You know I just had to grab a moment to love on the Occupy Wall Street protesters. Some, mostly White, young adults got tired of the madness and unfairness of our economic and political system and just decided to stop everything and sit down near the biggest financial exchange in the world to make their voices heard. Sometimes, we New Yorkers don't stop and think about all the serious power that runs through these streets and how the misdeeds on Wall St. echo in a fishing village in Madagascar.
Finally, people got tired of the union busting, privatization of the education and the criminal justice systems, the tax-free dealings with corporations, the no-bid contracts with our city's Dept. of Education and yes, the rent is too damn high and all the rest of the BS we're left to deal with in our everyday survival. Yes it's survival right about now; when money is funny, sh*t gets real. Now we're left with a corporate democracy which basically means, be glad you've got a job and a roof over your head and don't complain about the 1%'s control of our economic and political system.
I like that they don't have an agenda. They just decided to stop and sit down. Maybe they'll come up with a platform and an agenda but at least they started something on the state of our system. It's sad it takes people to catch a little bit of hell before they confront the system. This recession is what many Black people and the forgotten poor go through on the daily. They just put a name (the recession) on their everyday existence: robbing Peter to pay Paul; trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents; lay-away plans. That's been us all along and we just accepted that that's how life is. But I'm glad it took this group of people to say it's wrong and we don't have to tolerate it with our silence and passivity. Sadly, when you stand up in a "supposed" democracy and challenge your government and its monetary policies, the demons wake up. The police brutality and the 700 people arrested made me seethe, and this was right after Chase Bank donated $4 million dollars to our city's police department. Did the police lieutenants feel good about themselves for snatching up defenseless women who were in a non-violent protest. This, not long after our police commissioner brags that he could take down a plane if there were another terrorist attack. And the media doesn't even question that shit. Like hello, that's not for a local police agency, that's for our federal and state militia's responsibility and capability. If that's what the police did to young white females at a peaceful protest, I wonder what would happen if there were more black and brown faces down there. That is a rhetorical question.
I was down there a couple of weeks ago and although it's not as large as I thought it to be from the news coverage, it was great to see them rallying and expressing their frustration. Funny, I remember sitting in that park during my college summer break 20 years ago on my lunch hour listening to a crack addicted, homeless comedian tell shamelessly raunchy jokes for all the secretaries, brokers and bankers on their lunch hours before we all headed back to our grinds. Those jokes were a nice reprieve from the stuffy, tight air I had to inhale while I made some money at a summer job. But now those jokes and the light air have gone and you can feel the heaviness and seriousness of the times we're living in. The atmosphere there felt like they picked up on where the 2008 election left off. Obama has had successes, contrary to what the mainstream media now likes to promote. He "got" Osama Bin Laden, got some healthcare reform in, put 2 women on the High Court and extended unemployment benefits before. He hasn't done all he could and I think the budget cap was what took us all over the edge. Watching him capitulate to the Republicans made me cringe. He could've ended it all, yet did what he felt had to be done as the ever-bipartisan leader. I've never seen anything like it, and that's not a compliment. But be that as it may, it triggered this movement in my opinion, where people finally said, "OK we put him in, he can't do it all, so what can we do?" And the fact that they chose not to sit-in on Capital Hill makes me smile. Politicians come and go but they were smart to see that power is seated where the dollar lies. And even if they're not directly on Wall Street, but 2 or so blocks away, you can't ignore their presence.
Then the right talks about class warfare as if this is something new. The constitution only extended the right to vote to "propertied" white males. Meaning you need to first be a white guy who owns a patch of dirt and paying some taxes to have a right to participate in the government. Since Ronald Reagan's first term he used the power of his Hollywood iconic communication style to seduce much of the American public to vote against their own interests. Poor and middle class whites identified with his message and became Conservative Republicans, as if they shared a common status with the elites, say like the Koch Brothers. Who have been the one's sent to fight in America's wars, work shitty jobs without benefits or carry the tax burden.? The poor. When Warren Buffet is willing to pay more taxes because his secretary has a higher tax rate than he does you know it's bad. But people have been so used to just rolling over and accepting this rigged game that we haven't seen people en masse in the last 30 years unite, organize and sit-in for more than a day's march on Washington.
But all politicians should be on alert, cause this movement just might turn to them and start asking tough questions of what specifically they've done legislatively for job creation and housing. (Hint Mr. Jesse Jackson, Jr.) People are losing their homes yet banks are getting bailed out, and then they've the nerve to raise their ATM fees. We need to start making little changes they'll pay attention to like closing our bank accounts and putting our money into Credit Unions. How about the Citibank that had several people arrested who lined up to close their accounts in the Midwest? When we begin to talk about empowered financial changes individually and collectively, they listen like EF Hutton.
So the Arab world set it off in the Spring, we jumped on in the Fall and now we're testing the strength of our democratic ideals and our united resolve for consistency. Let's not make this episodic. Let's open our ears, study our own movement and what the real strategies were, stop shopping like it's gonna make all life's pain go away and participate in this moment. We can't afford to go to work and just go home anymore as poverty gets more entrenched and it gets harder for people to work their way out of the pit of poverty with a decent school system for their kids, affordable housing and a living wage.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Leila Lopes: Africa's Gift To The Ms. Universe Pageant
Much congratulations to Ms. Leila Lopes, the Angolan beauty who snatched the 2011 Ms. Universe title. She won the coveted crown last week in Sao Paolo, Brazil, the city that hosted the global competition. However, I noticed that right after this major win for only the second continental African woman that she was deemed "not really African". People not familiar with Africans and their diverse, rich beauty and the regional looks, features and hair textures seemed quick to question her blackness. I noticed the Latin media quickly tried to claim her as Cubana, having Cuban parents and claiming she speaks fluent spanish, which she does not nor are her parents Cuban. I thought this peculiar since you rarely see a Black Latina on Univision or in any Latin media. Maybe instead of trying to claim Ms. Lopes they should include more racial diversity on their telenovelas and news programming. Then an Argentine newspaper tried to discredit her title by printing a story that calls into question her right to be a crown holder in Britain where she's getting her business degree which made it possible for her to compete in the Ms. Universe competition.
