A Tragic Death And "The Black KKK"

Derrick from Philly
December 6 2007, 2:47PM

How do we convince young Black Americans that hating & killing each other is wrong? Are older black folks (my generation) to blame? Was it our narcissism in the 70's that led up to the social breakdowns in the 80's?

And don't tell me "liberal Democratic" programs of the 1960s f---ked up the black family. Those programs had good intentions, and some of them worked well. Hollywood bears some of the blame. Hell, but as you said, "blame" is not the issue, and may not be of any value at this point. WHat do we do?

lovejones
December 6 2007, 2:49PM

This was right on the money. We have to become the change that's so needed in our country. We can talk and go over the reality of it all, but until we start doing something, nothing will change. We have not only the black kkk, but we have the religious kkk, and then some. It does take a village to raise a child, but it takes the same village folk to remain a village. But how can you have a village when love no longer rules, respect moved out, caring and sharing got divorced. People there is so much we can do to become the change that's so needed in our communities. We need not get defensive when the facts are brought forth, it is what it is. Not until we become proactive and cease being reactive that change will come and abide among us. Stay Strong Black People! Luv yall!

LaFontaye
December 6 2007, 3:17PM

In the 70's as a kid I well remember the whole hysteria behind the coined phrase, "The Black Man; The New Endangered Species." Today we actually seem to be more endangered than ever and the outlandish culture in which we're entrenched and of which continues to push us more towards extinction, IS being embraced more than ever. The hard truths being screamed from the mountain tops by Whitlock, Cosby and the like, comes from frustration. I mean we really don't seem to care that clearly, this boat is sinking and is sinking fast, as there's no real alarm being sounded. So, what are we going to do about it? Well collectively, what have we been doing about it for the the last 30 some years when at first the black man was labeled an endangered species??? Nothing but assist in the realization of such the prophecy - which woefully is most likely the answer to your question Mr. Boykin.

MidwestGuy
December 6 2007, 3:27PM

Jason Whitlock hunh?

The first time I heard someone mention he had written an article about Sean Taylor, I had every statistical reason to believe that his ugly, fat, musty looking ass, was going to turn his death into an opportunity.

Let me go over to Fulton's and get something to eat. I need a clearer head.

Just thinking about anything related to this fuckbutt makes my damn nuts itch.

Liquid Fonts
December 6 2007, 3:47PM

Keith I disagree with your point about the effectivness of discussing these issues repeatedly. Perhaps its about getting everyone on the same page before discussing the "what can WE dos". Those who attend church on a regular basis often find that a topic the pastor talked about not 6 months ago is coming up again this Sunday but because the world changes, people evolve over time and form new relations to it, that revisted Sunday surmon stands to reach people who stuggled with the message the first time and also reinforce the knoweledge aquired by those who already had it.

Floridaboy8703
December 6 2007, 4:19PM

What stood out to me was when he asked "Does a Soulja Boy" want an education. All the young black boys in my neighborhood love that song. And happily recite the words to it. "STraight jokin on bitches, jockin on hoes". Its really sad. I fear for the life and future of my nephew.

Charles
December 6 2007, 5:09PM

Let's not shoot the messenger. The writer is correct. I'm much more afraid of young black men (and some girls) in the neighborhood then I am of white people. I guess the reason is, I know white people are always up to no good, but when you see your own savagely killing one another, well, it just makes me feel sad.

Anonymous
December 6 2007, 5:25PM

Millions of whites love Soulja Boy too. Youtube has the evidence.

Yet, blacks are the only ones pathologized because of their race.

More white people in the this country than blacks are drug abusers, irresponsible consumers, bad parents, and immature sex addicts.

Yet, blacks are the only ones pathologized because of their race.

Statistics are misleading because we never, ever know just who has been polled and how extensive the polling was.

Yet, blacks are the only ones pathologized by race.

Whole predominately white states and towns are rotting in the Meth trade in ways that far eclipse predominately black DC's past battles with Crack.

Yet, blacks are the only ones pathologized by race.

All of America's national cultural values encourage ignorance, irresponsibility, & celebrity over dignity.

