Culture — WHEN BRENDAN WHITT THINKS...

The Family W/ The Bitter Kool-Aid By Brendan Whitt

“ Richard sat at his desk scribbling notes on his tablet as he went over his brief. The office had emptied out hours ago but still, Richard toiled away. He worked for a prestigious advertising agency in Santa Monica. It was the job he always wanted. Pretty good pay, some benefits, and the opportunity to be creative for a paycheck. Unfortunately, Richard became stuck in the same position for the past five years, junior copywriter. Watching one old white man retire to Florida after another as their sons, nephews, and sons of friends filled the vacant offices.”

A Lesson in Socio-Economics By Brendan Whitt

“The boys made their way through the urban terrain of an east side Cleveland neighborhood. Looking at an abandoned brick building with smashed out windows or empty windowsills paints the illusion of peering into a person’s eyes whose soul has been snatched from them. The cracked pavement is a trash receptacle covered in empty swisher packs and the discarded plastic tips of Black & Milds. A light pole covered in dirty stuffed animals surrounded by empty liquor bottles paid homage to a young angel called home too soon.”

Short StoryBrendan WhittMay 6, 2020Black Perspective, Black Culture, Culture, Short Story, Writing

Blought #42: The Wire Pt. 3

Here we are, the final installment of my The Wire Blought Series. I’ve dug into the issues that surround organized crime, family structures, education, and even public service workers. Today we take a look at the politics of the inner city and how the news media can play a small but impactful role.

Blought, TelevisionBrendan WhittFebruary 10, 2020Television, Black Culture, Black media, Black Perspective, Culture, Media, The Wire

Blought #41: The Wire Pt. 2

Last week my three part series focused on families effected by drugs and the school system that fails so many inner-city youth in America. Today we’ll look at criminal organizations and the struggles of policing a major city.

More than just keeping us entertained on Sunday nights David Simon drew upon his past as a crime reporter in Baltimore to tell us the ugly truths that so many are shielded from on a daily basis.

Television, BloughtBrendan WhittJanuary 21, 2020Black media, Black History, Black Culture, Black Perspective, Television, Culture

Blought #40: The Wire

With this three part series I will offer my brief analysis of the crime, economic and political woes that presented themselves during the course of the show and how they mirror the realities of urban America today. In Part 1 I will focus on families and crime and offer a brief assessment of how a school system can fail inner city kids.

Just A Bird By Brendan Whitt (From When the Crows Come Home)

The intro to my book of poetry When the Crows Come Home (2015)

Brendan WhittAugust 5, 2019Poetry, Black Culture, Black media, Culture, Writing, Social Awareness, Black HistoryComment

Meet the main characters of Camp '67

Camp '67 will be available on Amazon and in the Kindle Store October 11.

Sneakers McGeeSeptember 30, 2016Arts, Black Culture, Black Perspective, Black media, Cleveland, Culture, Literature, Novels, WritingComment

Blought #33: DMCA vs Music Pt. 2

“To me streaming is cheapening the value of the music. This past February Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO of the RIAA released a statement saying that the RIAA would now recognize streams for certifications. An artist would only need 1500 streams to equal ten single sales or one album sale.

After only 30 seconds of listening to a song that counts as one stream.”

Sneakers McGeeJuly 2, 2016Arts, Culture, DMCA, Film, Hip-Hop, Jay-Z, Media, Music, Technology, businessComment

Blought #32: DMCA vs Music Pt. 1

“This past spring over 400 musicians, mangers and labels signed a petition urging congress to make changes to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act or DMCA.

The DMCA was unanimously passed by congress before being signed into law in 1998 by President Bill Clinton. At the time the internet as we know it was still in its infancy.”

Sneakers McGeeJuly 1, 2016Arts, Culture, DMCA, Grammys, Hip-Hop, Kanye West, Media, Music, Rap, Technology, businessComment

My First Parade the Circle

“Suddenly the little light bulb in my head went off, “Is this for Parade the Circle?” I thought to myself. I had learned of Parade the Circle when my neighbor and friend, and then Children’s Librarian Kevin Ray invited me to volunteer with the Cleveland Public Library when they were chosen to contribute to the 2013 edition of the parade. “

Sneakers McGeeJune 22, 2016Arts, Black Perspective, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Culture, Journalism, Parade, University Circle, WritingComment