For the record, her parents are from Cape Verde, an island country off the West African coast which was colonized by the Portuguese. You know, the ones who started the African slave trade. To get an idea of the people and who they resemble think Cesaria Evora, the sweet but sad Cape Verdean chanteuse, to the mixed race "Creoles" that intermixed with the Portuguese. Now to set it straight, Ms. Universe was born and raised in Angola, another Portuguese colony in Southern Africa.
When it's all said and done she's a Black African woman. Period. And it looks like many people still can't handle the reality that this beauty won the competition all while being African. I ask, who else could've won a competition with that level of grace, natural beauty, humility, spirit and intellect but an African woman? Who else could've conveyed to millions of girls worldwide that beauty is inside of you. It's immutable and not something you can change with diet pills or a Wonderbra. She's not a party-girl bimbo riding on her good looks trying to get in the industry. She's a bilingual, serious student-scholar looking to improve the lives of her fellow Africans.
Please world, don't sleep on us. And this, not 6 months after a Japanese researcher finds that black women are the most unattractive women and has the temerity to provide quantifiable "proof" to back that BS up. But we won't let any negativity take away from the sister's moment and I pray for her to be a continuing shining example of who African women are.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Are You An Awkward Black Girl?
Hello peoples. I just wanted to shout out one of the funniest and freshest comedies I've seen in a while. Its a web show called Awkward Black Girl, about a twenty-something, LA native trying to find her way with her self-conscious, witty, insecure self. It's kind of like "The Office" meets "Seinfeld" but in an urban way. I discovered it a couple of weeks ago and have watched all 7 episodes at least twice.
For one thing it broadens the canvas that we're always painted on. There are no cultural stereotypes or buffoonery that sometimes we ourselves find too much comfort in viewing. Sometimes it feels like we don't want to see depictions of ourselves in never-before seen, broader ways. Sadly, we like to stay in the box sometimes. But thanks to its creator and lead actor, Issa Rae, we get a chance to take a fresh look at people we all know or are ourselves (at least a little). Yes, there's still a little awkward black girl in me even though I'm a fully-formed black woman. Hey, this show makes me a bit proud to be that awkward black chick. Afterall, it gave me a mountain to climb, I never try to "fit in", I'm a more compassionate person for it and I rarely take myself too seriously.
As for the show, to start, the protagonist is a Black woman who sports a short cropped natural. That's damn near amazing since most sisters on TV have to wear a weave or have that "mixed hair" effect going on. How refreshing it is to see a cocoa brown woman with natural hair being romantically pursued. Then to take it a step further the lead character, "J", is forced to deal with the curiosity of natural black hair on the job with her crazy-ass white supervisor and with the sexual rejection from her ex beause of it, all in the first episode. I even think her name, Issa Rae, is genius. She's like the antidote to Lisa Raye. So if you're tired of the bad reality shows, "Single Ladies" or just "black women behaving badly tv", then take a watch. Just go to http://www.awkwardblackgirl.com/.
For one thing it broadens the canvas that we're always painted on. There are no cultural stereotypes or buffoonery that sometimes we ourselves find too much comfort in viewing. Sometimes it feels like we don't want to see depictions of ourselves in never-before seen, broader ways. Sadly, we like to stay in the box sometimes. But thanks to its creator and lead actor, Issa Rae, we get a chance to take a fresh look at people we all know or are ourselves (at least a little). Yes, there's still a little awkward black girl in me even though I'm a fully-formed black woman. Hey, this show makes me a bit proud to be that awkward black chick. Afterall, it gave me a mountain to climb, I never try to "fit in", I'm a more compassionate person for it and I rarely take myself too seriously.
As for the show, to start, the protagonist is a Black woman who sports a short cropped natural. That's damn near amazing since most sisters on TV have to wear a weave or have that "mixed hair" effect going on. How refreshing it is to see a cocoa brown woman with natural hair being romantically pursued. Then to take it a step further the lead character, "J", is forced to deal with the curiosity of natural black hair on the job with her crazy-ass white supervisor and with the sexual rejection from her ex beause of it, all in the first episode. I even think her name, Issa Rae, is genius. She's like the antidote to Lisa Raye. So if you're tired of the bad reality shows, "Single Ladies" or just "black women behaving badly tv", then take a watch. Just go to http://www.awkwardblackgirl.com/.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
What DSK's Case Should Teach Us About Rape
I woke up today to read the headlines that DSK will more than likely go free today and the charges against him will be dropped inspite of the serious case against him. He is a sick, violent, misogynist who happens to be a powerful man and will get away with a violent crime as he has in France for some time. I noticed how the NY press was quick to point out that her lies and inconsistencies tied the DA's hands. Basically, it's her fault. I just hate injustice, and especially when the powerful take advantage and abuse the less powerful without any reprisal. But hopefully her civil suit, which she has every right to bring, will offer some sense of vindication and not just compensation.
