Posted by Epiphany Blog

I guess I didn’t get the memo, but when did the “noose” become the modern day symbol of racism? It seems as though every time I turn on the news or pull up my internet browser there is a new noose sighting. What’s really going on? Are “they” so threatened by “our” potential and our achieved successes that they have resorted to sending nooses? Are we getting too big for our britches and thus need to be brought back to reality???

News flash, we didn’t need a noose to know how they really felt about us! Anyone that has ever had even the most minor confrontation at work knows when someone is giving you the who does she think she is stare. Most of us will stare right back and take the I double dog dare you to call me out of my name so that I can kick your behind all up and through this camp, and then drag you to Human Resources to tell them what I did stance. I guess our refusal to cower and shuck and jive has made some of us targets. Read More

There are still a few people cooning it up at our jobs (you know the type, always making jokes at the wrong time and doing something to embarrass the rest of “us”). There are the “Renegades” (the ones that buck the system…come in when they want, leave when they want, and dare someone to say something). Then there are the “Rabble-rouser”, we ain’t goin for this crap no more types. I am going to guess that the renegades and the rabble rousers have somebody shaking in their boots. These crazy fools are really sending nooses in the mail. *shaking head*

Historically the noose was a tool used to kill us. We could see our people swinging from trees so that there would be no mistaking the fact that the powers that be meant business. The empty noose hanging from a tree was a reminder of what would be done to us if we “got out of line” or disobeyed. Now that it is 2007, does the noose hold the same meaning? If, God forbid, someone sent a noose to your inter-office mailbox, would you be afraid? Do you think the dude in the cube across from you might try to hang you up from a light fixture? Chances are he wouldn’t, but the people sending these nooses are trying to send some type of message.

If we look at the Jena 6, they lived in a racist town, and decided to sit under a whites only tree. Subsequently a noose was hung to send them a message. At first glance you might think, Jena is in the south, and there is still a huge racial divide, but this noose nonsense is much more widespread. A black professor of a racial justice class in New York had a noose hung on her door. Someone was trying to send her a message. A principal in Brooklyn received a noose in her mail, accompanied by a letter full of racial slurs. New York City is one of the most diverse places in the world, yet people are still hiding behind nooses. Someone hung a noose at the Nyumburu Cultural Center at the University of Maryland last month. What is that all about?

The reality is this: Racism is real. While we are some of the richest black people on the planet, and most of us will achieve successes our grandparents only dreamed of, we are still thought of by some as second class citizens. We can march all day and all night, they can pass legislation up the yin yang, but you can not take hate out of someone’s heart. There will always be a segment of the population that will despise us, and while they know they can’t destroy us, they will try to “beat” us into submission with scare tactics like this noose nonsense.

As offensive as the noose is, we need to seize the opportunity to turn it right back around on them. I do not know your personal stance on the “N” word, but many in my generation believe that by changing the spelling and using it as a term of endearment we took the sting out of the word. They could no longer “own” it as a means to degrade us, because we flipped it into what we wanted it to be. While I support the notion of legislation against the noose, I’m not holding my breath. I’d rather look at the noose as a reminder of what all we as a people survived. They hung us from trees, but at the end of the day, America would not be what it is today if not for the blood, sweat, and tears of those same people that the nooses were used to kill.

I am not condoning fighting, but the Jena 6 were determined not to go out like Emmett Till. I think it was a simple case of you wanna hang a noose, we got a trick for you! (Only my opinion, I was not there.) I am not saying we go beat up everyone that we think is responsible for sending the noose, but the fact of the matter is, only a coward sends a noose in the mail. Only a coward hangs a noose when no one is looking. A noose couldn’t break us then, and it won’t break us now. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but a noose in the mail makes me LAUGH AT YOU!

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Posted by DJ Black Adam

Black Gay Christians, Don’t Blame JESUS for the Social Clubs / Churches that won’t accept you!!

I guess this is for “gays” in general, but since the whole Donnie McClurken / Obama thing, I thought I addressed Black Gays who are Christian.

Let me submit two points before I go on:

One: I am not gay, so I will not pretend to know what a gay person goes through when a family, church or part of a community you have been part of REJECTS you based on who you love.

