Open Letter to the Authentic Black Woman

To Whom It May Concern:

Recently, I found myself thinking of your true worth. In my pre-conscious mind thoughts of the authentic black women began to ruminate. For so long you have been devalued, persecuted, and disrespected. A Goddess in your own right, you have used your divinity to shield yourself from the brunt of these injuries. The black woman speaks of family and orchestrates its symphony with adroitness. Your epicene attributes allow you to assume the role of both mother and father, even though it is not in your original job description. Inside of your womb we find the genesis of mankind and the safest place on earth. The authentic black woman has endured much longsuffering and has done so with a smile. Embedded in man’s collective unconscious is your record of faithful service. Your aesthetic qualities have been overlooked in favor of emaciated fair skinned women, by a society that would not know beauty if it stared them in the eyes. Authentic black women are never tawdry or cantankerous, as they are a joy to be around and respectful of themselves and others. A jewel with an iridescent bling that could light up the universe, you shine so that others may be encouraged.

You were present with Mary as she endured the pain of seeing her son Jesus crucified. You were a house maiden in Cleopatra’s court and a faithful wife to Moses. You have endured the indignity of being a slave, and suffered countless sexual assaults at the hands of your former Master’s. You were forced sit at the back of the bus and when you could endure it no longer, you refused to get up. You supported Martin and Malcolm as they led the Civil Rights Movement and after all of this, you are still doing your part.

You are an intellect, who has an avaricious appetite for knowledge. You are a faithful companion and a champion of the black man. You are my other half. I know that I do not tell you this enough, but I love you. Even though I can be misogynistic at times, I see you as my equal. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. If ever there is a time when you need me, just let me know. I hope this letter reaches you, as I know that you have addresses in many different countries. Hope to hear from you soon.


Love Always,


The Authentic Black Man

Mississippi Author Turns a Country Folktale into a Children’s Book

Matthew Lynch of Jackson, MS has been a very busy young man over the past couple of years. In April, 2006 Matthew Lynch published his first book, Closing the Racial Academic Achievement Gap and in his second book, Matthew and the Money Tree, he tackles the issues of poverty and greed.

While he was pursuing a Master’s in Elementary Education at Jackson State University, the majority of his class projects focused on literacy, and more specifically children’s literature. When he started researching this genre of literature, he came to the conclusion that there was a scarcity of quality children’s literature for, and about people of color. Mr. Lynch wanted to create a children’s book based on an authentic African American folktale. His thoughts immediately reverted back to his childhood. Growing up in Hazlehurst, MS, there was a legend in the family about an old man and a money tree. The old man had worked his entire life as a field laborer, but since he didn’t have any living relatives, he always had a surplus of money. Some nights he could be seen walking through the woods, always stopping at a certain tree. By the time he died, the old man had amassed a small fortune, but no one, not even his friends, knew exactly what happened to his money, so they theorized that he buried it beneath the aforementioned tree.

Mr. Lynch was 7 years old when he first heard the story. His mind immediately began to fantasize. He would leave home every morning looking for it, but never found the tree. Although it was frustrating, it was a way to pass time and have fun doing it. Matthew and the Money Tree is the first installment in a series of children’s books; based on Mr. Lynch’s childhood experiences. Be on the lookout for the next book about Matthew and his adventures. Matthew and the Money Tree is a wonderful tale for children and adults alike. This book teaches the moral lesson that you do not need money to be happy. Matthew is a delightful character that gives children the idea that the simple things in life are the true keys to happiness. A must have for all children.

Matthew and the Money Tree, can be ordered by visiting the following websites: www.amazon.com, ww.bn.com or www.booksamillion.com or by visiting your local bookstore. Copies are available at Lemuria Bookstore and Adihamo Bookstore in Jackson. Librarians/Bookstores can order copies through Baker & Taylor/Quality Books/Seaburn Publishers.

