Okay guys, I've locked down and or removed most of the bullshit "Prince is / isn't a racist" and related threads.
They really weren't getting us anywhere. However I have left most of them visible (just locked) because there are some great points in there, for those that wish to "do the work" and sift through all the nonsense.

Bottom line: discuss the lyrics posted on the NPGMC site "The Moors in Spain" if you wish, but please do so in a civil and respectful manner. All intelligently expressed opinions are welcome here, as long is it as on-topic for the forum and it adheres to the site rules.

If you specifically want to discuss racism beyond the context of these lyrics, please make your way to our "Politics and Religion" forum but I'll warn you now - experience has proven time and time again that people are incapable of discussing such difficult topics without it descending into petty flames and insults. As per our site rules, we deal with such cases harshly.

Thanks and please enjoy your discussion...

Very good thinking and acting upon it. Thanks (for the sake of the forum)

How respectful an analysis of the essay is the condescending simplification that is the current Prince.Org poll?

Essence said:

Personally, I thought it was pretty funny

The poll is not meant to be for "analysis" or discussion, it's a bit of fun.

ian said:

You know what I'm saying man, it's "officially" mocking the issue when you ask everybody else to be respectful.

Essence said:

Hardly. It's providing a bit of much-needed levity and comic relief, away from the madness of the forums. The poll is a bit of fun.

ian said:

Well the poll was there (Complete with link) before the hype started so it contributed if anything. Surely Prince didn't write and share his essay so the fanbase could decide if they should be labelled a "sugar cane" etc. Not everbody agrees it was levity or comic...

Get over it Essence. If you don't like the poll, if you don't it funny, then don't bother with it. None of this alters what I have said at the beginning of this thread. Which is the topic of the thread.

Essence said:

PRINCE created those categories. the poll is a REACTION to prince's lyrics.

i understand and applaud prince's efforts to acquaint himself with his heritage, he has every right to sing about what he wants. but his history is inaccurate, he presents a one-sided view of what happened and the role the moors actually played, and worst of all in order to build up the Moors he puts down the heritage of other european cultures, on the basis of their race. which represents quite a change from his message of even five years ago.

obviously some of his fans are 100% behind him. obviously other fans are going WTF?! whether or not this divide existed before the lyrics to prince's song were posted is irrelevant to the fact that these lyrics stereotype and denegrate one class of people over another on the basis of their race. imo prince can do better.

listens to that new remix

Racism doesn't belong in the NPG. You all go off to worship Howard Stern, or sumtin..lol

thanx ian!

XxAxX said:

---

How is what he has said about the Moors not true. They kicked ass all over Europe. What's sad is that African-Americans can never take pride in their heritage without other citizens screaming racism. Why do you think so many young African-Americans destroy themselves with drugs, getting involved in criminal activity and dropping out of school? It is due to a lack of pride in one's self. A person who does not know their past will not know their future.
Are some of you happy to see African-Americans ignorant about their own history?

ian said:

NOT FUNNY, Ian

By the way, most of the things Prince mentions were not discussed in public schools. I didn't find out about much of who I am until I got to college. It was deeply omitted, which is a sad commentary on my school system's part. How will you know unless you read? How will you know what to read unless you are told? In high school, we didn't talk about the contributions of Black people until February. And as far as Africa as a place is concerned, slavery was the only thing discussed (back then).

Prince is proud of "the skin he's in"...he is trying to let his pride show. It would be remiss of anyone to stand in his way.

i think it's pretty funny that this thread is turning out a bit like the other threads

MrBliss said:

pejman said:

But they won't lock this one.

pejman said:

Hence the problem

I live in Spain and I have a Moor Gardener..Really!

And he doesn't care 500 years ago my ancestors kicked his out of Spain.

PANDURITO said:

That added so much to the situation in here.

I can't believe yall still trippin on this. Believe it, some people are just local, stupid and/or insensitive. Try having a logical conversation with a crack head, or a drunk alcoholic, same with some of these people on the org. They just can't get with it and they don't care whether you think it strange, you the one that's strange cause you ain't with the dumb shit they with. Your want to learn about your history? Fine, as long as their history of human cruelty is not exposed. You want to support a brother? Can't do that either, cause he ain't playing his part right, therefore you and him can go jump in the Mississippi. You want to express your anger at the unfair judgement of the brother and you? Oh!, can't do the neither, cause now you what he is.

thank you.

Blackcat said:

love is a house, & you got the key...