Black Education, black youth and black parental issues. Our goal is to cover any and every issue that you find most relevant to you as an African-American, particularly as it pertains to education. Our school systems are in jeopardy, and it's critical that our people find a way to help our children learn.
Renowned Author and Educator, Janice Hale - most notable for her Award-Winning books, “Black Children: Their roots, culture and learning style” and “Learning While Black: Creating educational excellence for African American children” - has opened up a new Research center, and is inviting everyone with an interest in uplifting Public Education and the revitalization of young Black minds to visit its website. The “INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILD” (ISSAC) is primarily focused on the fostering of:
“African-American education and child development through research, dissemination of information, training, community service to parents and clinical services for children. ISAAC strives to expand awareness and understanding of critical issues related to the achievement of African-American children by illuminating policy issues at the local, state and national levels.”
The month of August/September (depending on what part of the country you hail from) ushers in the end of the 2008-2009 school year, and seniors all over the nation are preparing to leave their sheltered existences in order to build their own lives. During the last few weeks of the school term, anxiety and excitement begin to kick in. As parents, you will experience similar symptoms, with the realization that although your child is about to finish high school, they are still not prepared to deal with the vicissitudes of life. It is hard for us to let go, but it is imperative that you allow your child to plan and organize their future. You must allow them to plan their futures with guidance and support from you of course. You can facilitate this by developing a checklist of essential topics that must be discussed. This sit down discussion can include anything from financial advice to sex and drugs, and health.
Talking to Your Child about Sex
As far as sex goes, a majority of college students will have sexual relationships in college, many for the first time. It is important that you open up the lines of communication on this topic, including the emotional, physical and psychological consequences of have sex before marriage. Most high schools seniors (even Christian ones) do not understand that when you have sex with someone, the parties involved become one flesh. This act was meant as a gift to married couples from god, and when you engage in sexual activity you are in essence uniting yourself with your partner in marriage. Also, in regards to the physical implications, you have to make sure that your children understand that STD’s do not discriminate. They are contracted by the saved and unsaved at equal rates.
Drugs and Alcohol As a parent you may be relieved to know that the majority of college students don't abuse drugs or alcohol. Students of drug or alcohol addicted parents or family members are more likely to abuse illicit substances than any other group. Make sure that you talk to your child about the dangers of partying and drinking too much. Also, observe sudden changes in behavior, as they could be signs of alcohol or drug abuse. If you discover that your child does have a problem with drugs or alcohol, or both, do not attempt to handle the problem on your own, seek professional help.
The Freshman 15 For most of us, the Freshman 15 reared its ugly head. On the flipside of this mythical surety is the fact that some students actually lose weight during their freshman year. The true Freshman 15 is brought on by the lack of exercise or physical activities by incoming freshman. In fact, data from a recent ACHA survey showed that 30% of college students are overweight. Weight gain isn't the only issue, as some students (mostly female) will develop eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. A lot of campuses do offer support groups and counseling for these types of problems, and if you suspect your student has a problem, you can assist them to finding help. Money Matters
During college, most teenagers open up their first bank account, and some may have had accounts during high school. If your child decides to become a part of this percentage, tell them to look for a student account that has no fees or minimum balance requirements. Teach them how to protect their accounts, check statements, balance their checkbooks, and keep copies of financial records before they go to school. Instill in your child the importance of paying their bills on time. Inform them that missing payments can adversely affect their credit rating, in addition to late fees, consequences most college students don't ponder.
The Importance of Attending Church When you child goes off to college, will they continue to go to church? For some Christian teenagers, they only go to church because their parents force them to attend. When they go away to college, many students find themselves with the first true taste of freedom that they have ever enjoyed. Several Sundays rolls by, and they suddenly start sleeping in, instead of attending a house of worship. What do you do? Do you let them led their own lives? Give them a severe beat down? Or minister to them and reiterate the importance of fellowshipping with the saints. My advice would be to choose the latter.
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in other countries still feeling extremely connected to my heritage. My parents did a great job of making sure I knew a lot about my family, the place I was born, and the problems that face the people of Nigeria. Over the years, being in America has immersed me in Black culture. Seldom is there even recognition of Africans in America, and often times if there is- it tends to be negative.
I once encountered a professor who explained a theory he had that Black Americans have been taught to turn their noses up to Africans, and vice versa. The divide between the two has been implemented and encouraged, used as another strategy by the dominant race to keep Black people from uniting and incapable of taking over. It is another divide much like the dark skinned vs. light skinned fight, the college educated vs. the non college educated, wealthy Blacks vs. the working class, Black Republicans vs. everybody else, Haitians vs. Dominicans...and so on.
James Baldwin discussed the difference between Blacks and Africans in Europe in "Notes of A Native Son" and the unfortunate differences that keep us all- those of African descent- from understanding each other. Although the differences are too often swept under the rug, like most conflicts between races, there are tons of misconceptions and stereotypes about Africans and the continent of Africa.
