Tuesday, April 14, 2009

the hunted

I write this under the auspice of celebrating my one year anniversary of being in business. I have read and been told that any where from 70 to 85 percent of start up businesses fail before the first year. All of the other business owners have been congratulating me as if I have made it. But I have not and do not feel as if I have. The reality is that I am merely a single man, a single business and realize that via introspection, much more work for my betterment and all connected with me needs to be done.

And although I am foul in character, and in nature, my disposition dictates that there is more to me than patting myself on the back can accommodate; that requires being appreciative of what I do have as opposed to what I do not.

I don’t know if I should be mad or sad, but truth is it is disheartening to acknowledge today what are accepted as the standard characteristics of the male species. I just don’t get it, where it comes from or how we as men, and even worse – women, promote sucg dumb azz behavior. How is it that we as men can see it fit to spend or even plan to spend more time in the gym, or working out than in the library, as if it is our external that defines us more than what makes us men – integrity, intellect and character. Sad thing is that we will be the main ones that vilify women for caring more about the external cosmetic virtues of existence – e.g. appearance, yet we do the same thing. Are we that shallow or caught up that we cannot mark priorities of wisdom as such over vanity?

We all talk about how we despise playing games, or that game recognizes game, but it really don’t matter in the big picture if we throw out collective and personal responsibility. For we will say such and talk such when in fact we will spend more time with a play station, or X-box than we do trying to improve and enhance ourselves spiritually and intellectually.

We know more about our favorite teams, and mundane television shows, movies and entertainers than we know of our own family, history or even worse, our own children or their teachers. Yet we will complain vehemently and loudly without lifting a finger to participate to attempt a change. Yes we men, are merely bench warmers in our future for active participation requires making choices but we would rather follow, and be like the next man (often fakers they selves as a consequence of fame and idolatry) than think and engender greatness for ourselves, for if other do not know of such, it is worthless; for to us fame is the only thing of value.

So if real recognize real, then let’s be really real, we are the hunted but many of us do not realize this. We accept what we preach among each other, especially other black men under the mantra of keeping it real, when in reality we keeping it real fake, for only an idiot would postulate such when life in itself is a reality. What is really real is that we would spend more thought and consideration to deciding to get our car wash, more time indeed than we would spend on reading to a child, whether it is our own child or not. Now that is really real, and I can talk this shit folk. Jones here don’t need no accolades or pat on the back for I get it each time my cash register rings and when my kids call me poppa and take the time to talk to me and place their lips on mine. I get it each time I see a former inmate I know keep the job I assisted in helping them find – for they got it on their own, or when I assist a man in a diabetic coma out of his car and give him CPR (as I did last Friday in front of my shop). Yea that’s what keeping it real is all about. Not the promulgation of negative attitudes and stereotypes that foster disingenuous effrontery in the form of being hard for the fact is that only thing men can have hard is they dick. So that’s what’s up, like I said, we the hunted and half us don’t even know we the prey and falling for the bait hook, line and sinker like a red fish in a bayou in Louisiana. And folk wonder why I call folk fck boys and BAN’s (bich azz n I double g a’s). So dress up your cars, buy them fancy clothes, and all the air force ones you can, for I like a nice tailored Valentino suit too, but it aint jack with out my brain cells. For brain cell against brain cell, I’ll smash am jones any day and if I was weak, emotional or insecure – I would cut some heads too, but that’s a last resort.


Addendum: good look to Mahogny Speaking for giving me this award.

31 comments:

404 said...

Mornin!
The tone is bitter. I hope that's not the case.

Sista GP said...

Great post! I'm glad hubby and I never taught our son to be "brand" crazy. But I noticed this weekend his play shoes has a large slit in the bottom. Reaching in I could tickle his foot (i did). He hadn't said a word to us. Need to teach him there are indeed times for new clothes/shoes within reasonable costs, that is.

omi said...

yeah...

so many people aren't really RAISED these days--irrespective of gender. too many folks assume that clothes + food + shelter = foundation, when those are just the basics.

as my mother says, "children aren't weeds." they'll grow (physically) without guidance, but there's so much more to it all...

Shelly- Mom Files said...

and you are still single, I don't believe it! This is a great post and congrats on that first year. I wish you success and happiness and in your business and life.

Tiffani said...

This is awesome. More men in general should be thinking on this level. But, it's not just guys. It's women, too. Some of us have this hang up with all the stuff that doesn't matter--more interested in weave than in books, etc. This will be our downfall as a people. Don't folks realize the slaves wanted to read? Why do we run from books now? :: sigh ::

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

Red Snapper
yep - my folk next door went out of biz last week (the gallery owner) and if he fails i fail. If other dont achieve i dont - yep makes me bitter

Sista GP
thanks fam - give family my love

ms. bliss honeycomb
mom was a smart woman i can tell

Sheliza
lol its my tonwe and sdirectness folk - many cant relate

Anonymous said...

Wow. Good morning. Bringing fiyah for sure. I agree with you and fully support your conscious raising efforts.

Sista GP said...

