Sunday, 26 September 2010
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HOMOHATRED IN REGGAE MUSIC - WHERE IS THE ONE LOVE?!
1996
Jennifer Lopez sang "nigga" and the ass worshippers changed religions! White supremacists recorded bigoted punk rock songs and they were exiled to independent record labels. Michael Jackson sang "kike me" and the media whipped him like his bleached skin was suddenly ebony black. Michael re-mixed and apologized more quickly than "Kunta Kinte" called himself "Toby" in the film “ROOTS”.
Gangsta rappers are routinely checked for the sexism and homohatred in their lyrics. Eminem's (Enema's) psycho raps are regular front page news. But, reggae musicians have a magical and special privilege globally. Somehow, they are typically allowed to sing hatred without challenge or reprimand.
Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks caught some flack in the 1980s. But, it was nominal. Buju sang "Boom Bye Bye". It was a graphic and murderous song about a peeping tom who brutally murders two gay lovers, in their own bedroom, with a shotgun. This violent song does not just condone spying upon, stalking, and killing gays. It celebrates such abuses in syncopation.
Shabba often went off on curious gaybashing tangents during interviews. Both "artists" made it clear that their insincere apologies were extended under duress and only temporarily valid, until checks were cashed. Today's reggae lyricists are colder and bolder with their hateful gaybashing tunes. And, the reggae bands play on as the checks roll in....
At a recent reggae awards show, gay protesters from a rebel organization called "OutRage" were nearly killed by gaybashing reggae music fans, led by macho teens yelling "Kill the Batty Boys & Chi-Chi Men!!!" (Caribbean monikers for homosexuals). Police officers rescued the protesters. Yet, not a single attacker was arrested.
How and why do we homosexuals threaten Jamaica/Jamaicans so? Why is their collective hatred so rabid against us? Why does the world allow this hatred to fuel an entire musical genre? Songs like TOK's "Chi-Chi Man" celebrate torching and shooting up gay bars, just as Capleton's song "Bun Di Chi-Chi".
Why is there so much global silence about black on black cruelty, whether it is slavery in Sudan or gaybashing in Jamaica? Why do so few leaders challenge homohatred as Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Kweisi Mfume and the NAACP have done? Why are so few black gay celebrities out and sexually honest like Meshell N'degeocello and Alice Walker? Why are droves of black gay celebrities living lies by pretending to be heterosexual or bisexual?
It pains me to know that the Jamaican culture, that I love so deeply, blatantly hates me simply because I love women as a lesbian. I am clearly told that I am not welcome as a tourist on Jamaican soil unless I hide who I am. And, I know that reggae lyrics will deliberately offend me no matter how many lesbian dollars buy reggae CD's or how joyfully droves of lesbians’ rhythms feel the reggae beats.
The ganja, the jerk chicken, the limeades, the dreadlocks...all mesh to mean One Love, except when it morphs into One Hatred for the One Love that we homosexuals share with consenting and kindred adults. If Jah rules, then why are we homosexuals, who are created by Jah in every living species, always ruled out by this hateful music? Why can't I and I be Irie too??? Rastafarians are generally scholars on racist biblical lies, yet Jamaicans generally revel in equivalent biblical lies about homosexuality.
All of the "-isms" are related. One cannot be righteous and reject racism while embracing sexism, heterosexism, and homohatred. One cannot divinely enagage humanism while hating humans who are homosexuals. One cannot share wisdom about Babylon while spreading lies about Sodom.
One Love...One & ALL. Nothing is as “batty” as ignorance, scientific moronism, sexual insecurity, religious fiction, and toxic bigotry! Until then, beware: "Batty boys and girls" like me will be wielding bigger and better bats!!!
Like Peter Tosh sang: "Like a stepping razor...I am dangerous!"...Like Bob Marley & The Wailers sang:"You are the big tree...but we are the small axe." Like Sister Carol sang: "Get it straight Africans....Get it straight!"
Jah know, for all righteous rebels, the revolution soon come. And, it bettamustcome for all who are righteous warriors, irrespective of sexual diversity. None of us will be free until all of us are free...
Labi Siffre : "White Slavers In Dreadlocks"
beenie man and buju banton, sizzla, tok and elephant man,
vybz kartel and bounty killer, capleton - mon,
why you all degrade and weaken the black nation
‘stead of trying to save em from hatred and discrimination?
cutting edge, brave and bold you claim, but lame
your salvation answer be to teach black children hatred
and discrimination of others; that's no way to raise
themselves black sisters and brothers
hatred and discrimination, they the tools the white man
used to make us slaves
clever of you to learn the white slaver’s ways;
and it makes you lot o money of course
that way always does (no shock)
you learned that lesson well (from Rupert Murdoch?)
black brothers no, methinks not.
you just another jancro flock
of slack white slavers in dreadlocks.
you preach hatred and discrimination of me,
a gay, black man who wrote
“Something Inside So Strong” a song of defiance
and self-affirmation for black people, red people,
gay people, disabled people, old people, women,
children, every people suffering prejudice
righteous, you quote your holy book like standard
'ypocrites and fascists, and no surprise look see
as usual list selectively only the parts you need to sell
your cowardice and bigotry; well, we shouldn’t expect
courage from you fellas who clearly lack the balls
to follow Nelson Mandela
and no matter how high you fly you renk
who raise yourselves by treading on others
black brothers no, methinks not.
you just another jancro flock
of slack white slavers in dreadlocks.
