G reetings people, I hope everyone is blessed and highly favored. It feels really good to be back in the swing of things after being gone for a couple of weeks. When I last left, I really thought my position within Highergroundonline was about to become null and void based on my commentary on homosexuality. I am glad to say that I received countless e-mails that were nothing but positive, I truly appreciate the love and I get to exist another week!

Well, being the person that I am, I can’t just be thankful for dodging a major bullet, you would think that one would straighten his life up and walk the straight and narrow after thinking your writing career is about to come to end. But, I guess that would be too much like the right thing to do, so with that being said, let me start “bobbing and weaving” the bullets yet again.

A couple of weeks ago rapper Eminem offended many in the African American community when he released his new single “Just Lose It” from his fourth upcoming album “Encore”. For those of you who are cable deprived or simple don’t care to watch an Eminem video, the stir is being caused because Eminem makes fun of Musical great, Michael Jackson. In it, Eminem appears, dressed as Jackson, on a bed surrounded by young boys and singing: "Come here, little kiddie, on my lap. Guess who's back with a brand new rap?"

"And I don't mean rap as in a new case of child molestation," Eminem adds.

But one that is more outraged then the African American community is Michael Jackson himself, who has threatened to sue Eminem over the video, and has demanded that all video networks pull the video. One network Black Entertainment Television has obliged Jackson in his request.

My feelings towards BET and the African American community is simply this; grow the fvck up and let’s actually fight a battle that means something. The time has come for African Americans to stop trying to fight and stand up for people we know are not in the right. Before I continue on, let me state this right now:

1) R. Kelly likes sexing underage girls
2) Michael Jackson likes little boys
3) Rosa Park’s is an old ass money hungry woman and….
4) O.J. Simpson had something to do with those murders 10 years ago.

And WE all know this. But yet, there are some of you that are pissed at the words that I just stated and many of us will continue to support these people knowing that society on a whole looks at their derogative actions as immorally wrong.

So the question is, why in the hell do we stand up, support and fight for these people? When it comes to this situation, White Americans do the RIGHT thing; they don’t defend their own when they are in the wrong. Look at cannibal serial killer Jeffery Dahmer, Hippie cult finder/murderer Charles Mason, or baseball legend Pete Rose, did we see ONE White American run to their aid or even show them any type of support when the shit hit the fan? (Now granted many are advocates of Pete Rose being in the Hall of Fame, but no one came to his defense when it came to his gambling problem.) No, they sat back shook their heads in disgust and let them get the punishment they deserved. They did what they were supposed to do; we on the other hand do the complete opposite.

I understand that obtaining fame and wealth comes twice as hard to the Black race versus the white race and for that reason when one of our famous people does something that will take one of us off the “famous table” we are sad…understandable. However on the flip side, wrong is wrong and for us to applaud a person’s talent when they are obviously a pedophile, murder or someone clearly in the wrong (such as Rosa Parks) is a damn insult to human morals.

BET removing Eminem’s video basically due to Michael Jackson’s crying that the video is “demeaning and insensitive” continues to solidify that BET has no concrete stance, they sway whatever way society deems important whether society is in the right or wrong.

Robert Johnson, chairman and founder of BET said, “BET pulled the video because we feel it is inappropriate to use our network to air a video disparaging Michael's character, or that of any other celebrity." Excuse me? BET has aired EVERY video that Eminem has ever created and in close to 80 percent if not more of those Eminem videos he is “disparaging” someone’s character. In the past Eminem has poked fun at Bill Clinton, Britney Spears, N’Sync, The Backstreet Boys and producer Moby, just to name a few. I guess the catch here is that all the celebrities listed above are White. But nevertheless, I would love to ask Mr. Johnson, why didn't he pull those videos? I mean as stated above, wrong is wrong correct? No matter what the circumstance.

BET and other African American organizations, must stop fighting senseless battles. Regardless if Robert Johnson, BET, the black community or anyone else wants to stand up and support Michael Jackson, R. Kelly or anyone else that has an issue that is evidently derogative the only support we should give to these people is the support to get their problem cleared up. Both Michael & Robert need to see a preacher and a psychologist instead of being handed a “Lifetime Achievement” award.

In closing let me shed light on one more situation where we as a people are using our resources for the wrong reasons. Chicago's Cabrini-Green Projects is going through a major transformation, the city of Chicago is trying to rebuild the long viewed gang-ridden pocket of poverty and mayhem and has implemented a 10 year 1.5 billion dollar plan to give the projects a complete makeover.

Well in tearing down abandoned buildings and other apartment high-rises that are badly run down yet still has residents in them the city has made provisions to house these people losing their homes in other projects in Chicago.

This sounds realistic to me, if you drive a Ford Escort and you wreck your car, the insurance company gives you a rental that is comparable to what you normally drive, which would probably be a car that is in the same size & price range as a Ford Escort…so people that live in the projects should be housed in something that is comparable as well right?

Well this didn't sit too well with the local Chicago chapter of the NAACP that actually picketed in Cabrini-Greene as well as City Hall. Did the NAACP really think these residents deserved to be "upgraded" to middle class suburban America? That just doesn’t make any sense…oh well another senseless battle fought by my beloved people.

Until next time people, get it together.

Peace

Angree Bruther

Got a thought or comment? Maybe a suggestion for Angree? E-mail him at angreeb@highergroundonline.com