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Consciousness Today: Jabbawockee or Status Quo?

  • By: Garry
  • March 29, 2008
  • 2 comments

shine4.jpgWhile watching the season finale of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew I learned an interesting and potent spiritual lesson. (This is not uncommon for me. I believe if I am aware and listening for good in my life, it will reveal itself everywhere).

When Mario Lopez introduced montages of each crew’s journey to the finale stage, each offered relatable, endearing stories. Status Quo recalled arriving at auditions with nothing (money, assurances, etc) and having nothing to return to (presumably the same). Theirs was a tale of struggle and survival, right down to the scary moment when one of its members’ broken ankle threatened to sideline the crew early. However, their perseverance led them to the opportunity to leave with $100,000, and the title, “America’s Best Dance Crew.”

One of the Jabbawoockeezs’ primary motivations was to honor the death of a recently passed crew member. They referenced him throughout the montage (which included interviews). And, one of them ended by saying, “it doesn’t matter about winning. We’ve already been blessed. Just being on this show. And, being able to shine that light to all these people.” He was in tears as he said it, and I was blown away.

I was blown away because this is exactly the place our greatest good is born – a place of already being blessed, a place of abundance, not lack or limitation. If the beginning is an attitude of gratefulness (no matter what is perceived to be needed to improve our lives) there is a recognition that everything that is truly needed to be happy, right now, is already with and within us. Success comes, then, not from receiving something outside of ourselves (more money, companionate relationship, new car, no debt), but from the desire to shine the light already within us, deciding to give of the gifts we already have, and passionately using and creating from our individual talents. When the Jabbawockeez did that, when they created, lived and danced from a pure desire to follow their bliss and shine a light to all the people, their good came to them. Their win is a powerful lesson.

Lil’ Mama commented that the Jabbawockeez are the “birth of a new culture;” “you are the future;” “changing our culture.” When I consider the audacity of hope in Obama’s messages, the way the ideas in The Secret have spread like wildfire, and the comments of Lil’ Mama and “America’s Best Dance Crew,” it becomes clearer that a new day is dawning. I am reminded of an Arundhati Roy saying, “another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”

I have heard it said that the mind is the last frontier. As we all work to overcome the old ideas that do not serve us anymore, we overcome struggle by viewing ourselves as victors rather than victims; we believe that God is our supply and not a condition or person outside ourselves; and we become either Jabbawockeean visionaries or live the Status Quo. The idea is not to diminish the accomplishments of (the) Status Quo, only to ask are we coming from a place that believes we came with nothing and (may) have nothing to return to, or a place that recognizes that we are already blessed, the Light is within, and all we have to do is SHINE?!

(image via gettyimages)

Posted in: News

Banned BET Boondocks Full Episode (Video)

Shouts to Intelligent Ignorance.

Interestingly enough, the question of ‘artistic merit’ is stretched pretty far by McGruder in this episode. While Brandon over at Intelligent Ignorance posed the question of ‘is this more hurtful, than helpful’, I’m reminded of the lessons in history class about the merits of artists that challenged their time, ultimately inventing their own style. At given points in history, Van Gogh and Degas challenged the status quo through their expressions and were often relegated as ‘hacks’ or ‘inciting chaos’. While our times have definitely evolved and McGruder may never be in the same conversation as those artistic legends (except in this post), the principle, to me, is the same.

Art, whether comedy, cartoon, film, theatre, or music, has always had the special distinction of exciting our senses. It makes us laugh and cry, it stimulates our inner critic, and it causes a reaction. Of most importance, it fosters discussion. Art is in imitation of life, and whether your life reflects that piece of art is entirely subjective. The Boondocks is so powerful and polarizing because it does all of those things in a nice-and-neat, shell-shaded package.

Updated: Episode 2 is here.

[video below]

Posted in: Entertainment

Consciousness Today: the Illegal Download Question

  • By: Garry
  • March 12, 2008
  • 5 comments

One of the primary markers of consciousness is the awareness that no man is an island; we are not alone, such that most things we do will have an effect on someone else.

