Trayvon Martin, 17, was fatally shot by neighborhood watch leader George Zimmerman. (ABC News; Orange County Jail)
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De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2 – The Work (2&4 Remix)
Plug 1 & Plug 2 are back! Together they drop the first of four remixes from the Deluxe Edition of their First Serve LP, which is available now.
Weekend Best Bet: “For Colored Men”-A Play
Location: MLK Bldg Myers Auditorium
For Colored Men: A play presented by the New Era student organization and SGA
Sun 04/08/2012 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
We’ve all heard of the Ntozake Shange’s Broadway choreopoem turned Tyler Perry play “For Colored Girls . . .” But have you ever wondered about the black male perspective?
Well, if you’re able to get to the DMV area this weekend, Bowie State University is presenting “For Colored Men.”
The play depicts the struggles of 8 black men in today's society and how they cope and survive.
The play is written and directed by Bowie State University alum Kirk Pressley. The play is produced by SGA and New Era. New Era is a student organization on campus that promotes the growth the men.
This is a free event but donations will be accepted.
Editorial: The Black “Hoodie” Stereotype Rap
By Kofi Amankwaa Jr.
NOTE: the opinions expressed in this article are solely based from the author and in no way represents the Indiestry
Humans can be an extremely lazy bunch.
That’s what I kept telling my mother a couple days ago when we were discussing Geraldo Rivera’s comments on the nature of African Americans and Hispanics wearing hoodie sweatshirts. She agreed with me that Trayvon Martin’s death had nothing to do with him wearing a hoodie. It more than likely played a small part, but it was not the sole reason he was killed.
She stated that he was killed because of a negative stereotype that has haunted Black people for years; the stereotype that they could do harm to society unless they are stopped. It’s a sad perception, especially knowing the fact that it’s 2012 and we have a Black president currently in office. Yet, nobody wants to acknowledge this, thereby letting their own fear and ignorance blind their judgment and accept a false standard without exploring depths.
So why is that?
Let’s start from the beginning. Hoodies first took off in the 1970s as a popular fashion worn by the hip hop culture in urban communities, predominately filled with Blacks and Hispanics. It represented anonymity, a means of individuals not wanting to be identified or judged by society. Unfortunately, this statement also pertained to criminals who used it as a means of concealing their identity so they wouldn’t be traced by the police. This negative connotation would be carried over for years and often times it would be associated with individuals who were going to perform criminal intent.
The hoodie later evolved in the 1990s as a means of showcasing academic or team spirit. Once the hip hop culture became more popular and marketable, the hoodie became more mainstream and the fashion was streamlined by the likes of Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. Despite its ascendance to mainstream, the hoodie was still worn and represented by criminals. It got worse when it became cross-referenced in gangsta rap music (hence the term “black hoodie rap”). So even though a lot of people wore hoodies as part of the pop culture commodity, it still carried a negative context towards Blacks and Hispanics despite the changes in the communities.
Rivera’s comments about the hoodie isn’t too far from the truth. Because of the negative factors associated with it, Blacks and Hispanics who were hoodies will often be seen as criminals. It wouldn’t matter if the hoodie was an official NY Yankees’ sporting wear. That’s the type of society we live in.
So how can this perception change? The reality is that it can’t. No matter how badly a lot of us would like these stereotypes to die down, they won’t unless people change the way they live their lives. For humans, it’s our nature to allow our insecurities and fears cloud any possibility of maintaining an open-minded view of the world. Each of us have a certain perception of how the world is and we refuse to accept the chance that our perceptions are flawed or misconstrued. We live in this arrested development state because this is the life we know and a possibility of being wrong shows imperfection. No one wants to be viewed as a erroneous or awry. It showcases weakness; vulnerability; fragility.
Trayvon Martin was murdered because of a stereotype that haunted his race for years. Zimmerman reacted based on a perception he’s familiar with in regards to Black people. No one knows exactly how this confrontation played out but if anyone learned anything from that recorded 911 message that was released on the Internet, Trayvon was crying for help and clearly was not a threat to Zimmerman. It pains me with the knowledge that his life ended based on a stereotype that so many Black people have to deal with on a day to day basis. President Obama asked for “change” four years ago in his campaign for presidency. A lot of us thought he was referring to change in Washington, D.C. politics. Perhaps, it’s time for a REAL change. I want a change in human interaction. I don’t want us to be so judgmental and capricious. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wearing a Penn State hoodie and be often viewed as someone who plans on robbing a person or selling drugs. I don’t want my nephews or my future sons to be gunned down on a mere suspicion that they are up to no good. I want people to not only support the Trayvon Martin family in their time of struggle, but also to make a REAL effort to put an end to this. Negative connotations can’t end unless people learn to be more open-minded and make an effort to change. Unless something is done, expect to see more Trayvon Martins in the future.
