jaded

Cameras on Camron

2007-04-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

60 minutes covered the topic of snitching in the hood.

It featured Camron a substandard rapper with a strong following and a history of drug dealing, being shot and keeping his mouth shut.

He proudly admitted that he wouldn't even call the police if he live next door to a serial killer. He would just move.Cam'ron also stated that there is never a good reason to share information with the police.

What makes this person a man besides his physical make up? My definition of a man includes his role in any community. A man should be an assest to his community and encourage growth, prosperity and sound ehtics.Not run the other way when he see's wrong being done. Certainly a man shouldn't preach to his own people that they should turn the other way while their neighborhoods deteriorate before their eyes.

Cam'ron admitted that to keep his record sales up he had to peddle the idea that snitching is the most disgraceful act a person could commit.

I know there is a long history of mistrust between black communities and police officers, but both sides need to work together.

One Trick Ponies

2007-04-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

In the wake of the horrific Virginia Tech shootings, the news media failed the public once again.

After the initial tragedy was sorted out and the world became aware of what happened cable and local news swamped the airwaves with coverage, but not news. Talking heads, psychiatrists and even dream analysts barked about hypothetical situations and a whole bunch of hind sight debates.

Of course Americans were curious and wanted to know more, but once fresh information from Tech stopped comming in then news programs should have reported on the other important events that were affecting the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, NBC, CNN, FOX and the rest of the credible news networks sensationalized the tragedy in a clear attempt to get ratings.

Imus Declare!

2007-04-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

We all know about the controversial comments Don Imus made on his radio show last Wednesday. I believe he referred to the women on Rutgers basketball team as "nappy-headed hos".

I have several issues with the coverage this has been getting, but none of them are with Imus.

Full disclosure is called for here. After all, I am a black woman who most of the time flaunts a full head of really curly hair. Hell, you might even call it nappy.

My beef is with the ever present Al Sharpton (with his perfectly pressed tresses) and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Al the ultimate opportunist. This man takes up any high-profile racial cause as long it gives him a reason to call a press conference.

Who named him king of all blacks? For some reason, when white men let a comment with racial overtones slip out, they flock to him with their shoulders down and graveling for forgivenss. Al gets off on the power this gives him.

First of all he does not speak for me.

I don't get any gratification watching Joe Biden, Kramer and now Imus beg for black understanding. The last I heard you are free to say what you want in this country.

You can't call for someone to be fired for making out of line comments when you claim you life's work is to enforce civil rights. Why would he be fired for saying what they hired him to do?

It seems to me that these so called black leaders have so many other struggles to worry about. They should start by taking on BET.

Sunday Morning Addiction

2007-04-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

I am addicted to Sunday morning political talk shows. No matter where I am I have to designate about two and a half hours on Sunday morning to pretentious journalist and politicians.

It starts at 10:00 with the Chris Matthews show. Then trickles down to Russert's Meet the Press and The McLaughlin Group is the morning finale.

Lately Dan Rather and the pregnant Nora O'donnell keep me tuned into the Matthews show. My favorite segement is when Chris asks his panel of esteemed journalist to tell him something he doesn't know. At times Nora's projections can be depressing but despite her insider outlook, she manages to mantain that pregnant glow. Rather never fails to share a quippy southern saying or anecdote and I look forward to it each week.

I don't know what I enjoy most about Meet the Press, but it's always a thrill when he catches a politician back tracking or denying something he or she has revealed to the media. Russert pulls up the print version of the remarks the politician has tried to deny or skirt around, and he reads it out loud to the sweaty suit in the chair next to him. During last years senate elections, this technique was priceless.

I don't have a good answer for why I'm attracted the the McLauhlin group. The host is cantankeours and all of his regular guests are grumpy. It's almost if they have been strapped to those chairs all week and forced to absorb world news. By Sunday morning at 11:30 they are pissed and ready to blow.

No matter what my son wants to watch or what assignment is due the next morning, I get sucked into my tube every Sunday. It's must see tv.

2007-04-07T17:16:00.000-07:00

Where can you go to hear White Lines, Teen Spirit and This is Why I'm Hot? If you’re fortunate enough to attend a Grandmaster Flash party than you know.

The 9:30 club turned into a Bronx block party on Friday when the guru of dj’s graced the stage. His Technics seemed to be made of gold as he spun wax and the audience into a frenzy.

“Sweat dripped down my back and I stopped caring about my hair an hour ago,” Said Jennifer Haizlip a native New Yorker, and an old school fan of Grandmaster Flash.

