Category Archives: Culture

Culture, Featured Authors, Life, Politics

Immigration isn’t the problem, YOU are.

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Written by Tiffany Flemister

Tiffany Flemister –  featured author

As you all know, our Commander in Chief is taking measures to have undocumented students be deported even after they have shown to be productive members of society who are working hard to get their education. I honestly find this to be extremely hypocritical. America as we know it today was built on the backs of non natives, whether they came through on Ellis Island back in the 1800s or by deadly force during slavery. It seems to me that non citizens are only of value when we can exploit them.

When they start getting into good colleges and getting the jobs you feel entitled to, it becomes an “immigration” issue. It’s not an immigration issue, it’s a racial issue and an entitlement issue. Nobody batted an eye when undocumented people were limited to manual labor jobs that underpaid and over worked them. So many of our ancestors came to this country seeking refuge from harm and to create better life than they were given by default.

To take it a step further, America is a stolen land built up by stolen people. Nobody really has a right to be here more than anyone else. I don’t care if slavery and Native Americans dying at the hands of Settlers was hundreds of years ago. It matters because Americans take pride in the fact that this happened but are now angry that other people want the same opportunities they have been afforded for generations.

Undocumented students and workers aren’t why you don’t have a good paying job. They aren’t why you can’t get into the school of your choice. You’re the reason why. You and your forefathers have used others as stepping stones for centuries & you’re panicking because it’s no longer an option.

To sum it up, I really just want everyone to stop blaming immigration for America’s problems. The source of our issues is refusing to learn from the past & doing better by those coming after us. If you want to succeed in life, you have to do the work. Expecting others to limit themselves because you’re lazy is complete bullshit. Stop clinging to your privilege, entitlement, classism, and racism. Get up off your ass & make it happen.

If opportunity passes you by it’s because you allowed it.

 

Image source: Bryan R. Smith - Getty Images
Culture, Featured Authors, Politics

Lil Wayne on BLM

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“If it ain’t got nothing to do with me, I’m not connecting to it.” These words angered a lot of black people in regards to Lil’ Wayne’s response about the group Black Lives Matter. What society has to realize is that athletes and entertainers don’t sign up to be role models. They live their life the way they are able to. So when Wayne or Cam Newton make a comment that you don’t agree with, don’t take it to heart. 

Wayne has been a successful rapper for many years and has been a celebrity since his young teenage years. The privileged rapper has admitted to never experiencing racism in his life on multiple aired interviews. Why is this coming off as a surprise to people for his actions? He is rich and has been for majority of his life. He has also admitted that he believes a part of the reason he hasn’t experienced racism is because he is a celebrity. That is perfectly fine. The issue that most BLM supporters should be upset with is 1. How Lil’ Wayne made it seem like he never heard of BLM. And 2. How the reporter poorly explained what BLM was “supposed” to mean as she chuckled. 

Every cookie crumbles differently, although we are all human we don’t all go through the same situations. Lil’ Wayne is not a politician and should not have to answer political questions if it does not concern him. He acknowledges that wrongful things have happened to unarmed individuals but, Wayne has not been effected directly by racism. That is just simply the world that he lives in, which is a blessing. Who are we to expose him to the negative world when his only concern is keeping his family out of the harm of the world. 

Understand that there is also no real reason to have Lil’ Wayne on television at the moment no album (unfortunately), book, or movie coming out. This could very well be a distraction from what really matters, the election that is in 6 days. Go vote!

Sidenote: If you didn’t laugh a little when he said, “My life matters, especially to my bitches” you have no sense of humor. 

                                                                -Mizell 

Culture

The Rebirth of Black Entertainment Television 

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This is not the greatest ever told comeback story about how the network BET is now moving to be a loveabke station again, no, not its not. This is about the positive image of the black human race while not watering down the true black experience. 

Shows like the Cosby Show, A Different World, Fresh Prince, The Hughley’s, and My Wife and Kids all showed positive family values. The shows mentioned plus many more did not depict a negative view on everyday black life. We don’t all live like drug dealers and ball players. Those shows taught core values while providing a key source of entertainment without forcing religion, sex, and violence on its viewers. 

Our generation needs shows like Black-ish, Luke Cage, Insecure, and Atlanta because it not only shows loveable and memorable black characters but it depicts us how “we” see us. Not like animals, criminals, or ignorant, but a fun and goofy family with both parents like in Black-ish (ABC). Or a positive black male role model like in Luke Cage (Netflix). Or black women understanding their worth and fighting for equality in the work environment like in Insecure (HBO). 

The season finale of Atlanta (FX) aired today and yet another episode had me hysterically laughing all while hearing hidden messages often times presented in a question that, “we” around the world have yet to get an answer to. It takes comedy to be so daring to ask those questions. 

The entertainment within these shows provides viewers with a more accurate insight on what black people go through. And it’s about time because I believe America has begun to assume that all black people live like rap songs. We need our image to be redefined by who our current image is effecting, by us. 

News stations like Fox or CNN always seem to make black people look as criminal as possible. It’s important that the black image, black culture, and black mindset is not altered by what certain gatekeepers allow the world to see. 

                                                                   -Mizell