Monday, September 14, 2015

Two Gods (Creole): A Dedication to Max Beauvoir by Cowan F. Amaye-Obu


 
De Bondye (Two Gods)
Copyright 2015

Te gen sou Manman Latè, de bondye, yonn nan lagè ak lòt ki bay lavi a. Epitou, chak Bondye ere Latè a gaye mesaj la nan Grandè yo atravè mesaje. Youn plen Lalin, tou de bondye bite sou youn ak lòt nan yon paradi primitif.
Bondye a nan lagè di Bondye ki bay lavi a,
 "Ki sa ki se lagè san rete ant nou? Nou se frè ... Menm lemonn antye ki dwe nan nou."
Bondye ki bay lavi a reponn, "Frè m 'yo, li se nati ou a detwi m' ak nan règ sa a Latè tankou    twalèt la nan volonte ou. Si m 'rann tèt nou ba ou, lè sa a pa pwal gen okenn lavi sou Latè. Ak sa ki pral nan eritaj nan règ mwen an?
 Se konsa, Bondye pèp  t'ap repase epi li te panse. Te kapab nati l 'fèt konsa sa ki mal nan direksyon pou lavi, ke li ta chache detwi tout? 
Te kapab li detwi frè li, li tè a? Se konsa, li te di, "lagè nanm mwen andedan m ', paske Bondye a sèlman ki egziste se Bondye nan viktorye. Mwen te ere sa a Great Manman Latè epi li te jwenn pa gen yon tankou mwen menm ... Pa gen Bondye se konsa atizan konn fè ak move. Pa gen moun ki se kòm gwo jan mwen menm mwen ... Men, lè m ' lagè detwi lavi , yo pral lavi tèt li dwe extend flanm dife tankou lan nan yon chandèl. Mwen lagè detwi tèt mwen. Li se bi pou sèl nan lagè ke mwen konsome lavi, men nan konsome lavi, Mwen menm mwen te konsome tèt mwen. Èske ou pi gran pase m 'konsa?
 
Bondye ki bay lavi a fè nonm lan bwè dlo kalme raj l ', li touman .
 
   “"Si ou pa touye m ' , lè sa a ou ta te pwouve yo dwe pi gwo. Men tou, paske nan feblès la nan nesesite pou lagè, 
anpil yo te touye malis, nepe , ak aparèy sa ki mal pa. Lavi ta gen plis abondan san yo pa lagè. Se sèlman si ou pa janm te egziste , ou ta dwe pi plis pase m '. Men, lavi yo dwe pi gran pase tout. Chak marthyr kriye pou tire revanj nan men ou. Gen bèt ki soufri jiskaske yo siye soti nan figi a sou Latè la. Se konsa, anpil ladan yo nan eta a nan wine . Sa yo se eritaj ou, frèt, ak karaktè fonse. Ou pou kont li, se youn nan viktorye ! "
 
Move pa joure a soti nan lavi, ak bouche tou de pa jalouzi l 'yo, Bondye ki nan lagè leve nan yon kòlè tou limen an.
Li kite paradi a primitif epi yo pran demantle Latè a nan tè a , detwi lavi kote tout tan li te parèt . Li detwi lavi nan oseyan yo , ranpli fon lanmè a ak pwazon. Bondye a nan lagè fè kadejak sou lavi nan peyi yo ak lahèn, dekadans , maladi, ak lanmò. Li detwi lavi nan lè a sou tèt nwaj nan gaz asid ak unpure . Li chache nan trè dènye souf la ak detwi Latè a, manman l '. Finalman, lè li te fin ratibwaze sivilizasyon yo kenbe siksè akademik Grandè a nan non l ', li swaf dlo.
               
   "Li se nati mwen an konsome. Si lavi te anseye m 'ki jan yo kenbe lavi, mwen pa ta te rive detwi Latè a. Pa te gen okenn mal nan 
zèv mwen, se sèlman sa ki mache dwat devan Bondye ak viktorye ."
 
Bondye a nan lagè te kòmanse kriye paske li te swaf dlo ak grangou . Lè sa a, li te finalman vin chonje , nan detwi sèlman lòt 
Bondye ki egal nan viktwa ak grandeur nan kè l ' , li ta detwi tèt li tou. Apre sa, ki pa gen okenn youn a di non l ' , oswa yo adore zèv Gret l' yo, Bondye ki nan lagè grangou . Sa a se fason lavi, bat lagè.

