For all the racial profiling assessors regarding the Louis Henry Gates, Jr. arrest, looks like the record of the 911 call and the released notes from the arresting and other officers clearly demonstrates that some people need to leave “THE MAN” alone.
Knowledge is power. Nonetheless, people who live to be right in their own eyes will still try to extract some adverse racial motivations from actions and dialogue in the highly over-publicizied incident when there was none. At least on the part of Crowley, the arresting officer, towards Gates.
Now, Mr. Gates is reputedly calling for the nation to move on. This magnanimous stance is quite convenient as it comes after the transcripts and notes show Gates escalated and really charged the entire incident and called a cop with a good record a “racist” simply because the cop did his job and had a spat with Gates, a Black man.
Obama needs to think again when attempting to defend any of his homeboys. Correction: “esteemed colleagues”.
Again, “The Man” is at play and causing a rucus with the arrest and four-hour detainment of Yale Graduate and Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates. By now, you would think that Black folks and “conscious” folks of other races would abandon the notion of “The Man” who gets too much credit in situations where common sense is overridden and self-responsibility is despised. It is much easier to cry racism and point to a plethora of social behavioral theories than to accept the bare-boned truth. Sometimes Black people do stupid stuff and race has absolutely nothing to do with it.
First, a call is made to the police because Mr. Gates’ allegedly appeared to be breaking into his own home. Apparently, the door was jammed. Questions flare about why the police was even called. Of course anyone in a residential neighborhood who views someone trying to force a door ajar should call the police. People break into homes in broad daylight. Doctors murder their own wives in broad daylight. Mr. Henry Louis Gates lives in the real world where men just like him-not just stereotypical younger Black male thugs-commit heinous crimes. Accomplished, affluent, successful people often find themselves in prison garb for quite some time because they have committed crimes.
Mr. Gates was allegedly into his home by the time the police confrontation began. Allegedly, the cops knew exactly who he was when they arrested him. There is a huge gap-between when Mr. Gates supplied proof of identity and was arrested-that Mulloverthis is not willing to suppose is filled with improper behavior by law enforcement simply because Mr. Gates is a Black man. Mr. Gates was allegedly “shocked” that after he proved who he was, the incident continued.
Having had to prove TWICE that I lived in my own house because the burglar alarm went off in the middle of the night, I disengaged it, and answered the calls from the alarm company with the appropriate code, I know how aggravating it is to look at law enforcement (two white officers) who challenged me because of what could have actually been “suspect”. However, having an appreciation for law enforcement-the same fellas that might have been answering the same call if I actually had a gun pointed to my head by an intruder-governed my disposition in getting my license, a piece of mail with my name and address on it, and answering numerous questions. There was no unseemly conduct or display of irritation to the point where after having established my identity, I could have been arrested for disorderly conduct. By the way, being one who is more than averse on my legal rights and most knowingly and audibly equipped to express them, I could have stopped the officers much sooner than they chose to stop in both encounters inside the home where I LIVE. However, I did not. I worked with the program. Mulloverthis smiled and thanked the officers both times, although I could have been indignant.
Law enforcement cannot cease to stop a swurving car because Jesse Jackson may be in it, or fail to make initial inquiries because Black people are involved. Nor, should law enforcement have to be disrespected, interrogated, or challenged because they have to do their job. Those cops did not know who Henry Louis Gates was, and even if they did, so what. Yaleducativism, Harvardism, and African-American intelligencia does not absolve anyone-including Mr. Gates-from knowing that law enforcement must be respected, even if they want to be tough guys/gals. The cops were within reason to confirm Gates’ identity and then ensure that there was nothing fishy going on, despite the fact they were dealing with “Henry Louis Gates”.
If the depth and breadth of Mr. Gates’ interaction with the Cambridge police consisted of him providing identification and fully cooperating with the officers, then the officers do need to offer an apology. If not, Mr. Gates and his supporters need to sit down somewhere and eat some chocolate.
Meanwhile, Mulloverthis chooses to commend the people that help to keep our neighborhoods safe and when everday “good” people do bad things, sometimes have to put their lives in danger to muddle through the particulars. Thumbs up to law enforcement.
