PIMP CUP

In the late nineties, Pimps up, Hoes Down hit the box office. This so-called gleefully trashy film explored the perspectives and day-to-day lives of pimps & players; granting the public eye a peak into the world of prostitution and its underground society. It was a real eye opener for some but females have been treated like sex objects since time out of mind... long before this movie came out. However, the film didn't just depict but glorified prostitution rings, players and pimps. Furthermore, the insult to injury is that the rings were mainly orchestrated and supported by a string of black men. The degradation of females is widely glorified in certain aspects of African-American culture particularly within the Hip Hop which films like Pimps Up, Hoes Down piggyback. Misogynistic attitudes and belief systems were not started by the film but were certainly compounding by it. Next thing you know, across the globe blinged-out pimps cups adorn bachelor pad counter tops, are in stock as cool novelty items at the local mall, and some genius decides to write a "Pimping for Dummies", how-to book on the subject dubbed Pimpology; which by the way is a New York Times best-seller...

Now-a-days, the ever popular pimp persona has been commercially watered down to suit the masses but the fact remains it's source is far from honorable. Pimp'esque type men are a common characters in the television, radio, film, and music industries- especially when it comes to Rap. I adore hip-hop culture and enjoy most rap music but just like Chubb Rock said, "...you don't need all that in rap." Young people are impressionable and affected by what's around them whether it be raw and in their face or subtle to down right subliminal. Teen-aged boys are always trying to act like tough guys and think behaving like a self-centered, temperamental, money hungry, chauvinistic jackass is cool. More often than not that's what society shows them. Specifically, black males are portrayed in this shadow. So, girls get taunted by boys yelling, "That bitch/hoe gotta fat ass!" On the flip, these same girls try to emulate what's considered sexy, thinking that’s how to gain acceptance and love. How many girls do know are wearing stilettos to school and having sex at 15? Too many. Author, Denean Sharply-Whiting candidly addresses these issues in her book entitled Pimps Up, Hoes Down: Hip Hop's Hold on Young Black Women (2007). 

Of course, you can't shelter kids from everything but we all know that's where parents and family or preachers and teachers come in- to teach them right from wrong. It's no one person's fault but society's. It takes a village to raise a child as well as one to corrupt him/her. Personally, I feel like Pimps are fucked up taking advantage of weak-minded individuals. No girl says I want to be a whore and abuse my body when I grow up. Likewise, no boy says I want to exploit, enslave & terrorize women when I grow up. These are choices made out of desperation, force, survival, a lack of love/guidance and a myriad of other bleak circumstances. Think about that the next time you see a Pimp cup...

THE ASININE PHOTOGRAPHER

MY BEST FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME ABOUT THE TIME SHE & HER BABY BROTHER WENT TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL PICTURES TAKEN. AFTER THE SESSION SHE SAT DOWN IN THE PARLOR TO REVIEW THE PICTURES WHEN SUDDENLY THE PHOTOGRAPHER WITH THE SINCEREST FACE, ASKED HER BLUNTLY, "DO YOU WANT THAT EDITED OUT?" "THAT", WAS REFERRING TO HER TRACH. IT WAS SECOND NATURE FOR HIM TO ASSUME HIS CLIENT WANTED WHAT HE PERCEIVED TO BE THE OBVIOUS. "WHAT WAS HE THINKING!?", YOU ASK. I'LL TELL YOU: HE PERCEIVED SHE WANTED HER DISABILITY TO GO AWAY, THAT SHE MUST BE SO FILLED WITH SELF-LOATHING THAT SHE'S OBVIOUSLY DISGUSTED BY THE SIGHT OF HERSELF. HE ASSUMED SHE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEARN THAT SHE CAN DENY HERSELF FOR ONLY AN EXTRA FEW BUCKS & A GLOSSY FINISH TO BOOT. "I'LL OFFER TO EDIT HER [ISSUE]", HE MUST HAVE THOUGHT. SHALLOW? YES, BUT I HOPED AT LEAST WITH THE SINCEREST INTENTIONS, AS I LISTENED TO HER EXPLAIN. YET IN STILL, THE DEMEANING CONNOTATION OF HIS QUESTION WAS ALMOST MORE THAN SHE COULD BARE, SHE SAID. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE HER ANGER. 