I vividly remember sitting in my apartment in college, high-speed internet included in the rent I shared with three other people. Napster blew up, and I owned every song I could imagine and more. Eventually the stories came out about the RIAA fighting back and by the time I got to law school, colleges, students and grandmothers were being sued for downloading music and movies without permission and without paying.

I researched this issue to discern whether I could justify downloading in this manner any longer. I understand now that Limewire and similar services are legal because there is a lawful purpose, i.e., peers actual do send others files and information over these networks that do not violate state and federal laws. I also learned that media could be copied (in some instances) for the purposes of training and education. And even that sharing among family members could be justified. But, when I was downloading Zapp & Roger, it wasn’t for my mom and dad, it wasn’t to learn their techniques, and it wasn’t something I was ’sharing’ with someone else who was entitled to share it with me.

I have debated this issue with friends and family. I understand all the rationales: music companies charge too much, the artists already make enough, I’m not hurting anyone. But, all you have to do is watch the TLC Behind The Music to know they aren’t making as much as we think. And sure, CEO’s and music execs make tons of money but they aren’t the only ones involved.

No one is talking about Sharon in human resources, James in marketing or Luisa the file clerk at one of these music companies. They have families, too. And, as CD sales plummet and illegal downloading continues in spite of the availability of legal, online pay sites, there is a human cost to our actions. This question boils down to what we want our actions to say about us.

It doesn’t have to be called wrong or right, illegal or legal to be conscious of what we want the things we do to say about us. Do we want to say, “I can download this legally because (1) I am blessed and able, (2) this puts money into circulation that eventually comes back to me, and (3) this honors the work of musicians, technicians and printers that for the most part aren’t thought of?” Or do we want to say, “I have to get mine and I am not concerned about the people whose livelihoods are affected by my choice. ”

If the music costs too much the appropriate response and the appropriate message is sent by not purchasing it. And I put myself in the shoes of one of those artists. What if my legal services were available for pay on a website, but somehow someone found a way to hack into it and give it away for free? Sure, I could be a wildly successful and wealthy attorney because of my site, but it still would not entitle someone to appropriate my work in that manner.

We make conscious choices with our dollar. When we spend (most times) we are choosing to validate, encourage and express our support for a product or service. We are making a qualitative statement. And, I like to think that when I buy a Kirk Franklin album or Common video I am saying affirmatively, “thank you for the way this has blessed my life.” Now, I know there’s not a lot of time in the day to think about purchases and iTunes like that. But, that is what walking aware is all about: recognizing the power and the choice we have in each moment to contribute to the good in ourselves and others.

Posted in: News

“Dee”-lightful!

  • By: Garry
  • January 28, 2008
  • 4 comments

Last night Ruby Dee won the Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting role for her efforts in “American Gangster.” This might increase her odds of winning the Oscar later next month for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting role. Dee is the only African-American nominated for an Academy Award this year, so that nomination, and the boost by the SAG win, is welcome.

dee.jpgYou may remember that Ruby Dee survives her husband, Ossie Davis, who died in 2005. They were a premier Hollywood couple, civil rights activists and role models for black actors, couples and people. She has previously won an Emmy and I think I first saw her on an episode of The Cosby Show. She remains the regal, engaging inspiration she was to me then. Congratulations!

(image via getty images)

Posted in: News

bitch fest

bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch!

