Afternoon News Round-UP
September 14, 2011

Toure’s latest book “Who’s Afraid Of Post-Blackness?” is starting a helluva lot of controversy, and I can’t wait to read it. The first chapter is called “The Most Racist Thing That Ever Happened To Me,” and it’s available at TheAltantic.com right now. Do yourself a favor and check it out. The most compelling passage?

“I asked my 105 interviewees, What is the most racist thing that has ever happened to you? The response I received most often was indicative of modern racism: The answer is unknowable. ‘I imagine it’d be a thing I don’t even know ever happened,’ Aaron McGruder said. ‘It would be that opportunity that never manifested and I’ll never know that it was even possible.’ A decision is made in a back room or a high-level office, perhaps by someone you’ll never see, about whether or not you get a job or a home loan or admission to a school. Or perhaps you’ll never be allowed to know that a home in a certain area or a job is available. This is how modern institutional racism functions and it can weigh on and shape a Black person differently than the more overt, simplistic racism of the past did.”

The realest shit I’ve read all week…

 

Last week, we told you about a fascinating new documentary called “The Black Power Mixtape,” which uses never-before-seen, archival footage and interviews to tell the story of the Black Power Movement. Well according to The Huffington Post, the film was picked up by Danny Glover’s production company, loving titled Louveture Films, with Glover acting as executive producer. Glover spoke out recently regarding the film.

The Huffington Post writes:

“His best hope for the film is ‘that it will reinforce something people feel intuitively, instinctively in a way that makes them ask themselves, ‘Who do I have to be in my own transformation to make the world a better place?’’ he said. ‘That’s what I’m asking African American people to do. That’s what I’m asking all people to do.’”

 

With all the talk over today being Amy Winehouse’s birthday, the fact that it’s also Nas’ birthday seems to have been lost in the shuffle. Well the Black Youth Project are big Nas fans, and we’re honoring the legendary emcee by wishing him a happy and healthy 38th birthday. Meanwhile, Complex Magazine chose to honor Mr. Jones with a list of his top ten WORST songs. It’s really funny and true, so we’re providing you with a link…

…and we’re balancing the haterade out with a Nas classic. Love you, Nas.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCOURZ-yx4E

 

Lil Wayne sat down for an interview with Vibe Magazine recently, and he had some very choice, controversial and likely spot-on words for the Tea Party:

“’You learn from what the right-wing is doing and you take something from it,’ he said. ‘I feel like as a people, the most that we can do is better ourselves and learn. Then look at yourself and ask, ‘Am I the person they’re talking about or am I not?’ You have to make the most of who you are because the Republicans are never going to like us.’”

He also mentioned that Tea Partiers probably hate President Obama because he’s black. So expect an annoying, vaguely racist, anti-Hip Hop rebuttal from Glen Beck or Bill O’Reilly by tomorrow morning….