This was just one of my most recent post-racial moments.

Just two days after Obama spoke in Turkey to do some damage control with the Muslim world, I was driving around a parking lot in Daly City and saw a car parked with the bumper sticker above.

The nObama sticker is understandable, but so much for understanding the message that America is not at war with Islam.  Especially since we know that the war is about global military hegemony and scarce resources.

Silly fear mongering Saturn driver.

-Ninoy Brown

According to Jay Perez, semiotics would place Terry Hogan in a higher position in the knowledge scale than Vincent Edward Jackson. The logic: even if Bo knows, Hogan still knows best.

The childhood memories of professional wrestling and the “real American hero” as a blond (albeit balding) white male in yellow spandex resonated with me much as it did with Jay as he read from his work in progress, “The Passion of El Hulk Hogancito”, on Sunday. But more than Hogan, it was Ultimate Warrior who left a larger imprint on my childhood. Fans nostalgic of the days when the Warrior would nonsensically rant, would best to do themselves the favor of not watching The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior, unless one wants to feel the same feeling felt when it was realized that Santa was only used as a moral compass for children.

Professional wrestling, the hyper-masculine soap opera, that socialized many of us about ethnicity through stereotypes: Junkyard Dog, Jimmy Superfly Snuka, Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, Iron Sheik, etc. It was all that one needed as a kid who never questioned his or her invincibility to land safely when jumping off the counter onto a makeshift ring consisting of couch cushions and pillows on the living room floor. The Warrior (which the arch-conservative has now legally changed his name) is not exempt from WWF’s othering of others, as his persona was an appropriation of an ethnically ambiguous savage. But this is what was normalized in our youth, singing Hogan’s theme and associating whiteness with being Real American.

With the thoughts of wrestling’s perepetuation of white supremacy that Jay’s reading had left me, in addition to the strong documentation of his mother’s experience of racism in Chicago (the underlying story told), I suddenly felt the presence of a 4.3 seismic movements. The spirit of John Tenta made its presence felt in the Bay this morning.

What was the symbolism behind the tectonic plate shift? It must mean that Earthquake is asking for a rematch with El Hulk Hogancito from Summer Slam 1990. Or it means that John Tenta has acknowledged his defeat and is asking for you to listen and experience Jay’s storytelling. There are two more dates and word has it Typhoon Tugboat will be in attendance just as he was expected to be at Hulk’s side during Summer Slam.

Cop your tickets for either April 4 or 5.

-Ninoy Brown

Last Sunday, I saw the live play about this book, wrote a blog about.  Like to read it?  Here it go!:

An Angry Black White Boy’s Post-Racial Attitude

Interesting enough, when I got back home that evening, I caught DL Hughley who had an interesting show with Chuck D and Michael Steele.  Peep it: Black Steele in an Hour of Chaos

-Ninoy Brown

2009 opens up with a historic unemployment rate and horrible economy. Another grave debt comes from our law enforcement. Since the beginning of the year, there have been three young Black men victim to police shootings over the past week. Two of which have died. All families of the three victims have yet to receive substantial information from law enforcement.

FOBBDeep previously talked about the murder of Oscar Grant—where videos show unnecessary force onto an unarmed Grant laying facedown pinned by multiple officers. Those on the side of the officer suggest the firearm was mistaken for a Taser, instantly killing Grant. There is still no official statement from law enforcement.

Police in Bellaire, Texas shot an unarmed Robert Tolan with at least 2 other shots missed. Tolan and his cousin were ordered to lie on the ground outside his family’s home in suspicion of a stolen vehicle. Robert was shot when he leaned up in response to an officer pushing his mother up against her house. The vehicle belonged to the family.

In New Orleans New Year’s morning, Adolph Grimes was shot 14 times by plain-clothes police officers. 12 of those shots were to his back. The police shot a total of 48 bullets. The police report that Grimes had shot at the police. Grimes had a gun with a legal permit to carry the weapon. Grimes was working father, Hurricane Katrina evacuee, teaches Bible study, and has never had any problems with the law. He was visiting family in tradition and was awaiting his cousin outside his Grandmother’s home. The family has received no information from authorities. Grimes’ mother discovered the murder of his son on the 5 o’clock news.

Sincere condolences are due to the family, friends, and victims of police injustice.

Certainly there will be more information to complicate the situations, but may I code-switch for a hot second…

WHAT’S UP WITH HELLA YOUNG BLACK MEN GETTING SHOT AT BY POLICE???!

The cases of Grant, Tolan, and Grimes are further invests in the feeling of abandonment people of color have with law enforcement. It is the same circles of endangerment young people fall into when they seek refuge in gangs. It is the same loss of security and deep humiliation felt when pulled over for “fitting a description.” It is the same feeling of powerlessness and loss of hope when families are denied proper information for their lost ones by the same institution that took the lives of their children.

At this rate, how can law enforcement earn back the people’s trust? Those in positions power and those with the authority to purvey it (a.k.a. po-pos) are in serious debt with communities of color and other disenfranchised people. It’s not that we stopped hollering “fuck the police” but it is noticeable that those songs have been long remixed. These days, police themselves bump NWA like nobody’s business. Moreover, the saying, “fuck the police” can no longer suffice when a few anarchists turned a perfectly peaceful and affective demonstration into some dumb shit by trashing Oakland including the burning of Black-owned businesses.

In addition, what does it take for these stories to get national coverage? And when will we have a case where the officers are actually charged?

Peace to Oscar Grant, Adolph Chris Grimes, Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, and to all other victims of police brutality and racist profiling.

