Last month, LBoogie and I relocated to the Austin, TX area. We've been busy with numerous other projects which has necessarily taken away important time from adding new content to the blog. Making the transition to a new city also requires becoming familiar with not just its local hip-hop, but the nuances of Austin and Texas in terms of how it sees itself, what it has developed out of, and the independent contributions it is making.
Related to this, a couple of weeks ago, I met an MC by the name of James Price who attended the Citizen Review Panel held by the Austin "rainbow coalition" for the slaying of Nathan Sanders and near-fatal shooting of Sir Smith by Austin police last May. When it was James' turn to speak he spit a rap about the racism of the ATX police and police in general, the tradition of black revolt, and the need for people of color to unite in struggle against white supremacy. I've included the video from it below. We spoke for a few minutes afterward and I look forward to building with him more.
One point worth noting that you'll hear in the video is James referring to J. Edgar Hoover as a "homo." While Hoover's sexual orientation has historically been questionable at best, I raised the point to him that queer people of color are both murdered by pigs and fight against them. A successful struggle against white supremacy can't be waged without queer folks. Anyhow, James Price's rhymes speak to the natural intersection of political struggle and hip-hop.
After some initial observations living here for a month, the tensions between the police/city gov't and the black community are as aggravated and as tense as I had seen in New Orleans, if not more so.
And here's the dash cam murder of Sanders and shooting of Smith. Heads up, it will make you fuckin sick.
This is despicable. For the umpteenth time: Fuck the police. Good post even though I hate it. But just one thing, using pigs as a derogatory term for cops is speciesist and speciesism=racism=sexism.
ReplyDeleteno disrespect to anyone of any sexuality. comment only designated for hoover and his homo tatics to destroy a civilization
ReplyDeleteWhat are "homo tactics"?
ReplyDeleteI know you say you mean no disrespect, but when you associate "homo" or queer identity with a racist who was instrumental in repressing the liberation struggles of people of color, women & queer folks...well, then I can't help but feel disrespected.
Clarity always helps conversation. Maybe you can expand on your comment?
meaning i have no prob with homosexuality but the tatics to destroy. Im to open-minded to be disrespectful. there are people out here who really aim to disrespect same sex. im not that person. if you are offendend, i apologize.
ReplyDeleteGreat piece James. I'm glad someone's speaking out about this bullshit.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your clarification about the homosexuality thing. The only thing homo about those tactics to destroy is their homophobia. Most of the same cops, prison guards, FBI agents, klansmen and neonazis who hate Black people also hate gays, lesbians, and transgender folks. This kind of police brutality happens all the time to gay folks, especially when they're both gay and Black. All the more reason why we've all gotta unite to fight back against these murderers. Strength in numbers. That's what folks did in the 60s - queer people rioted at Stonewall and then built the Gay Liberation Front and worked in coalition with the Black Panthers to organize against the pigs.
What's up, PAS? Nice to see folks in Sweden reading the blog. How's the hip-hop out there? I see your autoworkers are getting their asses kicked like ours here. It's too bad. We need a new workers movement. Bad.
ReplyDeleteThis I realize and if you listen to any other music selection of mine, I do not speak of that type of rhetoric. Thanks for the support in recognizing injustice has no preference. It's selected hate.
ReplyDelete