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24 comments:
Russell Simmons has all the resources in the world available at his fingertips. If he can't get it himself, all he has to do is ask someone who can. That's a lot of power to have. If I had that kind of power, I would use the media as an outlet to address the condition of the African American male and the problems in the community. That's what Russell did. He used music and movies to try to get a message out to the people about the problems in black communities. He even tried to develop a movie about how drugs was taking over our communities. I think it was a great concept, but I would have gone about it in a different way. Russell created a vampire movie called The Addiction which was about how a college student getting bitten by a vampire and needing blood (heroin) to survive. The more people he bit, the more people he infected thus creating a world of vampires (junkies). Although I like where he was going with this, vampire movies really don't sell and the real meaning can easily get lost. I would take more of the Tyler Perry approach. Tyler Perry takes real life black issues and CLEARLY points them out in his movies. And for the most part, his movies have done really well! You have to attack the people with the hard hitting issues. Russell has tried this approach but seemed to get cut out of every picture with this concept, like Boyz in the Hood. I would definitely use music, movies, and television to address the conditions affecting our communities today.
I would like to base my discussion around the ever popular slogan, “We are Hip-hop”. For a long while now Dr. P has been jamming that phrase in our head, but here is where it can really come to use. Russell Simmons is large, enough said. He has money that one can only imagine and everyone knows that if you got money, you can make some things happen. When it comes to this cat, it’s more than just money; Simmons has a world of connections with his name on everything. How can a person possibly make the impossible happen when they lack networking skills? But not just that, we are talking about a man with a vision, tools, and the skills to make it happen. True, he went to a city college, but never finished, I just look at it as though he was one of the lucky ones. Now lets say that I’m Russell Simmons, first off, I would have Kimora in check (she talking about a divorce and whatnot). All jokes aside, Russell and Kimora were the power couple of our time (before Barack and Michelle). We live in a community where kids don’t see black couples making it out the ‘hood’ and raising their kids TOGETHER under one roof. Since I’m a well respected ‘impresario’ and ‘mogul’ all will put my face on the big screen. I see Russell coming out with his own credit cards and television programs left and right, but I have a great respect for him because he uses his resources to give back. Advertising certain programs such as Teen Summit can really help out in a huge way (too bad they took it off the air). I would bring such programs back, but I will also broadcast programs and other media vices of black men actually doing the right thing; raising a family, working legitament jobs, and even going to church. Why stop there, I could also give some of my wealth to those in need. Many communities have failed simply because the government gave up on them. Reinvesting allows better schools with current books, better food, safer neighborhoods, and if we can make a change then the police will come when you need them.
Like I said last week in my blog I believe that any change that does come about in our community has to start w/us. We see what needs to be done and have the opportunity to do something to make a change. If I had the resources that Russell Simmons has which, would be a large amount of resources there could be a lot of things that could be done to address the condition of African Americans. If you think about it were organizing and planning to make change between us and were only receiving $2500 to do something to benefit the black community just think what we could do with millions of dollars we could give back to underprivalaged schools because our black communities are not receiving the same resources as white schools. And as we saw at the town hall mtg there is a lack in our black males being educated and receiving the same benefits. We could also create more after school programs and give funding to the one that are already established so we can reach more of our youth and keep them out of the streets. And because our youth is so wrapped up in hip hop and entertainment I would support more socially conscious rappers and maybe create a show like def comedy/poetry series but for the youth. Plus I like the new fresh ideas so I Would create young focus groups and designer labels that were ran by youth. This to me would help the community by providing a place for the youth to call their own and do something positive and as Martin said in his blog Dr. P has made it clear that we are hip hop so the change starts w/us.
Ultimately, I am not sure if one man has the power to change the hardships endures by the African-american community despite the number of resources available to him. I derive my opinion from the story of MC Hammer, who was known for using his money to try and enhance the state of the lower class communities in which he encountered. In the end, he was led to bankruptcy due to the inability to manage his finances and overcome those who brought him down from the inside. Due to our economic mentality within America, there is little reason for me to believe that Russell Simmons would allow himself to lose the empire that he built over the years. Therefore, the leaders within the African-american communities must unite with one goal in mind in order to positively effect the society that we continue to endure as inviduals. History has provided us with meniscule steps to moving forward as a race, but the ultimate stepping stone will present itself once our country votes in its first African-American president.
