Bomani Armah on the MIchael Baisden show

[420zodiak]

black people talk about guns its cool but we talk about books and land we get in trouble!!!!! we still slaves

[circlethomas]

This is clearly the work of a genius. I'd say more, but I'll feel like a hypocrite until I at least finish one m-f- book.

[MysteriousHizpanik]

guns and butter.

[rbiznezz]

I guess The Isley Brothers' "Fight The Power" isn't timeless (bullshit!) Lol. Baisden & them get my respect for having Bomani on, but they're sound real OFF. Theyre playing OPP by Naughty by Nature on the Michael Baisden show, a song about cheating on your s/o. But there's no cussing in it so its OK right? Content vs verbiage. They need to step their game(s) up.

[rbiznezz]

yo, people still kill me w/ their hypocrisy. besides the fact that noone seems to understand that this song is clearly a satire, a parody of the ridiculous imagery in modern rap videos, i bet Baisden & them consider Chris Rock a genius for his standup act -- which pretty much does exactly what Bomani did. There's a generational bias that prevents them from cutting thru the profanity and get the point. Its set to a beat with cursing, so it CAN'T be redeemable, right? SMH.

[BomaniD]

Download my "New Classic" Mixtape at notarapper(dot)com

-Bomani

[MerryJ3000]

I don't see what the problem with this video is. The point is to read a book. Period. Out of all the dumb videos they show on BET, this one is making a point and it's the one they're mad about?

[BraumSevil]

I honestly think Mr. Armah is a very intelligent man. He has a very serious point, but it is not limited just to the black side of America, it's relevant to ALL sides of America. We need to read. We need to stop wasting our money on "dubs" and other car accessories and get something more permanent...like land. We NEED to raise our children. We NEED to get our shit together. Seriously.

[GDogSamurai]

I am white. I viewed the cartoon as a parody. Although I do not profess to understand black American culture I certainly do not believe that all (or even a significant minority of) black men in America behave as portrayed in the cartoon. It is confusing to me how people can view the cartoon as anything other than socially conscious satire. Bomani is great and should keep creating art.

[brittavacuum]

man they just hatin'

[EatMeImIrish]

everyone needs to take a chill pill.

it's just a video.

plus, they're making a point and i think people are missing that.

they're using the imaging and language to get across to the people today because that's what everyone listens to.

rap with a lot of cursing and sexual content.

if you think THAT was bad, watch some of these rappers music videos.

seriously now..

[rooster752]

The host of the show is completely wrong about how this makes black culture look to other groups. You don't have to be black to understand that this is parodying black culture in order to portray a message of empowering black people. The images he uses are no more offensives than a huge portion of other hip hop videos. There need to be more intelligent rappers like Bomani, the Roots and Del.

[LTru82]

Controversy is exactly what we need to bring the issues up and discuss the literacy issue...the BET (Black Exploitation Network)issue and the comment below me is correct - Black minstrel acts get BET Awards...recognition...and etc. on a regular daily basis. Read-A-Book was a stroke of genius to satirically emphasize the deficiencies in the black community...you go BO!!!!! :))))))))))

[mightyblack1]

BET is a Minstrel Show Network and that new show Somebodies is a waste of time.

[mightyblack1]

We don't need to curse to push a point and BET is a waste land and if any body with a black face who choose to work for those Devils,mean our people no good and that white people run Viacom owns that dump.

[ainjoy]

we don't NEED to curse to make a point, but when people say nicely read a book no one will listen. you have to send messages to people in a manner that they will listen. sadly, people don't want to be preached at. We've been conditioned to think that positive things are "gay" So if you want to say something positive, you have to disguise it. Otherwise, the kind of people who watch BET won't be interested. It sucks, but it's true.

[ballpark4]

children are young humans kids are baby goats get it together.. Only race is Human race everything else is a by product to keep up us bringing up the color diffrence so READ A BO OK

[wrangler34]

stereotypes*

[wrangler34]

These dickheads are mad at his satire but the song is a mock of real life. It's about what steeotypes the black community tends to follow. There are ppl that may not fall into a box label but this is the reality of the hip hop genres problem today. I believe you can have songs that are both good and bad but the realistic good more so then useless content. Too much dumb music in hip hop is the reason why this song exist.

[Bloodsport1]

Stop blaming young kids for their poor choice in life. THe young kids got it from elders. Like Ice Cube said I first heard the word nigga in 1971.

[Kowneyn]

That is true, BET should air black news, do commercials for black business, do family orientied shows, do talk shows that discuss black/american issues. they should stop playing those xrated videos of rap, that glorify gangster and materialistic lifestyle. They feeding poison to the little kids.

[Bloodsport1]

Man I'm tired of people bashing BET. BET did everything you mention but guess what black folks watch Comic View & Videos. BET news and Travis SMiley shows,etc was the lowest rated shows on BET. People need to look in the mirror and change.

[Kowneyn]

Well the problem is, there are no intellectuals in the black community, when you have kids dropping out from high school and listening rap and selling drugs in the corner, of course they wouldn't watch quality programs, they will watch trashy, voilent, graphic videos. But still there are some intellectual black ppl that will enjoy qaulity news and discussion without the "F" word and the "N" word. most of them are college graduates, middle class.

[mdot76]

Kowneyn, you are VERY correct in your statement. However, BET is white-owned; so what do we really think they want to air? Niggaz doing rap and bussin' caps? or Intelligent well spoken, versed and informed men and women of color? BET wasn't always in the state it's in now but since it was handed over to the same people who own MTV what has happened? This is not a coincidence.

[julsam]

B, if you delve into the truth concerning our history of leadership and politics surrounding many of their deaths leads to the realization that many of the so-called black leaders/public figures and organizations are designed to suppress their own. True change always is birthed from the people at the bottom. It appears that many are out of touch with the truth of our condition, or recognize the truth and act as if they do not.