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Setting the Bar Low (Redux)
I was going to pass this off as a new post, but I can’t lie to you guys. ::Angel face:: This is actually a post from back when we first started the blog. It was always a favorite of mine, but it just didn’t get the attention it deserved. Kind of like a middle child. So check it out.
A few weeks ago, my boys and I were driving down to see the Rock the Bells concert and, as anticipated, we were stuck in traffic. Bumper to bumper traffic. Traffic that had us going at a consistent 5 mph for an hour and a 1/2. Funny thing was that the traffic wasn’t for our concert, it was for a country music festival one town over. Yes, you read it right. The slew of cars, pick up trucks and gas guzzling SUVs practically parked on the highway were not for A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def or the Cool Kids, but for Kenny Chesney. Who the hell is Kenny Chesney? Just a country singer who’s put out 13 albums, all of which have gone gold or better, has sold out every venue he’s been to and has been to the White House. The White House. They won’t even let your favorite rapper stand outside the White House to take a picture.
So after finally breaking through the highway turned parking lot filled with tons cars that had “Honk If You Love Kenny” written on them and contained women with cowboy hats and bikinis on, we had an open road. Wide open. I could’ve swerved from side to side on a four lane highway and not even hit a tumbleweed. I hope you’re getting the picture, but if not I’ll just say it bluntly. The crowd going to the Rock the Bells concert was nowhere close to the amount of people heading to see Kenny and Friends. Not to mention, they party way harder than us. Check this out…
So I started thinking, what exactly is “doing it big” in the grand scheme of things? Maybe our perspective’s too small. Maybe Black America’s bar for success is just a little too low compared to what is considered success for mainstream America. Why do you say that Seattle? Well I’m glad you asked…
Hip Hop is Dead, Long Live Kenny Chesney
Besides Kenny Chesney, popular American artists (particularly country and Christian artists) make ridiculous bank compared to successful hip hop artists. Rappers may garner a lot of attention from mainstream media, but since when does popularity actually mean you’re getting a check? Besides, half of the riches we see aren’t real. Even if they were, chains, cars and houses are not assets. Businesses, artwork and stocks are. The Jigga man knows the deal. Besides being not being a businessman but a business, man; he’s been known to compare himself to American icons like Frank Sinatra and other popular American artists. He doesn’t even put himself in the league of other mainstream rappers out right now. And for good reason. Have you listened to the radio lately? Smh.
He’s Really Smart for a Black Kid
If music’s not your thing, well then how about something universal. Like education for example. In particular, scholarships. For those of you that have completed college, are in it right now or are currently applying, you’ve probably looked online or through one of those huge books for scholarships. If you’re Black, you were steered toward the African American sponsored ones. That is if you weren’t also left-handed or 1/16 Native American. Did anyone else notice that the requirements for attaining an African American scholarship were severely lower than any other one? When I was applying the average GPA requirement for an African American scholarship was 2.5, while a standard scholarship was 3.0 or above. Also, and I can say this off personal experience, you may also be turned down for being too much over the standard. I’m not knocking these institutions, they provide a great service for Black students, but what example are they setting?
He’s a Great Black (Insert Career)
That term has always irked me, even more when Black people go along with it. Although venues for celebrating success like the NAACP Image Awards and countless other Black career award shows are great, to me, it’s not enough to be the best within one slice of life. I highly doubt icons like Sydney Poitier, Denzel Washington and even Will Smith set out to be Great Black Actors. They sought to be the best, period. So, why should I settle for being a Great Black anything? I want to be the best, not just the best out of my race. After all, I am competing with writers of other races for jobs, credibility and awards. As far as I know, that’s the same regardless of what career path you choose. Employers aren’t going to hire anyone because they’re best Black candidate they saw.
While our predecessors wanted us to rise above and build up our community, I highly doubt they wanted us to only stay within it. Hence why schools are integrated and there is no longer any validity to the term – separate, but equal. Throughout my life, I always heard the lesson of “you have to work ten times harder” than the next man. To show your peers of other races that you can, in fact, run with them and even lead the pack. And while it’s great to have attainable goals, we have to begin to run with the larger pack here in America and eventually lead it. I personally think that happens when we stop settling and start abiding by the standards that everyone else is living up to.
But enough of me talking, what do you think?
Seattle – Pretty Good For A Black Writer, Huh? – Washington
23 Responses to “Setting the Bar Low (Redux)”
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“Throughout my life, I always heard the lesson of “you have to work ten times harder” than the next man. ”
I agree. I have also been raised with this… my parents never told me to be the best black anything, they just wanted me to be the best period…
Although I do not agree every time someone uses “Black” something as a nod of approval, I am guilty of using the phrase. I have said things like “Black Love is Beautiful.” I use it bc black love, to me, is something you don’t see much… All you hear about is drama and Jody (‘Baby Boy’),- like relationships, so when I do see something, it makes me proud.
