Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
On yesterday, with the announcement of the final vacancies being filled, Stephen A. called out the NFL and its owners for seemingly circumventing the beloved “Rooney Rule” which is basically affirmative action for black head coaches. And, who better to say it that the sportscaster who signed the equivalent of a “super-max” contract at ESPN, just months ago.
In the last decade, Stephen A. Smith has revolutionized televised sports reporting. His outlandish, uninhibited commentary has both endeared him and vilified him with watchers and listeners. His is perhaps the 21st Century holy grail of journalism-the ever running mouth, much more than merely a talking head. Stephen A. is synonymous with “face time” because much more than being sought out for what he has to say, he is always talking regardless of whether or not he has ‘something to say’!
This tirade was vintage Stephen A. It was good great television! It was like watching Jordan hit that corner jumper in his last All-Star game. Like watching Jerry Rice catch a touchdown in a Seahawks uniform or even watching Grandpa sprint past all the kiddos who swore he’d lost a step! This was good, but it was also problematic!
This is the same brother who invalidated Colin Kaepernick’s viewpoint and dismissed any credibility of his national anthem protest. When the NFL dubiously invited Kap to a workout late last year, Kap and his legal team sniffed out alarming inconsistencies that eroded their confidence in the fairness of the workout. Kap moved the workout and spoke disparagingly about the NFL afterward which led Stephen A. to call out Kap saying that he just doesn’t want to play. This didn’t fair well with many viewers who pointed to Mike Florio‘s (a sports writer and also a lawyer) reports which debunked much of what Smith had to say. On his show “First Take” the following Monday, Smith doubled down on his ridiculous rhetoric.
What Stephen A. must not be aware of is the fact that these are the same owners who won’t sign Kap! How can he so incredulous that there are no more than three black head coaches! Owners and GM’s are not tuned to the sports acumen of black quarterbacks, black head coaches or black interest, it seems. Well, the late Dan Rooney (former Pittsburgh Steelers owner and former chairman of the league’s diversity committee) did and that’s why the NFL adopted this rule league-wide.
The Dallas Cowboys check the “Rooney Rule” box and bring in highly publicized head coaching candidates with each vacancy. This year, it was Marvin Lewis, former coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. It was unclear how Lewis would function as coach, but Mike McCarthy has been the choice for the next phase of Dallas Cowboys football. But why can’t coaches like Marvin Lewis get hired? Why are there currently only three black head coaches in the NFL? To use Stephen A.’s logic in the Colin Kaepernick argument, one would surmise that perhaps the coaches didn’t interview well or that they somehow want to be seen and not employed, thus the acceptance of an interview albeit via enforcement of the Rooney Rule.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K31DPxVijFg
The Rooney Rule, subject of Stephen A. bloviation has been reduced to about as much a joke as Kap’s offer of a workout. With this latest rant, Stephen A. has found his way back into the good graces of black viewers who hung him out to dry late last year. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, but you have a bigger problem than a clock, if you’re relying on it to tell time for you!
Stephen A. is RIGHT. He’s spot on, what he seems to have missed or miscalculated is the fact that the culture change he is now calling for would have probably benefited Colin Kaepernick, as well.
Introducing the powerful new single, “NFL” from the naturally-gifted and multi-talented writer/musician/producer/vocalist BEE BOISSEAU (last name pronounced “boy-so”) featuring three-time Grammy nominated recording artist Raheem Devaughn, member of the Hip-soul conscious group CrossRhodes – Wes Felton (@WesFeltonDC) and Billboard charting saxophonist,Vandell Andrew.
The thought-provoking song is lifted from Bee Boisseau’s debut upcoming project, “Raheem Devaughn Presents – Bee Boisseau’s BACK TO LOVE“, set to be released via the DMG (Devaughn Multimedia Group) imprint, in the spring of 2019.
“NFL” was written by Raheem Devaughn and Wes Felton and produced by Bee Boisseau, while Vandell Andrew is on saxophone.
