Ellington

For nearly a month I traveled over 4,000 miles, spanning two continents. I made new acquaintances, gained new fans and learned things about myself and the world that I will take with me forever. I toured an entire country away from friends and family only to return to what I like to call that "good ole hometown love!"

For me, a return to normalcy as soon as possible works best, jetlag be damned. Get off the plane, go see my son, return some calls, and because it's Friday, drop in on the radio show.

Thing was, the suits at WJNT and the Kim Wade Show had other things in mind for me. My big mouth appears to have gotten me in trouble ... again.

Turns out, an irate caller happened upon my JFP blogs from the Czech Republic. He read about the throngs of Czech hip-hop fans screaming "F--k George Bush" at my shows. It just so happens that I was leading those chants. Nothing new. I do it here in the states.

But apparently, there's no room in Jackson talk radio for a dissenting opinion. That one call was a doozy because I was subsequently suspended from the radio show—indefinitely—for my blog comments, which, by the way, were made on an entirely different medium. Despite the obvious on-air chemistry that Kim and I shared, and despite the fact that I brought droves of new listeners (young and urban) to the show on Thursdays and Fridays, the suits saw fit to boot me.

I'm not mad at Kim. He gave me my opportunity, and I'm grateful. And JNT is a privately owned company and was within legal bounds to do this. It does speak, however, to a hypocrisy and cowardice that exists among the right-wing conservative set. It's OK to regularly bash liberal, moderate or progressive thinkers. It's OK to talk about stringing up black men on a flagpole and watching them "flap in the wind" or make inferences about the mayor's sexuality. Just don't touch the "sacred cow" that is President George Bush.

No public official is above reproach, not even a president.

The problem with conservative types is sheepishly believing everything the government tells them—the reasons we're at war, the reasons why our troops aren't home, the reasons the towers fell. The government would never harm its citizens, right?

Wrong! To imply that I'm un-Amercian or un-patriotic is ridiculous. I love this country and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. But this land was founded upon my inalienable right to criticize my government no matter how harsh the verbiage. That makes me a traitor? Please.

Mr. Anonymous Caller, your attempt to silence me has done nothing more than give me an even larger platform from which to bash Dubya. My suspension has made headlines on news and hip-hop Web sites from D.C. to Oakland. The support keeps pouring in. I guess your plan kind of backfired, huh? I'm reaching a whole new cross-section of people and encouraging them to speak out through speech, music and letters, about the ineptitude of our president. You guys seem to think that silencing our views will somehow hide the fact that Bush is an idiot. Regulating your talk shows won't change that.

Let this be a call to arms. Give the suits at WJNT a call at 601-366-1180 or 601-957-1300 and voice your displeasure with their tactics. If not for me, do it for the principle, and the fact that the show's producer didn't even have the decency to return a phone call to me. Go to my Myspace page and listen to the little diddy I penned in honor of the most over-achieving C-student of all-time. Download it for free and pass it on. Let's send a message to the White House and to talk radio.

And that's the truth ... sho-nuff.

Previous Comments

ID

75315

Comment

OH MY GOODNESS...it never stops. First of all, I don't understand why you're giving Wade a pass. Surely his opinion could have resulted in a different outcome. Secondly, this is still the same ole thing over and over again. Just imagine! Jon Stewart, David Letterman, Jimmy Kemmel, Ellen Digeneress (or however it's spelled), Jay Leno....what if they were shut down for CONSTANTLY making fun of our "president". What's the problem here. Is it that your a black man with a voice willing to tell the people the truth about our idiot oopps I mean our president? What is the real issue here? Why did they offer you this position in the first place? I'm sure they were trying to get a different more urban and hip attitude (of course to fatten their wallets) but what, when you give them what they want, they run away and leave you hanging....almost literally. And who the hell is this caller? I've listened to you on there and they bash the sh!t out of our mayor (OUR-- like right here in the same city) but when you speak about Bush, oh my goodness, he can't be on this show anymore. Gimme a break. I see a boycott a coming Mr. Wade. You might want to get your folks to reconsider and then when they do, Kaze tell them to FK OFF!

Author

Queen601

Date

2007-09-13T09:58:41-06:00

ID

75316

Comment

Thanks for the comments Queen..And thanks for the outrage. We need more of that. Folks need to get ANGRY about the right-wingnut stigma that is being put on this state. Its almost shameful more folks arent abreast of this. I can say this, those war-mogers and Bush-lovers are not hesitant to call and whine when someone says something about the government or the war or general be-tray-us (I LOVE THAT nickname) but those of us who feel differently dont. Partially because we dont have the outlets they do. Just encourage more folks to speak up.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-09-13T10:09:41-06:00

ID

75317

Comment

Hearde a minister on the show tuesday. A man of the cloth, christian etc..and to hear him speak of how some congressmen are "traitors" to our country because the have the nerve to "question" General betray-us and his report is shameful. And he leads a congregation? Im just tired of this "traitor" and "treason" terms being thrown around so loosely.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-09-13T10:13:07-06:00

ID

75318

Comment

Bush is the one who has prooven to be a traitor. His involvement with Iraq and this entire war thing is all about him. He has lost his patriotic duty in his greed. He's the one that has betrayed us. Maybe we should sick Monica on him and then we wouldn't have to worry about him. We could impeach him. Since a president can do anything they want...attack any country....create war at will....but they can't commit adultry....that would make a president unfit. HA! AMERICA...GOTTA LUV IT!

