Honestly?

It takes a lot to make me cringe these days.

Not that I have some sort of insane tolerance for things, but let's face it: in the world we live in with media coverage of pretty much everything, the Internet providing access to whatever sick, twisted and depraved material people are searching for, I'm just generally never surprised at the things that people are into any more.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, I got an email today and it made me cringe. Please note: I didn't even open the message.

I have a friend who sends out roughly 963 emails a week, generally from one of two categories: twisted shit (accidents, violence, etc.) or porn. And ladies, you're in luck, he's single!

Anyway, most of the time I simply delete anything he sends me because I'm not a nearly 40-year-old guy who doesn't realize that the people I email can just as easily access porn as I do without flooding their inbox with boobs on a daily basis.

Clicking around, I heard that familiar ping signaling a new message and went to check it out. It was from this friend. Let's call him Bas.

Anyway, Bas' latest forward to me - The Police Scanner audio from the Greyhound Bus decapitation.

Who in the fuck wants to listen to that? I sure don't.

The thing that gets me about messages like this is what goes through someone's head before they (a) listen to the thing themselves and (b) decide it's something they need to send to everyone they know.

Personally, hearing people undoubtedly screaming in horror during an incredibly horrific event isn't my cup of tea. If it's yours, I don't know if we can be friends.

It's like the premise of the movie Untraceable, where the more people that log onto a website the faster the victim dies. Me, I'm never logging onto that website because I'm not one for watching someone die. In this case, the same goes for hearing it.

Somebody has violently lost their life.

A family has lost one of it's members.

Lives have been eternally changed.

And I've got some douchebag friend that is flipping the audio of the whole thing to everyone he knows.

Maybe you think about that before you hit that "Send" button next time...

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An Open Letter to Anyone Who Wants to Listen

Yesterday, I sought out clarity and understanding of an issue.

Today, I want to pass along what my venture has taught me and what I pledge to do from this day forward as a result.

In hoping to have a discussion, I was sent a link to Google images of horrible atrocities.

In sending a private email asking for insight and opinions, I was told that is what us white folks always want to do.

In asking to help educate and open minds, I was told that educating and opening minds wasn't part of the deal.

Racism and bigotry are issues that have always struck a chord with me. That's what happens when you're the white kid who grew up loving hip hop, hung out in a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities and was nicknamed "United Nations" by his old man for being so accepting of everyone, no matter the skin tone.

I do not tolerate either and do not understand those who do. We no longer live in a time where "that's the way they were raised" can be used as an excuse, not that it should have been in the first place.

I also do not understand being bound to the past beyond the point of moving forward. The sins of the father do not always fall to the son and the ills of the father work the same way. At some point, history and the past must simply be that; remember it, swear to never repeat it and work towards the future. The future is what we can control and change and influence. That should be our focus.

Yesterday, part of one of the comments nearly brought me to tears:

If you've had thousands of your people killed and burned while White offspring laugh and smile at the feet of their murderous fathers, then you would totally understand. Slave ships traveled to and fro for 200 years. Two thirds of Africans died on each trip. Do the math.These are the images burned in our memories from birth and where the majority of our distrust for Whites is grounded.

That shit is sick! It's fucking disgusting and an entire race should be ashamed that their grandfathers, brothers, uncles, neighbors, priests and presidents basically authenticated DEATH with no action!

I am not ashamed of who I am, nor do I feel I should be. Slavery and the atrocities committed during those times were not committed by each and every white person. I am as sickened by the pictures linked to me in the comment as anyone with any moral fiber should be, but I am not responsible for those sins. Please don't judge me as such. Doing so is as mistake and a missed opportunity.

I saw yesterday as an opportunity, to open a line of discussion on a topic that is of the utmost importance in our world. Instead of discussing the random, unimportant topics that are usually featured here, I wanted to do something I think is important - educate.

It's not my job or any other Black person to educate Whites on what is right and wrong to say.

Get a fucking book and educate yourselves instead of focusing on yourselves and yourselves only.

No one else in this country does this. We know more about Whites than they know about themselves because we are forced to know.

My question is this: Why not you? Or me? Or anyone?

There isn't any rule that says you can't help someone grow and become a better person. This isn't about black or white, it is about educating, understanding, learning, growing and becoming a better world.

For me, the future is what is most important. It is the world in which my children will live and grown and learn. I cannot change the things that have happened before my time, but I can educate myself, my children and anyone else who wants to listen to where we have been, where we are and where we can go.

Education and communication are the answer.

I refuse to stand in the past and not be a part of building a better future, for everyone.

My world is colour blind.

I only hope that yours is too.

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Show Some Respect: Dr. Dondra West

On Saturday, November 10, the mother of Hip Hop Superstar Kanye West, Dr. Dondra West died unexpectedly at age 58.

Since that time, there have been hundreds of posts and stories about this tragedy and thousands of more comments on blogs just like this one. Jump over to Show Hype and see for yourself if you don't believe me.

I was moved to write this piece after reading some of the garbage that is floating through the blogosphere in regards to Dr. West's passing. My standing as a Kanye West fan has nothing to do with this. This is about showing respect.

Too many of the postings that I have seen in the past days have discussed the potential botched cosmetic surgery, speculation about the legitimacy of the doctor(s) who performed said operations and numerous other things. One person was even kind enough to impose their religious views about cosmetic surgery and vanity on the discussion.

