Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli on Rachel Dolezal: 'You're Not an Ally, You're an Enemy'

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Last week, a Washington state activist named Rachel Dolezal made national headlines when it was revealed that she lived much of her life as white, and was raised by her white parents, before presenting herself as a black woman in recent years. Dolezal resigned her post as president of the NAACP's Spokane chapter yesterday, but maintained in a new interview with The Today Show that she has "identified as black" since childhood. Rapper-activist Talib Kweli spoke to Rolling Stone about his perspective on the controversy.

When I heard about Rachel Dolezal on Twitter, my first reaction was, "Wow, I've seen this movie. It's Soul Man." She even looks a little like C. Thomas Howell; same complexion. I remember watching that movie when I was a little kid and thinking it was ridiculous. I thought, "Okay, clearly, if this was real, everybody would have been able to see through it." Now here we are. 

She's said she identifies as black. Cool story, but that's not a real thing – because at any time, she could go back. That is a privilege that people of color do not have. You cannot just jump back and forth between those worlds. It's very disrespectful to the people of color that she claims to identify with to say something like that. When you say something like that, you are not identifying with us, at all, in any way, shape, or form.

I read that she sued Howard University in 2002 for discriminating against her for being white. She said she was denied a position because of her race, and that a professor there took her artwork off the walls because she was a white woman. To me, that exemplifies the worst aspect of this story. She tried to take advantage of the university by suing them, and then later she advanced her career by playing black. She has a history of taking advantage of the situation.

With all due respect to the NAACP, working with them doesn't prove you're not an asshole. They're the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and we don't even call ourselves colored people anymore. I saw NAACP people in Ferguson when I was down there, but I also saw that they were down with Donald Sterling. Anyone can start an NAACP chapter. So I don't think that's the best judge of her character.

Every quote-unquote "positive" thing she did to help people – these are all things that she could have done without pretending she was a black woman. The fraud of it would be hilarious, and that would be the end of it, if it wasn't for the fact that she was using her privilege to occupy spaces that rightfully should have gone to women of color. I don’t see any good in that. I see a self-serving attitude.

I've seen people asking, "Well, why can Caitlyn Jenner identify as a woman?" I'm no expert, but it seems to me that there's scientific evidence that shows that people can be born with a gender identity that they don't identify with. That's a real thing. I trust science. But I haven't seen any scientific evidence – and I looked – that says you can be born one race and identify as another.

I've known white people who have said to me verbatim, "I feel black on the inside." There's nothing wrong with being honest about that. But she took it to the next level. When you lie; when you're saying your adopted brother is your son; when you're suing Howard one year for saying you're too white, then saying people hung nooses at your door the next year – that's crossing the line. You're not a friend or an ally to the movement. You're an enemy. Maybe you're not as dangerous an enemy as killer cops, but you're not down with us at all.

 

 

Source: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/t...

Watch Don Lemon's Ferguson Talib Kweli Interview Go Horribly Wrong

Today, CNN's Don Lemon interviewed Talib Kweli about why the rapper chose to travel to Ferguson and participate in protests there. It did not go very well.

Early on in the interview, Kweli says he came to Missouri partially because "the media has been doing a horrible job of making sure that the stories get out in the right way," which Lemon takes as an opportunity to defend CNN's coverage. From there, what could have been a productive conversation turns into the worst kind of petty argument.

Kweli takes issue with a particular CNN headline—"Ferguson streets were calm until bottles fly"—arguing that the police should have been pinpointed as the agitators of the situation, to which Lemon counters that Kweli can only speak for his own personal perspective. Then, they start fighting about who greeted whom:

KWELI: Let me explain something. I would listen to you if you had the decency—let me finish—if you had the decency to greet me.

LEMON: I do have the decency. I invited you to come on CNN.

KWELI: Let me tell you what happened. You didn't invite me. Nicole invited me, first of all. You came up—you didn't even say nothing to me. You were on your phone the whole time. You asked how to pronounce my name. You have no respect for who I am.

Talk briefly turns back to the protests, then Lemon tries to get the last word in:

LEMON: As far as you saying, me coming up—I have a job to do. What I'm doing on television is in this phone. I'm reading—hang on—I'm reading—

KWELI: I would have the respect to greet you if I had never met you before, brother. To say, "How are you doing? It's nice to meet you."

