Quotable Quote from school today

"Welcome to education - where less is more."


- my Civil Obligations professor on cancelling Friday's class meeting

Most Quotable Quotes: The Players Club

Some of the most memorable lines from..."The Players Club"

1. "Bet you can't make yo' booty clap like yo' cousin" - Clyde to Ebony
2. "Dancing and f*cking is two different thangs" - Clyde to Ebony after she proposes to sleep with him and Reggie since they won't pay for a table dance
3. "I'm yo' man. I know what's best for you" - Lance
4. "You better use what you got to get what you want. You ain't gon' have that body forever" - Tricks
5. "Oh, you just came to dance. Let's dance" - Junior to Ebony
6. "You lucky its black history month or it would've been a lot worse" - Ronnie to the white police officer she had just paddled
7. "You probably only gon' make enough money to buy you a Honda Civic" - Ronnie to Ebony
8. "I'm not trying to turn you out. I'm trying to turn you on to some game" - Ronnie to Ebony
9. "I wouldn't buy yo' album bootleg from yo' mama, punk" - Tricks to Luke after he called her fat
10. "Its starting to smell like straight fish and chips" - DJ Blue after a stripper licked her own nipple
11. "Aww!! Don't give me none of them Ronnie-ho-quotes" - Diamond to Ebony
12. "Make the money. Don't let it make you" - Diamond to Ebony
13. "Trooouuuble!! Trooouuuble!!" - Dollar Bill's catchphrase
14. "Yo' lil cousin's a ho" - Li'l Man to Diamond about Ebony leaving the club with Clyde and Reggie
15. "Cock-blocking azz b*tch" - Clyde to Diamond after she makes Ebony get out his car

"Praise White God!!" - The Passion of Rev. Ruckus

Sunday night on The Boondocks, the final episode of Season 1 began with Uncle Ruckus dreaming he met former President Ronald Reagan. Reagan told Ruckus that they were standing at the gates to white heaven. God, who Reagan said was white, had a separate heaven for white people; and, loved white people above all others. Reagan then offered Ruckus a place in white heaven and the promise of becoming a white man if he would go around teaching others, especially black people to love white people and hate blackness. So Ruckus awoke from his dream and took off like a good evagelist, preaching on streets and in halls and at revivals. His main message to black people was: "You got to hate yourself, to save yourself." Of course, its the only way to get to white heaven.

Ruckus shows why he was the perfect candidate for Ronald Reagan's proposal in a later conversation with Granddad where he tries to explain his dream/conversion. In some non-sensical digression, Ruckus claims he has a tumor called biggus backus buttitus or some other kind of tumor that his "small nigga brain and big lips can't pronounce." Oh boy!! Uncle Ruckus, why?? Nonetheless, Ruckus is the perfect person to preach self-hatred.

Aside from the fact that I felt like I had been beaten after I'd watched the episode and that Ruckus' actions seemed to lend credence to those of the ilk that Christianity is the white man's religion (a claim with which I totally disagree), "The Passion of Rev. Ruckus" asserted a powerful critique. I must reiterate I had to turn a deaf ear and blind eye to the constant references to "white Jesus" and "white God." But what I found so poignant was Ruckus' message: "You must hate yourself, to save yourself." Whoo! That's deep! It forces viewers to determine for themselves whether or not self-hatred is the path to salvation for black people in America.

You be the judge.

Critiquing Boondocks Characters - Huey & Riley

I must admit that if it had not been for the start of its first season, I would never have known what the Boondocks was outside of my vague understanding that it was a comic strip written by a black dude, Aaron McGruder. After having watched a few episodes of its now completed first season, I am attempting to understand, critically, the purpose and significance of this comic-strip-turned-cartoon. Today I begin with Huey and Riley.

Let's start by stating the obvious: Huey and Riley are angry. But from where does this anger emerge and to whom or what is it directed? First, I understand Huey and Riley to be representatives of contemporary youth in Black America. In my opinion, the anger in young Black America results from witnessing the tumultuous events of the last 40-plus years. First, there was the near mystical, highly effective Civil Rights Movement of the late '50s, '60s and '70s. Any student of history must admit that the progress made in what African Americans could demand from America and on what grounds was the result of a phenomenon not easily explained; hence, the mystical element.

