Gone are the days when “celebrities” dominated one particular area. They’re now setting their sights on controlling all forms of entertainment.

Take for instance, Leighton Meester. You’re probably asking, “WHO?!” But she’s an actress on Gossip Girl. I’ve never seen the show, so I can’t comment on how great an actress she is. One thing’s for sure, though: if this music video is any indication of her singing abilities, she’s not much of a singer. In fact, she doesn’t really sing with her monologue verses easily trumped by blue-eyed soul crooner Robin Thicke.

There have been many actors who’ve tried their hand at singing. Some have succeeded, but many make for a great punchline. My point is instead of trying to take over, go with what you know and do what you do well.

Post Title Download: Tears for Fears – “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” from Songs from the Big Chair

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They think you sit at home all day in front of a computer, pretty much hiding behind a monitor and keyboard saying whatever you feel. They fail to realize the sacrifice serious bloggers make by either supplementing income with day jobs or scrimping, saving and such. And the reason they do what they do is because they love what they do. They’re extremely passionate about it, highly driven to succeed. And not succeed in a monetary sense, although that is a nice perk. If you’re able to become an authority in your niche, you are a success.

But you have those who are in it for whatever, so they just throw anything up and call it a blog, making the rest of us look just as bad. Just because you have a blogspot doesn’t mean you’re a blogger. Heck, just because you have a domain name doesn’t mean you’re a blogger.

If you’re dedicated and passionate about what you’re posting, you rise above that level of just posting anything for the sake of posting. It takes on a life of its own and becomes something more to you. You do it because it’s now a part of you and who you are so you have to be more professional with it because it’s a reflection of you, and you really have to keep up appearances in this game. Otherwise, you’re just someone with a computer running off at the mouth and no one will take you seriously (i.e. no $$$, or no serious $$$).

But for the serious blogger, it’s really not even about the $$$. Is it?

What’s sad is that non-bloggers and old media types aren’t the only ones trying to discredit/discourage bloggers, it’s other bloggers, too! Not quite sure why because there’s enough to go around. Believe it or not: no two blogs are alike…even if they have same or similar content. Firstly, you shouldn’t steal, but you’re bound to have the same basic info because everyone is pretty much trying to outdo everyone else and if you think publicists, artists and such only send info exclusively to you, you’re an idiot! They don’t care about you. What they care about is ensuring their name is out there, and right now, the best method is via blogs. Secondly, each blog has its own unique style. So you may read about the same celebrity on numerous blogs, but the style will be different. For example, you may have a blog who’s pretty much just straight-forward with the info: Celeb did something on this day at this place. ConcreteLoop is that sort of blog. We pretty much just give you the info, and you share your thoughts on it. But you have someone like Crunk + Disorderly who puts their thoughts in the content (also hilarious, by the way), and it reads altogether differently. It’s not like there’s beef between the two blogs because they represent two different areas of black entertainment blogs. The problem arises when one blog tries to flip and reverse its style to match another’s. You not only alienate readers you already have. You also run the risk of losing the readers you gained because they thought you were gonna be like that other blog when they realize you’re truly not.

In other words, just do what works for you and stick with it. Consistency is key in this business. And yes, it is a business. But businesses can do good and do well (DGADW). That means it’s okay to link to other blogs and it won’t hurt you to use your webspace for a good cause. In fact, you may attract a new crowd to your site that may have never even heard of it. So that’s sorta quid pro quo, I guess. After all, we’re really all in this together.

For the most part, old media turns its nose up at us so it really doesn’t help if we’re at it. Unfortunately, most haven’t realized that old media is dead and they’re still clinging on to it for dear life. Blogs have taken over. It should have been an indication when magazines, newspapers and the like threw up companion sites, but who would’ve thought it? Now their print formats are defunct, and many are relying on web versions. It was recently announced Portfolio.com would be such a case. The magazine, launched in April ‘07, closed in April. But the site will now be run by American City Business Journals. The site has over 2M monthly visitors.

Looks like someone understands the power of the web, blogs, etc.

Post Title Download: Amos Lee – “Listen” from Last Days at the Lodge

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Those who can’t afford to eat healthier food options eat what they can afford and it’s often crap, having little or no nutritional value and offering hundreds of unnecessary calories. Alternatively, those who can afford to eat healthy still waste money on crap because they’ve become so accustomed to its taste, and although it may taste good, it doesn’t mean it’s good for you.