I came into the first day back to 5th grade in Baltimore with a young British accent (having moved from London the previous year) and a deep tan (having spent time vacationing in Nigeria over winter break) ready for the show and tell portion of class. I had pictures from my trip: of my family's estate, my cousins' school, the family horseback riding on Bar Beach, pictures of the city of Lagos, etc....and they were welcomed with the most outlandish questions from my classmates.
I was asked, "Did you live in a hut?" to which I replied, no- we have houses.
"Do people wear loin cloths?" no, we have clothing. My aunt owns her own clothing line and store.
"Does your uncle hunt lions for a living?" no, actually he works for a major Oil company there.
And a plethora of equally ignorant questions. I cannot blame my classmates for these questions, I blame society. I blame the media for only ever showing one side of Africa (although it is SO VERY IMPORTANT- I am a huge advocate for change in my continent) and for never highlighting the beautiful things about this continent.
Africa is the most underrated continent on Earth. It was a rich and beautiful land stripped of many of it's resources by the Western world, and given no credit for any of its' people's accomplishments. It is home to tons of stolen art, food, mathematical, scientific and medicinal discoveries, and of course- beautiful people.
That being said, I found this YouTube video about the Africa they never show on TV:
DETROIT (AP) — A national report says Michigan is the worst in the nation when it comes to graduating black male students from high school.
It also says Detroit has the second-lowest rate among big-city public school districts. The report issued by the Schott Foundation for Public Education says Michigan graduated 33% of black males in 2005-06, compared with 74% of white males.
Detroit Public Schools graduated 20 percent of black males and 17% of white males.
State Superintendent Mike Flanagan says the low graduation numbers are a “major concern.” He says Governor Granholm’s small high school initiative will help build greater relevance and relationships with schools and students.
Interview with Spoken Word Artist and Activist, Amir Sulaiman, by Tolu Olorunda.
Amir Sulaiman is a renowned poet, activist, recording artist, and a 2 time HBO Def Poet. Sulaiman is a household name in the world of Spoken Word Poetry. His brand of poetry has garnered him much adulation from those who have come across his unmitigated-ingenuity. Amir has performed – and still performs - at countless colleges, universities, high schools and community centers. He has shared the stage alongside such artists as, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Lauryn Hill, KRS-One, Pharoah Monch, Floetry, The Roots, Goapele, Stevie Wonder, The Last Poets and Dead Prez. As a member of “Youth Speaks” in the Bay Area, California, Amir works in mentoring and teaching kids, by way of spoken word, and a focus on the union of art and education. He is a visionary and a monument of inspiration, who believes that the power of love can disempower the stranglehold of narcissism in our society. With a passion comparable to none, Amir Sulaiman has managed to prolong the legacy of such trail-blazers as “The Last Poets.” I had the pleasure of speaking extensively with him on issues of direct relevance to our society, and the world at large:
Thanks for joining us, Bro. Sulaiman; can you start by informing us of your musical background, and the pathway leading up to “Cornerstone Folklore” – the album?
Well, Cornerstone Folklore was my very first album – which very few people have. It was composed of just acappella poems, and these poems were a collection of everything I had done up to that point. I started writing around the age of 12, and continued through Junior High and High School, but I got a lot more intense with it in college. Cornerstone Folklore in some ways is my origin and my favorite album. Cornerstone Folklore has a double meaning. The “Cornerstone” aspect of it is, giving honor to the ancient tradition that we have – involving the didactic stories, inspirational stories and cautionary tales that we have in our tradition -- as black people in America, and also as Africans. And, the Folklore element of it is the urban element – particularly the Hip-Hop era – from the ‘80s, ‘90s and present.
Now, it was in 2006 when you stormed the stage of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, and delivered the mind-gripping poem “Danger.” Can you dissect Danger and explain its symbolism?
Well, Danger is what most of my poetry is about – expressing for those who can’t express for themselves. So, there are people who don’t have a voice – whether it’s because they are disenfranchised, impoverished, their economical status, their age, or incarcerated – but need their stories told. Danger was meant to facilitate their voices to be heard, and give them a platform to be noticed. So, I started off saying, “I am not angry, I am anger;” and that was meant to show that this wasn’t just about me, but about the collective membership that I represent. And, most people have informed me that the poem inspired and motivated them when they first heard it.
Following up the “Danger” performance, the ACLU and Amnesty International broke reports of you being questioned by FBI Agents; can you enlighten us on that exchange?
Six days after the poem on HBO, the FBI came to my house and followed me around. They did it in a fashion that alerted me -- so it wasn’t clandestine. They also came to the school where I was teaching, and got the names and personal addresses of my students. So, that process showed me the power of the word, and reminded me that most of my heroes we’re in like-manner, known for the power of their words and brought into questioning by the same organization. After that encounter, I wrote an op-ed about it, called “The High Cost of Freedom of Speech.”
