Source: Getty Images

It’s been 18 years since the death of Eazy-E but one person is not prepared to let his public image die.

E.B. Wright, the 22 year old daughter of the late rapper, is currently putting together a documentary about the life – and death – of her father, according to BET.com.  E.B., a budding rapper herself, says that his legacy has not been properly represented and she wants to change that.

“A lot of people don’t know the truth behind his death.  There’s definitely a story out there of how people think he died but a lot of it is a misconception, so I think it’s time to tell the story of exactly what happened.”

E.B. says that the documentary, tentative titled Ruthless Scandal, will have in-depth interviews with celebrities, family members, close friends and others who knew the “real” Eazy.  Further, there will be interviews from doctors and lawyers as well as documents regarding the death of the rapper. As most of us know, Eazy reportedly died as a result of complications of the AIDS virus when he was only 31 years old. His daughter hasn’t stated whether or not she accepts this but she clearly has had more questions about it as she’s grown.

E.B. also envisions how important her dad would be were he still alive:

“He started all of this, and honestly I don’t even think his impact can be limited to the West Coast.  I feel like, if my dad was alive today, he would be Jay-Z businesswise. He was a true visionary. He started the independent label, he started the idea of speaking your mind…”

Ruthless Scandal is currently slated for a 2014 release.

Were you an Eazy-E fan? Would you check out this documentary?

Source: WENN

It’s no secret that Dr. Cornel West doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with President Barack Obama, nor does he have any qualms about expressing his indifference. During a recent panel discussion appearing on C-SPAN, which explored poverty in the United States, Dr. West touched on his disapproval of President Obama being sworn in for his second term using the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Bible. It appears that West feels that the President’s use of the Bible served as a moment of “political calculation”.

“When I got the news that my dear brother, Barack Obama, President Obama, was going to put his hand on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Bible, I got upset. I got upset because you don’t play with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and you don’t play with his people. By ‘his people’ I mean people of good conscience, fundamentally committed to peace, and truth, and justice; and especially the Black tradition that produced it.”

“All of the blood, sweat and tears that went into producing a Martin Luther King Jr. generated a brother of such high decency and dignity that you don’t use his prophetic fire for a moment of presidential pageantry without understanding the challenge he represents to all of those in power, no matter what color they are.”

Dr. West went on to express that the symbolic moment was “personal” for him because it tapped into the tradition that he came out of. He also urged his audience to question what Dr. King would think of the state that our society is in and how our government is currently being run under the advisement of President Obama, which he believes is in opposition of MLK’s principles and beliefs. He closed his statement by expressing that he does not hate Obama, he simply loves “the tradition that produced Martin Luther King Jr.” and refuses to “allow it in any way to be sanitized, deodorized and sterilized.”

Check out footage of Dr. West’s full statement on the following page. Do you agree or disagree with his stance? 

Source: wetpaint.com

Okay, I’m not going to rehash the entire “Real House Wives of Atlanta” episode as  Brande Victorian did an excellent job highlighting all the key points of frustration and flat out foolishness yesterday.  But I do want to talk about how ill at ease I feel about Porsha Stewart, granddaughter of Civil Rights icon Hosea Williams, jumping into the frays of ratchetness on the latest season of RHOA.

Personally, it has always been disheartening to see the children and grandchildren of famed and noted historical figures, particularly the off-spring of black human rights activists and icons, go in such an opposite direction of their family’s legacy. For me, Hosea Williams’ legacy was not embedded in the who’s who in the pecking order of the black social elite. He was a minister, a politician and an activist. And when I think of his legacy, I think of the man, who was a trusted member of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s inner circle. And after the assassination of Dr. King, Williams continued his own mission of advocating for the homeless and the hungry.  However, thanks to Ms. Stewart, his legacy has also been tainted with the shenanigans and pure foolishness, which is reality television.

I know that the children of human rights activist shouldn’t be expected to walk directly in their ancestor’s footsteps.  However there is something very jaded and pessimistic about watching the granddaughter of a man, who advocated for the homeless and hungry, blunder over knowing that we are in a “recession,” bragging about the privilege of never having to earn a living, and having her NFL husband flaunt her Chanel cake and bag at a charity event, which was supposed to be for the homeless and hungry. I know it may not seem fair but watching children of human rights activists embrace the materialistic and somewhat superficial aspects of our society’s culture, makes you question the virtues of their family’s legacy. I mean, there are people in this world, particularly in the black community, who are still suffering. And if the message of that icon was so empowering and relevant, why aren’t the keepers to the message, the children and grandchildren, abiding by it?