An incredible woman died and I haven't read one article celebrating the life she lived and to me, that's a god damn shame.

Obviously, I didn't know Dr. Dondra West personally. What little I do know about her has been gleaned from interviews, articles and the lyrics of her son's songs. To me, the things that need to be remembered and spoken of about Dr. West were best said by John Legend:

"Dr. West wasn't just the mother of a superstar. She was an accomplished, successful, beautiful woman in her own right. She raised and nurtured a brilliant son with the strength and resilience to follow his dreams and to turn tragedy to triumph."

After 30 years as an educator and at one point serving as the Chairwoman of the Chicago State University English Department, Dondra West left education to work with her son, serving as both CEO of West Brands LLC and Chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping decrease dropout rates and improve literacy.

Whatever you think about Kanye West doesn't matter. You're views on Plastic Surgery are inconsequential as well. Step out of the TMZ, Us Weekly, Reality Television haze and understand this:

The world lost an incredible woman last weekend and it is a tragedy. Her family deserves your sympathy and she deserves your respect.

R.I.P. Dr. Dondra West

And Kanye - Mama was very proud of you...

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Interview #1: Maybe A Little Star Struck

So last night I conducted my first real interview as a writer. I had done a couple three or four question jobs before with various people, but never anything substantial. Not until I sat down with Cabral Richards.

Anyone with a pulse and an inclination towards sports in Canada knows him best as Cabbie, the lovable host of "Cabbie on the Street" and "Cabbie Unlimited" on The Score Television Network. Check your local listings.

Cabbie and I were actually introduced a couple years ago by a mutual friend - what up Fihn? - and have stayed somewhat in touch since then. He also went to the same high school as one of my best friends and they hung out some, so it really is a small ass world.

Anyway, during the summer, a few of the boys at B&C had landed some nice little interviews and I was feeling a little left behind the pack and thought about who I could track down that would be willing to rock with me. Cabbie was the first person that came to mind. He's perfect for an audience like this and is just a solid dude. So I fired off and email and waited...

And waited...

And waited...

Until I finally got an email back, complete with digits and a plan.

We connected last night and the results should be up on the site tomorrow and lemme tell you... It's good!

I have to admit too - namely because Sarah reads this thing daily and would pull my card for not being honest - I was a little star struck sitting on the phone with Cabbie. But can you blame me?

Here is a guy that I admire and respect that I have been fortunate enough to meet and am able to call a friend that tons of people watch on a weekly basis. Just while we were on the phone seven or eight people stopped by to say hi and give him some love. Including this cat named Roman...

Roman told Cabbie that "our bodies are like radios in this universe" which received a "my radio is off dude" from Cab before Roman continued on how he always knew that he would meet Cabbie one day. Seriously, some dudes are crazy. Roman needs to make sure he wears his helmet.

Sure, part of it was star struckedness (look Mom, I just invented a word!) but part of it was just respect and appreciation. There is something very fulfilling about sitting down and doing what you love to do with someone as engaging as Cab. The way he is on TV is the way he is in real life, and as an interview, that is perfect. Besides, I'd sit and talk sports and bullshit with a total stranger for an hour, so why not get a little amped and talk to someone who is on National television pretty much every night and has two Facebook Groups created in his honour?

The only problem? The high I got, it's like crack... and I want more!

If you want more of Cabbie - click this!

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A Discourse on Discourse

"As for you Spencer “bitch” Kyte, were I come from you enter a man house uninvited and talking shit, you get a machete in your punk ass! On one hand it’s great to see the recognition that TSF gets from across the internet. Unfortunately we are getting so much attention that sewer rats like you feel compelled to come up in here with your ignorant shit, looking for your 15 minutes of fame."
- Sankofa, November 3, 11:06 AM at The Starting Five

The above quote was left for me in response to a comment I made at TSF about the Marc Ecko bullshit I was rambling about yesterday. Thanks for the inspiration...

* * * * *

Since I've been at this, I've stooped to name calling once or twice in my comments, though I've never made mention of someone catching a machete with their back. I read what the angry Sankofa had to say this morning, literally, first thing after I woke up and the entire drive into school with Sarah was spent discussing what I think is one of the plagues of our society.

The minute that we start to use name calling and threatening language, it automatically lessens the likelihood that someone is going to take what you say as intelligent, even if what you have to say is brilliant. Everything that is said becomes clouded in perceived ignorance because you've dropped an F-bomb or called someone a bitch.

You can say the same thing in much more educated and eloquent terms and make your point just the same, all the while not getting people's defenses up. We don't all have to have the exact same viewpoints on everything - what fun would that be? - but being able to argue your side intelligently without making it either (a)hateful, (b) derogatory or (c) threatening will make me want to keep talking and learning more of where you're coming from to further educate my opinions and views. Knowledge is power after all...

* * * * *

Respect begets respect.
Intelligence begets intelligence.
Act like an ass, talk like an ass, be treated like an ass.

* * * * *
Perception is everything, like it or not. How someone sees you, through your words, your actions, the clothes you wear is where they are going to form their opinion.

Is it right? No.
Is it fair? No.
But it's the world we live in.

Education and intelligence trumps all.

Never stop learning...

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