Stop blaming one race or gender.

Start addressing our entire nation's vulgarity.

cward
December 6 2007, 5:28PM

Whites and Blacks alike have created an economic culture around being "Black". There has been nothing but talk and show of money in the Black culture. We were once about true bonding and relationships that protected and nurtured us.

Where is our celebration on BET of our scholars and inventors and other academic endeavors?

In the last 20 years there has been a GROWING profit margin around selling the "Black image" and what it means to be "Black". These images are not limited to guns, cars, homes, bling, drugs, etc. There is also the factor of "street credibility", it is not money per se but it can translate to money.

I recently watched BET as Denzel Washington was discussing "American Gangster"; he was selling this image. I had never seen him before (I might be wrong) promote a film on BET. But one with violence, drugs and money he was front and center; I was truly disappointed.

As the need to have these “items” grows crimes against our people by our people will also continue to grow.

bubba
December 6 2007, 5:29PM

Well, that's a no-brainer. Most white folks wouldn't get their hands dirty that way, with OUR blood. It's easier to kill figuratively with disenfranchisement.

Gordon
December 6 2007, 5:34PM

This article is right on the money. Its a tough pill to swallow. But I am a Dean at a public high school, and I see this stuff everyday. Committed against each other, black on black. Its pitiful and ridiculous. And the sad thing about this is that I see it, but there are no clear answers. We are doomed as a people. But as an individual, we can do something, but very little.

Dean Green
December 6 2007, 6:01PM

Q: What do get when you take a people, place them in slavery for 249 years and strip them of their history, languages, names and cultures, put them in Jim Crow and legally sanctioned second-class citizenship for another 100 years? A: A mess, including people who call themselves the N word, people who believe that they have no power other than to be the puppet of "the white man", people who look upon their African heritage as negative, etc.

Slavery is over but the legacy of slavery lives on in the culture, habits and names of the descendants of the slaves. It may be called mental/cultural slavery. The remedy: Education. But not just reading, writing and 'rithmetic, but also roots, respect and right and wrong.

Anonymous
December 6 2007, 6:19PM

Cward: During the exact same period that Denzel Washington was promoting American Gangster he was also promoting a another film in which he starred called The Great Debaters about the historically black Wiley College's award-winning debate society at the turn of the century. So it is hardly Washington's fault that the media promoted one film over another.

My main point is that the alarmist rhetoric and sloppy reasoning about the true extent of black people's fortunes in America harms us deeply.

From the 60s until now:

1) Black middle class homes have increased;

2) More black PhDs and JDs have been received than ever.

3) Blacks are a part of every sphere of American life, from business as CEOs to the internet as bloggers.

Yet, we--including commentors here--don't point this out. We pathologize. We cry foul. Some whites are equally as irresponsible as some blacks in the inner city but you NEVER see people indicting "the entire white community" because of a few!

More nuanced analysis please!

MLee
December 6 2007, 6:27PM

The answer to "What are we going to do about it?" is the answer to the following question. How can the Black community teach our Black youths to value human life? When I was growing up, our parents taught us fight if someone messed with us, but we also knew to respect human life. Black youths involved in murder were rare. Valuing human life does not seem like a hard concept to instill, since a majority of Black murder victims are kill by people they know.

MidwestGuy
December 6 2007, 7:02PM

The comments here show why this article is a bunch of shit. No one, including crusty mouth whitlock, is interested in the fact that a man was killed while trying to do good by his family. Not one mention.

Instead the focus easily and expectedly shifts to what black men aren't doing. A do-right, black man's murder is overshadowed by opportunistic race-pimps who are using his death as a chance to talk about what's wrong in the black community.

Did it provide any relevant insight as to the man himself? How many books have been written, symposiums given, call-outs had, state of black america held?

Did hip-hop make those boys drive from wherever they were from to Miami? Why tie that into this article?

Did Taylor's "immature, irresponsible" behavior result in his death? Why suggest that it did?

Despite the "truths" in this article, it is shitty journalism at it's finest.

A black man saved his family.

Is that not worthy of mention?

No, but hip-hop is.