In the '80s, the fervor behind the movement decomposed into stagnation. This stagnation was sparked by black contentment and/or bewilderment depending on socio-economic status and what effect the deaths of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Huey Newton, etc. had on a given individual. Then there was white flight, Reagonomics and the resiliency of racism. All had a hand in the stagnation.

Desperation, therefore, bum-rushed the '90s. It was a desperation that led many Blacks to cling to Bill Clinton like he was the second coming of the Savior - calling him "the first Black president," please?!?! It was also a desperation that intensified the turf mentality and its vulnerability to the media-fueled East Coast - West Coast beef.

Witnessing the last forty years and the effects of race as a higly determinative, social construct has led young Black America, as represented by Huey and Riley on the Boondocks, to a place of anger. It does not matter that Huey and Riley have not individually or personally witnessed the 1-step forward, 2-steps back cadence of black people's socio-economic and political progress in America; but they have generationally. Huey and Riley are apart of what is called the Hip-Hop generation, a generation whose ways of being, doing and making meaning are the product of the last 40-plus years. They are angry because it is their birthright.

On the Boondocks, McGruder seems to use Huey and Riley represent two possible mentalities that may result from the anger that smolders within them like a low fire. Huey, the character that I believe McGruder uses most to voice his own opinion straightforward, is the militant, introspective and pessimistic idealist. He is conscious of himself and others. But his idealism is reserved solely for his militancy. About all else, especially the plight of black America, he remains pessimistic.

Riley's anger has taken him to a mentality of utter disregard. Most obviously, Riley disregards authority, rules, the establishment. But also Riley, in direct contrast to Huey, has no regard for himself or others. In trying to describe Riley, lyrics from Tupac's Dear Mama come to mind: "They say there ain't no hope for the youth when the truth is it ain't no hope for the future. And then they wonder why we crazy..." In other words, Riley's disregard is his own way of handling hopelessness. The hopelessness in Riley is equivalent to the pessimism in Huey.

Through the eyes of Riley and Huey and from the perspective of black, youth culture, McGruder is able t critique specific segments and elements of both the black experience in America in general - in an angry yet comical and always controversial way.

Woody Paige just broke my heart because I believe

This morning on Cold Pizza, Woody Piage broke my heart by ripping the Saints for signing Drew Brees, who's recovering from a serious shoulder injury. In short, Mr. Paige predicted that the Saints are going nowhere because they are the worse team in NFL history. Drew Brees, in Mr. Paige's estimable opinion, should have his head examined for signing with the Saints; and, the Saints should kick themselves for signing a recovering Mr. Brees.

The brokeness of my heart created quite a quandary for me. Why do I care if yet another talking-head in the sports industry rips the Saints? Its not like there isn't truth in what he said. But still the twinge of pain is there, despite the truth. Could it be that my heart aches at the dismal predictions for the Saints because...I believe. Yikes!

Every offseason, deep in the hearts of New Orleanians, the hope that has been vanquished by the Saints performance in the previous season, somehow resurges and rises from the ashes of broken dreams like a phoenix. Despite the fact that many of these New Orleanians are rational, critical-thinking people who have witnessed a franchise that, in its 40+ year history, has accomplished much of nothin', this resurging hope rises so high that it transforms into belief - the belief that maybe this year will be our year. I attribute this transformation of hope into belief to the offseason when New Orleanians enjoy the privilege of not actually seeing the Saints play. Seeing the Saints play holds any dreams of the Saints being a solid football team at bey. But in the offseason, all the whimsy of a young, imaginative child returns to all New Orleanians, even without their knowing.

The return of this whimsy is why I am so caught off guard by my reaction to Mr. Paige's statements. I hadn't even been paying attention to my heart for the Saints - I try not to acknowledge I have one. But there it was when Mr. Paige spoke those unkind words. So I end this post by acknowledging my hope...acknowledging my belief. "Go Saints all the way. Saints go all the way! Oh, I believe." Of course, by the end of the first pre-season game this season I'll be cursing the Saints and tucking my belief away until the next offseason.