Does that word even mean anything anymore? Does it mean anything to you when you hear it? How about when you hear it on prime time television, not once, but five times in the span of an hour. Last night my husband and I watched The Game followed by How I Met Your Mother- two completely different shows, casts, and story lines that both felt the need to repeatedly use the word “bitch.” After The Game, my husband referred to the show as ignorant. And after How I Met Your Mother, he stated that it’s still ignorant when white people do it. And it is. The Game

In both shows, the contexts of how the word was used were essentially the same: calling a man a bitch and then calling a woman a bitch. During The Game, the ex-girlfriend called Derwin “Malik’s bitch” and then there was an exchange of “bitches” between the ex and the new girl. During How I Met Your Mother, the female personal trainer said “do I smell a bitch in my gym,” referring to Marshall being a punk for not wanting to do 100 push-ups. Then Marshall’s wife called the trainer a “bitch.”How I Met Your Mother

Oddly enough, when the word was said during How I Met Your Mother, it was actually funnier. The unexpectedness of the phrase and the people who said it (white women who at first come across as nonabrasive) made it even more entertaining. That’s unfortunate to admit because the truth is, when I heard the word on The Game, it was not as funny because I can’t even count the number of times I’ve heard or seen black women call each other a bitch or a black woman roll her neck and call a man someone else’s bitch. After all, that’s our stereotype, so to see it depicted over and over again on TV is just as bad as seeing naked women in rap videos. It’s just not a good look.

But the bottom line is, no matter who is saying it, I’m tired of hearing the word bitch when I turn on the television. The more I think about having kids, the more I figure I’m just not going to let them watch television at all. I feel like I want to protect them in their own little bubble against the harshness that has become “entertainment.” I wouldn’t want my five-year old watching it and repeating it to her friends in kindergarten and I wouldn’t want my sixteen-year old repeating it and mimicking the conversation with her boyfriend. I don’t want that for my future kids, so in an effort to be the change I want to see in this world, I can no longer support these shows or any show that uses derogatory language. Hopefully this writer’s strike will give television writers a chance to cool down and write more appropriate and less stereotypical scripts.

Posted in: News

boondocks season 2 premieres tonight

  • By: Fredric
  • October 8, 2007
  • 0 comments

cartoon network, 11:30pm EST.

two words: woo hoo!!

that is all.

the boondocks

Posted in: News

Everyday Health Dilemmas

Do you ever think about the daily small decisions you make that affect your health? Whether to cook or eat out? Whether to get up and work out or save it for the weekend? Well Real Simple has broken a few dilemmas for us. Here are a few of my favorites:

Sleep an Extra Hour or Get Up and Exercise?

Photo from Getty ImagesBetter Choice: Exercise
Contrary to popular belief, a full eight hours of sleep isn’t necessary for good health, but regular exercise is. Studies have shown that people who sleep seven hours a night have a lower mortality rate than those who sleep more than eight hours. And if you have trouble getting up early — for workouts or any other reason — the best solution is…getting up early. “Going outside to exercise in the morning light will help reset your body clock and eventually make it easier to wake up earlier,” explains Shawn D. Youngstedt, Ph.D., a sleep researcher at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

But… If you’re particularly sleep-deprived — you have a new baby or you’ve been pulling all-nighters while preparing for the bar exam — “it’s not worth sacrificing sleep to exercise,” Manson says. In addition to fatigue and difficulty focusing, inadequate sleep may contribute to depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Yell at Someone Who Makes You Angry or Go for a Walk to Calm Down?

Better Choice: A walk
There are health benefits to expressing anger, but it’s not always most helpful to do so in the heat of the moment. By removing yourself, even briefly, from the situation, you may be able to gain perspective on what’s been said, why it upset you, and how you’d like to communicate your feelings, says Robert M. Sapolsky, Ph.D., a professor of neuroscience at the Stanford University Brain Research Institute, in Palo Alto, California.

But… If that someone is your spouse or a roommate, yell. Chronically bottling up anger in a close relationship can cause serious communication problems and, according to a study published in the February issue of Circulation, can harm your health.

Watch a Rerun of Friends or an Episode of Jeopardy!?
Real Simple Photo of Jeopardy
Better Choice: Jeopardy!
When in doubt, test — don’t rest — your brain. “Mindless is clearly OK now and then and can be very restorative,” Robert Sapolsky says. “But not to the extent to which the average American vegges out in front of the television.” Your brain, like your body, needs lots of stimulation to stay sharp, focused, and healthy. So make sure it gets regular workouts. You can challenge your brain even while you relax by choosing more stimulating television shows, doing crossword puzzles, or playing mind-teasing games, like chess and Cranium.

