Thanks for sitting down with me today.  I’ll jump right into where our offline discussion left off.  Are you much of a political person?

Yeah, sure.  I’d like to think I’m aware.  I like to stay cognizant.

 

What are your thoughts on the rash of shootings of unarmed Black people in the last two years?

Well, on one hand it’s obviously a systemic problem when you look at the prison industrial complex and the disproportionate population of Blacks and Latinos (men and women) in the system.  It’s kind of something that’s always gone on but now we’re more aware of it because it’s getting more publicity.  And there are pockets of areas where it’s worse than others.

 

As a sociologist I have to take myself out of the equation.  I mean, for example I have to at least consider the number of unarmed whites that are killed as well.  Before I’d claim that racism is out of hand I’d like to see the stats of white, unarmed citizens that have been killed.  That said, I’ve personally had my share of encounters.  Racism certainly exists.  White supremacy is well and alive.  But as a sociologist the stats are something I’m interested in seeing.

 

Do you think Black Lives Matter is an effective voice/platform?

Their strategies seem to simply be “we’re going to protest”.   In the end that, in my opinion, simply isn’t gonna cut it.  We’ve gone past asking the government for redressing of grievances.  When you look at the 60s movement, the parallels between the 60s movement and Black Lives Matter.  The police dogs being put on people and being televised is when you started seeing significant change.  In a way you have the same thing going on with Treyvon Martin and Ferguson and such.  You’re going to see some significant change.  Overall, the 60s movement didn’t do anything to touch the power structure of White supremacy.  It didn’t do it on the side of MLK or on the side of Malcolm X.  The structures are still in place.  For instance, if you have a Black Lives Matter leader that emerges, all they would have to do is cut him down, make an example of him and then he’s not a threat anymore.  Name a holiday after him and get back to business as usual.

 

That’s a fairly cynical vantage point, don’t you think?

There is a method to the madness though.  In my opinion, the REAL strategy is an economic strategy.  If these people weren’t poor, they wouldn’t be subjected to this type of police brutality because you would have a stronger sense of community.  With economics comes that stronger sense of community, and you don’t have such a power structure of police when you have a strong economic and community base.   You have to have self-empowerment.

 

What’s your opinion on the black community positioning itself for self-empowerment?

One thing to do is to keep Black dollars in the Black community.  It’s been done before.  Black people have to have a sense of their own history.  You need a sense of self-worth to give you a sense of where you are and a sense of where you’re going.  When you learn your own history then you begin to respect yourself; you begin to have a better sense of family and a better sense of community.  For example, in Tulsa, OK in 1921 they had what they called Little Africa or Black Wall Street.  This was an era in Black history where you had a concentration of Black Businesses, churches, millionaires, etc.  All of this was possible because of a sense community. You had money that stayed in the community and turned over before it ever left the community.  Now Blacks get money and run out to the mall and spend and never invest any money in the businesses in our own community.

 

These days, you have to ask “where is the Black community?”.  In most cities, you can find Little Tokyo, Little China, etc. but where is Little Africa?  People are so worried about being “American” but it starts with home.  When I say American I mean buying into the capitalism mentality. 

 

It’s kinda cool that you’re teaching at the school you graduated from.  How long have you been teaching at Prairie View A&M?

It’s been about four years now. 

 

How would you characterize the mind state of the average Black college student you encounter?  Do you find them socially aware?  Oblivious?  Indifferent?

It varies from freshmen to upper classmen.  Right now I deal with a lot of freshmen and sophomores.  The usual rhythm is, if they get past their freshmen year, they get serious.  Of course, you have the overachievers who HAVE to get straight A’s.  The work ethic is all over the place as some of them are just learning to be students.

 

As for socially aware, honestly, I think most of ‘em are just interested in getting their education and getting out.  The problem that I see, in teaching History, is that I don’t think they’re really interested in learning their history. They’re more interested in “how can I get an A?”  And our perspective of teaching History at Prairie View is in teaching about slavery and Black History.  They’re not really interested in that.  I don’t blame them because I think they’re just young.  I mean the dynamic of it didn’t really hit ME until later in life also.  So I try not to pass judgement on that.  I think they, at least, think about it.  And isn’t that the point of education?  To make you think critically about your beliefs and dogma?