Sorry about the gallery owner. Hubby wanted to check out his gallery when we're ready to decor the house. You have his contact info, right? I also wanted to check out the desserts at the nearby cafe, lol

Nicki_nik said...

Good post! Your post shouldn't focus just on men, but women too. Living in LA I see how shallow and "brand" concious people are out here. What difference does it make whether it's name brand or not, it all comes from China anyway...!

It sad that people can dedicate more time to reality tv and not reading about the state of the world and how it will affect them. No wonder people are so surprised about the financial crisis we're in, you could see this coming for at least a decade if you actually paid attention to the decisions (or lack thereof) that were being made.

But people are distracted by all the bells and whistles on tv and the whole notion of buying more and getting the next big thing. Do you really need tv's in the backseat of your car or upgrading to the newest gadget every year? It seems people are not content with what they've got.

NoRegrets said...

Thankfully you are speaking in generalizations, because there are a lot of good men out there.

nicki nicki tembo said...

...there is none so blind as those who will not see

RiPPa said...

Damn Torrence, now you have me thinking about cutting off my penis.

D.L. Chandler said...

I have to wonder at why all the vitriol for you speaking your version of this truth.

I believe in not chasing (or viewing) the dreams of others, but making the reality of my own life viable, sustainable and tangible for myself.

So this was peace..thank you.

Peace,

Wise aka D.L. Chandler aka dlc123 on the twitter goofiness.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

Tiffani
thank u reading is essential - especially to our kids

Carmen D.
thank u maam - me just venting

Sista GP
yep hard to celebrate when other fail

KevinsTeeTee
true

NoRegrets
True - i said we I aint isolate myself - i figure if shoe dont fit dont wear it

nicki nicki tembo
yep

RiPPa
lol

D.L. Chandler
because such is painful for me

Dope Fiend said...

" Are we that shallow or caught up that we cannot mark priorities of wisdom as such over vanity?"

Yes for the majority, because the media haveth made it so.

hope you had an amazing Easter!
xoxo

MsKayotic said...

Alot of what you are saying is true. We are the hunted. It's truly up to us to turn that around and become the hunters.

Now, I personally play PS3 for my sanity. I'd rather take my aggressions out on a video game than some unsuspecting person of the race of people gettin on my nerves at the time.

Good post, Jones!

Constance Burris said...

That was inspirational!

CraigJC said...

You hit the nail on the head. People are kinda of stupid, that's my answer, although I wish we/they weren't.

MUATA NOWE said...

Keep hittin'em. Truth is truth. General or not.

-Muata from Muata Truth Telling

Glen Antoine Palmer said...

I spend time in the gym because heart disease rolls through the family, so cut a brother some slack LOL. I feel what you are saying though.

Jackie E. said...

This post was pretty moving. I think we all, male and female, could pay heed to your words. I concur wholeheartedly and kudos to you for telling it like it is and keeping it really real!

Congrats on the one year anniversary...just so happens that it coincides with my b-day so it's a great day indeed:-)

Unknown said...

congrats on the anniversary! I wish you many more big bruh!!

Saule Wright said...

Congrats and thank you for the inspiration fam

Clifton said...

I totally understand this post.

E.M.H. said...

This post is definitely the truth....congrats on being a business owner for a year, that's an accomplishment. Here's to another year that's even more successful.

Bellini said...

what more is left to say? preach on brotha, preach on... oh and congratulations!

Gallington Press said...

*SMH*

RunningMom said...

My father has been in business for himself for 30+ years... He's still thankful for every year he remains in business and has never taken it for granted.

Congrats on your 1 year anniversary!

I've said it before and I will say it again - Turn the TV's off! Get them out of your house if you have to. Put all stations except those that teach on lock. Take a class, try to understand a new book, go figure out how to make a stained glass window.

Be about SOMETHING.

Whatever it is that you choose to do, give it your all and do it to the best of your ability.

KELSO'S NUTS said...

Torrance: You've led a pretty exemplary life and you always say or write the things people don't want to read or hear. You don't have to do it. That's for sure. You have enough to keep you busy for two lives.

I don't having an opinion on "keeping it real" or not. People do whatever it is they need to do as survival mechanisms in their environment. We all experience some socialization, even us iconclastic contrarians.

I do know this: Scholars drink coffee. Thugs run and get coffee.

KELSO'S NUTS said...

@ NICKI NICKI TEMBO: That's one of my all time favorite quotatios.

msladyDeborah said...

If I remember correctly a year ago you were being discouraged by some folks to even attempt to open Brain Cell. In spite of other people's skepticism you did so. A year later it is still standing and that is an accomplishment. Because where I'm from-the focus of your store is something that Yuppie folks establish.

When you consider that there is a time frame around success and failures in education, business and even in marriage-that first year is so important. By now you know more than you did at the beginning. You've established your shop as a part of the community. People know you and your folks. Ms.Famous has let it be known that is her turf and it is going to stay that way.

I had to laugh about your remarks on men reading. I refuse to Hang out or date any man who does not read books, newspapers or magazines. It is a standard that was handed to me by my folks. Intelligence is too important to just bypass.

Hopefully on your next anniversary things will look different to you.
But for now-Thank God you made it my brother.