Russel Simmons is one of the few African Americans that has tremendous influence internationally and this influence could be more of an asset to the African American community. Given the resources of Mr. Simmons, I would have two areas of focus, the first to raise awareness of the issues of our community. Secondly, I would implement programming to make change in the community. In order to raise awareness of the issues of the community, its essential to have town hall meetings all over the country. The topics that are discussed at these meetings should then be taken to policy makers so change can be implemented legislatively. The celebrity of Mr. Simmons could help force the hand of policy makers to address the issues within the African American community and explore legislative policies that have contributed to the state of the community. The creation/revision of legislative policy could do significant good for the community but the community can't wait for the government to improve the conditions of the hood. Headway can be made through the development of foundations and programming that serve as sources to acquire help, knowledge and encouragement. It's essential for resources to be available to single parents raising children, recently released inmates, students to aren't performing at grade level and unemployed, and to those that need to know more about their general and sexual health. However, its just as essential to develop programing that's preventative in nature so these issues become less and less of a norm in our community. Given the seemingly endless resources of Mr. Simmons, I would establish resource centers in major cities through out the country that addressed all of the aforementioned issues. As a community we need to become less dependent on those who aren't apart of our community and take responsibly for the state of our community by stepping up to the plate and helping up out the cause.
Russell Simmons is such a powerful person. He has so much influece over the hip hop community which means that he has a way that he could reach the african american community. If I had the resources that Rusell had I would do so much. First I would try my best to implement some kind of academic help in communities. I would start where im from, which is chicago and try to get alot of press on it and try to get other people to get intrested and try to add it to a town near them. I would also use B.E.T. as a way to what is going on, this would be effective because African-American youth are drawn to the things that are on B.e.t. when people get a wake up call is to what is going on in the community, it makes them think , but it just wouldnt be a one time thing, I would be on bet once a week saying what things are affecting the community and how they could help out. I think the best thing to do is to start small and work your way up.
Russell Simons is one of the greatest entrepreneurs in America. This is because of all the resources he has access to. If I had the same resourses Russell Simons had, I would a representative or voice for African American males or the African American community in general. I would use music, movies, and fashion to inform people about the problems faced by African American males and the African American community like Russell did. The mass media is a great way to inform people about issues because we do not really get informed about issues through word of mouth as much as through mass media. Russell Simmons has done a great job with raising awareness in the African American community through programs such as the teen summit. He has also been able to use his resources to help African Americans become financially stable through his rush card. Some people might say that Russell Simmons is a capitalist, but he still does some good in the hood. There are several African American entrepreneurs who just focus on making money and not doing good in the hood, but Russell is not one of them. As we disscussed in last week's class it is all about solutions. We can talk about problems in the African American community all we want, but nothing is going to change if we do not have a solution. Russell Simmons just doesn't inform people on problems in the African American community, but also comes up with effective solutions to the problem. If I had the resources of Russell Simmons, I would focus primarily on solutions as opposed to making people aware of the problems in the African American community because solutions bring about change at the end of the day.
If I had the resources of Russell Simmons, I would focus on promoting Black males to be involved with their children on a steady basis, because I feel that Black male father involvement is key to helping young Black children develop in this society. I would also you use my resources and connections to help implement programs to help teach Black males trades that they could use to make a living if they lack a college degree, so that the rate of unemployed Black men could decrease. There are many problems that affect the Black community but I feel as if it is so important for Black males to improve their condition and represent the Black race in a positive way to help move our historically matriarchal led families and communities into ones with a greater male influence in order to compete in this patriarchal White society.
"If I HAD" is really big when discussing this question asked by Dr. Patterson. Reading Russell Simmons books and just keying in on the things he talk about let's the readers know how important Hip-Hop is to different society and different cultures.
