Faking The Funk Part II

As far as personal responsibility is concerned, I am definitely one who believes in taking responsibility for one's own actions. However I find it hypocritical that Americans of European descent do not take responsibility for the genocide, enslavement and forced social and religious assimilation of the cultures of color throughout the world during the last 1700 years. The fact that they now want to blame us for surviving in the madness that their ancestors created and their peers continue to perpetuate is a testament to the arrogance one would associate with a bigot. One cannot expect a people to rise and transform when one's foot is firmly entrenched upon their collective necks.

What is more amazing (or maybe not) is that we now have what I believe to be misguided African Americans supporting and lending their voices to the alabaster hued chorus of “They need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps like I did.” That is akin to a parent allowing a male child to wear nothing but female clothes and then when that child becomes an adult, the parent complains about him acting like a woman.

It is difficult to see or understand the digestive process when one exists inside the belly of the beast. The beast in this case is Urban America and the belly is a system that enthusiastically perpetuates poverty and ignorance. Poverty is perpetuated by a system that has failed to embrace urban development initiatives in the form of adequate housing and viable business platforms. It is a system that has failed to create any significant educational initiatives.

From an environmental perspective urban communities have traditionally existed in areas where chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxic substances pollute the air, water, and land in higher concentrations than other areas; some of the effects of which are higher infant death rates, a higher concentration of children with learning disabilities, and other social and health related issues. Combine the above with the aggressive stance of the criminal and judicial system in urban areas and we now have a recipe for social chaos. One can argue that the above system is a type of slavery wrapped neatly within a de facto socio-economic apartheid created to bring harm to those that are either dependent upon and/or are trapped inside of it.

One of the greatest symbols of freedom in America is the Statue of Liberty. Inscribed on the plaque at the bottom of her are these words compose by the nineteenth century poet Emma Lazarus; “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, the tempest tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” For the African American urban masses, that promise has been found wanting and payment is way overdue.

Faking The Funk - Huxtable Style

In an article on BlackCommentator.com, Dr. Mark Lamont Hill takes Bill Cosby to task for his apparent denunciation of anything and all that is urban-centered. It is an excellent article and gives its readers a microcosmic insight on the chasm sized dichotomy that exists between what I shall now term The Cosby Generation and their apparent nemesis, the Hip-Hop Generation. Hopefully I can shed some light on what I believe is the root cause of this schism.

The problem (as I see it) lies primarily with the Cosby Generation and other liked minded individuals insistence on verbally assaulting the urban poor while either ignoring or not fully "overstanding" the issues that Urban America is dealing with. It’s as if there is some type of disconnect between the reality that is Urban America and the causes that brought Urban America to its current reality.

The causes that precipated the reality that is post-modern Urban America lies directly at the feet of and primarily resulted from The Cosby generation abandonment (physical and social) of the Urban African American Community shortly after the various Civil Rights bills were passed by Congress and signed into law in 1964 and 1965. During the decade of the 60's, 70's, and 80's, urban flight by African Americans precipitated the destruction of historical black communities. Jobs, schools, and businesses left urban communities in droves.

After the Black Exodus, what were then large pockets of poverty spread throughout and eventually became entrenched within urban America. At the same time that this was happening, African Americans who were able to take advantage of the few crumbs that integration and affirmative action programs had to offer forgot about or ignored what was happening in Urban America. The brothers and sisters within our poorer communities were essentially left to fend for themselves with no infrastructure and with absolutely no support from the greater African American community.

This poverty was exacerbated by a welfare program which was a de facto money machine that created free multiple streams of income primarily to African American women to a.) Stay single, b.) become totally dependent upon the government for their needs and c.) have children out of wedlock. We are now witnessing the results of urban black flight and the welfare system; and that is widespread ignorance, mayhem and violence within and against our own people by our own people.

What is remarkable is that our urban brothers and sisters had enough moxie and determination to make it through relatively intact despite all of the above and the dysfunction found within Urban America. They created their own variant of the English language which we misnomer Ebonics. They created a globally accepted, lucrative, and often copied musical art form called Hip-Hop. They became highly expressive in giving their children a distinct and unmistakable identity with names like Shenikua, Latavia-Deshell, Shaheem and Royhame. They did all of this in spite of being abandoned by their educated and upwardly mobile African American brothers and sisters.

