What's up with YOUTUBE!?

I don’t know who is aware of the rap group NYOIL. Well this group has just released a new video called, “Y’All Should All Get Lynched” which directly targets mainstream rappers and video girls. It is clearly over the top for shock value and gets discussions started. The artists of this group raise a good point about how black rappers and video girls do not represent the black community in a positive way but instead glorifies stereotypes and the “Uncle Tom/Sambo” model.

The video was only on youtube.com for one day before it was yanked from the site. It can now be viewed on another site which is:
http://www.unkut.com/2006/10/lynched-video-banned-by-youtube/

Supposedly the image of lynching and women shaking their buttocks is too much for you tube to handle and Google has to show its force right away. Meanwhile many other graphic videos remain on you tube’s site including watching people being seriously injured or being beat up in gang fights. What I find particularly funny is that you tube says that this video is inappropriate for viewers yet keys word can be typed in to their search and the same images that are found in the video can be viewed on other video streams. For example, Buffy the Body is a well-known video girl. By typing her name in the search many videos of her shaking her bottom come up. The most shocking video is of Buffy in a strip club and the camera filming these strippers (who are all black females) shaking their behinds. Now I thought you had to be at least 18 in most states to go inside a strip club but with the help of you tube minors no longer have to wait. They can just “you tube” it! You tube has a restricted area that won’t allow you to view some videos deemed inappropriate (Buffy’s Strip Club video isn’t one of them) but don’t become dismayed all you have to do is sign-up and create your own account! This process takes all of less than two minutes and the best part is they do not ask for any proof of age or even a valid email address since I made one up to sign-up.

So my question is: Why was this video taken off of you tube?! Was it because it was unsuitable for the majority to see or is there a deeper meaning behind this? I will say I believe it is the latter part. This video is riddled with political and social embarrassments that our government, media, entertainment, and even our black community do not want to acknowledge. Once something goes “against the grain” as this video does those with power will find any excuse to shut them down. So please watch the video make your own assumptions about it and pass it along to your friends. And if you’re zealous enough you can post a comment on their wall giving your own “two cents” about what you think of the video. I took some time and wrote two posts. There are a lot up there now so I will put mine here so you can get my opinion of the videos.

This is a powerful statement that needed to be made. Anyone who thinks this is too harsh for people to see WAKE UP!! Look at our society anything we want is at the touch of a button on the internet. Kids can see porn and all that by going to the sites. TV is no better…nigga is used on network and cable TV and not censored. Shows like Fear Factor where people eat disgusting things and shows like Flavor of Love where a woman defecates on camera and proud of it is ridiculous.
Why are we so afraid to see lynching photos?? Are we ashamed as black people or scared of what white people will think if we discuss these atrocities?
We need to stand up against these sambo’s who bring us down culturally, politically, and socially. As long as the group who made this video is true in what they say then I’m behind them. Hopefully they will be picked up and a real message can be spread but will probably stifled out by corporate executives who are mostly rich powerful white males who don’t give a f*** about black people and the state of black people as long as we keep ourselves down…
Peace and Love
Comment by Griot 10.16.06 @


I’m reading peoples comments and I can’t help to see that though some people agree with the message of the video they don’t want to put down the “black folk” being targeted in the video.
I ask you “WHY NOT?!”
Let’s first realize that though Race and Racism is a founding factor in Amerikkka it will always take the backburner to economic gain and CLASSISM! The people targeted in this video are money hungry Capitalists that will give anything for the almighty dollar! They do not see themselves as “black” or the man giving them the check as “white” all they see is “GREEN”!! They do not care about the majority of Blacks and other oppressed groups because if they did they would not make the music they do. They aren’t complete idiots because some how they made it to the position they are in and at least see the oppression but do nothing to stop it. They do not care so I have no pity on them.
They would stab you as a BLACK PERSON in the back just as fast as any KKK member for the money!! AND THAT IS REAL!!
The class is the real issue and they no longer belong to the proletariat if they ever did and if anyone has any idea of Marxism they will understand this…
Comment by Griot 10.17.06 @

Why is America a Bunch of “Jack Asses?!”

