Once again American forces have saved the day, popping up in the Indian Ocean to body the four Somali pirates that held U.S. cargo ship captain Richard Phillips captive for five days. Now all the European countries that had been punked by the water thugs for the last couple years are rallying on the heels of America to punish the pirates.

No doubt, more blood will be shed and the already frail country of Somalia—a country that hasn’t had a solid government since 1991, no economy and watches helplessly as mafia ran shipping companies dump toxic waste on it’s shores—will be further devastated by those who want to punish it instead of help it.

The pirates villianized by the media are no more than fisherman, who made a living by selling fish and seafood caught off the shore of Somalia in an area dubbed the Horn of Africa.

Left to their own devices they banded together and created a network that manned the shores and waters. Frustrated by the dumping and the damage to their livelihoods they began to tax and hold for ransom boats that entered their territory.

Their mentality: “You not just gonna up in my hood and f**k my land up. You got to pay!”

Does this sound familiar?

If you live in any hood across America, you have witnessed something similar. Impoverished neighborhoods treated as dumping grounds and its people as pawns. Children attend schools with no windows and cracked roofs, no supermarkets or chain stores will build and the underdeveloped lands, mass transit is sketchy, business are forced to close, homeowners are beat over the head with inflated mortgages.

Yet, on this side of the pond, what is the hood doing to change the situation?

Where is the grassroots mobilization, the community within the community that says, “we understand you don’t respect us but we respect ourselves enough to keep what money we have in this community, to create jobs, teach ourselves, etc…”

The Black Panthers did it and were quite successful…for a brief period of time.

Ask young black or brown kids living in the hood what’s the problem and their response:

“We killing each other.”

“We hungry, tryna eat.”

 “It’s hard in these streets.”

Americans have no idea want hunger and  poverty is.

Life in Somalia: Personal stories

Eight residents of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, tell us what the new government’s priorities should be and how they have survived 13 years of anarchy.

Mahamut:Scrap metal worker

“I smash the foundations of the US embassy wall to get steel rods to sell”

Halima:Refugee

“I am too busy looking for food to think about the peace process”

Abdi:Refugee

“I see a dark future for my children. There are no schools or health services”

Gangs here fight with each other over turf, small time drug trade and egos. Nothing is done to better the community. There is no structure or hierarchy or goal outside of selfish ones. This isn’t to say that the people of Somalia aren’t the victims of gangs who are taking advantage of the country’s weak state.

Let’s not even call them pirates anymore…the community activists of Somalia saw their people dying and their land being raped and did something about it.

They are really starving.

They are really trying to eat.

They are really fighting the man.

Can you say the same for the goons who claim to run your hood?

–         CHK’Naan on Somali Pirates -There is a reason why this started

Chloé A. Hilliard is a culture/entertainment journalist that has written for the Village Voice, Essence, Vibe, King and The Source. In addition to writing The X Fact(her), a weekly column for 99problems.org, she co-hosts I’m Sayin’ Radio, a weekly talk show. For more, visit chloehilliard.com.

Williams Overwhelms Wright in Lopsided Decision

In my recent interview with former undisputed 154 pound champ Winky Wright, part of me wanted to believe his declarations of being able to pick up where he left off back in 2006 and 2007. At 37 years old and nearly 20 years as a boxer, the firmness of his convictions could almost make you feel he had a serious shot of beating the prime, towering, volume-punching nightmare that is Paul “The Punisher” Williams. But alas, reality struck Winky over 1000 times last Saturday (April 11), as Williams rained down 1096 punches in route to a dominating unanimous decision win.

Williams stormed out during each of the opening rounds, throwing a fusillade of hooks, straights, and uppercuts from all angles on Wright’s trademark high guard. While Winky was able to block most of the shots from landing cleanly, the sheer volume caused the blows to readily break Wright’s guard to the face and most notably the body. Unfortunately for the former undisputed champion, his eye-catching counter hooks were immediately returned back by six and seven punch combinations. Williams’ 82 inch reach proved Wright was not even safe in clinches, as the former welterweight titlist looped uppercuts over his other outstretched arm, and into Winky’s swelling face.