“As four conscious artists and musicians of black and brown color that celebrate the hashtag #LiveWoke we have created this anthem in solidarity and honor of our brother, Colin Kaepernick,” mentions Raheem Devaughn.
ABOUT BEE BOISSEAU: It has been long suggested and sometimes documented that following one’s true passion can instinctively and naturally lead one into circumstances and places – amongst like-minded people –that ultimately guide a person to their truly determined successes in life…sometimes resulting in a series of full-circle experiences. Bursting out of the musically-fertile D.C. area (which actually comprises the so-dubbed “DMV,” which also entails metropolitan Maryland and Virginia), naturally-gifted, multi-talented writer/musician/producer/vocalist BEE BOISSEAU (last name pronounced “boy-so”) knows of this phenomenon all too well, having rode the wave of a childhood steeped in musical encouragement into a young adult life of honing his craft and not-so-by-chance encounters (most notably with veteran R&B star Raheem DeVaughn) that placed him squarely where he needed and was destined to be. The culmination of his lifelong musical journey of following his passion all lie within the oh-so-contemporary, musically-rich fusion of modern-day R&B, hip-hop and jazz that comprise his forthcoming DMG (DeVaughn Multimedia Group) debut set, Back To Love.Born and raised on the south-side of Richmond, Virginia during the ‘80s, BEE was amongst the first generation of kids actually raised on hip-hop. Though it may have initially been hip-hop and later smooth jazz that opened his eyes to the possibilities of being involved in music-making, his first actual introductions to music were in the church and at the family piano. “The family figured out early that I had musical ability because we had a piano in the house,” BEE recalls.
“My Mom would be in the kitchen saying ‘Who’s playing the radio?’ And it would be me [legit]. I would hear something on the radio and play it on the piano by 6 or 7 years-old.” At the suggestion of his live-in great-grandmother and grand-mother, his musical interests were fully encouraged, resulting in learning other instruments (including violin) and being enrolled in contests. As it turns out, it was the reaction from audiences that made him catch the “entertainment bug.” “Truthfully, I liked the applause of it all,” he recalls. “I was like ‘Ok, I can do this.’ I thought it was fly that people would applaud me and all that. So I kept doing it.” This early epiphany and newfound confidence would soon thereafter be applied to the hip-hop music he found himself exposed to by older family members and friends around the way. “You had those 12” hip-hop records back then,” recounts BEE. “My Mom bought me a Smurf record-player that I could play those 12” records on. I had things like the Fat Boys, the Rappin’ Duke and my own Kangols at like 6 or 7 years-old…I was that dude! And I could rap too. I didn’t really understand it all until I was a little older. But I was smart, I could put ideas together and my memory was good. I was doing things in school like reciting Martin Luther King speeches and all that other type of stuff. I was quick; if you showed it to me I got it. That was a gift I didn’t realize until later. So hip-hop came along and I was all in.” Once word of his reputation for dropping good rhymes circulated at school, a young BEE found himself being sought out as “the one to beat” for battles with other rap wanna-be’s at school. Nevertheless, even as a youngster he kept his focus on the creative aspect instead of the competitive aspect.
