Amsterdam Avenue, Washington Heights. Times have changed since “Baby Got Back.” I rest my case.

Joe Schoss posted a really thoughtful response to Blacks & Jews, Parts One & Two. He pegs a few things that I never even thought of, including:

It occurs to me that one of the main sticking points between the folks and the tribe is the following question:

“Jewish people have it good – why are they so touchy?”

and later…

While well intentioned, these attempts often ignore the fact that racism and anti-Semitism are completely different. This is true at even at the most basic level: racism says that Black people are inferior; anti-Semitism says that Jews are evil.

and finally…

Jews are Arabs. Why can’t we just admit it?

Peep Joe here.

A good friend responded to my posts privately, saying, “I don’t think the prevailing issue is ‘Jews on the brain,’ so much as ‘Jews in our pockets.’ Sever that economic relationship and we won’t give y’all a second thought.”

Yeah, well, you’d have to show me how Jews are in Black people’s pockets more than white people in general. Again, I think a lot of that feeling comes from the close proximity of Jews and Blacks in media and entertainment, fields for which we both have an affinity, and fields in which white skin privalege will always give Jews an economic and political advantage.

But, you know, my whole point is that this “Jew in our pocket” thoughtform is part of the “Jew on the brain” reflex. I’m generalizing for comic effect here: Black folks don’t take special note of somebody named “John Miller III” or “Kenneth Peterson” being “in their pocket.” But let a Black person find out that the name’s “Goldstein” or “Cohen”. I’ve seen the reaction a hundred times, at least: “Mmm-hmm, you know how they do.” But I would bet my life that there are more Millers and Peterson’s in Black people’s pockets than there are Feldman’s and Katz’s. It’s just internalized anti-Jewish sentiment finding release.

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Oliver’s discussion of Common’s “Be” — and “Be” sure to read the comments!

Also check out lovely Liz’s review.

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The Bishop, recalling Keith LeBlanc’s “No Sell Out,” has his own political megamix. Peep it here. Checking my mailbox today for his book, “Lyrical Swords”

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Lastly, my man J. Freedom DuLac has made the big time. The Washington Post just hired him away from the Sacramento Bee to be their new pop music critic. In his first outing, my boy makes mincemeat out of an easy mark. But they deserve it.