"A college degree is one of the most blatant forms of oppression"

What’s really relevant? Is it more useful to spend your life climbing up the academic ladder, getting countless graduate degrees validating your academic worth, or immersing yourself into the world and learning things that no class will cover? The obsession with “name brands” takes away from the human focus. People put themselves in a lifetime of debt to go the “name brand” schools and learn about great people and how they lived their live. This path seems to guarantee some form of a successful future….success by the “American” standard. But success isn’t something that can’t be measured on a customary rubric. Success is an individual journey but it seems that we take the formal, nationally accepted path to our own success.

Is college really the answer to a bright future? It is the only way that you will learn, and become intelligent? Is the goal to become as smart as you can, or to become smart enough to make money? The obsession with college almost seems to come back that notion of personal celebrity. “So, what is it that you do?”…”It doesn’t matter I went to Harvard”. People graduate from “brand name schools” and don’t know anything. I’m not knocking these schools at all, but this is a fact in any college.


A college degree is one of the most blatant forms of oppression. You spend foolish money to learn a bunch of abstract ideologies. Then you apply for a job, and they tell you that everything you learned over the last four years was bullshit so they put you in their “training” program and hire you anyway. Then it’s that same degree that they deemed worthless that dictates how much money they are willing to pay you. Ironic

We need to learn to valid success by our own measuring stick, and focusing on educating ourselves, but opening our minds to new places, cultures, and ideas. We need to step outside of our comfort level and put ourselves in positions of great responsibility. This is how you learn, grow, and mature.

Just some food for thought......

*I wasn't able to articulate this point as well I wanted to due to my concentration on the CAVS MAGIC game. My apologies

The obsession with these social networks (facebook, myspace, twitter) has become a paradigm shift in the digital world over the last few years. But what is the real addiction? Is it that you can find your first girlfriend from the 4th grade after not talking to her for 15 years? Is is that you use it as a great networking tool for jobs and internships?.....very possible....or is it that people are so obsessed with themselves that they want people to know what they are doing at all times? Are we that narcissistic that we need to have 15 albums of face shots in countless poses?

It seems to be a combo of both, but the "thc"(chemical in weed that gets you high) in these networks are the responses we get from other people. The "someone commented on your photo". The "someone likes your status", or 12 person threads on a picture/article/or video you posted. The affirmation of your friends and strangers makes us feel important, and we all love that feeling. When you log onto facebook, and you see that number icon above "inbox", it makes us feel good. You were important enough for someone to message you. On twitter, you have to "follow" someone. How ego boosting is that? " say man, I have 467 "followers" on twitter now. How many do you have?"". These social networks definately bring our personal celebrity into fruition. But its funny how a lot of these online celebrities tend to be very quiet in real life.

So I've been following the HBO series Brave New Voices for the last couple weeks, and every time I watch it I get goose bumps. These kids are using language to massage souls and stimulate minds in ways I never thought were possible. To publicly recite your most private of inhibitions, in a way that's therapeutic not only to an individual but to an ideology, is nothing short of amazing. The show gives us a true understanding of how powerful language really is. Talented teenagers across the globe show us how to use language to love, to fight wars, to apologize, to grieve, and most importantly heal. To be brave enough to tackle some of these issues and the reward that comes along with it is something I think we all should aspire for.

Cornell West and Lupe Fiasco give lecture at Calvin College


Grammy nominated Lupe Fiasco and laureate extraordinaire Dr. Cornell West displayed regal caliber enlightenment and intellectual prowess on stage at Calvin College a college in Grand Rapids Michigan. The irony is that they had never met before this encounter but in my following them over the years they have both cited and expressed inspiration from each others work. Dr. West acts almost as if to be a humbled reporter interviewing the world renowned musician. They go into deep reflection about the idea of "self" and both of their "legacies". I found this lecture to be extremely progressive, and a great way to show the depth to those involved in Hip Hop Music.

Courtesy of Nahright.com

you can stream it or download it here

"some n****s wanna sit down and complain about, I wanna sit down analyze see how it came about"

To a lot of you this video may be old, but this may be one of the most revolutionary assessments of hip hop culture that I've heard and I felt I needed to bring it to light again. This 15 minute cultural autopsy looks deep nucleus of hip hop music, challenging the very fabric that we use to sow our consciousness. As of late, Joey has had much digital success taking over the internet with endless music and giving the public a direct look into his life with Joe Budden TV. Joe Budden is giving fans a REALISTIC view of the life of a rapper. He uploads footage of him and his close group of friends having realistic conversations about real life. He's constantly filming: in the studio, on the street, and in his house (not the house he rented for the MTV cribs half hour special that was financed by his label) Surprisingly he has many uploads with his girlfriend Tihiri, and talks about proposing and getting married constantly. I find this amazing because this is not the stereotypical action of a rapper. To have "one" woman and profess your love for her publicly is the exact opposite of what a lot of rappers portray, not because that’s who they really are, but because they have to fit into an image molded by the public. I commend Joey for not being plagued by social cowardice and giving fans an organic blueprint of him. Shout out to Jump off Joey. Enjoy!

I once thought that the feeling of uncontrollable fatigue after a meal was a paradigm among the black culture. People have referred to this as "Nigger-itis" or "ethnic fatigue" for centuries. The stereo typical hour lunch outing being completed with a 15 minute power nap was a sight that employers have seen for quite some time. It has become so common it's written into your contract when you’re hired, "Anything more than 15 minutes "itis-time" is docked from your pay". It turns out there actually a scientific reason for all of this and its not exclusive to members of the darker nations, we just don’t hide it as well. Apparently, large amounts of blood are diverted away from muscles to the bowel to aid digestion. This would make it unwise for us to try and run and as a defense we feel like resting. Hunger keeps us awake, while sleep aids the digestive process. This is probably the most useful information I’ll ever write.

Strait comedy!

Christianity is the monotheistic doctrine of the New testament though the word of Jesus Christ. Originally a Jewish sect in the mid-first century, Christianity evolved into a dominant religion in the Roman Empire. Christianity also was responsible for shaping the foundation of Western civilization starting in the 4th Cen. Now...in 313 Constantine issued the Edict of Milan that proclaimed religions toleration throughout the Byzantium empire which heavily propelled the Christian faith. This essentially in my understanding,is the forceful indoctrination of a faith onto the people, and a direct contradiction in the "separation in church and state" that reverberates with fervor throughout the Western world today. Its pretty clear that the separation of church and state is non existent. Not with politicians campaigning in churches, using certain Christian beliefs sway a vote one way or the other. Not with for years people having to put there hand on the bible and swear to God they are telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

It is understood and no secret that Christianity was used for social control but not necessarily in nefarious manner, because in some fashion, there has to be order. But now, a group of people in the 4th Century who may have been poor, uneducated, so on and so forth are dedicating their lives to solely getting into heaven. With the advancement of humans mentally, physically, and emotionally, is buying into an ancient "story" hindering your ability to reach your human potential? Does it make sense to live under laws that were applicable centuries ago, in completely different context? Just my thoughts...not necessarily my beliefs....

Black Thought, Talib Kweli, & John Forte Jr. from Okayplayer on Vimeo.

Video Courtesy of Nahright.com

Andre and I have had a few posts that have acknowledged president Obama for his success so on and so forth. I purposely have been somewhat objective and left and any thoughts about coercion and corruption out of my writing on any level because that isn’t the purpose of this anthology. The Obama Deception video is rather interesting. It not so much a conspiracy theory as it is factually based information by individuals who pay close attention to detail...Assuming this video is 100% accurate, how do you feel about you government now?