Jason Whitlock column on Taylor

[warriorzpath]

Sorry if anyone shares this guy's viewpoint, but it is ridiculous to use this to compare hip hop to the KKK. And to call KKK the parent organization to the Black KKK, which he uses as a name for hip hop, is offensive.

What the hell is going on? Is Sean Taylor's death, an excuse for self-righteous journalists to state their social opinions on varying subjects? These articles seem to be more about social commentary and less about Sean Taylor.

[wilsowilso]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

What the hell is going on? Is Sean Taylor's death, an excuse for self-righteous journalists to state their social opinions on varying subjects? These articles seem to be more about social commentary and less about Sean Taylor.

I hope Sean Taylor's death will spark as much social commentary as it can. Seems like many people don't really care about the great social problems of the times that we are living in until something happens close to home and in this case it hits close to home to a large group of people. It's really always been that way and change only happens when enough people say enough.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

I hope Sean Taylor's death will spark as much social commentary as it can. Seems like many people don't really care about the great social problems of the times that we are living in until something happens close to home and in this case it hits close to home to a large group of people. It's really always been that way and change only happens when enough people say enough.

I actually agree, but some of the stuff coming out of these reporters' mouths are a bit reaching in trying to create a link to Taylor's death.

I get a sense when I hear some of this stuff that Taylor committed a crime or was guilty of something.

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I actually agree, but some of the stuff coming out of these reporters' mouths are a bit reaching in trying to create a link to Taylor's death.

I get a sense when I hear some of this stuff that Taylor committed a crime or was guilty of something.

I don't think they're making him seem guilty at all. I think they're making him look like a victim of a senseless act of violence. And that violence can occur to anyone, rich or poor.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

I don't think they're making him seem guilty at all. I think they're making him look like a victim of a senseless act of violence. And that violence can occur to anyone, rich or poor.

Some are suggesting his past, upbringing, and those he associated with - are direct and indirect causes to his death.

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

Some are suggesting his past, upbringing, and those he associated with - are the blame.

I've read that too. Like he couldn't escape his past and I think they're not giving ST enough credit. He wasn't some hardcore drug dealer or some thug. He ran with the wrong crowd for awhile and made some bad decisions. Every kid does that. He was 24 not 44. Anyone in the media who criticizes him for making stupid juvenile decisions, when he actually WAS a juvenile, is pretty hypocritical cause everyone makes bad decisions sometime in life.

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

Sorry if anyone shares this guy's viewpoint, but it is ridiculous to use this to compare hip hop to the KKK. And to call KKK the parent organization to the Black KKK, which he uses as a name for hip hop, is offensive.

What the hell is going on? Is Sean Taylor's death, an excuse for self-righteous journalists to state their social opinions on varying subjects? These articles seem to be more about social commentary and less about Sean Taylor.

I can understand where the article's coming from. As a Black female, I know that some Black people, especially on the lower socioeconomic ladder love to blame other people for their problems or the problems of the ghetto and crime in general. But all the guy's trying to say is that if we want to change and stop all this violence and negativity, more specifically, Black on Black crime, we can't look to blame and point fingers or wait for it to go away. We have to take action and do something about it.

Makes enough sense to me.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

I can understand where the article's coming from. As a Black female, I know that some Black people, especially on the lower socioeconomic ladder love to blame other people for their problems or the problems of the ghetto and crime in general. But all the guy's trying to say is that if we want to change and stop all this violence and negativity, more specifically, Black on Black crime, we can't look to blame and point fingers or wait for it to go away. We have to take action and do something about it.

Makes enough sense to me.

I think that's where I find fault in the article. He lists a lot things wrong with a big part of our society. But where does he list any solutions and ways to deal with all of this? Like the old saying goes - if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I think that's where I find fault in the article. He lists a lot things wrong with a big part of our society. But where does he list any solutions and ways to deal with all of this? Like the old saying goes - if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Actually he does offer a broad solution - black people should resist blaming others & be proacitve to care for their own.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

Actually he does offer a broad solution - black people should resist blaming others & be proacitve to care for their own.

Exactly... but I would go even further and add that one should be proactive as an individual and stop blaming and speaking for groups of people, like they have become the self appointed representative or leader.

To me, Whitlock doesn't have much of an understanding of what hip hop truly is - only what he gets from the media (maybe because he is part of the media). And how do you speak on a subject that you do not have knowledge of ?

It would be much more insightful for me to read an article from someone who has knowledge of hip hop and linked it to these issue(s).

