Septmember 14, 2011

According to Marjorie Valbrun’s recent article in America’s Wire, more whites than blacks actually think our country has entered into a “post-racial” era, despite clear signs that structural racism continues to impede the life chances of African Americans. In fact, most people have no idea what structural racism is; instead defining racism by the blatant, hostile behavior of the Klu Klux Klan. Quoting Algernon Austin, she writes:

“’One of the legacies of the civil rights era is that we have a very powerful visual image of racism coming from media images of the civil rights movement,’ he says.

These images make people look for obvious examples of racism that are no longer commonplace — identifiable and openly hostile and racist characters such as Bull Connor or Ku Klux Klan members in white hoods. “Not the sort of day-to day-discrimination that we have now…’”

We’ve still got a long way to go in this country.

 

A fascinating new documentary called Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation premiers this Sunday on VH1. It highlights the relationship between the rise of crack cocaine in America’s inner-cities and Hip Hop, through the eyes of drug dealers-turned-emcees like Ice-T, Snoop Dogg and B-Real. This is a must-see.

 

Today would have been Amy Winehouse’s 28th Birthday. In her honor, full audio of her final recording has been released. Winehouse and Tony Bennett turn out a flawless version of the jazz classic “Body And Soul.” Amy looked healthy and happy, and her vocal performance was phenomenal. Such a tragedy.

Rest in Peace, Amy.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVuAvESTE5E

 

In fairly shocking news, NBC is adding a Black TV show to their primetime lineup…and it’s a really good one!

Dubbed Easy Rawlins, the show will be based on the classic detective fiction novels of Walter Moseley. According to Clutch Magazine, “The crime drama will chronicle the life, times and crime fighting skills of the self-taught P.I. Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins  in 1960′s Los Angeles.”

This might actually be amazing. The last time a Moseley novel was brought to life, we got Devil in a Blue Dress with Denzel Washington. And if the reports that Moseley himself will write for the series are true, I think it’s safe to get excited for this one.