so-called designer drugs. Jones feels that drugs should be legalized because in his opinion no matter what the economic level, drug abuse still exists and the government is still enabling it. The media, (the news, movies, MTV raps, etc.) attempt to glorify the mere 2 or 3 percent of the population that are considered gangsters and they make it the norm, which only feeds racism. Jones uses a Dickens clich to describe the sixties and today, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," but goes on to say how he recalls the sixties not being that great. He describes the atrocities that he experienced as a black performer in the entertainment business in the fifties and sixties. One instance involving Charlie Parker, an addict and how he would be bribed into signing over publishing, composer and performance royalties, to get high. Jones realized himself that the only real way for him to be in the music business was to own a piece of his masters, negatives and copyrights. Jones feels that racism is a thinly veiled disguise over economics and money. What it comes down to is the job security and threats pertaining to it at all economic levels. This has happened throughout history, the people that are making a lot of money keep the people not making a lot of money fighting with each other. The underlying problem is the crisis of leadership in our country for both the black and white communities. Everyone is hustling and stealing and scheming and at the same time setting a confused example for our youth. Jones feels that he succeeded in life despite poverty and extreme adversity because of his music. Whenever he experienced any negative emotions he would transform them into positive musical energy. In his own words, "Recycle that energy and guide it that way and put it in what ever it is, a record or movie, a tune arrangement, whatever.He feels optimistic about the future of the black culture as long as the ignorance is ...