You hit the nail on the head and smashed it, with a few exceptions.
Although Sharpton has been a long-time friend of the Jackson family, he is ”milking” the moment.
MJ was just an entertainer to many. Not all Black folks are drinking the kool aid on this one and certainly many of us have not “heroized”, or deified Michael Jackson. Personally, MJ’s life was tragic and he did not live a life that anyone should want to emulate. Human compassion causes the good in us to want to see the good in others. So, even in death, as with most human beings, we don’t focus on all of the gutter talking points on a person’s life. But the reality is, Michael Jackson did not provide an ideal life for celebrity children as they were reputedly never around any other children (while MJ has been quoted numerous times as saying children were the only reason worth living) and significantly deprived them of normal socialization skills. MJ’s conscious construction of his children through ensuring their sperm donors were White and carving their nifty womb-for-hire mothers out of their lives wreak of self-hatred. Self-loathing Blacks could not have had a better spokesperson, being that MJ planned to and did legally procreate non-Black children, and actually “de-Blacked” himself as much as he could. Forget the debt factor in relation to the philanthropic giving. His spending on medication–allegedly because of drug dependency–in what really needs to be examined. Additionally, no well-adjusted stable grown man walks around in underwear entertaining and befriending young boys whether there was literal pedophilic contact or not. People have the audacity to laud MJ for being a great father while living a life allegedly riddled with drug addiction. I will have to agree with you, that only in this country can someone be so visibly inept and then celebrated because he was a paramount entertainer. FYI Bill: Many African Americans raise their children NOT to be like Michael Jackson. Who wants to live and probably not be genuinely fulfilled?
Lastly Bill, you have conveniently overlooked a number of other endearing commentaries from White people during MJ’s celebration of life that was more than delusional. Brooke Shields immediately comes to mind. Please be equitable and just in your disdain for the post-mortem crowning of MJ by his fans, which may be quite difficult for you as is often the case for White folk who try to analyze Black folk. By the way, some of MJ’s largest and most lucrative concerts were played before audiences of people that looked like MJ’s kids, MJ after enough plastic surgery to re-compose himself, and your own (Bill O’Reilly’s) family–White people. So, the absurd international influence MJ has had has never been a Black thing, and cannot ever credibly be characterized as such.
Note: Clearly, MJ’s fan base is not solely comprised of African-Americans and White people. MJ’s influence crossed all so-called barriers and stratifications. This post is specifically designed to respond to the criticism of Bill O’Reilly and his take on the media and public’s reaction to MJ’s death.
Provisional talent, Wanda Sykes, had the honor of presenting fodder at the 2009 White House Press Correspondents’ dinner. Of course, the on-again, off-again comedic actress received much criticism for her tasteless railings against the former administration and its royalty, and the specific commentary regarding Rush Limbaugh.
Wanda pushed the bucket hard enough to see whether the compressions would disturb the natural progression of crests and troughs in the predictable waves of laughter throughout the room. Did she cross the line? What line? The bounds of decency or political correctness are more ambiguous each day. At least, depending upon the valuation standards employed by the critics of the day. Principled disapproval would certainly require any critics of Ms. Wanda’s nifty elocution to be up in arms against Rush Limbaugh’s continual blather. The thing about hypocrisy, is that it holds true whether one be of the left or the right, or of any racial persuasions.
What we should remember is that Wanda is a comedian. It’s her job to push the envelope. The correspondents laughed. They even responded to the frightening imagery of the arms of some of the former First Ladies. Additionally, she doesn’t have any shows that won’t be canceled before we can program them in the on demand functions, except for voice acting on the Nick network. She had to make the most of her moment. Wanda enjoys paying taxes and needs to make her money.
If you ask my opinion, and I know you didn’t, Mulloverthis says, “Leave Wanda alone.” Rush has a much broader and regularly scheduled sphere of influence where he leaps from the precipice and takes many of his gutter audience members with him.
What is the problem? The Republican tea parties around the country to protest against excessive government spending and the proposed tax increases to the upper-class (or at least wealthiest Americans) are a great idea. We have always been a nation that values the freedom of expression. As long as the protests–I mean parties–remain peaceful, who cares?