This past year NYers have seen some very unusual, but telling, cases come before our criminal court. Like the journalist who was raped by two on-duty cops who were called to escort her home because she was in a drunken stupor, and how they were found not-guilty by a jury. What I did notice was that even though she was inebriated, the DA didn't drop the case because she wasn't a "good" victim. They still moved forward and tried two police offices for a serious sex crime, unlike the DSK case. Many of us were shocked at the verdict, yet again not too shocked. They were afterall police officers and although she is a White, middle-class, educated accuser, which makes a difference in our justice system, she wasn't coherent at the time of the attack. Then 2 days ago, another officer is charged with threatening a woman on the street and taking her to an abandoned area and raping her. A witness saw it and thankfully called the police.
But what I want people to take away from all this madness is that rape can happen to anyone and by anyone. We should never, as women or as a society, believe that rape is perpetrated by the menacing, poor, dark stranger waiting to jump out of the bushes or break into our homes. Sometimes they're committed by unassuming, normal-seeming, tax-paying citizens. Your everyday working guy, business executive or head of state can all be rapists. There's no single profile, so we need to remember to listen to our instincts and take reasonable measures for own safety, because the distress call you make for help maybe to the one waiting for an opportunity to victimize you.
This past year NYers have seen some very unusual, but telling, cases come before our criminal court. Like the journalist who was raped by two on-duty cops who were called to escort her home because she was in a drunken stupor, and how they were found not-guilty by a jury. What I did notice was that even though she was inebriated, the DA didn't drop the case because she wasn't a "good" victim. They still moved forward and tried two police offices for a serious sex crime, unlike the DSK case. Many of us were shocked at the verdict, yet again not too shocked. They were afterall police officers and although she is a White, middle-class, educated accuser, which makes a difference in our justice system, she wasn't coherent at the time of the attack. Then 2 days ago, another officer is charged with threatening a woman on the street and taking her to an abandoned area and raping her. A witness saw it and thankfully called the police.
But what I want people to take away from all this madness is that rape can happen to anyone and by anyone. We should never, as women or as a society, believe that rape is perpetrated by the menacing, poor, dark stranger waiting to jump out of the bushes or break into our homes. Sometimes they're committed by unassuming, normal-seeming, tax-paying citizens. Your everyday working guy, business executive or head of state can all be rapists. There's no single profile, so we need to remember to listen to our instincts and take reasonable measures for own safety, because the distress call you make for help maybe to the one waiting for an opportunity to victimize you.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Let's Stop Talking, Let's Start Acting
Hello my peoples,
I just got off the phone with a brother with 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care (much love) and I was directed to contact the NYS Atttorney General's Office and the NY Governor's Office to give my voice to the demand for a special prosecutor to take over the Dominique Strauss Kahn case. It's clear that the Manhattan DA's office is trying to drop the case before it's even started, but I think if we all make some noise and demand an impartial special prosecutor we can at least hope for justice rather than hang our heads in shame. Yes shame, because in this mega-metropolis known as NYC, where we have black wealth, celebrity, political "leaders" and 30% of the general population we haven't unified and untied our tongues to say we want an attempt at justice for this victim. I'm attaching the phone numbers for all of us to call and the websites to visit. Maybe even start a facebook page to organize online.
Here's the web page for the NYS Governor's Office where you can demand a special prosecutor be appointed http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php or call 518.474.8390. To contact the NYS Attorney General's Office, call 212.416.8750.
Remember, we elected our first black President largely through digital means. We can make a difference for this sister and not accept that women be natural victims to men, particularly powerful men.
I just got off the phone with a brother with 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care (much love) and I was directed to contact the NYS Atttorney General's Office and the NY Governor's Office to give my voice to the demand for a special prosecutor to take over the Dominique Strauss Kahn case. It's clear that the Manhattan DA's office is trying to drop the case before it's even started, but I think if we all make some noise and demand an impartial special prosecutor we can at least hope for justice rather than hang our heads in shame. Yes shame, because in this mega-metropolis known as NYC, where we have black wealth, celebrity, political "leaders" and 30% of the general population we haven't unified and untied our tongues to say we want an attempt at justice for this victim. I'm attaching the phone numbers for all of us to call and the websites to visit. Maybe even start a facebook page to organize online.
Here's the web page for the NYS Governor's Office where you can demand a special prosecutor be appointed http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php or call 518.474.8390. To contact the NYS Attorney General's Office, call 212.416.8750.
Remember, we elected our first black President largely through digital means. We can make a difference for this sister and not accept that women be natural victims to men, particularly powerful men.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Time to Stand Up!
Alright, enough!! I've had it with Dominique Strauss Khan and the way the media has treated him and the rape victim in the Sofitel Hotel case. I'm sick of how she's been vilified and treated as a salacious liar who had consensual sex with his old pasty ass. As if any woman would want to see DSK's, d-i-c-k. When are black organizations and national women's groups going to stand up loudly and demand that the justice system be given a chance to operate. Let's look at the character assasinations on her and how he's been treated as a hapless victim of some third world woman's plot to get some coin.
First, the prosecutor hints and suggests that they'll probably drop the case against one of the world's most powerful men in a sexual assault case. Since when does the DA's office start talking to the media about their cases? Then, they say they have a taped phone call she made to her "weed selling boyfriend" the day after the incident and that she told him they could get paid. Now this woman spoke in Fulani, with a regional dialect no less, so this call was translated by whom? And who the hell taped her conversation anyway? And why hasn't the DA turned this tape over to the defense attorney. Then there's the shocking revelation that she lied on her income taxes and on her assylum papers to get out of a war torn nation. Oh Egads!! Let's get this straight, you can lie on your taxes and still be sodomized. But then the NY Post gets real grimy and had the temerity to print that she was a prostitute knowing that she has no record of being a sex worker, but still felt the need smear her name and protect the rich Frenchman who would likely become the first Jewish president of France.
