...My Lips Is Like A Oowop As I Start To Spray It...

I'm not sure what the politically correct response should be, but I just feel down right embarrassed and irritated about the elaborate funeral given a few weeks ago for the "N" word. I watched some footage on the news and all I could really think was that all of those people should have been at work or somewhere volunteering to help someone downtrodden or illiterate, or temporarily disabled. ANYTHING other than standing around in their Sunday best trying to bury a word that has yet to die. I mean, when was the last time you were invited to a funeral for someone who was sitting up in the coffin talking to all the guests and thanking them for coming? I'm not really sure how we can bury something that hasn't died. Yep, I know the word is ugly. I know it's history as well. However, I must say that I subscribe to Chris Rock's theory of there being Black People and Niggas. If we bury that word, what will we use to describe that guy who makes a million babies and won't take care of any of them? How about the guy in front of the liquor store selling drugs and passing out disrespectful comments to every sista who walks by? Or even the guy who makes money by stealing from those of us who work hard? I guess there are other words like bum, miscreant, irresponsible bastard, or even villain but frankly, nothing says it all like the words, "sorry %#&@$! nigga". Whew, I feel better already. Before you get upset with me, yes, I know I shouldn't. Yes, I know what our people have been through to obliterate this word and it's connotations. I even know that most people of color, are not examples of the "N" word. But damnit, when they stop making niggas, I'll be the FIRST one to stop saying nigga. Until then, when I see one, I plan to continue calling him/her like I see him/her. Burying the undead? Nigga, please! That's crazy talk.

Just Hand Over The Pens and There Won't Be Any Trouble

I finally did it. I got registered for school and I start back in a few days. Sure, part of me had some reservations at first, but the rest of me is excited about the change I'm making in my future. At least my future is what I thought was most important about my decision until I discovered something about myself while pushing a basket at Wal Mart. I dropped by two days ago to purchase a notebook, some pens, and a few highlighters for class but once I arrived on the school supply aisle, I saw the Promised Land. There were multi-colored post-its, a variety of pens, highlighters in every hue, rulers, staplers of the "mini" variety, and even three hole punchers made to fit in one's binder. It was all so much! My heart started to beat just a little faster and an involuntary grin spread across my face. I suddenly realized, I love school supplies more than I love school. There's just something about ripping open your school supply booty and sliding each item into its special book bag compartment. Oh, be still my heart! Sure, I'm working on my personal and professional goals by going to school. I'm securing a better place for me with my employer. Hell, I may even change a few lives before it's all over. But to tell the truth, you can keep all that. Just give me the supplies.

When All Else Fails, Blame Hip Hop

Yeah, I know, hip hop can be evil. It often glorifies violence, misogyny, and materialism over substance. I get it. Who doesn't? But damnit, we can't blame hip hop for everything! These days it seems as if it is a catchall scapegoat for all things evil and it just isn't fair or even logical. Unfortunately, I've been watching some coverage of the whole Mike Vick scandal involving illegal dog fighting. The news reporter said that a national animal rights group blames hip hop for glorifying dog fighting and making it "cool". I couldn't believe my ears, and thought what next? Shall we blame the war in Iraq on hip hop? I can just see W now, holding a press conference after a major attack in Iraq saying, "This never would have happened if it wasn't for E40 and this stupid hyphy movement". Is hip hop also to blame for global warming? Or perhaps the hole in the ozone layer? Yeah, it's really all TI's fault. At what point do people stop blaming someone or something else for their choices and actions and start accepting responsibility? I'm so ready for Tipper Gore to start a campaign on personal integrity instead of one to censor hip hop. As unbelievable as it may seem, if people actually started holding themselves accountable for what they do, negative hip hop and the images that sometimes accompany it would be so irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Let's wake up and blame ourselves instead of hip hop.

What Happens When A Hot Ghetto Mess Goes Global

If you haven't ever visited the site, chances are you've at least received an email or two (or more) with pictures taken from hotghettomess.com , the bane of black people's existence. I, like many other black people, have looked at the ridiculous pictures, burst out laughing, and forwarded them to my other friends so they too could share in the delight of laughing at someone who doesn't have sense enough to know fashion from a hole in the ground. Yep, it's all fun and games until it comes on BET. According to an article I read on yahoo news, BET's new fall lineup will include a show based on the website, hotghettomess.com, where film clips will be shown of black people acting a fool (because there just aren't nearly enough of these) while a panel of some sort provide commentary regarding the material. Reading that article made me think of how the site is not really funny. It's tragic and embarrassing. Just the mere fact that it's called hotghettomess.com and features mostly pics of inappropriately clad black people should concern us. First of all, why must we equate ourselves with that term? Are black people the only ones who can be a hot ghetto mess? Why isn't there a website for non-hot ghetto messes that features black folks? It was all fun and games until I started getting pictures from the website from my white co-worker. We do share a certain rapport but now I must tell him that he needs to refrain from sending any further hot ghetto messes to me as I find it shameful and a gross misrepresentation of my people. Surely he's always thought it was okay because as black people, we laugh at the emails as if it's cool. Well, now I finally realize it isn't cool. While Reginald Hudlin, the head of programming for BET, may not be wise enough or even care enough about the plight of his people to not perpetuate this existing foolishness, I do have sense enough not to watch it or forward it to others. We have enough problems as it is. We don't need yet another hot ghetto mess.