We must learn to accept the concerted efforts of the disconcerted to complain about what President Obama is doing to our country. Obama didn’t start the bail-out madness. He just continued it. So, if the insiduous economic course of treatment our President is ensuing to repair and re-build a bloodied economy is far-fetched, please, place the blame and proper socialist characterizations right where they belong. A number of Repubs were in agreement with the economic aid the government decided to give those on Market Street and Wall Street before Obama smiled with his perfect teeth and ever raised his right hand. Remember?
Furthermore, we accepted the diabolical response of Condoleeza reputedly shopping on New York’s Fifth Avenue for shoes–albeit an intoxicating experience–while Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed New Orleans. We endured the ghastly nervous grin of former President George Bush cradled in the comfort of an auspicious presidential appearance and photo-op with 2nd graders when he got the 911 announcement. Even church folks put the finger up and tip out of a room when the bladder signals an impending release. Yet, the top-ranked repub sat still until his brain finally got the signal and alerted him that our nation was under attack and he might just have to do his job as President. If this isn’t enough to conclude that these tea parties are nothing but gatherings for railers to re-direct pent-up frustrations, the inclusion of Joe the plumber ought to allay unnecessary fears. The unofficial Repub pawn and GOP desperation celebrity actually appeared as a speaker at the Lansing, Michigan tea party/tax protest. I firmly predict we will not see another Revolutionary War. American Repubs, although empassioned and committed, have become more concerned with the superfluous.
So with the recent history of my fellow conservatives who largely identify themselves as Republicans, this is really no big deal. The concern that I have is with false advertising. When someone hosts a tea party, I expect tea. With all of the musings about these tea parties, this is my concern: Who is hosting one where I can get a good cup of a flavorful antioxidant like mandarin white tea?
Allegedly Philip J. Berg has filed a lawsuit challenging Barack Obama’s citizenship and eligibility to become the next President of the United States of America. Mr. Berg claims that the case is NOT DISMISSED, and currently in the federal courts. Visit the site below for a portion of the press release, case docket number/file name, court of competent jurisdiction, basis of the claim against NObama, and other supporting documentation.
This means that if NObama is disqualified in enough time, the DNC will meet with other Democratic leaders and institutions to determine who will be the Democratic Nominee. Send the DNC a message that if this lawsuit is valid, and NObama hi-tails himself back to congress, there is no question to be determined. The Hilary needs to be appointed. Eighteen million Americans have already spoken. We want Hilary. I’d love to see the Obamaniacs give Hilary and the Democratic Party the unity they require of Hilary supporters.
The Hilary will eat McCain and Palin for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
UPDATE: CHECK OUT THIS COMPLAINT SO YOU CAN BE INFORMED AS TO THE BASIS OF THIS CHALLENGE. BARACK OBAMA AND HIS SUPPORTERS DO NOT SUPERCEDE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IF THERE IS A REAL QUESTION, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED.
Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee for President of the United States of America, selected Sarah Palin, current governor of Alaska, as his running mate. Sarah Palin is the woman that Senator McCain expects the American public to support as Vice President of the United States. McCain must have missed the Vice Presidency job description briefing. This individual will be the acting President if he became incapacitated, and the President if he dies in office. The only critical questions are who are McCain’s advisers, what part of his foot did McCain use to make this decision, and who is going to play “mother” to Sarah Palin’s five children while she may be the Vice President of the United States for up to eight years.
Governor Palin has been hammered throughout the media and across dining room tables all over this nation as the most fool-hearty Vice Presidential pick since Dan Quayle. The thought of Sarah running this country–if McCain succumbed during his Presidential term–is equally humorous and frightening at the same time: Not because she has no national experience or foreign policy experience. Governor Palin is a Christian and vocal anti-abortioncide politician. She was a small town mayor and is currently in her first term as an executive leader as the Alaskan Governor, and is only running for Vice President. The Democratic Nominee for President, Senator Barack Obama, has only one completed US senatorial term under his belt, and no executive or foreign policy experience. Yet eighteen million people and counting have fallen prey to his charisma, wisdom in hiring and following the counsel of advisers, consultants, and marketing/media experts, and personal leadership style. So the alarm for “what in the world is happening to our country” had already sounded when we put our incumbent President in office. Then we had the nerve to put him in office again. We are to believe that the best of the hopefuls include Obama (the most competent thing we’ve seen in political pull-ups who at least has a real adult politician on his ticket, Senator Joseph Biden) who is running against someone who we hope doesn’t take an earthly exit while in office (McCain, coupled with someone who just came out of the birth canal, yippee Governor Palin). Has John McCain ever heard of the expression “the pot calling the kettle black”? Obviously Obama’s relative inexperience cannot be a further concern for the GOP when their VP pick is a glorified soccer mom who just woke up as a politician, and desperately needs a 2008 savvy hairdresser and stylist.