Two: Understand that theologically, the argument can be made that homosexual sex is sin; as well the argument could be made exegetically that homosexual sex is not sin but fornication is. Either way, the Christian church is supposed to reflect the LOVE OF CHRIST if you see people in what you believe sin or not.

I listened to Gina’s Thursday night podcast, and heard a brother named Terrence (Republic of T) talk about many of his horrible experiences as a gay man in the “Black Church”, I was truly mortified. Read More

He expressed why he left the Church and became a Buddhist, a choice I respect even if I do not agree with it. My point is this to gay Black Christians, if a church is rejecting you, it is not the same as JESUS rejecting you, there are gay and mixed congregations that will accept you, be with people who at least know how to give you love and support you need as a human being.

Listening to Terrance I began to understand something I had not before. You see, I did not grow up in the “Church”, I converted as an adult. I have no ties to any denomination or sect, I am a follower of JESUS. So I had a bit to learn about why gay Blacks in the church don’t simply leave, Terrance explained it to me pretty well.

THE CHURCH AS A SOCIAL / POLITICAL INSTITUTION:

The Black church from what I have found has been somewhat political since the days of slavery. The Black Church was where slaves had the smallest bit of peace they could find in their lives, the AME Church was instrumental in fighting the institution of slavery, the AME Church, the Missionary Baptist Church, the Church of God in Christ, etc. were instrumental in the Civil rights movement, so the church is political and social in a way that is unique to the African American community.

There were homosexuals that worked with Dr. King, so obviously they have been part of the Black church for sometime, lately, due to the evangelical right trying to sway the black Christian vote by focusing on so-called “family values” issues, there has been an upsurge of this homosexual persecution in the church. Here it is folks, even in a church where homosexuality is seen as sin, the fact is, it is a sin between consenting adults, sort of like the fornication and adultery if that is your theological take.

But I have heard the stupid and inane comparisons with “pedophilia”? Good Lord people, what the heck is that about? The fact the people could compare the two is scary.

My theory is that pastors who preach hard against homosexuality, are generally gay themselves and trying to come to terms with their sexuality in contrast to their theology. That’s fine, but don’t bash and hurt people because of your issues, how about PREACH ON THE GOSPEL and let the Holy Ghost do the rest?

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST:

Gay Christians, bottom line, it is between YOU and JESUS. You are supposed to be a Christian, that means FOLLOW JESUS. Show Him in Your Life, and teach others how to do the same. Don’t leave JESUS because of ANY GROUP that rejects you, your relationship should be PERSONAL and with JESUS above anything else.

O.K., I rant, I hope ya’ll got my point, I'm JUS' Saying...