AS A SOCIETY PUTS ENDURING EMPHASIS ON OUTER BEAUTY - WE HAVE BECOME CAUGHT UP IN VANITY, SUPERFICIALITY AND SELF ABSORPTION TO THE POINT OF PUKING. SOME ARGUE THAT AS A PHOTOGRAPHER THE MAN WAS DISPOSITIONED TO HIS LACK OF INSIGHT. I SAY THAT'S SOME PSYCHO BULL 'ISH OF AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS LACK OF TACT. I VENTURE TO SAY HE IS SIMPLY YOUR EVERYDAY, RUN-OF-THE-MILL ASSHOLE. AT BEST, HIS PROFESSION MADE FOR AN INTERESTING DOSE OF AMERICAN IRONY. MY BEST FRIEND SURVIVED A NEAR FATAL CAR ACCIDENT WHICH SHE IS THANKFUL FOR. STILL, THE DAY SHE FACED HERSELF IN A MIRROR WITH A TRACH IN HER NECK WAS A LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCE. THE FACT THAT SHE MAY HAVE IT FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE IS A HARSH REALITY, SHE EXPLAINED. PERHAPS, IN HER INNER MOST DESIRES SHE DID WANT IT TO JUST GO AWAY; BUT THAT DOES NOT GIVE HIM OR ANYONE ELSE THE RIGHT TO EXPLOIT THE SITUATION OR ONE'S INSECURITIES. IN OTHER WORDS, SOME THINGS GO BETTER LEFT UNSAID. DUELY NOTE... IF A CLIENT DESIRES TO EDIT THEIR PHYSICAL REALITY THE CLIENT WILL BRING IT UP FOR THEM SELVES. MY HOMEGIRL IS A STRONG & INTELLIGENT WOMAN AND HAS NOT FORGOTTEN THAT A PERSON'S BEAUTY GOES FARTHER THAN SKIN DEEP. THEREFORE, IN LIGHT OF THE SITUATION SHE COUNTERED HIS FLAGRANCY WITH INTEGRITY & SELF CONFIDENCE – SOMETHING SOCIETY TENDS TO TAKE FOR GRANTED AMONGST OTHER THINGS; BUT THAT'S A WHOLE 'NETHER STORY



FOR TAMOI~

THE ECONOMY IS AFFECTING EVERYONE...

The economy is in a slump but that doesn't mean you have to be. I know, easier said than done. It's pretty bad when a yuppie grad, literally wanders around Beantown posing as a walking and talking resume. Not a bad idea, but it made me wonder did he do it out of desperation or self-degradation. Perhaps it was a little bit of both. What can I learn from such a simple yet profound action?

MBA 4 HIRE: 

Robert Nims said, and I quote, “I didn’t go to a top Ivy League program. I’m not gifted.”1 It's like a breathe away from saying, "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy!" like a bad rendition of Wayne's World. I'm no shrink but it sounded like a inferiority complex to me. Perhaps, his desperate attempt to get hired was an indirect result of a lack of self-confidence. It's a long shot but I dare to make the assumption. If so, he may want to rebuild his self-image or else the corporate sharks will smell his insecurity and eat him alive. Most of the country is gift challenged if you look at in those terms. I'm sure this wasn't what Nims meant when he made that statement but he surely put his self down. We know all know a higher education is better than nil. However, there are millions of talented/gifted people in the world who do not have an Ivy League education. I believe the culprit behind such a self-sabotaging belief are the elitist ideals our society upholds; it's ignorant and does more harm than good. That is if arrogance does any good at all (whether given or perceived). This is not about an Ivy League education. However, it's one of those things in life that affords one the invisible cloak of academic and/or professional superiority; the creme de le creme of society. I suppose it's the fringe benefit to the thousand atop of thousands of dollars it takes to attend any one of those institutions. Respect is due to persons who've earned their degree thru them but there's no reason to idolize those folks via putting them on a 'Better than me' pedestal. Fame is also the fringe benefit of stardom. Celebrities also get put on a pedestal and the expectations society puts on them are tough; its no wonder some go mad. Personally, I'm more interested in one's character than what's on his/her educational ticket or resume; but I'm no HR Manager either. I'm assuming on that cold day in Boston, Nims like many others in the nation felt disillusioned by the weak economy and all that came with it. Unfortunately, he told himself he was not as good as an Ivy league professional. Perhaps in someone else's posh mind you aren't up to par but worse case scenario is adopting it yourself.


The slumping economy has made me weary and desperate too. I've lowered my professional standards to keep my butt out of the soup kitchen. Any job is an honest living but I know my professional worth. I'd applied for a modest part-time, customer service gig at my local newspaper. It paid $7.50 an hour. Well, during the proverbial Q&A session, my interviewer (a Gov't retiree) casually clued me into the fact that some of my competition included not only undergrads but MBAs. I left an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach; not because I felt intimidated but rather disheartened. It was a the blatant irony of her statement; a straight-talk, "grass roots" confirmation of the failing job market from inside the doors of the oldest form of mass communication known to man! Nonetheless, I didn't get the job. Perhaps one of the graduates did. If so, I'm willing to bet my grocery money that as surely as I was bitter about not getting hired, they're just as bitter about working far below their pay & skill level. Those are not good feelings no matter where you stand in the pecking order. Fact remains, you gotta do what you gotta do in order to survive. We have more demand for jobs than there are positions available. So, whether your a High school or Harvard grad, either way folks are biting the bullet. However, the approach, getting that next job and more importantly doing well in it, or any other goals we might have depends on our own self-confidence. If deep down you don't think your worth it your inevitably going to ruin whatever situation you believe is too good for you. If you tell yourself you're not enough then when won't be. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, try not to allow yourself to believe in ignorant ideals and self-sabotaging beliefs. You are good enough for the goals you want to achieve in life. God gave us all "spiritual gifts" and in that right we are all gifted and talented individuals in our own unique ways. You also have the right to be and have a good life as just as much as anyone else! Keep a level head.


1 Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/08/18/daily51.html