'Objective Hate'.... book by Troi 'Star' Torain

I have read the book, and it was entertaining, yet disturbing at times, as well as surprising, I must say.


http://www.starandbucwild.com/

And I gotta say.... I was intrigued about a man who could come off being so abrasive and cynical over the airwaves. What a journey in life he described. Clearly, it built character... but then, I got the impression that he was born with a strong spirit and found a way to contain and channel it over the years.

It started off describing a familiar, in that I could identify with the life of growing up in a place like Scotch Plains, NJ. And I got the impression that Star could be a ‘callous opportunist’, until I got to the part about him taking his ‘alter-ego’ Buc Wild (Tim) under his wing. And in his abrasiveness, there is an under current of caring. It seems very odd and confusing, actually.

Star’s reference to Abbott & Costello was really an incredible idea. I could see him being like Bud Abbott. But I would have never understood this idea had I not read it in his book because I don’t know if I’ve ever even heard ‘Buc Wild’ speak.

http://www.abbottandcostello.net/

And I’m still wondering if the philosophy of objective hate, feeds into a callousness of character. What got me is that after reading through the beginning chapters of inanity, by way of seemingly unsavory proclivities, the book took an upswing and got deep in my opinion, where I was surprised and impressed, as well as finding myself in agreement with a some of his conclusions and opinions in the end. There was one part in the book where he lists some of the women he interviewed on the air waves and gave his critique on their character. That was kind of ‘slang-bookish’ to me... You’d have to be of a certain age to know what a ‘slang book’ is. It takes me back to junior high school.

But then, in my opinion, he describes his focus being a priority over and above many people whose paths he had crossed, especially at Hot 97. I can get that... a means to an end. What really surprised me was his disdain for the current generations’ ignorance and ridiculousness. I don’t think I really noticed it while he was on the airwaves so much, but I definitely got it after reading the book, and I totally concur.

I had some questions and comments that I posted in an egroup forum that was created by some of his fans or friends (or both). However, it seems people (including Star), were instructed not to discuss his book in his egroup. I found that to be a strange promotional strategy. But.... anyway, I figured I’d put my comments and questions in my blog.

One question is in regard to the 'philosophy of hate' as explained by Star....

While reading his book, I didn’t exactly get the impression that he is a 'mean spirited person' (and I could be wrong), yet, I do see how provocative he is in his seeming desire to incite and inspire negativity. Not sure I understand the motive or the goal in doing this. However, there is something refreshing about a man who throws ‘political correctness’ to the wind and ‘cuts to the chase’, barring all and any layer of bullshit on issues he chooses to express opinion on.

I wonder what others think he means by being a 'hater'. I don't consider myself a 'hater' although there are clearly things that I do hate.

I mean, name calling and trite disrespect seems so trivial. I just can't imagine that 'the philosophy of hate' is something as simple as that. And as I read more, I found some insight into where some of the hate is inspired and can agree. But I don’t feel my hate for bigotry or irresponsible ‘rap- hip/hop’ is objective.... I believe it’s more subjective (for example).

Objective = expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations

As opposed to...

Subjective = involving or deriving from sense perception or experience with actual objects , conditions, or phenomena


Here’s an excerpt from The BlackElectorate.com regarding the book...

http://www.blackelectorate.com/articles.asp?ID=1797

Without question one of the book’s most valuable attributes is that it takes us into one of the most brilliant entrepreneurial minds to enter the arena of Hip-Hop and the radio industry. If you suspected it, wondered about it, or could not get yourself to fully accept it, Objective Hate ends the debate. Star is one of the shrewdest, patient, aggressive, and calculating individuals you will ever want to encounter in business. This is no ordinary Negro. He knows when to ‘sell out,’ or ‘fight the power;’ cultivate or provoke; and renew and re-invent himself. In short, he seems to be aware of his relative power at all times, and aligns it with his personal motivation and goals in business.

