One of the things that pisses me off more than anything is unsolicited advice. Take that a step further, unwanted unwelcome theology. For many years I lived in a simple “Christian” bubble. I prayed, things worked out. I fasted, I got an answer. I went to church; I was made to feel accepted. Things were neat…they were hard at times, but the hard made sense, and the difficult was approachable and “doable.” My life’s theology had a lot of pavement on it. The exits were clearly marked, the signage was obvious, and the lanes were evident and orderly. Life was good.

But life always tends to take mysterious turns and now I find myself at a place in life where that theological highway has long run out, but the road to life is still continuing with all its fury. There are no lanes, no clear exits, and what signs are left all look the same. Am I making the right choice? How does God fit into all of this? Where is the “help” when I need it? I’ve continually found myself in new journeys with God; the funny thing is, I’ve grown exponentially over the last 8 years, but I have very little “material” goods to show for it.

Let me explain further. I’ll just keep it real. I don’t own a home, no where near it. My 401K is a joke and took a serious hit over the last 2 years. We drive 15 year old cars. We have no health insurance— the health insurance plan we have is a joke, we pay $400 a month for a $7000 deductible. My $4800 a year is subsidizing those with Cadillac plans. I work 5-7 part time jobs at a time—never seemingly “good enough” for that full time position. The things most of us have been brought up on to believe in as “secure” are not there for us (savings, assets, investments). Moreover, I’m in the admirals club in student loans—I’ll leave it to your imagination as to what that number is.

Do I want people to feel sorry for me? Hell no! Do I want society’s pity? Hell no! Do we live like a “victim?” Hell mo-fo no! The reality is that we made some decisions: going to grad school; working in the urban non-profit world; marrying someone from the urban non-profit world; and living a life that we feel pleases God, which at times got us into “trouble.” I own all of that. No regrets on that end.

The point of this is…the story. The narrative. Our story is one of the millions in this country right now. Our story seems to be gaining in numbers, unfortunately, almost every day. Our story is America right now…so I’m no different. I’m just writing about it.

I know, I know, some of you reading this right now want to offer up what we “should” be doing and where we “can” go in life. I know, hell, 14 years ago I would’ve been trying to do the same thing. But stop yourself right there. Just sit in this tension for a minute or two. Trust me we’ve tried just about everything: saving, paying off the little credit card to pay off the big credit card; paying off the big credit card to pay off the little credit card; cutting cable; cutting cell phone usage; negotiating lower APR’s on our credit cards; driving cars until they run down into the ground; savings; asking for help; filing unemployment; getting a smaller place to live; moving; saving; stop eating out; saving; storing up little checks for “rainy days;” having folks move in to subsidize the rent; filling out over 300 applications in a year for employment around the country; saving; asking parents for help; cutting even more frills in our budget; consolidation; saving; filing taxes separately; manse allowances; taking all the deductions humanly possible; driving 15 year old cars and did I mention saving? (Trust me the list goes on, but I’m not going to bore you).

The reality is that we, as a country, are in a tough spot right now. What I have a hard time getting my head around is that I am the “American Dream.” Came out of the ‘hood; changed my life; served my community; got legit jobs; went to college; got 4 degrees; got the PhD and at the end of the day; have worked my ass off over the last 17 years to stay out of jail; but, we’re still  in a real messed up spot. What do I tell the next generation of college students that enter my classroom everyday? What do I tell Black/ Latino students who see me as an “example” of what to do? What do I tell my little girl? At times I feel as though I should have just stayed in the ‘hood. I was making $5-$8000 a week. I had brand new cars, and I had “respect.” Sure I had to watch my back, sure I would probably be in jail, but at least that was familiar…right? I don’t know. But one things for sure, things aren’t that much prettier on the “other side”—especially these days.

I mean, what is the “American Dream” anyways right? Does God even care about that? That’s where it gets interesting for me. God, for our family, has taken away all the securities we have socially constructed as safety nets. God has shown us the power of faith, prayer, and the journey of discipleship—all of which look completely different when you’re on the “bottom side” of the American Dream. You say, “Dan, c’mon, God isn’t about the American Dream, church isn’t’ about that!” Well my friend, you’re right, on a tangible level, God is not about that American Dream, however the reality is that we, as a church, have equated success, fame, money, wealth, securities, and living the good life with being “blessed.” We tend to see God as this cosmic ATM when rubbed just the right way, “He’ll bless you!” I’ve moved beyond that image of God and into a mysterious God who says, “Wow, things are as messed up as they seem…man, let me just walk with you!” I see a God who feels the same pain as me and the other millions who have the same story. I see a God who is there even when you don’t make headlines. But here is the deal, that don’t make newsletters! When people win awards they don’t get up and thank God for all the pain, unhappiness, and misery they have in their life. We want success stories to make us feel the sense of ease we all really want to feel. Moreover, we don’t realize that they call them miracles for a reason.