Likewise, you do have to wonder about the motivations of anyone, who knowingly throws themselves into the limelight of reality television, especially a reality television show with a reputation as dubious as the Real Housewives franchise. Last week’s episode definitely gave me cause to ponder if her appearance on the show is to raise the status of the plight of the homeless and hungry, as Stewart’s bio suggests, or is it to raise her own profile as a socialite and/or a brand? Also according to her bio, in addition to being a new wife and mother who’s into yoga, afternoon dips in her pool and of course charity work, Stewart is also nurturing a “budding music career.” It’s probably safe to say that fame is as much of a factor as any commitment to social responsibility.

That’s not to say that Stewart’s philanthropy does not have a social conscious. Any money raised at that evening at the fundraiser, including that $250,000 check her husband cut at the charity event, will go a long way in funding lots of nonprofits, particularly the ones on the ground doing the grass root work. However she should be re-evaluating whether having her life documented for reality television, thus under the constant public scrutiny, is the best way to advocate, represent and establish longevity for the cause. Perhaps she should do less talking about her family’s name and action and focus on her own personal ambitions of singing – if not for the charity, at least for the legacy.

demangotree.com

I hadn’t heard of writer Erica Kennedy, but I’d seen her title Bling on the shelf at Barnes & Noble a few times. Still, having only heard her name in reference to her June passing, I was taken by the number of requiems penned by fellow woman-writers in her honor, most of whom had never met her face to face. The memories were similar in that each written memoriam agreed that Kennedy was mentor to many and a connector of women who, in some fashion, had demonstrated promise in the realm of writing and publishing. All agreed that she was witty and sharp, but most of all, Erica Kennedy was remembered as an encourager.

This made me wonder about the legacies we leave. This was not the first time, however. During Whitney Houston’s funeral in February, a friend tweeted, “Who will speak at your funeral, and what will they say?”

In late-March, a co-worker of mine passed unexpectedly. In the days after the staff received word of the terrible news, we moved around each other in the halls, pressing our lips together and raising our cheeks in contrived acknowledgement and grief. As I placed my lunch in the break room refrigerator the following week, I had to push a Diet Pepsi out of the way. I wondered if it belonged to my deceased co-worker, a man whose penchant for the drinks became the stuff of office folklore. Did he have any food left in the fridge or freezer? I thought about how this simple sign of life turned into a striking reminder of how frail and fleeting our moments can be.

My officemates and I were rows deep in the sanctuary of a catholic church the following Monday, offering support to the grieving family and to each other at the funeral. Throughout the church were emblems of the departed’s life outside of the office: the youth athletic teams he coached (both current players and alumni), old friends, co-workers from past professional lives, and members of a tight-knit family, all of whom had faces flushed with shock and sorrow, all of whom spoke highly of their coach, colleague, and loved one. I thought about how much this said about his legacy.

The question of legacy hit home once again when, in the wee hours of July 20, twelve moviegoers were killed in the theatre tragedy in Aurora, Colo. Among them was Jessica Ghawi, an aspiring sports journalist whose social media prowess prompted her to post an essay about narrowly missing the gunfire at a Toronto mall the month prior to attending the fateful midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Colorado. The message she shared with her blog readers: “…every moment we have to live our [lives] is a blessing.”

It seems that we work hard to be somebody in this world, to be seen, to be “important,” as if our titles and toys mean anything really. What we can learn from all of this is that what matters are our connections, real and digital — reaching out to others, using our stories for good, and being an encourager and a mentor. It’s about using our platforms and positions for good and not just for gain. It’s a cliché because it’s true: you can’t take it (the spoils, the toys, the titles) with you. Whether online or in real life, our connections are lasting relics of our spirits. What remains are memories of your encouragement, your belief and your passion for someone and something other than yourself.

Readers, what do you hope is part of your legacy? Who will speak at your funeral, and what will they say?

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thyblackman.com

With Mother’s Day nearing and everyone taking the time to express there appreciation for their mom’s it’s only right that we take it a step further and think about who we are, what we represent and how we behave in the spirit of the woman who birthed us. Would our mother’s be proud of the man we’ve selected to share our life with? Would she be pleased on the examples we are setting for our daughters? Are we living up to the full potential we know our mothers have equipped us with? If you can’t say yes to any of these questions than I think it’s time to make a change and begin to honor thy mother.

You see Mother’s day is more than just a holiday in May when we have the chance to shower our mother’s with the best and tell her how much she means to us. It’s also about honoring your mother through exemplifying the lessons and jewels she instilled in you. We know our mother’s are always going to be there for us regardless if we are doing bad or good, but we also know if we want to make her happy and proud we must project the good she has taught us. Living by example is the best way to do that. I know we are all grown and have developed our own sense of self, but let’s not go into the world acting like mama raised a fool.  Let’s not do anything that will embarrass our mother or shame our daughters.

So woman to woman, on this Mother’s Day let’s not only give thanks to our mami’s but live our lives in honor of her.

Want to talk to me Woman to Woman or have a topic you would like addressed? Email me at rhooks@madamenoire.com or follow me on twitter @rashanahooks