"I dig Cal's site, but I'm thinking he doesn't understand African-American's mistrust of government and belief in conspiracy theories and that films like Michael Moore's feed into what many of the African-American populace already believes about government's role in world violence."
One does not need to believe in conspiracy theories to accept/understand the overhanded role that the government plays in world violence.
Yes, I am not black. I can be put down on the list of white bloggers who discuss hip-hop. The acceptance of conspiracy theories by blacks does not seem to be that much higher than among whites. Personally, I can not think of a single black person I have met with a conspiracy minded view of the world.

cal, i suppose that it was unfair of me to post this w/out first asking you why you felt that the rappers statements were "stupid."

but the rest of my response is this...

I have a conspiracy minded view of not the world, but the American govt. Do I buy into Michael Moore - not necessarily. And I'm not saying b/c you are white that you can not get it, but there is a general distrust of govt by blacks. Trust me on this. But if you don't trust me, I can provide you with resources that reveal this is far more true than you might think. An overwhelming number of black folks, even those who are educated, feel that the government is against them. This same number believes that the government's existence protects the few - as a lot of white folks believe. When we look at social structures, it's easier for a white person to see that we live in a classist system, but what that white person feels is classist, a black person sees as racist, because a great majority of black people live on the low end of a social/ethnic/gender stratification system.

Please don't think I was attacking you. I'm just trying to dialogue. My point wasn't really about conspiracy theories, but more so deals with the fact that a lot of black folks would not agree with you in calling Jadakiss or BS ignorant for making those comments they did. Shoot, a lot of other ethnic groups of people wouldn't agree with you.

I guess what I really need from you is a point made about why the statements are stupid. What makes them stupid? And I guess it's because I do not see these questions as stupid that I am asking them. I am not a rapper, but because I am black I understand where they are coming from. I also probably have a lot more "Institutionalized" education than both of these rappers, and am probably a lot more acculturated than either of them - and yet, I still can't figure out why their statements would be seen as stupid.

Help...

Ok I peeped Funkdigital's post as well before forming this opinion. I'm with Lynne on this one. It seems as if to me, Cal, what your doing, by categorizing Jadakiss and Beanie Seigel's statements as stupid, is hypocritical. I can't find anything stupid or ignorant about asking a question, looking beyond the surface, or even just refusing to believe when time and again we as citizens of this country (forget color for the moment) have been betrayed. By your logic, I could just as well call your statements stupid because you refuse to even contemplate conspiracy theories surrounding the issues in the statements in question. If anything, we should be glad that these artists are even using their platform to spark these questions in their listeners. Whether ignorant and stupid (to you) or not, anything is better than the wave of apathy that currently grips the nation.

I guess stupid wasn't really the right word, ignorant better fits the profile. The government is too incompetent in my opinion to have committed any vast conspiracies

I think Jadakiss brings up a lotta interesting but bold points in that song 'Why'. I wouldn't use the word 'stupid' though. I think he's trying to let others know that its not only okay to ask questions about whats going on but it's nessecary if change is to be made. Especially directed to the black community. I do however think that theres a certain approach to take while doing so because I respect Jadakiss for taking such a stand but he shouldn't have had ppl holding signs saying "Fuck Bush". I think thats asking for trouble but he was being real throughout and I really admire him for it.