You will have to read this yourself.

http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTEmZmdi ZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY1MDQzNTkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZU VFeXkxNA==

To put it mildly, I'm very disappointed in James Earl Jones because of his comment that African Americans shouldn't waste their time searching for their African roots and then to follow it up by saying that African Americans don't have a culture! If we don't connect to our African heritage and we don't have a culture in America, then who are we? Does Mr. Jones realize what he just did to the minds and hearts of those that listened to his speech? Shocking!

He seriously needs to be challenged on his views. Yes, he has the right to think as he does, but he should feel compelled to defend and support his beliefs if he's going to make them known in the public arena. And not only that, but to go so far as to SUGGEST that we are NOTHING--a people WITHOUT a culture is despicable and reckless.

Quick to point out his mixed heritage--Irish, Cherokee and African, Mr. Jones goes on to claim that he knows more about his Irish lineage than his African, even after having made several trips to West Africa. What is he thinking here? It makes me scratch my head with wonder.

Oh well, he's fodder for a very interesting debate.

Queenie :spinstar:

I don't know what he really meant. At the time I thought about it... and really couldn't discern his meaning.

I have heard many say, that there is not an African-American culture; because what is called African-American culture is American culture. I agree with the premise that Our culture is American culture. American Culture is based upon what We do and don't do. Now, just for a minute think about what We could do and create if We embrace it.

And that statement about knowing more about his Irish"ness" that is a wannabe's dream.

Until I understand exactly what he meant...because his premise is easily dismissed and illogical...as far as I am concerned there is no James Earl Jones; I want people like him and his views eradicated from Our consciousnesses.... I would have pulled his *** off of the stage! We should never support any of his movies or projects... it was disgraceful.

Just another common kneegrow.

Never thought I'd ever end up quoting Jesse, but there it is!

A culture is customs, traditions and a way of life that is comprised of a set of common more's, values, and beliefs among a group in society. We're not talking about heritage--we're talking culture. Our heritage is African, our culture is as Africans who have lived in America. Even though we have the right to call ourselves American, we are not the same as all other Americans or is there someone who thinks that we are?

In my opinion, African Americans DO have a culture, albeit that it came about due to our brutal experiences here in America. Regardless of how our history here began, we were still able to develop a system of thinking and common behavior patterns that grew into who we have become. And I won't accept it as being called a sub-culture either. Bump that "sub" way of thinking which sends the message that we are less than or something else is greater than we are and bump James Earl Jones for even suggesting we don't have either. No, in my very outspoken opinion, African Americans own a bona-fide and legitimate CULTURE which is why we need to wake up and stop all this mad behavior after having been exposed to the culture of our oppressors.

One's culture is adopted from one's experience so to deny that AA's have a culture is to deny our very existence and all forms of influences we have had on American society as a whole and the world at large. We are not homeless or invisible. As much as some of us don't want to accept it, we have the right (maybe not the privilege) to call ourselves Americans if we want to, African Americans if we prefer, thereby denoting and distinguishing us from all other Americans and Africans.

Why do Latinos have a culture or Asians, or Native Americans? Do we ever question that? What do you think makes up a 'culture'? Just like in a petrie dish in any laboratory, a culture is a mixture of ingredients that comprise a single substance. WE DEFINE who we are and not some misguided, living in denial, make any excuse for wanting to be something that you're not--actor.

Peace,
Queenie :spinstar:

Never thought I'd ever end up quoting Jesse, but there it is!

A culture is customs, traditions and a way of life that is comprised of a set of common more's, values, and beliefs among a group in society. We're not talking about heritage--we're talking culture. Our heritage is African, our culture is as Africans who have lived in America. Even though we have the right to call ourselves American, we are not the same as all other Americans or is there someone who thinks that we are?

In my opinion, African Americans DO have a culture, albeit that it came about due to our brutal experiences here in America. Regardless of how our history here began, we were still able to develop a system of thinking and common behavior patterns that grew into who we have become. And I won't accept it as being called a sub-culture either. Bump that "sub" way of thinking which sends the message that we are less than or something else is greater than we are and bump James Earl Jones for even suggesting we don't have either. No, in my very outspoken opinion, African Americans own a bona-fide and legitimate CULTURE which is why we need to wake up and stop all this mad behavior after having been exposed to the culture of our oppressors.

One's culture is adopted from one's experience so to deny that AA's have a culture is to deny our very existence and all forms of influences we have had on American society as a whole and the world at large. We are not homeless or invisible. As much as some of us don't want to accept it, we have the right (maybe not the privilege) to call ourselves Americans if we want to, African Americans if we prefer, thereby denoting and distinguishing us from all other Americans and Africans.

Why do Latinos have a culture or Asians, or Native Americans? Do we ever question that? What do you think makes up a 'culture'? Just like in a petrie dish in any laboratory, a culture is a mixture of ingredients that comprise a single substance. WE DEFINE who we are and not some misguided, living in denial, make any excuse for wanting to be something that you're not--actor.

