Thank you so much for posting this, Imconvinced.
It's a good speech. Kanye's latest album is genius, imo. Not as brilliant with the message like an MJ album but musically, it is a gem. He seems to be on the verge of an awakening and he clearly reveres Michael. I don't know that he'll ever have Michael's bravery, savvy or sway, but he's certainly trying to stand up for what he believes in a righteous way. I pray for Kanye and he will need God's protection. I think I said recently in another thread that Kanye is in danger but I should have said that he's "dangerous" because in this world, a Black man who has lost his fear is powerful -- as is the case with Michael. In the U.S. especially, this is considered too much power.
Michael understands his history very well and it's one of the things I admire most about him.
Michael knew the story of Emmett Till, Jack Johnson, Fannie Lou Hamer, Nat Turner, Sojourner Truth, etc. etc. etc. and it is obvious the impact Black history/American history/world history has on him. I'm pretty sure the story of Emmett Till particularly resonated with Joe Jackson, which probably fueled his fear of what could possibly happen to his sons and he tried to do what he thought was best to keep them out of harm's way...
No matter what course I'm teaching in the university, I never end a semester without talking about Emmett Till. He was killed because he was not fearful -- in this case, not fearful to speak to or specifically whistle at a white woman; and being from Chicago, he didn't follow the unspoken Jim Crow laws of the south about moving off the sidewalk if a white man was in your path or diverting your eyes from them. Emmett was meant to be another reminder to Black people about our "place" and to forever keep us in a space of fear and doubt: You need nothing else for psychological slavery. Till's mother wanted everyone to see what they did to her son and had an open casket. It was horrifying and it was necessary. I wasn't born then but the story taught to me by my parents captured my imagination for sure. This incident propelled the civil rights movement towards a quantum leap.
And, Michael's ultimate message will catapult us beyond the mesosphere. [youtube:37gp8n69]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuHeNQeSG8I&feature=fvw[/youtube:37gp8n69]
Power by Kanye West I’m livin’ in the 21st century
Doin’ something mean to it
Do it better than anybody you ever seen do it
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero need his theme music
No one man should have all that power
The clock’s tickin’, I just count the hours
Stop trippin’, I’m trippin’ off the power
(21st century schizoid man)
The system broken, the schools closed, the prisons open
We ain’t got nothin’ to lose, ma’f-cka, we rollin’
Huh? Ma’f-cka, we rollin’
With some light-skinned girls and some Kelly Rowlands
In this white man’s world, we the ones chosen
So goodnight, cruel world, I see you in the mornin’
Huh? I see you in the mornin’
This is way too much, I need a moment
No one man should have all that power
The clock’s tickin’, I just count the hours
Stop trippin’, I’m trippin’ off the power
‘Til then, f-ck that, the World’s ours
And then they (Go)
And then they
And then they (Go)
And then they (21st century schizoid man)
F-ck SNL and the whole cast
Tell ‘em Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass
More specifically, they can kiss my asshole
I’m an asshole? You n-ggas got jokes
You short-minded n-ggas’ thoughts is Napoleon
My furs is Mongolian, my ice brought the goalies in
Now I embody every characteristic of the egotistic
He know, he so, f-ckin’ gifted
I just needed time alone, with my own thoughts
Got treasures in my mind but couldn’t open up my own vault
My childlike creativity, purity and honesty
Is honestly being prodded by these grown thoughts
Reality is catchin’ up with me
Takin’ my inner child, I’m fighting for it, custody
With these responsibilities that they entrusted me
As I look down at my dia-mond-encrusted piece
N-gga, no one man should have all that power
The clock’s tickin’, I just count the hours
Stop trippin’, I’m trippin’ off the power
‘Til then, f-ck that, the World’s ours
And then they (Go)
And then they
And then they (Go)
And then they
And then they (Go)
And then they (21st century schizoid man)
Colin Powells, Austin Powers
Lost in translation with a whole f-ckin’ nation
They say I was the obamanation (abomination) of Obama’s nation
Well, that’s a pretty bad way to start the conversation
At the end of day, goddammit, I’m killin’ this sh-t
I know damn well y’all feelin’ this sh-t
I don’t need yo’ p-ssy, bitch, I’m on my own d-ck
I ain’t gotta power trip, who you goin’ home with?
How ‘Ye doin’? I’m survivin’
I was drinkin’ earlier, now I’m drivin’
Where the bad bitches, huh? Where ya hidin’?
I got the power, make yo’ life so excitin’ (So excitin’)
Now this would be a beautiful death
Jumpin’ out the window
Lettin’ everything go
Lettin’ everything go
N-now-now this would be a beautiful death
Jumpin’ out the window
Lettin’ everything go
Lettin’ everything go
Now this would be a beautiful death
Jumpin’ out the window
Lettin’ everything go
Lettin’ everything go
You got the power to let power go?