While merging his newfound love for performance, applause and hip-hop, he linked up with a local partner named Justin, who exposed him to making music on computers. “I totally lost my mind,” he recalls of that learning experience. “And then I found out that you could make money doing it!”Consequently, his passion and fixation on music and performance followed him to college, during which time he was focused on his keyboard playing. “A good friend of mine introduced me to this band called the Fuzz Band,” BEE recollects. “Ironically, the keyboard player was leaving the band to move to D.C., so they were in a search for another keyboard player.” Though he admittedly didn’t quite yet have the professional musician mentality, he jumped at the opportunity to simply get on the scene, meet more ladies and possibly make some connections. Hence, he auditioned, hung out with them and played a couple of gigs with them. Although he wasn’t exactly crazy about their “kinda bourgeoisie,” khaki-wearing Hampton University style, playing with the Fuzz band afforded him the experience of playing for the likes of Lauryn Hill, Faith Evans, Avant, Jill Scott and other notable music names. “Anything coming through the ‘757,’ we were on it,” fondly recalls BEE. “The Fuzz Band was very well-known in that area. I was amazed with the gigs and clothing endorsements this band was getting.” Having made some firm connections, he soon found himself propositioned with the opportunity to do some shows in Denver, Colorado, where he not only gigged regularly but stayed to live for nearly ten years. “I made good connections [there] on the smooth-jazz circuit,” he recounts, “and that’s how I got respected on the professional circuit in general. I was playing with the likes of Nick Colionne, Gerald Albright and Jakiem Joyner…just major smooth-jazz artists.” Soon thereafter, a cruise ship gig with Eric Roberson resulted in him making the acquaintance of actor/wordsmith Wes Felton (one half of the socio-conscious hip-hop/R&B duo The CrossRhodes, alongside Raheem DeVaughn).
“He came and did a show, they called me to play and we just remained in contact. Wes took me to New York City and I did some shows with him. So when the time came for somebody to sub as a keyboard player [for The CrossRhodes], he already had me in mind. It wasn’t by chance; it was divine…everything happened in an order I can’t explain.”Hence, that scenario of following one’s passions into the right environments at the right times resulting in meeting the right people proves true. As it turns out, connecting with The CrossRhodes lessened the fabled “six degrees of separation” between BEE BOISSEAU and Grammy-winning R&B star Raheem DeVaughn. Though they had mutual friends and had met each other in passing a few times, they finally made a real connection. “I had a rehearsal to perform with The CrossRhodes,” BEE remembers, “so when I re-met him we were doing a sound-check at Bowie State University. I guess I did a good job because afterwards he asked if someone had my contact info.” By the time The CrossRhodes played at Chicago’s House of Blues just barely over a year ago, Raheem suggested that it was time for a BEE BOISSEAU record.
“It’s really his passion for the culture and for the music,” says Raheem of his decision to sign BEE to his DMG imprint. “I knew right away that “I’ve gotta work this dude, whether it’s with artists, production or whatever. As it relates to Bee, this is how we preserve the culture. Invest our time to the art and other people. There are people out there we can throw the assist to that aren’t really appreciated – but worth it – who have the talent and have the chops. For me, it gives me the opportunity to make a bold statement for the DMV [as you call it]. I’ve felt for far too long that they won’t let us in. So we have to form our own family and mutual closeness here in the city.
Hence, BEE BOISSEAU’s soon-to-be-released Back To Love serves as not only an introduction to his multi-faceted talents and musically-rich “jazz-soul-hop” sound, but those of other fast-rising, soon-to-be-noteworthy talents coming out of the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area. Be it the “Me Too”-friendly hip-hop/soul of the title track (featuring Raheem DeVaughn, Dwele and Eric Roberson); the brisk-paced, jazz/spoken-word/drum ‘n bass-fused “Young Bumble Bee” (featuring Roscoe Burnem); the dreamy and atmospheric vibe of the simmering “Potion” (featuring Yahzarah); songstress Carmen Rogers’ featured vocals on the neo-soul-reminiscent “Moon;” or Bee’s vocoder-laced vocalizing on the chilled funk/R&B groove “Rock With You,” Back To Love has got something to titillate the ears of contemporary music listeners of real music. Previewing the set with a most timely message atop a chunky hip-hop/soul beat is “NFL” (featuring lyrical commentary from The CrossRhodes’ Wes Felton) which is told from the perspective of a player.
