Defkon City presents: James Spooner, director of Afropunk

[windrix1]

I don't really care about race that much, Because the definitions and applications of race don't make any sense at all. We are all scientifically one race. But I understand people like James Spooner who had to deal with a bunch of bigots stressing race, while he is trying to enjoy his existence.

[loveleymetalheadgirl]

stfu

[Kawaiilolita13]

so yeah... i've dealt w/this.. and someone recently told me to check this out.. i don't mind being the only black kid (a little lonely at times but really i'm comfy w/that) what i don't appreciate is the shit i get from other black kids... i mean to be honest i get the MOST shit from them.. it's ridic... my friends are way more accepting love them

[deesway14]

Pretty much in the same boat. I listen to all kinds of rock but I have one black friend who is all punk, so we kind have each other to lean on...I don't get as much shit though because I'm 6'3" 300lbs, so I'm a bit intimidating and I will kick a motherfucker's ass is they have a problem with my lifestyle.

Always be yourself!

[ELECTRICOCEANBARBER]

Respect

[ELECTRICOCEANBARBER]

Finished watching the film. How disappointed I am. The film was cool but is this what "Punk" is to people of color.

I heard everyone of the interviewees refer to their White peer as "Them". Get the fuck out of here. In White Amerika the punk scene might be one of your best hopes for true acceptance. At 40 years of age and being part of the punk scene since 1981 and being White and from the hood where I was the Outcast, it sucks that you see more of the "them" than the "us".

[XioJester]

every documentary to a point is edited as a narrative too guided by the director you gotta realize. I was in the movie for example. at one point it sounded like I was dissing my partner of 10 years. that's what editing can do when you're trying to make a point. I was talking about somebody else. the POV in this film is all about the ostrisization(sp?), not being accepted. you can't make a perfect movie like this though, it's a REAL complicated topic.

[johnbourbon]

24-7 spyz

[cancerboy85]

I kind of agree with Suicidalskull but what you dont realize is that There is alot of underlyng racism in the scene I have been to some shows and I garauntee you that at least two or three white kids gave me the WTF face some have been so bold as to say shit like "you dot belong here" "you're Black" or nonsense like that so , im glad that i found the scene cause i felt alone like i was the wierd black person and i found others like me

[windrix1]

WHo cares if your black. Afro-punk sucks it fucking sucks. None of the bands are even punk and the people aren't even true punks. They are like blues and reggae and shitty. I mean the only good black punk band is Bad Brains. Fishbone is horrible.

Umm dude your punk. You will never blend in when your walking down the street. NEVER.

[WexlerTV]

Fishbone isn't horrible. Fishbone isn't punk, that's all. They're a great band for what they are.

[telemanque]

" you will never blend in when your walking down the street."hahahahahahhahahahahah­hahahaaahhaha.......windrix1 that statement alone makes you mainstream......no rules remember? why the fuck would a punk want to blend in? all fascist must die

[TRESBELA]

u suck..and fishbone were pretty good

[dbernhall]

Thanks for this man. Shit gets isolating a lot of times. Peace.

[lunarlibra]

I saw this guy at a film festival where he showed the full documentary I really enjoyed it..It was interesting

[faloutgirl]

Whats the band that sings throughout the interview? Not "Yeah!New York"...but who sings thru out the rest of the interview? Please and thank you!.

[konakazi]

Bad Brains' "Don't Blow Bubbles" from Quickness, Fishbone's "Freddie's Dead" from the album "Truth & Soul". Bad Brains' "Reignition" and "Secret 77" in that order. True classics.

[TRESBELA]

i against i and banned in dc but reignition definetly is my fave...re.ig-ni-tion..loves it!

[impendingrevolution]

I'm a rocker, and fucking proud.

[impendingrevolution]

I'm glad to see that someone else out there has had enough.

It's not "white" music, it's "rock" music. This is especially ironic if you consider the roots of rock and roll (and ALL of it's variants).

Yet people INSIST on using Hip-Hop as the primary representation of African-American music and culture.

I won't be pigeonholed, and I will not conform.

[jericho4004]

Amen to that!

[303Miles]

Preach brotha, oh wait that's too black lol.

[ch4osshawn]

im tired of being jugded just for being a black punk

[slinkygirl202]

Im so happy he made this. tired of being steryotyped...even by other black people..

[flamingbeast54]

where can i find the entire movie?

[Alphatrikma2]

I found it on Ebay.

[suicidalskull]

Punk is Punk!calling it afro punk just because there are black people that listen or play punk its stupid and racist.Creating a category for blacks in punk will only discriminate black people even more.Might aswell make a movie about Afrometal too! i just hate when people label everything! i agree that there is discrimination towards blacks when it comes to rock, because of stereotypes like "rock is for whites" & "Hiphop is for blacks". I Say Music is about feelings, it shouldn't be about color.

[HarvBand]

oops - you don't get it. Nothing racist - it is a social commentary that sheds light on a different experience. Check it out, then judge.

[xdpgirl1910]

i have always been a fan of rock r&b and hip hop until rap and r&b crapped themselves down.the songs have no meaning anymore and despite having not listened to a rap song in two years, i know all the words why because the all sound the same. anyway now ive been listening to all my rock cds and i dont even know where any rap ones are except maybe 2pac

[jericho4004]

It's awesome to see that there really are other people like me who love metal and punk and don't fall into the ridiculous stereotype of listening "only" to rap and R&B. I like some rap (old school) and some R&B, but I am a metalhead (minus the satanic stuff) to the heart. I play guitar and tune to Drop-C and play stuff along the lines of Demon Hunter and As I Lay Dying, both Christian bands. This is liberating.