His turntable wizardry appealed to a multitude of diverse crowd members. The whole club turned into a dance floor as blonde hair white girls, baggy pants wearing Asian kids, and afro-centric black patrons hypnotically swayed, jumped and rocked to the plethora of beats the Grandmaster conducted.

Flashes announcement in the beginning of his set was strictly obeyed.

“Don’t just look at me. If your too cool to make noise and move than leave.”
The unmistakable thumping beat to White Lines expelled the audience from the trance like dancing that opening dj created, and thrust them into the body shaking and head nodding world of Hiphop.

“If it’s got a good beat I’m gonna play it,” Flash said as he teased the audience with his seductive scratching.

Recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grandmaster Flash proved why he deserved the spot by displaying his connection to rock, rap, blues, and jazz. There were no musical genres under the roof that night.

Even still, Flash did not forget his roots. He even offered a mini lecture that would trump any 16-week semester’s worth of material in the best hip hop culture class.

He paid homage to one of the four major body parts that make up hiphop, the break dancers.

Flash commanded the sweaty partygoers to form a circle where he summoned all b-boys and girls to show and prove.

With the spotlight on the center of the cipher, a few spinners and poppers were able to represent DC to the fullest. Unfortunately, to many self-proclaimed breakers could have been called crazy legs but not in a good way.

For over two hours Flash energized the room. By the end of the evening my meticulously sculpted fro had fallen and my 1977 throwback t-shirt was soaked through. With sore shoulders and aching legs, I made my way back to the car with a smile and craving a coke.

Funny is as Politics Does

2007-04-01T06:03:00.000-07:00

It’s no surprise that a large majority of people under 30 get their news from comedians.

The Pew Research Center discovered that 21 percent of people age 18 to 29 get most of their presidential campaign news from “The Daily Show” and “Saturday Night Live”.

Is this cause for concern or celebration?

Jon Stewart and Bill Maher are the new wave of political comedians that dominate the late night news scene. They offer a thoughtful and unapologetic reportage on current events. Some of their skits are a bit out there, but their broadcasts would not be funny if truth was missing from the jokes.

The fact that young people are interested in an alternative to fluff-filled local news and celebrity obsessed national news is healthy. The trouble comes when the under 30 crowd rely only on Stewart’s satirical commentators to be informed.

Before tuning in to Maher and Stewart do your homework!

Read a newspaper or spend an hour surfing for the top headlines. After all, these comedians get their material from the somewhere.

The skits and jokes are cleverly constructed. It would be a shame to waste them on a clueless audience.

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-31T13:32:00.006-07:00

Pride and excitement is the what I felt watching Black Entertainment Television (BET) for the first time.

That was roughly 15 years ago, and that pride and excitement has morphed into shame and boredom.

I was in 7th grade and it was empowering to know that I could turn on the television and see brown people anytime of the day or night (except during the late night infomercials).

Back then Donnie Simpson hosted Video Soul and "The Mayor" Chris Thomas was the VJ for Rap City. I was so glad that my people were visible on my station that I didn't care that the majority of the programing was dedicated to music videos.

Instead of broadcasting informative, motivational and entertaining programs, BET uses its airtime to promote sexual stereotypes of black women and cartoonish irresponsible black men.

Skin and bling are in heavy rotation. While inspiration and ethics are designated to a couple of early morning gospel shows. What if your not a Christian?

If BET is going to claim the title of black entertainment television, than it needs to cease with the exploitation and start depicting diversity within the culture it claims to represent.

Most black Americans aren't rump shaking divas or iced out grill wearing brothas. As shocking as it may sound to some we aren't all Christians either.

It seems that 24 hours is plenty of time to reflect various aspects of black life.

Get with the program.

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-31T13:32:00.005-07:00

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-31T13:32:00.004-07:00

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-31T13:32:00.003-07:00

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-31T13:32:00.002-07:00

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-31T13:32:00.001-07:00

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-31T13:32:00.000-07:00

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

B

2007-03-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

BET

2007-03-24T12:18:00.001-07:00

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

Black Exploitation Television

2007-03-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

2007-03-02T09:25:00.001-08:00

What’s with all the hot female anchors on the 24-hour cable news stations? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching a news woman question senators about supporting the Iraq war while admiriring her lip-gloss, but the flawless faces and dreamy tresses can be a bit distracting.