The Edge in the Desert - What the &%#!

I have not been keeping up with NFL news lately. So imagine my shock when I read that earlier this evening Edgerrin James signed a four year, $30 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals. I knew he hadn't been feeling the Colts for a while. But the Arizona Cardinals...? What the hell? I'm never going to be able to see him play this season what with the NFC West being all boring and the bad game times and little national coverage the Cardinals garner. (Yeah, I have a thing for the Edge. I don't know why. Moving on.)

Let's peruse the 2006 regular-season, opponents schedule, shall we? (Sorry, its the only schedule available at this point in the offseason.) Arizona, a member of the less than glamorous NFC West, is all set to face such teams as: San Francisco, St. Louis and Seattle. That is so NOT sexy. Yes, it is true that the Seattle Seahawks went to the Super Bowl last season, but we all know no one cared. Sorry, its a harsh reality. And the St. Louis Rams haven't been the "greatest show on turf" for quite some time now. Don't even get me started on the 49ers. But I guess some would argue nothing is sexier than $30 million in 4 years.

Once the game times are fixed, this situation is going to go from bad to worse, fast. Arizona usually plays its games late on Sunday afternoons; and, it is has about as much chance as a snowball in hell of getting a nationally televised games. Maybe the game times will be better this season. Who knows? People are describing the Cardinals as an "up-and-coming" team this season. Whatever! We'll have to see about that; though, they have been making some pretty good moves.

In addition to the Edge, the Cardinals have signed free agent guard Milford Brown, a player known for his aggressive style of play - just what the Cardinals need, in their opinion. Kendrick Clancy, defensive tackle, also signed with the team. Equally important, the Cardinals are in the process of relocating to a new stadium with a retractable roof and natural grass. Yippy! Grass is so much better for the knees!

Now let's talk about something really important. How will the Edge look in red and white? I must admit, I really wasn't feeling him in the Colts uniform. But the red will probably be a good contrast color on his chocolatey skin. Ultimately, though, like the game times, I guess we'll have to wait to see how the Edge looks in his new uni'.

Last post of the day...I think

Hello Kiddies:
Here's an assignment for all of you. Google: Gordon Parks. He was a highly respected photographer who passed on yesterday at the age of 93.

I saw his work a couple of years ago at the New Orleans Museum of Art; and it was bomb. This dude is an American treasure.

They are still finding bodies...that's crazy!!

Bodies are still being recovered due to Katrina...as of yesterday. Yes, folks. That's yesterday, March 7, 2006. What is the death toll now? Over 1,100?? (I know this is a morbid post, but bare with me.) It really jolts me back into the reality that recovery ain't gon' happen over night. It's already been 6 months. How long do you think recovery will take? I'd love to read your comments.

Check out the Times-Picayune story at: http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1141801195126640.xml.

Pimpin' Ain't Easy

Yeah, so being from the south I must admit that I've been feeling 3-6 mafia since "Tear the Club Up." Remember, when Gangsta Boo and the dude with the weird nose piercing were in the group??? Those were the days. I personally think that song had some kind of mystical power b/c as soon as the D.J. played it people started going crazy, throwing chairs, breaking noses and the police abruptly shut down the party. Ahhh! Those were the days!

Last night, while watching 3-6 perform and then win an Oscar for "It's hard out here for a Pimp" (or whatever the name of the song is), I felt, as a fan of theirs a little embarassed for them and for myself. I don't know. It all seemed very tongue-in-cheek. The eery suspicousness of the smirks on the faces in the audience once the song was announced as the winner made me think, "Damn, why did the academy vote for this song?" Even though Queen Latifah was standing there looking like it was one small step for man and one giant step for mankind (surely this award being a good thing for rap music, being recognized at the academy awards and all), I felt a little reluctant in seeing this award as some great accomplishment. The situation worsened when John Stewart attempted a joke, through his laughter: "I think it just got a little easier for a pimp."

Did the academy pimp 3-6 mafia and all of hip hop last night? Is it all some kind of sick, twisted joke? Or am I just reading too much into an award, which I know means so much to the triple six - a group that has been in the rap game a minute while not getting much wide-spread airplay nor respect?