Brother Ali Conflict

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Cameron Thomas

Cameron Thomas

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I'm assuming that most of you have either heard Brother Ali or at least heard his name. If not check out some of his material. Anyways I'm having a bit of a conflict. I've supported this dudes work since the first time I heard him spit. He's crazy talented, a great story teller and an excellent emcee. The conflict I'm having is this. About a month ago I read some posts on a message board from him. The topic was about white people using the word N*gga. I was pretty disappointed after reading what Ali had to say. Basically he was degrading a white dude for expressing his feelings. This dude hadn't posted anything offensive in the least. Ali went on to say that if you are white you will have a privileged life. Something to the effect of if your white you will have privilege every day of your white ass life. His responses just seemed a little closed minded and very negative towards white people in general. Anyways where the twist comes in is that I recently watched a video on undergroundhiphop.com with him basically explaining that he is in fact a white dude. Now I was always under the impression that he was an albino black man. His lack of pigment does not make it easy to distinguish and he even calls himself a righteous black man in one of his tracks. Now race isn't my concern as far as the music I listen to. I support anyone of any race who is doing music that is real and has something to offer. I can't help but to feel decieved in this situation though. No matter what anyone says it was obvious he was trying to give the impression that he was an albino black man and to me that just doesn't seem right. Why would he do this? Was it to gain support from a black market? Did he feel he would be respected less if people knew he was white? I don't get it. I still support what he's doing but I have to ask myself is it any different than supporting artists portraying themselves as killers when they probably haven't even held a gun? Now I know he reads message boards and even responded to the ughh forum in one of his tracks so I post this knowing he may see it. I understand why artists don't want their lives being under a microscope but when you are telling stories people believe to be true and they relate to the music in one way or another shouldn't you have some responsibility to your fan base to be honest? If a portion of the stories aren't true how can we know the rest isn't fiction? I just want to how others feel about this. Is it wrong I feel dissappointed and decieved?
 
whoa man, i've heard some of his music. I think its picket fence, where he raps in Arabic? its real tight. I too thought he was an albino black man. I'm not sure why he was degrading white people if he's white himself. odd.
 
White Privilege is due the racist structural system we have. He ain't lie about that. That may make a few white people uncomfortable. They, like most who are privileged in any of the myraid of ways one can be privileged, do not like to, or rather do not concieve of themselves to be privilieged. I was too under the impression that he was an albino black man however, that recognize how my own perception of the world plays a role into forming my perception of Brother Ali and what he says.

I just read a recent article where Brother Ali stated that he is often mistaken for being Black and/or white. It jus depends on the individuals perception. However, this gives him insight into both worlds and in some instances he sees how they (black or white) really feel. He is in an intresting subjective position to view the world.

Brother Ali got to real for you, his comments shattered your perception of him. You can turn away and continue to believe whatever you would like to belive about the world. Brother Ali said his piece though and now you know how he feels. Honestly, having listend to his music I don't see how you can be that surprised or "conflicted" by what he said. Like the title of one of the Roots songs of their last album states, "It's All In the Music."


Music is so subjective. I don't think anyone ever hears the same song.

but...


In a nut shell your gonna stop "supporting" Brother Ali because he told a white dude that he doesn't think that white people should use the word n-word and I assume you do not see the racial hierarchy that pervades the world and priviliages those that are white, western, male, and christian (not to mention heterosexual) the most, and thus you do not percieve of any privilage based upon your whiteness.

What a tangled web we weave...

Wake up Neo...

phenombeats said:
whoa man, i've heard some of his music. I think its picket fence, where he raps in Arabic? its real tight. I too thought he was an albino black man. I'm not sure why he was degrading white people if he's white himself. odd.
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Did I missread something somewhere? I thought Brother Ali said 2 things:

1. White people should not use the n-word.

2. White people are privilaged in this world.


Where is the degredation of white people at???
 
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It wasn't just that white folks shouldn't use the n-word it was that he believed that "If you're black in the western world you are assumed to be dangerous, a killer, a gangster, a thief, ignorant, morally deplorable, without family or other high values, lazy, sexually threatening, iresponsible and worthless as a human being. You are born a second or even third class citizen. If you're white, it's assumed that you're racist." Now I don't deny that there probably are ignorant individuals on both sides who feel this way but I really don't feel the majority of white folks see a black man and automatically assume he's a killer, sexually threatening or lazy or any of that sh*t for that matter. To me that's not getting too real that's taking a small slice of ignorance and manifying into something larger. I don't feel that the majority of black folks look at me because I'm white and automatically assume me to be racist. Yes I've been in that situation and it's even been used against me for the benefeit of a guilty party but I know that isn't the case the majority of the time.