“The message is not so much about the National Football League; it’s about the injustices and police brutality against people of color. I don’t want that message to get lost at all.” Meanwhile, core fans of Raheem DeVaughn will no doubt delight in “Stay the Night,” an intoxicating, Marvin-esque collabo with BEE which the award-winning R&B star describes as “something special. It’s like Gil Scott Heron, Marvin Gaye and modern-day Jill Scott making art together!”“Everything comes full-circle,” says BEE BOISSEAU, while reflecting on his Back To Love debut set. “It encapsulates my experiences before really becoming a professionally-minded musician, and then my experiences with the band as a professionally-minded musician. A lot of the influences from all of the places that I’ve learned, things like church, were my earliest influence. Then jazz and being a hip-hop head….all of that came full-circle with what you hear on Back To Love. When I listen to this record, it’s the first time in a long time I really love my craft. CONNECT WITH BEE BOISSEAU: Instagram: @BeeBoisseauTwitter: @BeeBoisseau
We’re inside the fifth week of the 2017 NFL season and we’ve somehow forgotten about how Colin Kaepernick’s silent protest began. Worst yet, it seems that the narrative has been successfully hijacked by the fake patriots rampant in white America. Let’s be clear, police brutality is not a white nor black issue. It’s an American issue, but blacks are attacked and killed by police in more disparate numbers than others. That’s the reason Colin Kaepernick took a knee last year.
Fast-forward to this season, he’s an unemployed quarterback with no return to the field in his imminent future. Kaep’s friends and colleagues continue in solidarity by taking a knee or raising a fist during the national anthem before games. Kaep also took issue with one of the stanzas of the poem which was later converted to a poem and ultimately adopted as this nation’s anthem of representation.
What began as an initiative to draw attention to a cause has been hijacked by those that are unwilling to see change. That’s the nice way to call them racists. Worse than being accused of being a racist is stripping away this nation’s legacy of democracy. The NFL is paid for its patriotic demonstration before games but teams and NFL brass seemingly have the latitude to force players and coaches to stand during the national anthem.
Protest deflectors have risen with so much rancor that they in turn have boycotted the NFL for actually supporting and not punishing protesters. Weird how that works, isn’t it? But wouldn’t it make more sense to actually work to end what is the cause of the problem in the first place? If we could unite for the cause of ending or at least curtailing unchecked police brutality, the need for protesting would actually go away. Just weeks ago, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made news by kneeling with his players before the game against the Arizona Cardinals. Jones again made news this week by successfully deflecting his Cowboy’s abismal start to the season by threatening to bench any player not standing for the anthem.
What has been lost on nearly every American is the fact that the poem was written during the war of 1812 in which slaves fought on both sides of the war. Slaves fought with Britain to overthrow the budding country and ultimately win their freedom. Apologists for Key suggest that those were the slaves referenced in that stanza. Still, when the constitution was drafted and later signed into law, it held the premise that “…all men are created equal…” except the slaves kept by the signers.
From its inception, this country has been flawed. Furthermore, this country has never atoned for what will ever be known as the greatest human rights atrocity in history. Ill treatment of blacks continued as the nation progressed, too. Many have never heard of Black Wall Street in Tulsa,Oklahoma. But events like the destruction of the Greenwood suburb of Tulsa wiped out a thriving economic center of black America in the south. To this date, nothing like it exists, a credit to the pervasive systemic racism that maligns every functioning system in America.
So, when “privileged” athletes who are millionaires decided to shed light on a cause, it’s commendable. In fact, protest is the real “American Way”. We may not have these United States of America without some level of protest. When citizens disagree with policy, they can protest. We still have that right. When citizens took aim at corporate greed, they did so with the Occupy Wall Street movement. The movement wasn’t perfect and while it physically didn’t last long, the conversation has. It was even a part of the 2016 Presidential race and became a talking point for candidates in the primaries and the official vote that ushered in the Presidency of Donald Trump. The Boston Tea Party? Another form of Protest. In fact, in its 2011 Top 10 American Protest Movements, Time Magazine listed it first.
Years later, those protests signify American progress and are heralded as turning points in American history, seldom viewed with the optics of opposition! If history has proven nothing else, it’s proven that opposition nor deflection can withstand steadfast movement. The truth about the deflection is that it’s simply more convenient to fault the protesters for something than to actually take a serious look at their cause. Meanwhile, police killings and brutality have continued while many of those taking issue with flag disrespect remain mum on the issue at hand.