I hope my title hasn’t offended anyone so far but please hear my case. I am writing this article in response to seeing the newly released film, Jack Ass Number Two (released September 22nd, 2006) directed by Jeff Tremaine. After loosing a bet to a friend I was forced to view this film on its opening night. I was amazed at how many people were at the theater. In fact, the theater was SOLD OUT! The audience ranged from about 13-50 yrs of age and consisted of many different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
*I’m about to give away parts of the film so if you plan to see it scroll pass.
The movie is a longer version of the highly liked T.V. show Jack Ass which is basically about rich white guys with nothing better to do but hurt themselves and perform stupid stunts for a cheap laugh. The film is no different for the exception of the lack of censorship. By making the movie the boys of Jack Ass gain some freedom in what they can show. Starring Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn and a cast of other pranksters the boys play jokes on each other and film it. The only problem with the film I have with it is it’s over the top bestiality and homoerotic scenes: Ranging from Chris Pontius drinking a cup horse semen and Preston Lacy jumping on “Wee-Man” naked, then stripping “Wee-Man” naked and simulating oral sex over him. The entire time I was thinking how could they do this? Then there are scenes that I see where Bam is being branded and other scenes where guys are being shot by a fire hoses. All I can think of is how anyone can find this funny, especially African-Americans. Black slaves were branded since they were considered chattel like cows and civil rights activists were hosed by Public Safety Commissioner Bull Connor in Birmingham, AL in the 1960’s. Yet again I was wrong because there were black people laughing just as hard as white people in the theater.
I don’t want to make it sound that this film shouldn’t have been made. These men have the same first amendment rights as everyone else and should be entitled with what they feel is artistic expression. My problem and reason for writing this is why isn’t there equal representation for all films especially films that have actual substance. Let me explain: There are many independent films made that have to do with political and social problems that people are plagued with nationally and internationally, yet our FCC feels that they must censor truth more harshly rather than vulgar entertainment.
I can compare three films that have real substance but were stifled out. First is Fahrenheit 9/11 (released June 25th, 2004) directed by Michael Moore. The film is about what has become of America since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the government’s greed for oil. Though the film may have been seen as skewed to the left it received much criticism. The film was taken out of many theaters and only allowed to be viewed at certain times of the day. Even if 10% of the film is correct that is entirely too much of how corrupt our American government is. Why are we afraid to see the faults in our government but allow ourselves and our youth to view Jack Ass 2 at any time of the day?
Second is the film, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, narrated by Al Gore and directed by Davis Guggenheim (released May 24th, 2006). The film is about the increasing global warming that is occurring. This is an international problem that will affect everyone ranging from the poorest of Haiti to the richest on Wall St. but again this film was limited in its time to be shown in theaters and only allowed to show in certain cinemas, again while Jack Ass 2 is being shown nation wide in almost all theaters.
Finally is the film Freedom to Fascism directed by Aaron Russo (released July 28th, 2006) which, in my opinion, is the most informative and troubling film to date. The film is a documentary not leaning to either political party or side that takes on the IRS, Federal Reserve and other organizations that are impeding on Americans rights. This film is only being shown in select theaters. You can not even find many reviews on this film or where it is being shown. The best way is to go to the website www.freedomtofascism.com.
All three of these films are informative to the masses of American people about something. Is this wrong? Isn’t this what America is about? Shouldn’t Americans have the equal right to see any of these films just as easily as they see Jack Ass 2? The simple answer is NO! Our government, media markets and capitalist money hungry mongers want to keep the American masses down and numb to the REAL issues that affect us on a daily basis. By giving us films and T.V. shows like Jack Ass we remain numb and exploited. We, Americans, also fail to realize how hypocritical these people in power are. The film Brokeback Mountain, which was a love story about two homosexual cowboys was banned from many southern states theaters because of the homosexual theme yet Jack Ass is filled with homosexual acts. For example, Bam Margera has a rubber dildo shoved in his butt! What is the difference? Actually there is: one was a fictional story plot line while the other was reality. If either of the films should be banned because of homosexual nature it should be Jack Ass.
In conclusion, I say we need to stand up as Americans for our right to have equal play of all films brought to us. If the film is worthy of being made and shown in one theater it should have the right to be played in every theater. Why should we be limited to meaningless dribble that doesn’t do anything except give us a quick laugh. We have the right to intellectual freedom also. That’s why America was founded. I encourage all to try and see the films I compared to Jack Ass. As I stated in the beginning of this article, “do not stop yourself from seeing Jack Ass but enhance yourself by seeing what else is out there and learning something new especially if it will affect your life”.
Some numbers for the films I talked about:
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH- $23,600,306
Fahrenheit 9/11- $119,078,393
Freedom to Fascism- $61,200
Brokeback Mountain- $83,025,853
Jack Ass Number Two- $52,070,722*

*Jack Ass Number Two has only been in the theaters for 2 weeks.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The RIGHTEOUS GRIOTS is a social education organization. Our aim is to give support to the life-course progression of oppressed peoples - by means of social, political, economic, educational, and legal consciousness - in and outside their global political environments. Our particular interest is exposing our youth & others who may be ill-advised by the long-established education setting, media, and U.S. government to self-motivating resources. We believe we can gradually empower people with the objective of grassroots activism. We do not differentiate in opposition to ethnicity, creed, gender, culture, religion, or sexual receptivity.