If the Southern segregationists had to assemble an ideal 4 X 100 meter relay team they would probably be unstoppable. Senator Trent Lott would be the first leg. Since he believes that all the problems in the United States could’ve been avoided had Strom Thurmond been elected President in 1948, he will get a fast start trying to chase history. The second leg, which runs the longest distance (110 meters to be exact), would be run by Strom Thurmond. Thurmond would be ideal for this position because of his stamina. How many people can argue continually for 24 hours 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 (the longest filibuster ever conducted by a single senator)? Even Rush Limbaugh gets tired. Senator Joseph McCarthy would run the third leg so he could tell the anchor if there are any communists behind him. Finally, Governor George Wallace would run the last leg. Although he might not be the fastest on the team, he could always use fire hoses and canines to take care of the competition. However, this team wouldn’t be passing a baton. Batons are for cops without warrants. No, this dream team would be passing the “Southern Strategy”. Read more »

Okay, am I the only one who finds Kanye West’s new video, Power, disturbing? Mind you, I love to see music videos that are artistic and push the envelope, but I will not deny that I was a little disturbed by his video, Power.

Read more »

Soon after President Barack Obama was elected, the lie of post-race America began. It was this idea that because we had a black president in office, we as a nation, had somehow transcended race. But the very idea of a raceless (it isn’t even a real word) society is impossible. However, for many, the uptick in interracial relationships coupled with a bi-racial President in office is overwhelming evidence that society has moved on from the big “R.” Fortunately, we still have reminders.

Meet Dr. Laura Schlessinger. She’s a conservative talk radio show host who has often times run up against more liberal groups. Prior to her nigger-rant, she has previously sparked outrage from gay groups. She has also ranked alongside Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh in conservative radio with nearly 9 million listeners tuning in each week. She has since left her multi-million dollar radio spot amid outrage. Read more »

What happens when you answer the phone to the sound of your mother crying on a hospital bed asking for a kidney? Not a figurative request that represents the love and affection that is due to the person who deposited life into you on the day of birth. Not a theoretical entreaty that allows one to peruse the peripheral areas of reality under the protection of the hypothetical. Not a demand that persuades one to act out of trepidation and fear. No, what if your mother made a simple appeal saying “I need you to get tested, dialysis is no longer working.” What happens when the kindest person you have ever encountered, goes through so much natural pain. What happens when technology and globalization have never been so hard to cope with, when your mother asks for a kidney from hundreds of miles away? No eye contact, no affectionate hug and kiss, just her voice through the speaker of a five inch blackberry tour. What happens when you answer that phone call and feel the tears from a woman’s face that you love, and you don’t have the choice to face her?

Read more »

“I’m a hustler baby/I’ll sell water to a well”- Jay-Z. If Mr. Sean Carter took a stroll with me down Michigan Avenue this past weekend, even he might have been surprised by the ingenuity of today’s youth. As I strolled past the Chicago River on Wacker Drive I saw the beautiful  Chicago skyline. Every time I take public transportation north of Roosevelt I’m always amazed at how the city magically gets cleaner. I digress. As I sauntered down Michigan Avenue last Saturday I saw capitalism at it’s finest. No not rogue capitalism. Bernie Madoff and Jack Abramoff are still incarcerated. I saw young Black kids using their varied talents to make money.

Although the city of Chicago may deem some of their business ventures hustles illegal (I saw two kids get citations for blocking the walkways), I look at them as creative ways for young folks to practice entrepreneurship. Heck if people can use exotic financial instruments to manipulate the free market, I believe kids should be able to use their talents to give them access to markets.

Read more »

The VMAS are shaping up to be quite an interesting show this year, people.