With McCain’s selection of Governor Palin, I have a serious noteworthy proposal. He can continue to solicit the support of pro-Hilary Obama defectors by appointing my mom as the Secretary of State. I promise McCain, fingers crossed and hope to die live, that he will not find any scandalous incriminating evidence in my mother’s closet. Nope. Nada. Zilch. She is good to go and excellent at diplomacy. If Palin can manage her 9,000, and be suitable for Vice President, then certainly my mom is qualified with over 30 years in the medical field to be the Secretary of State. By the way, she has not interviewed with MTV political commentators like Governor Palin, but she has watched enough CNN, MSNBC and FOX News and argued with the political pundits (unbeknownst to them) in her own family room. And, trust me, she takes them down every time. My mom would at least have enough sense to hire the right personnel, and take their advice. McCain could speak to my mother–maybe even twice or three times which is considerably more than he bothered to spend with Governor Palin–to be oversecure that she is the right woman for the job. And, the whip cream on top asssurance McCain would have is true feminists wouldn’t have to be alarmed about her defying the advances of women who have proven that they can do it all–work and be real mothers at the same time. All of my mom’s children are grown adults. Sarah Palin is the one with five children, four of whom are under age 18. This nation should not have to look at Governor and hopefully never Vice President Sarah and wonder does she know where her children are today. Oh yeah, their father, the hired nannies and secret service agents will have to nurture her young.
With all of the criticisms of Governor Palin as the GOP Vice Presidential pick, the absent critique, which is of utmost concern to this blogger is, is this true feminism? A mother of five (with four young children) so engaged in her career that she didn’t have enough sense to say “no” when she got the invitation to run all over the country campaigning and could possibly have to put her children on hold for the next four to eight years, is supposed to be the picture of family values. REAL mothers don’t write paychecks to pay other people to be the principle caretakers of their children. Governor Palin just allegedly had a son with Down’s Syndrome. The first few years of a Down’s child’s life are the most critical for development and will largely predict his ability to grow to be personally independent. So, to the wiseguys who thought Hilary supporters would be drawn to the GOP ticket because Governor Palin is a female missed it. Hillary mothered Chelsea Clinton. Well-rounded women who are not selfish hedonists take care of the basics first. Young human beings who did not ask to be conceived and born have a right to have a mother who is perfectly capable of being a mother to them, do what she signed on to do when she gave birth to each of them. Governor Palin needs to go somewhere and sit down instead of contributing to the reason why so many of our children continually become inept adults.
This appointment to the GOP ticket shows that McCain is in this to win at the cost of our nation’s future if something happens to him. If his judgment led him to pick Palin, then my judgment leads me to pick anyone but him. Hilary. Palin. They can’t even be typed in the same sentence, more or less compared. Obama/Biden may win by default. Regardless of how much pro-Hilary voters may not have wanted to choose Obama, no one in their right mind can put someone in office who just may leave us with Palin as the President of the United States of America. President Palin. Someone, please get me an icepack. Now, I must retire and account for each precious moment. I’m expecting a phone call from McCain’s camp any moment now for some sort of cabinet position to appeal to his young African-American female constituency. My blog and political opinions should suffice as enough political experience.
Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain joined host, Pastor Rick Warren, at the Saddleback church for an interview aired on CNN. Both presumptive Presidential nominees answered the same questions at separate times, one-on-one with Rick Warren, in front of thousands. During his interview, Obama sat in a church and justified why he is in support of gay marriage, homosexual rights, and abortion–while declaring that he is a Christian and Jesus Christ saved him by grace. Watching the Christian rationalize baby killings because to determine when life begins is above Obama’s “pay grade” (his own words) is enough audacity. But, there is more.
