Welcome to The Underdog Speaks, where the voice of those who are otherwise disregarded are welcome and encouraged to speak! The first topic I'd like to bring up is Prop 8 and the African American position. This is an email I sent to a radio station in Los Angeles in response to callers and moderators trying to name Black folk and Latinos as the main contributors to the proposition passing. Let me know what you think people!
I’m a teacher at a private school and also an avid listener to your radio program on my way to work every morning. I always appreciate the differing and well informed perspectives that are featured on your varied programming. I am concerned, however, about a recent determination/judgment that seems to be resonating with many program moderators at your station. This issue is the act of demonizing the African American and Latino communities for their position on Proposition 8. As a teacher it is important to do research on students who are determined to be “problems” in the classroom to understand the historical factors that contribute to their disposition. I am in no way trying to equate the mentality and understanding of children to that of an adult, but I’m drawing a parallel between teaching and journalism/radio reporting as it relates to research. It would be irresponsible for me as a teacher to label a student in a negative way without understanding the contributors in his/her environment that affect their thinking and way of life. Although we have an African American president elect, it does not erase the system of oppression that is still in place in this country. African Americans and other minorities are constantly disenfranchised. The higher up on the economic food chain, the less people of color you will see. That is America for African Americans and other minorities. There are very few positive images, stories or messages in the media, school, newspapers or anywhere else for African Americans. In fact, the identity of the black community has been controlled and spoon fed to the youth since the Jim Crow era. We have certainly made strides since then as a country, but to ignore the historical and current factors that contribute to the “mentality” of people of color is irresponsible. I’m saying all of this to segue into the fact that black identity for the youth is defined by Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop’s message is controlled by corporations that are systematically pumping a certain message and image into the minds of the youth about themselves. This message is largely negative and “contributes” to the genocide that is swept under the rug that exists in black neighborhoods all over the country as our youth are inundated with “thug” images and thug messages. Black film writers and producers are turned away from the large movie producing corporations when they present a film depicting African Americans in a positive light because their scripts are not “Black enough”. Positive movies and messages slip through the airwaves and film every now and then when Will Smith, Denzel and a few others have films but these films pale in comparison to the Soul Planes and other movies that depict African Americans in a negative way. The main source of positive reinforcement for many economically deprived minorites in America is the church.
You will find churches all over America full of economically deprived minorities (And well-off people of all cultures and creeds) desperately in search for a positive message. The church speaks out against homosexuality among other things that are noted in the Bible as “sins”. Faith and intellect are often separate as people in church are encouraged to use a different muscle to strengthen faith; heart over mind. The downside to this is that most people believe whatever the preacher tells them as infallible truth and will believe with all of their heart that what is being taught to them is in God’s best interest for their life. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t (Sometimes what’s being taught is tied in with propaganda to move a certain agenda..depending on the leadership or church organization). What I’m suggesting is that the bulk of these people did not vote in this way to purposely “suppress” or deny a group of people (Homosexual...ironically enough in California many of them are African American and Latino) their “civil rights”. They were simply voting in favor of what they believed to align with the teachings of the Bible. It’s what they were taught. It’s what they know to be truth. A lot of African Americans voted for Bush in the last election for the same reason....he seemed to be the candidate whose politics mostly aligned with the principles of the Bible. African Americans were not demonized then, why now? Furthermore to suggest that “Gay marriage” which in and of itself is a “Thriving” issue is the same as the civil rights movement to overcome the system of oppression which was a “Surviving” issue is also irresponsible. To try to compare the two is divisive. I’m not suggesting that a disconnect should not have been made by African American voters in order to make a judgement that goes against everything they’ve been taught, but I guess to do so would also stop the unnecessary killing of one another in the community as well, would it not? Because we are certainly taught to glorify thug images and that our true enemy is our own brother in a different color of clothing. Even the video game industry has cashed in on the genocide contribution. Games like Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row are good examples...the main characters are not war heroes fighting for a worthy cause like Call of Duty or Medal of Honor..they are gang bangers, killing each other for control of the streets. I am an African American who voted “no” on Proposition 8 and while I can certainly empathize with “The struggle” I realize that America hasn’t totally bought in to the separation of church and state. We did impeach Clinton for “Cheating on his wife” did we not? Adultery is no crime that I’m aware of other than in religious organizations. You should report that California didn’t come together and support a group of people who are being barred from happiness and the rights associated, not that minorities are largely responsible and should be reminded of a struggle that continues to be constant in America.
