One of the
cornerstones of a free nation should be the proper education of its children.
In America, it seems that the education of some children is valued over the
education of others. Many like to say that the black and brown community is
always playing the race card on every issue, but in many cases, our communities
are only playing the cards that we have been dealt. I do not see education as a
race issue. I see it as a fundamental right for all citizens without regard to
race, creed, or color.
With that
said, one cannot overlook certain historical facts about race and education in
our country. America has a history of sabotaging and under funding schools that
have a core student population of black and brown children. Many years the
education system has purposely underfunded schools in the black and brown
communities, a tradition that seems to be still here sadly. All over this
country, this phenomena, continues even though our government claims that such
practices have long since been eliminated in America; however, for those of us
on the ground, we know that this is not the case.
Schools in
the black and brown communities seem to be on the hit list of some unforeseen
force that doesn’t want productive schools in our neighborhoods. One such
school that has come under attack recently is Forestville High School located
in Prince Georges County, Maryland. This school has been scheduled to close at
the end of the school year. It is a part
of a broader plan set forth by the P.G. County government, along with PGCPS at the bequest of a County
hired consultant firm.
The larger
plan is to close twenty-nine (29) schools by 2035 according to the “Washington
Post” newspaper reports. I can’t help but wonder if the people making the
decisions for the residents of Prince Georges County have any vested interest
in what happens in the County school system. Why is it always left up to
outsiders, i.e., consultants, education experts, etc. to make plans for schools
in our districts?
The plan
seems to follow the same pattern in our communities. First, they play games
with the school districts to offset the true numbers of children that actually
live in the district and attend schools in the region. This is done so that the powers can isolate
their targets and soften them up for the kill. Then like clockwork, they under fund those schools identified by the consultants to create a problem where
there didn’t have to be one. In the case of Forestville High they did all these
things, and even went a step further. They removed the schools military
academy, which was the first of its kind in the State of Maryland. According to
school advocates, the military academy was a great success and it added value
to Forestville High School and the PGCPS system a value that can't be replaced.
This action
cut student enrollment, which some parents and alumni say helped to put
Forestville High School on the chopping block.
Members of the school’s alumni association have made similar points and
have been outspoken about their views on these issues. At a county school board meeting on February
4, 2016, members of the alumni addressed the board about their concerns, and
the education of children in Forestville, Maryland. But how often have you heard that black and
brown people don’t care about the schools in their community? This show of
support by the Forestville High Alumni should dispel that myth.
Many people
in the community have spoken out and one of those critics of the school board
calling for the closing of Forestville has been Kimberly Harley, a longtime
resident of Prince Georges County, and alum of the Forestville High School. Ms.
Harley and many of her family members have attended Forestville High School, so
for people like her, the closing of Forestville High School would be like cutting
out a part of their family history.
Nothing preserves a community like family history and the pride that
comes with being able to say I grew up on this block and I went to that school.
These are the things that make a community whole and worth living in. At the
school board meeting, Ms. Harley and others spoke to the school board and the
following is some of what Ms. Harley and her fellow alumni had to say:
Ms. Harley
spoke to the board for maybe three (3) minutes, but I believe the things she
said summed up what school should mean to people and the community at large.
Her words brought attention to the real reasons the school should be preserved
for generations to come. Kimberly Harley is a shining example of what good
schools produce. Kimberly said, “The school has produced doctors, lawyers,
politicians, and yes, even P.G. County board members”. She explained to the
board her concerns about the military academy being removed and how it has
affected the school enrollment. Kimberly also stated, “The school had problems
in the past but the school, its students, faculty, parents, and alumni have all
helped the school to overcome those issues". Ms. Harley indicated that the
school is still a valued part of the community and the lives of the people living
in the surrounding areas.
Now, my
friends, it is up to you to act. The residents of the Forestville High School
community need your help. Together we can make a difference. We can save this
landmark High School and its students past, present, and future. Join Kimberly
Harley the parents and educators in their fight to save education in their
school district. Forestville High School and Forestville Military Academy are
pillars in our community, the cornerstones and foundations of all we hold dear
in our lives. We should not deny a single child the opportunity to experience
all that Forestville High has to offer.
Education is
fundamental human right and no one should be denied access to a quality
education in their own community. Forestville High School/Forestville Military
Academy has so much to offer right now, the school has a nationally ranked
girls’ basketball team, nationally ranked Drill Team, County and State ranking
Dancers, Football & Basketball organizations. As we speak, the school is
still making history and shouldn’t we work to safeguard that history? Friends
we have no time to waste we must act now. Please come out and support the
Forestville Knights at the next board meeting is scheduled for February 23,
2016, check the school board site for correct times and details.
I didn't think anyone need to explain what Cam Newton is
going through right now with the media but maybe I was completely wrong.
America doesn't get it at all or, at least, she is playing blind to the fact
they Cam Newton is being singled out because he is a black man who has chosen
to use his voice. For many people, the Cam Newton story started during the two
weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. But for me, the story started a year or so
back. At that time Cam and the Panthers football team were having a tough year
and Cam's responses to the press came under the microscope. His response was
not widely accepted by the mainstream media and a lot of them started
demonizing Cam for some of his responses. In my mind, Cam was only being
himself and responding as he felt he was allowed to as a man.
