Isn’t Ka’ka ako the place near where the city of Honolulu warehoused (literally) the Leeward homeless? I remember living there in 2006 and running through the park and seeing “clients” from the warehouse of humanity that didn’t want to be locked up in a shipping warehouse overnight hanging out near the fountains and…

This story could have been dated and written in any phase of urban development. The last sentence in your story is the reason. “What the Market Will Bear Has Gone Unchanged” would be a better albeit more boring headline.

*mic drop*

Why do they have to “navigate” through already established structures. Am I the only one who can see through the thin veil of money, power, celebrity being what this is really all about. Subvert the paradigm. Then I’ll call whatever color you happen to be new.

Co-opting the White Man’s celebrity worship is basically what these “New Blacks” are touting. You can be a scholarly, GOOD, productive, functional, empathetic New Black type person by embracing your culture and celebrating humanity. Not Hollywood.

I commented about this exact same thing. These “New Blacks” should just be called, “P.R. Blacks” and use their fame and education to make better choices. Fire the Hollywood P.R. people. That would be a true rebellious act and that is just sad.

Haha. That’s me too.

White people in this context aren’t innocent.

Should be called what it is: New Black Guilt.

Amen. Their whole contrived value system is to invade the usual white society and bring in Kitchen _____. I’m sorry but this story idea of New Blacks reeks of adopting the white persons dream will make us better black people.

Leave it so so white. White doesn’t = good or relavant. Didn’t you kids have to read W.E.B. Dubois’ “The Souls of Black Folks” in college? (Or even high school) Got a clue at all about Marcus Garvey and the Harlem Renaissance? That was/is the New Black Movement. As a white person who isn’t high society I say leave…

P.S. you said “uncle toms lite” *chuckle*

Or listen to their stupidly overpaid P.R. hack tell them it’s good for their image. Who probably never cracked a book other than Marketing 101. And it’s these same P.R. people who are dumbing down celebrities who aren’t dumb but too rich too care anymore.

Legend was also homeschooled and steeped in African American Lit, by his Moms. Went to the U of Penn. So I’m not surprised he wasn’t Extending a Hand to Hype. He quietly has extended a hand to many causes and who chooses them well. This New Black is like everything else in this country a shallow PR spin. Style over…

I was just sayin...

When I think of “new black” I think of Marcus Garvey and the Harlem Renaissance. W.E.B. DuBois and his book, “The Souls of Black Folk” back in 1903 which helped define The New Negro movement. Rap stars with middle class Moms and entertainers that churn out mind numbing hits don’t come to mind at all.

Ok?

I should have clarified. The author left her off the list of “smart folk” ie “smart black people” to ask what they think of this New Black. What did she do? Became obscure even though she has the best and smartest lyrics to a smooth silky beat. Oh.. and she walked over to the Grassy Knoll and ripped off her clothes…

You forgot someone...

I did an interview for Cars.com and was shuttled through to different managers who sat in various areas around the hotel. I got asked alot of questions about what books I like to read and the usual different sales call scenario questions.