, practices, institutions etc. If you are black and you took part in this trending topic on Twitter, how do you identify your blackness?
During the slavery days, "mullattos" were given more privileges for having a skin one "closer" to Whites. Perhaps slavery is over... but isn't it clear that racial privilege a race still exists?
Have you ever been asked, "WHAT ARE YOU?" as a conversation starter on your identity?
Jay Smooth ( real name John Randolph) is the founder of New York's hip hop program Underground Railroad. He addresses the conflicts of his identity of a "mixed race" and how this, in turn, impacted his life. He shares his story about what it is like to grow up with this type of identity--- yet I think we can all somewhat identify with "WHAT ARE YOU?" type of questions, even if we aren't of a mixed race.