By the middle rounds, the usual high-stamina Wright was visibly laboring and holding from Williams’ relentless assault. Even more disheartening, Williams was grinning widely at Wright as he continued tirelessly working and alternating between slapping and hard combinations. Wright hopelessly tried to catch Williams with counters between the never-ending combinations, but Winky’s rustiness prevented him from timing the Punisher.

Into the championship rounds, Wright struggled to finish as his left eye swelled shut. In the 12th, Williams was unmerciful in throwing 106 punches. Despite the intense effort to close the show, Wright hung tough and finished the bout on his feet.

The final scorecard read 120-108 and 119-109 twice for Paul Williams, who improved to 37-1, 17 KOs. With the loss, Wright’s record lowers to 51-5-1, 25 KOs.

During the post-fight interview, Williams called out retired, undefeated champion Joe Calzaghe, and showed his willingness to face middleweight titleholders Kelly Pavlik and Arthur Abraham.

For his part, Wright declared this was not his last fight, and will enter the ring again soon.

This was a dominant win from the Punisher, and the biggest question is what weight he will campaign at next. At welterweight, there is the possibility of a title match with Shane Mosley. At junior middleweight, there’s Vernon Forrest and Daniel Santos. And of course at middleweight, there’s Pavlik, Abraham, and Felix Sturm. Wherever he lands, Williams represents a literal and figuratively tall challenge for any opponent.

On the undercard, a flabby Chris Arreola (27-0, 24 KOs) easily walked down aging contender Jameel McCline (39-10-3, 23 KOs) for a 3rd round TKO. The end came courtesy of a rattling left uppercut followed by a right cross. Although McCline could’ve beaten the count, he appeared to think better of it and allowed referee Tony Weeks to administer the 10 count.

Over 30 Years Later Ali-Frazier Shows No Signs of Ending

In a way, Joe’s right. I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn’t have said. Called him names I shouldn’t have called him. I apologize for that. I’m sorry. It was all meant to promote the fight.

-Muhammad Ali, April 2001

Hey man, just come on and give me a hug and let’s get on with our lives. I accept that. I’ll accept it, shake his hand and hug him when I see him. This has been going on too long…. Life’s too short.

-Joe Frazier, April 2001

8 years later, it appears the above words no longer have any meaning for “Smokin’” Joe Frazier.

 Last Saturday saw the debut of HBO’s Thrilla in Manila. Over the course of their short but explosive 4 year professional rivalry, Ali cruelly degraded Frazier on hypocritical racial terms. In addition, Ali deviously turned Frazier’s own people against him by branding the proud champion an Uncle Tom and tool of conservative white America.

The documentary is the first to detail this time through the eyes of Frazier. He recounts how he was previously friends with Ali, and worked to get the exiled champ’s license reinstated, and even loaned him money.

After Ali’s conversion to orthodox Islam in the late 1970’s and his subsequent decline from Parkinson ’s disease, Ali has made several attempts to publicly apologize to Frazier for his past antics. As pointed out by Ali biographer Thomas Hauser, Frazier put on a false face of peace and forgiveness at functions that involved economic compensation. However, the Philly sports legend would then turn around and ridicule the condition of his former foe (most notably the 1996 comment of wanting to push Ali into the Olympic flames).

In a way, one can sympathize with Frazier’s plight and bitterness. His entire career is overshadowed by the icon that is Muhammad Ali. Even though Frazier holds arguably the most important win of trilogy (when both fighters were closest to prime), the fight today is never shown on TV. And when it is mentioned in documentaries, it is always framed in a way to showcase how great Ali was in rising from the hellacious 15th round knockdown.  Also, the flaws the make up Ali’s character are very much glossed over in favor of mythology, which must burn Frazier to see The Greatest depicted as a marketable, jovial saint.

But now in 2009, Joe Frazier must again seriously look at forgiving Ali. The gesture has little to do with Ali, and mostly to do with Frazier taking his life back from the bitterness and anger that has defined him for over 30 years. He is in the position now to prove his claim that he was/is a “better” man than Ali. Instead, he’s fallen into the same behavior that caused his hate for Ali over 30 years ago.