Blue
December 6 2007, 7:27PM

Well, I can relate to this, because when I read that Pimp C was found dead the FIRST thing I said was "Isn't that the motherfucker who called Ne-yo and Russell Simmons gay? He was an ignorant bastard. Good riddance." Then, I had to step back and realize that is a person who is important to somebody. I do think that it's unfair to attack folks who can't defend themselves ... especially right after news breaks they are dead. Does that change what they did or the facts of their life? No. But there are times and places to raise those things, and the days following a death aren't it.

Zedric
December 6 2007, 8:43PM

I guess I'm glad to be a old man, this thug mentality is far worse than when I was a kid, some of these fools will kill you for walking in front of them. I think its due to the fact that many have never had a strong black male figure, father, uncle, grandfather, anyone in their lives, and think that since the media, movies, music, etc, glorify violence as a way to end a beef, why not do it.

Just a shame, and, I don't see things changing anytime soon, since, it appears that most of these young guys and, a few of the women, don't think that a black life is worth much, from gun violence, incarceration levels that are staggering, to the spread of HIV, and, the sad thing, is they are a small fraction of the population. The good kids seldom get noticed by anyone anywhere.

As for that Whitlock cat, he is like Clarence Thomas, talking and nothing coming out but hot air.

903boy
December 6 2007, 10:06PM

Whoever this guy is , he is right! I was an artist at one time , I painted a pic of a young Black Man in a KKK outfit holding MLK's I Have A Dream speech in his hand. Mind you I was 17 at the time I tried to put it an art show as part of my collection, and they refused ! This was 1992 , and in 2007 this man took my pic and put what I painted and put it in words ! TRUTH !

dcdotcm
December 6 2007, 10:21PM

OKAY...............Keith, I read you loud and clear regarding your question, "What are we going to do about it?" I've asked myself that time and time again. All I can do is keep my 3 nephews on the right track. I would love to do something for the masses of young Black men, that choose to live a lifestyle of self hate. I live in DC, this past weekend 3 young men (all 13 yrs) stole a car and went joy riding. They killed an 18yr Black women, witnesses to the crime said they were laughing. How do you do something about that kind of mentality? Someone, please explain?

Comments (18) reveal

loi wade
December 6 2007, 10:21PM

Whitlock is right on the money. If anyone has any doubt of the kind of self hate that manifests in many of our souls, just read some of the past and present comments on this very site. Don't get mad at him for telling the truth. That's why people were so damn mad at Spike Lee for his movie ' school Daze'. We don't like to hear the ugly truth about ourselves. When blacks break into homes, shoots someone, stabs someone or talks about someone like they are anything but a child of God, who is on the receiving end of that? Other Blacks. That is why I am not going out like that. I guess I will just have to be the last Black person on this planet who truly has unconditional love for her people. We loose our m-----f------ minds when someone does something to our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Shouldn't that love extend to our entire family? I don't want to hear "well, they wouldn't do it for us" Well,damnit, take the first step. We have got to stop killing each other. And I'm not just talking physical death.

Sandy
December 6 2007, 11:04PM

I am afraid of the level of violence in this country period. We are not safe in our homes(Sean Taylor) a shopping at the mall(Omaha), a school yard(Pennsylvania) or a college campus(Virginia Tech). We are not safe anywhere. It's a sickness in this country. I am very concerned about the level violence in the community in which I live(NYC) but it is EVERYWHERE. Every time someone has a bad day or want something you have, that person will likely get a gun or knife and go out and kill. Yes we must address the problem of homicidal violence in our communities, but we also have to recognize that it is a sickness in America, period. Whether it's the glamorization of violence in music, movies, or news media, we must address it as a societal problem. It's not one groups(blacks) problem. Not addressing the epidemic of violence as a American societal problem, will let "others" off the hook to easily.