[tazzanimal]

Young blacks of your era todays don't know how to be yourself...Blacks have always played rock.Rock n roll is R&B renamed by Alen freed in the 50's.

[jericho4004]

Right. I actually knew that Rock & Roll came form us. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and even Screamin' Jay Hawkins. The problem comes in when other Black people shun or dimiss someone such as myself when i tell them that I may prefer a 200bpm song with detuned guitars, than a beat that doesn't change as is is found in a lot of R&B. Don't get me wrong. I grew up in the 80's listening to LL Cool J, and Chicago House (WBMX). I also listened to Queensryche, Metallica, and Skid Row.

[MUN7001]

and who are you, a f..ucking white bitch

[jericho4004]

No, and please respect my views as I would respect yours. Music is music. It's really sad that you attack someone because that don't pigeon hole themselves into one style of music because they may believe the lie that rock is for "whites only". That is a racist stereotype and by your words, you seem to believe it. Any I wrong? If so, I apologize.

[jericho4004]

"Am I wrong? If so, I apologize". That's what I meant to write. I addition, in spite of what you wrote, I will not respond to you in the same tone you gave me. I bless you in spite of your comments.

[sofylovegd]

which is the song that's in the beginning?

[konakazi]

"Yeah! New York" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is the show opening track.

[bellemcky]

It was great watching this. I learned about Mr. Spooner himself... very informative.

[millienl]

I love Hip-hop and i love Rock/Alternative but i just wish people would just see me as a person instead of a "black female who likes rock" it sucks! Music is music why cant it just be simple??? Damn!

[MUN7001]

yeah I agree, I like this film, but I can understand why someone like Bad brains was reluctant for an interview. It kind of says that hey you are a novelty, when it is just music. There is no novelty in being a person and liking a certain type of music, and why should it be so important that others know that black people listen to rock. Who cares?? you know

[david2draw]

Black,Brown,Red,Yellow,Beige,W­hite,Gay,Straight,Bi - none of it maters in my book as long as we can be decent humans to one another.

[ScorpionMD]

I agree, BET isn't a good place to see videos from other genres. Like Fishbone(The Best)!!

[david2draw]

I tend to listen to Latin Alternative music television like LATV to get my fix of a music culture. They just had an in-studio Fishbone concert a few weeks ago

[junkbunnies]

BET suxs. I am black and i hate the fact that there isn't a cable station that plays metal,punk,alternative all day like mtv jams or vh1 soul. BET plays stupid shit. Ghetto minded or gospel. Most black people think i worship satan just based on what i am wearing. Lenny Kravitz suxs he ain't punk.

[sleatersappy]

agreed

[david2draw]

I feel the same as you on that one. BET is some of the most utter crap I've had the misfortune of viewing and its a shame that that's the image that is getting popularized (no disrespect to hip hop I'm a patron of all genres of music). My roomate this quarter just felt compelled to tell me that I was the "least black" black person he'd ever met. Its insane how small-minded people can be these days.

[jericho4004]

I tend to avoid BET like one would avoid the Bubonic Plague. As a black person, I used to respect it when Tavis Smiley was on, but other than that, musically it bores the daylight out of me.

[MUN7001]

lol tavis smiley got chased to PBS,

[blahblahblahman]

Lenny Kravitz is way more punk than James spoonhead ever wished he was.

[kenopunk91]

lenny is not even close to be a punk

[chanbkny]

I'm sold. I'm going to see this documentary when it screens in my town. Now if someone would do a documentary about punk and metal Asian kids...

[unshy911]

the only thing i'd have to disagree with him in is that, just because(b/c)a puink singer goes mainstream doesn't mean they stop being punk at all. It is when they change their lyrics and ideas. Lynnie Kravies ( sorry if i spelled name wrong) in his case did change his veiws etc. But as long as a band keep sto the punk idea, no matter how much money they get or how big they get in the music bussiness they can still be punk.

[unshy911]

llod206the reason why they don't play this on BET b/c they show mainly rap, r&b, gospel music etc. but that station doesn't really promote punk music and the idea of acting outside the box (in a manner of speaking.)BET is stuck on the new trends and more materlistic veiws.

Fudgeya, you clearly didn't listen to the whole, thing.He is actually thinking about more than just punk music and blacks in that scene.You must have a very narrow minded brain if you can't grasp what he is talking about.

[Fudgeya]

James Spooner and his close-minded ethnocentric vision of punk rock can fuck right off.

[llod206]

Why don't they play this film on BET? grrr

[MFpirate1]

their gettin dumb they would not play my fav hip hop groups vid cus they said it was too smart just cus its not about violence and bicthes and money

PS THE groups little brother

[hodgenw]

jus cuz bet is " the channel for black people" dosent mean they are the channel for the advancement of black people. they only help give black people a bad image by only playing gangsta movies and bad rap videos thet dont play the good shit

[MFpirate1]

true but they could help ah bit ^-^;

[KMFCM]

better chance of seeing it on TV One (which seems to be for "grown folks")

[Huggins293]

Good Question.

[middleofmarch]

I love this snippet.

[AbuelitaTalula27]

Hey this is Mewelau from the Afropunk website/community.

Afropunk.com

Sooooo glad to see this snippet... and to hear it will be coming to DVD soon.

Also, I am sooo glad James Spooner acknowledges that in New York it is not hard to find a punk black person.

Especially for this chick from Florida where the opposite is true.