The Colorado Dude

The recent shooting in Colorado is (1) the reason why gun restrictions should be tightened, and (2) another example of the high wire act that we as Americans call race relations.

Somehow a debate on race has been conjured up out of this tragedy. Not in the usual manner of a white guy killing a Black it Hispanic guy and getting away with it, but in the form of a picture that has picture of the shooter and commentary that says, "If I were Arab, I'd be a terrorist. If I were Black, I'd be a thug. But I'm White so I'm mentally ill". Well, unfortunately and sadly its true. Trayvon Martin was a thug for wearing a hoodie and defending himself according to FOX news who's does the most race baring than Maury does baby momma specials.

Let's not be in denial about race. Race had nothing to do with what he did, but is playing a part in the court of the media and public opinion. The fact stands that this man has not been called a terrorist and by definition it was a terrorist act. If he was Arab, it would have immediately been called a "home grown terrorist" attack.

They guy was not mentally ill, but a nerd who could no longer handle the pressure. I truly don't care what color ur or the victoms were because no one deserved this, but I AM aware that in 2012 America still has a racial and cultural devide that's being played out in this case.

I really don't care if he's ever labelled a terrorist because that won't satisfy me more than the proper punishment. As a matter of fact, I don't believe we will ever hear the words "terror suspect, whatever his name is".

At this point, if you don't know who and what the terrorist label has been reserved for, you've fallen for the same gimmicks that has you believing that race is not an issue. That means that you ARE part of the problem! The beautiful thing is that we don't have to let it define us, but we shouldnt be afraid of the truth. Be knowledgeable and aware so that you can be part of the solution.

21Gun Salute

Today something was in me to listen to some good ol' Pac, not just regular Pac...... Makaveli Pac! The significance of this is, for years I was back and forth with myself about Pac. It was a love-hate, wish-wash, sort of hypocritical attitude. While I dug him from the beginning, and even more so when he was on his rebellious, ckuf the establishment movements, I was put off by some of his actions toward the end of his life.

I did understand the disdain that he may have felt for certain individuals at that time if the accusations were actually true (and only him and those individuals will know the truth), but after he was gone, I was pissed that his life was ended by unnecessary bullshit. The situation was much deeper than I knew at the time, but I was feeling that he was smarter than and above all of the pettiness that came in the streets. That was my take on it, however I never walked a day in the man's shoes so I learned to just try to learn more and understand (Message!).

I remembered 2Pacalypse now with "Soulja's Story" which was a story about the circumstances that led to him busting his brother out of prison and had a big black fist busting through my mom's little 8 inch woofers. Then came "Representing '93' (RIP Stretch) which was pure energy from the time the Mr. Scarface sample banged "I got a head, but ain't no screws in it!"

Part of my indecision was based on the birth of all of the insta-thugs and thug rappers that began reading the 2Pac manuals and emulated his complete being, but somehow skipped the chapter on being dope and giving knowledge that can forward a people. Cats just started shaving their heads, rockin' bandana's and screaming THUG LIFE. These dudes have completely forget the fact that Pac had a strong political and social message in his music without the niggerish exploitations that we've become dependent upon to sell records. All they took from the T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. movement was the word thug. It used to be disgraceful to be called a thug because it was low-level gangsterism, now people are literally dying to be one.

Even through the Makaveli album where he spewed vengeance, death to enemies, foresaw death for himself, the man still gave us "Hold Ya Head". That may be my favorite 2Pac album because I truly felt the emotion he put in it. I know, people say it all of the time, but I really mean that isht! It was like he didn't want anyone to ever guess about his feelings after he was gone. That's probably why I can't listen to the re-hashed after life albums because I'm not so sure that all of that was supposed to be released. Sometimes artists make songs simply for the art - not for public consumption.

As he was complicated and had the ability to have conflicting ideologies, morals and such, so do I and that's why I've gotten past my issues and remembered why I liked the dude in the first place. It's because no person is one sided. 2Pac was able to sit down and put all sides of a human on wax -generally on one album and it all made sense. Most people don't have the ability to do the same without sounding funny style.

I encourage the younger readers to go back and do your history on Pac, listen to the music before the beef so that you understand that this image you're trying so desperately to portray is not exactly what he envisioned. It was about taking your current situation and making it a positive through education and self empowerment. It was about infiltrating the mainstream so that opportunities would open up for the disenfranchised. Hip Hop has gotten to the point where the once disenfranchised who created the lifestyle are on the outside looking in because all we want is to be a thug. Remember T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. stood for The Hate U Gave Little Infants Fuck Everybody... meaning what you feed us as seeds, grows, and blows up in your face. Let that marinate a sec.

As always, tell a friend!