PASCEP: The Legacy

IN HONOR OF THE ANCESTORS: ANNIE HYMAN AND  PASCEP. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS, GENERATIONS STILL PLANT THE BAOBAB TREE.-

ARI

RITES: THE AMERICAN PENAL SYSTEM

 

A SMALL DISCOURSE ON ONE OF MANY AMERICAN INDUSTRIES

CLICK LINK

SPIRITUALITY IN URBAN AMERICA(Critical Essay)

Upon return, the first in a series of essay's brought by The Urban Cry LLC covering socio-political issues. (Click Link)

THE URBAN CRY LLC 2011

LANGUAGE OF ONE P.XXIII : REFLECTIONS OF CULTURE(CULTURAL ESSAY)

"ALL ALONG THE WACTHOWER"-

JIMI HENDRIX
(Johnny allen hendrix)

Bogata, La paz, Sao paulo, Compton, Philadelphia, East new york, Baltimore Fth ward, Camden, Ciudad Juarez. This random array of cities and regions blends in a melting pot of cultural reflection in today's A.L.I.H.S.T feature. An insight into the "culture of poverty"; At times considerd as a sub-culture i coined this term due to observation of its its global relation and the fruits produced from the culture, in any city or regions demographics. One outlook among many provided,the african-american perspective:

-For an in Depth Global view, The "Reflections of culture" essay.

(Click picture link)

THE URBAN CRY LLC 2011

LANGUAGE OF ONE P.XIX : SONGS OF PALESTINE P.II

"THIS AIN'T THE LIFE THAT I
CHOSE BUT IM TRYIN TO FINISH"-

John forte

"Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition calls on all its members,supporters and people of conscience to demand that the US administration direct the state of Israel to stop the targeted arrests and immediately release all Palestinian children detained in its prisons and detention centers. The US is bound by its laws and international conventions to cut off all aid to Israel until it ends the institutionalized and systematic abuse of Palestinian children and all of its violations of Palestinian human rights and basic freedoms in a verifiable manner."

Above is an exerpt of a petition letter written by a palestinian activist on behalf of Isreali military abuse. Langauge of one revisits "songs of palestine"; the extension of the historic Palestinian/Isreali conflict, the systematic oppression/exploits of the palestinian territory.

"Minors, defined as anyone under 18, should be questioned by specially trained officers and only during daylight hours. The children must be able to consult with a lawyer and a parent should be present." Ronit Sela, a spokeswoman for the Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), said her organisation had been "shocked" at the large number of children arrested in East Jerusalem in recent months, often by units of undercover policemen."-

Journalist John Cook

http://www.jkcook.net/



-Disturbing as the situation is this is one facet of the political and military oppression in the palestinian territory by the Isreali-Zionist regime. The conflict generally stems from a deep ethnic struggle of race, religion and land. Some of the atrocities committed by Isreal bear as a form of fear tactics to the palestinian community.

"Race Matters"-Cornel West

-One of the factors to fuel my activism in palestinian solidarity via music, information and publishing is seeing the reflection of systematic oppression globally; from the history of apartheid in Cape Town South Africa, to the civil rights struggle, and people of color in america, even post 21st century. The same fuel and views shared in organizations as SNCC:

" After Israel occupied Palestinian territory following the 1967 Six-Day War, some American blacks supported the Palestinians and criticized Israel's actions, for example by publicly supporting Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat and calling for the destruction of the Jewish state.


"The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee's (SNCC) newsletter wrote an article criticizing Israel, and asserting that the war was an effort to regain Palestinian land and that during the 1948 war, "Zionists conquered the Arab homes and land through terror, force, and massacres". This article led to conflict between Jews and the SNCC, but black SNCC leaders treated the war as a "test of their willingness to demonstrate SNCC's break from its civil rights past".-


Wikipedia

- Here in the west its easy to see the conflict in the east/Gaza strip is pretty deep seated. Recent efforts from the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton tried to bridge the gap with peace talks, only to struggle with unstable results. The struggle of the palestinian territory is reckonized by leading progressive artists as M1 from dead prez, and today's feature, a lyricist with a strong underground prescence Narcycist with "Hamdililah" an underground single with cameo's from Jay electronica, and Tragedy Khadafi; a song relative to all people, spoken through an Arabic tongue.



THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010

MUSIC IS LIFE P.XXI : GENERATION GAP

"We got to have peace"-

CURTIS MAYFIELD

"Beginning of moral decay"

"USA TODAY's series overlooks the role Baby Boomers played in establishing the moral ambiguity that plagues us today. Their rejection of their parents' values, their idealism and their inexperience made them easy marks for Saul Alinsky, a community organizer who wrote the book Rules for Radicals.
Alinsky used the Boomers and their struggle against racial injustice to popularize his own radical agenda. Primary among that agenda was the moral freedom implicit in the dictum "the end justifies the means." Human nature, not the Boomer generation, is responsible for the abuse of this moral freedom, but understanding its historical context is a step toward recognizing and combating it."

