PoeticExpressions's Blog

I have watched this whole process, and now it is over. We have a Black President! WOW! INCREDIBLE! OVERJOYED! AMAZED! THANKFUL! AFRAID! SAD!? Yeah, I know that sounds crazy to put those emotions in the mix with the others, but I can't get away from it. The problems that existed before our beautiful Brother's ascendancy to the Presidency still exist. We(as a people) have yet to mature to the level we need to be on to be ready for this wonderful event; but nevertheless, it's here! I was looking at a video compilation of photos of President Obama and his family, being played to Marvin Sapp's "Never Would Have Made it", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEJFyFgfRgs&feature=related and I felt myself well-up. Not just because of the song(one of the greatest), and not because of how the song made the pictures so significant, but I instantly felt compelled to pray to the God that, if it be His Will, He not let anyone harm this wonderful man and his family. That we (Black people) will mature to the level we need to be on to handle this awesome responsibility, because the world is now looking at Black people at a way that they haven't before! That we have Barack's back now more than ever before, because to have his back is to have our own! We have the greatest opportunity to change the "landscape" of America forever more, if we will shoulder our share of the responsibility! What do I mean by that? If we move at a very fast pace to become more productive in our various communities, unite locally where we are the majority and improve the conditions of our schools, hospitals, housings. Unite our dollars to improve the local economy, concentrating on the areas of food, clothing, and shelter; unite to stop the crime that goes on where we live(that mostly involve us or where we are the victim), and get ourselves ready for changes in policy that President Obama is going to attempt make, we have the greatest opportunity that we have ever had to force America to live up to what She professes to be: and that is "a land of the free". A place where there liberty and justice for all. America is in deep trouble! Don't just look at the effects of of Her trouble but the cause. And Who is the cause! Regardless of the fires, wars, the economy, etc, etc, America is in trouble with God; period! This is the Fall of America, and how many of us would have thought to be alive during this time to witness it? Now, this isn't a rant from some religious fanatic. Hell, the blind can see that what is happening now inside of America is not a coincidence! I believe that Barack Obama is a Mercy for America, but how we handle Mercy determines whether or not we avert chastisement. So, I am still going through all the emotions that I mentioned earlier. Keep that man and his family in your prayers, and pray for yourself. Peace.

I was on the panel of conference on hip hop, where some local talent performed; hip hop artist, as well as spoken word(well, we are really all in the same camp). This conference was part of the Arts and Culture Ministry of the Millions More Movement(www.millionsmoremovement.com), and we were discussing what was the future of hip hop, particularly with the emergence of spoken word being more, and more brought to the forefront(although it has always been there).

I think that it's a vital question, particularly when you look at the negative things that attaches itself(whether by our behavior or through media attempts at attaching these things to hip hop) the culture of our art form. So, when we think about this question, we have to think about in light of the way Mos Def said it on the "Black On Both Sides" CD. He said when people ask the question, "where is hip hop going, ask yourself where you going...then you will get a clear idea." I couldn't have said it better myself! Our culture has these negative attachments(beefs that results in gunplay, the exploitation of our women, lack of real lyrical content, etc.), because we have yet to evolve it to where we control, totally, what goes to the people.

The only reason I wanted to post this blog, is because I was reminded, by a friend of mine, of what I said in this panel discussion, which took place about a year ago. I said, "They say, when referring to the hereafter or heaven, that eyes have not seen, and ears have not heard. Well that just means that we haven't created it yet. Our children hae not created the new world of hip hop, or whatever genre we are going to be in. So, we have to feed them and let them be who they are going to be." I don't get down on what our young artist are doing so much because I know that it is a process that we are in. And if we want the culture of hip hop to get better, then we have to not judge but educate, and guide. But you can't do it from the outside. You have to get involved in the fight for a better reality. Peace.