The question that should be asked is what was Bill Cosby and others in his generation doing when our poorer communities were being ripped to shreds by the Post Civil-Rights Black Exodus? What were these folks doing when schools were closing in Urban America and valuable educational resources were being shipped to suburbia? What advice, programs, or support, were they giving to the young teen aged girls who were contemplating or actually bringing out of wedlock babies into this world? And which Black celebrities, ministers, counselors, or so called black leaders were mentoring the young men that were impregnating and then abandoning these young girls? The Cosby Generation failed our communities when we needed the most help. And now they want to complain about and bemoan the results of their failure? That is the lowest form of hypocrisy in my book!

Defining African-Centered

As we move well into the first decade of twenty-first century, Americans of African ascendency are beginning to examine and research history, culture, and religion from an African perspective. Books abound regarding the above subjects. As such many African Americans are waking up to the realization that it was the African who first created civilization. We now know based upon the outstanding works by Jochannon, Clarke, Diop, Sertima, Williams, Darkwah, James and other masters of ancient African history that our ancestors built and were maintaining what is termed “High Culture Civilizations” thousands of years before any other culture.

Although we can and should have pride in the accomplishments of our ancestors, we cannot afford to let that pride get us caught up (again!) in some sort of black nationalist agenda complete with Dashikis, Afros, and “power to the people” sloganeering. We should focus the majority of our attention not on what our ancestors built; our primary focus should be on learning and incorporating the mindset that fomented the thoughts and actions that led to the building of African High Culture Civilizations. In essence, we should focus on becoming African-Centered spiritually as well as intellectually.

These high culture civilizations existed and were maintained in large part because of the highly cultivated and spiritually intellectual nature of our Ancestors. This spirit intellect was founded upon the principle of always seeking right knowledge which leads to right actions. In ancient African terminology right knowledge and right actions were rooted in the principles of Ma’at; which simply means truth, justice, and balance. Our ancestors overstood that there was a force, an omnipotent entity if you will, that brought all things into existence. Since all things exist, then all things must be overstood for one to exist in harmony with all things.

African-Centered means that one accepts responsibility for their actions and to those that they are responsible to and for. In layman terms, it means if one is hungry, then justice demands that they must be fed so that they will not have to steal food to eat. If one is ignorant, then they must be educated so they will not remain ignorant and become a burden to their family or community. African-Centered means that the needs of the masses far outweigh the desires or needs of the individual or even a system of governance. African-Centered demands that the community care for and assist everyone that exists in it; not as a form of welfare, but as a form of love and commitment for the greater good.

African-Centered means to give back to that which gave you life, abundance, and liberty. It simply means that one should endeavor to bring what they have learned and earned back to the community to build upon and continue the success of the community so that each generation can have the same opportunity to rise and transform. African-Centered means that one realizes that all is one and connected to the all. I find this perspective to be in direct conflict with Western notions that humans are something "separate from other forms of life and the universe." Those who are steeped in Western notions often cling to the idea that we are above and better than the rest of the Universe. Fortunately our ancestors overstood the connection to the all in all and when we begin to intuit this truth for ourselves, it is then that we will be able to create the same high culture civilizations that they did.

The Afro-Saxon Mentality

The so called Black Experience in America has left us with an indelible record of outstanding achievement in the face of great adversity. African Americans such as W.E.B. Dubois, Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Dr. Huey P. Newton, and other African American men and women achieved their goals despite facing the possibility and/or reality of imprisonment, bodily injury, and even death.

However, for every Dr. King and Malcolm X, dozens of step-and-fetchits capitulated in the face of overt racism and bowed down to the alter of euro-centric values. This was certainly understandable based upon the fact that during the Jim Crow era the socio-economic status of African Americans was predicated upon their ability (or inability) to maneuver in a society that was overtly hostile to people of color. Decisions had to be made based upon self preservation and the preservation of the African American family unit. As such, one had to do what one had to do to survive and move forward. Fortunately the energy level of the Civil Rights movement was such that it completely overwhelmed the status quo of Jim Crow and brought a modicum of justice to the cause of freedom for African Americans.