The Evolution of OutKast

Over the last 13 years, we have witnessed the evolution of Hip Hops most successful duo, OutKast. They went from virtual unknowns to Hip Hop Gods, they have navigated the morass of greedy executives and biased music critics with equanimity. Big Boi and André went from rival rappers, to faithful collaborators. After hooking up with Organized Noize Productions, they signed a deal with Laface Records in 1992 and dropped their first single, “Players Ball” in 1993. Big Boi, obliviously employed as a street pharmacist raps, “I'm wide open on the freeway my pager broke my vibe/cause a junkie is a junkie three-sixty-five.” When I originally heard the song, immediately I became mesmerized by their accurate depiction of the harsh realities of growing up in a southern ghetto. I related to their lyrics and since I was born and raised in Mississippi, they were “preaching to the choir.” Their first full length debut, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was released in 1994 and featured the title track and the consciously charged “Git Up, Git Out,” featuring the Goodie Mob. OutKast received numerous accolades for their work and the album, became an instant classic for many. With Nas’s release of “Illamatic” the same year, I found myself pondering; can it get any better than this?

I remember vividly, the day that OutKasts second album was released in 1996. I was a freshman in college, and a friend and I skipped one of our morning classes in to travel to the record store to buy the album. This album signaled the beginning of Andre’s conscious awakening and increased level of sobriety and equanimity. "No drugs or alcohol, so I can get the signal clear. Put my glock away/I got a stronger weapon that never runs out of ammunition so I'm ready for war okay," he states on the title track. ATLiens was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year and solidified their reputation as Hip Hop pioneers.

Two years later (1998), OutKast dropped Aquemini, which was universally hailed as arguably their best album to date. I remember opening the package on the CD and carefully scanning the track list. I immediately began skimming the tracks, and when song number three “Return of the G” started playing, I immediately knew that the rest of the album would be special. On this track Big Boi posits, “Man a n*gga don't want no trouble, a playa just want to kick back with my gators off and watch my lli'l Gull blow bubbles.” “But still ready to rhyme standing my ground, never back down, Willin' to rob steal & kill any thang that threatens mine.” André never one to be outdone lyrically, addresses his critics when he raps, “Return of the gangsta thanks ta' them n*ggas that thank (think) you soft and say y'all be gospel rappin, but they be steady clappin' when you talk about b*tches & switches & h*es & clothes & weed let's talk about time travelin rhyme javelin somethin' mind unravelin get down.” OutKast was finally awarded the coveted “5 Mics” from The Source. OutKast was sued by Rosa Parks, because she claimed that the group’s single “Rosa Parks” unconstitutionaly borrowed her name. The case eventually was settled out of court. OutKast has never admitted any liability and rightfully so.

Their fourth album, Stankonia (2000), went quadruple-platinum, and OutKast won two awards at the 2001 Grammy’s. Highlights from this album included the singles “Ms. Jackson,” and “So Fresh and So Clean. On “Ms. Jackson,” Big Boi and André 3000 discuss relationship issues, disgruntled baby mother’s and grandmother’s sometimes acrimonious attitudes towards the child’s father. On “Gasoline Dreams”, André exclaims, “All of my heroes did dope /Every n*gga round me playin' married. Or payin child support/I can't cope /Never made no sense to me one day I hope it will And that's that, sport, sport.”

In 2003, OutKast dropped the double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. This album has been critically acclaimed for its creativity and vision. The singles “Hey Ya,” and “The Way You Move,” constantly burned up the airwaves and became instant classics. The album was certified diamond (10 million units shipped) in December 2004. On “She Lives in My Lap,” André does his best Jimi Hendrix impression “She stays alone, never sheds a single tear. She stays in the coolest moods, clearly woman of the year.” With their popularity at an all time high, who knows what records they will set now? In the past couple of years the two have ventured into the movie arena. André recently co-starred in the Four Brothers, while Big Boi took a featured role in the T.I’s movie debut vehicle ATL. Big Boi and André will appear opposite each other in the August release of Idlewild and will contribute extensively to its soundtrack.

