As an introduction to my presence at globalgrind.com I have decided to take a stab at the creator of the site Mr. Russell Simmons. Why would I take a stab first time around at the boss man…who knows? Maybe he deserves it, maybe he doesn’t, but the bottom-line is that you are going to get it today. I know many of you have been waiting all month for this analysis, and I apologize. I have been extremely busy, and I didn’t want to just throw to together anything.
It is only right to take a stab at Russell Simmons, seeing that he has used every avenue possible to exploit the cultural of Hip Hop. Don’t get me wrong I have a huge amount of respect for Russell Simmons. We have what “they” call a love/hate relationship. I must admit he does have a number of programs to help the community that he funds both publicly and privately. I know firsthand the philanthropy of Russell, because I live in Southeast Queens the home of Run DMC, LL Cool J, Ja Rule, 50 Cent, and the in/famous Russell Simmons. Just because we are from the same neighborhood doesn’t mean that he can’t be called out when he is on some BS. Most would praise Russell Simmons in their first blog on his site, but I have decided to take the road less travel. There are a number of issues I could attack in regard to Russell: sweat shops, over priced clothing, slave record deals etc etc, but today I will simply be talking about his diamond deals.
The term blood diamonds and/or conflict diamonds is a word that has been thrown around recently, that doesn’t necessarily reflect the true nature of the diamond trade in Africa and the Diaspora. The term blood diamond/conflict diamond denotes the idea that there is a reciprocal to the ideology of these specific diamonds from Africa. One could come to the conclusion that there is a “blood free” or “conflict free” diamond. This rational is inherently false, there is no such thing as a bloodless or conflict free diamond. Every diamond that is taken out of Africa is a Blood Diamond. Instead of writing five pages on Russell Simmon’s and his relationship to DeBeers and the diamond trade, I have decided to create a PowerPoint presentation. They’re limiting my words at globalgrind.com, so I figure a presentation would help me get around that hump. Hopefully you guys like my new format, and I look forward to bring you the REAL from the mind of MARVO.
Follow this link to the powerpoint, then click “full” in the bottom left hand corner of the screen that reads Blood/ Conflict Diamonds Russell Simmons Exposed:
http://www.slideshare.net/marving2/blooddiamonds2
Friday, February 29, 2008
Russell Simmons Exposed
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Peace Bro. Thanks for the shout out to Yibima Jamii. Miss you in the book readings. I remember first reading about the exploitation of Afrikans re: diamonds some years back. Ever since, as I contemplate getting married, I would wonder about the engagement ring (notice that the engagement ring is more expensive than the marriage ring, yet it is only a promisary ring) and whether I would like a diamond in it. Naturally, or unnaturally, I would feel conflicted because the diamond is beautiful and dazzling, however, my people are dying and at minimum not benefitting from it. At least the masses. So your write-up is further encouragement not to have a diamond engagement ring, or any diamond jewelry for that matter. Not until my people start to benefit. Kind of hard, after years of 'brainwashing' huh.
It's not all about buying the diamond, at least not totally. It's the conscience behind buying the diamond. Diamonds are not the problem, the disconnect Black people have with their self determination is the problem. Diamonds are just a drop in the bucket of resources that are being exploited from Africa. If you don't buy a diamond because of the exploitation, you might as well return almost every electronic you have, including the computer you are reading this message. Your cell phone, your TV, your micro wave etc etc. All of these items and many more all contain material that has been exploited from Africa. Diamonds are beautiful and to be appreciated. My point in the presentation is to raise the conscience behind the diamonds. That is the important part to me. With that seed of conscience, resistance will grow, and liberation will be on the horizon.
Post a Comment