Inside the Mind of Hollywood: A Psychoanalysis of Marvel's Avengers

In, Psychopathology of Everyday Life (Freud 1901), Sigmund Freud describes the evidence and unconscious meaning behind everyday verbal cues and actions. In his theory, a Freudian Slip is a "Slip of the tongue," or an individual's error in speech and action, usually attributed to an unconscious desire. Like, calling a spouse by an ex name, or  yelling at someone, who has nothing to do with your source of anger. If, we can attribute an individual's actions and thoughts to their "unconscious" desires and memories, then surely, we can apply the same logic to the public, at large. We can attribute an entire culture or nation's behavior and actions to their unconscious beliefs, feelings, and experiences. An even larger experiment in psychoanalysis can be applied to major Hollywood Blockbuster Hits like James Cameron's Avator (2009), Wachowski's The Matrix (1999-2003), and particularly for this writings' expos'e, Marvel's Avengers. Marvel's Avengers (Avengers 2012 & Age of Ultron 2015) has grossed well over $1.1 billion dollars in ticket sales. There isn't a better movie to be analyzed to uncover the innermost thoughts, feelings, beliefs and desires of an entire nation and culture? These movies and their written scripts not only disclose the unconscious minds of its writers, but the surrounding culture and society, which permits these mega productions for cultural exchange of ideas and feelings of "timeless" grandeur & glory. In this writing series, we will go inside the mind of Hollywood and uncover the hidden meanings and interpretations, of one of its most successful hits to date, Marvel's The Avengers.

For the full article please email WestOaklandImports@gmail.com.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Why African Americans Should Boycott The Dodge Motor Company


       Since the dawn of the automobile industry in the United States, African Americans have played a monumental role in its development and success. As workers, Blacks have helped produced millions of cars over the last Century. As consumers, African Americans have spent $trillions of dollars in support of the American Automobile Makers, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Lincoln and many others. If there was a group of loyal consumers of the American Automobile Industry, it would definitely be African Americans.
       Why would Dodge Motors, a division of the new Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, release a negative racially inclined, 2015 Dodge Durango commercial, which essentially suggests, when "Blacks drive your automobile with their loud music, the value of your white establishment goes down?" How appalling and a slap in the face of the African American consumer. What American automobile maker doesn't benefit from Black consumers, especially because we do not produce any Automobiles of our own? And how many White American owned companies owe their success to the power of the 'Black dollar?' This commercial is the reason for a call to Boycott Dodge Motors, and their savvy modern Racist forethought of their African American patrons.
        If there is a study to ascertain the amount of money Blacks have spent and continue to spend with American Automobile Companies over the years since the dawn of this industry, the knowledge would be more than enlightening. The knowledge would spark a cause to a new Automobile Race, with Black faces creating the new generation of futuristic cars, without the need of gas powered engines, but electric or new propulsion systems. For far too long, African Americans and even African descendants worldwide, have had a ceiling for the success they are allowed to have in this "White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy" society. Let us embark on study, research, and development of the New Generation of Cars and exit the White dominated Automobile Industry, if they do not respect us. Boycott Dodge until they recant their despicable commercial!

-Cowan Amaye-Obu
Also see William Lark Jr. of MIT 

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Post America Notes: Whitewashed

In the 1940s, a study conducted by Kenneth & Mamie Clark revealed a difficult concept about how blacks psychologically view race and color in the United States. Black children had developed a backward view of the concept of being (themselves or being) Black, which presented itself in a negative psychological view of themselves and the opposite appreciation and love for being white or European. Black people, to Black Children had become bad and evil, while White people had become good and esteemed. The Clark Experiments were used to characterize the psychology in Brown vs. Board of Education (1954). However, the implications of the effects of this study failed to calculate the broad psychological landscape and the utter depths, to which the victims suffer from this condition. The landscape of victims should not have been isolated to the Negro communities of the United States, but applied to all the victims of the Imperialist White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy System  (Bell Hooks), which produced that generation of 'backward' thinking Black youth, including those Blacks born in the islands of the West Indies, millions of descendants of African slaves in Central America, and those surviving Afro communities of South America. Everyone of the descendants of African slaves should have been calculated as potential victims in this phenomenon, which documented the psychological results of the trauma, soul murder, and colonialization of an entire continent of heterogenous people, grouped into one nation of laborers. Yet, still the landscape of victimization does not end in the Americas, but lies on the shores of every African nation in a historical struggle of contention, with the same Europeans and the same system of Imperialist White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy seeking to control materials or interests in their country, in addition to refugees fleeing their devastated homeland, for asylum in popular European countries. For Africans and their descendants, post European contact, the concept of being 'Whitewashed,' is essential to understanding the Black situation and its implications on how Blacks today will project in the 21st Century, as a rising moral Nation or as a wounded colonized child. 