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Cheekie Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 10:36 am
“I have said things like “Black Love is Beautiful.” I use it bc black love, to me, is something you don’t see much… All you hear about is drama and Jody (’Baby Boy’),- like relationships, so when I do see something, it makes me proud.”
I’m guilty of this, too! And, honestly, I don’t mind using it here. I think phrases like this is less about trying to one-up YT as it is to preserve what we have in our own community. It is something we cherish and hold close to our hearts and it has little or nothing to do with the melanin-challenged.
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Nicki Sunshine Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 10:53 am
I think you are right Cheekie!
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As a Black woman, I’ve always had to be BETTER than my white counterparts. We should always aim high. I don’t believe in setting limits because that’s when you short change yourself.
My thing is: if just one person (regardless of race) has come before me and done a task, then in my mind, I know for a fact that it can be done. The person has already shown it’s possible.
Even if something has not been done, why not try to be the FIRST to do it. Carver made various inventions using the peanut, so I feel you can do or go as far as your imagination will take you.
Quoting Master P–there’s “NO LIMIT” to how far you can go–aim high and land among the stars. Being Black is a blessing not an excuse to not aim high.
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Speaking of Hip Hop: Seattle HAVE YOU HEARD THAT NEW CLIPSE FEAT KANYE WEST RECORD?!?! Who said they can’t do it without the Neptunes!
Back on topic, I am not going to try to Sugar Coat my answer. I BLAME THE SOUTH! You guys and all the snap music teenage driven, microwable Supaman (YoooUUU) have set the bar so low, the magic from the hip hop experience is gone.
Don’t even look at it from a terrible music perspective, look at it from a marketing, ATL is not a big market. New York is. While your biggest show would be at Club Whole in the Wall, our biggest show is MSG! Our Local Press is national news to you. Having NY as a major marketing place is just better for business.
Back when NY was on top, specifically ’98-’99 was the only time the part 50 years that country music wasn’t the top selling genre in America. That was the DMX Jigga surge. We had ground breaking tours (The Hard Knock Tour was the first HipHop tour to sell out every arena.) Now the only records being broken are Ringtone sales. Congrads you can only sell 30 sec of your song, no one wants to hear the rest.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 10:41 am
I listened to that joint this morning! Firrrrre! Can’t wait to hear “Til The Casket Drops”. I hope you got that mixtape from awhile back, “Road to Til The Casket Drops”!
But yes, about the topic at hand. Southern rappers that lack lyricism messed up the game. They were looking at the paper and as a result flooded the game with shit covered shit and put it on a CD for purchase. Forgot about saying something and just focused on a hot beat with a hook. Look at Gucci Mane.
On that note, I’m about to crank up some Nas and reminisce.
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UNCLE CHeeKZ Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 10:50 am
that play clothes mixtape was flawless. Esp since it was pretty much just Pusha and Malice without the rest of teh re-up gang.
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I do think we set the bar too low. I called into a local radio show here (it was a Sat morning show for the HBCUs station) and said that the attitude the DJs were displaying (the topic was cheating and school work) was typical of that HBCU, and people wondered why that institution was not considered a premier HBCU. They accused me of being all kinds of racist, prejudiced, Uncle Tom, et al until I told them that I graduated from there, and knew what I was talking about.
Too many times we take a good thing (helping those who may have been disadvantaged) and screw it up by not having high enough standards (that pesky 2.5 gpa thing. And yes, I was salty about not getting scholarships because my gpa was “too high”).
Finally, black people need to realize that there is a whole world of commerce just waiting for us to engage, as more than just clothing designers, music artists, rappers, and sports stars.
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UNCLE CHeeKZ Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 10:49 am
This is another Topic for three ways…… HBCU’s vs predominately white universities. Since everyone on the threeways staff went to one of the latter, its going to be a one sided arguement.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 10:54 am
Good looks Sir CHeeKz A Lot. We’ll throw that around idea like a loose chick at an after party and see what comes up.
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InsomniaPoet Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 11:02 am
Which ones are premier HBCU’s? Just curious?
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CHeeKZ McSnob Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 12:55 pm
LMAO! HAHAHHAHHAHA* Oh God. She just ethered every alumni
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Great post, Seattle! You’re so articulate and clean!
“Employers aren’t going to hire anyone because they’re best Black candidate they saw.”
Unless they’re trying to fill some sort of quota….naw, scratch that, this doesn’t even apply here. Maybe if they have the best golf swing at the country club outings.
“When I was applying the average GPA requirement for an African American scholarship was 2.5, while a standard scholarship was 3.0 or above. Also, and I can say this off personal experience, you may also be turned down for being too much over the standard.”
I knew the former, but had no idea about the latter. Wow. What a stark display of the Black community as a whole. SMDH.