I'm so sick of it all. Her lawyer was on Tom Joyner this morning and gave in gross, painful, detail her consistent account of what happened to her in that hotel room and it was so disturbing. We need to mobilize and prevent this sick bastard from getting off. Her attorney made a great point when he reminded us that Abner Louima lied when he spoke to prosecutors about what the abusive cops said to him, remember "It's Guiliani time", but the DA didn't drop the case and those cops were convicted and sentenced to significant time. The same needs to happen here. In fact, a special prosecutor taking over altogether is the better thing. Everyone conveniently forgets the news that his people were in her home town in Guinea pressuring her family to drop the charges. (Isn't this witness tampering?) Then there's the attitude in France that he is being done wrong by our Draconian justice system. How could he be in handcuffs and put on display, they ask. Why the hell not? I have to say I love One Hundred Blacks in Law Enforcement for taking a stand in this case and the few women's groups who are standing up and demanding the DA's office not to let this go. But I'm like, where's the NAACP, NOW, 100 Black Women, The Urban League, hell, The Black Panthers? And why haven't I read a whole lot about it on the black blogosphere? Like where the fuck are we at? Have we become so desensitized that we're not outraged or moved enough to act on this sister's behalf? But then I think about our sick history and the history of white men sexually violating black women. Painful history we're not comfortable talking about, none of us. We look at the sea of black skin tones and all know how it got this way. We don't want to discuss the British soldiers who are raping Kenyan tribeswomen who go into the bush to gather water and get gang raped by British soldiers only to be kicked out by their tribe for bringing shame and the innocent victims (biracial babies) home. We don't want to talk about our country's old "miscegenation" laws that basically outlawed black men from having sex with white women, because white men were already doing whatever they wanted with, and to, black women and girls. (Yes, Sally Hemming was 14 when she was with her brother-in-law, Thomas Jefferson)
But the imperial attitude of this low degenirate and his countrymen towards this hardworking single mother who emigrated from her home nation, that France had it's greasy hands on, just never ends. The attitude of the French towards West Africans is disgusting. After centuries of colonialism in Africa, they treat their pets better than African immigrants who bake their baguettes, nurse their babies and clean their streets. No opportunities, equalite, fraternite and moreover, no entry. But then to add insult to injury I see a news report last nite on MSNBC that an American-owned deli in Paris, "Rotz's" has named a large hot dog the "DSK", distributing flyers of a beautiful African woman holding it with a sly grin on her face. The disrespect towards this sister and the attitude towards rape in general is staggering. But I believe this behavior reveals an uncomfortable, uneasy and furtive attitude of European/white men towards black women around sexuality.
But where are we at? KISS FM, a local NYC radio station's "Open Line" talk show preempted their scheduled show 2 weeks ago, where they would've addressed the specifics in this case but rather did a show on the question: Are black women to blame for some of the crime in the streets because of the poor choices in who they choose to father their children? As if they make babies alone. Hmmmm. I didn't attend the Essence Music Festival, but was their any public conversation or mobilization around this case? Or were sister's taking wise advice from Evelyn Lozada. Our media that should be asking critical questions and bringing our issues to the fore aren't doing their due diligence on this case either.
I feel so angry about this I don't know where to start, but I'm ready to lend my support to any organization that is strongly addressing this situation and is willing to stand up for this woman and all women, regardless of race or station.
First, the prosecutor hints and suggests that they'll probably drop the case against one of the world's most powerful men in a sexual assault case. Since when does the DA's office start talking to the media about their cases? Then, they say they have a taped phone call she made to her "weed selling boyfriend" the day after the incident and that she told him they could get paid. Now this woman spoke in Fulani, with a regional dialect no less, so this call was translated by whom? And who the hell taped her conversation anyway? And why hasn't the DA turned this tape over to the defense attorney. Then there's the shocking revelation that she lied on her income taxes and on her assylum papers to get out of a war torn nation. Oh Egads!! Let's get this straight, you can lie on your taxes and still be sodomized. But then the NY Post gets real grimy and had the temerity to print that she was a prostitute knowing that she has no record of being a sex worker, but still felt the need smear her name and protect the rich Frenchman who would likely become the first Jewish president of France.
I'm so sick of it all. Her lawyer was on Tom Joyner this morning and gave in gross, painful, detail her consistent account of what happened to her in that hotel room and it was so disturbing. We need to mobilize and prevent this sick bastard from getting off. Her attorney made a great point when he reminded us that Abner Louima lied when he spoke to prosecutors about what the abusive cops said to him, remember "It's Guiliani time", but the DA didn't drop the case and those cops were convicted and sentenced to significant time. The same needs to happen here. In fact, a special prosecutor taking over altogether is the better thing. Everyone conveniently forgets the news that his people were in her home town in Guinea pressuring her family to drop the charges. (Isn't this witness tampering?) Then there's the attitude in France that he is being done wrong by our Draconian justice system. How could he be in handcuffs and put on display, they ask. Why the hell not? I have to say I love One Hundred Blacks in Law Enforcement for taking a stand in this case and the few women's groups who are standing up and demanding the DA's office not to let this go. But I'm like, where's the NAACP, NOW, 100 Black Women, The Urban League, hell, The Black Panthers? And why haven't I read a whole lot about it on the black blogosphere? Like where the fuck are we at? Have we become so desensitized that we're not outraged or moved enough to act on this sister's behalf? But then I think about our sick history and the history of white men sexually violating black women. Painful history we're not comfortable talking about, none of us. We look at the sea of black skin tones and all know how it got this way. We don't want to discuss the British soldiers who are raping Kenyan tribeswomen who go into the bush to gather water and get gang raped by British soldiers only to be kicked out by their tribe for bringing shame and the innocent victims (biracial babies) home. We don't want to talk about our country's old "miscegenation" laws that basically outlawed black men from having sex with white women, because white men were already doing whatever they wanted with, and to, black women and girls. (Yes, Sally Hemming was 14 when she was with her brother-in-law, Thomas Jefferson)
But the imperial attitude of this low degenirate and his countrymen towards this hardworking single mother who emigrated from her home nation, that France had it's greasy hands on, just never ends. The attitude of the French towards West Africans is disgusting. After centuries of colonialism in Africa, they treat their pets better than African immigrants who bake their baguettes, nurse their babies and clean their streets. No opportunities, equalite, fraternite and moreover, no entry. But then to add insult to injury I see a news report last nite on MSNBC that an American-owned deli in Paris, "Rotz's" has named a large hot dog the "DSK", distributing flyers of a beautiful African woman holding it with a sly grin on her face. The disrespect towards this sister and the attitude towards rape in general is staggering. But I believe this behavior reveals an uncomfortable, uneasy and furtive attitude of European/white men towards black women around sexuality.
