The CHANGE Song

Check out www.TheChangeSong.com

It is the new single from J.G. BOCCELLA & the MODO MIO BAND.

It's a free download.

Stay tuned for details of the CHANGE tour.

OPEN LETTER TO BRENTIN MOCK

To whom it may concern:

I am writing in response to an article by Brentin Mock in the October 2005 issue of Deek Magazine. I only became aware of the article by accident, while doing online research for a workshop program.

I am a musician and workshop facilitator, and have developed a concert/workshop program that I have brought to colleges, high schools, churches and other organizations across the country. In the program, entitled "Undercover White Man," I use my music as a catalyst for starting dialogue about the issue of race in America. My mission is to bring people together through music.

One of the premises of my program is that America doesn't really know how to talk about race. We don't have the right language. We don't have the right tools to negotiate the giant, weighted legacy of our shared past. We get stuck between political correctness and divisive talk-radio rants. How do we have a truly productive conversation, one that could yield new insights and, most of all CHANGE?

This question is at the heart of what I endeavor to do with my programs and much of my music. You can imagine why I was greatly dismayed when I discovered the article written by Mr. Mock. For some reason Mr. Mock felt compelled to include me (and mock me) in his article about a hoax"demonstration" he and his cohorts staged in downtown Pittsburgh. (see articles below)

What a shame that I would get trashed by someone who did not even bother to take the time to find out what I actually do. Mr. Mock, why don't you sit down with me so we can talk about some solutions? I actually agree with many of your points but I want to know what you are doing that is POSITIVE, not sarcastic and negative.

You also managed to slam Tony Norman at the same time. It's a shame because Tony is the kind of journalist who writes with the courage of his convictions, and then gets grief from white people AND black people whenever he talks about race.

How ironic and disappointing that you would blithely put me in some derogatory category based on my race and not on the "content of my character." When you do that, Mr. Mock, you are part of the problem, NOT part of the solution.

J.G. Boccella
Founder, Modo Mio Music
ModoMio.com

DEEK MAGAZINE ARTICLE:
http://www.deekmagazine.com/issues/05_10_october_2005/pages/Race_Features_CAUC.htm

TONY NORMAN ARTICLE:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05235/558229.stm

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Indian Mascot Issue NOT a Case of “Political Correctness”

Why The Indian Mascot Issue is NOT a Case of “Political Correctness”

The recent NCAA ruling is the latest chapter in the ongoing issue of the use of Indian mascots. I would submit that this is not a case of political correctness, but rather an acknowledgement of the concerns of a group of Americans who have been attempting to make there voices heard for a long time.

Instead of making snap judgments based solely on our personal experiences and frames of reference, (which, I might add, is a perfectly natural thing to do), why not challenge ourselves to be truly open to the perspectives of others? If so many different people in the American Indian/Native American community have been expressing their deep dismay over the mascot issue, and doing so consistently over a long period of time, should not those of us in the “majority” get curious and interested in this, and be willing to listen?

Context is everything. I don’t think we can have a substantive conversation about the impact and meaning of these images unless we put them into the larger context of our nation’s history, and the current state of Native American/Indian affairs. To quote Dr. Martin Luther King, "Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with."

Similarly, the NCAA are not the creators of tension here, but the mascot issue is bringing to the surface the hidden tension between the majority and a largely “invisible” minority in our country. Instead of being dismissive of the concerns being expressed, why not ask ourselves what is at the root of them? I believe it is imperative that white people in the U.S. become willing to enter into a dialogue about the larger issues of concern to our Native American/Indian communities (as well as our other minority communities). We have not yet healed the wounds of our past, and until we face them fully, their legacy will reverberate and trickle down to all facets of our society.

Maybe looking at these realities makes some of us feel uncomfortable. But, we need not avoid the issue nor be defensive; we need only to be willing to listen with an open mind. Finally, I want to stress that this is NOT a liberal or conservative, “partisan” issue. I invite/challenge all white people in this country, Democrats, Republicans, and those from all other parties, to step out of our comfort zones and begin this dialogue in earnest. ###

(c) 2005 J.G. Boccella

Welcome

Welcome to the Undercover White Man blog. The purpose of this blog is to explore the issue of race in America from a new perspective.

What does “Undercover White Man” mean?

Over the years, I have found myself in situations where white people would say things to me that I doubt they would have said if I were a person of color. Inevitably, I would not really know what to say in response, but I would think to myself, ‘wow, they don’t know I’m an undercover white man.’” Hence, the name.


How do we talk about race in America? Why is it so hard?

I think there is a conversation that we are not having, in this country, about race. Sure, we can sort of talk about race. But, it tends to be limited to politically-correct-speak, on one end of the spectrum, and dogmatic ranting on the other.

It seems to me that, when it comes to race, we have one conversation in polite society, and a different conversation behind closed doors.

This is part of what I call "The Disconnect."


I've always been fascinated by the things we take for granted in our society. Things we are accustomed to. Things that are considered "normal."
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Stay tuned for more. Let me know what you think...

P.S. Check out my songs about this topic at:
Modo Mio Music
http://www.ModoMio.com