Willie Lynch Caused The Michael Jackson Complex

Between 1982's Thriller and 1987's Bad, the most famous celebrity in the world, Michael Joseph Jackson (1955-2009) changed from being a dark skin African American Heartthrob to an Ivory Light Skinned American Icon. Medically, Vitiligo was used to logically explain Michael's condition. Psychologically, Michael Jackson was born in an working class African American family, one generation after the initial Clark experiments, and he too suffered from the victimization from the Imperialist White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy System in the United States. There is a reason that millions of Dark Skinned people from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East are projected to spend over $19 billion dollars in Skin Whitening products. There are few cases which identify this phenomenon like the life of Michael Jackson. Even though, Michael Jackson had just sold more albums than anyone in history (Thriller 1982) . Even though, Michael was the most loved and famous person in the world (more popular than the current US President Ronald Reagon), Jackson still felt he was not good enough because he was Black. The only way Michael Jackson could truly be the best in the world, was to become White. It is the same mental psychosis suffered by millions of descendants of African slaves, who express their Traumatic, Soul Murdering experience by deducing that being White is to strive for, and that being Black, in this White World, was the lowest one could be. The decision is logical to those who suffer from this condition like a 'reversal of Spirits.' and a warning. It is the overvaluing of Whiteness and the fear, anger, shame or hatred of everything that is Black. All acting emotions of individuals and groups when taken into slavery, and emotions that can be passed down to become inter-generational, to remind the culture or group of their precarious situation. In psychology, a victim who identifies with their violent perpetrator is in a state of 'capture bonding,' called the Stockholm Syndrome (1973). This experience is called Oslo Syndrome (2005) by Kevin Levin, when it is experienced by an entire people, falling upon generation after generation until the condition is exposed & treated. When referring to this mental psychosis in the entire Afro-Latino populations of North, Central, and South America, it is the Michael Jackson Complex. It is the feeling that White is good and Black is valueless.

Whitewashed 

The hatred of 'Blackness,' and the love of 'Whiteness,' is the basis of the racial complex (racism) in the Americas, post Columbus. The complex of racism affects not only Blacks, but Whites as well, in an illogical fantasy and traumatic experience, which in all reality is based on an irrational idea that does not exist. It is important to note that there is no such thing as White people, only Europeans are real. And Blacks do not come from Black Land, no, only Africans really exist. So the concept of being White and Black is essentially an imposed reality based on the simplest characteristic of an human, skin color. Should Yellow people be added because they are from Yellow Land? Or how about the Red Man, where does he come from? The utter ridiculousness of a skin color based society is the invalidating idea of European based philosophy and has crushed their ability to objectively process human and even natural phenomena, as Europeans too will suffer from the illogical irrational insanity, brought on by racism. As the epitome of racism, this relationship of the 'captor bond,' according to the Clark Experiment is projected or broadcast to Dark Skinned People Worldwide or anywhere, where Europeans are contending to colonize, essentially Whitewashing the population, by mental programming.

Whitewashing occurs within the popular discourse like a Freudian slip, where Hollywood produces movies for majority white audiences including all the racial stereotypes to reinforce prejudices to keep the ideas alive. The process culturally programs the entire society with certain belief systems and ideas, and are made manifest in racist thinking by everyone, White, Black, Latino, African, and Asian. The political representation is majority white (even in majority Black districts) or endorses this racist agenda and most of the positions of power are held by White People, especially Educators, Police, and Businesses. Books, commercials, and popular media flood Dark Skinned Populations with millions of White Face & white family images, with White Cultural values. Thus, a phenomena of overvaluing 'Whiteness,' arises, spreads and is perpetrated across European dominated areas. Whitewashing in Entertainment is pivotal and the Elephant in the room, which is brushed under the rug in an obviously ridiculous fashion, while being silent on the issues to ensure the Imperialist White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy System remains in place. In the Post Civil Rights Era, the Michael Jackson Complex and process of Whitewashing has a twisted affect on Black-African Culture moving forward as tremendous, stifling, and subversive. In 1851, Herman Melville published Moby Dick, with the theme of chasing "Whiteness," until insanity ensues. I wonder will all the victims of the system, have to go insane before they learn or are treated for their disorder.