Obama unleashed more of his glaring introspective thoughts when asked which United States Supreme Court justices would he not have appointed. Obama didn’t hesitate or stutter. Clarence Thomas. Here is the reasoning Obama stated, “”I don’t think that he was a strong enough jurist or legal thinker at the time for that elevation, setting aside the fact that I profoundly disagree with his interpretations of a lot of the Constitution.” This, off course, is coming from a former editor of the Harvard Law Review and a corporate attorney. Obama has wet his feet in the practical legal and political world compared to the Senators who were on the confirmation committee and thinks he is qualified to judge the competence of Justice Clarence Thomas’ jurisprudence. Interesting. Especially from a man who wants to be President of the United States, with only one full-term as a US Senator under his belt, and eight years as an Illinois Senator. Compared to his colleagues and competition, Obama needs to sit down and say “sike” (slang for I was only playing) by his own standards.
Here are some facts: At the time of Justice Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court appointment, he had already been confirmed by the US Senate (many of whom have law degrees and legal backgrounds) for appointment to the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, one of the most honorable court appointments in the land. Thomas wasn’t appointed to the Supreme Court from being a traffic court judge, or a scripted court television judge. Prior to the Circuit Court appointment, Thomas-a Yale law graduate- also worked in an attorney general’s office, was an Assistant Secretary of Education, and was the CHAIRMAN of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for almost eight years. Justice Clarence Thomas already had experience as a jurist on one of the most esteemed courts of the land when he was appointed, yet ankle-deep Obama cited Thomas wasn’t strong enough.
So then, we are to believe that Obama is strong enough to be PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, while Thomas wasn’t a strong enough jurist or legal thinker to be onemember of the highest court in the judicial branch of our government. Obama better be careful before his house negro mentality yields trouble for him during the rest of his campaign, and if elected President, when he gets into office. He has obviously been in the house so long that his vision is tainted. Obama’s candidacy alone suggests that he sees himself as capable and his experience on the Presidential track is not even comparable to that of Thomas’ on the judicial track at the time of Thomas’ appointment to the US Supreme Court. Obama’s grossly skewed assessment of Thomas is not only condescending, but completely inappropriate in light of the increasing hostile climate (based upon beliefs that Black people are unqualified and given free-bees) pro-White extremists have towards Black Americans because of our insurgence in politics, education, business, ownership, religion and otherwise. Hopefully Obama’s deep musings will reveal his own audacity to try to discredit the qualifications of the only Black justice on the Supreme Court.
Pat Buchanan, a nominal ”Whitey”, can be short-sighted to the point of apathy. Although I believe Obama’s success in the Presidential campaign is largely the result of brilliant consulting and marketing, to suggest that Black people support Obama simply because he is Black, and this causal reasoning/relationship is WRONG, clearly demonstrates the sick thinking that lies within “Whitey”.
Pat and his inane cohorts utter hypocrisy as model representatives of a people and individuals who will not trust a Black man (who is no less qualified than his contemporaries) simply because he IS BLACK. Many of this population just cannot trust Obama because they don’t know Obama and his name (Hussein) and life comes from an ethnic/racial background to which Whitey is unfamiliar. It’s amazing how Whitey can trust one another (even when they are unfamiliar with one another) simply because their choice politician supposedly stands for what they believe. Whitey trusts one another because of similarities and commonialities and EXPECT Blacks to trust them. But when it comes to Blacks and our allegiances to another Black politician, Whitey becomes brain dead and needs some grandiose justification as to why Blacks choose to trust each other; Hence, Whitey struggles to understand the popularity among Blacks for Senator Obama. White people have a stalwart indisputable record of voting for, and supporting one another. To isolate all of the contributory reasons why would be impossible. One cannot re-write the reality of the past, where the very racial prejudice which Whitey is complaining about today, was the impetus for much of who they supported and put in office to push their racist self-entitlement agendas. Concerning matters of equity, Whitey should centrifuge all prior US Presidential elections and verify the real reasons why Whitey has put all of the prior US Presidents in office, and did not radically elect one Black man or one woman aforetime.
