hombre de la bolsa

 Depending on which side of the fence one is on,

 The Boogeyman could be either of the Koch brothers,

or George Soros.

Six Flags

 I'm no gangsta', I'm just a regular guy.
I'm not really a fan of today's most popular Rap, that is a lifestyle I'm trying to avoid.
But what is the appeal of Rap for so many who have no connection to such a life?
I meet so many boys from good families who think they want to be like Big Meech.
But in reality they don't want to suffer the same consequences, they only desire the same infamy and wealth.
Much like riding on a roller coaster at Magic Mountain, they only desire the illusion of danger.
Sure, people like to feel danger, as long as they know that they are safe.
How many daredevils do you know who will voluntarily ride a roller coaster that has a broken harness or worn out brakes?
None.
People like to imagine themselves to be in danger but few actually put themselves in harm's way.

 Does Gangta' Rap pioneer Dr. Dre look as threatening in his World Class Wreckin Crew gear?

 Would you fear or respect Tupac while he performed The Humpty Dance?

Sure, Rick Ross had a hit singing about Big Meech but he chose a career on the other end of the criminal ladder.
(Although many could argue that cops and correctional officers are even more corrupt that street dealers.)

So what's the point of all this?
Only that it amazes me that some of the softest and most urbane Negroes seem to be those most drawn to the most violent and urban images of Hip Hop.

"I'm Special 'Because' I Am Black"

I said to a blogger who always seems to be from the "Tim Wise School of Race Relations".
She thought that I meant it as some weak-ass "I'm Black and I'm Proud" chant of self-affirmation.
But this is not the case.
As with many Black bloggers on the Internet, I grew up as a "token".
As the one (or one of the few) Black(s) in any given class, sport, job, church or activity.
Was I teased or harassed or oppressed?
H-to-the-E-to-the-double-L-No!
I was Elegba all up in Valhalla.
I had to teach white guys 'how' be white and cool.
I had to turn down the girls the white guys would think about as they would masturbate.
I did/do a'ight.

So having never been a victim of oppression - but having benefited from liberal white culture, or White Guilt, or Affirmative-Action, mixed with my innate Black genetics - how could I be expected to have a victim-mentality?
Why wouldn't I feel special because I am Black?
Having done well under conditions which Blacks are often taught are not their own - why would I feel inferior?
If I can do well in my game as well as in your game - why would I acquiesce whenever confronted or doubted?
Since I don't rely on others based on race - why would I fear that someone else is going to do anything to or for me predicated on race?

 "But that's not how the world works.", some might say.
Really?
When was the last time race determined the outcome of your endeavors?
Be honest - could an undesired outcome be the effect of a lack of education, training or social skills?
Could you just be unattractive in a culture which celebrates attractive people.
I'm not just talking about "European Standards" - sometimes ugly is just ugly (and you might be that).
How often does race really play a part in what you are trying to do?
How many times have you benefited because of your race?
All-in-all - if you are equally qualified, has your race really held you back?
Or was it just your culture (or lack thereof)?

Dark Is Good

Quick, describe "Chocolate"... .
Words like; "Deep", "Dark" or "Rich" come to mind?
Now describe "Vanilla"...
Umm...
I'm waiting...
Vanilla - adj. - 2. Lacking adornments or special features; basic or ordinary
So why do so many Blacks feel bad about being Black?

"Black" Is O.K.

A white liquor rep sat at the bar handing out samples of her products to a group of "African Americans" and...
"African Americans"?, we asked.
"Huh...? What,,,? Wait...? "I didn't..!", she stammered as we all laughed.
"Just say Black.", I said.
"Black is good.", said a regular at the bar.
"Black is great.", I said.
"Well... you never know...", she replied.
"I know, I know.", I said, "That ish was made up by some insecure Bourgeoisie Negroes who felt the need to feel equal.", I continued.
"Negroes?", she asked.
"Ummm, no. YOU can say 'Negroes', but you can't", I said, "That would be like me calling you a 'Dago WAP'. I can't call you that but your other Italian friends could without any blow back.", I continued.
"Oh, okay. So Black is O.K.?", she said.
"Yeah, 'Black' is O.K..", I said, as she passed out samples of various liquors to delighted guests at the bar.