 

What, in your view, is missing from the dialogue regarding equality and fair treatment?  Legislation?  Activism? Economic strategy?

I think the main thing is… defining what it is you want in the end.  Especially from the perspective of the Black Lives Matter movement.  Yep, I’m back to that again.. (lol).  The question is what are their demands?

 

What do you think they should be?

Well, I don’t think more Black officers is an answer.  I would initially demand better schools and better housing.  In my opinion, people will act according to their environment.  The demand is to build a community that human beings can live in.  Also, there is definitely a need to have a police department that’s designed to serve the community, not to make certain people rich.  That’s just what I would demand.  At least that’s where I would start.

 

In addition to all this philosophical stuff, I’d like to touch on your music and songwriting.  Would you say your music parallels what’s out now?

Absolutely not.  Thank God, I think, because I consider my music to be alternative hip hop or neo soul.  Most artists that are not mainstream don’t get much publicity but they sometimes get a loyal a following.  I’d classify my music as alternative R&B.  If I were to capsulize it I’d say, Erika Badhu meets the Dave Matthews band meets Bob Marley meets Nas.

 

Erika Badu because I like her live feel. I think her music is rooted in the Blues and rooted in Soul music.

Dave Mathews Band because of the improvisational feel that the band has in their live performances.  Also, the eclectic nature of the band.  You don’t know if it’s jazz, blue grass, hip hop… I like to think about my music in the same vein.  Bob Marley’s music because, to me, it’s rooted in pain.  You have Bob Marley and the Wailers.  I like how his music deals with social issues and deals with overcoming White supremacy, really in the end.  In short, I think his music represents people who are marginalized… poor people, outcasts, African people to be sure.  I would like my music to do the same.  I hope that it does, anyway.  Nas, hmmm… the main thing about Nas that I see in myself is that he’s a storyteller.

 

How would you say you’re different as a writer and artist?

The main thing about my music is I’m not talking about stealing somebody’s girlfriend, I’m not talking about how much material possessions I have though that’s really the extent of what’s on the radio.  They’ve found a thousand different ways to say that.  I want to talk about what it means to be a human being.  Kinda like Shakespeare, I want to explore the gambut of human experience.. fears, emotions, strong and weak points.  Like “I don’t have a lot of money” or “I’d rather have ONE woman instead of taking yours”.  You know, telling the truth about your shortcomings.  Your failures.  So when I way “being a human being” it encompasses all that.  Hope in the face of despair.   Desire in the face of failure.

 

What’s in your play list right now?

Lately I have been on Bobby Blue Bland, Amy Winehouse’s “Frank” album, that latest D’Angelo album, Lauren Hill, and I’ve been listening to Kendrick Lamar’s album too.  That’s probably the only new stuff I’ve been listening to.  My taste is all over the place but a lot of old school stays in the mix.

 

How do you think today’s music influences young Black girls?

It’s hard for me to say, not being a girl.. (LOL) but I think that music and entertainment in general is conditioning them to have an independent mindset.  They have a lot of empowering music these days but not necessarily in a positive way.  Like, in order for you to be successful you have to be a bad bitch.  It’s narcissistic.  They’re listening to people like Beyonce’ and Rhianna and the message is “I don’t need a man, I can get my own” or “I’m gonna build an empire” and it leads to narcissism and vanity and hyper egos.

 

How do you think today’s music influences young Black males?

In terms of men.. especially Black men, it leads to the idea of “I’m gonna take your bitch”.  They look up and they’re 32 years old and they’re still in adolescence.  Today’s music is glorification of adolescence and immaturity and simplicity. Hopefully the next generation of artists are as fed up with the direction of Black music as I am.  I'd love to see the converation change.

 

 

OUR CONVERSATION LASTED A COUPLE OF HOURS AND TRANSITIONED A FEW TIMES FROM INTERVIEW TO DEBATE AND BACK TO INTERVIEW MODE AGAIN.  ULTIMATELY IT WAS COOL TO ENTERTAIN THE TOPICS WE DID.  

 

MUCH LOVE AND SUCCESS TO TERENCE!!

 

 

 

 

V. Ray

#positiveblack

#RiseShineRepeat

#BlackDiamonds