See this is where the trouble begins for the young football
star. Cam Newton a grown man was thinking, I can just be myself and America
will understand and act accordingly. Maybe someone should have given Cam a
lesson about what happens to outspoken black men in America. Those of us in the
black community understand this and we know what can happen when a young black
man speaks out. This is seen as a break in the slave code for the racist power
structure anytime a black man takes a stand on principles of manhood America
sees it as her responsibility to break that black buck down. In my granddad's
time, they described what Cam is doing as being uppity. In their minds Cam is
being ungrateful and uppity when he speaks up for himself and America has a
long history of trying to destroy any black man who would be bold enough to
display any kind of manhood.
There will be those who will say I'm playing the race card
but that's only because they want to reserve the right of playing the race card
for themselves. The history of this kind of reaction to black men speaking up
is well documented and no one can claim otherwise. It's too bad the media
doesn't take the time to really listen to Cam because I feel his message is a
positive one for our children to hear no matter what their race may be. Cam is
saying something that should be valued all over the world but in America most
of all. In the America that prides herself on being freedom loving and a
respecter of its citizens rights to be treated equally. She should of all
peoples of the world be in total agreement with Cam's message of individuality
and pride in oneself. Why is it so bad what Cam is saying??? When we can
honestly answer that question then what's really going on here will reveal the whole racist scam.
If we all could be honest for a moment, I think we know that
what is happen to Cam Newton is shameful. We should be embarrassed but sadly we
are not because this sickness is so ingrained us that we don't even see a
problem with what is going on. It's not just white folks either because there
are many blacks who have because of their slave programming said just as ugly
things about Cam as white folks. It seems they are just as blind to the racist
tactics of the power structure. Cam is being held to higher standard than any
of his white counterparts and everyone
knows this but they play dumb. I only wish I could have given Cam some
advice back when he was having an off year. I would have told him what all black men
in America should be told about this country.
We must begin to teach our sons that we are behind enemy
lines. We must tell them the truth about this country and never allow them to
get comfortable as long as America continues to live out her racist behaviors.
Our sons must learn to speak in code when talking to the enemy's press. We must
teach them the tricks that the media plays and how to avoid the traps they set
for us in their questions. Cam Newton is changing the game of football forever
and we need to change the way we respond to these racist tactics. When the
media attacks one of our people we need to be united in our efforts to support
them when it is clear they have done no wrong and the media is targeting them
for assassination. Lastly, to my people I want to say, teach your children the
truth and should they become successful like Cam instruct them well on the
tactic of our enemies and let Cam Newton be the last black man they try to use
their buck breaking tactics on.
This month on the blog we bring you the musical
talents of a young man, Qadir Hakim aka Goalden Chyld out of Chi-Town also
known as Chicago, the windy city. During my monthly music trolling session on
the internet, I came across this young man and his music. The video was titled
“Goalden Chyld – It’s Our Time”. The video started out with me interested in
the words being said in the form of spoken word poetry, but as the video ended
I heard some really great music and I wanted to hear more. First, let me say I
do have a slight bias towards any kind of music that speaks truth to power. I
call that kind of music Rebel Music. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a
great deal of respect for an artist who are not afraid to take a stand in their
music and say something meaningful to the people.
Okay, enough about me and my views on music. Let’s
talk about the artist we are here to celebrate. The artist is Goalden Chyld or
G.C. for short. I sent an email to the young man to see if I could acquire an
interview for the blog. He was delighted to hear that I was interested in his
music and sent back a response that same day.
Many times people say artists are not talking about anything in their
music today, but again I have discovered another example of them not knowing
where to look for “Rebel Music”. This artist is one of many like him who take
the time to create music that says something and music that we can recognize as
true works of art. Goalden Chyld is an artist that possesses a great deal of
lyrical skill and creativity. Not only is he saying something meaningful in his
music, but he is making it enjoyable to listen to as well. Because as we all
know everyone hates to be preached to especially when the preacher is boring as
hell.
Now the moment you have been reading for; ladies and
gents I give present to you Goalden Chyld! Our subject got his start in music
at the young age of eight when his father local Chicago rapper Hashim Hakim
gave him a rap verse to memorize. Later his dad took him to the studio to record
the verse. From then on G.C. loved making music. I asked G.C. what influenced
his music and he said: The message in my music is heavily influenced by
Minister Louis Farrakhan. Now I can understand why his music is so fiery. Then
I asked if he had any family members that were into music other than his dad.
He said his mother Chandra Hakim grew up singing in the church choir. Goalden
Chyld has a rich family history in music and that is evident when you listen to
his music.
G.C. said growing up listening to the garbage on the
radio inspired him to take a more activist approach to making music. He says he
could make some of the trash he heard on the radio, but that’s not his way. He
said it was always in him to make music and he has wanted to do it since he was
a young child. I asked what else G.C. did besides music. He said, “I'm a youth
mentor and an activist”. Based on that we can see Goalden Chyld is not just
talking when he makes music; he is being true to the spirit of his art. He is
striving to be a walking example of his music. I asked if he played any
instruments and he said he was a novice piano player. We already know that
G.C.’s dad introduced him to Hip Hop and his mom gave him an understanding of
singing but when I asked who his teachers were, when it came to music he said:
“I’m currently teaching myself the science of making music”.