In the twilight of both their lives, Ali and Frazier are men who have accepted responsibility for their decisions. Ali realized too late that he was not a god, and there was a physical price for having the most impressive heavyweight resume of all time in the likes of Sonny Liston (2X), Floyd Patterson (2X), Joe Frazier (3X), Ken Norton (3X), George Foreman, Larry Holmes, and countless Top 10 contenders. And through several business setbacks, Frazier currently lives a meager existence atop his Philadelphia gym despite making millions in the ring.

Before one of them passes, we can only hope this feud finally ends.

Throwback Fighter of the Week: “The Lone Star Cobra” Donald Curry

An immense talent with unfulfilled potential, Donald Curry was expected to be the next great welterweight after the retirement of Sugar Ray Leonard.

Curry began his career in 1980, and stormed the division with 15 wins in his first 2 years.  After defeating future champ Marlon Starling in 1982 by split decision, Curry captured the vacant WBA title the following year with a unanimous decision over then undefeated Jun-Suk Hwang.

By 1983, he added the IBF title to his crown and made 4 defenses. This streak included a rematch win over Marlon Starling.

In 1985 he easily vanquished then-undefeated champ Milton McCrory in two rounds to become the undisputed welterweight champion, holding the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles.

Curry was now recognized by many as the best pound for pound fighter in the world, and shared Fighter of the Year honors in 1985 with middleweight champ Marvin Hagler.

After an easy defense against Eduardo Rodriguez, Curry was set to face unknown Briton Lloyd Honeyghan. It what was supposed to be another showcase bout and possible setup for a superfight with Hagler or Tommy Hearns.

Calling himself the “Ragamuffin Man” after a prefight slight from Curry, Honeyghan dominated the contest with remarkable speed, pressure, and precision accuracy with his right hand.

After suffering a bad cut above his left eye, Curry quit before the 7th and gave Honeyghan a shocking TKO upset.

Claiming that he was weakened by draining down to make welterweight, Curry moved up to 154 and won 2 strange headbutt disqualification bouts before being KO’d in the 5th round by lethal body puncher Mike McCallum in 1987.

Curry’s final career highlight came in 1988, when he stopped Gianfranco Rosi to pick up the WBC light-middleweight title.

The following year, he lost the belt by unanimous decision to Rene Jacquot in the RING Magazine Upset of the Year.

Donald Curry would go 3-3 over the next 8 years, with all three losses coming by knockout to Michael Nunn, Terry Norris, and finally Emmett Linton in 1997.

Today, Curry trains up and coming fighters in his native Fort Worth, Texas.

His final record stands at 34-6, 25 KOs.

Curry vs. McCrory

Career Highlights

“You seem to be only concerned with dissin’ women”

—Nas, “Ether,” Stillmatic (2001).

“To all rappers: shut up…”

—MF Doom, Beef Rapp, MF Doom – MM.. Food? (2004)

“Look at all the bad things that they tried to do to you/And you’re still queen of the earth, and you’re beautiful/… If you ever need me/… I’m coming through squeezing/”

—Jadakiss, “Smoking Gun,” The Last Kiss (2009).

What happens when a Black family rises to the highest pedestal of importance in the world? From what we’ve seen, thus far, they face challenges their white counterparts never had to deal with. Most of these “challenges” often have less to do with their political ideals, but more with their presence on the world stage. Their very presence suspends the legitimacy of highly-esteemed dogmas that have operated unimpeded, for many years, in the highest levels of government. The fact that they defy long-held scientific beliefs about skin-defined genetic inferiority means a great deal to those who’ve subscribed to these theories for decades, and centuries. Refusing to come to terms with the reality that now envelopes them, these dissenters air out their frustration by engaging in acts which can only be described as barbaric. If you’re not slow-witted, you should, by now, have a clear picture of the landscape—reality—I’ve begun painting. 

