Gwen Stefani sucks!

No seriously, I am too offended by her stereotype of Japanese clubbers/teenagers, especially since Harijuku used to be hang out of mine on Sunday afternoons in the 80s when I lived in Tokyo. While 20 years is a long time, Harijuku is still the same place and same style. Even the pronucation of Harijuku is silly (Eve makes me laugh).

Theodorus was referring to Baba Oje (who I saw recently on that cheesy "Hit Me Baby One More Time" show) of Arrested Development. I think he has it wrong putting him in this context though. Baba Oje, while perhaps quiet or silent on stage was very much the spiritual advisor to Speech the leader of Arrested Development. And don't get me STARTED on Kid Rock it's not the subject though I have to point out that he used Hip Hop as a resume starter.......and people allowed him to.

Good thread.

One Love,
Darren/Zulu

No, Sensei, I'm not Asian. I'm Black, Tsalagi, and Scottish. Should I limit my cultural exposure to only those things produced by African Americans, Native Americans, and Scotts? Should I surrender my license in Iga Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu, from the Bujunkan Dojo of Masaaki Hatsumi, simply because I am not Japanese?

Baba Oje is the older gentleman who appeared onstage everywhere with Arrested Development. He never did anything more than stand up on stage with them, even the other night when AD reunited onstage for that show 'Hit Me Baby, One More Time' on NBC, I never heard anyone complain that they were exploiting senior citizens. In fact, they were applauded for giving a brother a job.

Kid Rock did not appropriate rap. He grew up with (and dated), Black people, and was exposed to Hip-Hop as well as Rock & Roll (two forms of Black Music) most of his life. In the earlier part of his career he employed most of his neighborhood friends, including the strippers and his pornstar girlfriend, Midori (singer Jody Watley's twin sister). This was long before he even met the diminutive Joe C. Apparently yes, he would still be in business, since that's part of how he got so big in the first place.

Yes, I do remember MULTI-PLATINUM recording artist Vanilla Ice (hate on him all you want, but somebody bought the albums). I also remember Snow, Tarie B, Everlast, 3rd Bass (went to high school with MC Serch), House of Pain, Young Black Teenagers, Blood of Abraham, Bubba Sparxxx, Limp Bizkit, The Beastie Boys, and Teena Marie. Should I discount their contributions to my musical world, because they aren't Black?

Any who knows the history of Hip Hop knows that if Debbie Harry had not gone to hang out uptown with Fab 5 Freddy, one fateful night, and been so inspired by what she saw, Blondie would never have recorded 'Rapture'. It was a Caucasian punk rock band that brought an underground culture like Hip-Hop to the attention of the mainstream media.

My point with this, is that hip hop was strong enough to stand, and thrive, under commercial media exposure, and eventually grew bigger than it's initial proponent. It's possible that Harajuku can grow beyond Gwen Stefani, if it is stong enough. After all, these women aren't bound slaves, stored in an overcrowded cargo bin. They are highly paid, contracted, performance artists, hitching their wagons to a rising star, and hoping to get exposure on a world stage that they can easily parley to their own advantage. With the recent popularity of anime, more Japanese artists, like Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi, and the 5,6,7,8's are starting to get some light. It's a far more level socio-economic climate than when old D.W. was making movies.

Maybe if someone like Gwen had come along for Asians 20 years ago, an immense talent like Gerry Woo would have enjoyed more success after his first album (1987's 'Listen to My Heart ', which I still own). People had no idea how to market a Filipino American R&B singer, so the poor guy got dropped by his label, but it's a good thing he kept at it , because he wound up winning Debbie Allen's American Idolesque show 'Fame' in July of 2003, under the name Harlemm Lee

That is what I care.

Hotep,

Rex

I do intend to read and hope to gain some insight...but..are you suggesting I keep quiet when I see issues I can speak to?

Is there nothing to be learned from me? After all, I am a human being, and an experienced member of the BDSM community, and in many parts of this country would not be considered white. (I am Jewish)

I'm suggesting that you be patient with us and let us communicate with one another and work things out ourselves.

Popping in with judgemental, condescending comments about us doesn't really help the conversation.

You are most welcome to observe. Peep as much as you like, but we are trying to work things out for ourselves here. Please respect that.

Just to be clear:
European decent is not POC (even Eastern Europe)
unless you are part something other than European.
Judaism is a religion, not a race.

No disrespect, just being real.

Shalom.