You muthafuckas kill me

This is like people trippin' off the lyrics in the Rainbow Children, saying "Prince hates White people!!"



I wasn't there. I didn't hear the shit. I'd like to know what was said in context. I will be buying E's next album

BlaqueKnight said:

Correct
[Edited 12/20/05 6:46am]

Why do people make a fuss about this?
Just like anyone else she's entitled to her opinion, how fucking retarded and hypocrtitical it may be, if you don't like it stop supporting her and try to make money of off her by selling the stuff you were cheated into buying from her... (But if you actually had used your brain and LISTENED to what she had to say ever since day 1 you wouldn't be in this predicament now...)
She has always been about black people first, but she sure does love that white money like every other hypocrite out there...

Neversin.

Neversin said:

Well said. They all like green. Erykah, Prince, and any other artist who pitches an image to acompany their music.

BlaqueKnight said:

BK do you agree with Janfriend's statement that she (herself) "can't be a racist?"

badujunkie said:

That's just stupidity talking, remember that we're living in an era in which stupidity reigns supreme...
The western system of civilization is based upon the distinguishment of classes (racism included) and our thought process works exactly that way because we don't know any better and learn this from the beginning we start to use our language, so as long as this system "works" (and it does for capitalists) we will continue to use stupidity (hypocrisy included) as logic...

Neversin.

Neversin said:

Wrong. Racism is 1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination

I don't think my race is superior to any other race and I do not judge people soley on their race. I didn't say anything on here racist. Saying that someone's music is geared towards a black audience is not racist at all. I never said "I hate White people" or "Fuck White people." Also to practice racism you have to have the power to incorprate it. I don't have that power. I can't help it if an overly sensitive White person can't handle the fact that some of the music they are listening to is exactly made with them in mind. I listen to Salsa y Merengue, but I know that music is for a Hispanic audience. There may be subject and references made in the music that have to specifically due with that culture. I can't deny that no matter how much I like the music

Janfriend said:

I understand what you say, and I am not in total disagreement, but the term "brotha" is used by many of the members of the "hells angels." Also a lot of the officers in the police force throughout this country address each other as "brotha". So the term "brotha" is not exclusive to blacks. However, I am pretty sure she is not writing with them in mind. (or who knows, sometimes we all just might have to say "what the *uck, and move on )
"i like that old time rock n roll (smile)
[Edited 12/20/05 9:51am]

tamaranow said:

I was actually talking about the song "Brotha" by Angie Stone

Janfriend said:

Neither do I, Humans = Humans i.e. Stupid = Stupid...


I agree...


Everyone has the power to incorporate it, even you, you just choose not to use it...

Neversin.

LOL, a black artist is accused of saying something offensive towards caucasians and all hell breaks loose....2 funny, not what she was accused of saying but the reactions from the orgers.

CinisterCee said:

dont judge our playground like that!!

Neversin said:

So you think I have the power to deny someone a job because they are white (note: I don't have the power to hire, fire or infuence at my job)? Do I have the power to deny someone service at any establishment because they are white? Do I have the power to incorporate laws that hender the lives and advancment of white people? Sure, I can voice negative opinions about another race if I wanted to. To me, to pratcice it means to purposely not socialize with other races, to not speak to anyone other than my race, to refuse to work anywhere that has a mix of races, to verbally attack other races about their inferiority, to refuse to be helped by someone of a different race, to not want to have a relationship with someone of another race because I don't want my blood tainted, etc, etc

sosgemini said:

thank you..here's my last contribution to the subject...for all to think about.
it was written before alot of you (us) were even born.
look him up and check out his pre-erika b and angie s lyrics.
Everyday People
(Stewart)

Sometimes I'm right then I can be wrong
My own beliefs are in my songs
A butcher, a banker, a drummer and then
Makes no difference what group I'm in
I am everyday people

Then it's the blue ones who can't accept
The green ones for living with
The black ones tryin' to be a skinny one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha
We gotta live together

I am no better and neither are you
We're all the same whatever we do
You love me you hate me
You know me and then
Still can't figure out the scene I'm in
I am everyday people

Then it's the new man
That doesn't like the short man
For being such a rich one
That will not help the poor one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on scooby dooby dooby

Ooh sha sha
We got to live together

There is a yellow one that won't
Accept the black one
That won't accept the red one
That won't accept the white one

Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and
Scooby dooby dooby
Ooh sha sha
I am everyday people
hopefully "we" can make things better
[Edited 12/20/05 10:32am]

I'm sure she meant "F%$# the system," (not everone in Bush's inner circle is a white male after all), but as an artist, you'd think she might be able to express herself more clearly, or at least with more poetry.

