Hampton06

I don’t have anything to say. I recognize that I’m empty right now. If I didn’t have this column, I’d be sitting quietly somewhere, reading, or meditating. Truthfully, I’m not really sure that most people have anything to say, most of the time. When would people ever have a moment to gather a thought together? The amount of constant noise we absorb, pretty much prevents us from thinking, and therefore expressing something meaningful.

What’s interesting is that we communicate more than ever. All day long with the cell phones, chat rooms, IM’s, Myspace, Facebook, texts; we send information back and forth, most of it useless. Remember, back in the day, when you could actually miss someone. You could actually have a feeling of loss, because you hadn’t received a letter, or didn’t have long distance service. I used to get excited to hear from an old friend, or someone who lived out of state. It used to feel like a special moment of reconnecting. Not anymore. I think that it’s quite possible that between Myspace, email and my cell phone, I am in touch with every person I’ve ever known in my entire life.

I may be a bit of a curmudgeon, but I think that you were actually meant to lose touch with certain people. Think back for a second. Do you remember that person who used to sit three rows behind you in Algebra class? Of course you don’t and there’s a reason for that. It’s the natural order. If you barely knew someone’s name in junior high, you shouldn’t even remember they existed, let alone, still be speaking to him or her at 30 years old.

Let me share with you a recent Myspace exchange with a junior high classmate. The classmate, after fifteen years of being disconnected writes, “Waddup, holla back.” Seriously? Is that it? Now, would anyone have ever wasted a piece of paper, pay for a stamp and drive to a post office to send that message? Hell no.

The thing is, we’re all having conversations like this all day. It’s all noise. Add that to the constant hum of the iPods and the television and you’ve got an entire generation who seem to never be alone, or at least never quiet. Not only is critical thought being impaired, but learning to be independent is also going by the wayside. Once upon a time, our parents would give us a kiss and send us outside into the neighborhood to play and magically, we all showed up at home back in time for dinner. I didn’t have a cell phone. I had streetlights and when they came on, I went home. There were no mommy minivan brigades, or play dates. I learned how to occupy my time, be safe and disciplined, all without the use of technology.

I think we’re seeing the first wave of art being created by people who have lived with constant noise. Spike Lee had a point of view, so did John Singleton and Kasi Lemmons. Where is that now? Musically, we’ve been reduced to singing about fashion accessories, car parts, champagne and geographical locations. It as if people are writing lyrics about the last commercial they saw. I spent an hour last week watching MTV Jams. Every song was about someone’s city, or neighborhood. I started to wonder if the rappers were sponsored by MapQuest.

Al Sharpton and Oprah are challenging hip-hop. Black cinema is being challenged for not offering enough variety, in terms of images. Seminars and conferences are constantly being held, trying to figure out what we need to do to turn things around. I don’t think the solution is really all that hard. I think everyone just needs to shut up. You have to just shut up for about an hour a day and pick up a book, or a magazine. Maybe you can just sit and think. I don’t care, what you do, just shut out the noise. Take in some valuable information and process your thoughts. If you have to talk, instead of saying “waddup” to a kid you sat behind in the 5th grade, call your grandmother and check-in.

When your quiet’s done, go ahead and turn “Maury” back on if you have to, go pick up your iPod and cell phone. Hopefully though, the more you take time to be quiet, a good book will be the first thing you pick up before the remote. Trust me, your conversations will be a lot more interesting if you did.