Since that period we have experienced the rise of what I term the Afro-Saxon. The Afro-Saxon embodies the euro-centric mindset to the point where they reject anything related to African thought, African culture, or its value system. Not only do Afro-Saxons reject the values found in African-Centrism, they have shown a propensity to engage in a de facto war against anything related to an African-Centered value system. In other words, they have become the proverbial lynch mob of the twenty first century. However instead of lynching Africans, they now engage in the “lynching” of ideas and initiatives that are imperative to and essential for the survival of the African American community.

Quite frankly, Afro-Saxons have mentally bought into the premise of white supremacy. Afro-Saxons engage in the propagation of a value system that enthusiastically promotes the needs of the one (i.e., self) while limiting and stigmatizing initiatives and ideas that would resolve and satisfy the needs of the many. Because of its ability to easily infiltrate institutions of learning, communication, and commerce, the Afro-Saxon has brought more harm to the African American community then Jim Crow ever could.

The harm is being done in several ways. One of the most harmful things that the Afro-Saxon has done is to reject and work to destroy the idea of any type of affirmative action, even though for 340 years prior to affirmative action African Americans were locked out of freely pursuing the so called American dream. They would rather see the poor and ignorant “pick themselves up by their bootstraps” and make it just like they did even though in most cases affirmative action is what helped the Afro-Saxon to “make it” in the first place. Afro-Saxons have brought harm by rejecting and working against any initiatives that would invest capital within the inner city that could be utilized to jump start housing, schools, and business development in these communities.

The Afro-Saxon pontificates eloquently about traditional American values and romanticizes about America’s founding fathers and its founding citizens. Yet the Afro-Saxon fails to recognize or tries to disassociate them from and play down the harm done to the African and Native American by these same individuals. Just like the Europeans that engaged in the wholesale slaughter and enslavement of the African, the Afro-Saxon sees no harm in the slavery, murder, and destruction of the African. To the Afro-Saxon, these things were necessary in order to bring a civilized temperament to the African psyche. Unfortunately the Afro-Saxon is a prominent fixture in American society. Fortunately, he is easily recognized and as we all know, recognition is the first step in dealing with an issue.

Defining African American Conservatism

The phenomenon known as Black Conservatism has begun to make significant inroads within the African American political arena. African Americans such as J. Kenneth Blackwell, Michael Steele, and Lynn Swann proudly wear the conservative banner and are serious contenders in three closely watched political races. Clarence Thomas and Ward Connelly have long been the poster children for the Black conservative movement. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the above mentioned individual’s political views, I believe that it is important to begin to define conservatism in relation to its effect upon the African American community from an African American perspective.

I believe that there are at least two branches of Black conservatism. The first branch is an offshoot of the post-modern conservative movement. This movement is primarily defined by and through the Republican Party platform and is filtered and communicated through a christian-right, white-american conservative perspective. Its focus is on returning America to some mythical state of existence where ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity is frowned upon and everyone is of the same religious, moral, and social mindset; i.e., the proverbial Borg Collective.

In this writer’s opinion, traditional post-modern conservatism is anathema to African Americans. The roots of post-modern conservatism can be found within the Jim Crow movement. Post-modern conservatism seeks to destroy diversity just as Jim Crow sought to destroy diversity. Post-modern conservatism seeks to limit access and the flow of capital to the poor and disenfranchised just as Jim Crow sought to limit the flow of capital to and disenfranchise African Americans. And just like Jim Crow promoted a narrow view of what constitutes American society, post-modern conservatism seeks to do the same.

African Americans that assimilate into and embrace the above-defined conservative movement can offer nothing of value to the African American community and it appears that in most cases they are comfortable with that position. Any movement that embraces a platform that promotes policies, laws, and actions that stifle economic freedom, social liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is harmful to African Americans. Additionally, if one embraces a movement that is defined as harmful to African Americans, then one should be judged accordingly.