Anyone who knows American history should understand her feelings, but alienating half of your own audience (and I guarantee Bush wasn't there!) seems pretty pointless.

Am I missing something. Didn't they admit that it didn't happen.



M

Janfriend said:

no but you DO have the power to do all those other things u listed

Moonwalkbjrain said:

How can you say no and then yes at the same time???

Janfriend said:

NO u dont have the power to deny someone a job etc... but YES YOU DO have the power to refuse to work with someone of another race etc..

Moonwalkbjrain said:

Not if I want to pay my rent,which is very important to me and should be important to everyone else

OH For FUCks sAKE! iF SHE SaID (ALLEGEDLy) "fuck white peoplE" she mean WHITE PeOPLe. nOt OnlY wHITe estaBlishMent. iF FOUnD to Be TrUe, shE IS a RAcIst! anD THose KnOWing so, anD CONTINUE To SuPPORT hER aND HeR ShiT MusiC Are jUST as gUILTY. fuck thAt!!!

Janfriend said:

why do you presuppose that all artists have a) their own race in mind or b) an audience when they make music?

badujunkie said:

I didn't say all artists. I said most, if not all soul artists. Listen to the lyrics. Why are you attracted to it? soul and r&b music is music that originated in black American gospel singing, is closely related to rhythm and blues, and is characterized by intensity of feeling and earthiness and popular music typically including elements of blues and black folk music and marked by a strong beat and simple chord structure

It was originally created by blacks for blacks about the black experience. That's really a no brainer
[Edited 12/20/05 17:35pm]

Janfriend said:

When black people become the only hated minority, let me know. You've got no more claim to pain or anger than the rest of us.

tamaranow said:

Ahhhhh..SLY!!!!

Simple, yet, meaniful lyrics....

Janfriend said:

What you actually mean is that it was created for black American folks about the black American experience. Black folks in Europe love soul music same as you, but our parents and grandparents - while not immune to prejudice and racism themselves - did not go through the same horrific levels of oppression black Americans did. And you're forgetting early Motown, which Berry Gordy - initially at least - deliberately packaged to crossover to a white audience, which it did.

There's also another point you're completely missing - no one can control who listens to their music or how they react to it, no matter who they initially make it "for". Marvin Gaye did not make "What's Going on" (arguably the greatest soul album ever made) just for black people - he referenced hippies in the title song ("Who are they to judge us because our hair is long"). Stevie Wonder didn't make his music solely for black folks either. Neither did Ray Charles or Al Green or Sly Stone (who had a multi-racial band). But why stop at soul? Bob Marley made his music for a global audience. As did all the jazz greats (and, by the way dear, a few of them were and are white). Ledbelly wrote his most famous song - "Goodnight Irene" - for the daughter of his white prison warden. Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Little Richard didn't deliberately make their music for black people either.

Sorry, Friend of Janet Jackson, but you're completely and utterly misinformed and I'm afraid, very ignorant about this very music you claim as your "own". Read more, hate less.
[Edited 12/21/05 4:57am]

Janfriend said:

im not backing down to you racist piece.
eat shit.

lilgish said:

Yeah Madagascar and Riyadh and the Bedouins are awesome.

I'm all confused now by this constant pull & push... so please would someone tell me: is racism a good or a bad thing?

Some people believe everything they hear even if common sense suggests otherwise

http://www.dallasobserver...tters.html

Bad to Badu
Poor judgment: When is alleged racism ever funny?

After reading the article "By the eBay" by Sam Machkovech (December 1), I was quite disturbed for one main reason. Freedom of speech is one thing, but it must always be tempered with humanity and societal responsibility.