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By Siditty
I just saw this trailer for Silence: In Search of Black Female Sexuality in America on youtube and made me think about black women, how we are portrayed in the media. The stereotypes, and what we have been told growing up about sex and sexuality. Of my black female friends, when sex is discussed, it is basically very limiting. To hear these women tell it, the only sexual position they do is missionary, no oral sex, no foreplay, it is often seen as a chore to keep a man happy. Oral sex is seen as unclean, gross, and something white women do to "take our men from us". The idea of IR sex is even more disturbing to them. Even though I am married to a white man, many times I hear my friend say, they could never sleep with a white man, the concept of sex with them is something as odd or alien. I have heard the disgust of looking at a "pink penis". Read More
Usually I say nothing, knowing that they have no idea or concept of what a white man looks like unclothed. I think many times it has to do with the fact that these women are very religious, and like me grew up with the mentality of keep your legs closed tight, and don't let boys touch you. Growing up my mother actually talked about sex, but again very limiting. I would ask a question, and she would answer, using the most clinical terms possible to ensure it went over my head and I wouldn't think of it as anything to do with pleasure. I remember when I got my period, I told me mother, and the talk went as follows, "don't have sex and get pregnant, or I will kill you." Thank you mother for that female bonding moment. That is truly what she said, nothing like the Huxtables on TV, getting excited that their daughters had become women, Claire took them out for a day at the spa and lunch. My mother gave me pads, and told me not to use tampons, as they were dirty and unsanitary because you had to stick them "up there". I also got the fear of getting pregnant put into me by my mother. Per her everything caused pregnancy, from getting groped, to kissing a boy. I was out of high school before I even entertained the idea of sex, and when I did entertain it, I was so sexually repressed, I viewed sex as something to get rid of my virginity, which was an albatross around my neck in my mind. My first time wasn't romantic, loving, or even with someone I was dating. It was very random, and very mechanical, just an act to get to the goal of not being a "virgin" anymore. To add to my confusion about sex, from ages 5 to 10, I was sexually molested by multiple family members (two cousins and an uncle). This is also something not discussed in the black community. I have just realized in the last five years it was sexual molestation. I always took it as "kids experimenting" even though I was five the first time my then high school aged uncle kissed me a bit too intimately and groped me inappropriately. Or when my cousins who are only a few years older would grope me and take off my clothes while sleeping, and in turn ask for the same. I never even realized what it was. I knew sex as something dirty, and I didn't dare tell. Even if I had told, I would fear myself, not my uncle and cousins as getting into trouble. Then I felt that my family would be shamed if I ever told. So I never did. In the black community we see child exploitation and molestation as a "white people's problem". Pedophiles are typically white males, and when there is a case of a black girl or teen coming forward with tales of rape or molestation, even if her family stands behind her, the black community will always question her intentions, her involvement, and lay some of the blame on the victim, especially if her assailant is a black male with money. The R. Kelly debacle is a perfect example of this. He tried to marry a 15 year old (Aaliyah), videotaped himself having sex with a high school girl, they have found pictures on his computer, and he has been infamously known for cruising high schools for girls. To this day, his victim has been seen as a fast girl who know what she was doing, who was trying to bring him down, and people are still quick to buy his albums and go to his concerts. So the lesson black girls learn is that it doesn't pay to tell, stay quiet and it will go away. In terms of relationships or dating, there has always been the stigma of black women being so loose and easy, that they are willing to do whatever, whenever. I have been approached very boldly by men of all races to "perform" for them. I never have, but it shocks me how open these men are. I remember on my last cruise, me and my friend did an excursion on a boat where shots of tequila were flowing freely. I being the outspoken, intoxicated person I was, was the first in the mambo line, actively participating with the host when he asked questions or asked for volunteers. Mind you I was intoxicated, but not beyond feeling tipsy, the tequila was basically very watered down. In no time a middle aged white man came up to me asking if I was willing to show my chest to him. I quickly went to the other side of the boat, freaked out he was ask such as thing, as there was no nudity on this boat. It was an excursion on a cruise ship, adults only, but not XXX. It was about drinking and riding to the beach, not sex. I have been in clubs or other places where men have asked me to just dance for them, I was not in a strip club, but for some reason I apparently am such a great dancer, they just want to watch me perform. It is like I was just there for their amusement. Nothing but an object or museum oddity to gawk at. The objectification of women is not helped by music videos, mainly hip hop videos in which women are happily suggestively dancing on poles, on cars, and in the club, with barely a strip of cloth to cover up their "assets". This has gone on for decades if not centuries, black women seen as oddities and for the sole purpose of sex. The Jezebel stereotype, Hottentot Venus, Superhead. Then we have the other extreme with the mammy stereotype. Overweight, mother like, and asexual. She is there for the purpose of taking care of everyone else. She covers herself so not to expose anything that might excite anyone. Her job is to have empathy and emotions for others, but not herself, almost like she is a saint, but not quite, as she is black and still considered subhuman. She must be strong, and she cannot show emotion. White women fall for this stereotype the most I think. I can't count how many white women are shocked by my marriage. It is as if to them how was I able to get a white man, much less get married to a white man. White women are the ideal, not black women. What shocks them even more is how often white men, especially now are more open to dating black women, as if they are scratching their heads and wondering. It doesn't help that as more and more relationships between white women and black men are on the rise, there is an outcry from black women, and there are negative stereotypes of black women being told to some white women by their black partners. Black woman are full of drama, argumentative, not attractive, overweight, have too many kids, and whatever else they have been told by their partners. Overall, I think black women straddle the line of the extremes. I know many women who on Saturday night will be at the club dancing suggestively, but on Sunday morning in the church. They will be active in the church, and active in the bedroom, evidenced by the multiple children they have with multiple partners. Or they will be praying one minute, but due to the black male shortage laying with a married man in the next. Or we have the black woman still praying and hoping their black prince will come, while they are home every weekend wondering when if ever, they will get married and start their families. Read more!