I’m a teacher at a private school and also an avid listener to your radio program on my way to work every morning. I always appreciate the differing and well informed perspectives that are featured on your varied programming. I am concerned, however, about a recent determination/judgment that seems to be resonating with many program moderators at your station. This issue is the act of demonizing the African American and Latino communities for their position on Proposition 8. As a teacher it is important to do research on students who are determined to be “problems” in the classroom to understand the historical factors that contribute to their disposition. I am in no way trying to equate the mentality and understanding of children to that of an adult, but I’m drawing a parallel between teaching and journalism/radio reporting as it relates to research. It would be irresponsible for me as a teacher to label a student in a negative way without understanding the contributors in his/her environment that affect their thinking and way of life. Although we have an African American president elect, it does not erase the system of oppression that is still in place in this country. African Americans and other minorities are constantly disenfranchised. The higher up on the economic food chain, the less people of color you will see. That is America for African Americans and other minorities. There are very few positive images, stories or messages in the media, school, newspapers or anywhere else for African Americans. In fact, the identity of the black community has been controlled and spoon fed to the youth since the Jim Crow era. We have certainly made strides since then as a country, but to ignore the historical and current factors that contribute to the “mentality” of people of color is irresponsible. I’m saying all of this to segue into the fact that black identity for the youth is defined by Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop’s message is controlled by corporations that are systematically pumping a certain message and image into the minds of the youth about themselves. This message is largely negative and “contributes” to the genocide that is swept under the rug that exists in black neighborhoods all over the country as our youth are inundated with “thug” images and thug messages. Black film writers and producers are turned away from the large movie producing corporations when they present a film depicting African Americans in a positive light because their scripts are not “Black enough”. Positive movies and messages slip through the airwaves and film every now and then when Will Smith, Denzel and a few others have films but these films pale in comparison to the Soul Planes and other movies that depict African Americans in a negative way. The main source of positive reinforcement for many economically deprived minorites in America is the church.
You will find churches all over America full of economically deprived minorities (And well-off people of all cultures and creeds) desperately in search for a positive message. The church speaks out against homosexuality among other things that are noted in the Bible as “sins”. Faith and intellect are often separate as people in church are encouraged to use a different muscle to strengthen faith; heart over mind. The downside to this is that most people believe whatever the preacher tells them as infallible truth and will believe with all of their heart that what is being taught to them is in God’s best interest for their life. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t (Sometimes what’s being taught is tied in with propaganda to move a certain agenda..depending on the leadership or church organization). What I’m suggesting is that the bulk of these people did not vote in this way to purposely “suppress” or deny a group of people (Homosexual...ironically enough in California many of them are African American and Latino) their “civil rights”. They were simply voting in favor of what they believed to align with the teachings of the Bible. It’s what they were taught. It’s what they know to be truth. A lot of African Americans voted for Bush in the last election for the same reason....he seemed to be the candidate whose politics mostly aligned with the principles of the Bible. African Americans were not demonized then, why now? Furthermore to suggest that “Gay marriage” which in and of itself is a “Thriving” issue is the same as the civil rights movement to overcome the system of oppression which was a “Surviving” issue is also irresponsible. To try to compare the two is divisive. I’m not suggesting that a disconnect should not have been made by African American voters in order to make a judgement that goes against everything they’ve been taught, but I guess to do so would also stop the unnecessary killing of one another in the community as well, would it not? Because we are certainly taught to glorify thug images and that our true enemy is our own brother in a different color of clothing. Even the video game industry has cashed in on the genocide contribution. Games like Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row are good examples...the main characters are not war heroes fighting for a worthy cause like Call of Duty or Medal of Honor..they are gang bangers, killing each other for control of the streets. I am an African American who voted “no” on Proposition 8 and while I can certainly empathize with “The struggle” I realize that America hasn’t totally bought in to the separation of church and state. We did impeach Clinton for “Cheating on his wife” did we not? Adultery is no crime that I’m aware of other than in religious organizations. You should report that California didn’t come together and support a group of people who are being barred from happiness and the rights associated, not that minorities are largely responsible and should be reminded of a struggle that continues to be constant in America.
