Silence Is Golden, Action Is Platinum

I think one of the more frightening instances you have as a person that shares their written thoughts with the world is the fact that once you release it to the public, you have the burden of hoping that what you say has weight and merit. I think about that often when I take on the task of blogging because they’re more than just web-logs for me – they’ve become both outlet and sounding board. I’m not going to say I’ve been the most observant person in speaking on the faltering marriage of Hip Hop and politics, but I will say that what I’ve written here over the months has been the most honest writing I’ve done in some time.

There is a simmering rage that has been building in me since the day after the election and it stems from the lack of faces that I hoped would be just as prominent in defeat as they surely would have been in victory for Senator John Kerry. Nas, who’s just released a new double disc called Street’s Disciple, takes a shot at the political Hip Hop movement by going as far as saying “we got f*cked" even while rallying young voters in high numbers. His feelings are indicative of what the apathetic most likely deem as a tangible basis for not being active in politics. And as I said in a recent blog, this push from the Hip Hop and “urban" music (read: black, rich and powerful) sector came just a few months too late. The sincerity was always under my steady microscope – and I wonder now if I was a bit harsh on the different organizations and groups. I may have been but I promise you I cannot let up for one bit. That means that whatever criticism that will come my way for everything I say is definitely welcomed.

Although it isn’t related to my usual fare on the blog, I ran across this interesting piece from the Socialist Worker website. Anthony Papa’s story is riveting and I encourage you to visit his website mentioned in the end of the article (Big respect to the ISO DC branch and Dave Z; I haven’t forgotten you guys). There are definitely fresh and radical ideas of challenging the structure coming from the left and I welcome them. I want to see more of an intelligent and focused approach – not fashion. That is for the eyes that wander looking for candy. We’re past those times without question. The levels in which we can analyze the triumphs and faults of organizations such as MfA and other related groups can be limitless. How we chose to express ourselves and organize will always be under a possibly uncomfortable level of scrutiny. How we combat that is by not quitting. How we remain relevant is by continuing to forge relationships with the people who thirst for a change. Why remain silent when there is so much more to say? Why is there such inactivity when there is so much more to be done? We cannot be afraid of the detractors any longer.