Uptown Notes - Latest Comments

Re: Interrupt Street Harassment

dumilewis — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:51:13 -0000

"approve"

Re: Interrupt Street Harassment

Invincible Joy — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:22:48 -0000

I'm so glad you update your blog with your Ebony posts. It makes it so easy to stay up on your brilliant writing!

Re: Interrupt Street Harassment

Sydnie Mosley — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:55:28 -0000

Thanks so much for your commentary! I look forward to talking to you more about this at Barnard College on April 2 at The Window Sex Project (www.windowsexproject.com)

Re: “I’m for gay rights but…”

Mel Hopkins — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:26:40 -0000

Abolishing slavery may have been the impetus for acknowledging CIVIL RIGHTS in the US but it goes beyond the once enslaved africans and extends to ALL US citizens. For example, when a person isn't able to marry because (fill in the blank) it is ruled unconstitutional. The reason why is as follows: you cannot be excluded from doing something that every other US citizen can do because you are (fill in the blank). If you are denied you are denied your civil rights - this has nothing to do with being black - Dr. King simply marched on existing laws because a group of people were being denied their Civil Rights. This particular group just happened to be Black. Here is the definition of Civil Rights to eliminate any confusion in the future:
From Merriam-Webster
Civil Rights: First known use -1658 - : the nonpolitical rights of a citizen; especially: the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to United States citizens by the 13th and 14th (and 15th) amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress

Re: My Beef with Drake … and Common

Blackmenshealth — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:40:55 -0000

I have to agree with perspective, I don't buy this "beef" and actually starting to think these sorts of "clashes" are good for Hip Hop.

Re: If Walls Could Talk

Venezia — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:31:39 -0000

Also going up on BlackBoard! Thanks, L'Heureux!

Re: BHC: MLK on White folks and the Pace of Progress

Xicano2nd2 — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:36:22 -0000

"I wonder at [persons] who dare to feel that they have some paternalistic right to set the timetable for another [person's] liberation."

And therein lies the problem of white-privilege that cannot be ignored less the solution not be attempted, consciously!

Re: Reflections on Ujamaa: Cooperative Economics

JAMESEVANS — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:45:44 -0000

BET is owned by VIACOM and their board. But, B4 that & still, EMPLOYS MANY AAs in great positions just as I am sure Ebony does. I'll take a complementary lifetime subscrition 2 Ebony Mag since capitalism isnt important. Direct message me for address. THANKS! I'll take your job also while you go home ane be with your family. Coop economics is Jewish people owning majority real estate in Brooklyn; owning HOLLYWOOD, & MAJORITY OF ADVRTISING & MASS MEDIA! Italian people, Jewish people, Irish people have all be HEAVILY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THIS COUNTRY! Seems only African Americans and Latinos, for how intelligent we claim we are, CAN NOT SEEM TO BREAK THE DISCRIMINATION AND TURN IT INTO RESPECT AND ECONOMIC COHESIVE CAPITALIST PROSPERITY.

Re: Ujamaa does not mean Black Capitalism

J. Nayer Hardin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:59:21 -0000

I agree until you got to the Jay-Z comment. All these celebrities with all this money and the minority community is so far behind in computerization it is a shame before God. They give money to government approved 501(c)3 and 4's while the real work goes unfunded. The way to fix the Black economy is to fix the world's economy. Beginning at home, restore the Constitution and Bill of Rights to law. 'Unlock the door, we can get it ourselves.'

Re: An Overdue Thank You to Charles Huntley Nelson

Arturo Lindsay — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:10:14 -0000

It was really nice reading this overdue Thank You fro Charles. He was indeed a gift to the artist community in Atlanta and is sorely missed. I do have a question. Who is the author of this essay?
Arturo Lindsay arturo.lindsay@gmail.com

Re: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire

Invincible Joy — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:02:50 -0000

great read!

Re: Yes Virginia, there is Black Male Privilege

dumilewis — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:24:41 -0000

Well most the examples are drawn from personal narrative and general theorizing in the talk. So among the personal narratives they do squarely fall under heterosexual male privilege. However the larger sociological points about gaze and concern around Black me incorporates same gender loving and other identities. There is more work being done on Black queer male privilege such as conversations opened by the "Sweet Tea Collective." There is much more to be done and considered!

Re: Yes Virginia, there is Black Male Privilege

damitajo1 — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:04:21 -0000

do you mean black heterosexual male privilege? your examples suggest that.

Re: Troy’s Ending Should Be Our Beginning

OneLittleBird — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:55:32 -0000

Thank you for sharing this.