Moving on, I asked about the first song of his that
I had ever listened too. The song is called POWER” and it is the feature song
of this interview. When I heard the track I want to smash up something. The
beat is dope and the lyrical context is like Public Enemy on steroids. Please
tell me you know the rap group Public Enemy. If you don’t know who the rap
group Public Enemy is you need your Hip Hop pass revoked. But enough about that
let’s find out about G.C.’s track “Power”. I asked: what does it take to make a
track like that come to life in the mind of an artist. Goalden Chyld said: “I
decided to write this song when I thought about how great we are as a people
and because our power as a people are truly great beyond measures”. He went on
to say: “However, I know that our true power is being slept on in the world
because we're so divided and disconnected, which in my opinion is no
coincidence”. G.C. says: This is all by design to ensure that we never tap into
that power and that power he referring to is “Black Power”. He said: Now
getting back to your question; what it takes to make a song like this is true
love, dedication, and research of once self and his or her people!
After understanding the track “Power”, I wanted to
hear from G.C.’s point of view what he feels his music is about. To that
Goalden Chyld said: "My music is
about freeing the minds of my oppressed brothers and sisters and the black
family as a whole". "It’s about getting us to love and understand one
another while at the same time getting us to come to the realization that our
true power is in our unity". I asked what got him fired up musically. G.C.
says: "When I ponder on my people’s condition and think about the fact
that we're products of a crooked system, then problems my people face become my
song topics". I said to Golden Chyld: what makes your music different.
G.C. says: "I do more than state the problems in the black community I
also try to give them a sense of hope by offering what I believe is a
reasonable solution". "Also, I have been blessed with the abilities
to sing, rap, and do poetry with a strong message, proficiently, so my music is
a unique combination of the three".
I asked Goalden Chyld what kind of music he listen
to outside of Hip Hop. Also, what made him choose Hip Hop. G.C. said he listens
to Jazz, R&B, Country, Rock, Neo-Soul you name it! I love what each genre
uniquely brings to the table and they all add to my creativity. As for choosing
Hip Hop he says: I chose hip hop because
that’s closest to heart and I felt that Hip Hop was one of the easiest and
smartest ways to get the message across to my people, the youth in particular.
I asked if he was into any artist in his genre and he said there are some. He
named a few and why he liked their music. He said: J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar;
I like them for their courageous ability to provide a message in their music
while being in an industry heavily consumed with foolishness. He said some
others were Lauren hill "The miseducation of Lauren hill." Kanye West
and Jay-Z "Watch the throne". Andre 3000 and Tupac, just to name a
few artists and projects he really enjoyed.
We talked about performing on stage and G.C. shared
his first time on stage. He said the first time was in Colorado when he was 14
or 15 years old. He said: I performed the first verse I ever recorded which was
the same verse I recorded when I was eight years old. The titled of the track
was "dear dad". I asked if he liked performing for his fans. He said:
I love it I feel free it's an escape also I don't refer to my people as fans
they're family. I wanted to know about a memorable moment in music for him and
G.C. talked about when he performed for Minister Louis Farrakhan and when he
performed for Russel Simmons former C.E.O. of Def Jam Records. But most of all
he was proud when he finished recording "Stand for Justice or Else".
He said: That was the best feeling because I knew this was the beginning of me
helping change the world.
I wanted to know if he ever got nervous on stage and
he said: "I'm always nervous before performing, just not as nervous which
is humbling because I always turn to God and pray to overcome". He says
"it’s natural to be nervous and in time your will build confidence".
He says it help to stay ready. G.C. says he practices at one or two days a week
and he memorizes his work to stay prepared for anything. Being an artist myself
I asked Goalden Chyld how he kept things balanced in his everyday life. He
responded with this: "It's very
difficult but the love for the art keeps me going". "You've gotta be
1. prayerful 2. self-motivated and a disciplined person to be an indie artist
and not to mention being a revolutionary artist". G.C. wants his fans
(Family) to know this about his music. That it's 100% real and from the heart,
it's not for money but for freedom justice and equality and that he makes music
to change Hip Hop and the world forever.
The last thing I asked is what he thought about the
state of music today and he had these words to say on the subject. "It's
sad because the devil is at work and he's working harder than ever but his time
is up". "It won’t not long before music goes back to what it should
be which in my opinion is a tool for the revolutionary free minds of the
people". Goalden Chyld says going forward he will be making more music and
videos and doing his best to change up Hip Hop and the world. He also wants his
music to send the message to his people that it’s time to wake up rise up
because we have a kingdom to build. I believe him and take at his word and I
also believe artist Like Goalden Chyld need our support just as much as we need
him to combat this overflow of foolishness in today’s music. Please get out and
support this artist because as I say we need him. Below check out the links for
the G.C.'s music movement and do your part to keep Rebel Music alive.