These last few months, the First family has been barraged with a barrel-full of insults, meant to degrade, demean and disqualify them, in ways unforeseen by some observers. From the circulation of an e-mail, by a California mayor, depicting a watermelon garden on the White House lawn, to the sales of merchandize bearing the caption: “Do we still have to call it the White house?”—and not with a revolutionary intent—many individuals have begun their campaign of painting the Obama family as unworthy of respect and reverence. In the attacks, even Malia and Sasha, their two precious daughters, haven’t escaped unscathed. Blogs have called them “sassy,” with fashion companies capitalizing on this “trend,” by creating products suited to mimic their appearance and taste. Barack Obama has himself been through the storm, but none other has suffered more than the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

On channels like FOX News, she has been accused of expressing “a kind of militant anger,” threatened with a “lynching party,” and reduced to a “Baby Mama.” The same network charged her, earlier this year, with the “instinct” to “blame America,” at every opportunity granted. Political sites have labeled her a “frenemy” of the White house, and satirical publications haven’t restricted themselves from degrading her as a ‘70s radical, and a gun-toting-sex-driven-drug-using bandit. Within the last three weeks alone, conservative pundits have referred to her as “trash,” with a right-wing magazine complementing her as the “First B####.”

For these reasons, a dialogue centered on the role Hip-Hop media has played in some of the attacks, and what the future is threatening to produce, couldn’t be any timelier.

Last week, the right-wing cacophony-chamber didn’t hold back attacking Eminem, for a reference in his latest single, “We Made You.” As they saw it, his riff on Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin was grounds for a full-court demonstration. For two bars, Bill O’Reilly and his bandits were riled up: “Give me my ventolin inhaler and 2 zenedrin/ And I’ll invite Sarah Palin out to dinner then.” Whether you agree, or not, with the brand of thinking O’Reilly subscribes to, one thing is clear: If Eminem could so effortlessly invoke Palin as a sexual playmate, Michelle Obama might not be as safe, as some think. Many have argued that because of Mrs. Obama’s elegance, grace, sense of self and self-respect, any comparison or parallel, borderlines on insanity; but I respectfully disagree. And I’ve got proof.

Eminem isn’t the only Hip-Hop artist to verbally place Gov. Palin under the sexual microscope. Last year, super-producer and N.E.R.D. frontman, Pharrell, had some choice words for the failed Republican V.P. candidate. During a September concert performance, at New York’s Nokia Theater, he remarked: “We’re gonna do what we gotta do to make sure that the person that goes after Obama is not holding a baby in one hand and a soccer ball in the other.” Soon after, he noted: “But she’s a hot MILF though, isn’t she?”

Unless we decide to cling unwaveringly to the idea that some imaginary quality separates Palin from Mrs. Obama, in the minds of most Rappers, a sexualized Michelle Obama name-drop is an almost sure thing, at this point—if this dialogue doesn’t take place.

It’s extremely important that Hip-Hop artists come to full understanding of this point: Nothing good can/will come out of a sexual reference to Michelle Obama. Regardless of how witty the rhyme scheme might appeal to you, I can only assure one thing: It would cost you so much less, to abstain from it. As a dignified mother of two, a renowned social worker, and an accomplished attorney, the impulse to see her through the prism of sexuality and sensuality should find no justice. Michelle Obama has carved out a legacy of triumph over the rabidly racist stereotypes many in the media have sought to reduce her to, and this reality alone is worthy of all the support the Hip-Hop community, if it truly values women, can provide. Unfortunately, many in the Hip-Hop media are still stuck on an island where stupidity dominates. They have either not gotten the memo yet, or simply refuse to read it.

The Pittsburgh-based, fire-breathing MC/News anchor, Jasiri X, recently penned a blog post, highlighting some of our media’s disgraceful attacks on Michelle Obama. On RealTalkXpress.com, Jasiri called out Complex Magazine and SOHH, which have both recently referred to Mrs. Obama as a MILF. Complex, labeling her “First MILF,” added: “We’re putting it out there: if Barack’s punk ass ever tries to Lewinsky her, we’ll be waiting on that 3 a.m. phone call, ready to tear that Jackie O. suit off and treat her right.” On SOHH, a blogger said the following: “Yo I’m sorry but our First Lady could get it. Michelle is such a MILF. You know she is.”

Even the liberal news site, Huffington Post, didn’t abdicate its responsibilities in crowning Michelle Obama one of its “cougars and MILFs” that are “way hotter than 20 Year-Olds.” It shamelessly featured a picture of Michelle Obama next to one bearing the naked body of actress Cindy Crawford. If the labeling of Michelle Obama as a “MILF” is now as commonplace as these incidents suggest, the prospect of male rappers finding license to follow suit doesn’t seem so jarring anymore.