Re: Troy’s Ending Should Be Our Beginning

kizzmm — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:00:51 -0000

Thank you for sharing resources & your friend's struggle. Beautiful

Re: Why Lupe isn’t a Fiasco

May Alhassen — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:53:27 -0000

I think there is a severe difference between being a "critic" or a professional commentator and having a comment or a critique tied to an overall theory grounded to a practical project. I see Fiasco standing for certain principles or rooted in a belief system. But I don't see what his political project is. He might have one that my pop cultural un-savvy mind just might be aware of.

Re: Why Lupe isn’t a Fiasco

Diasporan — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:48:04 -0000

Ah! The ol' rapper turned political critic thing. Imagine what would happen if he could actually articulate what he means to say, we've all thought it - why is NATO in Libya, why is America in Iraq, why wasn't NATO in Egypt... you know?

The problem is, in order for him to allow his voice to be heard on something other than the violent lyrics suburban white kids have come to love, he chooses O'Rile-Me. Turns out, he didn't think enough about what he had to say.

Re: Why Lupe isn’t a Fiasco

Steve — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:20:41 -0000

I'm glad that someone finally pointed out that Lupe has political views that extend beyond Kanye-esque one-liners, but I'm not convinced that anyone should care, at least regarding the CBS/O' Reilly matter.

The difference here is that Malcolm X knew that history was a powerful weapon; one to be used in criticisms against an unjust state. Lupe has failed to arm himself with history when facing these reporters and pundits, and for that he should be ashamed. If he won't expound on his views in front of a bully like O' Reilly, why should we assume he has any?

He doesn't understand the difference between "not dumbing it down" and being deliberately obtuse. That's not smart, it's condescending and arrogant, and I don't want to believe that he's either of those things.

Re: Why Lupe isn’t a Fiasco

zackboston — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:06:27 -0000

Yes, Lupe Fiasco can form an intelligent critique that may echo MLK, Jr. and Malcolm X but there is a difference. As Lupe found, he doesn't have solid ground to stand
on in speaking that strong critique because he hasn't YET walked a walk to earn that kind of talk!

I admire his verve and see great potential in him, but Lupe's just too young to really know and experience those words, too in love with IDEA of being an intellectual resistance revolutionary. It just shows that he needs to grow into being what Grace Lee Boggs calls a "solutionary" as well as an intellectual revolutionary.

Re: Why Lupe isn’t a Fiasco

convo_girl — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:48:51 -0000

I don't agree with Lupe Fiasco calling the president a terrorist, but I have more respect for him speaking up for what he believes is right. Just because the president is Black doesn't mean we should leave our beliefs at the door or castigate those who do not agree with the Obama administration's policies.

Re: Let’s Talk about Sex(ual Violence).

Me Myself — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:48:03 -0000

"are we even talking to boys and men about sexual violence?" -- excellent blog post and super excellent question. We talk to pre-teen and teenage girls about 'avoiding strangers', not walking alone at night, etc. -- but most parents of boys don't say a thing to their sons about how they should behave and/or treat young women. Instead, they get mixed msgs and overt misogynistic commentary from corporate media (endless slasher flicks and belligerent song lyrics). What else would they assume based on the media except that it's "okay" to treat females this way? I hope your post inspires some heavy parenting.

Re: (Mis)Reading Malcolm

Xavier Burgin — Sun, 29 May 2011 13:44:35 -0000

I definitely agree with you on this. Malcolm X is greatly misconstrued by people in general and I'm not one to say I understand him the best.

www.quethelights.com

Re: Black Birthers and the Problem of Bad Information

Dead Republican — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:42:20 -0000

2 wars he promised to end but never did. Starting a THIRD war we can't afford (African country no less). Extension of Bush's unconstitutional Patriot Act. The unlawful imprisonment of Bradley Manning. The bombing of innocent brown people (and maybe a "terrorist" here and there) in Pakistan by predator drones. TSA man-handling of American civilians.

What is there that DOESN'T make him an extension of George Bush??? This guy has broken most of the campaign promises that people voted him in for and yet THIS TIME he's being honest.

I don't trust a word this man says and yes I'm black...

Re: The New Tangle of Negro Pathology?!?

Phlebotomy Certification Test — Sat, 07 May 2011 08:36:15 -0000

I also have not read the book 'Black Males Left Behind'. Thanks for sharing this article.

Re: An Overdue Thank You to Charles Huntley Nelson

William Cordova — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:50:13 -0000

pa' siempre con nosotros. still with us in spirit, still missing our conversations old friend, your presence will always be with us.