I concur with the above comment.

The NY Post Article was a bit scathing in their comments..... and the writer is certainly entitled to his opinion. What's the saying.... 'all publicity is good, even when it’s bad...?'

The excerpt below from the article is something I take exception with also.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01072007/gossip/pagesix/radio_jerk_vile_in_print__too_pagesix_.htm

Of King, Star writes: "[He's] a total hypocrite whose agenda quashed the rising spirit of anarchy in the heart of black America. As he hid behind the cross, he hated being oppressed but realized it enhanced his [stud] game . . . His mystified hypothetical dream, with no economic structure, now hangs over the Negro's head like a Mississippi noose."

I can't say I agree totally with the above comment, although I do feel there is a shred of truth in there. I believe King was a true leader and did what he thought was right at that time, to bring us out of the Jim Crow era. Looking back, I think that his efforts fell short of long term goals, which puts us where we are today.

I posted my comment in Star’s egroup and he did reply...

--- In StarandBucWildForum@yahoogroups.com, "Star"
wrote:
>
> Hey Cyndi,
>
> You're right, King did what he thought was morally just
> at the time, but he had no long-term economic plan
> beyond God's will. Most people of color are not even
> aware of his literary works (Not his autobiography) or
> his tension with Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X.
>
> It's not my intention to discredit MLK, but his un-mentioned
> credit for stalled Negro progress is reaching new heights of
> confusion. Most people reference that King followed Mahatma
> Gandhi's lead, but fail to state the difference between a
> campaign of self-rule and one of civil rights.
>
> S.

Yes..... I can agree with Star on that. However, I keep thinking that the 'self rule' idea is still squashed in the minds of many black folks based on what happened to the successful black communities of the past... like the “Black Wall Street”.

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=news28

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colfax_Massacre


In the end, I’m still not totally clear on the mantra of ‘hate’ being promoted. It just sounds so negative, yet I don’t believe that it is negativity that is being promoted by the philosophy. I like his references to his connection with his father and the fact that he has ideas and acts on them, full force. The book is a good, interesting and fast read. It’s worth checking out.

Chit'lins offense!

Wow! I had no idea that people were so offended by Chit’lins. There used to be a black owned store in East Orange, NJ that sold 'cleaned' chit’lins and we used to buy them because my mother traditionally cooked them for New Years along with blackeyed peas, collards and macaroni and cheese. UMMMM!

http://www.blacknews.com/pr/chitlinmarket101.html

*August 28, 2006 *CONTACT:*
Shauna Anderson> > 240-432-1500
www.chitlinmarket.com

Chitlin Restaurant Seeks NAACP Help*BUSINESS WOMAN SHAUNA ANDERSON TURNS TO NAACP SEEKING JUSTICE FORMARYLAND'S PG COUNTY GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO SHUT DOWN HERNATIONWIDE CHITLIN BUSINESS* *Hyattsville, MD* (BlackNews.com) –

Shauna Anderson, successful businesswoman, accountant and owner of The Chitlin Market will speak to the press regarding her attempts to reveal Prince George County government's attempts to close down her business and prevent her from opening a Chitlin restaurant on Ager Road in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Shauna opened her first retail cleaned Chitlin business in Prince Georges County in 1995. Her first storefront was an instant success after just one article in the Washington Post but she soon received a "Black Sambo" hate letter and a vicious hate email threatening to bomb her restaurant. Despite an FBI investigation, abreak-in and a succession of vandalism, she stuck with it. An anonymous inquiry to the USDA put her business under scrutiny for months before she closed her first Hyattsville, MD location and put her business strictly online.

She then purchased a TDOZ approved property on Ager Road in 2004 intending to once again open a new Chitlin Market. Despite careful and thoughtful renovations of a run down property, harassment started immediately with warning letters, excessive and repeated inspections, code enforcers questioning permits already issued – Shauna had one enforcement officer arrive during a Chitlin Festival who questioned her permit after she showed it to him and he said to Shauna: "They told me they were not going to give it to you."