LEMON: I said, "How are you doing."

KWELI: No you did not.

LEMON: I did.

And so on. Everyone learned so much about Ferguson today!

Source: http://gawker.com/watch-don-lemons-ferguso...

Meet Diamond D - Coming To The Lodge April 26th

Diamond D is a Producer, writer, DJ and Grammy Award winning hip-hop legend. Period.

The first time I was introduced to Diamond D’s work was in 1992 when I heard Brand Nubian’s “Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down.” I was blown away by everything that track included; from the beats and rhymes, to the way its rhythms swung with an aggressive nature mixed with its nonchalant and somewhat effortless delivery. That same year I was blindsided by another record that became one of my favorite tracks of that year, fellow D.I.T.C. members, Showbiz & AG’s “Soul Clap.” Being a DJ myself, when I play these tracks in a club still to this day, its more than just playing classic hip-hop records, it’s like making a statement, telling the crowd that you’re in the know and aware of something that once shook music. These tracks helped change the way a lot of people looked at hip-hop. And definitely helped change the way hip-hop producers made music going forward.

In the years to follow, Diamond D produced classic records for A Tribe Called Quest, Outkast, Fat Joe, Cypress Hill, House of Pain, The Pharcyde, KRS-One, Busta Rhymes, and Mos Def, as well as tracks for The Fugees iconic album, “The Score,” in which Diamond was awarded a Grammy for his contributions.

Diamond D is currently releasing his highly anticipated album “The Diam Piece” which includes guest appearances from Pharoahe Monch, Black Rob, Talib Kweli, A.G., Fat Joe, Pete Rock, Alchemist, Sadat X, Hi-Tek among others (see official trailer to the right). The Lodge At Red Rocks is very happy to have Diamond D on Saturday April 26th alongside Sirius XM radio’s Shade 45 co-host, Sammy Needlz for Diamond’s official, “The Diam Piece” listening party. Come early at 8pm to hear the album and discuss the record with Diamond D himself. Then Sammy Needlz kicks off the dance party at 10pm. 21 & Over. As always, The Lodge is NO COVER.   

Official music video by Diamond D performing The Diam Piece (Album Trailer). 2014 Lilkee Productions

COMPLEX Magazine's "Diamond D Tells All"

COMPLEX Magazine's "Diamond D Tells All"

This Weekends Sure Shots!

THURSDAY AT TROPICALIA - STRICTLY DISCO

Mr. Bonkerz and Jahsonic team up with One Love and Joodlum for this Thursday's most anticipated event. 

9pm-2am
NO COVER!

FRIDAY AT STICKY RICE - JOHN BOWEN

John Bowen of Video Killers is back at Sticky Rice with his video arsenal.  

10pm-3am
NO COVER!

FRIDAY AT THE LODGE - DJ TRAYZE

DJ Trayze is one of NW DC's best DJ's. He's also one of our favorite in the entire city.  

9pm-3am
NO COVER!

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FRIDAY AT BLACK WHISKEY - DJ ESKIMO

DJ Eskimo sets the dance floor on fire this Friday at Black Whiskey.   

9pm-3am
NO COVER!

SATURDAY AT THE LODGE - TALIB KWELI (DJ SET)

Acclaimed rapper Talib Kweli comes for an exclusive DJ set with party rockers Sharkey and Stereofaith. 

8pm-3am
NO COVER!

SATURDAY AT STICKY RICE - PAT PREMIER

Dance floor master Pat Premier holds it down at Sticky Rice this Saturday.  

10pm-3am
NO COVER!

SATURDAY AT BLACK WHISKEY - JOHN THORNELY (DJ SET)

U.S. Royalty front man steps off the mic and into the DJ booth this Saturday at Black Whiskey.  

9pm-3am
NO COVER!

SUNDAY AT BLACK WHISKEY - 9TH WONDER (DJ SET)

Backpacker hip-hop producer 9th Wonder comes to Black Whiskey for a DJ set via friends, Adrinkwithfriends.   

9pm-3am
See event for details