Your classic album, “Like a Thief in the Night,” was released in May last year. Pls. explain the process of creating that project, and your motivation during production?
Well, the project artistically went in a new direction for me, because I was inspired to blend poetry and instrumentals on it. On the album, I was craving poetry songs, and so the format was different from my earlier projects. It was also different because it was my first album to have a major distribution, which opened me up to an international audience. It was more so different, because this was the first time that I had featured multiple guests and producers on my album. I consider poetry a solo enterprise -- where one writes the poems and recites the poems. So, cooperating with other artists brought something out of me that I couldn’t bring out on my own. In that sense, Like a Thief in the Night was very influential to me as an artist. I chose that title, because I believe the purpose of life is to stay awake; and if we could stay awake to witness our honor, beauty and miracles, it would inspire us with the power to achieve whatever we were designed to achieve. But, if we fall asleep to depression or a victim-mentality, we won’t be effective; so our spirit has to be awake to witness God.
I want to move on to politics and then back to music in a second. As an outspoken Muslim, what is your assessment of the rise of Islamic consciousness -- following Senator Obama’s announcement of his presidential-run, and how do you gauge the Obama campaign’s response towards it?
Well, the question of Obama for me is two-sided – as I have to look at it from a Black Man’s perspective and a Muslim’s perspective. It is hard for me to put a finger on it, because he represents a symbol of hope, and appeals more as a person than as a politician; but, with the two incidents involving the Muslim Women wearing Hijabs, and Rep. Keith Ellison, it is a definite blow. It is unfortunate that Barack Obama has a problem with the Muslim community – which overwhelmingly loves and supports him. Also, his defense to the controversy surrounding him being an alleged Muslim, insinuates something fundamentally wrong with being Muslim. He treats it as though it’s an insult, and being a Muslim is problematic. So, I want to observe how he navigates this moment, and see if he lives up to the expectations; also, I’m aware that the pressure of the presidential office sort of bends candidates against their will.
Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to select certain songs from Like a Thief in the Night and have you deconstruct the science behind them. On “They don’t know,” you speak of our past – comprising of victories and losses – having an impact on our present state; can you explain that dynamic, and how we can draw both correction and inspiration from our history?
Well, generally for anything, the past always impacts the present, and the present is a product of the past. So that, in one way, for Black people in America, we have this idea that our home is Africa, and in other way, we say our home is in America; and I think both of those things are true. We are an indigenous people, and we had a pre-Columbus presence here. We are as indigenous as the Bush and Cheney family – and probably even more so. So, with that, one half wants to leave this land, and the other half says, ‘This is my house -- which my grandmothers and grandfathers built.’ Now, with that comes a certain responsibility and mental-determination to fix the problems we are experiencing, and “They don’t know” explains that reality. So, I want us to think for a moment, on topics such as, the history of crack, and if indeed it originated from some random person in L.A playing around with baking soda and cocaine; and, I want us to think beyond the present to find the answers from the past.
“How beautiful” was a soul-stirring ballad, where you lamented the degenerating self-esteem of Black Women; please elaborate on that?
It is a well-known fact that our women are treated most poorly than any other demographic in America – which is a shame on us. So, out of that shame, I wrote the poem expressing the beauty of Black Women -- in hope that they recognize it.
On the closing theme, “Killers,” you presented a different context to homicide within our community -- nevertheless pointing out the ramifications of such atrocities; can you break down the line of “Most killers don’t want to kill,” and “most of the dead don’t want to die?”
Well, “Killers” was one of my favorite songs when creating the album. But, if you can imagine in your mind, a young man killing another young man - with the realization that the killer doesn’t really want to commit the murder, and the victim certainly not wanting to die - you start asking certain questions like, “why is this happening?” Most of the time, both parties more than likely don’t want to be involved in that situation; so they become “Gladiators” -- even without the will-power to act in such manner. And I was pondering with that idea, that thousands of homicidal victims have been killed, without the desire for it -- which is a very peculiar and strange circumstance.
Lastly, on “I love you” – an emotional tribute to black heritage – you wanted to stress the importance of caring and selflessness. As a messenger of love – with the understanding that most black people are suffering severely from self hatred – how can love heal the wounds that have scarred our community, and what are effectual means of injecting that ‘serum’ back into our communities?
Yes; this question is ‘the question’ – as love is the cure of all ailments. All the cooperation that goes on between elements of the universe is a manifestation of love. Without love, there is no life, and if you find hatred, you find death. Hatred cannot generate life, and you cannot live simultaneously with hatred in your heart. Every time you hate, something in you has to die. So, love and selflessness necessitates surrendering one’s ego. Ego feeds off hate, and has the need to defend itself. Our level of love therefore has to transcend our ego. If our love transcends our ego, we will remain infinite, but if our love fails to transcend our ego, our life will only be as big as an ego – and an ego is only an illusion, in and of itself – which would make us meaningless; and only when we achieve selflessness, can we expect the Kingdom of God on Earth.