But female rappers aren’t innocent, either. In certain elements of Black culture, there is the notion that derogatory words can be reclaimed and reused to reverse their initial impact. The word, N#####, is one of them. Many younger Black males, and some older ones, speak of their use of N##### in transformative ways. According to them, by revising it to a shorter and less lyrical form, N####, the sting of the past has been stripped from it. Tupac (R.I.P.) was famous for claiming its present form is an acronym representing: “Never Ignorant About Getting Goals Accomplished.” 

In like manner, some sectors of the Black female community began experimenting with the words, “B####” and “ho,” which, for many decades, has been used, and is still being used, to tear down walls of self-esteem and self-regard built around them. Consequently, some have sought to “internalize” the interpretation of those words, thereby, they argue, lessening their value as pejoratives and slurs. The short-lived mainstream appeal of H.W.A. (Hoes Wit’ Attitude) and B.W.P. (Bytches With Problems), in the ‘90s, validates this contention. Regrettably, some modern-day female rappers, unlike the Roxanne Shantés (Ph.D.), MC Lytes, Monie Loves, Antoinettes, Lauryn Hills and Nefertitis of yesterday, have found some value in such philosophy. As a result, some of today’s female rappers come across more prolific in self-degradation, than their male counterparts. Because of the deeply entrenched values of misogyny and sexism in commercial Hip-Hop, and the Hip-Hop industry at-large, this religion of self-flagellation has found more converts. What female rappers should be aware of, is that Michelle Obama bears the same burden they carry on a daily basis. She can be a genuine and bountiful source of inspiration, in this fight against industry-sponsored and individualized patriarchy. But one thing must be clear: She’s neither your b***h, nor your n***a. Michelle Obama is turning out to be the hope many have waited for—for so long. 

There’s a strong possibility of her turning around some of society’s ingrained notions about Black and Brown femininity. If we would be candid, it wouldn’t take long to admit that commercial Hip-Hop hasn’t been the greatest helping hand Black and Brown women have sought, and still seek, in times of need. In fact, it’s not an exaggeration to conclude that commercial Hip-Hop artists have played a pivotal role in perpetuating those oppressive belief systems, to which Black and Brown women are subjected. As Michelle Obama begins repairing those broken and dysfunctional pipes of humanity, the only noble deed worth considering might be to: Step aside. Fall back. And understand that this track ain’t about you. The baton is in the hands of better equipped runner. You had your chance, and blew it.

What Hip-Hop artists should be encouraged to do, is what several MCs have done all along. Though Hip-Hop is largely considered a synonym for misogyny, many uninformed critics refuse to acknowledge that, during its three-decade course, Hip-Hop has put forth a laundry list of tributes to Womanhood. Artists like Tupac “Keep Ya Head Up” (Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., 1993), “Dear Mama” (Me Against the World, 1995); Nas “Black Girl Lost” (It Was Written, 1996); Black Star “Brown Skin Lady” (Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star, 1998); Reflection Eternal “For Women” (Train of Thought, 2000); Big Pun “Mamma” (Endangered Species, 2000); Jay-Z “December 4th” (The Black Album, 2003); Ghostface Killah “Momma” (Fishscale, 2006); Amir Sulaiman “How Beautiful Are You” (Like A Thief in The Night, 2007); Jadakiss “Smoking Gun” (The Last Kiss, 2009) have all made public their respect—even if they self-contradict soon after—for strong women of great character. Hip-Hop artists can keep this tradition going, as Jadakiss did on his latest effort, even, and more so, in the age of Michelle Obama.

On a last note, I offer this cautionary tale to Hip-Hop artists, male and female: Don’t be used as a pawn in the chess game. There are numerous factors who seek to strip the First Lady of her dignity, integrity and humanity. Let it not be said, that after eight years, some “rapper jock,” as DOOM put it in “Microwave Mayo” (Born Like This, 2009), refused to “put a sock in they chatterbox”—was the conduit through which the racists’ objectives were met.

Tolu Olorunda is a Columnist for BlackCommentator.com.