Don’t think so? Well, of course not. The VMAs basically suck. It’s one of those awards shows that aren’t serious about who actually receives awards (kinda like the Kids Choice Awards…or the BET Awards), which turns the whole thing into one, big joke. Almost every year, there’s some scandal erupting around the show, whether its Britney Spears committing career suicide in front of the entire world (remember when that happened?), or Kid Rock knocking Tommy Lee’s block off for stealing his seat next to Diddy (yeah, that happened too…in the same night). Last year, the VMAs were best known for a particular moment in which one of our favorite artists/hot heads, didn’t get the joke, rushed the stage during a 19 year-old white girl’s acceptance speech, and set off a scandal to end all scandals.

Kanye’s career was on life support after the Taylor Swift incident; plans to tour with Lady Gaga were scrapped, President Obama called him a jackass, and West basically went into hiding for about 8 months.

Read more »

Jimmy Santiago Baca, a leading contemporary Latino poet writing in the United States, reminds us that “Poetry’s mission is to subvert, to question, to challenge, provoke, to flail one’s vulnerability and voice into the marvelous whirlwind of poetry’s awe, flagging at the horns of the raging beast that is societies gluttonous comfort, ‘bringing social justice’…affirm poetry at any cost”

I ran into this quote (written above) and it inspired me to post a poem today. In light of Prop 8 being repealed last week the poem below has been dedicated to all those who are at a point of personal stress from being marginalized that they may not be focusing on the fight for gay marrige. Or you could just say this is for the boys and girls and men and women, who are focused on their personal struggle of coming out the closet. This is a stage that most in the LGBTQ community have labored through. For the last couple days I have adorned my “Legalize Gay, repeal prop 8” T-Shirt. (For all those who have something against our media, a Judge in California repeal proposition 8 a week ago.) So as most people want to focus on systemic issues (even myself at times) this poem is about the personal individual struggles that youth and adults (for those who came out a little later in life) fight through.

Read more »

Xenophobia? No. Misinformation? Yes. As the 2010 midterm elections rapidly approach Republicans seem to be eyeing seats like hungry dogs. John Boehner practically salivates every time he sees Nancy Pelosi’s seat. Although some pollsters are predicting a shift in power come November, the Republicans could be licking their wounds after the precincts close. Senator Lindsey Grahams’ recent comments about modifying the 14^th amendment to change the birthright clause could easily land the Republicans in the dog house. Although many Republican operatives have recognized that Graham’s proposal to re-examine the 14^th amendment could be politically suicidal, the damage seems to be done. Graham’s misguided understanding of immigration policy in this country is about as ridiculous as America’s infatuation with the television show Jersey Shore. Read more »

Believe it or not, but BYP’s resident music geek has never been to Lollapalooza.

I’ve read all about it, of course. It’s beginnings in the early 90’s typify a watershed moment in popular culture, in which alternative music (everything from Pearl Jam to Ice Cube) rose to unlikely prominence, due in no small part to the exposure Lollapalooza provided. Festivals like Lillith Fair, Warped Tour, Ozzfest and Rock the Bells would not exist were it not for Lolla.

And now the time has finally come. I’m going this weekend. And although the festival has changed since its beginnings in regards to the lineup, it’ll definitely be an interesting weekend nonetheless.

Lady Gaga is headlining tonight, in what is easily her biggest show to date in the United States. What she has planned is anyone’s guess, but the mystery is alluring enough for me to choose her set over The Strokes, as they’ll be playing at the same time (which is seriously fucked up).

Some other can’t-miss artists include Soundgarden, reforming after breaking up over 10 years ago, Green Day, Against Me!, MGMT, Arcade Fire, and a bunch of indie shit most people aren’t familiar with. But if there’s any day to hit up the fest, it might be Sunday, when the mighty Erykah Badu will take the stage at 5pm, followed by MGMT at 6, Cypress Hill at 7 (and you know what that means), rounded out by the aforementioned Soundgarden at 8.  This is an absurdly diverse and undoubtedly amazing lineup, so try not to miss it.

There will be lots of drinking, sweating, and standing, and probably a slew of poor choices made throughout the weekend, so keep me in your prayers.

And if you are going this weekend, let us know what bands you’re looking forward to seeing…and which ones you think should have been invited, below.

Cheers!