On the subject of your ministry through music, Abi Odun from “The Last Poets” joined you on the track, “We Are the Revolution.” Do you consider your musical-style more in tune with the legacy of the last poets?
Very much; they are my fathers – without a doubt, and they invite me into their house, to counsel me and advise me. I consider myself in their tradition, and find my music in line with them. I also want to be an inspiration to the up-and-coming generation of poets -- so “The Last Poets” are very essential to my music.
Finally, what are your upcoming projects and ventures?
Well, one of my projects is the Cornerstone Folklore tour – which is a very important venture for me. We did the tour in Atlanta and Sweden, and we’re looking to perform in Africa very soon. I try to present new artists and showcase new talents with the tour. Also, I’m working on my next project, which is called “The Meccan Opening.” I’m almost done with it, and it is expected to be released early next year or later this year.
Thanks for the time, Bro Amir.
This interview was conducted by Tolu Olorunda, Staff Writer for YourBlackWorld.com
Going to college, and having come from a highly-ranked series of primary and secondary schools is a blessing that I never take for granted. My high school’s graduating rate was about 90% my senior year, and moved up to 94% the year after. Out of about 500 seniors, less than 100 are not continuing on to higher education or vocational options.
A fifteen minute metro train ride from my high school in Maryland will take you to the D.C. public school system, where everything is the complete opposite. Washington D.C. public schools have received and/or tied for the lowest rankings in the country as far as basic learning skills, test scores, drop-out rates, poverty make-up, and safety issues are concerned. The Washington Post featured an article about whether or not the District schools are fixable. Noting that
“After decades of reforms, three out of four students fall below math standards. More money is spent running the schools than on teaching. And urgent repair jobs take more than a year…”
Washington Post article
There is a deeper issue than this. I think the most important thing that contributes to the success of students in any school system, is the attention paid to the racial make-up of these students and their needs, their economic backgrounds, the lack of motivation, and the unfortunate plight of using property taxes to pay for the upkeep of schools in cities where property tax is low or properties are not owned.
Most of the students that attended my high school come from middle-class, single family homes and townhouses, decent paying jobs, and safer-than-most neighborhoods. At a glance I would say the school is about 56% white, 26% Black, 10% Asian, 6% Hispanic, and the rest a combination of smaller populations.
In the cities where most Black and Hispanic families are, the Black population can sometimes be as high as 98% and the poverty level beyond belief. Even the city of Syracuse, where I attend the university, sees similar results to those of the D.C. public schooling systems. The problems are repetitive. More attention is given to thriving schools that have enough money coming in from their property taxes to pay for newer and better facilities and equipment. More parents in these thriving schools are actually involved with the schooling of their children. More teachers and guidance counselors are helpful to students that don’t pose as threats to their safety.
My younger sister is the president of her high school’s NAACP Youth Leadership Chapter, so when I am home, I attend some of the meetings with her. In almost every meeting, the topic has been about how to get the Black students of Maryland and D.C. public schools motivated enough to come to school, stay in school, and graduate to higher learning.
Too many of our youth are “miseducated” about their chances of success. The guidance counselors and teachers in these schools of urban areas suggest these students consider working after high school instead of going to college. The parents either did not go to college and don’t tell their children they should, or are not home enough to really be involved with their child’s education (although, I do understand that some parents have no choice but to work- sometimes multiple jobs, sometimes for single parent families).
Too many children drop out and follow lives of crime or become pregnant. Those that drop out are often times not given any reason or motivation to go back. Too many children believe that rappers and athletes are the only moneymakers, and therefore see no point in school for those talents ( what about doctors, lawyers, journalists, businessmen/ or women…?), and finally, too many children are not informed about the MANY scholarships, programs, fee waivers and resources that can help them succeed regardless of their race, gender, family, and economic standing.
The problems are repetitive. The initiative has been taken, but the results are far from where they need to be. I do not think it is Obama’s job to come to the rescue of the Black community. What he can maybe do for the school systems, is see to it that the governors of each state make sure that funding is equalized for all of their areas.
Kanye West said in his song “Champion”:
“‘Cause who the kids gonna listen to, huh?/ I guess me if it isn’t you”
I take that as a personal challenge. Whether or not you have children, it is our duty as members of the Black community to see our kids succeed. Better yet, it is our duty as members of the human race to see all kids succeed. They at least need to know that they have options, because success does not only mean going to college, it means living up to their fullest potentials- whatever that may be.