So to that I say again: “When they deflect, re-direct!” We can’t be drawn offsides by disrespect, dismissiveness or dissension of what ails other American citizens. We won’t bow to corporate bullying in order to save face or preserve convenience. This is high time for disruption, it’s the American way!
*I’d written this piece a few weeks ago but hadn’t really decided to share it for a number of reasons. After watching Terence Crutcher be gunned down in cold blood this week because the officer felt threatened while he was on the ground, I feel this is appropriate.*
There’s a lot being said about Colin Kaepernick and his protest which has led to a new movement in America. I’ll share my position as succinctly as possible. No need for a long, drawn out thesis to substantiate what I’m about to say, I’m going just say it:
White people are not better than everyone else! They’re not better than me, not better than you…or anyone else for that matter! There is NO supreme race, and if there were there’s no way it would be white people. The centuries long subjugation of non-whites must come to an end!
There, I said it. But let’s unpack what all that means:
Whether you’re free to admit it or not, you’ve more than likely bought into the lie of white supremacy. It’s been in our textbooks, on the news each night and woven subconsciously into the fabric of this otherwise great country.
‘White Is Right’ is Dead Wrong I’d have to go back too far into history to trace the inception of this phenomenon and the ensuing shift in world culture from Africa to Europe. Instead, let’s deal with this…in 2016, people still believe and endorse the malignant mantra that ‘white is right’. In church, at school, at work and even at home. Thus us bolstered by the fallacy that declares ‘white’ a supreme race.
In 1936, at Hitler’s Olympics in Berlin, he claimed that his athletes were the best and couldn’t be beat. Jesse Owens and Ralphe Metcalfe had other plans however and shuttered Hitler and his buffoonery right there on the track in both the 100 and 4×100 meter races.
In 2007 while on a gospel music tour I visited the current Olympic Stadium in Berlin. While there, I took in the history of the building. So much history there, I shall never forget it.
This is the track, in the distance you can see the bell tower.
The renovated Olympic stadium, now host to many sports and other major events.
A closer shot of the stands and the bell tower.
Full list of winners at the 1936 Games
There you see Jesse Owens’ 100M win and the US 4×100 team on the list of winners.
Your slip is showing…
White supremacy is no longer shrouded in white, red or purple hoods in clandestine gatherings in the woods. The fallacy of white supremacy has become a part of the fabric of America and to reject it rips at the seams of Lady Liberty’s robe. This is why America can’t settle its debt. America is indebted to Africans, Native Americans and their respective descendants whose blood is in the soil and foundation of each building erected.
What Is White Supremacy?
White supremacy is what white supremacy does. It asserts that white is the best. Somehow, even Jesus who was born nowhere near Europe is white. Maybe Mary was middle-eastern but that whole Holy Spirit ‘overshadowing’ thing…maybe that means that God is white, too.
As with white supremacy, it’s also time to denounce any salvific ascription to white culture and the non-black race overall.
White supremacy says that black people can’t build anything so ‘let’s destroy Tulsa’s Black Wall Street‘. White supremacy says that blacks can’t handle money so Bank of America denied both jobs and disenfranchised homebuyers. Not to be outdone, Fifths & Thirds banks manipulated auto loan interest rates for black and latino buyers. Speaking of banks, what’s with the absence of bank branches in favor or predatory payday lenders and pawn shops in the inner city?
White supremacy purports that black men are vicious rapists and murderers so they bludgeon a 14 year old Emmett Till for allegedly whistling at a white woman…who fabricated the account and never faced charges. White supremacy as strong as it is, is an unconscionable, fear based principle that says “if we don’t stop them, they will do whatever they put their minds to!” It continues because of the fear of retaliation.
Yep, there’s more! White supremacy tells you to be offended when called a “nigger”. The epithet has a hurtful past but I have given no single person or group the power to subjugate anything about me. Furthermore, the epithet is a by-product of an idiot’s attempt at emphatic speech that I refuse to dignify with a response, not even a violent one.
