Hip Hop Chess Federation Challenges Bill O'Reilly by Adisa Banjoko & Leo Libiran
Dear Mr. Bill O'Reilly,
As you may already know, on October 13, 2007, the Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF) is scheduled to host the Chess Kings Invitational and Scholarship Tournament. The HHCF is a non-profit organization that uses music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and nonviolence.
As founders of the HHCF, we respect your intelligence and often appreciate your intent on most issues. However, over the years, I have become increasingly concerned with your attempts to denigrate the Urban Communities and specifically the Hip-Hop Community. I believe you to be a man who often goes against the grain of satisfying everyone and often choosing to just go with your heart. Because of this, I am confused as to why you choose to join the mainstream, out of touch, understanding of Hip-Hop and its effect on the nation.
I will say that I do not support every twist and turn Hip-Hop has taken over the last decade plus. But like life in general, you are not going to like everything your high school friend does. Therefore you must enjoy the aspects you still love while trying to help mold the items you don't love into something you can learn to love again.
Throughout the years, you have painted this slanted image of what the subculture of Rap is about and the content you have grow so deeply to rally against. Now, I am not sure how many rap songs you have listened to over the years, but I am pretty certain based on your comments over the years, you haven't spent any true time in researching this genre. For every 50 Cent single that hits the airwaves there are triple the amount of positive Hip-Hop songs that never make the airwaves.
I believe that your ugly, slanted and negative views of Hip-Hop are created by your lack of knowledge, research and overall desire to just be a part of the discussion. I can't help but question the charge you lead against Pepsi for choosing Ludacris as a spokesperson. Although I agreed that his music is very influential and should he should be hired as a spokesperson for a product geared towards mature young adults and above. However, he does a lot for the youth despite the nature of much of his content. This you cannot deny. But then, Pepsi launches a campaign with the drug addicted and vulgar Osbourne Family. I did not see you display the same level of outrage! What happened?
That very action alone makes millions of viewers wonder if you were really concerned about the well being of today's youth. It seems you just flat out have issues with those in underserved communities and the artistic outlets that help them get through life with a sense of being.
Recently your image was once again tarnished by your poorly planned verbalization of your statement on Blacks in restaurants. I am sure in your opinion, this was just overblown. However, the masses do not seem to feel this way. This situation was just proof to the HHCF that you have not received the proper exposure to all the positive aspects of Hip-Hop.
The HHCF is extending an invitation for you to attend the HHCF Chess Kings Invitational and Scholarship Tournament. At this venue, you will be engage with rappers, athletes and the many others in a positive community event. In addition, you are invited to participate in the HHCF and Commonwealth Clubs panel "Life Strategies: The Blueprint for Victory". This panel will explore positive strategies youth in underserved communities can implement to improve their future and the future of their communities. I am certain you could add some positive insight.
We send you this open invitation in hopes that you will start enjoying the positive aspects of the urban music industries and the communities that embrace them.
Yours, Adisa Banjoko & Leo Libiran www.hiphopchessfederation.org
Hillary Gets Down by Kristal Brent Zook for the Women's MediaCenter. This article was originally posted by The Women's MediaCenter at www.womensmediacenter.com.
It was inevitable that Senator Barack Obama would be asked the usual, much ballyhooed question at his appearance earlier this month before the National Association for Black Journalists conference at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Once again, he was made to endure the wilted query, “Is he black enough?”—a question that has recently prompted public scolding even from Michelle Obama.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Obama’s talk: the same question was posed to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who spoke to the crowd a day earlier: “Is she black enough?” It was a playful opportunity that, unfortunately, Clinton did not make the best of. Not only did she fail to answer the question directly, but her response was more of the same annoyingly stilted public policy-speak that makes her seem unapproachable and calculated.
Then came a major turning point.
It was during the Q&A, when a journalist named Kiara Ashanti asked a question from the floor. Why did she ...(read more)
The Bandana Republic Literary Anthology (Gangs) by Louis Reyes Rivera & Bruce George
The Bandana Republic is a literary first—an anthology that speaks from the standpoint of past and present gang members, a collection of poetry and prose that reflects the creative and intellectual sides of those who come from the undercurrent of urban centers. Urban youth gangs and street associations are viewed more often than not as training grounds for thugs and felons. Left out are their members' emotional sensitivities, their political consciousness, their individual and collective capacities to assess the social conditions that gave rise to the need for such associations. Left out of the popular dialogue on gangs is the creative impulse that has continued to manifest in popular culture—from the birth of the Blues to Rag Time and Swing, to BeBop, Doo Wop and Hip Hop. Intergenerational in scope, The Bandana Republic focuses on creative literature written by adolescents from such contemporary gangs as Crips and Bloods, Latin Kings and Mexican Mafia, Black Spades and Neta, Black Gangster Disciples etc. It also includes work by former gang members who have entered the arena of social work or gone on to other careers. The anthology showcases writing by television and film actors Malik Yoba, Ruby Dee, and Jim Brown; performers and lyricists Oscar Brown Jr., Dead Prez, Mumia Abu Jamal etc.all of whom have either come from urban gangs or were closely affiliated with street-based organizations. (read more)
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