Interview with 1st and 15th Recording Artist, GemStones, by Tolu Olorunda. GemStones (formerly known as Gemini), is a recording artist on Lupe Fiasco’s vanity record label 1st & 15th. He was raised in Jeffrey Manor/South C on the South Side of Chicago. In 2007, he shot the video for the first single off of his upcoming album, Troubles of the World called “We On” featuring Lupe Fiasco. He appeared on MTV for “MTV Diary” and in August 2007, he was a “featured artist on MySpace.” In December of 2007 GemStones was featured on Fiasco’s sophomore album, The Cool. He appeared on tracks “Free Chilly”, “The Die”, “Go Baby”, and Lupe’s first single “Dumb it Down.” He recently endured a startling experience, which he aptly describes as his “transition.” He lost over 70 pounds, and picked up a socially-conscientious style of Hip-Hop. A highly articulate and lucid speaker, he claims to still posses the lyrical-velocity that accrued fans in the first place. Fresh off “The Cool Tour,” GemStones is now ready to take his place in the Mainstream. His mixtape, Testimony of Gemstones was released June 20th and his debut album, Troubles of the World is due to drop in fall of 2008. I had the pleasure of speaking with GemStones on his life, his music, and his overall outlook on a broad swath of issues:
Thanks so much for joining us, GemStones. Can you pls. inform us of your background, past projects and the struggle leading up to 1st and 15th records?
Well, I grew up in Chicago, as a rapper/singer. Originally, I adopted the name, “Gemini,” because Gemini is a sleek personality, so I was double-sided. My negative side was me rapping, and my positive side was me singing. I ran into Lupe (Fiasco) in 2001. I was recording in a studio, and Lupe walked in with the late “Stack Bundles.” At the time, Stack Bundles was also signed to 1st and 15th Records. When he heard my verses, he was so impressed, and before time passed, I was signed to 1st and 15th. I then began putting songs together for a whole year, by grindin’. I was living with a couple of producers, who made beats and offered them to me. After a while, I finally got a record-deal. Then I started recording with Lupe, and then he released his first major album, “Food and Liquor,” and I was featured on almost every song on it. And in 2006, when MTV did the special, “My Block Chicago,” I was featured as the headliner. I also hosted “Sucker Free Sunday.” And then late last year, Lupe released his 2nd album, “The Cool,” and I appeared on about 4 songs. I joined Lupe on “The Cool Tour” where we performed shows in almost every major city in the world. In the middle of the shows, Lupe would stop it for me to showcase my talents, and rock the crowds of sometimes, about 15,000 people. With all that, people began to notice me, and I got a whole page in the Source magazine, and a whole page in XXL magazine. And recently, I just released my major mixtape, “The Testimony of Gemstones.”
What are the lessons you’ve learned - musically and beyond - from working with Lupe Fiasco?
Well, I’m more conscious of what I say now, and what comes out of my mouth. In the beginning, I was just rapping to put rhymes together. I watched Lupe’s music evolve, and as I was around Lupe more, I saw the impact he was having on people, with his new brand. Lupe helped me find my voice; and his influence made it easier for me to find out what my calling was. My lyrics and my rhymes are a lot more potent than they we’re before. I’m still rapping with the same intensity that I was, but I’m just more socially-conscious.
Can you describe the radical makeover that you underwent, with regards to your musical and physical life?
I wasn’t eating good; I was out drinking and smoking, and wasn’t taking care of my body. I was injecting all kinds of toxic into my body -- and destroying it. I was up to 320 pounds, when I had a mild heart attack. I was out with Lupe one night in L.A, when I felt a numbing-pain on my left side, and all I could think of was the fact that I was about to have a heart attack. I thought about how I had survived the hood - with gun-shots and so much more - and how I couldn’t go out from food. After that, I went to the hospital, and got my body back on track. I started eating vegetables, chicken breasts, and drinking water. With regards to my music, I started transitioning from the bogus, negative style of rap I was performing, to what I’m involved with today. But, I didn’t plan for it to happen; everything just fell into place after my weight loss. Before I knew it, I became healthy spiritually, mentally and physically. In the past, I had catered to my fans and whatever they wanted to hear; I had degraded women, and with my mother listening to my music, it grew uncomfortable. With my new self, I wrote songs like “Skeleton” and “Good morning.” I realized that if I wasn’t part of the solution, I was part of the problem, and so I made a 180 degree turnaround.
Why the name-change from Gemini to Gemstones?
Well, I had some legal trouble, where someone already owned the name, so I had to make the fix and change it to Gemstones.
What is your overall perspective on Hip-Hop today - especially in the Chi – which is widely rumored to be the next biggest thing?
I think Hip-Hop will be good. I never thought Hip-Hop was dead, but I also thought it was on life-support. And, with cats like Common, Lupe and myself - keeping it strong when things weren’t going as good - we helped it. It was because of cats like that who didn’t sell out for a dime -- that Hip-Hop never died. And if you notice, things are starting to get better – it’s recovering. In Chicago, we hold the elements of Hip-Hop down. We have always made good music for the soul. I also believe that with my transition, I’ve made a big impact with keeping Hip-Hop alive. Even in the clubs; the music that is being played today, trumps that of 3 yrs. ago. Yet sometimes, I feel that rap has to be responsible for some of the more negative things that happen around us. And, whether we as rappers want to admit it or not, the kids are listening to us. When young girls start to believe that they can’t be lawyers and doctors anymore; that all there is to be is some video vixen, you have to take it seriously. The tongue is mighty, and when we realize that we can speak things into existence, we might become more conscious of our lyrical content. I think that if we could turn the negative to positive, we would become so strong as a people.