Currently the second branch of the African American Conservative Movement is gently bubbling at the grassroots level. However the agenda of this branch of African American conservatism could be far more significant in terms of positive change than the Civil Rights Movement of the 50’s and 60’s. This movement is primarily economic in nature and is based upon the values associated with a cooperative economic agenda, combined with an African-Centered (and globally relevant) educational system. This movement seeks to create an infrastructure that supports the values that will allow African Americans to rebuild their communities and heal the fractured familial, cultural, and social relationships that are essential for the survival of people of African ascendency.

The flavor of this type of conservatism appears to be more palatable to the masses of African Americans – especially those of whom are independent of and/or reject both the Republican and Democratic Party agendas. Its structure is one where ideas that support diversity and infrastructural capitalization are encouraged. It is a movement where society is defined by what its constituents bring to the arena of ideas and values, and not by the narrow viewpoints of symbiotic provocateurs and pontificators. It not only encourages us to pull ourselves up and over by our bootstraps, it teaches us how to do so and creates the environment that will afford us the opportunity to teach others as well.

Lamentation Of An Old-School Music Aficionado

P-Funk Mantra: “Good evening. Do not attempt to adjust your radio. There is nothing wrong. We have taken control as to bring you this special show. We will return it to you as soon as you are grooved….”

-George Clinton-

I recently received a free two week subscription to Rhapsody – a pay for play music service and media platform sponsored by the makers of RealPlayer and being an aficionado of the old school Fusion, Funk and the R&B musical genres, I quickly hooked up with some of the old sounds that I enjoyed back in the days of the permanent relaxer and bone curler cured curly afro, bellbottoms, blue light in the basement parties, nic-nic shirts, and crepe-sole platform shoes. Ed. Note: For those who overstand the above references, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, you better ask somebody; preferably over the age of 45.

Within a few clicks I was quickly immersed in a cornucopia of nostalgic R&B musical ambrosia. Within a few more clicks I became delightfully embrangled in the effervescent syncopated back-beats of P-Funk and Bootsy Collins. Upon being thoroughly “funked” up, I moved on to the party prioritized and synthesized musical sounds of the eighties. Then a funny thing happened when I hit the nineties. Nothing! Not in the sense that there were nothing offered. It was nothing based upon the fact that what is being pushed by mainstream record companies as African American music today is nothing more than samples, remixes of old school jams, complete with the constant lyrical references to uninhibited casual sex, pimping, murder, and the problems (real and imagined) associated with living in the “hood.”

Before I’m labeled a hater, let me preference the above by stating that I enjoy and listen to hip-hop and rap. Having been born and raised in the East Bay Area in Northern California, I tend to lean mostly towards the West-Coast style of rap and hip-hop. However I enjoy a variety of musical genres. As such, I tend to tire easily listening to the constant and repetitious top-forty. It appears that mainstream record companies do not believe that African Americans are sophisticated enough to appreciate or buy anything else other than what they pass off as rap or hip-hop. Is this a conspiracy? Maybe. However we’ll deal with that issue in another blog.

So what happened to the old R&B and Funk groups of the 70’s and 80’s? Actually nothing. Many of the old school groups still record and tour with various degrees of success. Old and new CD’s produced by these groups can be heard and purchased via the internet through various music oriented websites and much of what is offered today by them is excellent. Also internet radio provides a venue for these groups to be heard by fans and newcomers alike. 70’s R&B Groups like New Birth and Blue Magic have created interactive websites where fans can chat with or email the group members as well as listen to and purchase new music. MSN and Yahoo also have group-fan clubs where fans can interact with old school artists and groups of their choosing.

Hopefully one day (or hopefully not), mainstream record companies will wake up to the fact that the African American consumer is not a monolithic collective of hip-hop and rap heads that is only interested in buying music with references to laffy-taffy, skeet-skeet-skeet, and fatty girls. If not, I’m sure that an entrepreneur with large pockets, a flair for internet marketing, and a savvy business acumen will afford us the opportunity to get our old school groove on in more ways than one. Until such time always remember that “funk not only moves, it can remove.”