CULTURE CLUB

"No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive."
--Mahatma Gandhi

The western hemisphere's 2008 calendar has just reached the half way point, which metaphorically indicates that life in America is really about to heat up. Yeah. Unfortunately, for more and more U.S. residents this warmth is not always fuzzy.

The Barack Watch
Any day now Barack Obama will step to a podium near you to make his triumph speech underscoring this new & improved culture that he is attempting to bring to Washington. I wonder what side of his dark suit his flag pin will reside? I don’t know why but this ornamental presidential nominee kind of reminds me of putting pretty, decorative curtains on the window of an abandoned building. I’ll admit I am almost intrigued by the colored man’s victory and (flat-out) shocked that he only had to denounce two of his life-long friends to get there. Hell, even the Cripps had to murder a neighborhood homie for their stage credibility. Maybe world domination is different.

For now, I have all but exhausted my analysis with Washington and its cultural politics throughout this humorous race. However, Barack, if you are listening; if your intent is to re-energize my interest, you can start with painting the color of the White House.

NOTHING BUT NET

The NBA Championship between Los Angeles and Boston swings into action this week; and the Disney Network couldn’t be happier about this fairy tale ending to what is sure to be a TV ratings bonanza. This fact will be accentuated by the idling of American Idol. (Addition by subtraction I presume). Fear not hoop historians, while this series isn’t the art of wars like the battles between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson that mere fact won’t stop ABC’s parents, The Disney Company from selling it as such. After all, perception is everything, right Barack? On the court you’ll be so inundated with constant reminders of the NBA’s yesteryears, that you are liable to forget that not long ago, league MVP Kobe Bryant was sneaking up behind white girls and invading their sexual culture. Or, so I’m told. In all honesty, most of the players in this Boston/Los Angeles series are not old enough to understand what the NBA historical culture really exudes. And, for the ones that do understand this culture, David Stern made them “dress” accordingly.
It’s funny how Stern's dress code took the hip out of the hop, but still allowed Jay-Z to represent the (soon-to-be) Brooklyn Nets during the draft lottery. Stern was “masterful” in mandating the suit and ties, but, like most masters, Stern underestimated the core culture.

Jigga Man 1 Jewish Man 0

Bottoms Up
The other night I was on my way home, nodding to Meshell Ndegeocello’s new joint—which is simply sick, unless you don’t understand the black music culture. You knew they’d be one digression, huh?

In any event, there was a homeless guy petitioning for food on the corner of Spring St. and the eastbound I-20. About 50 yards to his right, there were a bunch of other men petitioning for the butt buffet at Magic City. Distracted by the “dance team” entering Atlanta’s cultural landmark, I almost ran into the back of the car in front of me that rolled down the window to give the homeless guy a case of bottled water. This transaction took long enough for me to miss the light. I turned down MeShell’s “Solomon” to attempt to ask the homeless guy why he was pouring the free water onto the pavement. Then I realized being homeless in America is still better than being a citizen in 70% of the rest of the world. The rest of my ride was fairly quiet, like the vocal roots of my culture.

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1 love,
Ray Lewis