Believe it or not, at the root of white supremacy is envy
Oh you think blacks can only run and jump better than their non-white counterparts? Look around the world, what hasn’t been affected by black genius? Time is winding down rather swiftly and the truth is being unearthed.
This is why the black mind is the most challenged and black creativity and genius the most usurped. There’s a saying that those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. Conversely, those who don’t know their history are also doomed to accept it as presented!
White supremacy has for years put black thought on trial, having to make a case for its innate greatness to minds devoid of that level or capacity of understanding. Though on trial, we have yet to make the case for criminals and suspect of color, who also deserve a fair trail and a jury of their actual ‘peers’.
The “chief cornerstone” is the same stone the builders rejected. What do you have without a cornerstone besides a badly built building. Everything built on white supremacy is on its last legs.
JB said it best I’m black and I’m proud. I’m also American and proud. In fact, I’ve never felt more American than when I was in Europe and was hated as an “American” and not an “African-American” or a second class citizen or whatever that is. It never felt so good to be hated! There was also a time while in Japan after making a wrong turn into a business we were met with shouts of: “Japanese Only!” What that means, I still don’t know but I’ll chalk it up to my American pedigree and grab a map next time.
Speaking of pedigree, I’m ignorant of my family history beyond my great-grandparents. I mean, where did my great-grandfather’s grandfather come from? Did he fall out the sky as a grown man one day? Did the stork deliver him to us? I say this in jest but for most black people in America, we know that somebody we’re related to was a slave, just about. My generation’s grandparents didn’t have it so well, either. Black babies were given incorrect names and birthdays. Can you imagine arguing with a 70+ year old when their actual birth date is? They know, even though their birth certificate reflects otherwise. I know this case to be true for at least two people in my family.
The United States won’t engage in reparations for the families of African slaves but pay ouf heftily to Jews and even Native Americans. Here’s a fair deal…if you won’t give up 40 acres and a mule to the families of those slaves, do us all a solid and help us trace our families’ origins.
I mean, who was on those ships that made it over? We haven’t even begun to delve into the tremendous loss of life on the seas *(moment of silence)*
As long as this country refuses to rectify its original sin of slavery and the multitude of injustices that continue, I hereby refuse any reverence or adherence to this country as a perceived great nation. I should be proud to be a citizen here, because…I was born here? What about my ancestors who weren’t born here, but bled and died here?
When the United States Government issued an apology for slavery, it was done so with all talks of reparations taken off the table. That was the bargaining point…AND our representatives voted in favor of it! Such a shame and with that truth, this country still has made no atonement for the slavery that built this country.
It is evil and its systems are flawed. You don’t have to endorse white supremacy for it to have been your benefactor. That’s simply called white privilege. Blacks don’t get commensurate jail sentences for petty crimes, get to wrestle with officers who are unlawfully detaining them, engage in open carry or any other glaring inconsistent privileges only seemingly betrothed to non-blacks.
Blacks are still searching for answers to Sojourner Truth’s question: “Ain’t I A Woman”? by asking “Aren’t We Americans?” Failure to weave the progeny of slaves into the fabric of this country has sealed its fate.
Because you gave not liberty, you have chosen death. Death to America’s greatness and the perceived supremacy of those lacking the magnanimous gift of melanin.
*We’ve been somewhat unsuccessful burying the word “nigger” but for all intents and purposes, this article is going to help expose and finally bury the lie of white supremacy.*
This essay may initially appear to be laced with hate speech and work as a divisive instrument of liberal propoganda. At least, I think that’s what detractors will say. I’m hoping to at least get Fox News to hate it so much that they read at least a portion of it on air. I can dream, can’t I?!? It’s not hate speech and of course I don’t hate non-blacks. I love all of God’s people. What I do despise is any system that seeks to continue to break the backs and will of people anywhere. In America, I can’t show any love before I first express my hate toward the evil system driving the country and its many influences.