-Mark

Pictures of the riots that popped off in Oakland last night could have been posted, but if you’ve been watching the news or reading it online, then you’ve already been bombarded with the way the media has sensationalized the events of yesterday.  Looping footage of the burning car and folks stomping on the hood of cop cars.  What was barely shown was how organized most of the rally was.  The NY Times had a piece that distorted what went on and failed to quote any of the community folks in attendance.  Also, what’s with the lack of footage showing police shooting rubber bullets and tear gas?

Fortunately there are some good sources out there, such as Indy Media’s breakdown of the events as they occurred.

At the Fruitvale BART station, which was successfully shut down, passion and emotion filled the crowd of what was estimated to be around 700.  People that were down to say their piece were allowed to as a mic was set up for them to do so.  I sensed the elements of a powder keg in the air, but thats what happens when folks have their backs against the wall.  In Greece, the people rioted because of the spark that was set from the police murder of a 14 year old kid.  Just like in Greece, what happened in Oakland was a culmination of many things.  The people have been neglected by the institution, and where attention has been given, it is through police presence.  This is also a build up of Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, and all others who have been victims and targets of this police state against communities of color and the youth.

-Ninoy Brown

Over 400 Bay Area residents will rally January 7 to show solidarity with the family of Oscar Grant, and demand BART Police be held accountable!

The 22-year-old father was killed by a BART police officer early New Year’s Day when he was shot in the back as he lay face-down on the train platform, his hands behind him. He was cooperating; lifting his hands in surrender before being placed on the floor! The morning of January 7 he will be laid to rest. That afternoon we will rally in his name!

Speakers will share a list of demands including:
1) All officers involved be taken off duty without pay, and fully prosecuted;
2) Justice Department investigate the incident as a violation of civil rights;
3) That BART establish an independent citizens’ review board for its officers;
4) That the BART police officers be disarmed!

WHAT: Rally for Oscar Grant!
WHEN: Wednesday January 7, 2009
TIME: From 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
WHERE: FRUITVALE BART STATION
LOCATION: 3401 East 12th Street / Oakland CA

*** Community Justice Network for Youth (CJNY) is organizing and providing assistance. For more info call Krea Gomez at (415) 321-4100 X102.

-Ninoy Brown

A horrible way to start the new year:

BART Officer Shoots Hayward Man in the Back

OAKLAND — A BART police officer struggling to handcuff a 22-year-old man, stood up over the facedown Hayward resident and fired a single shot into his back while a handful of officers watched, a new video taken by a train passenger showed Sunday.

The attorney for the family of Oscar Grant III, fatally shot by an unidentified BART police officer early New Year’s Day, said Sunday he plans to file a $25 million lawsuit against the department and asked prosecutors to consider filing murder charges against the officer.

The shooting occurred shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday after five officers responded to the Fruitvale station to reports of a fight on a train, officials said, though they have not confirmed whether Grant was involved in that fight.

Read more…

Prayers go out to Oscar Grant and his family.

-Ninoy Brown

Image by way of Poplicks

By guest contributor Noesis

Barack Obama’s Presidential Victory, is a victory above many small victories for the history of people of color in the US.  ”Yes, We Can!” is not only one of many Obama’s campaign rally slogan, but echoes the many sentiments of people of color and non-people of color alike in search for change.

I want to comment on the possible change or challenges Obamania road to the White House has on the level of strictly discursivity and provide critical inquiry on the “Obama Effect” on Racial Discourse.  Media and people now can see that “if an African American can be President, anything is possible in the US!”

(more…)

My president is Black.

-Mark

(Insert obligatory Eli Porter quote here)

Being that a few days have already passed, intentions to make a post about the Nike+ Human Race began to wane.  But upon making the daily blog rounds the past couple days, I saw little mention regarding the event that was boasted as the largest global run.  This was a reminder of the empirical fact that most bloggers tend to be lazy and out of shape [1].

2/3’s of FOBBDeep, Mark and myself, took part in the 10K run in Los Angeles, running from Exposition Park through Figueroa St to Washington Blvd to USC and back.  Beginning at 8:31:08 pm and with 12,000+ in attendance, Nike demonstrated how easy it was to sell $30 dry fit t-shirts.  As much as it was meant to represent global human unity, it was basically a free commercial shoot for Nike, where the extras paid to work.

Not to forget, the underlying theme of post-racial politics that was presented through the double entendre name of the event: The Human Race.  Nike wants us to forget the exploitation of third world countries, since we are all one anyways.  Kumbaya!  We can now all hold hands and eat granola together while we wear Nike products.

Okay, that’s enough cynicism, even for me.

Real talk, a grandly organized and fun event took place.  As a matter of fact, Mark lost his mobile and the human race came through to return it.  If this wasn’t a display that we should not lose faith in the human race, then I don’t know what is.  At the closing, Kanye performed for 45 minutes, even blessing the participants with an exclusive new cut.  Common came on midway through Yeezy’s set for “Get Em High” and did three solo tracks.  Even though he rocked the stage, just one word of advice to Kanye: Follow the lead of the runners you performed for and start running; your breath control needs hella work.

And don’t think I didn’t represent:

“Obama for mankind” -Young Jeezy [2]

To end: As a unit FOBBDeep = perhaps the most physically fit Fil-Am/Hip-Hop/political/pop culture blog posse.

[1]Actually, this might just be true for Hip-Hop blogs
[2]Problematic gender politics belongs strictly to the quoted rapper.

-Ninoy Brown