A few weeks ago I used my NetFlix account to rent a movie called "Letters To The President".
When I put the DVD into my system and heard the voice of convicted cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal as the opening voice and then noted that "Hip Hop Voice Of The Street Pirate" and part-time pimp Snoop Dogg was the commentator - I knew that the fix was in.
In as much as the various Black humanities professors who's "brilliance" we are treated to tell us that "history belongs to those who write it" it seems that those who are responsible for this DVD have mastered the ways of their long time oppressors.
In my calculation we have had the following list of presidents from Reagan to 2004 when the DVD was released:
- Ronald Reagan
- George HW Bush
- Bill Clinton
- George W Bush
Ronald Reagan
The architect of the destruction of Black America. He allowed CIA to import drugs into the Black community. (Never do they seek to quantify the percentage of drugs in the hood were from the paid CIA conspirator versus the grand total. It doesn't matter. They are seeking an indictment not a model).
Reagan cut many social programs that Johnson and Carter had blessed the Black community with.
George HW Bush
The first Bush pretended to be our friend. Yet his operatives lured a Black man to the front of the White House to sell a bag of crack cocaine. Bush used this incident to propagandize against Black people, placing a "Black face" on the face of crime and drug addiction. With Bush and the destruction of the Black community by drugs the message was clear: "They DESERVED the destruction that has been rendered upon them".
Bill Clinton
When I listen to "Democracy Now" or Jesse Jackson as they go through their historical accounts of US policy their treatment of President Bill Clinton is the key reference point that I use to determine their bias. Clinton is a "favorable" president that is sandwiched by rogue presidents. This documentary did not disappoint.
They shifted their focus from "the President" out to the political pressures against "Gangsta Rap". With Tipper Gore and C. Delores Tucker going against Rapper Ice-T and others who were spewing anarchistic, violent and misogynistic lyrics. Ed Lover and Doctor Dre' also had a famous battle with C. Delores Tucker was highlighted.
President Bill Clinton survived the section unscathed. At that time - attacking Bill Clinton was akin to attacking President Obama - you know not to do it.
George W Bush
The devil incarnate!
With Bush having "stolen" the White House - many in the hip hop audience were prone to give up upon politics and peace as a means of advancing their cause. Bush won again in 2004 despite their best efforts to "try harder".
In summary - this is a left biased production. No surprises here.
I am used to seeing the "audacity" of having the "Voice of the Street Pirates" speaking though the lens of ownership of the Black community rather than being shunned for the images that they promote that are detrimental to the community. They are allowed to purchase a production quality video camera and some editing equipment and produce a DVD, just as anyone else is permitted to do. While I ultimately laugh at their characterizations of history - I will defend their right to speak.
Letters To Obama
After completing the "Letters To The President" DVD - again which was produced in 2004 - I wondered "What is this same propaganda machine going to do when it comes to President Obama"? Surely if the underlying focus of their previous content was:
- Black Economic Marginalization undercuts our communities (unemployment and lack of resources)
- How our "failing schools" fail to work for our interests
- How violence is a by-product of benign neglect
It just so happens that during a recent shopping trip I found the Jan/Feb 2010 edition of "The Source" magazine still on the shelf. It should have been taken away more than a month ago. The subtitle about the "Violent Turf Battles In Chicago" prompted me to purchase the magazine per my continuing research. The advertisement for activist Kevin Powell's new book that appeared in the back of the magazine made my purchase worthwhile.
"Kevin Powell: Open Letters To America".
I give credit to Kevin Powell and other operatives. They realize that there is a growing angst within the Black community as the realities of the economic situation and the massive cuts in government spending (well at least city/county/state spending as they can't run deficits) are having a tremendous impact upon the Black community.
At a time when the Black Quasi-Socialist Progressive-Fundamentalist Racism Chaser has, at least on paper, achieved the centerpiece of their struggle - a favorable Black man now sits atop the government of the United States of America - Powell and others realize that the Black community is not going to be content because the realities are setting in. The outward battles between the Republicans and Conservatives are not going to do the trick any longer. They need to find away to keep those who had the passion to do the unthinkable - have a Black man in the White House - reengaged at present so that many of the "how to's" that were left undefined during their time of great excitement can actually be delivered.
The other day I contrasted A.Philip Randolf's disposition with President Roosevelt to that which Al Sharpton (and Roland Martin and others) have with President Obama. As a people we have gone from "If you don't work in our interests we will protest against you" over to "YOU being in office IS PROOF of our best interests, Mr Obama, thus we will call off any organized protestations against you by the Black America as a sign of their discontent". Kevin Powell is merely another plank in that movement.
Do not get me wrong - I am in support of a more distributed model for propulsion. In fact - this is what I have called for all along. My problem is with the "Let us get power first and THEN we will seek to relieve the pressure upon the establishment......now that WE ARE THE ESTABLISHMENT". It cannot be allowed to work that way. This will only lead to power aggregation for the sake of power and then having the people to work FOR their leaders rather than for effective outcomes.
I will likely purchase the book by Mr Powell and see what he has to say.
As far as a 2011 update on "The Letters To The President" featuring President Obama as released from Quincy Jones III (who did the first DVD) - you can count on it having a very different outlook than the previous edition. Obama will be seen as the source of motivation for hip hop, prompting them to talk about the hope of their community, looking past the discouraging truths within.
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