Originally posted by Glory-I-Am


Let me just say this about hip hop.The problem is not the music, or the images, the industry, greed, capitalism - none of that.The problem is culture. The problem is family values. There will always be something that turns a mirror back on society, reflecting the culture in that society. Misogyny, greed, violence, hedonism, materialism - all these things are in mainstream commercial hip hop and other media because all these things are in society. No one recording artist, video model, producer, or record label has the patent on these things. If there was no appetite for these morally questionable displays of vanity set to simple beats, then these opportunists would be out of business.I don't excuse these opportunists for what they're doing. The problems with today's mainstream commercial hip hop are inexcusable. In fact, that's exactly where things start to go awry - people are excusing the inexcusable. People know some songs say things that don't reconcile with their values, but they like the beat, so they turn it up... with their three year old listening in the back seat of the car. They wouldn't like if their three year old grew up to have a credit card swiped through the crack of her behind, but they'll watch some other man's daughter in that very position late at night while their little girls are sleeping (or up way too late, watching TV too). Read More They would rather their son get a good job when he grows up, but they allow him to hang pictures of admitted drug dealers - street thugs - on his bedroom walls. Not affirming our values - not honoring the values of our grandparents, is excusing the inexcusable, and as long as we let this and that continue to slide under the radar of what we should know is worthy of our time and attention, that which is considered "entertainment" will continue to degenerate. It's not just the music, it's the movies, it's celebrity "news" and gossip, it's fashion - it's culture at large, not just hip hop.The stuff I hear on the hip hop station as I turn by it disappoints me - not just because it's bad to me, but because I know people are listening and are entertained by it. Not very long ago, stuff like Chicken Noodle Soup and Laffy Taffy wouldn't have gotten airplay, because people would have said, "This song is stupid," and turned off the radio. Rappers who rhyme a word with the very same word in the next verse were once clowned. But as people allow music to dumb down by excusing mediocrity and ignorance, this is the future of radio hip hop. We have arrived. Maybe this isn't where we want to be, but until we change our appetites, we will be spoonfed whatever we tolerate.If we, as a group, rose to the level of the people we have the potential to be - people hungry for creativity, ingenuity, integrity, and variety, the problems we have with hip hop would ebb away like a bad dream after you wake up. We have to raise, not just feed and clothe, but guide, instruct, encourage, and believe in our children. We have to teach them their worth and about the opportunities available to them in this age where the ancestors have cried, bled, marched, and achieved so much so that we wouldn't have to shake our behinds or shuck and jive, grinning ear to ear, celebrating ignorance just to make a buck. We have to expose them to a variety of music, so they can appreciate a good hip hop sample when they hear it. We have to give our kids the tools to see hip hop and evaluate it for themselves - to separate fantasy from reality, and be able to tell walking, rapping stereotypes from genuine men and women.In short, we don't need hip hop to go away. If we know who we are and what we're capable of and we give our kids the right tools in life, they'll see the negative things about commercial mainstream hip hop, or other media images and preoccupations for themselves, and respond in kind by rejecting that which is abhorrent, embracing that which doesn't appeal to the basest levels of our existence, and changing the game. Read more!