Author

Queen601

Date

2007-09-13T11:55:51-06:00

ID

75319

Comment

Just don’t touch the “sacred cow” that is President George Bush. Cow, yes. Sacred, no. [img]http://clicksmilies.com/s1106/teufel/devil-smiley-029.gif[/img] BTW, I watch Letterman every night, and I LOOOOOVE how he makes fun of Bush with the "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches" bit. Contrasting his regular goof-ups behind the podium with Kennedy and Reagan is enough to keep anyone in stitches.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-09-13T17:43:45-06:00

ID

75320

Comment

That flaming devil's head was a nice touch L.W. Kinda like the bumper strickers that are out with Bush w/ evil red red eyes and horns heh heh. Anyone remember the last installment of the Omen? Someone should check his scalp for the 666. (gasp!) hope someone sees that too. LOL

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-09-14T13:14:42-06:00

ID

75321

Comment

Kaze, there was another individual in the Bush camp that I associated with the evil one. Take a look.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-09-14T23:37:57-06:00

ID

75322

Comment

At the risk of sounding old and jaded, this doesn't really surprise me. And, K, not sure why you thought there wouldn't be any fallout when you started on your f*** Bush routine. You made a "controversial" statement, and got controversy. I'm glad to see that you are enjoying it, and milking it for all it is worth. It gives you something specific to rant about, which is very useful for a person in your position. If I were you, I'd be careful about yelling about "free speech" violations, since businesses are free to hire and fire people at will. Your case is pretty similar to Imus's, in many ways. I guess my point is: I agree with your overall sentiments about Bush, but I'm really not surpised you got whacked for it. I think the radio station was phenominally stupid in its reaction, but that's kind of par for the course, and pretty much typifies why I don't listen to that crap anyway. So, enjoy the fame, enjoy the righteous indignation, and continue to make full use of the incident as a rallying point. But, just don't tell me you were hoping to *avoid* controversy and confrontation.

Author

kate

Date

2007-09-15T08:43:36-06:00

ID

75323

Comment

I always hope to avoid controversy Kate. You know how I hate to make a scene :-/. Actually I really didnt realize it would create THIS much of a to-do. Really. I assumed I am always free to state my opinion and that a difference of opinion doesnt mean that we cant work or live together in harmony. I acknowledge that some folks like Bush and I respect that. I wouldnt try to silence them. But the other side wants to silence anyone who does not sheepishly follow the company line. (Lets all say in our best zombie like voice "Bush...is...good, Bush... is...good) I dont see the "liberal" set acting like that. Im seeing that conservatives and conservative radio folks HAVE to have like minds around them because they are usually very lonely uptight people. so now id like to be a thorn in the side of folks like Rush, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity etc. I could never make a dent in their listenership cuz its too many crazies around but id just like to make them uncomfortable..even mad on a regular basis. So yes Kate i think you're right. I specifically want to destroy conservative talk radio and send it back underground where it belongs.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-09-17T08:21:05-06:00

ID

75324

Comment

You're dead-on L.W. the evil mastermind behind the scenes Dick Cheney LOL. Its been said from the start that George Sr. had dubya name him VP so that Cheney could actually run the country. Even Sr. knew his son wasnt capable of handling all those big words he had to say in those speeches.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-09-17T08:22:43-06:00

ID

75325

Comment

Greenspan apparently is aying in his book he thinks or thought the war was started for oil. Cheney is behind all of it. If you'll shoot your friend with a shotgun, when he's not ready to shoot back or is unaware that you plan to shoot him, you'll do anything. Cheney is a ganster using the "slow boy" to do his dirty work. Bush I is in on it. Kaze, on your next trip overseas, you should go after the whole republican party, a task that would really benefit the country.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-09-17T10:11:37-06:00

ID

75326

Comment

I thought kate's post was sinical and intended to be saracastic. However, she does have a point. The point being this is what they do. I'm not surprised that you were "whacked" either. But that doesn't mean it's right. That doesn't mean it's ethical or that it's in line with your constitutional right to free speech. I don't think you're "milking it" as much as making US informed about this. I mean we all know how controversy sells, but this story, in my opinion, is not about money (who's going to pay him-- he wasn't getting paid in the first place...it was a VOLUNTARY position). So, I feel like most of what you read in Kate's post, Kamikaze, should be taken with a grain of salt as it was clearly not in support of you. It was chalked full of negative rhetoric. Also, when you DESIRE and want CONTROVERSY and kate and those like her say don't come crying to her....well you can surely come to me if it's about informing the masses of a wrong doing and an injustice. There are those of us out here who are not afraid to stand for what's right EVEN if it is controversial.

Author

Queen601

Date

2007-09-17T12:41:36-06:00