The rumor mill posits that the duo have been on the verge of a breakup for quite some time, and the group’s proposed final album, The Hard 10, may make the rumors
official. Big Boi reportedly has recorded over 20 tracks for his solo album, and is busy managing his Purple Label music imprint. Andrés’ primary focus has become movies and television. He has starring roles in several upcoming movies and is producing a cartoon series, Class of 3000, which is slated to debut on The Cartoon network’s fall 2006 lineup. Oprah Winfrey recently invited OutKast to be guests on her show to discuss their new movie Idlewild, but they declined. This might have propelled Idelwild to unparalleled success, because Miss Winfrey does have the Midas touch. Sources have reported that Big Boi wanted to go on the show, but André refused to attend. I hope that this difference of opinion does not end in disaster. If they are experiencing differences of opinion, let’s pray for a rapprochement.

Divorcing Hip Hop

Can you remember the first time that you heard a Hip Hop track? Do you remember hearing the treble and bass resonating in your ear drum, creating an auditory intoxication that left you in a euphoric state of mind? I remember when I first met Hip Hop. It was an unseasonably cool day in September. My mother and father had just recently purchased me an A. M. /F.M. Cassette Radio. They allowed me to listen to it regularly, as long as it was played at a reasonable tone. The first cassette that I purchased was Eric B. and Rakim’s, "Paid in Full.” I remember listening to “Clap to This,” and being enraptured by his complex rhyme schemes and his ability to balance both style and substance without comprising.

Hip Hop and I dated for a few years and finally when I heard Nas’s classic LP “Illmatic,” I decided that it was time for me to marry her. The year was 1994, and I was a 16 year old bride groom without enough money to adequately commandeer the necessities of life. But, back then she didn’t care how much bling I had, or the type of car I drove, she only wanted my heart. We had an open relationship, and although I became jealous when I saw her out with other fellows, and enraged when wack emcee’s would defile her name by creating Dr. Seuss rhymes, that can only be described as unimaginative. They were unauthentic, misogynistic, soulless cretins who invariably wanted my wife for selfish reasons. Even though I knew that she was a polygamist, I didn’t care because I loved her.

Nowadays, in order to get next to her, all you need is a gimmick or street credibility. It has gotten to the point were her suitors no longer care about sounding coherent or even rhyming when they talk to her and with the hooks that I have been hearing lately, it is easy to ascertain why hip hop is in a state of decay. Although, Hip Hop purists like Saul, Nas, Talib Kweli, have been bold enough to call a spade a spade and address this issue in their perspective mediums, what have the Hip Hop heads done to combat the poisoning of our bride? Iconoclastic emcee’s like Nas, Mos Def, Common, etc have been forced to play the back for a number of years, being tormented with the decision to stay authentic or crossover into the mainstream. A number of these emcees have resisted this temptation and have become multi-platinum artists on their sheer talent alone. The zeitgeist of the hip hop arena has been marked by fads, bi-coastal rivalries, etc. Hopefully she has learned from her mistakes, and matured now that she is in her early 30’s.

Hip Hop and I have been married for 12 years and although I do not approve of her choice of friends, I still love her. Over the years she has become quite materialistic, living rather luxuriously in her fancy mansions and custom Bentley’s. I know were she is getting the money from, but when I confront her she gets mad and starts on one her infamous tirades. I try to leave her but she has a hold on me. I have invested 12 years into this relationship, but I feel as though we’re growing apart, and any attempts to hold on will only make things worse. You may say that we need to seek out a marriage counselor, but we have been seeing Dr. Dre since 1990, before we were married. Even though he is a gifted psychologist, he believes that we should do what is in our hearts. We tried to get Oprah to let us come on her show to talk about our problems but Hip Hop has managed to alienate even her.

Even though I would like to work things out, she seems to think that things are just fine the way that they are. To this day she will not tell me how old she is. Even though her mother was pregnant with her for centuries, I think that she was finally born in 1973. I remember hearing stories of her father’s first gig at 1520 Segwick Ave. in the Bronx. Come to think about it, I think this was also the night in which Hip Hop was born. One of her father’s fellow musicians, Afrika Bambaataa gave her the name Hip Hop, which embodies the feeling that she gives her listeners. Although she is 5 years older than me, the age difference has never been a problem, until now. It is often said that “if you love something let it go, and if it comes back to you it’s yours.” Although my wife and I are going through a rough spot, I think we will stay together, at least until Nas’s Def Jam debut.

