CDBurns

Show me where I offended you and I will apologize. You continue to sneak in underhanded comments under the guise of Hotep. Your statement of ego and low level consciousness is a diss. You know that. I have nothing to apologize for because I at no time talked about your ego, level of intelligence, ability to earn, and I did not disrespect your religion/philosophy. This is all you've done to me, but you drop hotep as if you have done nothing wrong. Thank you for the greetings of peace and happiness, etc. I wish you well also. There isn't any ill will here simply discussion and analysis on my end as well as questions. These things empower people to me. That's not for you. You do you, and keep it moving. If you show me where I offended you, if I called you out of your name or disrespected you WITHOUT REASON, then I have no problem apologizing. As I said above, I am no longer questioning you. I also said if you continue to diss that I will question you. Finally and I repeat, no man, no woman, no one can tell anyone to move or enter a higher level of consciousness. You have violated your own laws however: 29. I have not judged hastily. Your initial question against Troy 9. I have not uttered evil words. Your statement that I would fail and never succeed. 18. I have not set my lips in motion (against any man). Every statement that said I hate or don't support my people. 28. I have not stirred up strife. Once again your initial statement that started this whole thing. 35. I have not spoken scornfully. Ego and low level consciousness 30. I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern You overstep when you assume someone else's level of consciousness You need to come to terms with your own philosophy and way of life. I'm cool.

My advice to you and in support of you, do your research before disrespecting people so you don't have to apologize. When utilizing speaking points that are based on the assumption that I don't uplift Black people, or that I'm not Black enough because I do not subscribe to any religious or philosophical belief that places one person above another, or more specifically one that establishes Blacks as the creators of all things, don't use White owned companies to support your idea of higher level entrepreneurship. My final advice on this is to look in the mirror and ask yourself honestly have you done a good job of presenting your own philosophy and explaining the benefits to the readers here. The first step in creating peace and uplifting people is self analysis. I question myself on a daily basis in order to create the next step to improve myself. As I improve myself, I am able to give to others the tools I've used to become a better person. I have three business books available. In all of these books I explain that I make mistakes and that if I hadn't made those mistakes I could not have moved from nothing to something. I suggest to you that when you begin to question someone, question them without bias and judgement. Support with facts and evidence so that the next person is empowered when they have to speak on the subject. In NG&E there is a philosophy of each one, teach one. You build by challenging or asking someone to drop science. In Christianity the disciples questioned Jesus, this gave them the ability to spread his word without faltering. In Islam Muhammad even questioned God's revelation and had to be supported by Kadhijah. In Buddhism Siddhartha questioned everything and this is what led to the 4 Noble Truths and Nirvana. Sikhs broke from Hindus. My reason for bringing this up, because I know you are going to say that all of these religions were born of Kemet and are flawed in some way, is because in any delivery of information from the informed to the uninformed examples and explanations must be given as to why a person should choose. Once those reasons and explanations are given, then a person has free will to choose whatever philosophy they want. If the practice of Kemetic philosophy is that you only give the reasons to choose Kemetic Philosophy and then it is up to the person to choose, I respect that and I won't question you on it anymore. But don't expect me to not challenge you when your philosophy calls into question my blackness and ability to uplift people. You have no idea what I've done for my people and what I've sacrificed. Consciousness... a person who is conscious realizes that explaining and asking someone to become conscious is a fallacy. You are either aware or unaware and no one, not you or me, or anyone can tell someone else that they have attained a higher level or any level of consciousness.