Must Blacks placate the present groanings that come from a people, who have historically and presently continue to give jobs, hook-ups, and educational opportunities to their white friends, relatives, or persons who they can “relate to”, who are often UNQUALIFIED (not merely not-as-qualified fledglings when compared to competent educated Black folks) in their life-long affirmative action programs called “nepotism” or “legacies”? To gripe about affirmative action policies and its inequity and prejudice against white people and males is an insult. Lord, have mercy. And to think, Whitey can actually look at his own face in the mirror, primp and continue to be Whitey and indulge in the height of Caucasoidness. Whitey thinks that Joe is better suited for the promotion b/c he plays golf and attempts to connect with the team over drinks after work where Cinque (what kind of a name is that) feels his time is better spent with his two sons or at a family re-union. If only Cinque were more of a team player. If only Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey and BET would distinguish themselves as non-partial, non-biased media entities that did not blatantly support the Black candidate. How will they know? Let the mainstream media outlets whose reach is exponentially greater than a popular African-American morning show program, with FOX NEWS unquestionably at the pinnacle of biased coverage against Obama, lead the way. I hope Buchanan has started his own letter to address prejudice in media coverage and race in this campaign inspiring Whitey to clean his/her act up.
We know that Whitey prepares and catapults their very own children, and are purposed in and of themselves, to progress based upon the same core values and foundation of what their progenitors taught and HAVE PASSED ONTO them. Legacies are virtuous when embellished with Caucausoidness. These same Whitey should comprehend that Blacks have the same aspirations for a better life and employ progressive actions to be all who we are to be; only with the knowledge and realism that much of what our family lines have worked with historically, as a foundation for what we presently possess and how we think and relate to Whitey, is STILL transitional because Whitey has been–and still is all too often–a thief, robber and a liar. The same thief who ran free Black people off of their own property with death threats is the same thief who thinks that a young Black Man’s creative expression lacks character and reason, because the standard by which he judges is one he has inherited down the Whitey line, particularly when such a subjective valuation is criteria for placement. Oh, the hypocrisy of Whitey to be frustrated as he must now endure watching boys who cannot define a dissonant chord or what it is to embellish a melody, but are musical geniuses that master the very art they do not technically “understand”. Whitey is suffering because he is accused of being Whitey, and sarcastically denotes himself as such, because he feels he has overcome his Whiteyness because he has a few Black or Hispanic friends. Let this same Whitey be tested and have to decide who to believe: the Central Park Jogger, or those ghetto rough-necks. Thank God for advances in DNA testing which is freeing men from behind prison bars and the interdependence of the Whitey mentality that put them there in the first place.
Human power coupled with biased subjectiveness is not bound within racial/ethnic/class classifications. But, unfavorable bias based on race has all too often been the disgusting stalwart principle of how White people view Black folks. If Whitey is on an affirmative action mission, let Whitey begin with their unofficial preferences and decision-making based on race, class, skirt length, and the applicant’s willingness to be more like Whitey.
Obama is not the first African American man who has ever dreamed, attempted to become, or could ever be president. Too many Whiteys were in power with backwoods thinking for a Black man to lead America in past times. White people, in general, are getting up to speed with the here and now and Whitey doesn’t like this type of progress. Black people and White people alike, are ready to take a chance on a man whose life experience, and very composition is wider and more tolerable than the Pat Buchanans of this world. Black people are supporting Obama because he is Black. But too responsibly complete this idea would mean that the traditional inflammatory ways of Whitey would not bear its intended fruit. So, I’ll finish the declaration. Black people are supporting Obama because he is Black and SAYS he is for a people–not just Black people–who want to be treated, valued, and judged for who they are. Black people want to trust Obama because he is a man who knows what it is to be Black in America. Black people are just like White people in this regard, Whitey: they trust the one who they think may be just like them. Black people support Obama because they are willing to alienate the traditional politicians whose built-in prejudices are so engrained within that their reasoning is flawed against the appeal of the hopeful candidate who may be just that–only a hopeful.
