Dig this, if the hustler in the crew used his money to fund the flyest dude’s fashion consultant career, the artist homie’s gallery shows, MC Bang Beezy’s rap career and circulate that money to control the hood in a positive way, we would all be in a better position.

Give a camera to a notorious rebel hell bent on reframing womanhood and black cultural production, and the end result is the left of center wonderland orchestrated by lens master/wordsmith Carla Aaron-Lopez. The sassy sista has an opinion on everything from outlandish gas prices to the trite themes watering down hip hop. So much so; that I had to share her heady response to our column Ask Ed & Sugar: Do Women Own Their Issues? Peep or exclusive rap session on crybabies, self hating Negroes gone wild, and third wave feminism.

“Thurgood” is a moving, breathing, living piece of art set in a rocking chair on grandaddy’s porch with unlimited sweet tea and lemonade refills from gramma. Laurence Fishburne brilliantly channels the mannerisms, wit and outspoken nature of the late Civil Rights leader Thurgood Marshall.

Young people don’t raise themselves. A point sorely lost with many elders insistent on generational blaming, and casting insults at the hip-hop generation from the sidelines, instead of taking ownership of their failures. Criticism absent an action plan makes for empty speeches, redundant press conferences, and misdirected marches portraying young folks as the new Negro problem.

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April 10, 2008, Atlanta, GA- Atlanta based author, educator, and counselor Ed Garnes joined educators and music/tv industry executives from allhiphop.com, National Academy of Recording Arts Scienes(NARAS), Radio One, CW Network, BET, and XXL Magazine for the national college tour Break Into The Music Conference at North Carolina Central University on April 9, 2008. One of the most influential college tours to date, the conference’s goal is to promote the importance of a college education by offering a full day of creative, interactive insights and experiences …

Sugar Johnson joined over 400 educators, parents, students, activists, and community members from around the world in the Second Annual Creating Balance in an Unjust World: Conference on Math, Education and Social Justice held at Long Island University’s Downtown Brooklyn campus.