318 Search results for "police brutality"

  Last Thursday I did the above interview, hosted by Dr. Marc Lamont Hill on Huff Post Live , with actor Isaiah Washington and Andrea Plaid, associate editor of Racialicious.com, on the controversy caused by legendary actor/activist Harry Belafonte’s recent comments about Jay Z and Beyonce. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Mr Belafonte was quoted […]

The most sobering moment in Paul Beatty’s satirical novel, The White Boy Shuffle (1996) occurs just before the L.A. Riots are about to begin. The book’s protagonist, Gunnar Kaufman and his best friend Nicholas Scoby are on their way home from a strangely long basketball practice. During their walk, Gunnar immediately senses something different happening in his […]

Four Philadelphia police officers are at the center of controversy and outrage after a cell phone video surfaced showing them brutally beating 18 year-old Marcus Warryton. Check out the disturbing, infuriating footage after the jump.

April 29th marked the 20th anniversary of the LA rebellion, a response to decades of police brutality that culminated in the video tapped beating of Rodney King and a not guilty verdict for the offending officers. VH1 did a very good documentary of the rebellion and the role of Hip-Hop called Uprising: Hip Hop and […]

Since when has skateboarding become a standard by which we judge black masculinity? Prior to Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams, you would not see skate culture—promotion of local skate shops, perfection of kick flips and ollies, etc.—in music videos. Back then, the culture had an explicit expression whether it was Mr. “Skateboard P” himself or […]

Jasiri X and Chuck D of Public Enemy at the Occupy the Justice Department Rally for Mumia in DC (Photo by Paradise Gray) It’s been a whirlwind week for me on the Hip-Hop side of things. I performed in Stamford, CT at a Student Diversity Conference which was keynoted by the great Tim Wise, who […]

“Nobody is free until everybody is free.” -Fannie Lou Hamer Why am I so hesitant to speak of progress? I think it’s because my heart is heavy and my conscience is unclear given what I know about our present. I can’t state enough that the middle and upper class, college educated, and successfully professional Black people are […]

I just recently stumbled upon the tweet by the writer/comedian Elon James White that says, “Oh? The NYPD are treating you badly? Violent for no reason? Weird.” – Black People. At first I couldn’t help but laugh at the truth behind this simple statement and the nonchalant voice of “Black People” welcoming Americans, more specifically […]

I’ve grown up hearing stories from my parents, many of which were about their political activism, and many of which highlighted the lack of police support the experienced. In the summer of 1975, my dad participated in a desegregation protest on a beach in Boston where blacks had been excluded. While some protesters threw rocks, […]

This aint a Jay Z, Kanye or “Watch the Throne” hate post. I’m listening to the album right now and it’s pretty good. But while we’re caught in the hype of 2 of Hip-Hop’s biggest stars coming together and all the #WTT tweets and reviews, it’s a lot more important stuff going on the world […]

‘Sex Crimes Against Black Girls’ Exhibit Uses Art to Confront Incest Akiba Solomon, Colorlines | February 21, 2011 Last week, I checked out “Sex Crimes Against Black Girls,” a multimedia art exhibit that tackles many forms of sexual abuse black girls endure in the African Diaspora. The work, which will be at Bed-Stuy’s Restoration Plazauntil April […]

When Drum Gang Productions sent me this beat I was immediately blown away by it’s intensity. Of course, I felt it was perfect for me, and the type of music I make, but still I was unsure how I should approach it. I knew it was special and I didn’t want to waste it. Originally […]