Tidbits

- Another blogger has put together a list of the Top 10 uses of "the 'N' word." It's a great read. [Thanks Audrey!]

- We picked up some praise from Seattlest this week. It wasn't entirely surprising since we'd answered some questions about the A Revolution Stunted series, but we continue to be amazed by the overall response. We get outed in the post, but it's not like we took our blog anonymity very seriously anyway.

- Mark your calendars (in pencil) for the next sample sale. From one of the vendors:

I think we'll be back in Seattle doing something similar, but on a bigger, less basement-of-a-now-defunct-chinese-restaurant sort of feel on April 22.

- Captain America died this week. Some people are taking it far too seriously, but being comic readers, we're pretty sure this won't be permanent. He'll be back. As for as those saying this is some sort of political allegory, sure, it could be that, but if you actually take a look at some of the storyline in question, the writing is sharp as a sledgehammer and half as subtle. If you're looking for a comic that really has something to say, read Uncle Sam, which features beautiful art by Alex Ross, a wonderfully nuanced storyline, and an open-endedness that can only exist in a form not meant for kids (the Captain America storyline has to work on two levels, which weakens it a bit).

- Things we forgot to mention in Weekending: new opening at OKOK, new opening at BLVD, and 300 opens today for you comic book movie junkies.

The Revolution Continues...

- The "N" Word? Banned in New York.

- There's a backlash against rap? Ya don't say...

- Oprah, you know we love you, but perhaps you should do a bit more research before wielding your mighty hammer of influence.

[via Slog, ReluctantNinja, and Seattlest]

A Revolution Stunted: Until Next Year...

This is the last post for the A Revolution Stunted series. It's an occasion, so I'm going to break out of the Editorial We for a moment. I'm glad my readers (this means you) have not only stuck around, but have enjoyed the series. I wasn't sure how it would be received and I won't be so quick to doubt my readership in the future. Thanks to everyone for the comments, both here on the Interweb and in the real world. Really, it means a lot to know my words weren't falling on deaf ears.

So how do you close out a series like this? It's been a fun, frustrating, disheartening, and enlightening exercise finding these videos every day and I'm really glad I did it, if only to get some thoughts out into the world. I feel so much pride in my history (as you should for yours), but it's hard to feel so powerless about where things stand. There's so much potential, so much progress left to be made and sometimes it doesn't feel like anyone's stepping in to fill the void. I certainly didn't do this to propose solutions, but venting about the problems has to count for something, right?

So to close things out, I'm flipping things a bit. After a month of samples of the revolution being stunted, here are three videos to close things out on a hopeful note. The revolution may be stunted, but the revolution moves on, and that's what matters most. Until next year...
________

This is from an episode of The Boondocks that posits that MLK didn't die, but instead ended up in a coma. This speech closes out the episode, and sums up things up nicely.


James Brown represents both the shame and the glory. He was a drug abuser and wife-beater, but he was also one of the greatest entertainers the world has ever known. R.I.P.


This is the book they're referring to at the beginning of this clip.

A Revolution Stunted: The Second-to-Last Day Blowout

Only one more day of videos left, so here's a blowout of three classics that we don't think would stand on their own, but in aggregate make for a fitting post. If you're up on your memes, there's no way you've missed these, but consider this a reminder of Internets past. If you're not so Internet-addicted, we're doing our part to catch you up. How these fit the series requires no explanation.

A Revolution Stunted: Black Cocaine

We came home tonight to find a man outside our building very obviously having a bad drug reaction. He was flailing about, pants around his ankles, looking like he was doing a cross between dancing and fighting. We watched from our window while waiting for the cops to show and it just made us sad. This was a man probably trying to escape his problems, but at this point his chosen solution was in itself the problem. Rather than feeling hopeful he'll get the help he needs, we're now feeling guilty for being the catalyst for someone getting in trouble with the authorities. We know it's a silly reaction, but we can't help it. Guess this is one of those "ripple effects" from drugs in the community.

A Revolution Stunted: Little Man

In honor of the Academy Awards, today's video is for one of the worst movies to ever grace theaters. We've dogged on the Wayans before in this series, but we have no problem doing so again. Other movies in the running included Soul Plane, White Chicks, and Big Momma's House, but really, there's no shortage of crap to choose from. And that's the problem. "Black" movies don't have to be bad movies. We had The Color Purple, we had Roots (yeah, it was a mini-series, but whatever). We can have movies as good as The Departed, but we're going to have to stop supporting the worst of the worst first.

A Revolution Stunted: What What

Today's video has been making the rounds the last couple of days, and understandably so. It shows up here not because of the content. We actually think it could be considered progress that this video can be made, shared, and not entirely demonized. So on that front, it's a sign of how far the revolution has come. That said, the production on both the video and song leaves a bit to be desired (compare this with RuPaul's output, where the production values are a lot higher). So we applaud this video for what it represents, but we include it here as a reminder that being part of a niche is no reason for quality to slip.