In order to get the next group of people to accept what you are doing you have to give examples. Make up your mind. You said Troy isn't an entrepreneur. You said I can't understand the philosophy and this is what will make me fail. You said I own nothing. You said that, I didn't say that about you until you wouldn't give me any examples of how Kemetic philosophy has created your wealth. You still haven't explained to me what wealth or ownership you have. You still fall back on your access to wisdom as the road to enlightenment without showing how Kemet cures mental poverty or poverty in general. I attack you because you attacked us for not being Black enough or African enough. Your initial question of how Troy can empower Blacks while celebrating Christmas was an attack and you carried that attack into saying that we aren't entrepreneurs and we don't empower Black people and what's worse you have said we don't love ourselves... how disrespectful is that? I never said you don't love yourself or that you were wrong or that you would fail, or that you don't have integrity. You did this. Every post I made, go back and look, every post, I said I would love to share your work with other people, or something to that effect. What is high level entrepreneurship? You said Oprah, Lynda.com and Apple! There are more people that will attain what I've attained than will ever, ever reach the status of Apple, or Lynda.com. Why wouldn't you tell people, "Go look at Troy Johnson founder of AALBC as a successful model of entrepreneurship that supports the Black community." Why wouldn't you say that to people you know? What's worse is that instead of saying http://financialjuneteenth.com/category/fjt-university/ as the example for schools for improving Black financial literacy you give us a White owned company! Dr. Boyce Watkins even has a school with Dame Dash that you could promote, but you choose a White company when you are supposedly uplifting Black people. Do you see how dangerous this is. That's why it's necessary for me to bring up another brother of the Kemetic Philiosophy because this is not Facebook. What is written here will be here until the internet disappears. It is indexed and searchable through web engines. If the last word on Kemetic Philiosphy is your weak justification of it, that hurts the movement. I'm not even a part of it and I know this. If you don't get this, brother, you need to dig a lot deeper into your philosophy and discover something Black and attainable as evidence of how Kemet helps us become better, financially secure people.

Oh Sara, you didn't miss out. I still have about 80 pair in inventory so tell your friends and everybody interested in some nice, stylish, footwear to check out the link and the shoes: http://www.arch-usa.com/refresh-fall-colors-arch-tr-114-caramel-shadow/ I'm working on a new line of shirts and shoes if these are gone by February. Tell us something that you have that we can support.

LOL, that's what I thought. You don't realize how bad you make Hoteps look when you can't counter with real visible information about the culture you profess to be the beginning and the end of all things. There is an amazing brother here in Memphis who utilizes the Kemetic philosophies. His name is Terrance SetepenRa Wilson https://www.facebook.com/terrance.s.wilson?fref=photo. He is one of the most informed and knowledgeable brothers I've had the pleasure of reading work by and supporting, although I have never once met this brother in person. We both are very active in our own ways in the city. I wish I could do more to help him. As it stands I've donated small amounts to him and whenever possible I share whatever he is working on. Here is one of his websites he helps to organize for the RBG Memphis chapter: www.rhinosnation.com This is a business program that empowers the African American community. This brother holds weekly meetings through Rhino's Nation and has also established a project: www.menneferproject.com This project is meant to deliver the teachings of Kemet to what is established as the Fertile Crescent(Kush) capitol of Memphis (Mennefer) in the US. He has brought every speaker imaginable to Memphis to speak on Kemetic wisdom and philosophies. On top of that the brother hosts a Feed the Homeless Sunday every month where he feeds and clothes homeless Memphians. I bring him up as an anti-YOU. You are the type of dude who fucks up movements with delivering half assed theories without support. I need to get him to come here and explain what and why Kemet is important to offset the damage you have done on this public forum to the movement. The questions I asked are questions I always ask of people. None of them were confrontational or about debate. They all were open ended questions allowing you to share your websites and information to support your position. It was all meant to reinforce what you are doing. Instead you avoided and gave nothing. It's important that although I don't share the same philosphies I give the people who may be reading this proof that Kemetic philosophy is being used to empower without leaving a bunch of White based businesses and Jewish guys as the example. You're right though I can choose to ignore them, but I don't. I support the people doing the work, no matter their religion or philosophy. If you are building up your fellow woman/man you are important and worthy of support.

Man... you just said google Lynda.com, Oprah, Apple... For real? What do any of these things have to do with what you've accomplished with your philosophy? Better yet give me something that isn't propped up by White folks! I gave you my site and link to how much money I've made. I'm now giving you my online videos where I teach business principles http://www.youtube.com/archbyccb I'm waiting on you to show me something!!!!! Here are all of the books I've written: http://www.amazon.com/Christopher-D.-Burns/e/B004WTS8SG/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1435501573&sr=8-3, Here are the two albums I released this year under CBP Music: http://www.tunecore.com/music/cbpmusic, Here is the shoe I released through ARCH this year: http://www.arch-usa.com/refresh-fall-colors-arch-tr-114-caramel-shadow/ Tell me again what I don't own. Better yet shut me down and show me what you own because of your Kemetic principles. I really do need to understand so I can let this go.

Thanks Sara! My wife has a cursing jar and it's filled due to my potty mouth, lol. That video was for a Memphis event and is not attached to my page. It was my first "official" speaking engagement that wasn't in a classroom or for training. My personal Youtube is the second link, this one: www.youtube.com/archbyccb I'm really digging your interaction.