Black Women Who Like a Little Cream in Their Coffee

It is not secret that Black women feel that there is a shortage of Black Men. Many of these women are begin to alleviate their frustrations by dating White men. They are throwing caution to the wind and reprogramming their cultural conditioning by abandoning their inhibitions towards mixed-relationships. Even Hollywood is capitalizing on this growing trend by creating films that depict authentic interracial relationships.

On the silver screen, relationships between White men and Black women usually come in two types, equal and unequal. An example of an equal relationship would be the movie “Something New,” starring Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker. Sanaa Lathan’s character, Kenya McQueen is a prominent African-American CPA, who is having a hard time finding an African American man. A friend sets her up on a blind date with an architectural landscaper named Brian, but when she truncates the date when finds out that he is white. While attending a upscale party a few days later, and she ends up hiring him to landscape her new home, and they end up falling in love. Kenya and Brian’s relationship was equal because they both were successful in their perspective fields and they loved each other unconditionally.

Halle Berry and Billy Bob’s relationship in the movie “Monsters Ball” was unequal because Billy Bob Thornton’s character preyed upon her socio-economic status and the recent loss of her child during their courtship. He ultimately is seen as her savior and she ends up sacrificing her pride and dignity. Even though she finds out that he was one of the jailers who participated in the execution of her child’s father, she stays with him anyway. And let’s make no mistake, Billy Bob’s character was incorrigibly racist and his apparent change of heart was superficial at best. In the end he just fell in love with some good “coon juice.”

Can you imagine your daughter bringing a White man home to meet you? If you’re like most African American men, you probably would react like Bernie Mack in “Guess Who.” As Bernie Mack soon discovers, you can’t always judge a book by its cover. His baby girls love interest, Simon turns out to be everything he could want in a Son in Law; a man who loves his daughter unconditionally.

In all fairness, I have to admit that Hollywood has done a good job of depicting authentic interracial relationships. From “Monsters Ball” to “Guess Who,” Hollywood has effectively used feature films to spotlight the increase in interracial relationships in America. Let’s see if they can keep this up by creating more films depicting African American males as more than drug dealing buffoon’s or baby daddies.

African American males typically feel angry when they see a Caucasian man with a black woman because to them, she is “Sleeping with the enemy.” By the same token, when a white man sees and a white women with a black man he thinks to himself, “Why does she want him? “Oh, she probably couldn’t find a white man who would date her.”

Tishawn Thames of Florence, Ms. has been down this road before. She has seriously dated only 4 men and 2 of them have been Caucasian. When asked what factors influenced her decision to date outside of her race she says, “I meet someone who was interested in me and I was interested in him and he asked me out.... I was single and agreed.” She contends there is no difference between African American men and Caucasian men, because, “Each individual has his own ideas on how to handle a relationship.” African American Women who engage in interracial relationships get their fair share of bigotry from both sides. “I noticed that black people exhibited a greater level of bigotry than Caucasians. When we would go out black males would verbally make comments and give us the meanest stares.” Even though Tishawn is currently dating an African American man, she would consider interracial dating if the right opportunity presented itself. For many women, including Tishawn, the perfect man does not have specific skin pigmentation. The only thing that he has to do is to treat them with love and respect. On the flip side, there is a growing segment of black women who find it hard to encounter available Black men who are on their level, educationally and financially. These women refuse to date down, and if this means pursuing a Caucasian male, then so be it. For them, it’s all about the Benjamin’s baby!

As a black man it does not sicken or anger me to see an interracial couple. To me, race is merely a human construct that was invented to perpetuate the institution of White supremacy. Even the biblical dogma concerning the mixing of the races is a farce. When it is all said and done, race should not play a factor in whom a person decides to date. The only thing that ultimately matters is your happiness.

What is a Black Public Intellectual?

In the black world of higher academia it seems that everyone wants to be a public intellectual. First of all, I feel it is important for me to operationally define what a public intellectual is. A public intellectual is a person who uses his or her intellect to study, reflect, or speculate on a variety of topics. Ascending to the rank of public intellectual is quite an arduous task. The candidate must be well versed in his or her respective discipline and able to commentate on various topics.

