Very Smart Brothas
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The Quickest and Easiest Way to Effect Change? Be Famous
A few months back, I had the opportunity to speak at the University of California, Berkeley, about identity politics and public policy. I was asked at one point what I thought was the best way to make a difference in the world. It’s a pretty lofty question and is generally met with platitudes about being…
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‘Suck It Up’ or Pray: Advice That Almost Killed Me
I was beaten quite a bit as a child. I wasn’t a “bad kid” or a troublemaker, I just happened to come from a violent place (America) and a culture (small town, black, 1980s; take your pick) where beating children was de rigueur. As an infant, I was beaten with a wooden yardstick until my…
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Malcolm Jenkins’ ‘You Aren’t Listening’ Silent Interview Is the Blackest Thing That Ever Happened This Week
I remember when I first learned that the deployment of young people during the protests, marches, boycotts and sit-ins to defeat Jim Crow was strategic. Even as a kid, when I watched footage of that era, it was easy to notice that many of the people getting arrested, beaten, fire-hosed and bit by dogs were,…
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The Washington Capitals’ Winning Washington, DC’s 1st Championship in Almost 30 Years Would Make Sense for Gentrified DC
The Washington Capitals, the Washington, D.C., region’s representative in the NHL, are one win away from being the 2017-2018 NHL champions. Obviously, this is an exciting time for the region because we haven’t had a championship win in any of the four major sports since 1992, when the Washington Racistnames won the Super Bowl, and…
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Ain’t No Way a Diss Record That Important Doesn’t See the Light of Day in 2018—Unless It Doesn’t Exist
Allegedly, Drake has a diss record in the can that would ruin Kanye West’s career. At least according to J. Prince. I find that a little bit hard to believe, considering I don’t know what Drake could say about Kanye that would do more damage than he seems to be doing himself. He’s got white…
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I’m Kind of Enjoying How Donald Trump Is Making the NFL Owners Eat Shit
The search for meaningful silver linings during Donald Trump’s presidency largely rests on the concept of maybe. Maybe this’ll inspire us to be more politically active. Maybe the Democratic Party will embrace a more progressive agenda instead of attempting to partner double Dutch with the right. Maybe, since Trump’s ascension has spawned an atmosphere where…
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Black Marriage, Explained, in 20 Questions About Pie
(Sidenote: I will neither confirm nor deny that these pie-related questions were asked in my house in a 24-hour span.) 1. “Did you get that racist-ass pie again, or the good pie?” 2. “You know that you’re the buyer of racist pies in this household, not me, right?” 3. “Remember the first time we had pie…
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Kanye’s Ye Is a Soundtrack for Gentrifiers
I was once a resident of Yeezus Island, but this spring has compelled me, finally, to put my house on the market. I doubt there will be any buyers, though. Maybe Jonah Hill might be interested, but my optimism has limitations. Anyway, Ye—which I listened to a few times last weekend—is many things. Undercooked. Scattered.…
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An Ode to My Big Sister, Who Might Not Know That She Put Me On to Hip-Hop
Since June is Black Music Month (or, more formally, African-American Music Appreciation Month), I figure that one of the best ways to celebrate is to talk about my own love for black music. There’s no talking about my love for black music without discussing hip-hop because it is now and has been the most prominent…