Lightweights

"Weak people exercise to become stronger - but dumb people seldom study to become smarter.", I said to a young cousin more concerned with football than grades.
As I had him do a full workout with extremely light weights, "What's the point?", he asked.
But they always listen to what I say and often do what I tell them to do.
After the workout, "That was a waste of time and didn't do any good.", he said.
"This is the same way you approach schoolwork.", I said.
"Oh, dumb people are too dumb to study....", he said.

Blockbusters

People who open nightclubs are often those with a need to feed their own egos.
But their ego is what will eventually lead to their failure.

On one block in the small town in which I currently live, there is one strip club, one hole in the wall and one large nightclub/concert hall.
This area is on the outskirts of town and few people have any occasion to go to this area.
But everyone knows where this area is.
Since it lies between the two major towns of the area, this block receives a high rate of traffic.

The strip club is doing great.
The hole in the wall is suffering.
The huge club is barely making it.
But now a group of gay dudes is opening up a very nice gay bar on the same block.
Another partnership is looking at opening a more upscale night club right across the street from the tiddy bar.
Many see this as a problem - but it is not.
This area will similar to a mall concept - if you can't find it here, try next door.

But many of these club owners don't see it this way.
Many of these owners think that their business is the most important spot on the block.
Many cannot see that when they all benefit, they all benefit.
These owners think in much the same way as movie studios in years past.
Movie execs used to think that only one blockbuster at a time could be in theaters.
But this limited the choices given to paying customers.
When many movies are in theaters and one sells out, people go to the next best option and wait to see their first choice at a later date.

This concept also works in the nightclub business.
After a week filled with lunches trying to explain this concept to jealous club owners, I need a better example.
Maybe I should use the concept of Burger King being across from Mac Donald's which is next door to Wendy's and all are doing well.
Simple concept - but these egos are the primary hindrance.

Grapes of Wrath

I have to laugh whenever I hear people complain that there are no jobs, that the economy sucks, or that they are trying to destroy the middle class.
The problem isn't that there are no jobs but that there are only jobs which nobody wants to do.
But that's why they call it work.
That's why they pay you to do it.

Not everybody can work for a movie studio and live on the hillsides of Southern California.
Some people have to settle for a small town in Nebraska while working at the local feed store.
Not everyone should have the newest TVs, cars and clothes - some people must settle for an old 35" TV, a three year old car and clothes bought from Sears.

But many Mexicans often get it right.
I'm no fan of illegal immigration but these immigrants get it.
Many hardworking immigrants sacrifice short term indulgences in favor of long term success.

In times past, when opportunities dried up in any given area of America, people moved.
Whether from the farm to the city, or from the Dust Bowl to California, or from Mexico to America - people moved to where the opportunities were.
In times past, people did not get paid to sit idly by while waiting for the economy to shift in their favor.
In times past, people went to where the work was and did the work which was available.

I.Q.

All I.Q.tests are culturally biased.
I.Q. tests don't really measure what it is that you do know so much as they measure what you don't know about a predetermined set of qualities that the testing group attempts to pass off as being most important.
If, in the image above, ones I.Q. is quantified by the likely conformity to the highlighted area - is someone who falls outside of the box less smart?
Or is the test just looking at things from a limited perspective?

The breadth of ones knowledge is usually determined by what is most important withing any given environment.
A fragile, nerdy, guy who can write code - but who lives in a jungle where there is no modern technology - might not be able to survive for long if he fails to acquire the knowledge, skills and resources that the jungle environment requires.
The indigenous man would have all of the needed social skills and knowledge needed to survive the same environment.
In this case, what good would a high I.Q. be?
Or, would one have to change the qualities which determine the level of ones I.Q.?