Uh oh... you just said Troy isn't an entrepreneur and that he hasn't created content. Nelson, you just listed white writers on a black literary website, the oldest black literary website and one of the oldest literary websites in the world... run by a Black man. A man who has given voice and space for Black writers, out of his own pocket, for almost 20 years. You just wrote that we won't be successful. Yet you haven't shown us a website or established your own success using these principles that are common knowledge. Now let's just squash what you're doing here. I don't ever do this, but your logic is incredible and without foundation. You won't see anywhere that I've promoted myself or who I am without Troy's permission or as an answer to a question. My name is Christopher D. Burns. I own ARCH one of the only black owned footwear companies in the world. I also own CBP which is a small book publishing imprint, and music label and a blog with over 400 blog entries/content (the same amount can be found on ARCH). Both companies generate money, but instead of telling you how much I make I am going to give you a link to my investment page for ARCH (which needs to be updated) but it shows how much money I made from 2012 to 2014 which is right 1.3 million dollars. I can also give you CBPs income as well if you like. http://www.arch-usa.com/arch-investment/ Scroll down to the bottom of the page and add up the totals in the SHIPPED PRODUCT SALES list. This 2015 I've earned right at about 350K. I don't expect anyone else to drop their personal info in here, but I'm doing so to establish that what you are saying is extremely biased, uninformed and without validation. I was bankrupt in 2007. Had a car repossessed and didn't have a job, and had a baby on the way. As a professor I'm well versed in research about Kemet, but also literature in general. I didn't buy into that garbage about the universe giving you what you want in the Secret, but if it's what you believe I do agree that you can manifest, but without a plan and some direction you can align with the universe and still be broke as fuck. Instead of relying on the Secret, I wrote my own book. I'm now spending my time giving anybody willing to listen what I did and how I failed and succeeded my story so they can avoid going through what I went through and still go through. Last year I lost 150,000 dollars. I talk about this in my video series as well. Now, I'm glad you responded, but you need to really give us something that shows your name, who you are and what you've done for people before you call out a guy/man/Troy who gave me my "start" in promoting my work and literally broke over 50% of the books you probably read and support written by Black writers. Until you do more than fall back on the rhetoric of not being challenged, your words mean nothing.

Sara, I wrote this to Nelson so you are right. I said the exact same thing. What I wanted to know is why there is such a strong attachment to connecting African Americans/Blacks to Kemet as a source of pride and motivation. Nelson never answered that. He also never left a website for us to check out. The good thing about this message board and message boards hosted by us is that you can present your information, but you will be challenged on your thoughts. Any intellectual should want to be challenged. When I say opinion, I'm not saying that Kemet is not the foundation I'm saying no one knows what any person thought at the dawn of civilization therefore everything can be considered hearsay. None of what I said was to challenge Nelson. It was to allow for the explanation of certain questions that I never seem to be able to get answered from those from this philosophy.

I can only nod my head in agreement with that statement^^^^^ and you know that's hard for me to do. You're right. lol

I already have the seeds... lol. Trust me on that one. At least leave the website/youtube/etc so I can see if you are just talking or if you really are doing the work. I'm sure people reading that might be interested will want to know where to find you.

Sara I peeped it!!!!!! Mind blown. I had no idea and the video where Dutton introduced all of the characters, there really isn't any way that the foundation of the show can be ignored. It's even worse because both creators are from Philly and the idea was pitched to Daniels by the creator. I'm not surprised though. I wrote a book a long time ago. I've never done a very good job of self promotion and my focus has never been on my books, but my book went from San Diego to LA and in the early 2000s a film was made and one of the guys that worked on the film contacted me and said that the idea came from my book. I don't get into specifics, but when I watched the film, I realized that it could have been based on my book. My point is, there isn't any real way for Dutton or Gordon to prove anything since there are multiple Five Heartbeats, Temptations, Dreamgirls movies about music that have been made, but this is just tooooooo obvious though, lol.