cmoney
December 6 2007, 11:08PM

Whitlock's a moron. He is just as wrong as the rest of the White racists who jumped to the conclusion that Sean Taylor's "lifestyle" had something to do with his death. Bullshit! First of all Sean Taylor did not grow up in anybody's "ghetto". His father was a police chief and he attended one of the most exclusive private schools in Florida. He was in his own home protecting his daughter and his fiance when he was murdered. He died a HERO, minding his own damn business doing what any decent person would do. The only Black KKK is see is Uncle Tom negroes like Whitlock who jump out there to say the same racist shit that the crackers on Fox News would say. Sean Taylor had no more run ins with the law than the White Duke Lacrosse players. But because he is Black, people like Whitlock ASSUME that he was involved in some criminal activity and "had it coming". Whitlock is the biggest racist of them all. Fuck him.

alicia banks
December 6 2007, 11:40PM

eloquent keith!
as always

so tragic!

and so many questions:

why was the alarm off so soon after a previous invasion?

why did sean slip so quietly home and tell so few he was doing so?

why do all thugs seem to outnumber real bm 5 to 1????

i think there is much more to this sad saga...

peace
ab
http://aliciabanks.blogspot.com/

loi wade
December 6 2007, 11:57PM

And to Dean Green. I don't care how much you try and teach these people their history(lord knows I've been trying!) They DON'T CARE. They don't believe institutionalized genocide had an effect on our people. Don't even try and teach the so called 'educated ones'. What does a white man call a black man with a PHD?...NIGGER.

Bibi
December 7 2007, 12:49AM

Well this article really hits home for me. Sorry to say that I agree with what Whitlock has said. Black people keep using excuses, and sit on there fat asses and do nothing to change there situation. We get it, we've had people holding us down, but how long can we hold on to that same stale train of thought. We've been oppressed, I get it, but now its time to dust ourselves off and get back in the ring. I know you've heard the phrase, "excuses are like assholes..."

Trey
December 7 2007, 12:56AM

Keith - One of my passions in life is helping young people move away from the culture of violence so they can lead lives that are healthy and productive. For the last twelve years, I have been addressing these topics in my work as both the leader of a nonprofit organization and in the academic community. One of the best organizations I have ever come across is the Omega Boys Club in San Francisco. I would love to see an interview with Omega founder, Dr. Joseph Marshall, on this website where you address some of these very issues. For anyone, like dcdotcm, who is concerned about leading our kids away from this culture of violence, I recommend the Omega website for more information: street-soldiers.org.

Karmatic
December 7 2007, 9:19AM

ditto Jason Whitlock!

Equalnox
December 7 2007, 9:32AM

"What are we going to do about it?"

Well, let's start with our hair and work our way down. Let's stop straightening (Al Sharpton), weaving (Beyonce), and coloring our hair blonde and red (Tyra).

Let's move on to our minds. Let's stop relying on drugs, alcohol, and tobacco to help us get through the day. Let's spend an equal amount of time praising each other for our athletic, artistic, and academic achievements.

Finally, let's move on to our bodies. Let's stop being couch potatoes, put on our tennis shoes, lead our families out the front doors of our houses, and get our excercise by walking, jogging and biking with our families around our neighborhoods. We'll lose weight, look and feel better, and our presence will scare off the drug dealers. Basically we'll be concentrating more on what we are and less on what we are not.

Once we get our foundation down, the sky will be the limit.

MidwestGuy
December 7 2007, 9:42AM

Imagine an article, the day following the death of Michael Sandy:

Gay Man's Twisted Life Comes Back to Haunt Him

A black man in NYC was tragically killed during an apparent internet hook-up. Conventional wisdom suggests that the victim, Michael Sandy, was gay. I could be wrong for engaging in this kind of aggressive speculation. But it's no different than when you hear of a black man being diagnosed as HIV+. That's not some negative stereotype. Most men contract HIV from promiscuous activities with other men.

Therefore, it is not without merit to assume that Sandy's immature, irresponsible behavior may have eventually led to his death.

Black Gay men are much more likely to engage in internet hookups in which condoms are not used. Visit any major city and you are sure to find bathouses and other places where gay men troll for sex. It is a total disregard for human life.

Our community needs a wake up call. Hopefully, this death is provides that.

How many of you would amen this article?

