Thursday, August 31, 2006
There were 10 murders last night in Philadelphia and there wasn't any outrage or even comment from the city's administration. No mayor, police commissioner, butcher, baker or candle stick maker. What has happened to this city? 3 dead, 2 critical, 1 rape and no outrage!What an embarrasment this city has become. Thugadelphia has become a refuge for the criminal and his posse. A state rep's son was kidnapped and the thugs are so comfortable breaking laws in this city that they have performed 2 armed breakins to 2 houses in the last 3 weeks. So comfortable the criminal has become in this city that there is no fear of reprisal or reprimand on the part of the city's residents or officials. Don't tell and you'll live seems to be the thinking, but are you living when someone else has your heart. What happened to the urbanite who said the heck with you, this is mine and you can't have it. Is everyone scared, is everyone a soft punk, except the criminals? When will we rise up and fight for what is right? We can't mourn for Katrina victims, when we allow ourselves to be victimized everynight by people who look just like us. Where are the men, women and families who are proud and are willing to stand up and take back their neighborhood? It seems the criminal has a better support network than the citizen. Shame on you Philadelphia, shame on you!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Saturday, August 19, 2006
In search of intelligent life
Well Clear Channel has done it again. Philadelphia's only quazi-Jazz station 106.1 has bitten the dust to be replaced by an Oh so needed bubble gum culturally vague (or shall I say crossover) mismash of nonsense. Claiming to cater to the women in the market, they even have the audacity to employ Whoopi Goldberg mornings (yes every annoying morning). Tell me, since when has anyone ever related to Whoopi (I hate myself) Goldberg? (remember the Ted Dansen fiasco?) Now Clear Channel I realize that your numbers dropped on JJZ, but do you think the reason could have been that you haven't constructively changed your play list since the station came into existence. No one in their right mind wants to hear Sade every hour (my gosh, she hasn't had an album out since Eisenhower was a cadet) And how about when you did add a new song you chose to add Beyonce of all people. When I turn to a smooth jazz station, the last person I want to hear is (shake your booty) Beyonce. Well yet again the airways are now clouded with more junk. Kathy Hughes at Radio One if you don't jump on this programming gimme to you, you're nuts. You deserve to take all of their listeners and you can if you don't fall in this new programming nightmare that has become urban radio.
Well Clear Channel has done it again. Philadelphia's only quazi-Jazz station 106.1 has bitten the dust to be replaced by an Oh so needed bubble gum culturally vague (or shall I say crossover) mismash of nonsense. Claiming to cater to the women in the market, they even have the audacity to employ Whoopi Goldberg mornings (yes every annoying morning). Tell me, since when has anyone ever related to Whoopi (I hate myself) Goldberg? (remember the Ted Dansen fiasco?) Now Clear Channel I realize that your numbers dropped on JJZ, but do you think the reason could have been that you haven't constructively changed your play list since the station came into existence. No one in their right mind wants to hear Sade every hour (my gosh, she hasn't had an album out since Eisenhower was a cadet) And how about when you did add a new song you chose to add Beyonce of all people. When I turn to a smooth jazz station, the last person I want to hear is (shake your booty) Beyonce. Well yet again the airways are now clouded with more junk. Kathy Hughes at Radio One if you don't jump on this programming gimme to you, you're nuts. You deserve to take all of their listeners and you can if you don't fall in this new programming nightmare that has become urban radio.
Friday, August 18, 2006
My thoughts about Del Jones, a serious warrior who died on August 8...
Del Jones
Why now do I feel so alone?
You were a mentor and a a friend
You made me think that we just might win
You made the revolution sound so simple
So easy to just do the right thing
Out of your mouth you made the right words sing
Now an ancestor, I won't think of you with grief
But selfishly, I know that the race won't speak
Quite as eloquent or with as much flavor
Now your tapes I must savor
And show to my sons over and over again
Praying that they will pick up your ability to decipher
The lies that the spies and the thieves tell their wives
As they make pleasant tales of all their killings
Spinning stories so well that we forget who are the real villians
I don't profess to do justice to your memory
I just pray that we take up your slack
As we continue to look back
to you, and get lifted up higher
As moving forward we aspire
Remembering how you just made it so plain
You did Malcolm, Marcus and Dr. Clarke so proud
You didn't back down
Like a phoenix out of the ashes you didn't back down
Now how do we serve you Del?
Do we tell the enemy to just go to Hell?
Or do we just sit back a spell
And plan
how to overthrow this man?
Who for every ookie doke we seem to fall
But what would you say to us now, Del?
I remember coming to you so full of despair
So sick and tired of us not going anywhere
But you always reminded me of that silver lining
To which I couldn't see
Not to live in a fantasy
But to give life meaning and purpose
Now I see
A fighting spirit gives life a chance
to move forward as we learn from the past
So put on your Del detective cap and pass this legacy on
As you define your enemy
and give yourself permission to know
That everyone ain't your friend, don't cha know
Teach your children to read past the lies
And know the game faces of those to despise
Knowledge is power, ignorace bliss
And there is only one real way
to give your enemies your behind to kiss
Living as Del would, constantly in research mode
Tell your children the urgency, or better yet
Devote your life to our fight, one that Del constantly rode
Africans must unite, but Africans must write and think and read
It is with this reference to Del that we must start living
and with God Speed
I will miss your calm yet urgent voice
I will remember how easy you made it seem
I will take with me your insatiable quest for the truth
I will pass on the memory of your fighting spirit
A war coorespondent who knew, just what to say and do
I will forever speak of you with dignity and pride
Because life without knowing Del Jones is an incomplete ride.