Nelson, What you want is acknowledging that Kemetic principles are the foundation of society. Any person who took 7th grade history knows that Olduvai Gorge /Mesopotamia is the place where life began and radiated from...but to say Kemetic ideals is the beginning and the end of empowerment is cultish thinking exactly like each extreme of religion that denies the importance of other developments throughout society.I know the easy response is that since Kush was the first society that anything created afterwards is a copy, but once again this attachment to that train of thought denies accepting other ideas as valid and important enough to be studied on its own.I'm not saying you're wrong or right just that you haven't taught me anything I didn't know and that learning and respecting all creation stories is important. The diversity that exists in the different philosophies and religions makes the world a much more interesting place.Learning and studying any philosophy or religion is empowering with or without acknowledging YOUR understanding as the perceived FIRST.I'd like to see your website and YouTube. If I deem it worth checking out then I will subscribe and share it. If it is more of the same rhetoric I will move on and we can just rap and exchange ideas, but I will keep watching Empire until it sucks and I move on. This won't stop me from being an effective person in society, lol. Entertainment is a great diversion for everyone in moderation...even in the process of nation building. For me, nation building exists in the now, the present. A person can be ignorant of Set, Jesus, Mohammed, whoever but if they understand compassion for humans they are okay in my book. The original intent of this discussion opened the door for dialogue, but if the person who asked Troy, or simply looked up Troy...without bias based on THEIR philosophy, they would have seen that Troy has dedicated the last 20 years of his life to Black folks. Him acknowledging the holidays is not in antithesis to the work he's done in building this platform. I don't even know his personal politics and it doesn't matter. For Hoteps this seems to be all that matters and that is unfortunate. Unless, studying Kemetic philosophy is the gateway for you to discuss and analyze poetry, music and art of other cultures. If this was the case and we could engage in a discussion on a Claude McKay poem without reference to "Kemet" then that's cool and it makes sense. But if your goal is to establish that Kemet is the the beginning and end of everything, to me that doesn't make sense. A person who thinks there is nothing without Kemet should leave the internet and use those concepts of Kemet to create the Kemet internet and discuss all things Kush using only tools created for and by those who think similarly... I do have a few final questions because you are open to discussion, why is it that Black Americans are the only people that seem so attached to the concept of Kemetic religion? Why aren't the people who live in that region forging this same connection? I get that this area was invaded and colonized as all areas in Africa were, but what is the need to so directly connect yourself to Egypt/Kush/Kemet? Is there any attachment to the amazing history that we have created out of oppression in this country? Isn't it much easier to teach people who they were in this country first and learn the history of the African in America first since that is a more direct method of establishing pride and knowledge of self? Hasn't what we've done here in literature and art enough to establish the genius of Black Americans?

Thanks for responding. It is not easier to say it is Kemet because it is not. I don't think there is anyway to connect Shango, Elegba, etc to Egyptian Ideology and Kemetic principles. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. Ifa exists as the root for people of this region. Combining it with Egypt is somewhat disrespectful. But that's neither here or there. In regard to studying and disregarding Hip-Hop/Rap music as a waste of time, Charles 13X could be considered the founder of Hip-Hop in many ways since it is his philosophy and way of life that has contributed so much to the culture. The 5% Nation of Islam (Gods and Earths) has saved more brothers from the streets and given more brothers knowledge of self than any Kemetic principle has in my opinion. So dissing rap and saying it's a waste undercuts your own attempt at bringing people into the fold. Now in regard to your position on following those steps at the bottom, those steps could work for a kid watching Empire. As a matter of fact it might work a lot faster since the kid would have a built in base, or an adult would have a built in fanbase that doesn't isolate your context to a specific group of people. But here is what is interesting, it takes a certain amount of time to do all of these things you list from step 1 to 7 and if you replace the word Kemetic literature, with Black literature, following those steps might lead to success and income no matter the topic. So while it is good advice, it is good advice about any topic not just Kemetic literature. What you are doing is akin to what Baptist preachers do when they rape the neighborhood every week. "Give all you have at the alter of this course of study and you will gain blessings." It's the exact same approach and it creates confused and misguided people who end up lost when Kemetic principles, the church, (insert your philosophy and religion) is pushed as the only "Way" and that course of study doesn't fulfill someone's goals and dreams. I admire when someone understands and knows their philosophy. I think it's respectable. What isn't respectable is thinking that your way is the right way. There is no one method, there are only options and people have the right to study whatever they choose and to pursue whatever path they want to become enlightened. If it happens through Kemetic science, cool. If it is through Buddhishm, cool. If it's through NG&E, cool. As long as it isn't destructive and divisive it's cool. I tend to think this is a pretty good way of life: respecting all forms of knowledge and understanding. I've done pretty well with this train of thought.