Peace,
Queenie :spinstar:

Say Sister Queen.
You speak the truth-- this is it; this is it.
It is so sad... again, he is gone; even someone like George Bush; who we know cannot stand Us-- says that African-American culture is American Culture; and that without it, there would be no America. He was not the first to say that. But it is TRUTH.

Amen, Sister. You just hit that one outta the park, too.

This was a shocker. Mufasa done lost his mind....smh

You will have to read this yourself.

http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTEmZmdi ZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY1MDQzNTkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZU VFeXkxNA==

This is so sad. This is the one thing that really is a problem for us, between the haves and the have nots. This is why for those who really believe in the betterment of our people need to support and uplift each other as much as we can and countinue to fight until we can get it right. Good find , thanks for sharing.

Please take the survey at www.blackfeedback.com

When you think of people's cultural roots, don't you think of traditions and ways of life that stem from your cultural heritage? When you think about Latinos and Asians, Irish, Germans, Native Americans and people from the Middle East in terms of culture, don't certain things like the foods they eat, the way they dress , their family structure, their language and even religious practices come to mind?

African Americans may be uniquely different from many of these other groups in that our cultural roots were brutally severed as we were cut off from our African homeland, but we have managed to retain some of our African cultural traditions as well as invent news ones since coming to America. For Bush to say that African American culture is American culture is more like American culture stems from African culture. We learned the language of the Europeans and reinvented it. We took their clothing and reinvented it. We took their religion and reinvented it. We took their musical instruments and created our own music. We took their foods, applied our traditional culinary skills to it and reinvented it. Where does Jones think that our dance style comes from? Is he that big of a fool?

Don't believe the hype or the rhetoric. The truth of the matter is, it's because of our CULTURAL strengths that we have been the target of other's hatred. So don't tell me that African Americans don't have a culture but more specifically, don't expect me to believe it if you do tell me that. What I'm convinced of is that James Earl Jones has been looking for his African culture in all the wrong places.

Queenie :spinstar:

Sister Queen;
All you are saying is the TRUTH.

I just wonder how We can more fully tap into Our Cultural Strengths today, and take the lies that They tell and the crimes that They commit against Us and Use it?

Good and accurate information is the key.

Find ways to reduce our pessimism and increase our optimism about ourselves and our future here in America and around the world.

Stop living in denial and face the enemy that brings fear into our hearts, infects our minds and causes us to not want to do anything to help ourselves.

Find a positive role model that is doing something and try to emulate that person.

Don't be afraid to ask questions for fear of appearing stupid. "Seek and ye shall find."

Learn how to become a critical thinker and don't accept everyone's opinion as your truth. Know who it is that you give permission to impact your life and protect it at all costs.

Take each day at a time and make a commitment to yourself and others to do something each day to be more community minded.

Know what it is to be a hypocrit and don't aspire to be one. Do everything you can to practice what you believe.

Start the dialogue. Talk to a family member, a friend, a neighbor, a teacher, your pastor . . . about issues that concern you about your community and what you think is happening. Ask them what they are doing to help improve the situation and be ready to answer the same question.

Explore the things that are important to you and be honest with yourself about what they are. What do you find most attractive--is it money, is it good looks, is it material things, is it being admired and looked up to? Don't be afraid to admit to yourself who you really are and then don't live a lie.

Always be willing to learn something new and don't cower when challenged. Realize early that not everyone will agree with your opinion, but be committed to your beliefs when you think you're right.

Learn quickly what is meant by "When you lie with dogs, you're bound to come up with fleas." Don't constantly surround yourself with people who can be harmful to you because they will eventually drain you. Don't alienate yourself from those who are demonstrating that they have your best interest at heart. From them you will gain your strength.

Queenie :spinstar:

Good and accurate information is the key.

Find ways to reduce our pessimism and increase our optimism about ourselves and our future here in America and around the world.

Stop living in denial and face the enemy that brings fear into our hearts, infects our minds and causes us to not want to do anything to help ourselves.

Find a positive role model that is doing something and try to emulate that person.

Don't be afraid to ask questions for fear of appearing stupid. "Seek and ye shall find."

Learn how to become a critical thinker and don't accept everyone's opinion as your truth. Know who it is that you give permission to impact your life and protect it at all costs.

Take each day at a time and make a commitment to yourself and others to do something each day to be more community minded.

Know what it is to be a hypocrit and don't aspire to be one. Do everything you can to practice what you believe.

Start the dialogue. Talk to a family member, a friend, a neighbor, a teacher, your pastor . . . about issues that concern you about your community and what you think is happening. Ask them what they are doing to help improve the situation and be ready to answer the same question.

Explore the things that are important to you and be honest with yourself about what they are. What do you find most attractive--is it money, is it good looks, is it material things, is it being admired and looked up to? Don't be afraid to admit to yourself who you really are and then don't live a lie.

Always be willing to learn something new and don't cower when challenged. Realize early that not everyone will agree with your opinion, but be committed to your beliefs when you think you're right.

