Archives: The Most Dangerous Weapon in America...

Continuing with the myspace archives, I present to you "The Most Dangerous Thing in America: A NIGGA With a Brain!!!"

Subject: The Most dangerous thing in America: A "Nigga" with a brain!!!
Date: 2/2/2006

        I got a real problem, folks... The problem is hair. Not my hair, or even your hair, but a type of hair. An "Ethinic" type of hair. For those uninformed, I am a black man (wow, buzz killer, huh?), and as a black man, I have a-typical "Negro" hair (kinky, wavy, curly, depending on your mix). Almost two years ago, I started growing my hair out in braids for rebellious reasons, but that's another story in itself. Since this decision, I've ran a retail store (mom n pop record store; Midtown Music, to those from Nap), worked in a major retail chain (Best Buy [fuckin' clown bastards]), and started my own business (Daddie'z Home Entertainment: Get on the bandwagon now!!). Now, being a 24 year-old black man in America is hard enough with the psuedo-racism, police harassment, et cetera, et cetera, but, my case is a little different. I stand 6'2 (6'6 with 'fro fully extended), I weigh around 275-280lbs. Kinda intimidating to the majority of the nation. I also have a college education, am extremely well mannered (given the environment I grew up in, that truly IS a compliment), given my surroundings, I can blend into any circle because I know how to play this game called LIFE. My beef comes with something I noticed during my tenure at Best Buy.
    Granted, I ran an urban mom n pop for 3 1/2 years, so I know a lot about urban music. But, I listen to EVERYTHING!!! Beck, Foo Fighters, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Alicia Keys, Paul Wall, Garth Brooks, Trace Adkins, etc. I worked in the cell phone department in Best Buy, yet customers (read: WHITE PEOPLE) would approach me and ask (on a daily basis) what was the "blazing new music" from the marginally (read: BET spin cycle) famous black artist. I didn't really let it bother me, until I asked one customer, in a half joking, half "I-could-crush-your-head-with-a-40 ounce-liquor-bottle" tone, "Why did you pass-by ALL of the employees (read: White) in that department to ask my opinion?" His response? "Because, you know, man, you LOOK like you might know what you're talking about" (read: You're the same color as the guy on this cd case, so YOU must own this cd, right?). I officially started to take notice of what I was being subjected to on a daily basis. Of all the black employees in the store, I was the most ethnically appealling. The long braids, the cocksure swagger, and the Black skin I wear, not to mention my ability to decode ebonics, all play a part in how people perceive me. I ask "Why?"
    My cousin happens to be a minister here in the city and for Black History Month, he's decided to grow out his hair and get a hairstyle called "Twisties," where the hair is washed, gelled, and curled around the end of a rat-tail comb all over the person's head. The end result (depending on hair length) usually is the "straw braid" effect. I asked my cousin why, after wearing his hair short for most of his life, would he choose to change hairstyles for one month, and one month only? His response, "Because I don't want to look like a thug all year long." So, me being me, a debate ensues, where the question is raised "Who says that black hairstyles have to be typified as "thug" hairstyles? Why are braids and dreadlocks demonized in American culture? Because a bad person wore their hair in that fashion? Hitler wore a taper, (barbers know what I'm talking about) does that mean that every German with a taper is evil? Osama Bin Laden wears a scruffy, unkempt beard, so (my point is proven here) does every male of Middle Eastern descent wish to harm America? NO!! But, ignorant, paranoid minds wish for you to believe the stereotypes. These people are called ignorant for a reason. They IGNORE facts! Yes, there are bad people out here with hairstyles that will cause you to always associate it with that person. I'm not trying to sound preachy, but this shit is ridiculous!! PEOPLE STYLE HAIR, HAIRSTYLES DO NOT MAKE PEOPLE !!!!
   The fact that an individual, with credentials and accolades of their own merit, wears a hairstyle and assholes get to judge them based on a predetermined experience with someone of similar features or characteristics... Layman's terms: All Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Hispanic people look alike, is un-fuckin'-believable!! And it's sad. We live in a country that wouldn't be shit, if it weren't for the people who only wish to be looked at as equals in the collective minds of the majority.
    I really want to know what it's going to take to get some unbiased respect out of one another, because, as much as I want to say it is... It's not ALL White people. There are successful black business professionals, that won't hire a black person because of their hairstyle. "Braids aren't professional." MY ASS they're not "professional!" There are Arab (Pakistani, Afghani, Saudi, etc.) Americans who stare, in awe, of someone from their native land in traditional garb or praying. Hispanic Americans who think ALL Mexicans are lazy. Asian Americans who really believe that they are ALL good in math and science (sorry buddy. No you're not.) These are nothing more than STEREOTYPES people (and I'm not talking Bose, Klipsch, or Pioneer, pally), and the more you play into them, the further you HELP set this country back. (I'm done ranting. Go eat some cereal, now.)
  
    
    I don't have a verse for today... Really. That rant you just read took a lot out of me.
       Quote for the day: " Reading is Fundamental"--- Literacy awareness PSA