But where are we at? KISS FM, a local NYC radio station's "Open Line" talk show preempted their scheduled show 2 weeks ago, where they would've addressed the specifics in this case but rather did a show on the question: Are black women to blame for some of the crime in the streets because of the poor choices in who they choose to father their children? As if they make babies alone. Hmmmm. I didn't attend the Essence Music Festival, but was their any public conversation or mobilization around this case? Or were sister's taking wise advice from Evelyn Lozada. Our media that should be asking critical questions and bringing our issues to the fore aren't doing their due diligence on this case either.
I feel so angry about this I don't know where to start, but I'm ready to lend my support to any organization that is strongly addressing this situation and is willing to stand up for this woman and all women, regardless of race or station.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Black Women, Love Yourselves
I'm so damned tired of being the new bullseye. Having to block blows, and bats, and kicks and knifings. I won't even name that bullshit "scientific" article posted on Psychology Today's website. Then the French IMF chair who thought nothing of violating an African immigrant and all the other sorted news stories that have dominated the airwaves about us for the last 3 or so years. It is all a mind game. If they can destabilize us with insecurity and self-doubt maybe we won't run for office, start a business or get another degree. Or if we act like a fool on VH1's Sunday night lineup, then the white woman next to you at work on Monday morning won't see you as competition for that new promotion. Worse, you'll believe that bullshit they show is who you actually are yourself.
We need to de-plug from all media that portrays us as lowly, ignorant, hypersexual buffoons. And by all means, we need to stay away from the news stories that amp up the low marriage rates in our community and how all the brothers want white, asian and latina women or are gay. It's all a shell game. Get you thinking and acting out of anxiety and dispair. I have to admit that science magazine's article caught me on the chin. I was totally shocked and caught off guard by how far people will go to make you feel low. Beauty is always subjective, never objective. But it's all in the effort to mess with your head and paralyze us with insecurity and self-defeat so that we won't be able to compete for the shrinking global resources. We'll be one less group fighting for the narrowing slices of pie. Plus, there's a comfort in seeing black women in particular as cultural stereotypes and victims. Because we are so damned strong and powerful many can only handle us if we're deemed stupid or weak. But most importantly for us, we can't buy into the hype. What is at stake is your mind, and you can't let anybody f*ck with that.
You know I really believe the world is scared shitless to have a fly, elegant, educated and smart black woman as the first lady of the free world and I think that's where all this news (and it's timing) has derived from. It's so off-putting to so much of the world, who still want to believe we're servile, subservient slaves, that we're not supposed to rock. And rock hard I will. I will rock hard for my grandmother who had to drink at "colored" water fountains and get paid $3 per week for 6 days of hard labor working for a white family. For all my sisters who can't pick their beautiful brown chins up, I will work harder and rock harder for you. For all of us.
We need to de-plug from all media that portrays us as lowly, ignorant, hypersexual buffoons. And by all means, we need to stay away from the news stories that amp up the low marriage rates in our community and how all the brothers want white, asian and latina women or are gay. It's all a shell game. Get you thinking and acting out of anxiety and dispair. I have to admit that science magazine's article caught me on the chin. I was totally shocked and caught off guard by how far people will go to make you feel low. Beauty is always subjective, never objective. But it's all in the effort to mess with your head and paralyze us with insecurity and self-defeat so that we won't be able to compete for the shrinking global resources. We'll be one less group fighting for the narrowing slices of pie. Plus, there's a comfort in seeing black women in particular as cultural stereotypes and victims. Because we are so damned strong and powerful many can only handle us if we're deemed stupid or weak. But most importantly for us, we can't buy into the hype. What is at stake is your mind, and you can't let anybody f*ck with that.
You know I really believe the world is scared shitless to have a fly, elegant, educated and smart black woman as the first lady of the free world and I think that's where all this news (and it's timing) has derived from. It's so off-putting to so much of the world, who still want to believe we're servile, subservient slaves, that we're not supposed to rock. And rock hard I will. I will rock hard for my grandmother who had to drink at "colored" water fountains and get paid $3 per week for 6 days of hard labor working for a white family. For all my sisters who can't pick their beautiful brown chins up, I will work harder and rock harder for you. For all of us.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Paying Homage to Oprah
Is anyone really coming to terms with the fact that the woman who changed America is leaving daytime tv? You know I mean the Queen herself, Ms. Oprah Winfrey. I can't believe it's almost over. She has been a presence in our lives for 25 years. I remember her going national my freshman fall at college and seeing this chunky, brown woman with the fly head of hair take control of the airwaves with her "caller you say what"command to the on-air call in. When her hefty behind quickly traversed the audience to reach the next question or comment you could feel the boom. I'm not being funny. There was something powerful about her fullness taking center stage and not being afraid to move around and physically be seen. So many times juicy women try to blend or even fade away, but she wasn't afraid to stand out. She asked questions that made us cringe, feel shocked, inspired, and laugh out loud. And she made us cry and feel deeply. When she revealed on-air her childhood abuse and the poverty she came from we felt her pain and her ongoing weight struggle made many of us confront our own weight and body image issues. I'm so going to miss her.
