AOG Series: Key Messaging

This Friday your boy (with my Fuzion counterparts) will be leading a forum at an NYU conference on Media and Messaging as it relates to the Black/Latino male population.. I’m excited and as I’ve been doing my due diligence on the media, I’m turning this vehicle into a sounding board for voices of reason.. AOG style..

A change is coming.. We are in the midst of a cultural revolution.. Yet another one during the storied history of America, but the first one that most of us will live through.. It’s exciting.. I was talking to my boy this past week, as we were in the midst of the revitalization of Harlem.. He mentioned that he felt he was born in the wrong era.. He was more Harlem Renaissance era than this other.. The look, the style, the opportunities, the love.. All of those things we know and appreciate about Harlem, is what he was referring to.. I felt the same.. But then I thought longer.. And I think I needed to have been a time traveler, cuz I would say I’m part Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights struggle, 80’s Baby, and now.. I see myself in all of those eras, and wanting to be in those eras.. As an 80’s baby, I’m not proud of all the stuff we went through, but I appreciate it and know it’s a big part of me..

But then I think about now.. This new cultural revolution.. This one has blogs, vlogs, and dogs that get treated better than middle-class Americans.. This one that has shown a change in politics and a viable Black president.. This one that has turned television from Must-See TV to Everything That I Can Possibly See TV.. Where Flava Flav can get 3 seasons of dating ugly chicks with phat asses, and then land a sitcom on another network.. This one has Sofia from The Color Purple pretty much owning The Color Purple, Green and her OWN network.. This one has the rebirth of the Harlem Renaissance and TROUBL owning the word nigga.. That’s real..

I like this one the most because of that last bit.. Because of TROUBL.. Because we have more resources at our fingertips and more voices to spread the message.. Shoot, TROUBL has the TROUBL blog site, TROUBL Magazine, TROUBL Radio, and soon TROUBL TV.. What other era really made that possible for us?? That’s what my talk is going to speak on this Friday.. So many opportunities for us to create and distribute our own messages.. So many vehicles.. Many less excuses.. And that’s what I love.. On Friday I can tell them all that they can make their own voice be heard.. If they choose to use what they have in front of them.. You don’t have to wait on a job with the NY Times or BET.. If they drag their feet you can make your own The Economist magazine and Oprah Winfrey Network.. That’s only if you really want it..

Think about the irony of “don’t talk about it, be about it”.. Many times you can be about it, and don’t nobody know.. I mean, it should be, first and foremost, something that you believe in and don’t need the acclaim or props for it.. But, many times it can be something so big or so good that everyone should hear it, and it doesn’t get covered.. So I’m glad to live in this era where we can say “talk about it, be about it” and we can actually do both.. And it be positive.. With or without the help..

So, as I’ll be challenging the future voices of reason at NYU, I’m also challenging the future AOGs.. Talk about it and be about it.. Let your voice be heard, and put it into action.. While you’re doing, make sure your message is being heard.. Make sure you find vehicles to support your AOG cause.. If you don’t find any, make your own.. Pedal your bike down the block and scream it.. Get at TROUBL.. Make your own TROUBL..

Just make it happen..