Those Were the Days
Here is the classic footage of Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” actually a segment from D.A. Pennebaker’s 1967 documentary Dont Look Back. In the video Dylan holds cue cards containing humorously transcribed excerpts of the lyrics to this song. This image has stuck in my mind since I first saw this video at fourteen.
Notice the late poet Allen Ginsberg in the background near the alley wall. The man widely seen as a Beat guru lives up to that archetypal image here.
Preaching the Blues
“An Open Letter to all the Rosie O’Donnells” by Beau Sia
Found out about this wonderful video from the blog Reappropriate. Slam-poet Beau Sia speaks from his heart this open-letter to all the Rosie O’Donnells in the world.
For a group of people known for espousing “personal responsibility,” American white folks sure seem to be afflicted by a marked inability to do the same. Here’s some advice for Hollywood and White America: Take some responsibility for your orientalism, and for all the other damaging white supremacist messages you put out there. Messages that often end up in the minds and mouths of children and spat onto the souls of other children.
If you ask me, this is exactly what Black women need to be saying to Mr. Charles “Shirley Q. Liquor” Knipp.
On Movies and Ideology
Cross-Post: “The Dream Machine” by Y. Carrington, published at “Leftist” Movie Reviews
My friends and I love to watch movies. Part of our political work together is critiquing the content of mainstream Hollywood films—yes, your Jaws, your Beverly Hills Cops parts one through three, and your Titanics. You see, many leftists watch films and profess a love and respect for the art form, but usually these folks are talking about “sophisticated” cinema, like arthouse features and political/historical documentaries. Going unspoken in this dialogue is a false division between high art and “low-brow” mainstream culture.
But here’s the thing—all culture is political, because all culture is produced by human beings in human societies. Any culture that is produced by any person in a society will reflect the given political reality and consciousness of that person’s time.
We are all Sean Bell.
Mos Def Speaks on Recent NY Shootings
A powerful message of humanity from rapper/actor Mos Def.
Rest in peace, Brother Sean.
Sweeter than I Thought
Here’s the kind of person I am:
The Story of “The Pool Guy”
Danny Hoch exposes Seinfeld
In the wake of Kramergate, this excerpt from Danny Hoch’s 2001 film Jails, Hospitals, and Hip-Hop is now making the rounds of the blogosphere. Mr. Hoch fills us in on the real story of Seinfeld’s infamous “Pool Guy” episode. Read more »
I’ve Apologized Dammit!
The infamous “apology” on Mr. David Letterman’s show, with Mr. Jerry Seinfeld as official envoy. One for the ages.
“I’m not a racist!—that’s what so insane about this!” Right.
Paul Mooney Renounces N-Word
Comedian Paul Mooney vows to stop using the n-word, ’cause he said that Michael Richards’ rampage over a week ago has “cured” him. Frankly, I think this is a pretty lame excuse. Why does it take some white guy acting a fool onstage for Mooney to get clear on internalized oppression?
Check out the LA Times article below.
The Incriminating Video
Here’s the actual video of what Richards did, for those of y’all out there who STILL don’t get that this is white supremacy.
Quoting Richards: “That’s what happens when you interrupt the white man!” I don’t know how clearer he could have been.
The One Honest Man in the Industry
Michael Richards’ Standup – Sinbad Reaction on CNN
Here is that excellent CNN interview with comedian Sinbad that aired this past weekend. He was in the audience when Michael Richards made his genocidal racist remarks, and he is very clear that Richards’ outburst was sheer racist harassment. Talk about telling it like it is.
I swear…Sinbad is the only honest person in Hollywood.