When I was a freshman in college she was the epitome of what many young black girls were trying to aspire to be. She was articulate, smart, well-done and soooo successful. You know, the Essence Woman. Her image truly was impressive to us back then. I mean we thought she was successful then, we could never have imagined what she'd become today. Even though we had issue with some things about her as a tv personality, she was a role model and someone who made us all proud. I remember when she first started beating Phil Donahue in the ratings, then annhilating all her competition that dared to step up, and how proud and excited I felt that she was taking over. She vanquished all her opponents with such steady skill and sweetness that you hardly ever noticed how bad she was. She just did her, her way and now on her own (no pun intended) network.
But make no mistake, Ms. Winfrey isn't to be trifled with. Iyanla Van Zant found that sh*t out. And this final season Oprah has been handling all family business Michael Corleone style. She's had all the people who tried to sh*t on her, on her show to set it all straight and slyly laugh in their face. Barbara Walters, when Oprah had the cast of The View on, tried to claim some credit like she was some sort of mentor and got the gentlest reminder that she really wasn't. Oprah killed 2 birds with one stone when she had that bunch on, because its curious that Whoopi Goldberg was never on until then. Rumor is that they really didn't get along since The Color Purple. But Oprah got the last laugh. Then on another show she entertained all her former talk show competitors with their stories about the talk show business and their time in the sun. And next thing you know she was reminding them all that she was leaving the talk show gig to go on to her own network. Ouch.
Maybe her biggest accomplishment during her reign was her role that helped the first Black man become President of The United States of America. Still can hardly believe that one. But her other contributions are great and far reaching as well. She opened a school for girls in South Africa for leadership development in this new nation when many black people in the diaspora don't even want to identify with anything African. She made it cool to be a social entrepreneur with all her gifting and give-aways to the audience but also to charitable causes for the forgotten and overlooked by building homes and community centers. I can remember researching "community development" as a field 10 years ago when some people didn't know what it was and today it has swelled into a growing job sector which I think she's contributed to.
Then she turned around and made literacy cool with her book club and sent little known or undiscovered writers to the top of the NY Times Bestseller List. Next, she honored our elders and sheros by televising her love for them. I remember crying when she did her "Legends Ball" about 5 or 6 years ago and hoping that one of our black male millionaires (say Diddy or Jay-Z) would do the same for our great black men who've changed our nation. (could you have imagined Percy Sutton, Dick Parsons, Geoffrey Canada and Ossie Davis all being honored like African royalty before the world to see) She has testified before Congress for victims of child abuse and even snagged an Oscar nomination. All of this and she's still doing the damn thing. Just think: Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Rachel Ray.
Michael Bloomberg and Donald Trump (that ass) may have more money, but she has more influence. Her touch can turn copper to platinum. She can introduce some new gadget or product and its sold out in hours. She is that powerful and still walks humbly. I caught Barbara Walter's interview of her back around Christmas and she asked her what else does she wanna do and Oprah said "just to let God keep using me". Barbara's face said it all. She just didn't get it, how service and selflessness are at her core.
Now, although I'm paying tribute to the Queen of All Media, I've got to offer my social analysis of The Queen's rise to the top of the media mountain. It's always been my belief that what has made her so loved by America is that she's been the "mammy" figure we all remember and silently cringe at. She is overweight, which is the first requirement of being a mammy. Mammy had to be an asexual figure who took care of, and nurtured the white family she was "responsible" for, maybe even more than her own. And being overweight meant that she was less a threat to the woman of the house since this working woman spent long days in her home around her family. ie. her husband. Really, to me, that's where the stereotype is really rooted. Massa making too many trips out at night and small brown children strangely resembling him and his shade of hazel-green eyes living uncomfortably nearby. So they roll out this image to placate the white wives and mistresses that they themselves could never want anything like that, hence Aunt Jemima. But inspite of the bitter history, "mammy" has always been an enduring source of comfort for alot of us. (Think Tyler Perry and Madea) Mammy was strong, listened with her whole heart, and dispensed strong advice and wisdom for the whole family. All while they paid her $3 a week. Now Ms. Oprah flipped that sh*t and made a couple billion dollars in the process. She held white folks up and hugged them while they confessed their deepest pain, exposed their confusion and cried hard. Sometimes Oprah cried with them, making them feel so much better. Understood. She's been the emotional crutch, teacher and guide for America for the last 25 years.
As I lay in bed this morning reaching for the alarm and my mind crashes with memories of all the forgotten emails I need to send, bills to pay and some things I just want to avoid, I think I really have to live my best life now. I mean, "if not now, then when?" for real. No more regrets, no more "tomorrows". I want to exhaust every opportunity that God gives me and leave my positive contributions on this earth when I go. And when I contemplate all the goals I want to accomplish with my life, I'm amazed with her stamina. She's got issues like all of us, but keeps pressing forward and pushing us along too. I mean she has the same 24 hours in her day. What she does that's so damned impressive for me at this stage of life is her ability to continuously be in the mindset of self-reinvention. Life is not stagnant, it is soooo dynamic and sometimes so crazy and full of the unexpected. But she spins out a new goal, sets a new trend, and continues to share her gifts. All while she weathers her storms with a calmness and steady hand that I'm impressed by. Remember how her half-sister just popped up out of nowhere, or how her father was trying to write a tell-all book or when her sister sold a story about her to The Enquirer. It never showed.
