Instead of Pouring Out Liquor–Wear Black

April 20, 2010 Front Page No Comments

Ever since Tupac Shakur came out with his song “Pour Out A Little Liquor,” many people have come to associate this practice with what he rapped about in this song, which was the death of his homies. At one point, this fad had especially become popular in underserved communities of color, because Pac was so influential.

Well, during past week we lost two OG’s who even preceded Pac; and like him, they both rose up from a life of oppression and they spit mad rap, to inspire others through their stories. These OG’s were Benjamin Hooks and Dorothy Height. However, before you get ready to celebrate their lives by reaching for your liquor and popping the cap, let us take it back OG style. You see, both Rev. Hook and Dr. Height were Christian believers, and in their day, you did not commemorate your homies by pouring out liquor, but you did so by draping your home in black. (This was a Victorian tradition that later became an African-American custom.) Although, you may not have enough cloth to drape your home, in honor of Rev. Hooks and Dr. Height, wear something black this week, and when someone asks why you’re dressed that way, take the time to tell them about both of these remarkable persons.

Posted by:

Jabari Paul

Who shall Bell the Cat Now?

April 15, 2010 Front Page No Comments

Have you ever been shook to your core?

Or, experienced a feeling so impactful that it makes your gut wrench?

This was the type of blow that I felt just moments ago. It was as if someone had punched me in my stomach so hard, that it had taken all of my breath away. Huh, huh, huh, I even pant now, as if I just crossed the finish line of a five mile marathon.

The loop of CNN’s Tony Harris plays constantly in my head. “Lady and gentlemen, I am sad to announce the death of civil rights leader, Benjamin Lawson Hooks.” What? Are you serious? Not Mr. Hooks? Not the greatest past President of the NAACP in post-modern history? Not the last living one who helped Thurgood Marshall to develop the NAACP’s famous litigation strategies? Not the one who took the reins of leadership from civil rights great, Roy Wilkins? Tony, you should know better than that; I mean that is not the type of news that you just spring on a brother. How can he be? Mr. Hooks is like the grandfather of the NAACP, and having grown up in that association, that made him like a grandfather to me.