Allison Stewart, the host of MSNBC TV’s daytime show, “The Most” got her start as a chunky, messy haired MTV News anchor. Since her time on the serious news channel, she has shed the baby fat and her thick curly mane is sleek and professionally tamed.

I guess the attractive women wouldn’t stand out as much if their male counterparts didn’t have such contrasting physical attributes. With the exception of the ever sharp Brian Williams, I have no problem paying close attention to what the male anchors on MSNBC have to say.

Tim Russert is intelligent and knows the news better than the newsmakers. Thank Goodness his looks are never in competition with his message.

I admire Chris Matthews and Tivo every episode of Hardball, but it’s not because of his hair color or his great taste in ties. In fact, I've never paid attention to his ties or what he wears.

The said truth here is that even a self-proclaimed, woman news junkie views female news anchors differently than males. I would complain if the women were not keeping up with the latest in fashion and now I'm complaining because they are.

Neighborhood News?

2007-02-24T11:51:00.000-08:00

The creator of backfence.com tried to convince a room full of aspiring journalists that random bloggers from your neighborhood are just as credible as Washington Post staffers with weekly bylines.

I know I'm supposed to represent the generation of onliners, but even I have a hard time swallowing his message.

Backfence.com and others like it, are sites where neighborhood folk and average joes can inform the public about what's happening in town. Discussions about zoning and preschool lotteries need a venue to be communicated. However, Mr. Post was trying to sell a bunch George Mason University journalism students that they've wasted time and money trying to learn about the field of reporting and writing the news.

My outrage about his message is a bit ironic since I am expressing my disagreement with it via blog. I don't disagree that members of a given community are able to be informed about what goes on there, but I am a homeowner and I know that sometimes my personal frustrations about my community can skew the way I tell a story about my community.

Mr. Potts tried to convince us that the Wikipedia's of the web are cedible sources for information. If that is so true, how come professors refuse to accept Wikipedia as a citable source on papers?

I think it's a good starting point, but I never check out Wikipedia without following up my research on another site.

I would follow this same step if I used backfence.

It is the media consumers responsibility to question what they take in and investigate, but I don't want to spend so much time following up on what Mr.Johnson wrote about when I can go straight to fairfaxcounty.gov in the first place.

I apologize

2007-02-16T18:21:00.000-08:00

Each week a new slew of politically incorrect politicians, ball players and washed up sitcom stars beg the public for forgiveness.

What does this trend really mean?

This weeks public offender is an NBA player. I don't hold these guys to high standards to begin with, but I understand that they represent the NBA once they accept the large contract and their own line of sneakers.

My problem is not with the bigot who made the intolerant comments about gay men, I find fault with the forced apology. It's almost as if you mutter two magic words and suddenly the public must welcome the verbal assailant back into the world of civility.

If you are racist, sexist, homophobic or part of any other exclusionary groups, do not back down from the insensitive comments that you are caught making in public.

I don't care how funny Kramer was, that was not Michael Richards first time saying the N word. It was the first time he got caught.

I'm not a fan of his behavior, but I find his apology and healing time with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton a bit repugnant. And a lot staged.

What does an apology mean if those who were offended or hurt have to scream for one?

I Want My MSNBC

2007-02-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

An astronaut armed with mace and one dead buxom blonde have hogged the airwaves.

No, they weren't advertising for a bad B list film. These were the two stories that occupied hours of airtime on MSNBC, CNN and the fair and balanced FOX news network all last week.

I guess this boils my brain because it has become almost impossible to get real news without having to suffer through 15 minute celebrity segements. If it isn't TomKat or Brangelina its some celebrity bimbo's wardrobe malfunction.

Where is the news?

I remember a time when 6pm was the official time for news. Every major network designated at least an hour to current events.

Jim Vance actually talked about the Gulf War, not what Britney wore.

I'm not sure if the media is catering to what the public really wants or if the media is just trying to make most of us believe celebrity smut and bizarre behavior is what we should be watching.

We are at war. Even though 24 hour news stations have plenty of time to inform us, so much airtime is wasted on frivilous Hollywood happenings and scandalous stories about suburbanites.

The death of Anna Nicole Smith was tragic and worth mentioning. However, hours of her semi-disturbing sex pot photos accompanied by speculative commentary was not news. It was gossip. The only good thing about the Anna exposure, was that it finally knocked that crazed astronaut's story off the media's most talked about list.

I don't mind a little mindless entertainment, but we can please separate it from the informative stuff we used to call news? The E network was established as an alternative to MSNBC not direct competition with news channels.