She will be so missed on so many levels for me. This is a sister who made every drop of her money herself. She didn't marry somebody rich or was blessed to be born into money. Her success is no small feat for someone who had to empty her granny's spit can once upon a time. I wish her all the success with her new network and hope we all consider how much she's contributed to the image and success of Black people in the US and how God's light in all of us can shine.
When I was a freshman in college she was the epitome of what many young black girls were trying to aspire to be. She was articulate, smart, well-done and soooo successful. You know, the Essence Woman. Her image truly was impressive to us back then. I mean we thought she was successful then, we could never have imagined what she'd become today. Even though we had issue with some things about her as a tv personality, she was a role model and someone who made us all proud. I remember when she first started beating Phil Donahue in the ratings, then annhilating all her competition that dared to step up, and how proud and excited I felt that she was taking over. She vanquished all her opponents with such steady skill and sweetness that you hardly ever noticed how bad she was. She just did her, her way and now on her own (no pun intended) network.
But make no mistake, Ms. Winfrey isn't to be trifled with. Iyanla Van Zant found that sh*t out. And this final season Oprah has been handling all family business Michael Corleone style. She's had all the people who tried to sh*t on her, on her show to set it all straight and slyly laugh in their face. Barbara Walters, when Oprah had the cast of The View on, tried to claim some credit like she was some sort of mentor and got the gentlest reminder that she really wasn't. Oprah killed 2 birds with one stone when she had that bunch on, because its curious that Whoopi Goldberg was never on until then. Rumor is that they really didn't get along since The Color Purple. But Oprah got the last laugh. Then on another show she entertained all her former talk show competitors with their stories about the talk show business and their time in the sun. And next thing you know she was reminding them all that she was leaving the talk show gig to go on to her own network. Ouch.
Maybe her biggest accomplishment during her reign was her role that helped the first Black man become President of The United States of America. Still can hardly believe that one. But her other contributions are great and far reaching as well. She opened a school for girls in South Africa for leadership development in this new nation when many black people in the diaspora don't even want to identify with anything African. She made it cool to be a social entrepreneur with all her gifting and give-aways to the audience but also to charitable causes for the forgotten and overlooked by building homes and community centers. I can remember researching "community development" as a field 10 years ago when some people didn't know what it was and today it has swelled into a growing job sector which I think she's contributed to.
Then she turned around and made literacy cool with her book club and sent little known or undiscovered writers to the top of the NY Times Bestseller List. Next, she honored our elders and sheros by televising her love for them. I remember crying when she did her "Legends Ball" about 5 or 6 years ago and hoping that one of our black male millionaires (say Diddy or Jay-Z) would do the same for our great black men who've changed our nation. (could you have imagined Percy Sutton, Dick Parsons, Geoffrey Canada and Ossie Davis all being honored like African royalty before the world to see) She has testified before Congress for victims of child abuse and even snagged an Oscar nomination. All of this and she's still doing the damn thing. Just think: Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Rachel Ray.
Michael Bloomberg and Donald Trump (that ass) may have more money, but she has more influence. Her touch can turn copper to platinum. She can introduce some new gadget or product and its sold out in hours. She is that powerful and still walks humbly. I caught Barbara Walter's interview of her back around Christmas and she asked her what else does she wanna do and Oprah said "just to let God keep using me". Barbara's face said it all. She just didn't get it, how service and selflessness are at her core.
Now, although I'm paying tribute to the Queen of All Media, I've got to offer my social analysis of The Queen's rise to the top of the media mountain. It's always been my belief that what has made her so loved by America is that she's been the "mammy" figure we all remember and silently cringe at. She is overweight, which is the first requirement of being a mammy. Mammy had to be an asexual figure who took care of, and nurtured the white family she was "responsible" for, maybe even more than her own. And being overweight meant that she was less a threat to the woman of the house since this working woman spent long days in her home around her family. ie. her husband. Really, to me, that's where the stereotype is really rooted. Massa making too many trips out at night and small brown children strangely resembling him and his shade of hazel-green eyes living uncomfortably nearby. So they roll out this image to placate the white wives and mistresses that they themselves could never want anything like that, hence Aunt Jemima. But inspite of the bitter history, "mammy" has always been an enduring source of comfort for alot of us. (Think Tyler Perry and Madea) Mammy was strong, listened with her whole heart, and dispensed strong advice and wisdom for the whole family. All while they paid her $3 a week. Now Ms. Oprah flipped that sh*t and made a couple billion dollars in the process. She held white folks up and hugged them while they confessed their deepest pain, exposed their confusion and cried hard. Sometimes Oprah cried with them, making them feel so much better. Understood. She's been the emotional crutch, teacher and guide for America for the last 25 years.
As I lay in bed this morning reaching for the alarm and my mind crashes with memories of all the forgotten emails I need to send, bills to pay and some things I just want to avoid, I think I really have to live my best life now. I mean, "if not now, then when?" for real. No more regrets, no more "tomorrows". I want to exhaust every opportunity that God gives me and leave my positive contributions on this earth when I go. And when I contemplate all the goals I want to accomplish with my life, I'm amazed with her stamina. She's got issues like all of us, but keeps pressing forward and pushing us along too. I mean she has the same 24 hours in her day. What she does that's so damned impressive for me at this stage of life is her ability to continuously be in the mindset of self-reinvention. Life is not stagnant, it is soooo dynamic and sometimes so crazy and full of the unexpected. But she spins out a new goal, sets a new trend, and continues to share her gifts. All while she weathers her storms with a calmness and steady hand that I'm impressed by. Remember how her half-sister just popped up out of nowhere, or how her father was trying to write a tell-all book or when her sister sold a story about her to The Enquirer. It never showed.