In his quest to be granted the title, he feverishly canvasses the lecture circuit in order to create a buzz. He also incessantly writes scholarly pieces and submits them to periodicals and journals alike. He presents original research to the scholarly community and reaps the benefits of his empirical gifts. He is the reincarnation of past intellectuals; bold, gifted and black. His janus-face allows him to channel the zeitgeists of various eras and infuse their essences into his work. Never one to be jaded by the color line, he reads the works of Marcus Aurelius and W.E.B. Dubois, giving equal credibility to their theories and paradigms. He realizes that “To whom much is given, much is required.”

The universe smiles favorably on the Black Intellectual and his racial counterparts are astounded by his gifts. No longer can they purport that they are intellectually superior to him. Michael Eric Dyson, Cornell West, Tavis Smiley, and Henry Louis Gates have all successfully labored to bring greater visibility to the Black Intellectual, and with the new breed just a few steps behind, it is safe to say that we will not see a decrease in their numbers anytime soon. From Marc Lamont Hill to Rodney Washington, they are coming! The black intellectual is ready to offer fresh dialogue on the variegated problems that plague Black America. He is always aiming to use is intellectual gifts to push the envelope and keep the “old heads” from getting soft. Now granted the public intellectual can be a bit pedantic at times and erudition is often at the root of the aforementioned affliction. He can be seen at the Schomberg Center pontificating in a rather bombastic manner, always ready to showcase his oratory skills. Whether the subject is reparations or Hip Hop, he can and will move the crowd into a hysterical frenzy.

Some see him as a savior who has come to lead his people to the promise land and others see him as charlatan who uses sophistry to pray upon the hopes and dreams of his brethren. Others see him as a Shaman who holds a panacea in his left hand and a crystal ball in his right. He can be sanctimonious and tawdry all in the same breath.

However you feel about him, you cannot knock the hustle. Now, do not get it twisted, the Black Public Intellectual is not circumscribed to the academia. He can be seen delivering his sermons in his pulpit or rocking the mike at sold out venues. He has been responsible for some of the most memorable verses in Hip Hop and Pulitzer Prize winning novels.

Often Black Intellectuals are stereotyped as being supercilious, haughty, and pedantic. Their speeches perceived to be composed of pontifications and rodomontade, therefore devoid of any intellectual nourishment or food for thought. Black Intellectuals as a whole need to be lauded for their efforts, but any potential intellectual tyro must first have an altruistic view of the world. He needs this in order to ensure that he will not forget his purpose. Often imitated, never duplicated, he is the authentic black man. The authentic black man is an intellect, whether he uses it to play professional basketball, or to service cars in his auto body repair shop.

Racism is Not an Excuse to Underachieve

One of the most overused platitudes by unambitious black men is “The White Man is holding me down.” Although I am the first to admit that racism still exists, it should not be used as an excuse not to try your best. I came from a family lineage of hardworking able bodied men who got up and went to work every morning. From Uncle Ellis Hue to Uncle Alonzo, I always was surrounded by men who provided for their families, even in the face of bigotry and racism. Why, because they knew that money doesn’t grow on trees. When I was growing up, if a man didn’t work, he didn’t eat, literally. That’s why it is disheartening to see my peers standing on the corner, wasting their time engaged in frivolous and sometimes criminal activities. Many of these brothers are very sagacious individuals, but on the flip side, they are too dumb to realize that education is the doorway to happiness and prosperity. Wasting their time pursuing hoop dreams even though only one out of one million men will ever make it to the NBA.

Instead of setting viable goals and aspiring to transcend their conditioning, they remain stagnate. When will they wake up and take advantage of the opportunities that are afforded to them and demand the ones that have been taken off the table? Instead of joining grassroots organizations that are attempting to foster change, they wallow in self pity, solidifying their defeatist attitudes and giving credence to their detractor’s stereotypes. It is obvious to me that there are factors that can hinder the success of African American youth, but with hard work and perseverance, many of these can be alleviated. The social ills of today are definitely here to stay, and unless we take a more proactive approach to them, we will be forever positing, “The White man is holding me down.”