Email WestOaklandImports@gmail.com for the full article...

Monday, April 27, 2015

Two New Stars Named...

                                    All Rights Reserved SB Silverdale, Washington 7/28/2003; 11:30 - 2am
12:06 am Sunday, April 26, 2015:

Viewing the night skies, directly North appeared a Bright Orange Star. The star seemed amazingly close and bright. To get better identification of the Star, I used the astronomy application, Star Walk. I could not ascertain the identity of the star.

Thus, I grabbed my binoculars to at least determine if the object was indeed a star, and not a flying object. After about five minutes, I determined that the object was indeed a star or astrological body. It appeared like the typical partially eclipsed
Star.

This was when at approximately 12:11, a second, green star, appeared, in it seems, a binary orbit of the first bright orange star or of our own solar system. The two twin stars appeared in orbit, one orange and the second, green. For about five minutes, I watched in pure amazement, thinking: one, this is beautiful, and second, no one is going to believe me. Third, I thought, at least they aren't Aliens! So I watched.

Then, the green star, fell out of celestial view, directly North, and the original, bright orange star followed suit.

In second use of the Star Walk application, I was able to identify the stars as unnamed H-7series locations, possibly Kepler planets.

I would like to name the Two Twin Stars, the Apex Twins, Miriam and Fonyama.

Update:
After further research, this star system as presumed, has been already named as the Alpha Piscium Constellation. Thus, it is assuring that though a novice astronomer, my sightings have been previously recorded and documented.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

The New Scramble for Africa


This published piece does a good job at surface analyzing the European domination of Africa.
-Cowan

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Post America Notes: Africans vs. African Americans

Africans vs. African Americans

It has come to my attention that an increasing number of Africans immigrants here in America have a negative perception of African Americans. While this sentiment is not surprising, what is surprising is the active separation of Africans communities from African Americans and the outspoke rhetoric of not wanting to be identified with or to have any connection with African Americans.

Historically, this has never been the case, the first African immigrants stood alongside us during the fight for our civil rights in the 1950s & 1960s, which coincided with many national African independence movements. African Americans in science, sports, and life simply, have stood at the forefront as Champions breaking down stereotypes worldwide and striking down any notion of inferiority to whites. And Africans have endorsed us the entire way, giving us the truth and the knowledge needed to overthrow our mental enslavers. Africans loved our music from the Blues to Gospel, Jazz and Rock N Roll, or watching Sports with Jesse Owens, and the list goes on. Even when Black Americans were struggling to get Black faces in Film, West Indians and Nigerians played a major image role in the movie, Raisin in the Sun. When the countries of Africa sued for independence from colonizing Europe, African Americans stood up in solidarity and chanted Pan Africanism. Together, we won independence and Civil Rights as part of the same worldwide revolution. Not to mention African immigrants often marry Black Americans. Who has bewitched our African brothers and sisters abroad and inside the United States to hate us? I know Hip Hop and Black Celebrities are loved all over Africa? Remember Muhammad Ali? In response, I want to address this so that every African American can bring these points, to quickly correct and move forward with our African family.

When asked why he did not want to be identified with African Americans, one Sierra Leone Man said, "I speak French, English, and two tribal languages. I cannot be grouped with the lazy African American. The African American is not born in Africa and cannot claim to be African. We are not the same."

As an African American, I have heard this before, not only from Africans, but from Blacks from the Caribbean Islands. I quickly recognize the attempt to categorize and place a hierarchy among Blacks. Only, my response has always been the same and I encourage African Americans to take the same stance.

For so long, we, African Americans have fought for our place in the American landscape that we have ignored this conversation, valuing our American citizenship much more than needed. While many African Americans cannot trace themselves back to Africa, it is no secret how we came to America. So let me begin properly.