"IF I HAD" the resources of Russell Simmons I would do my best to address the African American males and the community by as Dr. P says it "doing some good in the hood." Being Russell Simmons he has the power to do alot of good in the hood; while also providing the outlet to helping others in the community as well. It goes back to the discussion when people in the class talked about how selfish blacks are. If I had the money....yes it may influence me to do other things and venture out into the world alittle bit but I would always do my best to help reach our people. For example I would do something life, Inner City Youth Drives, Hip-Hop and Computers, African American Males Awareness Day or something. It's hard reaching out to some community and African American males because if you don't have the money or the resources they really don't want to be bother. It always about if you start something, keep coming back to it to show who ever you're working with that you are serious about helping out. Providing necessary information and providing that knowledge alot of communities and A.A males need.
But we also have to look at how African American males are stereotyped in so many different way it's not fair. Not all African American males are lazy, dead-beat dads, not working and everything else that they classify African American males with. Money can change alot of things. If I had these resources I would just do my best to show the people and the community how important it is for black stay in tune. It's all about keeping it real when it comes to different communities. It's all about real life, real facts and a person just being real to them. Someone they can touch, shake hands with. An image can go a long way because those are things people can hold onto for a life and maybe even make others want to help by "doing some good in the hood."
With money comes power and great responsibility----that is what Russell Simmons has. If I had the resources of Russell Simmons, I would first address the African American Image in the media. I would start by creating an alternative TV station to BET in efforts to promoting wholesome TV and true depictions of Black people in media. I would also create paid training classes for those who are not prepared, don't have the funds, and want to go to college or pursuing other forms of enrichment. These plans seems very idealistic, but as a starting point to enrich the Black community I would start with black individuals in creating volunteer programs to help the youth in areas of reading, math, science, confidence, self-esteem, self-worth and many different areas. Overall, I would use my resources to create enrichment programs and positive images in the media for and by the Black community.
Wow, the resources of Russell Simmons...the possibilities are endless. I'd open up every area of business like Def Jam and its many sub-labels, Phat Farm, and just "hip-hop" generated areas period to people in the community. I think programs like B.E.A.T.S. would be in every hood to show kids they can have fun and use technology to better themselves and the community. With all the connects that Russell has I imagine having community centers based off certain celebrities. Like, instead of Lyda just funding the club his name would be on it to attract more kids and responsibility would fall on him to give back more instead of just donating money. I'd let kids get into everything. There would be a magazine that kids could use as an outlet for problems in school and in the neighborhood. They would learn about production skills, meeting deadlines, and keep that connection to not only voicing the problems, but solving them...and that's just touching the tip of the iceberg.
I feel as though everytime we have a speaker come in and address the gap between students and the community that the same thing is mirrored in black people and celebrities. There's nothing wrong with aspiring to be in a certain place in life, but knowing the ins and outs, pros and cons can help people know what they have to do to get there and how much work it actually takes. Even making these resources available to the community doesn't mean they'll be motivated to use them either. Self-motivation and then having someone to believe in you is important.
With my millions, I would help the condition of the african american male and the community by showing them the keys to economic prosperity. Since in poverty disproportionately affects African Americans, I would give them the tools that they need to have access to better job training, education, entrepreneurial skills, youth programs to prevent gang violence and incarceration. There is a lot of things that can be done inside of the communities, but if we really desire for people to want to change, we have to give them a sense of identity, pride and self respect. Marcus Garvey was the leader of the largest Black movement in history, and there was a reason. He galvanized black people with his rhetoric of self respect and pride for the black man. He put the masculinity and dignity and self respect back into the black man and they wore there uniforms of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Garvey's ideologies of black pride and self enterprise set the tone for black men of his era to follow. With millions of dollars of would do just that.
Russell has plenty of money and connections. Even though he is a very powerful man, he alone can't change and fix all the problems occuring in the African American community. He can however have a big influence on the direction of progression of this problem. I think it would be effective if he targeted his audience through media. That is the easiest and fastest way to send a message. Since he is such a great idolized hip hop icon, I feel like people will understand and listen to what he has to say. Not only that, he would target the most important group, the youth. They can see how important these issues going on in the community are and hopefully deter from them. If Russell could do this, it would be one small step in the right direction.