My issue wasn't based solely on what he posted on a message board either. I'm not going to make a judgement based on that. My issue was with the fact that he was dishonest. Calling yourself a righteous black man is more than just avoiding a question of race. I'm not even concerned with it being the subject of race. I'm concerned with the fact that it was dishonest and I don't think he's really made any kind of apology for decieving his fan base. Like I said before how can you believe the whole story if one part is fiction? That's my main concern.
 
Wow. Is he white or an albino black dude? I guess he's one crafty guy if he convinced people he was albino black. If people actually bought into that I probably would of went with it too. So it makes you wonder why he exposed himself. On another note, more white people probably live on the crappiest side of town in my city than black people. You have to remember not everywhere in America is a major city. Give white people credit where it is deserved.
 
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theillestone said:
Did I missread something somewhere? I thought Brother Ali said 2 things:

1. White people should not use the n-word.

2. White people are privilaged in this world.


Where is the degredation of white people at???
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The degradation comes from assuming that all white people are priveleged when that just isn't the case. Everyone is born into a different situation. White folk don't want to be judged by the color of their skin the same way black folk don't want to be judged. Saying that all white folk are priveleged is just as prejudice as saying all black folk are killers. If you judge me on the color of my skin believing that I came from a rich family, had everything handed to me, got into a good college and was hired into an executive position at a company run by racist white folk because I'm white it's f*cking offensive. Especially when the reality of my life has been far from that. I was let go from a job 2 months before the birth of my first son because the company needed to diversify it's staff. The fact that I did the work of two people and that the other person holding my same position was terrible, called off and left early constantly had no effect on me losing that position. It was based on the fact that he was black and I was white that he kept his position. Now how is that priveleged and does that give me the right to assume black folk are priveleged based on the color of their skin? Everyone's situation is different.
 
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Here's a piece of a review I read of his latest album The Undisputed Truth. This review plus a lot of other reviews, social-political commentary, and other intresting articles can be found at www.playahata.com

If you wanted somebody who might seem like a gimmick in their initial appearance you would think that you had it in Brother Ali, who is white, Muslim, from Minnesota, and an Albino. If this was a Hollywood movie he would get cast in the customary villain role that Albino’s complain about being type cast into. If you made an assumption he was a gimmick you would be very wrong. One might think being a white guy in a genre dominated by Black artists would actually be an advantage, but if you hear what he is rapping about then you realize he has no advantage at all. He wants to be respected and its important to carve out a niche for him and his independent crew. Expect that from a guy heavily influenced by KRS-One. Ali is affiliated with the underground rap world spearheaded by the Rhyme Sayers collective that he is part of. This click includes such artists as Atmosphere, Musab, and DJ Abilities. This is an example of a vintage underground hip-hop movement.
Ali is on his second album and already has a place in the industry but since he is not interested in selling out to big corporations, there is no telling how popular he will become. To him “Success is not selling out. Ali's label, Rhymesayers Entertainment, has turned down inter label offers by Interscope and Red (a subsidiary of Sony), so it’s obvious they are not interested in being a commercial commodity and he knows the game, but as Ali says “The reality is that white people are more comfortable relating to white artists." He feels that "musicians are greedy, selfish ****s". Ali seems to do this because that's what he loves to do and he doesn’t try to justify it. I believe him. (Peep this video clip and you will also).
Ali offers Boots Riley Hip Hop. It’s peculiar coming from a white man, a really white man but lack of melanin ain't stopping nothing. Ali has already said "Being an albino has never really hurt him. It's the same as being an albino in life. It's something I have that gives me a distinctive look. People are always confused about what I am racially. And I let them think whatever it is they think. There are social connotations that go along with your racial background, and in that sense, it matters. Ali’s topics man against government, man against capitalism, man against woman. Sometimes he stalls on party hooks like “Walking Away” but the introspection he offers makes up for that.
 
Yeah assuming that white folk relate more to white artists isn't right either. People relate to the music that expresses their own feelings on topics which is why I relate to Ali's music. Not because he was white, black or albino. It's the same reason I relate to The Roots, Talib Kweli's Common's and Mos Def's. The only time I don't relate is when it is assumed that white folk are this way or that way. I'm not gonna relate to an artist portraying black folks as this way or that way either. It's ignorant to assume everyone of a certain race is restricted to a ceratin lifestyle. I feel Ali's music is real so I will continue to support him. I don't entirely agree with his mindset on certain subjects but there are few artists I do agree with completely.
 
it's not only color but class ,we are all split into different cultures within our own worlds in the black world you got black people who think their better than the other because they have money that was passed down through the family and the other unfortunate black people who don,t have money are looked at like they ain't even the same race i've been a victim to that many times thats the same thing that goes on in all cultures on the real it ain't even about the color of your skin any more it's about class who you hang with and who you know.
 
