Huey Freeman would be proud...

Take a Stand.

Life is complex.  This isn’t breaking news but worth mentioning because we as human beings, try to do everything possible to combat that.  We use technology to do things faster, we automate anything that doesn’t require our immediate attention, and we come up with clichés and mantras to help simplify what takes place in our lives.  If you really think about it, the entire study of philosophy only exists because life can be difficult to comprehend.  The following statement has always been one of my favorites and explains exactly why I made a particular decision.

“You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.”

Very simple.  Very powerful.  Why this saying is so important is because it forces you to take a stand and speaks to the very core personal accountability.  It leaves no room for apathy and inertia.  This doesn’t have to apply solely to life-altering scenarios, it just needs to set a standard for being solution-orientated.  For the better part of the last few years, I have knowingly and unknowingly been part of the problem and its time to make a change.  So from now on, I’m going to boycott the website WorldStarHipHop.com (WSHH).

I’ve spent a considerable amount of time trying to dispel negative stereotypes about young black males and prove that we are way more than a pack of thugs and niggas.  Similarly, I’ve spent hours of my life trying to show detractors that Hip-Hop culture deserves respect and should be taken seriously.  In no uncertain terms, the makers of WSHH essentially represent everything that I stand against. 

If you are a racist and you need new material to fuel your hate, you only need this website and you can enjoy hours of entertainment.  Do we really need to condone and support thousands of videos of our young black men and women embarrassing themselves?  I am a grown man and it is no longer “cool” to watch someone get beat unconscious or have someone teach their toddler how to use words that would make Lil’ Kim blush.  I even despise the fact that the words “Hip” and “Hop” are in its title.  Because if the creators of this website truly believe that they are representing Hip-Hop, then they should just spit directly in Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa’s face.  It would save us all time.

WSHH has also created a dangerous precedent among our youth where they feel rewarded if they are able to capture obscene and illegal behavior on their camera phones.  Good Samaritans have been replaced by a slew of freelance paparazzi looking to get web hits.  In order to demand respect from others, you must first present yourself in a respectful manner.  How can I stand up against the George Zimmerman’s and the Sean Hannity’s of the world if I’m sharing “Texas Mother Kills Her Baby Daddy Over Cheap Mother’s Day Present” on Facebook?

Life is complex… but sometimes it isn’t.  Sometimes the answer is black and white.  Sometimes you are either a part of the problem, or a part of the solution.   We can do better and we must do better. Many people will ignore this post and that’s fine as long as you know what side of the fence you fall on every time you click that link.