Cynique is right in her statement. What I need to understand is why the attachment to Kemet and not Yoruba, Ibo, Ibibio, Ghana, Ivory Coast? I have to think that it's because it's not as pretty and clean. In regard to not going very far, I wouldn't ever say that to someone that I don't know. I'm pretty well versed in a lot of things, I simply choose not to attach my lineage to Kemet/Egypt or East Africa since I know that my family tree extends to West Africa. In my opinion knowledge is the key to confidence and it is far more important for me to understand things I admire and things that make me money. Culture is something I admire and it covers literature, art, and music. I also admire sports and sneakers. Because I dig these things I learn about them. They inform my thoughts and opinions and whether they make me money or not, I dig them. Now, the knowledge I have on money to me has helped me to accomplish more than I did at any time in my life. Knowledge allows me to earn. If I could earn based on Kemetic principles then I would focus more on it, but it doesn't earn me anything so it is simply something I like to study and talk about from time to time. I just don't understand and I can never get an answer when I ask Hoteps why they don't have the same amount of love for Nommo knowledge and culture. Why are we so caught up on East Africa to prove our self worth as Blacks?

Wow!!!!! I had no idea of that movie trailer above! I knew the industry was cutthroat, but the parallel is too damn obvious for this to be coincidence.

Just to throw my two cents in on this, I'm always slightly amazed at the insight Hoteps (African Americans who identify themselves with Kush/Kemet/Egypt/Fertile Crescent) know about Egyptian history, but completely overlook the Yoruba/Dogon/Nommo as the source of who we are as Blacks in America. That just blows me away but I stay away from the discussion because the only recourse is to call me a sell out for not identifying with East Africa as a Black American. To my knowledge and most of the research, the majority of slaves came from West Africa. This places our lineage primarily in line with those from Ghana, Nigeria, and the countries in these areas. I guess the Egyptian African is more attractive to Hoteps because of the glory and connection to the Bible, but I very rarely hear any of these brothers speak of Ogun, Ifa, etc as the original reference to Blackness. Why is that? In regard to Christmas, who cares? Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Ramadan, etc, who cares? The time of year has been commodified, but if it takes commodifcation for people to put aside their problems and visit family then so be it. If you can get brothers to visit and rap and hang out and enjoy each other's company over ribs, and fatback, and greens, who cares? Whatever brings people together for the celebration of family and giving is cool with me. At the end of the day I care more about the welfare of my fellow man/woman, than judging my fellow man/woman for what they eat or who they worship. I'm a huge supporter of Black business and my religious identity, or lack of it, doesn't shape my support of Blacks. Celebrating Christmas is trivial in the grand scheme of things in my opinion and all of the talk about where the holiday derived from is great for research and information, but ultimately is just additional data for discussing a person's opinion of what they are for or against under the guise of being informed. Even if you didn't know the origin of the holiday you could decide that you don't want to participate, you simply have a pro Egypt reason for not celebrating.

