Guru rushed to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Prayers to Guru, Chile, and everyone suffering right now.

-Ninoy Brown

With all the talks about cook-outs, nooses, and racially charged incidents on a campus, somehow I can’t help but feel I’ve witnessed all this before. Oh wait, I have! After droppin’ the science 15 years ago, mo’ fuckas still haven’t learned what ‘higher learning’ is all about.

P.S. Considering I went to UCSD, only one song comes to mind. From our beloved Public Enemy, “The future holds nothing else but confrontation…” . Stay vigilant San Diego.

-MAD

A noose was left displayed in the main library following a noose previously displayed in a grove outside the Chancellor’s office. Demonstrations and reactions continue throughout the campus by community members demanding real action.

Union Tribute article
Local CBS TV coverage
LA Times

-Mark

This is what makes me proud to be a UCSD alumni:

UCSD minority students walk out of teach-in

-Ninoy Brown

More on UCSD’s most recent “post-racial” moment.

Within the last week, much public outrage has come upon UCSD as a result of the disgusting display of ignorance from the “Compton Cookout”.  National attention has been placed on the campus, and NAACP has recently spoken out against the incident.

With this, I wanted to post a letter that Dr. Jody Blanco, from UCSD’s Dept of Literature, had written for Kaibigang Pilipino.  Though intended for Filipin@ students and student organizations at UCSD, I felt the message was important for more folks to read, as well.

Dr. Blanco was an inspiration for many of us, student of color organizers, while attending UCSD.  In the letter, he contextualizes the “private party”, discussing why outrage is justified and why Filipino American students should stand as allies with our African American brothers and sisters.

Dear Filipina and Filipino students, colleagues, and friends:

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While attending UCSD, there were more than a few WTF/”that’s racist!” moments experienced.  And it appears to continue with a fraternty’s “Compton Cookout” themed bbq:

“UCSD party mocks Black History Month”

A weekend party that involved University of California San Diego students and mocked Black History Month has drawn the ire of black students and prompted a condemnation sent to all students and faculty by the chancellor.

An invitation to the “Compton Cookout” event urged participants to wear chains, don cheap clothes and speak very loudly, according to wording circulated by outraged students and verified by campus administrators.

As a guide for girls attending the event, the invitation read, “For those of you who are unfamiliar with ghetto chicks-Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes…”

Read on

To read the entire invitation of the frat party, click here.

From a student run “satire” newspaper that intentionally published offensive and racist material and incited tension with the student of color organizations to fliers using images of KKK and lynchings to “joke” about pledging a fraternity, among an array of incidents, UCSD always brought out the angry minority within me.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that these things continue to persist when the UC system continues to have one of the lowest minority enrollments in the nation.

-Ninoy Brown

From Fatgums:

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we are hoping you will help Beatrock Music leak the new song “Blood of My Heart” by Power Struggle.  The song is from the upcoming album “Remittances”, which is set to be released in March.

Power Struggle is rapper, Nomi, accompanied by producers Mister REY and Fatgums.  The new album, Remittances, slated for a March 2010 release on Beatrock Music, is a proletarian’s path to enlightenment.  With help from fellow Beatrock Musicians Bambu and BWAN, as well as emcees Kiwi, Pele, Denizen Kane, and others, Power Struggle tells the stories of immigrants, workers, criminals, lovers and revolutionaries.  For more information please visit: beatrockmusic.com.  Cover art by Mark Canto.

Blood of My Heart feat. Denizen Kane and Big Drew:

For more free Beatrock downloads: click here!

-Ninoy Brown

February 5, 2010, The New Parish in Oakland (previously known as Jimmie’s Nightclub) is filled with a diverse range of faces to celebrate and remember the life of Mike “Dream” Francisco.  Three year old’s hit the floor rockin’ their best b-boy/b-girl moves along with veteran popper, Bionic Man.  Older heads recollect their memories of chillin’ and mentoring the legendary graffiti writer,  younger heads recall the pieces he created which inspired them to pick up a can, and his counterparts remembered the escapades.

This Friday had it’s elements of mourning for a legend lost way before his time, not to mention the sadness felt for Akil, Dream’s son, who recently lost his mother, Nikki Sellers, to breast cancer.  Fortunately for Akil, he has a strong community of folks who want to ensure that his future shines bright.

Around midnight of this night, the host of the night made an announcement that inspired the crowd that came to support Dream and his seed: February 17 was officially declared by the city of Oakland as Dream Day.

How fresh is that?  A person once considered a “vandal” becomes recognized by a city for the contributions to the community and has a day recognized for him.

Dream Day is actualized.

More:  Complex Mag - The Dream Lives

-Ninoy Brown

Rocky Rivera, the rapper formerly known as Eyeasage and the writer known as Krishtine de Leon makes her official debut tomorrow, February 2, with her self-titled lp.  Influenced by a character from the literary realm of Jessica Hagedorn, Rocky is the new manifestation and culmination of Krish’s years of artistic grind.  To help promote the album, she was willing to do a quick interview for FOBBDeep, with a bonus question offering “Situation(al)” insight.

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Amidst stories about Apple’s iPad and how Chris Matthews forgot Barack Obama was Black for an hour came one significant piece of news that I am pretty certain will not earn coverage on any major news channels, the passing of social historian, Howard Zinn.

“Howard Zinn, historian who challenged status quo dies at 87″

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