Moderators Note: For those who do not follow this blog, it is imperative that you understand that I do not believe all White people are racist, prejudiced, or biased based upon race. I also do not believe that racial animus can only be directed by White people against Black people, or is exclusive to White people. However, I do believe that there are still too many people who have the opportunity to influence the thoughts (which if given enough life, will breed action) of others are racist and contribute to the social ills and disease in race relations. I am not of the school of thought where it is best to sweep things under the rug, at least the elephant is no longer in the room. The use of the word “Whitey” seems to be part of Pat Buchanan’s vernacular as he continues to eloquently misguide others into believing that White people are treated unfairly with certain policies and political trends that benefit Blacks.
CNN, you blew it. That is the nicest way I can encapsulate my sentiments against that farce of a special, “Black in America.” I was so disappointed in Part 1 that I could not muster up the strength to see Part 2, which by peer review, was worse than the first. Let me qualify my rant by saying I am far from the disgruntled Black American who is antagonistic against white media and looking for an opportunity to whine. What I am weary of is what my brilliant colleague referred to as potrayals of “black victimization”. In short, I was hoping CNN would take the needle off that victim record and show a side of Black America that whites have collectively yet to see or acknowledge.
When I saw the previews and internet video clips of the “special” (and I mean special here in a very tongue in cheek, short bus kind of way), I immediately thought finally, an accurate portrayal of blacks that Tyler Perry didn’t write, would make its way into America’s living rooms. I had my fingers crossed that CNN would use the program as a means to display to white America that we are not all on welfare, having babies out of wedlock, getting shot over a game of skully, and basically broke, busted, and disgusted. I wanted to see blacks who achieved their goals of academic success, home ownership, united families, and upward mobility obtained without shaking, jumping, rapping, or disrobing. I wanted the motive for this greatness to be shown in light of ratherthan in spite of. Let me unpack this further. Which sounds better? Black success in light of an innate desire to realize our potential as productive citizens of these United States of America, a realization of our identity as a strong culture with much to offer the world, and a people who have every reason to love themselves OR black success in spite of the lengthy history of disenfranchisement at the hands of whites that led to impoverished neighborhoods, inequities in education, inner-city violence, and broken families? The former is an actualization of the philosophy of W.E.B DuBois who believed in order for a man (or in this case, a people) to take his place in the world–he must be himself. Blacks have something to teach the world. DuBois believed in black potential, and it was not something to be conjured and nurtured only under harsh circumstances. It was something that blacks as human beings should have the proclivity to do. The latter is a further entrenchment of the idea that blacks are the perpetual victims of the residue left behind by white America’s domestic form of imperialism upon its own dark citizens, and therefore no matter what we overcome, our success is never independent of the variable of victimization.
So yes, I believe CNN only further embedded the stereotypes that have been floating around about blacks since European travelers and historians during antiquity and the medeival period chronicled the lives of Africans by telling wild tales of oversexed dark people who hop on one foot, dwell in caves, and communicated in screeches. This type of misinformation leads to a mythology that rationalizes and philosophicizes the supposed inferiority of a people. As far as I am concerned, the use of the word black in “Black in America” is not a reference to the people but rather the growing vacuum about what else it means to be black. Better luck next time.
Moderator’s Note: This post is from a guest contributor, NIK.
Furthermore, we accepted the diabolical response of Condoleeza reputedly shopping on New York’s Fifth Avenue for shoes–albeit an intoxicating experience–while Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed New Orleans. We endured the ghastly nervous grin of former President George Bush cradled in the comfort of an auspicious presidential appearance and photo-op with 2nd graders when he got the 911 announcement. Even church folks put the finger up and tip out of a room when the bladder signals an impending release. Yet, the top-ranked repub sat still until his brain finally got the signal and alerted him that our nation was under attack and he might just have to do his job as President. If this isn’t enough to conclude that these tea parties are nothing but gatherings for railers to re-direct pent-up frustrations, the inclusion of Joe the plumber ought to allay unnecessary fears. The unofficial Repub pawn and GOP desperation celebrity actually appeared as a speaker at the Lansing, Michigan tea party/tax protest. I firmly predict we will not see another Revolutionary War. American Repubs, although empassioned and committed, have become more concerned with the superfluous.