Derrick from PHilly
December 7 2007, 10:12AM

MidwestGuy:

Unfortunately, the "negative reaction" you give to describe the Michael Sandy incident, and the "negative reaction" to HIV+ gay men is exactly how many people actually feel. They simply don't come to a black gay blog to gloat over it and say "I told you so" and "faggots deserve what they get".

I am glad that you and cmoney gave us the truth about Sean Taylor, his background, and the circumstances of his death. The issue for most of us on this thread is the mentality of the young thugs who killed Sean Taylor. Why his life meant nothing to them.

We already know what most straight folks (black, white, whatever) think of us, and how much they care when we "get what we deserve". I tell you what, I've witnessed a lot of black faggots who seem to hate each other, but we don't kill each other at the rate too many young black folks do. 'Course, guns don't turn us on. What if they did?

MidwestGuy
December 7 2007, 11:41AM

DPhil, you are 100% correct. Unfortunately, that is how many people feel.

Yes, it's important to talk about black on black crime and the lack of cohesiveness w/in our community. However, to frame that within a conversation about a responsible (by all accounts) black man running to the door w/a machete to protect his girlfriend/18mo child, and insinuate that he was partly responsible for his own death is just low--very low--and not worth supporting.

Sure, let's talk about thugs. But the morning of his death? And to blame him Sean?

Yes it's important to talk about gay behavior like chat hook-up, HIV, bathouses etc. But imagine how "on the money" it would be if it were discusssed w/in an article about a responsible (by all accounts) black gay man who was running away trying to save his own life? That too would be low--very low--and not worth supporting.

Sure, let's talk about gay behavior. But the morning of his death? And to blame Michael?

Eric-Keith Ellis
December 7 2007, 12:10PM

I remember reading this article on the Fox Sports website and I agreed with Mr. Whitlock on all his points !!! Our culture has taken this "hood" and "keepin' it real" mentality way, way too seriously and it has done nothing to help or advance us as a people !!! When it's considered "cool" to be dumb, inarticulate, and lack any type of intelligence or ambition, it's time to really examine who the real "enemy" is !!! There is plenty of blame to be placed (society, the breakdown of the family,etc.), but generations before us have faced far more obstacles and oppression than our currentand future generations will probably ever have to deal with,and during the slavery, Jim Crow and Civil Rights eras, we handled it with courage, dignity and pride !!! An endangered race indeed, with all the self hate and self destruction I see all around me in NYC !!! Just my two cents !!!

nreeldeep
December 7 2007, 3:22PM

Midwest, after reading 3 of your posts, it's clear that you don't like Mr. Whitlock. You and he have a personal beef we don't know about? The posts that decry Whitlock's articles are par for course: As Whitlock says in his article, black folk always have the cure for what ails white folk, i.e., the Duke boys, Imus, Dog, Mike Richards. Black folk raise all kinds of hell and have ALL the answers. But when someone addresses black issues, all of sudden everybody has amnesia. Therein lies the problem: We (blacks) simply refuse to look in the mirror, but demand everybody else look in theirs. Whitlock told the truth. And he got the same aggressive (no surprise) response that Bill Cosby gets when he speaks on the same subject. I suppose on many levels, it hurts to be told you have problems. It's much easier to hold on to excuses and point fingers. We have lost our way.

nreeldeep
December 7 2007, 3:53PM

Though it was unfair for Whitlock to link Taylor's past to his murder without any concrete evidence, it's just as short-sighted for any poster to make such heavy-handed arguements to Taylor's holy and heroic dispostion that night in his home. We really don't know all the circumstances yet do we? None of us were in the house that night. Those boys have not been tried yet. We know not of a sinister connection or lack thereof. At this point everything is speculation. The Duke case should have taught us that. I guess some lessons don't get learned. Don't come in here and act like you KNOW what happened in that dude's crib that night, cuz you don't. Go ahead and be angry at Whitlock. But don't make a fool of yourself in the process, especially if you already made a fool of yourself in the Duke case.

MidwestGuy
December 7 2007, 4:26PM

Nreeldeep, Yes, it's good that you understood that part of my post. Please fully digest what I said instead of reading it to find out which point you wanted to disagree with.

