American Blacks Have The Most Potent Culture On The Planet And Our Messages, Through Time, Defeat All Ills

Old Jim Crow's Obituary (Was Written Waaay Too Soon)

From The Jackals To The Jackal (Blacks Die Too Young)

“These claims have been denied for so long that some people have the perspective that time has essentially eliminated the validity of the claims — and of course, on the other side, reparations activists have the perspective that time has only compounded the damage that’s been done by ignoring the claims.”

“The events in 12 Years A Slave took place in the United States during the 19th century, after the end of the transatlantic slave trade to the US (in 1808), but before the ending of slavery itself (in 1865).

By that time, slavery had been part of North American society for about 200 years.”

“Basically, the darker you are, the less attractive you are perceived to be.”

“Generally recognized as one of today's finest orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra, located in Washington DC, has been coined as the orchestra of the capital of the United States. The orchestra, which usually covers classical and pop performances, has recently ventured out into the constant emerging world of hip hop and announced the week long celebration One Mic: Hip-Hop Culture Worldwide. The celebration honors the works of Nasir "Nas" Jones and celebrates the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Illmatic.”

Ronny Jordan, the UK's Grammy-nominated acid jazz guitarist, best known for writing "The Jackal" with Dana Bryant, has passed away at the age of 51.

Trumbling Through The Trenches (Of Our Broken Heart)

"In a world where Nina Simone can break your heart with a Morris Albert ditty, anything is possible"

Mr. Trumble, who's great, sent me this and it moved me on so many levels - before I'd even gotten through the first minute of it - I thought, I ought to let him in on it: 

That face. I love black faces. There's a timelessness, an "indigenous" we-were-here-first look, that's comforting.

 

 I look at black faces and know (as they say in Rap) "We will be here forever" and "All they can say about the black man is he was, he is, and he shall be." 

Then of course, I go to Yurp and discover we're morons because everybody's "indigenous" to somewhere and - wow - if you look at 'em long enough, you can fall in love with practically every face on the planet.

They just don't all claim to be robots who need-to-get-them-selves-to-ge-ther. That's ours. 

Nina Simone was probably the first musical voice I became familiar with, as I remember "Don't Explain" playing often in my old man's home when I was a baby. She haunted me. I wondered what was wrong with her. Now I can see her as an adult, and understand, she was clearly insane. Talk about knowing why the caged bird sings, her life (which she made even more difficult) was tragedy personified.

As with Wesley Willis, there's something deeply disturbing about a true case of insanity being sold as a product, though I'm grateful for the view. Art can be troubling that way. But so can life. The functionally insane are everywhere, some producing beauty far beyond what the rest of us deserve (like here - even her drummer's been reduced to a spectator). Whether they're good earners or not, the rest need help. 

I'd still like a chance to see Americans whole, and rational, before I go.

This driving-ourselves-beautifully-insane shit has gone on for much too long,...