Theories on Race: The Idea of Racial Classification

I had a great discussion in my English class today. We're talking about identity because we have to write a paper about it, so race is a big part of that. Today we were discussing how race really isn't a good way to classify people because it bases its differences on minor physical traits like skin color, hair texture, and facial features. These things aren't major characteristics that classify people as being more or less human, they're more of an over-time development (people in Africa would procreate with other people in africa so their traits mixed and got passed down). In theory a 'black' person with straight hair could have had children with a 'black' person with coiled hair and the coiled hair trait got passed down. Not because its a determining/ difference-making physical characteristic, but an evolutionary one.

Anyway, I digress; People were saying that categorizing is inherently bad and it only excludes people, but categories are necessary for human interaction (this is in direct relation to schemas if you've ever taken a psych class). The world is too big for us to understand it in its small parts so we put things together and understand them as groups. So I came up with the theory that the categories aren't the problem, its the definitions of the category. If you define your categories using stereotypes and assumptions, your view of the group becomes very limited. If you define your categories with facts then you can add all of the individual characteristics of a person in order to define them by their terms, and understand them better.

Now that brings up the question of what are the facts that should be used to define your categories? What facts are there about race? Because race isn't a biological thing, there are very little facts. So I'll break it down..

Ode To My Girlfriend

If My Feelings Were Songs....

“i know a girl, she puts the color inside my world” “a beautiful package whats even better whats inside it"  “when i’m lost i try to find you, you know to give me space when its time to"

“and it feels so beautiful, put it in a song cuz it feels so musical”

“don’t sweat the small stuff girl, cuz we both giants i looked into ya eyes and i seen divine vibrance”

“let the world rage outside, cuz when i’m here with you the world stops for me”

“its kinda fresh she listen to more than hip hop i can catch her in the mix from beauty to thrift shop”

“you want love we’ll make it, swim in a deep sea of blankets”

“the simplest way i can put it, you become a habit, the more i consume the more i gotta have it”

“checkin on you make sure you’re okay, be the one to brighten up your day”

“for your love i’m down to go all the way”

“i know i’m young but if i had to chose her or the sun i’d be one nocturnal son of a gun”

Everything I Have To Say About Music Right Now

1.BET & MTV- MTV originally stood for Music Television, well in case no one notice, the music is GONE. Do they still show those videos in the a.m. for wakeup? I know late nights is full of reality tv and celebrity spinoffs with people dying for their 15 minutes of fame. BET is the same thing, its already full of bullshit (106, Buppies, Judge Mathis, and their own brand of reality shows) but on top of that all they play is Everybody Hates Chris or The Game, ps. there's wayyy more black shows. Even old school Sister Sister, Girlfriends or Smart Guy would be acceptable, switch it up a lil. And what happened to all those DJ shows that used to come on after 106? (106 for the masses and Underground DJ for the lovers). So officially, if you have basic cable there are NO music channels for you to watch; sorry.

2. The State Of Music Today is horrible. Gucci needs a speech class and is only listenable when its a collab, Wayne recycles his verses, Soulja Boy is a JOKE, Wacka got shot for his chain (and will probably get millions of fans for it), Young Money is more like the gang of rejects (minus Drake), Nicki Minaj is THE WORST representation of a female rapper I have ever known. The rappers who really mean something are underplayed and unappreciated which leads me toooo...

3. My Recent Download Escapades have led me to some wonderful discoveries that have also restored my hope in the rap game. Charles Hamilton, Curren$y, Wale, Nipsey Hussle, Wiz Khalifa, Nneka, new Kid Cudi collabs, and new Lupe! If these artists/projects aren't shot down by the man and reprocessed into something the stomach's of the general population can handle, then real music still has a chance.