Doris Kabureck; Palmetto, Fla.




One letter from a reader on the changing face of american generations since the years of the early 20th century. The term "baby boomers" emerged from the generations after 1945; post WWII. This letter gives the illustration of the moral/ethical value decline of america; from the struggle of the civil rights movement, to during and after the vietnam war.

• Race and ethnicity. Seventy-six percent of early Boomers are non-Hispanic whites, compared with 68% of those born later. Blacks are the largest minority among older Boomers but are outnumbered by Hispanics among younger Boomers. Blacks make up 12% of Boomers born in the 1960s; Hispanics are 13%.

-In the matter of the moral fiber, every generation since the mid 20th century up till now was responsible for raising and influencing the next to come. Post 21st century pop-culture plays a Major part of this and the coming generation. Amongst all ethnicities in america, since the baby boomer generation, has experienced a shaking in moral ethics; though pop-culture has a degree of influence to the social ills; the ultimate restoration begins within,the family structure. We close this early december brief post with a recent progressive effort from contemporary band "The Gorillaz" with a closing of a generational gap: two features of Mos Def and veteran soul singer bobby Womack. Aside from freedom of speech and political agenda's, if america reckonizes a moral decay and its fruits, it only calls the masses to be conscious of what we leave behind for the next generation. Peace.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P.XVII: REDEMPTION SONG

"IM DOING THE KNOWLEDGE, ITS NOT EASY" -

Queen Latifah(Dana Owens)





In my belief there are significant leaders assigned to every generation; to implement social change or to lead simply by example. In the urban plight there are roses in concrete; diamonds in the rough that overcome adverse circumstance to help others travailing in the same situations.

Unsung Hero -a person who makes a substantive yet unrecognized contribution; a person whose bravery is unknown or unacknowledged -

dictionary.com

- In the heart of the west coast is a story of the historic gang rivalry that raged since the mid-twentieth century. From street allegiances to knowledge of self to redeeming her livelihood: the story of stephanie lang.

"The corner where struggle & greed fightWe write songs about wrong cause it's hard to see rightLook to the sky hoping it will bleed lightReality's and I heard that she bites The corner"-

Common

-Redemption song is the illustration of bringing a redemptive quality back to a lost situation, a revolutionizing of the norm. The life of stephanie lang gave the clearest picture; in an old aphorism, it starts with one.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P.XVI: SOLDIER'S STORY:URBAN YOUTH

"LEAVE IT UP TO ME IM A BE LIVING PROOF, TO KICK THE TRUTH TO THE YOUNG BLACK YOUTH"-



JASON HUNTER(INSPECTAH DECK)




"Current positivist approaches generally focus on the culture. A type of criminological theory attributing variation in crime and delinquency over time and among territories to the absence or breakdown of communal institutions (e.g. family, school, church and social groups.) and communal relationships that traditionally encouraged cooperative relationships among people."-

Wikipedia


The main reason to a generation growing up unconscious to a code of ethic and order is stated above: the breakdown of the family/community. Older people of yesteryear at times recall times that were generally simpler; where the culture wasn't as heavily impacted with mature ideals, that childen were exposed to. By observation most troubled youth adapt anti-social behavior "hand to mouth"; by the examples or conditions out of their own homes or communities. Some youth that eventually seek better opportunites,or choices are forced to navigate through a "jungle"; dealing with pro's and cons to come to desired ambitions of their life:

"Youth crime is disproportionately male: theorists and others have examined why this is the case. One suggestion is that ideas of masculinity may make young men more likely to offend. Being tough, and reckless may be a way young men attempt to express their masculinity. Acting out these ideals may make young men more likely to engage in antisocial and criminal behaviour."-

Wikipedia


-In one Street's Consciousness blog, p.xiii, it adresses the power of reason, conscious descision. As simple as it is, in a culture where the odds are stacked socially, it can be the same power that can preserve a life from a pattern of self destruction. The south's underground icon K-rino gives illustration to the door, the alternative:





"Its 10pm where ya seeds at? whats the deal?"-

mos def (mathematics)

-Chron smith(Hell Razah) who is currently recovering from a brain aneurism paints the picture with a snippet of "Kids on the street", with his eldest son as the main role in the video(plaid shirt). In the midst of the what the youth are plagued and challenged with, and in spite of statistics; enrichment still produces results, and the power of reason is still relevant.



THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010

MUSIC IS LIFE P.XI : THE LOST BOROUGH:Y.O.

“Don't Waste Your Time,”

- Mary J. Blige







"Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York (behind New York City, Buffalo and Rochester), and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 196,086 (according to the 2000 census), and an estimated 2008 population of 201,588.[3] Yonkers borders the New York City borough of The Bronx and is 2 miles (3 km) north of Manhattan at the city's two respective closest points."