And again your response is to nitpick around what you think makes sense. In a debate/discussion we both choose sides. I chose a side and then delivered points/facts/research to establish that other people also believe that the music moves the people. Your position is that this is nonsense, but I haven't seen an article or research that establishes your position. You only have to refute, not defend. You asked what artist inspired a movement, I gave you an article on James W Johnson. You ignored it. I gave you the "Black Music in My Hands" you dismissed it. I quoted Crouch, you dismissed it. Yet, your position is one that doesn't make sense, while there is research to back what I'm saying. And I'm stating that the idea of acting civil towards other people should not be relegated to when the term came into existence. People have always fought for civility regardless of the "time period". I extended my position on this by explaining that all time periods are given their names after the movement has been given time to be studied. The "Civil Rights" Movement could just as easily been labeled " the Voting Rights movement. The name doesn't matter in how I'm refuting what you are saying. The reason I discussed slavery, the Great Migration, Harlem, Ellison, Motown/Black Swan, Civil Rights and Hip-Hop is because in a debate you have to build to your primary point. My primary point is that music has always created, inspired and sustained every moment in Black history and that the music today is failing to do so. In order to make that point I had to discuss not only Civil Rights, but all aspects of "Black movement". Like I said, you delivered a position that as the black people go, so does the music. I stated that Black music informs, inspires and creates movement. The only difference in what you did and what I did was that I gave something for people reading to study if they choose to. You did not. I would like to put this to bed with a final discussion of a point I raised early in this back and forth. The talking drum. You dismissed my introduction of the talking drum because it is an instrument and not "music". I think this is where the majority of our disagreement takes place. For me the drum is the beginning of all things in African culture. It is so tied into the spirituality in Dogon, Yoruba and other tribal philosophies in West Africa that to remove the drum is to remove the voice of the people. When the drum arrived with the slave in the US it became a part of a series of laws to remove the humanity of Africans. There was a law against teaching slaves to read in 1739 and there was also a law against the talking drum. The removal of the drum was critical to the enslavement of Africans. "And whatsoever master, owner or overseer shall permit or suffer his negro or other slave or slaves, at any time hereafter, or beat drums, blow horns, or use any other loud instruments, or whosoever shall suffer and countenance any public meetings or seatings or strange negroes or slaves in their plantations, shall forfeit 10 current money, for every such offence." This decree was following the Stono Rebllion of 1739. If you don't understand the connection between music and movements from this quote. It's you not me who refuses to accept facts. The reason the Stono rebellion was able to be attempted was because the talking drum and instruments were critical to the plan of the Africans. The music has always been an inspiration and sustaining power in the movement of Blacks. I get that you are saying so goes the people... of course the people come first, but to deny the power and creative influence of music and to say it hasn't created anything is just arguing for the sake of arguing. VF Calverton in 1929 wrote, "The Negro's music and folk art were never purely imitative." (not to rely on a white guy, but this is in response to your statement that music is responsive only. Richard Wright in 1937 wrote, "Black literature could be as original and as compelling as black music and folklore - if it turned to their own vernacular traditions." This is to establish that black music was at the forefront of the Realist Movement in Black Literature. That counters your idea that music doesn't create. (second edition of the Norton Anthology). Henry Louis Gates said, "we have given a prominent place to the black vernacular tradition... because it preceded the tradition of written letters among African Americans. Oral expression, signifying, rap poetry.. in the traditional antiphonal "call and response" ... makes concrete the black tradition's first metaphor." The movements of Blacks is sustained by the revolutionary act of learning to read and write. In studying literature and creating literature the Black was given the ability to be seen as more than 3/5ths or as an animal/property. The first works of literature derived from the oral tradition and songs of Blacks. What do you think?

You're right. Puerto Ricans are given the option of listing their children as White when they are born. I didn't know this until studying Lupe Feliciano of the Last Poets. In a documentary he explained that when he was born his mother had the option of listing him as White like all Puerto Ricans are given.

Ah ha! I see what you are doing. You are conveniently leaving out the points to strengthen your position. 1. In the above post I used quotes around both began and civil. I also stated this is loose. Why did I do this? To establish the timeframe and to show that "civil" rights has always existed, beyond just the label assigned by the passage of laws. But you are smart enough to know that. You just ignored it... 2. You said, " YOUR contention that artists make DECISIONS to create black mass movements." which was questioning my statement that artists create movements. But you conveniently ignore that I'm giving both facts, research and a position that I'm attempting to defend. So instead of addressing this statement that I made, " Everyday a person wakes up to fight against the wrongs of society they create the CRM. There are people who sing, write poetry, and those who march and they all are fighters in the struggle," you ignore it to try and show what? I have no idea. Clearly I've said artists create and sustain a couple of times, I also said there is no one point that created the movement. When I say artists must create the movement, I mean that if Black Lives Matter is to take root and sustain that music must support it. But I've said this a number of times and you ignored that as well. 3. "You keep impeaching yourself with your own words." No I keep giving instances were music/artists helped to contribute to the multitude of small events that created the CRM. Once again though you know that's what I'm doing... but what amazes me is I've asked you to give an example where music didn't help sustain the movement and you have ignored that as well and not once have I seen any research or articles to defend your "position". 4. "I'm leaving this discussion because you clearly have no intention of being confused by the facts." You should leave this one. You know why? Because throughout every section I've written I've given facts and research from Bernice Reagon, to Stanley Crouch, to an analysis of how art has created literature and music that has informed ideas and movement and in my final statement I answered your question about art creating movements by saying No one person woke up and decided to create the Civil Rights Movement. It was a series of actions. But if there was one person who can be considered as the musical moment that inspired and helped sustain the creation of the movement it would be James Weldon Johnson. http://news.wjct.org/post/50-years-civil-rights-act-james-weldon-johnson But once again instead of analyzing the material and offering why you don't think music creates movements and sustains the progress of Black people, you ignore. The above article digs into... nevermind. Like I said, I get it. You have zero interest in presenting a position and actually giving any research to support your position. You are only looking to refute my words with random insertions of "facts" that support nothing because you don't have a position. Unless your position is music doesn't create movements. Which is completely asinine since musical periods studied everywhere are called periods because of the music. Just as literature is broken down into periods, we can only look back on eras and movements and create a title for them. This means that the time period where this entire discussion began (Hip-Hop) has not existed long enough to say that there is a movement that arose from this music (although Hip-Hop itself was born of the issues in post civil rights America). That may be my only flaw in this discussion, but as it stands I can counter this by establishing like I have that the Reagan/Crack era had songs that attempted to inform us, but that moment was shut down by popular rap. The HEAL/Self Destruction/LA Peace Treaty was all Hip-Hop based, but was shut down by the influx of gangsta rap so those moments died. Now there is another situation upon us that really never left, police brutality and gang violence, and the only music being created is overshadowed by dance music and unintelligible rap music in the mainstream. My main point has been and remains this, if Hip-Hop doesn't create music that empowers us as well as entertain, any movement or moment of improvement will have a very hard time staying in the public eye. The only thing that might alleviate the need for music to do what it's always done in the Black community is the speed at which content can be shared, but even that is flawed as Steve Harvey and R Kelly have dominated social media more than Chicagoans shutting down the shopping season. I really do think we are done. It was good to do this because it definitely created discussion and that is empowering.