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

Sorry if anyone shares this guy's viewpoint, but it is ridiculous to use this to compare hip hop to the KKK. And to call KKK the parent organization to the Black KKK, which he uses as a name for hip hop, is offensive.

What the hell is going on? Is Sean Taylor's death, an excuse for self-righteous journalists to state their social opinions on varying subjects? These articles seem to be more about social commentary and less about Sean Taylor.

Frankly, it's high time for self-examination and social commentary when a young man like Taylor is snuffed out just when he's getting his life together. If you don't believe that hip hop culture glorifies murder, and de-sensitives black youth to violence, then you're not paying attention. I think that Whitlock is saying that if young black men were killed with today's regularity by the original KKK, there would be moral outrage. You don't sense outrage to the carnage against black men today. Instead, there's a "don't snitch" mentality, again perpetuated by hip hop culture that rationalizes self-genocide. Whitlock and others like Bill Cosby who have the courage to speak up on this issue are spot on.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Frankly, it's high time for self-examination and social commentary when a young man like Taylor is snuffed out just when he's getting his life together. If you don't believe that hip hop culture glorifies murder, and de-sensitives black youth on violence, then you're not paying attention. I think that Whitlock is saying that if young black men were killed with today's regularity by the original KKK, there would be moral outrage. You don't sense outrage to the carnage against black men today. Instead, there's a "don't snitch" mentality, again perpetuated by hip hop culture that rationalizes self-genocide. Whitlock and others like Bill Cosby who have the courage to speak up on this issue are spot on.

And unfortunately ridiculed within that community.

I haven't been on this Earth a long time. Less than 30 years but one thing I slowly discovered is the rush to solely blame someone else for one's problems is usually counter-productive for two reasons.

First-
In most situations the root cause of a problem is never singular. One can almost always look inward to find causation. Not sole causation but at least part of the causation. This applies to people and communities. I believe strongly that the black community can look inward and find some causation within for their socioeconmoic and cultural issues they face. Addressing this causation could produce incredible strides toward eliminating the culture of violence and crime.

Second-
In those infrequent cases where there is no apparent causation within one can almost always look within to find solutions to the problems anyways. To look outward is to rely on others to do right by you. I'd rather fix the situation myself even if I didn't have a direct hand in causing it. Again, here the black community can fight this destructive culture that seems to be pervasive without even needing to accept some blame for it's existence. To lay blame outwad and therefore generate expectations that those to blame should fix the problem will never work. It hasn't so far has it?

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Frankly, it's high time for self-examination and social commentary when a young man like Taylor is snuffed out just when he's getting his life together. If you don't believe that hip hop culture glorifies murder, and de-sensitives black youth to violence, then you're not paying attention. I think that Whitlock is saying that if young black men were killed with today's regularity by the original KKK, there would be moral outrage. You don't sense outrage to the carnage against black men today. Instead, there's a "don't snitch" mentality, again perpetuated by hip hop culture that rationalizes self-genocide. Whitlock and others like Bill Cosby who have the courage to speak up on this issue are spot on.

Jason Whitlock cannot speak out against an entire culture, which (for those that do not know) is what hip hop is - bad, good, and indifferent.

It's the same as a non-sports or non-football fan speaking out against the issues caused by the football culture... which among other things also glorifies and promotes violence.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

Jason Whitlock cannot speak out against an entire culture, which (for those that do not know) is what hip hop is - bad, good, and indifferent.

It's the same as a non-sports or non-football fan speaking out against the issues caused by the football culture... which among other things also glorifies and promotes violence.

Comparing the physical violence of football to gun violence promoted by popular culture doesn't wash for me. Football players get hurt on the field of play. Young folks are dying in droves from gun violence.

[pg86]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

Sorry if anyone shares this guy's viewpoint, but it is ridiculous to use this to compare hip hop to the KKK. And to call KKK the parent organization to the Black KKK, which he uses as a name for hip hop, is offensive.

What the hell is going on? Is Sean Taylor's death, an excuse for self-righteous journalists to state their social opinions on varying subjects? These articles seem to be more about social commentary and less about Sean Taylor.

I agree with you..

Quite frankly I am black and im appalled by the statements being made..its a real shame that people will use Sean Taylors death as an excuse to say that oh black people are in danger of dying violently.

Truth is WERE ALL IN DANGER! Bullet knows no name..and it damn sure knows no color.

If the player were white the coverage would be the same, bottom line is Taylor was murdered it doesn't have a damn thing to do with color, and I wouldn't be suprised if his killer was white or of another race. Murder is murder, and I don't understand whats so new about this that everyone wants to throw a race card...Im seeing more coverage on that then on trying to get a lead and bring the people that did this to justice!