Bottom line is this, we’re going to make it. Will we be rich and own that home and drive that new Audi? Probably not. But at the end of the day we’re still connected to God. You ask, “are those who drive that Audi not connected to God then?” No, of course not, it’s just a different connection. Material goods and the “American Dream” can blind true faith; at the end of the day, when you’ve done everything the “right way” and have tried your best…and things are still failing/ coming apart, you’ve just gotta let it fail and let God do the rest….

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As I set here reflecting on all the time that has passed since the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am challenged to look inside and ask, what does all this mean to me? What does it mean that I can vote? What does it mean that I can live where I want to (to a certain degree), what does it mean to be “free?” In addition, what does it mean to blog and say what I need and want to? Those are just some thoughts of mine that are running through my head.

What does this day mean for me? Well, quite frankly, a lot. It means I, as a Black man racially, African American/ Mexican American ethnically, can stand on my own two feet, get a PhD, write books, travel the world, and have an interethnic marriage along with a multiethnic daughter. It means I can stand up for the marginalized and speak for the poor in the countenance of injustice. It means I can walk down the street holding my wife’s hand without the real fear of lynching’s and or severe public ridicule. It also means I can get an education and help my little girl get one too. It means I can bury my loved ones in a proper manner. It means I can go to court if my “civil rights” are violated. It means I am standing on the shoulders of all those who died before me and never made the headlines or nightly news; or ever had a Holiday named after them. It means I give homage and respect to the Civil Rights Generation and for what they did for my family and the subsequent generations, which follow. It means I pay respect to the struggle and fight that many people did to help me and others like me get to where we’re at today as a people of color. It also means I thank God for allowing some people to make the ultimate sacrifice of death for a people, a cause, and a purpose.

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So here we are. Ten years later. It’s hard to believe another decade has gone by. A lot can happen in ten years; much can change. Hip Hop underwent some major changes and turns between 2000-2009. Aside from the Y2K scare throughout the ’99 year and the ensuing mini-panic from people on New Years Eve 1999, Hip Hop saw a lot of growth, set back, and just plain old “mess” during this 10-year period. What I do here is give you the top ten major events and shifts in Hip Hop during this last decade. So let’s get this thing going.

10) The Virtual Hip Hopper: Hip Hop and rap embrace the internet as a newborn loves to be swaddled. At the end of the 90’s and 20th century, most Hip Hoppers barely knew of ring-tones, I-Tunes downloads, and the latest videos sent to your phone. This decade saw a phenomenal increase in the use of internet related media and Hip Hop. It’s almost an oxymoron to not have a website, Facebook, or MySpace page if you are a rapper. Moreover, it is almost insane if you are not having your videos and or songs shown somewhere on the internet as an artist. The internet revolution has opened up the doors for a lot of cats to get their name out there without the “middle man” of a major label.

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As I sit here reflecting on this past Christmas, the Holiday season, the days leading up to Christmas, family, friends, and our society, I also reflect on the past year, the mistakes, the accomplishments, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am reminded that the culture industry of Christmas is a machine that gets going long before December 25th. I am also reminded that Christmas, at least here in the States, has taken on a commercial form that is trumped by little to nothing. I am even further reminded that the culture industry of Christmas has globalized itself and turned a Holiday that is supposed to be about a spiritual connection to Christ, family, religious traditions, humanity, and people in general more into cultural mores focused around buying, spending money we don’t have, getting that “good deal,” consuming products we don’t need, and waking up at ungodly hours to get a toaster oven for $4.99. Are we all consumed with just buying as a society? Where did the spirituality go? Yes, I’m sure that the praise and worship music blared through the speakers at Wal Mart gets us in the “mood” for Christmas and the blatant manger scenes at our local churches give us reflection on the “reason for the season.” I’m also sure that the once-a-year- giving spirit causes us to feel good about ourselves when we acknowledge the homeless person on the corner and give her/ him a couple of dollars because “Jesus would have done so.”