What’s your take on Barack Obama, and do you have any criticisms of his campaign?
I say thumbs up to him. It’s good to see a black person in a position like that. We’ve been held back for so long, and for any black person who’s doing something positive, I’m always with it. I wish him the best of luck.
You come from a rich musical background. In fact, you describe it as being vital in your shaping. As an artist and entertainer; how concerned are you that many public schools are slowly but drastically losing their music programs?
I’m very concerned, and I think that we as adults and entertainers need to step up and step in. We need to put our foot down. As soon as we start doing our job, things would start to turn around; but I’m hopeful that we’ll be alright though.
Can you tell us about the Testimony of Gemstones – which is your latest mixtape?
The Testimony of Gemstones is me testifying and apologizing to all my fans, who I might have misled in the past. I might have led people to destruction with some of my past lyrics. I don’t know what to call what I do, but it’s not rapping. I’m telling the truth; it just happens to come over a beat. Rapping seems to be ‘just putting words together because they match.’ The Testimony of Gemstones is all about real life and inspiration. I came from nothing, and I’m testifying to everyone who can relate to me, and the subjects that I touch on in the mixtape, are rarely touched on by most of these rappers. Ever since the release, I’ve been getting ‘5s’ all across the board, and people are going nuts over it. The response so far has been amazing, and it is an orientation before my album, “Troubles of the World” drops -- which is slated to drop later this year. I made the mixtape to prepare the public for Troubles of the World. The album is so raw, that I had to ‘dumb it down’ for them in the form of this mixtape.
Lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring artists and entertainers, hoping to get ahead in the ‘wildfire’ industry of Hip-Hop?
Don’t sell your soul, and don’t ever sell out for a dollar. People chase the dollar and miss the pot of gold at the end of the road. Also, never give up on your dreams – which is the main thing. Kanye West once told me, “to be with greatness, you got to play with the greats.” Lastly, keep God first and stay humble; patience is a virtue, and you can ‘Touch the Sky.’
For more information on GemStones and his latest/future projects, visit: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=66875165
This interview was conducted by Tolu Olorunda, Staff Writer for YourBlackWorld.com
When it comes to money, there is a lot of hoopla. As I witness the financial frenzy that comes with each fad, I am reminded of the days of snake oil salesmen, taking advantage of the hopes and dreams of many to fill the coffers of the immoral. When I watch the late night “Get rich quick” schemes, I wonder if anyone is getting rich other than the professional, perpetrator or pastor selling the book being featured. Some of the advice shown on television isn’t bad, but as a Finance Professor, some of the advice makes me shudder. Not to say that all of the self-proclaimed “financial experts” are immoral or incorrect, but it is not hard to find flaws in their perspective.
Do you know how much the media is influencing your child? Many parents don't understand the negative impact that television, music, magazines and movies may have on their children. Do you?
Parenting is harder today than ever before because your child is being bombarded with violence, sex and a lack of values. Today, with cable and satellite television, children have a huge choice of TV stations. Maury Povich, “judge” shows or other reality television are now what's "on" when most children get home from school. Is your child watching?
The average household in the United States watches over 8 hours of television a day and 40,000 commercials a year. That’s a lot of television and over 300 hours of commercials. Commercials are generally made to sell something and sex sells. 70% of television programming includes sexual content but only 14% of shows refer to sexual risks or responsibilities. With those kinds of statistics, it shouldn't be a surprise that children who watch more television have a higher probability of engaging in early sexual activity. Those same children are more likely to become obese and prone to violence. Society today has virtually no moral bottom; and that's what is reflected on television, movies and in a great deal of music. If you don't instill the values in your child, they'll pick them up somewhere.
You can't stop the media from enticing your child, but you can limit the exposure and gain more control by doing the following;
- Manage the monitors in your home by setting daily limits for TV, video games and the Internet. - Know what video games your children play and what Internet sites they visit. - Provide balance by supporting non-monitor activities such as reading, puzzles and board games. - Communicate and live your values while managing your child’s expectations. - Set limits, enforce them and be consistent.
Your role is vital in managing the media to which your children are exposed and you can't leave that job to your children. You should be your child's role model and you must be the example you want your child to see. More often than not, your children are a reflection of you. You may be the difference between your child being a success; or just being. Manage those monitors and instill the important values in your child so Jerry Springer doesn't have to.
Most of it is up to you. You can do it!
"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." Beverly Sills
Maurice Arthur is the author of "A Black Man Thinking: Volume 1 – Raising Children." ISBN: 978-0-9788340-0-5
When it comes to diversity and integration, I have some critics. I created a website called YourBlackWorld.com, a website for African-Americans. The site was created in response to my experience dealing with mainstream media, which typically provided a 1 or 0 dimensional perspective to black points of view. Although I have a PhD in Finance, I was never called by CNN, FOX or CBS to discuss money or financial issues. I was usually called whenever they had a conversation on “black stuff”.