Misery84 said:
it's not only color but class ,we are all split into different cultures within our own worlds in the black world you got black people who think their better than the other because they have money that was passed down through the family and the other unfortunate black people who don,t have money are looked at like they ain't even the same race i've been a victim to that many times thats the same thing that goes on in all cultures on the real it ain't even about the color of your skin any more it's about class who you hang with and who you know.
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Exactly. We all know that racism still exists on the part of all races but when it comes down to real discrimination in this day and age you are truly judged on class.

It's not that George Bush doesn't care about black people it's that he doesn't care about poor people.

Don't get it mixed up though. The government and big business does not want you to get along. It makes it easier for them to have you sorted into categories by race and class. When you begin to think negatively about another race or class you basically fall for their tricks. There's no reason you can't find something in common with another person of any race or class no matter what race or class you have been placed in.
 
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George Bush don't care about nobody but "staying the course in Iraq"

But that's another topic in itself.
 
Okay, my turn. I only disagree about white people and the "n-word". Say it all you want. I don't give a f*ck....BUT...yes...if some people didn't catch this while growing up, society has always put

White > Everybody else
People who AREN'T White do it. So they are "priveledged" with the ignorant masses thinking that White PeOPLe SOooO RoCK!!!!!

AND..... Eminem. He (and everybody else) knows that if he weren't White, he wouldn't have gained as many fans. White people relate more to White artists. THE END
 
And black people relate more to black artists. Whats your point? I hate to break it to you, but your a part of society too.
 
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TheRiddler said:
And black people relate more to black artists. Whats your point? I hate to break it to you, but your a part of society too.
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WOW NIGGA!

Wasn't talkin to you and I knew that already. K thanks
 
RockyP said:
Okay, my turn. I only disagree about white people and the "n-word". Say it all you want. I don't give a f*ck....BUT...yes...if some people didn't catch this while growing up, society has always put

White > Everybody else
People who AREN'T White do it. So they are "priveledged" with the ignorant masses thinking that White PeOPLe SOooO RoCK!!!!!

AND..... Eminem. He (and everybody else) knows that if he weren't White, he wouldn't have gained as many fans. White people relate more to White artists. THE END
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Yeah well society put that sh*t in your head and you believed it. White > Everbody else. As long as you know it's not true it shouldn't be an issue. Damn near everyone white and black knows that there is no superior race. Tricks!! don't fall for that sh*t and don't dislike white folks because of it.

As far as Eminem goes he may have more fans because he is white but it may have also been more of a challenge for him to gain exposure and respect. Let's not forget that without Dr. Dre's backing Eminem may have never gone past underground exposure.

There are plenty of white emcees that are sick on the mic but probably won't make it past underground status.
 
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They really need a delete post function.
 
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i understand i felt decieved like that when i found out my mom was santa claus
 
TheRiddler said:
Wow. Is he white or an albino black dude? I guess he's one crafty guy if he convinced people he was albino black. If people actually bought into that I probably would of went with it too. So it makes you wonder why he exposed himself. On another note, more white people probably live on the crappiest side of town in my city than black people. You have to remember not everywhere in America is a major city. Give white people credit where it is deserved.
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Yea and so you city does not reflect the norm for America or the world for that matter?


Let's be for real.

Your analogy and logic is faulty. The fact is you got to compare apples with apples and oranges with oranges. So if you are gonna talk about the middle class then you have to compare middle class people of differerent races and ethnicities. If you did that you will still find that Black people in the middle class, get paid less, are more segregated, thier children our in the least advanced classes, etc. Furthermore this counrty is over 70% white so, yea, there are plenty of poor ass white people too. But then again lets look at the globe. There is a difference between being poor and in America (which is called relative poverty), and a thing called absolute poverty.

There is a racial hierarchy, the more pigmentation you have in your skin the more you are oppressed, the more you are imprisoned, your life expectancy is lower, the more yo are shut out from economic oppurtunity, etc.

Let's be for real.


Go read some books (like Brother Ali has probably done), then come back and talk about race, class, and gender, in the world.
 
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