Well Russell Simmons is definitly is a respected man in the African American community and I believe that people admire him for his work that he has accomplished and they anticipate more things from him. Personally if I had the resources that he did I would try to wait and see how how the African Americans would react and I would first want for the men of the black community to want better for themselves. Like Russell in his younger years he got involved with the wrong friends and he got influenced by peer pressure but he was able to escape and find other things to do to occupy his time just as his older brother did. The move with his grandmother was a great move for him but he always took up what was precious to him as a boy and that was his painting and creating thngs and he used it to his advantage. I think that some African American males are just lazy and they do not understand their capability and they just do not take the time to encourage themselves! I would possibly try to start class's working on mens self esteem and trying to make sure they understand what they need to do to survive in the world. I would provide them with stories and visits from people who overcame the struggle that they are currently in so that those people can be their motivations. Most time when people who personaly stories from those who stay in the same neighborhood as they do that gives them courage and motivates them to want to do more and make more of their life. I would want to teach these men how to have a better outlook on life and by helping them to stay positive I would provide them with what they need to make it out of their different circumstances but only based on their want for change and commitment to it.
If I had the resources that Russell has, then the first thing I would do is go back to my own community and try to establish some positive structure there. I strongly believe that you can't save the world if you can't even help your home. Coming from where I come from, I think it most definitely necessary to provide a positive structure for the youth in Chicago. Being a big name and figure means a lot to people and with the resources I would have in addition to the city of Chicago, I could create a large youth center to better my community. Starting my own youth foundation to motivate the youth to continue school and stay off of drugs is very much needed now at home. The message is no longer there and the community is shaking their heads as to why the violence and drug game has risen to alarming rates. Th youth is being misguided and mentored by the wrong. So given the resources I had, I'd have to make Chicago a better place for the kids.
Russell Simmons has a lot of money nad resources, he is an entrepreneur and he has hustled to have the things he does. If I had his money and resources I would use the media to raise awareness of the issues of the black community and even more so the current condition of the black male in our society. It is somewhat unrealisitc to say that someone like Russell Simmons has the power to change the entire black community and how society views it but it is not unrealistic to say that someone like Russell Simmons could have an enormous impact on the black community. As Russell Simmons said in his book there were many non believers of hip hop when him and Kurtis came on the scene, but by the end of their shows they had converts. So even though some people may not believe in the black community or want to help it, if his resources were used correctly and efficiently we could see a lot of change in the black community and we could see more people like celebrities believing in this cause.
If I had the resources of that which Russell Simmons has addressing the condition of self and family would come first. As for the community it is pretty difficult to say and even more difficult for the African American male. First off I would provide monies for better living condition, more importantly education, and create a job market which allows parents to work. With this job market I would make it more accessible to find hardworking parents jobs near their homes, which has full-time employment, and still allow time for them to come home and access the needs of all in the household. There would not be any of the three and four jobs just to keep food on the table. Along with these jobs has to come better health care. We as a people are dying off due to lack of health services which are affordable and covers medical,prescriptions, and dental for the whole family, while keeping all safe. These are just a few suggestions. Ultimately however realizing help id needed, taking care of blacks, and not limiting essential resources is what keeps all things flowing.
I can understand someone addressing the fact that we are placing are own expectations on what Russell Simmons should do with his own money. However, I believe that it is our right to contest and challenge others by making them aware of certain issues they are intentionally or unintentionally not addressing. With that being said, I believe that there needs to be a conservative effort or interest by all Blacks to speaking out and finding solutions on issues that involve Black people. It seems like Blacks are the only ethnic group in American that is truly democratic by the ways in which we live, while everyone else is very race-conscious while raising issues and implementing policies. If I had the money that Russell Simmons has, I would do anything that would challenge or dismantle the white supremacy power structure. To me, Russell Simmons is collaborating too much with the white-supremacist capitalist patriarchy power structure. We all need to “Rock the Boat”!!! Those that are coming from an oppressed family background that has more privileges than others, like Russell Simmons, needs to use those privileges to “Rock the Boat”! Malcolm X says it best when he was talking about Black progress when he stated...
"You don’t stick a knife in a man’s back nine inches, then pull it out 6 inches and say your making progress ---No matter how much respect, no matter how much recognition, whites show towards me, as far as I’m concerned, as long as it is not shown to everyone of our people in this country, it doesn’t exist for me.”
It would be nice if all Blacks, no matter if you are rich, poor, male, female, etc. had this type of attitude.