A Revolution Stunted: How to Not Get Your Ass Kicked

Chappelle's Show gets a lot of credit for bringing racial humor to the forefront, but a few years prior to his breakout hit, Chris Rock also had a run as the Funniest Man In America with a similar style. His HBO show had plenty of great moments, the below being one of them. We thought of posting an Al Jolson in blackface video, but decided we wanted a funnier segue into the weekend.

A Revolution Stunted: Two For One Post - Twice the Shame!

On account of our being late in posting a video for yesterday, here are two for today. The first follows the same logic as yesterday's (all of yesterday's statements apply), an abomination that squeaks through in the guise of music. This one's certainly got more of a minstrel aspect to it however - seriously, didn't they have anyone with any knowledge of history in the editing booth!? The second video explains that minstrel/rap connection a bit more. You'll want headphones for that one.

A Revolution Stunted: This is Why I'm Hot

We're late with this one and we apologize. We thought this would have happened long ago, and yet somehow it took until the 22nd. Now on to the video.

This song is blowing up, and has even made it into our head, but for as catchy as it is, it angers up the blood. The legacy of great New York MCs leads to this?

I'm hot 'cause I'm fly, you ain't 'cause you not, this is why this is why this is why I'm hot.

Chris Rock explains it best, but it's hard to defend the current state of rap and hip-hop. CNN of the ghetto? Not so much anymore.

A Revolution Stunted: Smackfest

This video doesn't necessarily need to be singled out for just this series, it's demeaning to all of mankind. Apparently the cost of one's dignity is a lot lower than we thought. Wow, just...wow.

A Revolution Stunted: Def Poetry Jam - The N Word

Some days choosing these videos is easier than others. Something will stick out as part of our day, then it's just a matter of finding to right video to convey what we had in mind. Usually it doesn't take too much. Today took a bit more effort, and we went through at lot of videos before settling on this one. It's definitely on the more serious side of things, and while it is spoken word, it's at least not the crappy kind. Instead, it more eloquently states the case against usage of the N word than we ever could. Listen with headphones on.

A Revolution Stunted: Tyra Banks

There's another video of Tyra Banks overestimating the importance of her being the first black solo model on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition that was sent to us as a potential candidate. Don't get us wrong, that is a notable achievement, but it's not like she discovered a million and one uses for the peanut. However, if Tyra Banks is making this series of posts, it's because of the video below (something light to close out the weekend). Way to perpetuate the stereotype of the hysterical black woman.

A Revolution Stunted: I Was Once a Democrat

(This one's about politics, breaking a spanning_time content barrier a bit. Don't worry, this isn't a political blog, nor will it be despite this departure.)

We're all for freedom of thought and freedom of political choice, but to put it simply, this guy's an idiot. We'd hardly say that Democrats are saints, but after the last few years it's a lot easier to see the divide between the two major parties, and even if they are just the lesser of two evils, the magnitude of that evil reduction should count for something. Kanye (egotistical blowhard that he is) was closer to reality than this guy, although we tend to think "poor" could replace "black" in Kanye's penultimate statement.

A Revolution Stunted - Leprechaun

We were just asked about this series that we've been doing and it brought up today's video in our heads. This video is actually the inspiration for this entire series. Why? Just watch the video and you'll quickly understand why it makes us hang our head in shame ("Who else seen da leprechaun say YEAH!"). There are a million essays by a million writers on the topic of media perception, but all those essays can be distilled into this one two-minute clip. Come on people, we can do better.

A Revolution Stunted: Blacknificence

Dammit Dr. Kambon, you should know that the first rule regarding the revolution is that you don't talk about the revolution! (Longer version of the video here (which provides more context for his statements)).

A Revolution Stunted: Inside Looking Out

Here's a clip especially for Valentine's Day. We considered posting this one instead, but that one's not nearly as funny in dealing with the same topic: Interracial dating. Our take: just find someone to love y'all. Happy Valentine's Day.

A Revolution Stunted: SNL Blackness Scale

Not the funniest SNL skit, but not bad for their modern era. The fact that you can make a blackness scale and have that humor be universal speaks volumes. It's sad when the concept of a blackness scale plays out in the real world (trust us, we know), but that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right? Go Obama!

A Revolution Stunted: 1988 Dunk Contest

We had some really great commentary about how sports is given too much of a priority over education, but we lost our train of thought as we got to watching these dunks.

A Revolution Stunted: I Got Me Some BAPES

We're going to preface this post by saying we're total hypocrites. We love shoes, and we're going to go buy some stuff right after we post this. That said, as much as we love shoes, we've never danced in the streets or felt compelled to make a video (the former we do in our bedroom, but that's it). With all the problems out there in the world, why is the hoarding and display of material goods so high on the priority list? We don't know - we do know we'll have that question on our minds as we go shopping.

Note: For those not familiar, "BAPES" is the colloquial term for "Bathing Apes," a brand of shoe known for its bright color schemes, limited-edition runs, and high price tag.