Joy Bryant: Stimulus in your Package

I thought America was an Empire--per Dick Cheney. And hasn't every empire ever on this planet create jobs, opportunities, memories through massive building, bold infrastructure expansion and rehab, the germination and flower of culture, art? So Keynes and Cheney shouldn't be too far apart, eh? My, my...all this nastiness and yet they blithely gave away billions to Wall Street, to bankers. I'm glad the one thing we do well here, without rescue or bailout, is seed and grow hotties.

So here is actress Joy Bryant, native of the Bronx, Yalie, most likely to play Michelle Obama in a flick...her range is from Antwone Fisher with Oscar nominated Viola Davis, to Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins. Well, Joy loves to surf. Self-taught, even (and frequents the beaches of Chile, rather than Jones on L.I.).

Have Mercy...

Anyhow...is here not only to reassure you that the good guys will win, but that warmth...spring...renewal...summer--is around the corner. Fellas, enjoy. Ladies, (and Mrs. Nat) don't hate. We love you. We just need a little whimsy to get motivated sometime. Here's to the winter of our discontent turning glorious summer. You'll see...

Happy Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving, yet meanwhile...

...the world stumbles on. Welcome, President Obama.




On a lighter note (much), the Association of Black Princeton Alumni, DC Chapter, is holding its annual Hoops Party in the skybox high above the court in the Verizon Center. 12/1, 1pm. Come see the Coach Thompson '88 and the Georgetown Hoyas as you sip your drink and dine on gourmet lunch fare. Email me for details. Michelle, come on by with the Secret Service.

What happend to Neo Soul?

Why is the latest iteration of ignorant bamma rap ascendant? T-Pain? Lil' Wayne? Come on. Whatever happened to neo soul? Too bourgie for the least common denominator? Too intelligent? Not enough $$ for white label executives (too expensive to produce)? Not escapist enough? What are your thoughts? Seriously--will this change? Can Barack and Michelle set a new aesthetic?

I know it's a function of youth culture, and every older generation harrumphs and grouses about the tastes of the younger one. Yet it appears we are reaching the end of that chain...a saturation point where you really CAN say that younger African Americans truly do have their heads up their asses? No taste? Fewer mores? Even more nihilistic...or in a fog of un-reality (e.g., "yeah when I get of school I'm gonna start my own club and record label and cage fighting league"). This is their music. The trouble is that there is little or no self-reflection. No critical thought. Hard to do when you're downloading ringtones instead of the reading. Neo Soul afficianados read...