Did you miss where I said it's important to talk about black on black crime and other problems in our community?

Do you have any comment on what "if" someone authored an article like the one I presented above about gays. Those were hard "truths" that you will rarely hear gay people talk about.

Do you have any comment on Sean Taylor dying while protecting his family - saving them from possible death?

I will give Whitlock's opportunistic ass NO accolades for writing the same thing that we ALWAYS talk about. He offered no new insight and plays the "they don't like me because I tell the truth" card.

Sean Taylor's death had nothing to do w/his past, not wanting to face hard truths, amnesia, excuses, pointing fingers, Duke nor Imus.

Whitlock can snort anthrax. Then we can have a discussion about drugs in the hood.

MidwestGuy
December 7 2007, 5:11PM

Accrding to published reports, Taylor and his fiancee were awakened by noises in the middle of the night. He had grabbed a machete to defend himself while his grlfrnd hid with their 18-month-old baby beneath the covers. Taylor was shot in the groin when his bedrm door burst open as he went to lock it.

No, all the facts are not out and they have not been tried. This is not a he-say she-say. Yet, a bullets-say coroner-say. I can speculate about anything that is a verifiable, published report. I don’t have to act as if I was in the bedroom. The woman who was there has not refuted that her boyfriend went to the door and shots were fired. I don’t think a ghost was responsible for that.

What does this case have to do w/Duke case and the lessons learned is a mystery.

I guess it’s too hard for you to blve that a black man can be killed while trying protecting his family.I would rather support a “heavy-handed” argument of a black man’s HEROISM than the opposite.

Then again I think the world of my people

elg
December 7 2007, 5:24PM

Keith's question was "what are we going to do about it"? "It" being, among other things, violence in black communities. There has been a lot of hot air expended here as to whether the media portrayal of Sean Taylor was racist or not (or whether the media portrayal of blacks is racist or not) but can you answer the question?

Read Equalnox's comment. He actually answered the question.

Mitch
December 7 2007, 8:23PM

Lack of money and self love is the problem.

Readers, what would you recommend one do to transcend lack of money and lack of self love?

cmoney
December 7 2007, 8:53PM

Mitch: We could start by stop assuming that every Black man is a thug or is involved in crime, like Whitlock did when he disparaged Sean Taylor for thirty pieces of silver. We keep talking about how much self hate there is and how people need to be positive, yet when a brother is doing something positive--you know like staying at his home to protect his family because his home was robbed 8 days before--we can't even IMAGINE that a young Black man could just be an innocent victim. It seems to me that it's not only the thugs and hoodrats with an image probelm. There are a whole lot of sports journalists and people with keyboards and internet hookups who have an even worse mentality.

nreeldeep
December 8 2007, 2:48AM

Uh, ok now we believe "published reports." How convenient when it sides with you. Because we all know there have never been incorrect "published" reports. Of course the man's girlfriend is going side with him. As far as the coroner goes, his job is to assess the time and mode of death, not ferret out any other connection whatsoever. So that point is moot. So, once again, this is speculation. The brother might have some issues with some folk on the wrong side of the fence. One of his close friends even alluded to that.
It amazes me how some of you actually act like you know this Taylor brotha intimately. No way dude could have done any wrong. No way. How do I know? I just know. Cuz the media told me so!! Isn't this the same media that we don't trust because of the negative portrayals of black folk? How ironic. By the way, dude had discipline problems while in the NFL. Brandished a gun at someone. His car was shot at. Hmmm. But nobody wants to discuss that.
Once again, convenient amnesia.

Grrl
December 8 2007, 8:44AM

What can be done? Nothing. There is no hope for Black people. Especially in the West, however as third-world as African countries are, the same is probably true w/ them. Blacks' minds are too rotted with hatred for other Blacks and total apathy about achievement. What will help? Take one good furtile black Male/female couple, put them on an ark, and drown the rest of the black race.

One of the reasons I'll never have children, why put babies on a sinking ship? My sons will be murdered and my daughters's beauty will be rejected by other blacks. The greatest gift I can give them is to not bring them into this world.

