Obama's security 'lapse'

Since his candidacy began and for good reason (Medgar Evers. Malcolm X. MLK. Fred Hampton.) African-Americans have whispered their anxiety over Barack Obama's safety. I admit, racial paranoia in black America is at times a destructive viewpoint. However, it is also a healthy immune system against racism that was strengthened by horrific real world events. I personally think it's unproven conspiracy theory B.S., but believing the government administered AIDS to black communities is somewhat based upon the Tuskegee Experiment.

Let's be honest, we're worried about Barack.

Well the latest news coming out of Texas is not helping.

From the Ft. Worth Stat-Telegram:

"Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena.

The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security.

Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on.

'Sure,' said Lawrence, when asked if he was concerned by the great number of people who had gotten into the building without being checked. But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a 'friendly crowd.'"

Even though the Star-Telegram reported that several police officers were worried, a spokesperson for the Secret Service denied the "lapse" and the Obama campaign insists no corners are being cut. Even though scattered reports of similar "no screenings" have reportedly come in, Barack insists he's safe.

I won't fan our worst fears. Still, the hushed anxiety is more pronounced.

Welcome Louisville Public Media

hat tip to LEO's General Sense of Outrage.

Today Public Radio Partnership, which owns three public radio stations (WUOL, WFPL, and WFPK FM), announced its new name to emphasize its new direction. It is now officially, Louisville Public Media.

According to Executive Director Donovan Reynolds, LPM will expand its programming to include "new technologies." So basically the slumbering folks in the radio business have found out that people under 35 get their news online. Congratulations!

“The public radio audience is looking for new kinds of information, new tools and services, and new ways to get things done,” said Reynolds. “We see this as an opportunity to become even more relevant to our community through intelligent risk-taking and experimentation.”

I say the more (quality) voices in the Derby City the merrier.

Kwame to Kwame: Resign or else

"I'll be here for as long as I can be here" - this is an actual quote (AP Press)

Another bad week for Detroit's hip-hop mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick.

First, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected Kilpatrick's attempt to conceal documents from being made public that detail a city settlement that helped conceal an affair with his former Chief of Staff, Christine Beatty. Kilpatrick and Beatty's text message scandal revealed over 14000 messages over city issued pagers that narrated the affair.

It gets worse.

Detroit's other Kwame, Councilman Kwame Kenyatta, chair of the Internal Operations Committe passed a resolution saying Mayor Kilpatrick used his office for personal gain. The resolution also calls for Kilpatrick to resign or risk being forced from office. The resolution will be before the full council on Tuesday.

Near the end of The Wire

With only two episodes left -- just one for those with HBO On Demand -- one of America's most underrated television shows is preparing to end. The beauty about The Wire is that like the city it depicts (Baltimore), fans are sprawled across demographics of race and class with very different reasons for watching. Whether you're a fan of the streets, the school, the politics, the police or the newsroom or the entire web, The Wire is a novel set in the declining American metropolis with a gallery of atypical but compelling characters.

Periodically The SOULution will provide links of praise, criticism and discussion about this seminal work of fiction. The first is an excellent essay by Brian Cook for In These Times with an excerpt below:

"Throughout its five seasons on HBO, The Wire has created riveting fictional drama out of the residents living, policing and selling dope on the streets of Baltimore. Described by its co-creator David Simon as the ultimate "anti-cop show, a rebellion against the horseshit police procedurals afflicting American television," The Wire obliterates easy dichotomies of "good cops" and "bad drug dealers." Instead, it builds morally complex characters on both sides of the law whose individual decisions are largely shaped by political and economic forces outside their control. After detailing the ravages of the drug trade in its first season, the show broadened its scope in each subsequent season, examining the city's collapsing industrial sector (and unions), political system, public schools and, finally, journalistic institutions."

Paper Wars: LEO v. Velocity

According to the hipsters at Velocity, LEO is for losers.

Apparently the cool kids have had enough of being called out. "[LEO]...picked the wrong week to call Velocity 'faux' anything."

Last week LEO referred to the Velocity and its counterparts as "faux weeklies". There is a sad phenomenon in journalism where big papers try to attract younger readers by stitching together shameless rags. Go here in News Review's "The young and clueless".

I was given a preview of this "beef" when Velocity staff writer Javacia Harris interviewed me for her blog in January. She asked me what else I write besides the blog and I said for LEO (an awkward pause followed). Javacia then said LEO makes snide remarks about their content from time to time. For the record, I said, I do too. We agreed to disagree and she's proudly linked on the ol' SOULution.

On LEO's blog, managing editor Stephen George answered:

"Velocity! says we're 'Losers.' As they do every week, the faux weekly purporting to know all there is to know about lifestyle — and whoring yourself out to your advertisers (how many Party Crashers do we have to see about Fourth Street Live?) — is calling us out"

Read it all here.

