Sober Symposium

My brief Interview with “Player Hating, A Love Story” Director Maggie Hadleigh

I went to Medgar Evers Tuesday night to see a screening of a film about a rapper. Turned out to be about Half A Mill. I honestly wasn’t expecting much but the film was pretty good. I enjoyed it. After the screening there was a Q&A. I’m not fond of panels and most discussions that follow films about black folks. We always seem to end up in the same place upset and arguing saying nothing much that could actually affect change.

I couldn’t take it and stood up and addressed the entire audience. In my brief rant I spoke about taking responsibility for one’s self and for those who are around you. Being proactive and making a concerted effort to find something you can do to affect change. Someone kept asking, “but what can we do?” I pointed at the people on the panel and shouted they’re telling you what you can do. Support them! I addressed the fact that if you truly want to do things you simply find a way to do them. I expressed that change is not always tied to a budget and it’s important to understand that there is nothing small about any effort you make toward progress. You all want to have a perfect body but don’t want to watch your diet and exercise. It ain’t finna happen. I shared how one day I thought about how simply being nice to people in the street and smiling, speaking, kind gestures are powerful because there are people walking around everyday that simply do not want to live. All in all you have to actually care about people in order to want to help people. We are far too apathetic about things that happen around us that don’t directly affect us. That has to stop. But we have to stop it. It’s either do something or pretty much shut up.

Anyway… So much more to say but I won’t. What I will say is that I support this film and I’d hope people will support it as well.

It’s very interesting what gets support when it comes to the world of Hiphop and I’m not even discussing on a mainstream level because we all already know what it is.

This film deserves that support.