By Mad Poetic


My parents divorced when I was 13 and eventually my Dad went on to another relationship and ultimately getting remarried. I was cool with that even though dude kept it a secret until I found out 10 years later…”What! You mean to tell me that broad you’ve been living with all this time is your wife??? When the hell did that happen?” After the divorce shit was strained as you can imagine and my mom’s response to everything was “call your father”. If I need a pair of draws, “call your father”, if I need some new shoes, “call your father”, if I need a pack of condoms…y’all get the drift. But I wasn’t calling him for shit…I didn’t make this mess so why I got to hustle phone calls and whatnot….so basically I went without draws, shoes and I ended up boosting the condoms from the Venture’s out in River Oaks. There were many a heated phone call between my mother and father….I made the mistake off picking up the phone one night only to encounter a slew of “F U pay me’s” and a handful of “I ain’t got no money” but what surprised me was the response of my fathers new lady. I could hear in the background shouting directions to my Dad like “you ain’t got to do that” and my favorite “you paying child support so let them figure it out”. Read More Let “THEM” figure it out? Oh really?!?! Who the fuck is “THEM”! I wanted to scream in the phone so bad and say “Dad, you ain’t smack her yet? I know you ain’t gon’ take that” but to no avail dude just hung up and went on with his life. It was at the moment that I vowed to a) have my chirrun in a family setting by hook or crook and b) if shit don’t work out and I got to bounce I will never let some random ass hussy shit on the remnants of my family….
I have no respect for cats who let the new broads infiltrate and agitate their situations especially when it comes to the children. That shit I can not honor. Your main focus is to the seeds you left behind…you still hold the position of cultivator and father and you can never allow anyone to push you off your square. And you can’t blame the sistas you move on with from trying to look out for themselves and their chirrun by piecing together families as best they can which you are now a part of. That’s the nature of a mother…trying to carve a world out of the disappointments they may have faced in the past. Trying to give there chirrun the family, that in some cases, they never had. It’s easy to put the blame on them but this is a cross you need to bear. But be wary, there are some sista that really and truly don’t give a shit about what you stand for and could care less whether you spend time with your offspring or not….as long as you are doing for her and her baggage. As soon as you get a phone call talkin’ ‘bout “Lil Tyrone needs this or that” they all in your ass pulling out all the tricks…guilt, the “what about me?”or the always reliable “I’m yo woman now!”….but what they fail to realize is that it ain’t about them. So if you get the call you needs to get yo ass up, put yo shit on and hightail it to the nearest “Babies R Us” and get them wipes, diapers, bottle warmers, breast milk pumps or what the fuck ever is needed. You can deal with the bullshit later but you take care of your responsibility before anything else. If you got a woman that can’t relate to that then in the words of Wesley Snipes from New Jack City “cancel that bird and get you a new one”.
Women just want to be a part of something beautiful, real, and sustaining. They want to feel safe, be pampered and loved. They want to find a place to put down all the baggage they’ve been carrying and not have to worry about being judge but a place to find infinite acceptance. So if you’re the brotha who has chosen to give her this Utopia at least do her the solid and reveal her place, her role, and your expectations. Sometimes in our quest to put her first we do more of a disservice in our attempt to forge a healthy relationship. “Second” relationships have a great number of obstacles to conqueror so it’s best to put all the cards on the table then to have a wait and see outlook. And be firm and open about how you deal with your situation. If you’re going to pick up your shorty from the babies’ momma’s why the hell is the new broad riding shotgun? Does she let you hang out at the flat when the baby daddy comes by to pick up his kid…I didn’t think so. And why is the new broad all in your pocket when it comes to things you purchase for your child? Does she sweat you or question you when your paying tuition and shit for her child?…I didn’t think so. And why is the new broad coming to your child’s football game?…you know, the one where your child’s mother will be in attendance?…tell her ass to fall back…this is not her place. Don’t allow her need to be “seen” to fuck up an already fragile situation. And if the babies daddy comes to the crib to get his shorty don’t be all in the front door trying to intimidate somebody, you might get your ass kicked…sit yo ass back down in the lazy boy and finish watching the game…ain’t yo place even if you do live there.
Dudes, if you got baggage and responsibilities and getting ready to jump into the pool of “second chance at love” then first gather your senses and priorities. Remain steadfast in what you believe in and never compromise when it comes too your children because believe me the women you get with ain’t gon’ compromise either and she shouldn’t have too. Give her the “real” situation so that she can make her decision based on fact and not fantasy. Ladies, you can’t dethrone the babies momma…not happening. Try being an ally and not an antagonist. Read more!