I am utterly offended by any African who seeks to categorize or place an label on African Americans as lazy. Do not forget, that it was us who fought for the basic civil liberties that you now enjoy here in the United States. We, African Americans shed our blood, sweat, and tears, so that you can now freely travel here unabated or harassed. Never forget our struggle, because it is because of our struggle you are here. Lazy, no, we have moved mountains, labored, endeavored, long suffered, and worked miracles. I am offended any African can call even the most ignorant African American lazy, do not forget how we got here and why we remain. We celebrate our past and link to you, our brothers and sisters in Africa. How dare you say we "are not African." Are you blind? Do you not know your history. The same Demons which now seek to recolonize Africa are the same Demons who still hold us in free bondage in North America.

Furthermore, it is traditional law, for the Kinsmen, clan, or Tribe to redeem their brother or sister if they are found to be a slave. Why did none of our Kinsmens come looking for us. Twenty Million Africans were sold to the Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, and Dutch in North, Central and South America. Not even half came to the United States. Yet, no where in American History is there a record of an African Clan or Nation coming across the Atlantic to seek the life of his stolen or lost Members-brother or sister. Why didn't anyone come looking? How can you look down on your stolen brother and say, "he is no brother of mine." I reject your rights to speak such a thing. No African today can take what isn't theirs to give, and that is our place at the table of any African nation, should we choose to return. How dare anyone look at my Black Face and not say I'm African, do you not know your history.

Last, you say, we are not the same. But I say different. Though, you may speak more European languages than I, and have the knowledge of the ancient clans to speak your tribal tongue, do not the Europeans still rule you with their religion, values, and language? The nation of African Americans is just as must a slave, as any African nation today, victim to the same banking, overvaluing of all things white or European, corporate bias, poverty, crime, drug, religious attempts to divide us into individuals so that our Nations can be weak. We may not live together, but we are inflicted with the same pestilence. Do not make us an enemy because we are the same.

In conclusion, African Americans should be highly offended by any African or Carib seeking to label or place an colonial heirarchy on their existence. Not only are we all Africans but we are united in the same Diaspora as those Brothers and Sisters in the 60s & Independence movements. Nothing has changed but we have turned on each other. Instead, I propose we create community centers where we, African born and abroad, can build our communities again. Let us reevaluate our current status in the world and predict the divisions our enemies want to place among us. Since, we are the only heterogenous culture, with the strength and wealth to destroy European Worldwide domination, why don't we start again with a plan. We are, after all, over 1 billion strong on the continent of Africa alone. Altogether, we are over 1.4 billion deep, plus the Gods gifted us the wealth of the world in our shores. Class is over, lets act.

PS. There is a lesson in the island nation Trinidad History, which can serve as a reminder for us all. In 1797, the population was 17,718, about 56 percent of whom were slaves. There were also 4,476 free nonwhites and 2,151 whites. Who do you think held the slaves in check? Think properly and do not be so convinced that you can't see your brothers and sisters, in need of support. 

Post America Notes
-Cowan F. Amaye-Obu

Thursday, February 12, 2015

A Message of Warning to the Children of the Diaspora (North, Central, and South America)


Herein are the words twice given in admonishment and correction. This is the message from the Ancestors of our great people and the Spirit of the Ancient Deities, to those Africans still held in bondage in this foreign land, suffering under the rule of foreigner rulers. May the Orishas have mercy on your souls if you fail to heed this warning and begin preparations on this day…

Thus says the Spirit of the First & the Last, the Ancient of Ages, Lord of Lords

                 "I remember you,
The Kindness of your youth,
The love of your betrothal,
When you went after Me in the wilderness,
In a land not sown.
My People were holiness to the Almighty Creator,
The first fruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend;
Disaster will come upon them," says the Ancient Deity of Ages.

Hear the word of the Lord, O House of Jacob and all the families of the
House of Israel.

Thus says the Lord of Lords:

What injustice have your fathers found in Me,
That they have gone far from Me,
Have followed idols,
And have become idolaters?
Neither did they say, Where is the Lord of Lords, The Creator of All, Ancient of Ages.
Who brought us up out of Egypt,
Who led us through the wilderness,
Through a land of deserts sandpits,
Through a land of drought and the shadow of death,
Through a land that no one crossed and where no man dwelt?
I brought you to a bountiful country, to eat fruits and its goodness,
But when you entered, you defiled My land And made My Heritage an Abomination.