If healthy food items were more readily available (and affordable), I think more people would choose to eat healthy because of the benefits of doing so.

Check out the following video from Nutrition by Natalie for tips on ways to eat better without breaking the bank.

Post Title Download: Common -- “The Food” from Be

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So, it’s finally happened. Kwame Kilpatrick has resigned as mayor of Detroit.

It’s about damn time.

I have been waiting for this day for quite a while. Why, you ask? Because Kwame Kilpatrick was making us look bad.

Who, exactly, is ‘us’?

‘Us’ refers to the young people in the political and public service arenas, black people across the nation and men around the world.

Yes, it is that serious; Kwame Kilpatrick, you are a disgrace.

Elected at the age of 31 in 2001, Kilpatrick was the youngest mayor in the history of the eleventh largest city in the country, Detroit. He had previously served as Michigan House Democratic Leader, the first black person to do so.

While in the Michigan Legislature, Kilpatrick used his influence to funnel state grant money to two organizations run by friends of his who agreed to subcontract work to U.N.I.T.E., a company owned by Kilpatrick’s wife, Carlita.

In early 2005, Kilpatrick admitted that instead of using the city’s funds to improve it, he leased a vehicle for his family and charged over $220,000 on a city credit card to pay for travel, meals and entertainment. Later that year, TIME listed him as one of the three worst big-city mayors in the United States.

That should have been an indication of things to come, but as they say, hindsight is always 20/20.

In January 2008, The Detroit Free Press examined and revealed the existence of more than 14,000 text messages exchanged between Kilpatrick and his high school classmate and chief of staff Christine Beatty on their city-issued SkyTel pagers in 2002 and 2003. It was during this time of the alleged Manoogian Mansion party, the murder of Tamara Greene and two police officers who claimed they were fired because of an investigation on the mayor.

Both Kilpatrick and Beatty denied they were involved in an extramarital affair during the whistleblower trial, and the officers were awarded $6.5 million in damages.

On March 18, 2008, the Detroit City Council passed a non-binding resolution asking for Kilpatrick to resign, citing 33 reasons why he should step down. Less than a week later, criminal charges were filed against Kilpatrick and Beatty, and an ongoing battle ensued between the city council who wanted him to resign and the mayor who repeatedly refused to do so. That is, until yesterday.

Oh, happy day!

Kilpatrick submitted his letter of resignation yesterday, and as part of his plea deal, he’ll lose his law license, serve 120 days in jail, spend five years on probation, not be able to run for office for five years and pay $1 million in restitution to the city.

I guess I have to accept that, although I would have preferred he not be able to hold public office ever again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

After he does his time, Kwame should devote his attention to helping rebuild the community and his family. He nearly destroyed both, so it’s important that he concentrate his efforts on trying to redeem himself…not that he’ll ever be able to.

He made us all look bad.

Post Title Download
Macy Gray – “Finally Made Me Happy” (ft. Natalie Cole) from Big

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Contrary to what BET and its parent company, Viacom, would have you believe: not all black people are concerned with bling, booties and booze.

BET is one of the many causes of continued racial division in America today. While it purports to support black culture, it’s instilling the idiotic ideas that plague the black community like cancer. In fact, BET is the antithesis of black culture and negates and nullifies everything our ancestors were, and is rightfully referred to and recognized as nothing more than a minstrel show supporting stereotypical views of blacks, instilling bad grammar and, in the end, doing much more harm than good.

It is for that reason that I had no intention of checking out BET’s new show, The Truth, when I first heard about it.

In response to Bob Johnson’s remarks back in April, I wrote him a letter:

Mr. Johnson, why is it that BET never granted the black community with the opportunity to have meaningful discussion surrounding presidential elections?

Now, it seems, you want to speak your mind and tell us all how you really feel (which you have every right to do). But, why didn’t you make that happen some time ago so we all could have shared in the discussion?

Some time ago, Forbes Magazine named your company one of the “best” small businesses in America, but in my eyes, it has become one of the worst. Your communications empire could have made a difference…well, a positive one.

I don’t have an issue with you because you bash Sen. Barack Obama. My issue with you is that you’re an opportunist: Geraldine Ferraro made that statement [early March]. Why are you only now adding your two cents?

I admire a sound business mind, but Mr. Johnson I do not admire you nor do I support any of your endeavors. Some might ask, “Well, who are you, J. Dakar?” or better yet, “Who do you think you are?” And, right now, I can both respect and accept that. But one day, I will be in a position where I can and will make my voice heard and I promise you that I’ll use it for good…unlike you. Additionally, right now, many others share my sentiments regarding you, Mr. Johnson, and the company you founded.