The fact that they saw me as a black man before they could see anything else was no fault of my publicist. A wonderful and energetic woman, my publicist called all the major networks to introduce me as a person well-qualified to discuss the economy, money management, stock markets or global finance. I have trained literally thousands of Suzie Ormans and Wall Street experts through the years, so it was only logical that this be an area that I speak on as a public scholar.
The problem was that many Americans do not see a black man when they envision a financial expert. A black man is more likely to be seen as a rapper, athlete or criminal. At best, they see a black scholar willing to discuss black rappers, athletes and criminals. That became my role with CNN.
I don’t mind discussing black people, for I have a very strong black identity. However, the limitations of my role bothered me a great deal, and what bothered me most was that it didn’t bother anyone else. If anyone else was bothered, it was for all the wrong reasons. I remember having a debate with a black conservative on CNN about why African-Americans have such a negative image in the world. The conservative, buying into some of the basic tenants of white supremacy, truly believed that the reason black Americans have such a negative image throughout the world is because black people simply choose to behave like criminals. He argued that if black people would simply mind their manners and stop getting arrested so much, the media would have nothing to report.
Apparently, this man had forgotten that there are over 30 million black people in America. So, even if 95% of these individuals were to choose to become perfect angels (or engage in what I call “The Good Negro Behavior Protocol”), there will, by simple statistical fact, be at least 1 million individuals doing things that could embarrass the rest of the community. By virtue of the fact that the media’s lens focuses most on those individuals in the black community who engage in embarrassing behavior, it would be these 1 million individuals who receive the most airtime. I strongly believe in the idea of freedom. I believe that the black community has a right to be as diverse as any other group of people in America. Rappers have as much a right to exist as professors do. The idea that we can get angry at rappers because CNN and other networks focus on rappers more than anyone else is not the fault of the artists, but rather, due to the one dimensional perspectives of the networks themselves. It’s not who is in front of the camera, it’s where the camera chooses to focus itself.
Another problematic dimension to the “good negro behavior protocol” is this idea that all of us should be “embarrassed” when there is a black person on TV behaving in a comical or criminal fashion. I hear educated African-Americans speak of how embarrassed they are by the behavior of Flavor Flav, the ex-rapper turned reality TV star. I personally find Flavor Flav to be funny and I feel that he has as much of a right to be himself as the white guys on the great MTV show “Jackass”. I have never once heard a white man express that he is embarrassed for the white population because of what the guys on Jackass do on television. I have never once heard a white female say that she is embarrassed for the white race when Paris Hilton is arrested for drunk driving for the 1,000th time. The reality is that they know clearly that Paris Hilton and Jackass do not represent the white experience or dominant white expression.
For some reason, black people are the opposite. Rather than questioning why the media gives us an either-or reality for how we express ourselves in media, we get angry at one another for choosing to express ourselves in a unique fashion. The truth is that Flavor Flav has a right to be a comedian, he has a right to be a jack ass. If anyone in the world watches Vh-1 and thinks that all African-Americans behave like Flavor Flav, then their ignorance is their problem, not mine.
This was an excerpt from the book "Blinded by the Bling: The Plight of the Black Middle Class" by Dr. Boyce Watkins, set to be released August 15, 2008. For more information, please visit www.BoyceWatkins.net.
I recently gave a speech at Stanford University for the Black Student Union. We were going to talk about educational empowerment and “black people stuff”. The Stanford University campus possesses, as expected, some of the more brilliant minds in America. It also has its share of stuffiness and elitism, as many such campuses do. I have personally been a believer that education is what you make of it. A person at a community college who studies for 10 hours a day is, in my opinion, far more capable than a student at Harvard who studies for 4 hours a day. The key to your greatness lies inside your heart, not in the walls of the institution you attend.
With all the advances in the United States today, the reading levels of our children is one area where we haven’t made the advances that are critical to our future. Children’s reading levels are representative of their parents reading activities and of the literacy issues facing many Americans.
The major danger is that reading is the great equalizer and many parents are missing a chance to greatly increase their child’s chances of success. Reading will significantly enhance your child’s chances of success and can put you and your child on the same level with just about anybody, anywhere. Reading can take you places you’ll never go and help you see things you’ve never seen before. Reading can educate the uneducated. Besides, reading can be fun!
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” - Joseph Addison
Parents who read often have children that read, and this is a huge area of opportunity for parents. Far too many parents aren’t reading and neither are their children. So how often do you read?
A reader or non-reader, opportunity is all around you. You should be the role model for your children and with reading, it’s no different. If you enjoy reading, and consider yourself a reader, there’s a good chance your child will be a reader. And if you’re not, consider any of these ideas to get you started;
- Go to your local library and get a library card. While you’re there, ask about any reading programs; or set a goal to read a book every two or three weeks.
