Gil Scott-Heron Dead at 62

[Perknose]

. . . my blatant invitation to set the record straight.

Set the record straight? That's laughable. Your racially butt hurt attempts to tear him down were anything but.

I found a bit of hilarious irony about his life. I can't help that was the impression that I developed...

I know, I know, you couldn't help yourself. It's blindingly clear WHY.

I sampled several of his noteable songs, read an account of his life from two different (sympathetic) sources, and found some hilarious irony in the fact that someone who was afforded much opportunity and privilege by any standard, goes to an elite prep school, and then opts to squander or give-up a chance to get a first-rate secondary education to pursue his art instead of any number of other promising career paths (probably losing out on a more stable and/or economically gainful livelihood in the process),

Lolololol, so much fail here.

You read two different sources on his life yet concluded he squandered his education? You're either a liar or an idiot!

First of all, it seems it's YOU who "squandered or gave up" your secondary education, else you would know what that means. It doesn't mean college.

But you were, of course, trying to the the term to refer to the fact that he left college after only two years. I would, too, if I'd gone to Lincoln University.

It's right near me in Pa, and it's a shithole! He outgrew it! If you really had read TWO sources about his life as you claim, you would know this, liar.

Scott-Heron attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, as it was the college chosen by his biggest influence Langston Hughes. It was here that Scott-Heron met Brian Jackson with whom he formed the band Black & Blues. After about two years at Lincoln, Scott-Heron took a year off to write the novels The Vulture and The ****** Factory.[6] He returned to New York City, settling in Chelsea, Manhattan. The Vulture was published in 1970 and well received. Although Scott-Heron never received his undergraduate degree, he received a Master's degree in Creative Writing in 1972 from Johns Hopkins University. His 1972 dissertation was titled Circle of stone.[7

He left Lincoln and wrote, not one, but TWO novels. The Vulture was published to not inconsiderable critical acclaim. On the strength of his ACTUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, he went on to grad school and got his master's degree, from, you know, a really GOOD college, Johns Hopkins.

Then he went on to achieve not inconsiderable national and international fame and critical recognition for his music.

THIS is what YOU ignorantly call the "hilarious irony" of his leaving college and squandering his opportunities?

WOW.

You mad??

I don't like trolls. You're not only a troll, you're a lazy troll, and you just got caught trying to run some major, major bullshit on us here.

Of course, being a troll, you will never man up and admit to this, will you?

 

[tcsenter]

First of all, it seems it's YOU who "squandered or gave up" your secondary education, else you would know what that means. It doesn't mean college.

Yes, thank you, that should have read post-secondary.

On the strength of his ACTUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, he went on to grad school and got his master's degree, from, you know, a really GOOD college, Johns Hopkins.

This Mother Jones article only mentions his stint at Lincoln, that he dropped out after one year, never mentions Johns Hopkins. One would think Mother Jones could get these sort of facts right about their counter-culture heroes. The other article I read didn't mention his education past prep school but was more about his influence and contributions artistically or culturally.

But this plays to my hand even more than dropping out and squandering educational opportunities. The "disenfranchised" black man who became a voice of black rage in America (according to many)...went to an elite prep school and graduated from a prestigious university such as Hopkins.

Yeah, I'd be totally angry about such a life of denied opportunities, too. It only bolsters the irony, schizophrenia, or hollowness of his pseudo-outrage and lack of legitimacy to be the face or voice for typical black Americans in the 70s.

 

[skyking]

7 0f the first 9 posters knew who this was and were saddened by the news of his passing. What what motivated you to trash a memorial thread? You ever lose somebody you respect?

 

[tcsenter]

Fine. Delete this one and start another. I promise I won't post in it. I apologize for 'trashing' someone's memorial thread.

 

[nanette1985]

The Gil I knew (slightly) would be amused and gratified to know that his life & work has sparked a discussion about race and entitlement and truth even in a place like ATOT