FYI: I loathe BET and everything in which it stands because it could have been so much more. You, Mr. Johnson, could have been so much more…

Peace and blessings,
J. Dakar

I never heard from Mr. Johnson or anyone at any of the RLJ Companies, for that matter. However, I couldn’t help but think that The Truth might have been what I wanted. So I watched it this weekend.

I (somewhat) commend BET for its effort, but its delivery definitely leaves much to be desired. Why is this show only 30 minutes on a Friday night? You do want people to watch it, don’t you? Or do you? It’s as if BET is saying, “Okay, we’ll give you something worth actually watching, but we’re going to air it when we know nearly no one’s watching. Why? Because we can…and we’re all idiots.” On top of that, one half-hour of “consciousness” does not make up for years of idiocy.

I will say that I enjoyed the show, and I’ll probably check out next week’s episode. But I still loathe BET. If that is to change, you’re gonna have to continue to do better, BET. Keep trying.

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En Vogue – “Too Gone, Too Long” from EV3

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“We as black men have failed the young brothers in the streets, in the schools, and in the home. We have failed them as fathers, mentors, role models, educators, and community leaders. We have failed to show them what it means to be a man, and what it means to be a black man in America. We have failed to provide a counter balance to the negative influence of mass media stereotypes, the glamour of the gangsta rap videos, the lure of the drug ‘game’, and the allure of the so-called ‘thug life’.

How many black men actually have full-time careers educating, uplifting, and empowering black males? How many black men pursue careers in education, and then teach in inner-city schools? How many black men start fraternal organizations to fellowship with other black males of diverse socio-economic backgrounds? How many black men operate community service organizations to exclusively serve the needs of underserved black male youth and adults? Not many, and definitely not enough.

It’s common knowledge (or should be) that boys follow behind men, and do what they see men do. Therefore, when black men act like they care, young black males will act like they care. When black men start engaging young black males as fathers, mentors, role models, educators, and community leaders, then young black males will start engaging other black males in the same manner.

When black men step up to the plate and do what they are supposed to do, then young black males will naturally follow.”
- Mike Jones, Founder and Executive Director of Black Men Rising
( Props to Black Gives Back )

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This man speaks the truth!!1

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“I had to question why this society continues to be so fixated on making black men the sexual “animals” of this culture. This society has always conceptualized black males in demeaning physical terms – the stud with unlimited sexual prowess, for example – and so much so that many of these young men seem to have internalized a warped sense of their own humanity.”

I read an interesting article this morning by Rhonda Sherrod, an assistant professor of psychology at Alabama A&M University. I was instantly reminded of Hung: A Meditation on the Measure of Black Men in America, a book I’d read a couple of years ago.

It’s a thought-provoking piece in which the author, Scott Poulson-Bryant, talks honestly and tells secrets about the black phallus and its massive impact on America. The title alone is brilliant: ‘hung’ is a double entendre, referring not only to the black man’s penis, but also the fact that, as Poulson-Bryant put it, “once upon a time we were hung from trees for being well hung.”

After reading Hung, I picked up on not-so-subtle attempts to describe black people as nothing more than sex objects. My mom told me about a former female coworker of hers (who happens to be white) and her boyfriend (also white) who told her that the black waitress at a restaurant they were dining in was “beautiful” and then added that “black women were made for sex”. Not only is that disrespectful to an entire race of women, but to mention it in the presence of his girlfriend is even more so.

I’m also reminded of a Rolling Stones song by the name of “Some Girls” that reports “black girls just wanna get fucked all night, I just don’t have that much jam.”

Is this really what the world thinks of black females?

We can’t forget black males.

The Mandingo image being perpetuated in pop culture certainly doesn’t help. Ever been to a Mandingo party?

Back in the day, there was a site, halfhonk.com and I’m not sure if the owner came up with this or not, but I remember it being mentioned that “it’s a one of a kind thing, it’s a halfhonk…and remember girls, he’s black where it counts.”

I refuse to believe that that is all it means to be a black man — having a big, black penis.

I, myself, am a young, virile, black male, but I am not a walking phallic symbol whose only thoughts resonate sexual urges and tendencies and I refuse to be reduced to being a black man solely because of what hangs between my legs.

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