Well, even with the resources of Russell Simmons I would still have to realize that I cannot singlehandedly provide enough money to save everyone. However, my contributions combined with those of others is where true work gets done. This is why I would certainly establish a network of affluent individuals like myself in order to get the ball rolling. At this time, as we're learning through this class, music is one of if not the best way to reach the youth. Therefore, I would try my hardest to begin to integrate more positive music and entertainment for children. Also, creating programs within the schools that are actually worth something and where the instructors care about the students. I would make sure I had a positive outlet that matched each student's needs whether it be dancing, singing, painting, etc. In terms of reaching the parents, your child would be able to come to the program for free if you agreed to do parental and family counseling once a week. In these counseling sessions, we would discuss the hardships of parenthood, particularly single parenthood and advice would be given. In addition to advice, the mothers would receive small tokens to help them out, such as uniforms for their children or bus cards so they wouldn't have to pay for the bus. Overall, I think that the implementation of a program such as this one could help tremendously.
If I had the resources of Russell Simmons, I would do everything I possibly could to better the condition of the African American community. Of course, it's not something he can do alone, but Simmons has the ability to work with any big name artist, actor/actress, producers, etc. I think one thing that would help is to create some sort of campaign, something like Diddy did with "vote or die" and something big like the "just say no" campaign that started years ago. I believe the more big name people Russell chooses to use would help to impact and engrave the campgaign into members of the community's minds and help make the campaign a success by making the community members want to be apart of the change. There are so many problems in the African American community that it's hard to pinpoint just one problem to address, but no matter what problem he chooses to address, I think the more celebrities that were recruited would enhance the effectiveness of the movement.
I would have a mentoring program in any big city with a large African American population. It would promote kids to enhance their talents or their interest with the idea of going on to have higher education and love to work so that you really don't ever work a day in your life. When you grow up and have a career where you live what you do you really are not working. I could have people from any spectrum of life going in to do workshops in different cities whenever they are available. He has a big network of people. Those that inspired to be in the hip-hop music industry, show them the different aspects of the business besides just rapping.
To be honest the things that could be done are limitless. He could be an advocate for the school systems to implement more education about afro-american history. Because of who his is more young people would most likely be inclined to follow.
If I had the resources of Russell Simmons I would create programs that would not only improve the conditions of African American males but the community in general. I would bring more businesses in to Black communities and hire youths as apprentices. Teaching them first hand about entrepreneurship's in their community. I would work with community leaders to get drugs out the street. Better the education system by donating books and computers to local schools. Organize neighborhood meetings and figure out what concerns/problems people have in the communities and try to solve them. Finally i would work to reinforce the notion that through group consensus and a common goal we can change anything.
If I had the resources of Russell, I think I would seek other wealthy well connected black individuals to come together with a common goal of doing the most good that we can possibly do within the community. I do not believe that one person can change a lot on their own. I would make a collective effort with others, to be outspoken and point out the racism and oppression that is ever so present in this country. Also, I think that nobody will ever be able to completely commit themselves to doing these things if capitalism is their main focus. Its great to have a lot of money, which can create some resources, but when it comes down to it, helping people can never be with monetary return in mind. Black males, and the black community also must attempt to help themselves and their own communities and not just sit back and wait for someone to save they hood.
Russell Simmons has lots and lots of money. He has access to the hottest music producers, artists, designers, athletes, and actors. More importantly, he has drive, passion, and creativity. If I had all those resources I’d be out in my community putting all these little boys and girls who think they can rap, dance, design, and act to work. I’d start a Hip-Hop University. Maybe me and my group could have U.R. University. We’d have all of these middle school kids graduating in a sense from our U.R. Movement in Jr. High, then going back and running it in high school, then running with the big dogs at the U.R. University. At the university they would specialize in the sector of hip-hop in which they have interest, and then they would have to take core classes like our gen eds at UofI in public service , business, and social entrepreneurship. They would also have to take Black history classes, English, math, and of course my favorite science classes. The twist is all of these classes will be based on Hip-Hop in some kind of way. My students would get internships with all of my famous connections and would graduate with the knowledge to make the Hip-Hop movement take over the world. This will give Blacks access to good education, jobs, and entrepreneurship skills things we’ve struggled with attaining for hundreds and hundreds of years.
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