In the last year Shauna has incurred thousands of dollars in personal property vandalism with a screwdriver through her truck radiator, tires slashed on both her truck and trailer and she received water bills in excess of $1,800.00 that were usually $60.00. After protesting the bill Shauna then received an excessive water bill at her residence. She then received a tax inquiry from the Maryland State Dept of Assessments requesting Corporate Tax Copies for Audit purposes. Shauna taught Corporate tax statistics at the IRS for over a decade.

She has recently been followed in her car, had her car towed illegally and she is now fearful for her safety. Recently a city official voiced his objection to the smell that would be omitted from Shauna's restaurant, even though she had has never once received a complaint about odors. She had inspectors at her property on several occasions threatening to tow her Chitlin Mobile Unit after it had sat on the street for 48 hours. When she questioned why the Taco Trucks directly across the street sat for weeks on end without question - there was no answer.

In April of this year PG County officials revealed their true feelings regarding the opening of a Chitlin restaurant in their community. After an episode of ABC's *Commander in Chief* ran portraying PG County as overridden with crime with a scene of the fictional President exiting her car in front of a Chitlin and Pork Chop restaurant, Peter Shapiro responded to the *Washington Post* in outrage regarding the portrayal of the community and that a Chitlin restaurant is a negative stereotype - and that prompted Shauna to realize how they felt about her business. Shauna Anderson wants to know what they are doing about the crime rate in this community and why they aren't protecting children and putting resources into crime prevention instead of trying to run a small business out of town.

For more information about Shauna Anderson, visit
www.chitlinmarket.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I admit, I don't cook Chit'lins. They really look (and smell) foul when being cooked. But I miss it on New Years when my mother cooked them. Now if we analyzed many foods we eat, I'd have to say I’d probably feel just as grossed out about a lot of it. (Have you ever read how hotdogs are made?)

Chit'lins are a ‘soul food’ delicacy in my opinion! That’s how I regard it. It ranks right up there with that big ol’ pot of Pork Neck Bones. Ummmmm! I used to love the neck bones and noodles. Getting the meat off those neck bones was like a skilled art, working that tongue all through those nooks and crannies, sucking them bones dry!

And, its not just 'us' who eat them... Grilled pork intestines are known as Makchang in Korea!

(from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitterlings)



Other cultures have small intestine recipes, for example as part of the Latin American (and especially Argentinian) mixed grill dish parrillada, where they are known as chinchulines and may be of lamb.
Filipino cuisine features a recipe of fried pork intestines called "silit", and another for deep-fried pork intestines, called "chicharon bulaklak".
In Korea, grilled pork intestines are called makchang (막창). Makchang is a Daegu regional delicacy.
In Mexican cuisine, small intestines are known as tripas. Cleaned, boiled, and grilled, tripas are a popular filling for tacos.


Here’s a Chit'lins recipe for those who can still ‘stomach’ them.... (pun intended! LOL!)

http://www.chitterlings.com/chitterling.html

And here’s another link that describes the history of chit’lins...

http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/ChitlinsHistory.htm

Pig stomach and intestines. I remember my father telling me that everything except for the ‘squeal’ is eaten from the Pig. I know so many people who were raised on chit’lins and pork, but turn their noses up to pork now. Some claim to be allergic to pork these days. I guess that can happen...



Whatever. I try to eat mostly fish and poultry along with something green and some fruit most days. I’ll have some red meat once or twice a week sometimes, including pork (although some call it ‘the other white meat’). And on New Years... as long as I trust the cook (!!!!!!) I’d have those Chit’lins with some Black Eyed Peas and Collards and Macaroni and Cheese! Once a year ain't gonna kill me!!!!

Aside from all this....


Happy New Year Every One... may we all be blessed with good physical, mental and spiritual health, prosperity along with the ability to live our life to the fullest!