The few Blacks who do love other Black people and are doing the right thing in life are too outnumbered. I feel bad for them. In one hundred years, self-hatred amongst Blacks will be a lot worse. Nothing suggests otherwise.

MidwestGuy
December 8 2007, 1:35PM

Nreel, I will defer to cmoney's post re: what can be done.

As I stated earlier, I "choose" to believe (based on the published reports of what we know so far) that Sean was murdered, while protecting his family, by the men currently in custody for the crime.

You can continue to believe otherwise based on your negative view of black people.

Grrl, a self-defeatist attitude is as dangerous as self-hatred. Those who feel defeated are less likely to do anything to better their station in life or those around them. Minds needs to be challenged.

It is sad that you believe that there are more "bad" blacks than "good."

It is also sad that you choose to not have children because of what you think "may" happen to them when they grow up.

That fear of the unknown may apply to your own impotence as a parent than a dangerous world.

There is a word which could accurately describe your apocolyptic view of black people. I can not think of it at this time.

Joshua Lazard
December 8 2007, 6:04PM

Well, Jason Whitlock gained fame simply because of Don Imus. He's the epitome of a race baiter and there's nothing in his past that shows him qualified to speak with such authority on these issues. I understand that this is the day and age of culture critics and techniquely everyone is qualified, however, one should be more careful of what words they use to get their point across.

Black KKK?!?!?

When I saw Jason Whitlock on the Don Imus Oprah Show, he was such an afterthought, it wasn't until my friend jogged my mind about who he was that I remembered him.

Jason Whitlock is a fool.

check out this pic of him with the white girls, and then tell him to come see me!

http://rebuildingyear.wordpress.com/2007/04/27/change-of-plans/

cmoney
December 8 2007, 9:16PM

Some of you all are so self hating that a Black man inside his own home that gets killed defending his family that you assume the "brother might have some issues with some folk on the wrong side of the fence". Get the F-out of here! Do you assume that about everyone else that is the victim of a home invasion murder? Or is it just young Black men? The only connection Taylor had to these murderers is a relative of a man his half-sister used to date. Last time I checked, we don't get to choose our relatives. Taylor is a celebrity. Lots of people knew him, but that doesn't mean he knew them. He brandished a gun at another thief who stole an atv from his house. Do you understand now why he was at home with his family after the last break in at his home? He was targeted by thugs. Nreeldeep: It seems to me that you are the one believing all of the negative crap out of the media instead of looking at the facts that don't fit your stereotypes.

Tone Def
December 9 2007, 1:52AM

Jason Whitlock oversteps his position when he lays some of the responsibility for Sean Taylor's death on Sean Taylor's own bad decisions in the past, and Whitlock is REALLY over his skis when he blames hip-hop. However, his central point that Black men have become experts at killing other Black men DOES hold water. Black on Black violent crime has rendered the Klan virtually irrelevant. Of course there are larger systemic issues in this country that contribute to violence in Black communities, but that's a separate arguement. The solution must be internal. Stop replacing individual responsibility with societal guilt. Stop glorifying athletic acheivement as the only way out of the ghetto. Stop viewing academic acheivement as being a sell-out. "Keepin it real" should mean being educated, not having three baby-mommas, no education, two stints in jail, and a parole officer.

Banger
December 10 2007, 3:45AM

The ONLY THING shawn is Guilty of is trying to help out a little brotha - that went and got his homies and came back to the hand that feed him to ROB him.

every black man born in this country, until this present moment, is born into a country which assures him, in as many ways as it can find, that he is not worth the dirt he walks on. Every Negro boy and every Negro girl born in this country until this present moment undergoes the agony of trying to find in the body politic, in the body social, outside himself/herself, some image of himself or herself which is not demeaning. Now, many, indeed, have survived, and at an incalculable cost, and many more have perished and are perishing every day. If you tell a child and do your best to prove to the child that he is not worth life, it is entirely possible that sooner or later the child begins to believe it.......James Baldwin

Justin
December 11 2007, 2:53PM

Keith:

I was considering of contributing something to this article but after reading the comments, I decided not too. I don't what to say that would make much difference.
It's just the same old dynamics. Socital v.s indiviual resposiblity, liberal vs conservative, the whole thing turns my stomach. As far as James Whitlock is concern, if he can't anything contructive and nonsensical, he should SHUT THE FUCK UP!!! The one thing I won't miss when thing blog ends are some of these comments. They are beyond assinine.