Check out his website: www.whattheproblemis.com
Del Jones
Why now do I feel so alone?
You were a mentor and a a friend
You made me think that we just might win
You made the revolution sound so simple
So easy to just do the right thing
Out of your mouth you made the right words sing
Now an ancestor, I won't think of you with grief
But selfishly, I know that the race won't speak
Quite as eloquent or with as much flavor
Now your tapes I must savor
And show to my sons over and over again
Praying that they will pick up your ability to decipher
The lies that the spies and the thieves tell their wives
As they make pleasant tales of all their killings
Spinning stories so well that we forget who are the real villians
I don't profess to do justice to your memory
I just pray that we take up your slack
As we continue to look back
to you, and get lifted up higher
As moving forward we aspire
Remembering how you just made it so plain
You did Malcolm, Marcus and Dr. Clarke so proud
You didn't back down
Like a phoenix out of the ashes you didn't back down
Now how do we serve you Del?
Do we tell the enemy to just go to Hell?
Or do we just sit back a spell
And plan
how to overthrow this man?
Who for every ookie doke we seem to fall
But what would you say to us now, Del?
I remember coming to you so full of despair
So sick and tired of us not going anywhere
But you always reminded me of that silver lining
To which I couldn't see
Not to live in a fantasy
But to give life meaning and purpose
Now I see
A fighting spirit gives life a chance
to move forward as we learn from the past
So put on your Del detective cap and pass this legacy on
As you define your enemy
and give yourself permission to know
That everyone ain't your friend, don't cha know
Teach your children to read past the lies
And know the game faces of those to despise
Knowledge is power, ignorace bliss
And there is only one real way
to give your enemies your behind to kiss
Living as Del would, constantly in research mode
Tell your children the urgency, or better yet
Devote your life to our fight, one that Del constantly rode
Africans must unite, but Africans must write and think and read
It is with this reference to Del that we must start living
and with God Speed
I will miss your calm yet urgent voice
I will remember how easy you made it seem
I will take with me your insatiable quest for the truth
I will pass on the memory of your fighting spirit
A war coorespondent who knew, just what to say and do
I will forever speak of you with dignity and pride
Because life without knowing Del Jones is an incomplete ride.
Check out his website: www.whattheproblemis.com
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Did you know Del Jones? If not, you missed out on a great warrior. A self-characterized War Coorespondent, his words were as powerful as his presence. He is now fighting for us with the Ancestors. He died on August 8, 2006. Appropriately this warrior shared his birthday with another powerful heavy hitter, The Honorable Malcolm X. I will miss you Del, but I grieve more for you who never got to know him. Get to know him now through his books, tapes and his website, www.whattheproblemis.com. Call his brother's store in Philadelphia, PA. Know Thyself Bookstore at 215 748 2278 and order his books and tapes. Free your mind and the shackles will fall! Check him out and be prepared to grow and learn and study and fight!
From his website......
Del Jones aka Nana Kwesi Abakah Kuntu II The War Corrrespondent
The War Correspondent is not having a funeral. He also is not wanting folk to travel from all over to one spot for a memorial. He wants folk to organize locally. [Isn't that what he always says?] Have something in his honor right where you are. I know that he would be quite pleased if these gatherings include plenty of drumming [doesn't he say "out of the drum we come"?], and good food.Not just, though, for the sake of honoring Del Jones. When the memorials are over, we should be energied and filled with a greater determination to continue the work of liberating the minds, hearts, and bodies of our people. He spent his entire adult life doing that. Please...do not call yourself "honoring The War Correspondent" if you are just looking to party and then go home to do nothing. Del says, "If you're a punk, move out of the way!" Del is quite proud that only serious folk would come to hear him speak. He wants only serious folk to attend his memorials.
May 19, 1946 - August 8, 2006
From his website......
Del Jones aka Nana Kwesi Abakah Kuntu II The War Corrrespondent
The War Correspondent is not having a funeral. He also is not wanting folk to travel from all over to one spot for a memorial. He wants folk to organize locally. [Isn't that what he always says?] Have something in his honor right where you are. I know that he would be quite pleased if these gatherings include plenty of drumming [doesn't he say "out of the drum we come"?], and good food.Not just, though, for the sake of honoring Del Jones. When the memorials are over, we should be energied and filled with a greater determination to continue the work of liberating the minds, hearts, and bodies of our people. He spent his entire adult life doing that. Please...do not call yourself "honoring The War Correspondent" if you are just looking to party and then go home to do nothing. Del says, "If you're a punk, move out of the way!" Del is quite proud that only serious folk would come to hear him speak. He wants only serious folk to attend his memorials.
May 19, 1946 - August 8, 2006
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