Cultural Revolutionary

Gil Scott Heron arguably the master architect if you will, the grandfather, the godfather, the veritable grand poobah of hip hop has passed away. Scott-Heron is dead and along with him went the revolutionary, fighting spirit of an era of angst, frustration, and outspoken activism. Details are sketchy to say the least about his untimely demise but one can only gather that his death, as was his life, was unceremoniously bleak and depressing.

I had the misfortune of seeing Mr. Scott-Heron once, not in a smoky Harlem club on a small stage with an upright bass and a snare drum as accompaniment snapping my fingers in approval to his seminal work The Revolution Will Not be Televised, not at a rally with Public Enemy and KRS-One speaking out about social injustices perpetuated against poor people of color in urban hell holes. I saw GSH in the mid 80s on the steps of a brownstone on the west side of Manhattan, with a needle hanging out of his arm. Most people would have stepped over him like a bum, disgusted at the thought of him having the audacity to disturb their pleasant reality, invading their middle class perceptions of urbanity. I didn't. I was leaving a friend's house in the early evening hours and made eye contact with the man I knew as a legend. It was the briefest exchange two humans might be able to have, lasting only a few seconds, but it was as if he saw the look in my eyes that told him that I knew who he was and that I was disappointed in him. He mumbled something unintelligible in his signature deep, mellow voice and, just then, a companion of his came out of the house, I can only assume to rush him inside, as I quickly turned and made my leave.

I cannot own or identify Mr. Scott-Heron as a hero because, while talented and brilliant, he was slave to the demons that tormented him. As is the case with most tortured artists, his genius was quite possibly inspired by, most certainly influenced by narcotics. One can never know the works of art the world might have had, or might not have had, without the influence of the junk that filled his veins and clouded his brain. What I do know to be truth is that he was as brave as any soldier fighting for freedom in an unjustified and indefensible war we are fighting today. Gill Scott-Heron spoke truth to power. He spoke out about racism in a world that despised and oppressed him simply for the color of his skin. That is a dying trait indeed.

All too often, Black people today are so complacent about our oppression that we can be considered complicit in it. We talk about injustice and racism behind closed doors and on our Facebook pages and then, in public, say, "Color doesn't matter," and, "Can't we all just get along." Black people today are afraid to call out white people and the systems that keep us in poverty and despair because we are afraid of offending white people, terrified to rock the boat and draw attention to ourselves as uppity or unappreciative for the scraps that are thrown at us. As this country steadily becomes more intolerant, as we travel backwards in race relations because the majority is desperate to hold on to their perceived sense of superiority and the minority is fraught with the fear of being viewed as inferior, radical, heroic voices like those of Gil Scott-Heron are dying out, literally and figuratively. Black people have become materialistic, the embodiment of political milquetoast, and prisoners of a mental enslavement that stifle our cries of revolution so much so that we can no longer even hope to hear the sort of artistry created by Gil Scott-Heron that was once our battle cry. Today, the revolution will no longer be live, it must be televised.

The Revolution has to be Televised

The revolution has to be televised or most Black people will miss it.

The revolution has to be televised in High Definition with a slamming soundtrack or it will be completely missed.

The revolution has to be televised

The revolution must be on BET, right after Comic View and right before yet another tired re-run of Girlfriends for anyone to take notice.

The revolution will be a pay per view event with watered down politically correct messages or Black folks will not have a clue the revolution has begun.

The so-called revolution will be little more than sound bites that can be played back on Fox news for faux reporters to spin.

The revolution will be scheduled opposite American Idol.

The revolution has to be televised

The revolution must be downloadable as a ring tone on people's phones.

Text "Fight the Power" to 1776 now for your daily dose of insurgency.

The revolution will be prime time media fodder for high ratings.

The revolution will be sponsored by Viagra and Budweiser.

The revolution will have a promo with a couple of those Desperate Housewives.

The revolution has to be televised

The revolution will have a half time show with Janet Jackson showing off her boobie.

Don't worry, if you miss the revolution, it will be re-aired on the WB, right after the other minstrel shows.

The Revolution has to be televised because Black people don't want to really get out in the streets and revolt.

They want to Tivo the revolution and rewind it in the comfort of their own home with no commercials.

The revolution will be released on DVD at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Blockbuster Video.

The revolution gots to be downloadable for Netflix subscribers.

The revolution has to be televised

The revolution will be hosted by 50cent and Snoop Dog with special performances by Beyonce'.

The revolution has to be watered down and degrading before anyone will pay attention.

It will be a high budget music video on MTV.

The generals of the revolution will have to say the word niggah a couple dozen times before anyone listens.

The revolution will be in special release at Magic Johnson Theaters.

The revolution has to be televised

The revolution will be waged at IMAX theaters with complimentary apple martinis on the first Friday of the month.

Who has time for a revolution?

Download the revolution to your I-pod to listen to on your way to the corporate plantation.

The revolution will be produced and directed by Quentin Tarantino.

It will star Flava Flav as Sambo and Omorosa will get voted off the island.

Without television, there will be no revolution

Casting for the revolution will be by the GOP.

HBO will air the revolution as a mini series.

The revolution will be nominated for an Emmy as "Best Comedy of the Year"

The revolution will be a telethon with an 800 number to call in and pledge.

"Hey, what happened to all that money donated for that Revolution thing?"

The revolution has to be televised!

The revolution has to be televised!

The revolution has to be televised!

The revolution has died.