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Fame, popularity, achieving distinction, celebrity status, being renown, having notoriety, attaining a high social status, and even just being known “well” all come with a high price. All place the person high up in an unattainable position and such ascribed status’ can bring danger to both the individual and the people around that person. When we place too much value on the “beyond humanness” of a person, we have taken that person from just being “like us” to something “other” and have, in effect, created an alien being which can quickly become unrecognizable to mortal humans. Fame tends to produce superiority and a “better than” ethos within the individual. Moreover, fame can make a person feel untouchable, indestructible, invincible, immortal, and above the law—what is worse is when society has reinforced those mantras. Now, couple all that with money and power and you have a recipe for calamity rooted in pride, maintaining social status, and continuing the ascribed power for that person. Is this what did Tiger in? Let us ponder that a bit more.

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As we enter the Thanksgiving Holiday, here are a few things I’m not thankful for. These video clips below illustrate some of the deep-seated problems that we not only have in this country, but globally, in relation to racial stereotypes. I’m not thankful for the amount of crap and problems racial stereotypes have caused in our society. I’m not thankful for the amount of explaining I have to do insisting that I don’t dance, eat chicken everyday, and or rap. I’m not thankful that we as society have yet to really deal with these issues on a macro level. I’m not thankful for the tensions that exist between Blacks, Asians, Latinos, poor Whites, and Pacific Islanders in connection to racial stereotypes. I’m also not thankful having to prove my narrative as a valid one in White Supremacist institutions. And I’m dang sure not thankful for the types of looks my wife and I get walking our little girl down the street at certain times and in certain neighborhoods.

Now…for many of you reading this, you may be wondering why we’re still talking about this issue. Haven’t we moved beyond this? Aren’t we making progress in this country? Are we still dealing with this type of madness? Yes, we’re still here. We’re still here, and until we all come to the table and engage with these issues in a very real and open way, we will continue to remain here, and it will only get worse.

We are at a great moment in history to really begin dealing with some of these issues. I see new generations of students beginning to break down what previous generations have built up on and in the wall of racism. So I do take hope in that, and am very thankful for a new crop of young people who want to make a difference and actually make a better world, not just talk about it.

Take a look at the videos below and begin to ask yourself: just how deep does this racism really go? In addition, how do you respond to “funny” racial stereotypes; maybe even funny true racial stereotypes? Alternatively, are minorities and or people of color just being too sensitive? Hmmm.

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Hollywood has had a long time obsession with how the world will end. Films such as Armageddon, Deep Impact, The Terminator series, The Matrix series, and films like Independence Day all have an apocalyptic theme to them and get us to question what the “end” will actually be like? Moreover, what comes next? Heaven? The New Earth? New dimensions? Roland Emmerich’s new film, 2012, takes on those questions by beginning to deal with 2012 theory and “end time” ideologies. Emmerich has done a couple of different films that deal with elements of the end of the world; Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow also have similar themes.

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This is it? Well, not quite. You see, money is a powerful element in our society; and money tied to a world icon is an even greater draw to that money. Michael Jackson’s posthumous documentary drops this week and I have to say, I’m going to wait until it’s out with Netflix before I go and see it. I’m just not convinced that its what its geared up to be—it seems to be home video of Jackson dancing and preparing for his last concert. It’s hard to let icons die—I know, people still think Tupac is alive in Jamaica somewhere. Jackson made a lot of people a lot of money, moreover, he continues to make people money even in death; this documentary is just another step in the Jackson money making machine.

Now, I hate to sound skeptical, I’m sure there were plenty of people who worked on this film who had their “heart” into it. I’m sure there are plenty of fans that are just going to love this. However, the reality of it all is that money rules the roost. For the last few months, brutal battles of what belongs to whom have been hashed out in Los Angeles courts to get control of Jackson’s estate. Furthermore, there have been several people who have come out of Jackson’s camp attempting to get their “15 minutes” and early payday by talking about their interactions with Jackson.

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Jay Z and 50 face off after the Kanye fall out continues. Jay Z makes the comment that if 50 was stage when Kanye came up he still would’ve did the same thing because “Ain’t no one scared of 50.” This of course started a whole “battle of words” between the two artists. 50 couldn’t just sit and let Jay Z talk about him, right? 50 had to get back and protect his name, right? Or was it deeper than that? Is a man’s name all he really has? You can read that article here.

What is even more an issue here is the hyper male posturing that continues to dominate Hip Hop, but even more, give young males the idea that to “be a man” you need to call someone out. Manhood representations in Hip Hop are looked at in one of several ways:

• Representing
• Maintaining your own
• Power
• “Providing” for your woman
• Being tough
• Avoiding face loss

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