- Determine a subject of interest to you, and read a book on that subject.
- Find a place that you would like to learn about or visit, and read a book about that place.
- Something that you would like to learn to do, read a book on it and try to do it.
- Have a family reading time without the television.
And if you need assistance with your reading skills, seek out a literacy program at a library near you. The key is to find something to read that is interesting to you. More important than what you read is that you read!
Before you know it, you’ll discover all kinds of things that you wanted to know, and that’s only the beginning. Your child will become a reader with you as a role model. Reading can give you hope. Reading gives you the ability to learn. Reading is one of the most precious gifts that you can give your child.
Maurice Arthur is the author of " A Black Man Thinking: Volume 1 – Raising Children" ISBN: 978-0-9788340-0-5
Worried about the high cost of college for your children? This concern is certainly legitimate. On average, the cost of a college education rises by twice the rate of inflation. However, the fear of a cost increase can be mitigated if parents and students are aware of the tools available to help them cover the expense.
The 529 prepaid tuition and savings plans are among the weapons parents and students can use to cover the cost of college tuition. The 529 plans, also known as “qualified tuition plans” are designed to encourage families to save for higher education. They provide incentives to save, and also allow for additional financial and tax benefits that can make the process easier for families who plan ahead. All 50 states sponsor at least one type of 529 plan, so there are options available for any citizen in any state.
Note that there is a difference between the 529 prepaid tuition plans and the 529 college savings plans. The 529 prepaid tuition plans allow parents and students to purchase credits for tuition at a chosen university and sometimes even room and board. The price of tuition, room and board is held fixed, with no inflationary changes for the duration of the investment (in other words, the cost of tuition doesn’t change for you like it does for everyone else). Most of the plans are sponsored by the state government and also have some kind of residency requirement. In exchange for meeting these requirements, the state government will provide a guarantee for the investment made in the 529 plan.
The 529 savings plans are similar to the prepaid tuition plans, with some mild variations. The plans allow an individual (usually the parent) to set up a plan for another individual (the student) with the goal of paying for the student’s educational expenses. The plans allow plenty of flexibility in choosing the beneficiary, and you can even choose yourself as the beneficiary. The funds are not guaranteed by the state or federal government and you are given an array of investment options for the funds you’ve deposited into your account. The tax advantages of 529 plans are quite strong. While rules can vary by state, you are not typically required to pay state and federal taxes on earnings from the 529 plan. The only requirement is that any withdrawals from the plan are being used to pay qualified college expenses. Withdrawing the funds to pay for items not related to the cost of college attendance will lead to a 10% penalty in addition to any applicable federal and state income taxes.
Here is a mathematical example to help you understand the financial impact of avoiding taxation on investments in a 529 college savings plan. Assume Teresa invests $1,000 per year in her son’s 529 college savings plan from the time he is born until he is 18-years old. Also assume that her investment earns an annual rate of return of 8%, which is relatively easy to earn on a well-diversified stock portfolio (you can simply ask your investment company to give you a mutual fund that matches the risk and return of the rest of the stock market). She doesn’t engage in stock picking. She just puts her money in a simple mutual fund and leaves it alone.
How much will Teresa have contributed to the account over an 18 year period? $18,000. How much will she have available to pay her son’s tuition when he leaves for college? $37,450. That is more than double the amount she invested in the plan over the 18-year period. Not being taxed on the income gives Teresa an extra $5,000 (roughly speaking) to pay college tuition that she would not have had by investing without the tax benefits of the 529 plan.
One thing that Teresa must remember is the fact that the average tuition increase is 8% per year. So, this increase is going to match dollar-for-dollar the increase in Teresa’s investment portfolio. So, the truth is that she is going to have swim forward just to keep up with the current. This match in growth rates is what makes prepaid tuition plans roughly the same in attractiveness as prepaid savings plans. Had Teresa invested in a prepaid tuition plan (instead of a savings plan), she would have found herself paying tomorrow’s tuition at today’s prices. So, either way, she is going to pay tuition, but investing with tax benefits makes it easier.
My thoughts on the issue? Prepaid tuition plans are the safest bet, as long as you are sure that you don’t want to leave the state to attend college. While you are allowed out of the deal in most cases, there is a penalty for doing so. Savings plans are better for those who want to have a bit more flexibility in attendance options, as well as the chance to possibly outrun the cost of college tuition. Remember: Teresa earned 8% per year on her investment, but the average rate of return on the stock market has historically been around 12%. Therefore, an average portfolio over 18 years would have likely given her more than the cost of tuition. The key is to remember that the greatest investment in this process is the one in your child. Your child’s greatest investment is the one in his/her educational future. Also, there are a litany of financial aid options available in addition to 529 savings plans. Money should not be a hurdle to building a great future.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University. He is also the author of “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about College”, and “Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good”. He is also the founder of YourBlackWorld.com, one of the top black news and commentary sites in America.