Civil Rights Movement "began" around 1950. This is a loose range since "civil" rights began as soon as Blacks were enslaved and people began to fight for freedom and equality. Because you have chosen to ignore the fact that the music both generates, sustains and inspires action maybe you won't continue to ignore the number of reading selections I've quoted that analyze this discussion we are having. Maybe you will see that all of the music of Black people led to, inspired and sustained the actions of Blacks. Just as people fought for their rights, they were also inspired and motivated and sustained by music and this bond is so evident... I don't know how you could sound so intelligent and completely ignore this fact. Your question is What Artist Woke Up and Decided to Create the CRM? That may be one of the most incredible questions posed ever. Everyday a person wakes up to fight against the wrongs of society they create the CRM. There are people who sing, write poetry, and those who march and they all are fighters in the struggle. Your question "what artist woke up and decided", is indeed a strange and somewhat silly question. " In DuBois’ classic book, “The Souls of Black Folk,” in the chapter titled “Sorrow Songs,” he writes about the religious melodies that were created by Southern slaves and how those songs spoke of justice and a perception that slave and master would one day meet, with the old realities tossed aside, and that their meeting would be as equals." “Oh Freedom” for instance, and study the words, they reveal the resolve of the throngs of African slaves in North America. The song starts with: “Oh Freedom, Oh Freedom, Oh Freedom over me, and before I be a slave, I’ll be buried in my grave…” These words speak of a fighting spirit and history attests to this." http://workers.org/2006/us/music-0209/ The song What Did I Do to Be So Black & Blue inspired one of the greatest books in the history of literature (Ellison's Invisible Man) and a definite book that was written to discuss the problem of being Black in America. The song was written in 1929: 'Cause you're black, Folks think you lack They laugh at you, And scorn you too, What did I do, to be so Black And Blue? When you are near, they laugh and sneer, Set you aside and you're denied, What did I do, to be so Black And Blue? How sad I am, each day I feel worse, My mark of Ham seems to be a curse! How will it end? Ain't got a friend, My only sin Is my skin. What did I do, to be so Black And Blue? Ellison was a musician first. You know that right? How is this not music creating a movement? http://www.pbs.org/jazz/classroom/blackandblue.htm I'm making sure to give you something to look at because you clearly have something disconnected. Motown Records was founded in 1959, but before than was Black Swan Records: http://www.blackpast.org/aah/black-swan-records-1921-1923 How do you NOT connect the recording of Black music to the Civil Rights movement? How is the act of creating music NOT a revolutionary act? How do you fix your mind to ask what artist didn't contribute to the creation of the Civil Rights Music. Do you think that little of art and its importance in the Black community? No one person woke up and decided to create the Civil Rights Movement. It was a series of actions. But if there was one person who can be considered as the musical moment that inspired and helped sustain the creation of the movement it would be James Weldon Johnson. http://news.wjct.org/post/50-years-civil-rights-act-james-weldon-johnson I do think we are done here because as of right now, it's much easier for you to write one sentence responses based on your opinion than for you to offer any real evidence that music is not at the forefront of the liberation of Blacks in America and that the failure of music to support and build Blacks up hasn't hurt Black folks.