The Priests did not say, Where is the Lord of Justice?
And those who handle the law did not know Me;
The rulers also transgressed against Me;
The prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit.

Therefore, I will yet bring charges against you, says Olorun, the Ancient of Ages.
And against your children's children I will bring charges.

For pass beyond the coasts of Cypus and see,
Send to Kedar and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.

Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods?
But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit.

Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid;
Be very desolate," say the God of Gods,
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And they hewn themselves cisterns- broken cisterns that can hold no water…"

"Are the children of God a servant?
Is he a homeborn slave?
Why is he plundered?
The young lions roared at him, and growled: They made his land waste;
His cities are burned, without inhabitant.

Also, the people of Noph andTahpanhes, have broken the crown of your head.
Have you not brought this on yourself?

In that you have forsaken the Deities of Your Ancestors?
When they led you in the way?
And now why take the road to Egypt?

Continuing...

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Paradigm Shift



This website is dedicated to matters which concern the Black community of America and abroad. The unpublished propaganda, biological, cultural and physical war against Africans and their descendants worldwide by Imperial Europe and their Imperial Democracies is of upmost concern. And like any honest Agent of change, I would encourage avid reading to educate the mind of the world we live in. Thus, each month, I will offer one book or documentary, which exposes the White Supremist Capitalist Patriarchy system in power. This month is a novel by a legendary Rutgers University Professor Ivan Van Sertima, They Came Before Columbus. Change what you think, starting with Don Christobal Colon.

http://thehouseofsankofa.com/books/Ivan-Van-Sertima-They-Came-Before-Columbu.pdf
   

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Childbirth… The Purpose of Life. (Poem)


I am programmed to fill this role by the Creator of my species…
A mere Man defies the laws of mathematics,
making the sum total of 1 + 1 = 3.
A God- like statement to the world.
To Who?

To Destiny, Father Time, and Mother Fate, I decree…
I say to Uncle Moon, who has watched all those before me,
 great and small come and go…
"Here I am."

Your Child is Alive.
Though the seasons change, the years fly by in mere seconds.
And the months are expressed in moments.
The weeks are thoughts, but the days we barely remembers like lost memories.

In a 1000 years, Our galaxy has yet to move.
Which means, Our Grandfather Sun has barely walked across a street in the Universe.

WE are alive today.
The Man, the same, but stronger than at our birth a million Abyssinian years ago.
Before our Solar System lived in the Milky Way Projects, I decree…
To Father Time, Mother Fate, Auntie Destiny, and Uncle Moon, "Here I am…"

And like the Master when looking at his lowly Dog companion,
Or like the heart and lungs are mere organs in a body,
You are the Higher Order of Bodies.
Truly the cause of all things good and bad, I ask, what is the purpose of this life and existence, for Here I am?

A million Abyssinian years old and growing…

They reported to me…

"Death, the enemy Cousin of Us all, is not the end, but a means to begin new life.
The purpose of life is to live and improve. Therefore, in living and improving, we fulfill our purpose. Be fruitful and multiply, for the cycle is eternal. Our bodies shall out live the greatest among you and Our ways you can not fathom. For the Highest Order is the Order of Us all. "
                                                    - The Ancient One of Days

Monday, January 5, 2015

Regressive History- How Black America Remained Slaves


In 1903, W. E. B Dubois wrote, "the problem of the 20th Century is the problem of the color line."


-Please email CFAmayeobu@gmail.com for the full article.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

A Stunning Interpretation of the Movie, Top Five




Through interpreting literature, readers can discover hidden meanings, both intentional and unconscious  of a written work. English Literary theorists use common theories such as Romanticism, Marxism, Constructionism (& Deconstructionism), Freudian, or Feminism to help decipher author intent in writing. Often, authors create elaborate stories with little explanation of character development, actions or why the conclusion ends in a certain way or so abruptly. Any written literature can be interpreted, including the numerous Hollywood movie scripts performed and herald on the silver screen. As we consider many Hollywood Films and write a number of interpretations, we will compile them into an easy reader to additional help. Our opening film is Top Five.

