I forgot to mention in my report that there was one preachy moment that stood out. It wasn't some religious crap but a bit more of a racial thing (not really racist). Prince mentioned a bunch of celebs that were in the audience like Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, Dave Chapelle, Lenny Kravitz, Anita Baker, Andre 3000 and Big Boi, etc. He then said to the audience something like, "Don't they make you proud to be who you are? You are a blessed people." Now, I could be wrong, but I'm sure he wasn't talking to the white people in the crowd. I don't really think it was a big deal, but I just feel he's kinda putting up a little wall there. Is he saying that everyone else isn't blessed? He was definitely trying to make a point which was kinda weird when most of the audience was white. It's not like he called people "whitey" of "cracker", but still. I miss the old days when there was no black or white with him.

i honestly don't think he meant it in that sense.

EvilWhiteMale said:

In the old days, WB sheltered him from having to have to deal with the fact that he's black. Pumping your own people up doesn't mean its putting others down. It sounds like positive reinforcement to me. Nothing more.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I could be wrong, but how else could he have meant it? Don't you think it was on a pro-black tip at least? And that's not to say pro-black means anti-white, but it's still interesting to think about. I mean if it were Garth Brooks saying the same thing to white people, a few eyebrows would be raised.

But I read that Alicia Keys introduced him by saying something like Prince showed her she could be who she was. If that is the case, and Prince's speech came right after that, it would seem that he was alluding to what Alicia had said.

BlaqueKnight said:

I can agree with that. But anytime you pump up one race of people, an other may feel left out. It's like showing more love to one group and forgeting about the rest.

EvilWhiteMale said:

I think Prince does it as a positive rememberance of color. Even though, I think we should all consider ourselves part of one race...the human race, I (as well I'm guessing Prince) think we should honor our own nationalities and colors from time to time. Remembering that ppl of color do contribute to music as well as everything else. White ppl get recognized for everything, thats just common place in our society. Doesn't mean white ppl don't deserve props, it just means ppl of other colors need a shout out too from time to time. Don't know, I think he meant it to be considerate to black ppl since he feels he is one which he is!

Haha what a crock! What? Did Prince forget he was black?

I guess WB stole all his mirrors...

EvilWhiteMale said:

please, let's not start these type of issues. The flow is going so well.

jagshrapnel said:

Well, since day one he was CONSIDERED to be biologically WHITE and BLACK. Since he had mixed audiences of both WHITE and BLACK...don't you think it would be in WB's BEST interest to NOT disassociate one race by saying things like he did at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? If he did this back then, he would have stirred up the same kind of controversy that is found on this here thread.

He has said this on the Soul Train Music Awards years ago. As someone whom is "black" we are consistently put down by the "image" of ourselves in society if you really look deeply into it. We are and were inventors and pioneers in may things and never were taught this while in school or much of our learning. Well, on second thought, I will only speak for myself. I don't know about other's. Hey, I will say this that every time I look at your Avatar I am offended to a degree. You gonna change it? I think it a bit standoffish.

preciosa863 said:

Why can't we talk about thse things? This is a topic about how he relates to his audience, that all.

The interpretation is what you make it, I guess. What if he gave a veiled shout-out to all the Geminis in the crowd? Ya might feel a drop left out, but big whoop. Or what if he says "this one's for the ladies" and you're not a lady? Is that okay?

jojofran said:

Why does my avatar offend you? And no, I'm not gonna change it. It represents a good part of my belief system.

Anxiety said:

Yeah, but that's different. When you get into race, politics, religion, etc. it becomes a different story.

hey i'm all for giving props to people. black people have received little recognition for their contributions and that should change. the textbooks should be re-written in that regard.

the only time i don't like when prince mentions race is when he does so derogatorily, like putting down the barbarians in The Moors. imo a person can give props without putting others down because the ones who're put down get hurt. just my opinion

Anxiety said:

AS WELL HE SHOULD!!!

You know we're the most exciting.

XxAxX said:

I would just prefer there be no mention of religion, race, or politics at all.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Well use your very same statement to "me" to answer your own thread.

EvilWhiteMale said:

you know, i kind of agree. but, the point is lack of discussion does tend to further racial oppression. i do kind of admire prince for trying. it's just, i find some of his lyrics hurtful

gemini13 said:

like hell ya'll are!

<----sagittarius

It amazes me how some people scream racism whenever they feel left out. I guess I should feel like someone got preachy on a racial trip whenever people like me are excluded in a movie, TV show, newsrooms, board rooms, presidencies, congress, Awards Ceremony etc. I know I should really be pissed by Mel Gibsons Passion of The Christ a movie about people in the middle east and N. Africa and people of color were all but absent in that film. It's amazing what the privilege of this society does to people's perceptions of things.

This thread is utter bullshit!

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

it does suck. racism sucks and it's a huge cause of misery in this world. but i don't think evilwhitemale was screaming racism, he was just commenting on something prince said

remember the heated denials back when someone said prince told wendy to clean up her act, renounce homosexuality and join jehovah? well, he actually did say that to her in all seriousness as it turns out. man's not perfect after all and he's lucky she forgives him
[This message was edited Tue Mar 16 17:43:04 2004 by XxAxX]

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

Amen to that!

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

i'm sayin...like i said on another thread, i've got the feelin that i'm gonna be tellin a lot of people to chill right around now because folks read into shit so fuckin hard and get pissed off over absolutely nothing.

know what? i'ma just go ahead and lock this thing up right now, because i know where a thread like this heads to....absolutely nowhere but flamesville. it'd be nice if people could discuss stuff like this in an adult manner, but there'll be people who'll misconstrue things and get all pissy.