I've only seen the first Star Wars and bits and pieces of the Khan Star Wars. They were both handle in a better way, but I think that's because the characters where the same. It was a reboot vs an addition to the series like this Star Wars. I do agree that it was a bit low on the intelligence quota, but to be honest the kids are the ones who have maintained the storyline by watching the Clone Wars cartoons. I think the film had to be simple because it could have become confusing had they taken the story in a new direction without establishing the new players.

I'm in the 2%, lol but I did say the tool. That's kinda crazy.

Touche' I was implying that the music has not supported and does not help the current movement the entire time without saying directly that the music undercuts. Which is why I have been saying since I've started writing that the music initiates, and sustains a movement. You and I actually agree though because like you've said, "What movement?" There isn't one and there won't be one until the artists decide to create the movement. All of this ties back into my statement that music is a case of the chicken and the egg. Does the music create change, or does change create the music? This is the foundation of our discussion. I say the music creates the change, you say no. I've given you articles that support my position so I don't stand on just my opinion. You decided that someone elses research doesn't matter and that they are also wrong. Crouch is wrong, Reagon is write, but it's not quite the same in your opinion. You can feed a baby all day and the baby will be full, but not nurtured. If you sing, or read, to a baby the baby becomes empowered and learned, so go ahead keep relying on the idea that food nurtures and creates, but art and music doesn't. Feed the people all day and you just have belly's full, but as Bob Marley said, they will still be hungry. As far as being a soldier, sailor, military person or any person who fights a war, music is always in the process of training. In the military we were awakened by music and we went to sleep to music. We could only march and keep time to a cadence (music) and we could run and train in silence while we PTd, but you better believe PT was made easier by songs. I wasn't sure if you wanted to continue, but I've written a lot which is why I said I'm done... but obviously I'm not, lol. Let's try this one on for size since music doesn't create action. Walk into a party and turn on classical music and watch the movement. Walk into a party and turn on Three 6 Mafia and watch what happens. Music generates action. It always has and always will. Here is a final point of reference that speaks to how music can create movements, I'm sure you will say the people went into action first and then the song came, but that's semantics: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21143345 "It may be cheesy and too popular for consideration, but maybe Band Aid's Feed the World (1984) is important for just that reason. Until the song was released, with its videos of starving children, the plight of millions of African families was seen as just a footnote in the news. Live Aid generated revenue, but it was the song which caught people's imagination and made us realise that famine abroad was a problem for all of us to fight, not just the people suffering. The response to other subsequent disasters has been markedly different to before, and millions have benefitted as a result." Jamie, Aylesbury, UK Excellent discussion and while your points are short and concise in response to they are valid and honest. If I look at this from a philosophical standpoint music simply is. It doesn't do anything except create sound. People walk and talk and fight and love. The people create movements that change things. My problem is that there hasn't been a movement to help build Blacks up in a very long time and I don't see one coming to change anything. What I do believe is that when artists begin to create songs that empower, we become a stronger people. If there was more of this in mainstream Hip-Hop things would change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtDTgYPVe98

Just as an addition to everything stated the guest poster said, " You can sing until the cows come home, but unless you go out and kill that steer, or buy that steak at a grocery story, you WILL go hungry. First get the meat, THEN sing praises to how you got it. Artists are important, but it is the foot soldier who does the grunt work that will free us NOT the guy blowing the bugle." Have you never realized the guy blowing the bugle actually initiates the war? Or that because Blacks weren't allowed jobs that entertainment DID feed them? It's funny, hunters often use musical instruments to initiate the hunt, but you are refusing to acknowledge how our music today has completely undercut the movement and has failed the people. I know I keep saying I'm done, but the more I think about the last forty years the more I realize how the music was killed off and our situation got worse. During the Crack era/Reagan Era there were songs like Crack Killed Applejack, White Lines, White Horse, The Message that warned people of the dangers of cocaine, but the voices then rapping where pushed to the side for the boasting form of rap from Def Jam. The Message was replaced by My Adidas. Later in the 80s The Self Destruction Movement and Human Education Against Lies attempted to start changing things and then the LA Peace Treaty was formed because of Hip-Hop, instead of the music supporting and maintaining both of these movements were crushed by the West Coast "G" thang music of the early 90s and since that time there hasn't been mainstream music in support of Black empowerment at all. The closest we've come to the mainstream using music to empower... hasn't come. You say once the movement gets started then the music will come, but it hasn't. How many more Blacks have to be gunned down by cops before we have the artists get together to create songs like "Change Gon Come"? If the music follows the movement, where is the music. If you can explain to me where it is, then maybe I can move on.