© labi siffre ‘06

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Comments (82)
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http://www.jouvay.com/interviews/staceyann.html
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2009/11/jamaican-psychiatrist-gay-females-increasing-faster-than-males.html
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/06/movies/film-review-examining-gay-issues-in-racial-settings.html?pagewanted=1
http://www.queerty.com/buju-banton-met-with-the-gays-then-he-spat-in-their-faces-20091016/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3602936.stm
http://www.queerty.com/really-want-to-boycott-jamaica-stop-watching-logo-or-solving-vanna-whites-puzzles-20090428/
http://www.queerty.com/eminem-just-agreed-not-to-perform-anti-gay-songs-and-were-embracing-him-why-not-buju-banton-20091226/
http://www.queerty.com/eminem-just-agreed-not-to-perform-anti-gay-songs-and-were-embracing-him-why-not-buju-banton-20091226/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbT9i21oO4Q
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http://aliciabanks.xanga.com/732742615/unholy-ugliness-in-uganda---racist-white-americans-pimp-african-homohatersshame/
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3161310.stm
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http://celebrifi.com/gossip/Eminem-Just-Agreed-Not-to-Perform-AntiGay-Songs-And-Were-Embracing-Him-Why-Not-Buju-Banton-1322638.html
http://www.glaad.org/bujubanton
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/buju-banton/
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2009/12/antigay-singer-buju-banton-jailed-on-drug-conspiracy-charges.html
http://www.jamaicancaves.org/boom-bye-bye-lyrics.html
http://www.queerty.com/buju-banton-met-with-the-gays-then-he-spat-in-their-faces-20091016/
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2010/11/london-youths-stab-suspected-gay-batty-man-12-times.html
Gregory Isaacs ~ LOVE Reggae
[col. writ. 11/9/10] (c) '10 Abu-Jamal
His name was Gregory Isaacs, and for a time, his sweet, sultry tenor rang like a birdsong on a spring morn -- or rather, a steamy, summer night.
For reggae lovers, the rebellious songs and stylings of Rastaman Bob Marley seemed to exemplify the best of the breed.
But along came Isaacs, who sang of love, not rebellion. And despite our best wishes, his songs stuck like honey in the ear, in the mind, and in the heart.
He became emblematic of what came to be called 'lovers reggae' -- best exampled by his 1980's classic, "Night Nurse"
'Oh no, I don't need no doc; not when I got da nurse around da clock.......' With style, a slow molten swagger, and lover's confidence, Gregory Isaacs opened minds around the worlds with his songs.
He expanded reggaes's possibilities, and made it the music, not just of the downtrodden, the down pressed, but of those who had room in their hearts for Love's sweetness, and its triumphs.
Born in Kingston, Isaacs lived a rough life as a youth, and an even rougher one as a man.
Drug addiction, repeated arrests, and stays in joints on two continents; and the inevitable ups and downs of Life in Babylon took it's toll.
But it did not wipe away the memory of an extraordinary singer.
Gregory Isaacs passed away recently at 59.
His name, his voice, and his magnificent songs will long be remembered.
--(c) '10 maj===================
The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!
--(c) '10 maj===================
The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!
Audio of most of Mumia's essays are at: http://www.prisonradio.org
http://www.pearlswindow.com/2010/11/now-this-tickled-me.html
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2010/12/jamaican-gay-activist-brutally-murdered-in-kingston.html
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2006/08/one_gay_man_is_.html
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1182991,00.htmlhttp://jasmynecannick.typepad.com/jasmynecannickcom/2006/07/gay_lesbian_les.html
http://www.unicef.org/jamaica/violence.html
http://www.queerty.com/did-buju-banton-lose-grammy-award-to-bob-marleys-son-because-of-his-gay-hate-lyrics-20100201/
http://www.queerty.com/the-real-injustice-of-the-grammy-nominations-doesnt-involve-buju-banton-20091205/
http://www.queerty.com/naturally-buju-bantons-coke-arrest-was-a-set-up-by-you-hateful-gays-20091215/
http://www.queerty.com/buju-breaks-gay-promise-20071108/
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=12309
http://www.queerty.com/if-youre-sick-of-the-gay-is-the-new-black-argument-dont-watch-this-video-20101210/
http://www.alternet.org/culture/149380/jamaican_anti-gay_'murder_music'_heard_by_millions_in_the_us
http://aliciabanks.xanga.com/732765426/where-is-the-rebel-music---pimping-past-the-revolution/?page=1&jump=1518860102&leftcmt=1#1518860102
http://www.rollingout.com/insiderohome/ro-today/12598-reggae-artist-vybz-kartel-bleaches-his-skin-why-self-hate-continues-to-destroy-the-black-community.html
http://aliciabanks.xanga.com/732474948/clarity-on-colorism---on-dont-play-in-the-sun/?page=2&jump=1519059646&leftcmt=1#1519059646
http://glaadblog.org/2011/02/13/recording-academy-awards-grammy-to-anti-gay-violence-advocate-buju-banton/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+glaadblog+(GLAADBlog.org)&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/02/13/Buju_Banton_Facing_Life_in_Prison/
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2011/03/jamaica-nude-male-suspected-rape-victim-brutally-killed.html
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2011/03/june-sentencing-date-for-banton.html
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2011/03/jamaica-rastaman-attacks-woman-suspected-of-being-lesbian.html
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2011/03/anti-gay-reggae-star-buju-banton-to-wait-longer-for-sentencing.html
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2011/03/jamaica-judge-allows-gay-panic-defense-for-killing-alleged-homo.html
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2011/04/germany-authorities-expel-hardline-anti-gay-jamaican-imam.html
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2011/04/watch-ac360-on-indictment-of-tyler-clementis-roommate.html
http://sandrarose.com/2011/05/remembering-bob-marley-feb-6-1945-may-11-1981/