Bambu – Sad Life (Video)
This is a new set of visuals from Bambu and DJ Phatrick! Something before New York City’s SOB’s show on March 27th (with Akir, Hydroponikz and Hasan Salaam) and the Homecoming Tour to the Philippines in April! JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON MARTIN!
E-40 – They Point f. 2 Chainz & Juicy J (Video)
40 Water returns! The Block Brochure drops March 26.
Trayvon Martin.....
Every now and then, the Indiestry brings a serious issue to light that needs public attention. While we focus solely on independent arts, we also bring to light current events. Check out the news story below:
The FBI, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida will investigate the killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old Florida high school student, who was shot by a self-appointed neighborhood watchman.
"The department will conduct a thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation," a statement released by the Justice Department this evening said. "The department also is providing assistance to and cooperating with the state officials in their investigation into the incident."
George Zimmerman, who claimed self-defense in shooting Martin, has not been charged with any crime in the fatal shooting of the teenager on Feb. 26.
Outrage over the incident has only grown, as irregularities in the police investigation have been uncovered and 911 tapes released last week showed Zimmerman ignored a dispatcher's directive not to pursue the teen.
Zimmerman also blatantly violated major principles of the Neighborhood Watch manual, ABC News has learned.
The manual, from the National Neighborhood Watch Program, states: "It should be emphasized to members that they do not possess police powers, and they shall not carry weapons or pursue vehicles. They should also be cautioned to alert police or deputies when encountering strange activity. Members should never confront suspicious persons who could be armed and dangerous."
Yet Zimmerman made a nonemergency call to police and pursued him anyway, even though 911 dispatcher told him not to, before fatally shooting the teenager.
The Sanford, Fla., Police Department, relenting to massive public pressure, released parts of these 911 tapes pertaining to the shooting.
On the tapes, Zimmerman, claiming Martin looked intoxicated, says he saw the teenager cut through from the main street in the tidy Retreat at Twin Lakes, onto a path between two blocks of townhouses, and decided to gave chase. Zimmerman told a police dispatcher, "These a**holes, they always get away"
Dispatcher: "Are you following him?"
Zimmerman: "Yes."
Dispatcher: "OK, we don't need you to do that."
Zimmerman didn't stop and ultimately confronted Martin, who was carrying a package of Skittles and a bottle of iced tea. The two allegedly scuffled. In a series of seven 911 calls, eyewitnesses reported that they heard a sort of howling. One caller said, "they're wrestling right in the back of my porch, one man is yelling help."
Then a gun shot rang out. The howling and yelling stopped.
Zimmerman wasn't arrested at the time, and ABC News has learned he was not given a drug or alcohol test that night — standard in most homicide investigations.
Law enforcement expert Rod Wheeler, who listened to the tapes, told ABC News that Zimmerman, not Martin, sounded intoxicated in the police recordings of the 911 calls.
"When I listened to the 911 tape, the first thing that came to my mind is this guy sounds intoxicated. Notice how he's slurring his words. We as trained law enforcement officers, we know how to listen for that right away, and I think that's going to be an important element of this entire investigation," Wheeler said.
According to Chris Tutko, the director of the National Neighborhood Watch Program, there are about 22,000 registered watch groups nationwide, and Zimmerman was not part of a registered group — another fact the police were not aware of at the time of the incident.
Link to news storyLink to "The Curious Case of Trayvon Martin" by Charles M. Blow
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Debate: Are Old Rappers Crashing The Young Man’s Party? (Video)
So with SXSW 2012 just passed, the biggest gripe among the indie scene was why have established artists suddenly invaded the music conference. SXSW is meant to showcase new upcoming talent but this year appearances from Jay-Z, Kanye West, 50 Cent and Eminem caused a stir. The Friday Hip Hop Report Lounge discuss.
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The Indie Daily is the daily counterpart to The Indiestry Magazine, a quarterly online magazine that showcases independent artistry of all forms. Here you will find stories, performance dates, videos, songs, art and more from the best independent talent around the world! If you would like to be featured in The Indiestry Magazine or submit independent content, contact execs@theindiestry.com.