In, Top Five, Chris Rock writes a comedy masterpiece full of laughs and logical lessons learned. Whether intentional or unconsciously, Rock, opens the consciousness of Blacks living in today's post-modern America. What is disclosed in this film can be trivially denounced as comedic or rather, simply a coincidence of writing. However, Literary Theorists using African American theory see another unsettling reality…

According to the movie Top Five, viewers enter the story to find a established Black Actor, named Andre Allen, as he enters a phase in his life when he wants to be considered serious and credible. So, he makes a hypothetical film called, Uprize, which is about a Haitian Revolutionary, who kills a bunch of white people in a fight for freedom from slavery. The protagonist, Allen, is trying to escape being type casted as a comedy star for his previous work, in the hypothetical film, Hammy the Bear. Thus, he is amazed at the amount of criticism from both whites and blacks about the new film (Uprize). Meanwhile, he is engaged to be married shortly, to a beautiful reality TV star and Allen has agreed to an interview by a second major character, a reporter named Chelsea Brown.

Literary Theorists using African American Theory and Freudian Psychoanalysis see a second story which is buried in the lines of the writer. Andre Allen can be interpreted and seen as the modern Black Man in America. The modern Black Man wants to be dealt with as serious and credible, but he is only seen and taken seriously as a funny Sambo or rather, a Savage Animal, who is funny. The ideas and projects like taking arms and fighting for his liberation is immediately struck down for a number of reasons. One, it promotes Black Liberation, which is taboo in a society which silently practices colonialism using Black people. Black Liberation represents Black Manhood, Black Intelligence, Black Nationhood and the end of white domination, which is silently assumed and maintained in post modern America. Any notion of revolution is subversive to the current White Capitalist Supremist power structure and so must be denounced or discredited to keep the entire house of cards, credible and from falling. Another reason was stated candidly by Kevin Hart's character, support of such ideas is detrimental to the Black Man's dubious position and health. Therefore, if a Black Man wanted to succeed in modern day America, he  cannot be openly seen to support Black Liberation, or everything he holds dear, his job and livelihood could be cut off. This is truly an unintended unconscious interpretation of the script, but the theory remains true. (Is Chris Rock questioning the state of the Black Man in modern America?)

What is equally shocking about the unconsciousness of this film, is the engagement of the protagonist, to a reality TV star, named Erica Long. Now, Erica Long is a beautiful Black Woman looking to reign in her success on reality TV with her public wedding to the movie star, Andre Allen. The news of the wedding and plans have created a media frenzy full celebrities and rich sponsors. This is the moment that will break Erica Long into Stardom. 


According to African American Theory and Freudian Psychoanalysis, Erica Long is the modern Black Woman in America. The Black Woman's allegiance to the American dream has been forced upon her and thus, her existence has become somewhat a surreal reality. She has become a real reality star. The Black Woman's ultimate quest for success has changed from the lessons in her African roots to anterior  values like celebrity, fame, marriage and family, placing the Black woman alongside all the women of America, competing for the best "catch" of a man. She is facing the reality of life here in the foreign culture of modern America. Erica does not consider that her values are superficial and unreal, even new, representing the state of mind of the modern Black Woman, who operates in a foreign world of superficial values with total amnesia of her past and a near refusal to go back to life before this reality (show) life began. And just like in the film, any situation, circumstance, or event that affects the modern Black Man, such as cheating or his going to jail, also jeopardizes her quest to success, and is ultimately detrimental to her position and health as well. Erica Long, just like the modern Black Woman has been forced to become an opportunist for survival, but she is still inextricably intertwined with the fate of the modern Black Man.

The writer of Top Five discloses intentionally or unconsciously the state of Blacks in post-modern America. So much can be extracted from the film. The doubtful Manager/Promoter character of Jazzy Dee, played by Cedric the Entertainer. Dee represents the ambigious unsophisticated management of small black businesses, which when compared to other successful businesses, Black or White, is portrayed as untrustworthy and unreliable. Thus, this portrayal of the Black businessman by the writer, as slothful, lends reason to why Blacks today fail to support their own small business like in the past, due to this post-modern negative connotation of bad service. This view is imposed, and selectively applied because the other black businessmen in the film, are not hung by this same negative connotation. 

There is the exploitation of the black woman, as seen in the sleazy sex scene with the two escorts. The protagonist says it was the lowest point in his life.  

To Be Continued… Please email CFAmayeobu@gmail.com for the entire article.