My feelings, I enjoy Javacia's work. However, besides her touchstones on Louisville's African-American music scene there's little reason for a guy like me to pick up Velocity. I'm not cool. I read more books that I got to clubs. You won't fine me at Villa Fontana or Felt. And the only time I set foot on 4th Street Live is browsing at Borders.

I guess this means I won't be featured in their "What I'm into..." section since I'm a loser who reads and writes at LEO -- bummer!

I'd like a Bud Light and Fatwa, please

Next week, Judge Mary Shaw's courtroom may be the finish line of the Shawnee neighborhood's wet-dry vote, which has turned into an ugly spitting contest between convenient storeowners and community leaders.

My logic was never able to connect the dots from buying Bud Light to increased crime. If neighborhood ministers and Councilwoman Cheri Bryant-Hamilton worked closer with the Health Department and examined the affect these stores have on the community's health they may have found a better argument. Then again, the only thing that motivates activists or journalists or politicians in West Louisville is crime.

For more, check out my news analysis entitled Near the finish line, in this week's LEO.

Besides the sensationalist beer = crime argument, a new injection of religion has provided a bizarre twist.

One new dry supporter, Rev. Peter Hayes, sent out dozens of letters to American Muslim organizations asking for a fatwa (edict issued by an Islamic cleric) against the Palestinian storeowners. Rev. Hayes has gotten mixed responses with at least one cleric agreeing and another saying no fatwa is necessary, just a Islamic expert testifying in Judge Shaw's court.

Hayes is the pudgy white gentleman in the video below.

TARC's rap

When my father worked for TARC, I imagined a music video with him and other bus drivers dancing and singing, "T-A-R-C, TARC!"

Below, however, is another example of when hip-hop goes bad.



The last time Louisville employed rap music to promote something was the embarrassing "L-Yeah" video with U of L football coach, John L. Smith featuring "Get Down Records". Remember that? I hope not.

State of the Black Union 2008

Hat tip to Jack & Jill for providing highlight clips. More to come when I find them.

Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union should be looked at in two parts. The first is an unrivaled informative platform that showcases the diversity in African-American political thought. Tavis' panels also give us an opportunity to find new voices in black America besides the celebrities with a media pulpit.

The other part of SOBU has debatable value. I call them the "Malcolm X" moments, which is basically when a panelist hijacks the program talking tough.

The first clip may seem like a "Malcolm X" moment but the Rev. Al Sharpton outlined an important subject line in this years Democratic primary. The poliTRICKS of employing super-delegates or Michigan and Florida delegates were eviscerated by Rev. Al.

"Don't change the rules when we start winning." Take that Sheila Jackson-Lee.



My personal favorite moment was Dick Gregory's speech. Sure he's a bit bonkers at times but he did an excellent job of stripping away the myth that "Bill Clinton is the 1st Black President".

Then he took on the stereotypes of black folk being lazy and violent. Take that Bill Cosby. Gregory also provided my new favorite quote of 2008:

"What are you putting in my malt liquor, white boy!!"

Barack Obama & Hip-Hop

"My raps ignite the people like Obama" - Common, 'The People'

Maybe it's more Obamania hype. He's young, he's (half) black. Naturally we're crowning him the hip-hop candidate for President. Be careful, remember the last politician we gave the coveted moniker to was Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. He ended up being more Lil Wayne than Lupe Fiasco.

Still, we cannot escape nor should we ignore Obama's hip-hop features. The speeches that have grabbed thousands in attendance and millions watching at home is a git of a true MC. He's a quick leaner. He has matured immensely since last year. And His wife, Michele Lavon Obama, speaks truth to power with an uncanny freestyle ability to do her eloquent speeches without notes or a teleprompter.

Still, he doesn't owe everything to a music genre that has largely been apolitical. Unlike the Vote or Die campaign, he's brought new and younger Americans not just to rallies to register but to caucuses and primaries to vote. Wearing Obama t-shirts and shoes is one thing. Younger voters mobilizing to create the first foundation of Obama's base in Iowa was another. Shouting out Obama in a rap lyric and naming him B-Rock in VIBE Magazine is cool, persuading your parents and grandparents to switch their vote is power.

He owes that to being a politicized community organizer. Since Iowa, Barack's candidacy is built upon a base on youth voters born after 1979 that understand America through lenses focused by hip-hop.

I found this essay, "Barack Obama, Hip-Hop candidate" by writer Latoya Peterson in the American Prospect:

"Ignore the thousand and one variations on "Superman" floating around YouTube. Hip-hop culture is a unifying force, a potent combination of entrepreneurship, community activism, creativity, and innovation that appeals to youth across the globe. Barack Obama is the hip-hop candidate, not because of his racial identity or his oratory skills, but because his policies and approach to politics demonstrate that he understands the needs and desires of the hip-hop community."

Read it here.

What do you think?