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Living from the spirit transcends things like race, age, nationality etc etc etc……..don’t allow yourself to be boxed in by such small notions in the grand scheme of the universe, those things are really insignificant…….
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In regard to “He’s a Great Black (Insert Career)”
I follow the Black List Volumes on HBO and I really encourage the readers to check them out. There have only been two, but here’s a clip from Vol. 1.
Fast forward to 1:55 and listen, Chris Rock makes a very interesting point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ0fRBtAB1w
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Its never been a secret that Blacks have to work harder to overcome prejudice, double standards, and perception. It pains me to see us settling for the status quo. Why is it so un-cool to be the best in school? I won’t lie, when I was in middle, jh high, and hs, I was always at the top of my class, but I was ashamed because nerd had such a negative connotation that I wanted to be “normal”. So I never touted my skill or bragged about it. I would get my As and keep it to myself.
As I got more mature I learned that these people who were so cool in school and just passed barely wouldnt make it and that my route was best for me. I’m more secure now and stress to the youth what it truly means to be successful and the steps to go about it. Thats truly all u need!
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You know what, on the flip side of things, I’m tired of people telling me I accomplished something because I’m Black. When I got accepted into [insert non-bougie Ivy League School here], I was told by a few of them otha folk, “Of course you got in: You’re a Black Woman; they need you.” (Dare they say I speak articulately, too.) When I received job offers from multiple companies, I got the same response from people. Grrr!
While I’m not ignorant to the so-called quotas many academic institutions and companies have, I find it an insult to my intelligence to say that my amazing personality and unbelievable work-ethic had nothing to do with my success. Don’t get me wrong, I love that I can represent our people among the otha folk. But I’m a firm believer that I’ll stand out and do well no matter what I do because of who I am, not what I am. That’s the level that we should all strive for. The successes of those who meet and even surpass the set standards of the “majority” need not be slighted or belittled by a reminder that we’re a minority within the minority—however true it may be.
The point is, I’d take your job if I were blue.
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Britt Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 4:56 pm
PREACH!!! And guess what? So many black women are attaining higher levels of education, high level jobs in corporate america, etc. that black women excelling IS the standard. Therefore for your one job, dozens of other black women applied and were rejected, not to mention other races of men and women.
You better preach!
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Good points, Seattle and co. My mom always told us that we needed to be twice as good to be considered even, so outshining YT is nothing new. Haterlicious comments from YT’s are to be brushed off the shoulder like dandruff (cuz they be hatin’ for REAL if your light starts blocking their view of themselves).
Just based on what I’ve grown up with, our standards have always been higher than the average white American’s (reference: George W). I think it may have been Chris Rock who was saying that true equality would be when we as Black people can accel by being mediocre.
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You know… this has always been something that made me feel a little “peeved” to say the least, especially when it occurs in our communities and other brown faces don’t see a problem with it.
Namely because my mother brought me to this country [in part] so that we could have a better life and that educational opportunities would be open to me. And I took that to heart and turned it into action.
Proof: I graduated high school at 17, entered college at 18, got my Bachelor’s Degree at 20, and will complete my Master’s Degree at age 22.
Success is no joke to me. Regardless of racism or affirmative action, I KNOW I will be successful… why? Because I’m doing everything to ensure it. I’m not naive, and I know some opportunities may be limited because of race wars, but only so many doors can be closed because I’m taking steps to ensure that [for lack of better words] I’M THAT BITCH, lol.
So… um, Missa Steele… where yuh deh deh? This Yhardi Girl is ready fi yuh!
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This post reminded me of something….
I remember in high school when I got accepted early decision to an Ivy. This one (white) dude was like “Wow man. Not even my 1400 on the SAT was good enough. It’s good to be Black!”
Of course I was involved in 10 times more stuff than him and ranked higher in the ROTC program. But of course that means we were just even…right.
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JamaicanBeauty Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Ignorance… should never be bliss.
White Privilege just has them living in this make believe world that is just totally ridic. When I was an undergrad student, I had this seminar on white privilege as part of my oppressed groups class… and everything in the seminar was like common knowledge to me, but the white folks in there were looking OD retarded because they never “knew” that society was just so double standard.
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wow, I like this post!
a few commemnts
1. Country v. hip-hop?; success should be measured in mainstream appeal, why limit yourself?
if you’re going for niche audiences (to be true to your craft) thats fine, but be aware that $$$ will be on the low-end (starving artist; mac & cheese, mayo sandwiches, leftovers)
2. kids; I really believe that all kids are born geniuses, they ask all these questions, absorb so much; we make them dumb via example, name-calling, bad schools, bad up-bringing, whatever we do to make them think that an education is not worth it or a liability
3. career; everyone should strive to be the best in whatever they do, someone has to be the first Jackie Robinson, Colin Powell, President Obama; then its up to #’s 2, 3, & 4 that follow to keep the standards up
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