Learn quickly what is meant by "When you lie with dogs, you're bound to come up with fleas." Don't constantly surround yourself with people who can be harmful to you because they will eventually drain you. Don't alienate yourself from those who are demonstrating that they have your best interest at heart. From them you will gain your strength.

Queenie :spinstar:
Beautiful advise my sister.

Your last paragraph is poignant my sister, who do you think james earl is lying with? You guessed it a white woman. Now isn't that typical for a negro to say that we have no culture. I guess those fleas have eatened up his brain cells.

You are so right about our having to be critical thinkers. If we do not make that connection that those who choose to cow tow to white folks, those who are put in the fore front, those who get the white man stamp of approval and are given lucrative jobs (Verizon) and acting parts, usually don't represent us. As a matter of fact most likely our our enemies. thomas, condi, and powell.

They told james "get up there and tell them people they ain't got no culture". He said, "yessu masssa", "you negroes ain't got no culcha".

Sorry, I had to go there.

Of course we have a culture. If we didnt' why is everyone trying to steal it from us. Our culture is so rich, so deep, so brilliant that it is an every fabric of this world, not just here in amerikkka.

For those of us who are questioning what our culture is, it is the way we talk, we walk, our creative arts, our sports, our dress, our food, our spirituallity, our love for nature, our love for family. We are the bomb!

There are absolutely no people on this earth that are is rich as we are in culture. The first civilization on this very earth was from Mother AFraka.
and everyone else has copied us.

There is nothing that we do that someone else is not copying and trying to claim it as theirs.

We should be so very proud of our rich culture as an AFrikan people first. Amerikkka ain't got nothing to do with it. If anything is has built its backbone comes from us and our culture.

To put it mildly, I'm very disappointed in James Earl Jones because of his comment that African Americans shouldn't waste their time searching for their African roots and then to follow it up by saying that African Americans don't have a culture! If we don't connect to our African heritage and we don't have a culture in America, then who are we? Does Mr. Jones realize what he just did to the minds and hearts of those that listened to his speech? Shocking!

He seriously needs to be challenged on his views. Yes, he has the right to think as he does, but he should feel compelled to defend and support his beliefs if he's going to make them known in the public arena. And not only that, but to go so far as to SUGGEST that we are NOTHING--a people WITHOUT a culture is despicable and reckless.

Quick to point out his mixed heritage--Irish, Cherokee and African, Mr. Jones goes on to claim that he knows more about his Irish lineage than his African, even after having made several trips to West Africa. What is he thinking here? It makes me scratch my head with wonder.

Oh well, he's fodder for a very interesting debate.

Queenie :spinstar:


I'll take a stab at what he's thinking. He's thinking about spending the rest of his remaining days in a mostly white neighborhood with his caucasian wife and friends. It appears he does not want to come across as a big threatening black man like he did back in the days

when and if a revolution begins, let's see how many white folks :grouphug: look at him and say... WAIT ONE MINUTE, He's one of us! He's a dark Irishman. Don't lynch him, Ok Fellahs. Just ignore the cherrokee and ni#@er features

No surprise this is James Earl Jones we are talking about: The same James Earl Jones who has no problem with being called James Earl Ray (Dr. King's killer). The same man who couldn't wait to play Jack Johnson, so he could play a white woman's love interest. Just because he once played an African king in "Coming to America" doesn't mean he is in touch with his African roots. Let's just put this along with Reggie White's idiotic speech.

PA and Sek-

I couldn't have said it better. When I post things like this; I want us to think about who and what we are letting in... Hip-Hop and Rappers are not our number 1 threat.... (hint hint); it is trifling negroes.

Queen;
Your last post was inspirational--thank you.

PA and Sek-

I couldn't have said it better. When I post things like this; I want us to think about who and what we are letting in... Hip-Hop and Rappers are not our number 1 threat.... (hint hint); it is trifling negroes.

Queen;
Your last post was inspirational--thank you.
You are so right, trifling negroes are our true enemies.

You rule Queenie. I wanted to comment as soon as I read this article. But ya'll didn't leave too much unsaid. It's good to see people who know who they are.

I don't know why I should feel astonished at James deplorably inane comments. He's an actor. We think oh wow great performance--come speak for us. The key word is "performance." He plays a character that has nothing to do with who he is when he gets down off that stage. We should never mistake character for actor because when the cameras stop rolling the actor may not have any character at all.

Not just Hip Hop and Rap, but Ragtime, Jazz, Be Bop, Gospel, the Blues--and that is just music. In the literary world we have the Harlem Renaissance and all the writers after that including the gonna win a pulitzer prize writers here at Destee. In architecture we have Benjamin Banneker

In the face of all this (and this is just a small fraction of the whole) what astonishes me is that anyone would be dismayed by what Jones said. The man shoul have been laughed out of the room and his comments taken as the ramblings of a drunkard. Say you were tore up from the floor up last night. You'd better lay off that stuff, Jimmy.