-Wikipedia

"Ayo, yonkers is the lost boro" a sentiment spoken to me by a friend which is also a native. A region that graced the industry and world on international level. Music is life abroad.. especially in the city of yonkers:

"Yonkers is struggling to overcome its violent image. This violent image of Yonkers has been endorsed largely through hip-hop culture. Many hip-hop songs can be found where crime and violence in Yonkers is praised. Many neglect to realize that almost all of this crime in its entirety takes place in the Southwest section of the city. Other sections of the city (particularly the eastern side) are, in fact, wealthy neighborhoods with low crime rates."-

Wikipedia

"B, yonkers is L.A without the colors" - expressed in music, arts and entertainment is the struggles and issues of a city; even in politics. Four years ago yonkers native Victor Earl ran for mayor; someone who has come through the rites and passage of the social ills, and sought to establish reform in the city, and proggressive change among the youth. Figures in the industry, as D Blocks Styles P holds on to social consciousness of his hometown, and the black and latino diaspora's under the umbrella of the urban plight. My family Jayonez, CEO of up and coming "Moneyshotfilms" film company was there to cacth footage of styles p realease party of his fiction novel "Invincible" in june:


<-To close we have behind the scene's footage of Joell Ortiz "Project boy" video narrative..and the official cut..a story too familiar amongst america's inner cities.

THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP LLC 2010.

THROWBACK P.II: SCRIPTURES OF 1994

"IM JUST A SOUL WHOSE INTENTIONS ARE GOOD..O LORD PLEASE DON'T LET ME BE MIS-UNDERSTOOD"

-NINA SIMONE 1964



Tupac Shakur Legacy is an official interactive biography of Tupac Shakur released on August 16, 2006. The author of the book is Jamal Joseph, a friend of the Shakur family and a former Black Panther Party member. The book is published by Atria Books a division of Simon & Schuster. It features unseen family photographs, intimate stories, and over 20 removable reproductions of his handwritten song lyrics, contracts, scripts, poetry, and other personal papers. - WIKIPEDIA

Clearly one of the most influential figures of the late 2oth century..though glorified in influence, talent, and controversy..few highlight the drive, scars and the mind of tupac amaru shakur. I highlight this thursday one of the crucibles of countless men/women who made credible societal impact for greater change: being misunderstood. Today's early 90's footage allows tupac to be heard even now in 2010, fifteen years deep from his departure. Journalist ed gordon(bet.com) opens the door to tupac's prophetic resonance, from the current events of 1994, in relation to the present day. I believe one place you can always find the truth: in the contents of a person's heart.







THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP


WWW.TASF.ORG

STREETS CONSCIOUSNESS P.IV: THE POLITICAL PRISONER

"Let me just say: Peace to you, if you're willing to fight for it." -
FRED HAMPTON -1948 -1969

"Some understand the term political prisoner narrowly, equating it with the term prisoner of conscience (POC). Amnesty International campaigns for the release of prisoners of conscience, which include both political prisoners as well as those imprisoned for their religious or philosophical beliefs. To reduce controversy, and as a matter of principle, the organization's policy only applies to prisoners who have not committed or advocated violence. Thus, there are political prisoners who do not fit the narrower criteria for POCs-WIKIPEDIA

On the left is a flyer of the recent event in the san francisco bay area.."stop the violence",on feb. 28th, hosted by industry greats and activists.
The plight of the political prisoner has been universal, generations deep. Revolutionary's from the african american diaspora to the cuban, challenged social ills and political strongholds, from the past until now. This event also spoke on the responsibility of the hip hop/entertainment community to social justice issues, to stemming down violence in concerts/events, and the ultimate plight of political prisoners worldwide. Though it focuses on this plight, i noticed in today's time these communities of social activism move on a sub-cultural stream..compared to american pop-culture. To me it moves in a wider spectrum; one example of many: the functions of one of america's biggest buisnessness: the prison system overall: and its relation to minorties. Below is exclusive footage of the conference, and a feature from nas and damian
"jr gong" marley's lp- "Distant relatives".









THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP

THE PENDANT: EDUCATION

-Z.A

A philadelphia based educational/self-improvement program, located in temple university, has served and helped the community for close to 33 years. Monday feature highlights not just through the ladder of academics, but consciousness of self, environment and world. A program i attended, and that mentored me at a pivotal time of my youth, still exemplify a light of progressive movement in the community. The feature is a two part tutorial and introduction and guide to P.A.S.C.E.P. Pan-african studies continuing education program. Peep the very corridors i walked, as well as many who had their life enriched in some way by this program. On the flip we have a behind the scenes from one of hiphop's scholar himself.. the student of truth..talib kweli and the movements of reflection eternal.






THEE URBANPRIESTHOOD GROUP