But… Constant, intense stimulation can become yet another stressor in your life. “It’s not for nothing that roller-coaster rides are not three weeks long,” says Sapolsky, who encourages mixing stimulation with a healthy dose of restful downtime.

Click here for more simple solutions.

Posted in: Lifestyle

boondocks season 2 trailer

its the weekend, so why not share this funny as crap trailer of the upcoming second season of aaron mcgruder’s boondocks.

warning: not safe for work (nsfw).

enjoy!

(video below)

Posted in: Uncategorized

A ‘Better’ Title

What’s in a name? Well, a lot actually. In the media titles are pretty much everything because of the necessity to grab people’s attention and get them to read, watch, or listen.

You may have heard about BET’s newest show originally titled “Hot Ghetto Mess.” When I first heard about this show I pretty much rolled my eyes at the deep hole of cooning and buffoonery that BET continues to dig. I shook my head at the stereotypical scenes to come, despite the good intentions that the writers may have. Nevertheless, my interest was slightly peaked when I came across the article announcing that BET decided to change the name of the show to “We Got to Do Better.”

“We’ve decided to change the name because we want to highlight the show’s real intent, which is to offer social commentary in a context that sparks dialogue, debate, and most importantly, change,” BET said in a statement.

Do you see what they did? I am actually proud of them for getting a good PR agent. They flipped the title from one of a negative stance- calling black people who act certain ways “ghetto”- to one that is more positive. “We Got to Do Better” is a statement we can all relate to. Now the show doesn’t seem merely as something to laugh at, but more so something to think about. WE, as in a community, a race, and a culture, just simply need to do better at times. No exclusions, no exceptions.

Young Black Professional Guide to Hot Ghetto MessThe show is based on the website hotghettomess.com, which shows examples of outrageous fashion and behavior, mostly in the black community. The BET show will combine viewer-submitted and BET-produced content. The intent of the website has been not just to get a good laugh (and btw, the ish on that site can definitely give you a good laugh), but to also point out that sometimes people can be just plain ignorant.

“My mission with this site is to usher in a new era of self-examination. And because I am proud member of the black community, they are my priority. However, those of other races take note and if the shoe fits wear it. I think it is time that the black community or (insert your race here) needs to take a good look at itself in the mirror and each of us ask ourselves why are our communities are going to hell.” – Jam Donaldson, creator of hotghettomess.com

That’s deep. Your thoughts?

In sum, glad BET changed the name to portray more of its purpose behind the show but I still refuse to watch. Just can’t give in to the exploitation.

Posted in: Entertainment, Lifestyle

Why do people hate on Tyler Perry?

Young Black Professional Guide to Tyler PerryI am not ashamed to say that I love Madea plays. They’re funny, inspirational, and just plain entertaining. Yes, they can be a bit corny at times and the musical selections can make the play last 2+ hours, but the overall experience really leaves you feeling good about black stage productions. Then Tyler Perry came out with movies based off his sold-out stage plays- movies that he financed on his own.  He owns his own production and distribution company and turned $5.5 million into $50.6 million with the success of his first movie, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.” “House of Payne” is Tyler’s next project, which he sold to TBS for an unprecedented order of 100 episodes- a deal said to be worth $200 million. The show debuted June 6th and was the most-watched series telecast in the cable network’s history, drawing 5.8 million viewers. It was also the highest-rated sitcom ever aired on ad-supported cable. The show’s 9 p.m. ET debut pulled in 5.2 million people, making it No. 2 in basic-cable sitcom history.

Sounds like he’s doin the damn thing to me.

So why are so many critics hating on him? Even black people try to hold him down instead of lifting up his many accomplishments. I can see if you do not care for his sense of humor or comedy style, but why hate on the man who came from nothing and made a huge success of himself? Then again, not being a hater myself, I’ll just never understand the logic.

Posted in: Entertainment

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