Mr. Machkovech's article was intended to be satirical in nature, but his treatment of Erykah Badu was in poor judgment, incendiary, controversy-mongering and all other things associated with exploiting racial tensions.

To joke about an alleged incident (which did not happen in the first place, but more on that later) that involved highly racially insensitive sentiments has no place in the Dallas Observer or any other publication. To throw fuel on the fire of Dallas' community relations and to make one of the city's burgeoning icons a negative target is irresponsible at best and detrimental as a whole.

The motivation of the writers of the fallacious letters to the editor (Letters, March 31, 2005) that created the source material for Mr. Machkovech's article is not known, but opposing letters submitted to the Observer dismissing the alleged incident were not given the weight that the original letters were given. Please know this: Erykah Badu said or did nothing to hurt, threaten or disparage any group of people at the event in question, and a recording of the show bears that out.

I am not trying to lay the racial problems of Dallas on the writer or on the Dallas Observer--certainly the issue is much larger--but it is my hope that the Observer would be a part of the solution or at least not make it worse.

I have known Erykah Badu for more than 10 years and have spoken with her about the article and the accusation that sparked it. She was upset for two reasons. First, because it was based on something that did not happen and second, because something that is so vile and against everything she stands for was stirred back up for the sake of so-called humor. How would any of us like to be branded with such a despicable characterization (especially when it is not accurate)?

In its attempts to entertain and inform, the Dallas Observer should understand that everything is not "fit to print," even in the spirit of comedy. When it comes to one of the most serious subjects that we face, not everybody gets the joke.

Ward White

Dallas Editor's note: Ward White is Erykah Badu's lawyer.

Hidden racism: I am writing to express my utter discontent with the "editorial staff" of this New Times publication. Not only did "By the eBay" do all it could to disparage and belittle some of the better musical talents to come from and stay in Dallas, the words written specifically about Erykah Badu crossed so many lines. Let me first point out that I am a white man, 33 years old, living and doing business in this wonderfully diverse city. I work with men and women of all races and social backgrounds. I have never seen such a poor display of hidden racism in print time and time again by a publication that claims to be cutting-edge editorial.

Your paper has cast a dark, dark cloud over a venue (the Black Forest Theater) and a respected philanthropist, musician and mother--Erykah Badu. Did anyone in your editorial department stop to think about Erykah's young children, one of whom attends school in Dallas, and how these types of lies will hurt them? Did anyone in editorial stop to think about the target this would put on Erykah? As much as news outlets like to play it down, white people commit hate crimes against minorities, and I would hate to see anything come back on Erykah or any other people around her due to these statements about "Fuck the White People." I feel the Dallas Observer has tried very hard to put this "racial target" on Ms. Badu, a person who doesn't deserve this treatment in any way. I have been to every single event at the Black Forest Theater, from Prince to Snoop Dogg to events that the Observer sponsored like Paul Oakenfold and even other events such as Scholastic Saturdays, where Erykah and volunteers from her charity (BLIND) and St. Philip's School (South Dallas) brought in children displaced from the Gulf Coast disasters for a day of education, expression through art and compassion. Did anyone at the Observer notice that white people, Mexican people, black people, all people came to the Black Forest Theater to donate time, money and love?

I am so offended by the complete lack of ethics within your editorial group. I know that your advertisers will pick up on the fact the Observer is with you when there is something to gain and killing you when there is not. I say that after seeing Erykah on the cover of the Observer ("The Weird Girl," by Robert Wilonsky, October 16, 2003) and in the paper over the past 12 years.

Let me end this rant by saying that Dallas doesn't need any more undue racial rumblings. No city does. All of this hoopla is based on mistruths and misguided people.

Jeff Smith

Dallas

Take a Walk

Forget Dallas: I found the jaywalking arrest story very interesting ("Bus Gestapo," by Jim Schutze, December 8). I'm from Seattle and had planned a trip to Dallas with my family in the spring. After reading the story, I've decided we will go somewhere else for vacation. I'm a huge fan of public transit, so I generally use it while visiting another city.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be aware of the "unwritten rules" that would keep me from getting pepper-sprayed and punched by a gang of thugs who aren't accountable to anyone. So your public transit wouldn't be safe enough for myself or my family to use.

David Dahlgren

Seattle, Washington