RTF
December 12 2007, 11:32PM

First, my heart goes out to the family Sean Taylor. Second, i feel that the black community NEEDS to learn how to get ourselves in order. I do not like the fact that people are still acting like a bunch of foolish people.

And, to those that think that Hip-Hop has no influence on these kids, you better think again! I have seen these kids do things that are not good at all. Also, while the "Poverty Pimps", crying about a few nooses, and the Jena 6, where the hell were they when Micheal Sandy, and many other SGL men and women of color were beaten, tormented, and killed. I do like the fact that these people think that SGL men and women of color's live are no value to them.

I do not and con not support foolishness that the media has put on us. Last, it is time for all of us to GROW UP and act like adults.

Jabari McCloud
December 16 2007, 11:18PM

Jason was right with this article. Hey Midwest Guy...stop doing the typical "black" thing and making excuses for the black race. Black people need to get it together and quit glorifying stupidity,ignorance, pimpin', crime and all that other bs that blacks do "with pride". It is sick, and we are dying here! Blacks always want to complain about SLAVERY & WHAT THE WHITE MAN IS DOING". Well, the white man isn't making you disrespect our women, the white man isn't making you yell and talk extremly loud in public just to look like you are "the man" or "the woman", the white man isn't making you rob and steal, the white man isnt making you drop babies that you can't take care of all over the planet, the white man isnt making you bounce your ass around in front of a bunch of thugs who could care less of you. Black folks need to change their tune and quick. We are being left behind as a race. We are considered the slowest and least progressive of all because of our self destruction. I am over it.

R ON LEE
December 18 2007, 5:23PM

WOW IT'T REALLY SAD TO READ THAT EDUCATED BLACK MEN BELIEVE WE ARE DOOMED AND HAVE NO PROBLEM EXPRESSING IT WITHOUT ACTUALLY GIVING US A SOLUTION. I BET THAT SAME BLACK MAN WON'T SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT THE GAY COMMUNITY DESPITE THE FACT MANY ARE ADDICTED TO SEX,ALCOHOL & DRUGS. THOUGH I LOVE US ALL I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE RUSH TO CONVICT US AS A GROUP BUT NO RUSH BY EDUCATED MEN WITH MEANS TO NOT GALVINIZE THE COMMUNITY.I HAVE BEEN ON THIS SITE ENCOURAGING TO NO END TRYING TO CONVINSE BLACK MEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS TO OTHERS AND THEIR ISSUES TO GIVE THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS TO THE BLACK MALE.IF WE AS MEN CAN GET EXCITED OVER A MOVIE ABOUT A BLACK MAN LOVING ANYTHING OR PERSON OTHER THAN A BLACK WOMAN OR MAN THAN THAT IN ITSELF SAYS WE ARE INDEED LOST.IT'S APPARENT THAT MANY OF US ARE HURTING AND MANY OF US THAT ARE HURTING HAVE NICE JOBS,LOVE OURSELVES AND OUR PEOPLE YET LIVE IN THIS FANTASY WORLD. THE WHITE MAN IS ANNIHLATING HIS ENEMY,YOUR ONE OF THEM,WAKE UP. LOVE U ALL,PEACE.

DumbAzzBlakMonkae
December 19 2007, 10:58AM

A Day in Soulja Boy's Life
7:15 Woke up with A-RAB next to me, watched him done crank dat next to me.
7:32 Have A-RAB watched me Youuuuu!!!
8:15 Took bedsheet to washer, someone supermanned Soulja Mom last night
8:30 Put more superman stickers on my jacket and used white-out to write my name on sunglasses.
8:40 Help Soulja mom take a bath 'cause she stank!!
9:00 Waited for Invalid Bus to take me to ESL class at the local community center. Gots to learn propa way of speaka english!!

Yahhh, Youuuuu, Crank