She will be so missed on so many levels for me. This is a sister who made every drop of her money herself. She didn't marry somebody rich or was blessed to be born into money. Her success is no small feat for someone who had to empty her granny's spit can once upon a time. I wish her all the success with her new network and hope we all consider how much she's contributed to the image and success of Black people in the US and how God's light in all of us can shine.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Saying Goodbye to All My Children Because I Only Have One Life To Live
Wow! I heard the news today. All My Children and One Life to Live are being cancelled. I haven't watched soaps since my college days and I'm a little embarrassed to admit I ever watched them at all, but still they were a part of my television diet growing up. How did that happen? Well, as the the youngest of 5 girls I wanted to be grown and sit up under my big sisters during hot summer afternoons when I should've been outside playing hot peas and butter. So I watched All My Children go from a half-hour to one-hour show and Detective Ed Hall be a positive rep for black men on daytime tv.
It's amazing when I look back and remember how iconic the character Erica Kane was for urban black girls in my day. She was the epitome of womanhood for many a sister. Playing games, using her sex and sex appeal to get whatever she wanted, disposing of men without an after thought, running her own business empire. Basically doing whatever the hell she wanted and dressing fierce all the while. I never really bought into that whole image, for me it was just entertainment. But I have to wonder now if those shows, in any small way, left any lasting impact on how I saw life then and see the world today. Maybe it was just silly entertainment. A way to distract me and other women, and some men, from dealing with the very real life they had in front of them. Just some waste-of-time fantasy, some "imagine what it would be like to live fly like that" BS. Then again that "silly entertainment" wasn't so harmless after all. I don't think life has to be all serious all the time. We need some let loose, some silliness and mindless BS at times. It's a coping mechanism too. But too much, even more than a little, isn't good for our discipline or ability to cope with our reality at hand.
So I say goodbye to two daytime serials that had me on the edge of my seat way back when. Before life got serious and time for pretend ended. I say farewell to Dorian Lord's fly stylist, Angie & Jessie, Greg & Jennie and yes, to Ms. Erica Kane.
It's amazing when I look back and remember how iconic the character Erica Kane was for urban black girls in my day. She was the epitome of womanhood for many a sister. Playing games, using her sex and sex appeal to get whatever she wanted, disposing of men without an after thought, running her own business empire. Basically doing whatever the hell she wanted and dressing fierce all the while. I never really bought into that whole image, for me it was just entertainment. But I have to wonder now if those shows, in any small way, left any lasting impact on how I saw life then and see the world today. Maybe it was just silly entertainment. A way to distract me and other women, and some men, from dealing with the very real life they had in front of them. Just some waste-of-time fantasy, some "imagine what it would be like to live fly like that" BS. Then again that "silly entertainment" wasn't so harmless after all. I don't think life has to be all serious all the time. We need some let loose, some silliness and mindless BS at times. It's a coping mechanism too. But too much, even more than a little, isn't good for our discipline or ability to cope with our reality at hand.
So I say goodbye to two daytime serials that had me on the edge of my seat way back when. Before life got serious and time for pretend ended. I say farewell to Dorian Lord's fly stylist, Angie & Jessie, Greg & Jennie and yes, to Ms. Erica Kane.
President Obama's Public Mistress
You know I love and respect me some President Obama but I started feeling like his attitude towards the Black community was a little undercover. He kind of likes to ignore us in the light of day but then romance us and call us when he needs us. At least that's how I felt when he spoke at Al Sharpton's National Action Network Conference here, in NYC last week. I couldn't help but feel a little cynical. I mean after 2 years he almost ignores us and we accept and understand that because we know very well what he's up against. Just like a doting mistress would do. And just like a good concubine understands her "man" and knows he has to deal with the demands of his tyrranic wife who doesn't know the real him and certainly doesn't support him the way she does.
Problem is, we can't act like a political "side piece" in these political times. He could stand to stop acting so damn conciliatory and bipartisan and take care of the people who take care of him regardless to what pollsters might declare. The 2012 election is coming up and I know he needs to draw on his base support to ready for the fight but you have to take care of home too no matter who's watching. Black unemployment, education a wreck and housing markets imploding (disproportionatley affecting us) and we get a lecture about the importance of fathers. But where's the policy attention to our plethora of issues? My devotion and committment to him are genuine because yes, he's the first. But he's also a balanced progressive and a damn good man. Yes, too cautious, but we can't have it all. Afterall, America would've never voted for a "John Shaft" kind of brother. However, the office of the presidency is about setting policy and directing tax dollars to the issues and interests of your political platform (and PACS). It's about who you're giving your money to. Yeah, we know the wife has to get hers but we need some respect too. Problem is the wife (Middle Class to Wealthy America) wants it all and doesn't want to share. Enter all the taxcuts for the wealthy. And whenever this happens, it's always left to the husband/President to put his foot down and say what's what.
Problem is, we can't act like a political "side piece" in these political times. He could stand to stop acting so damn conciliatory and bipartisan and take care of the people who take care of him regardless to what pollsters might declare. The 2012 election is coming up and I know he needs to draw on his base support to ready for the fight but you have to take care of home too no matter who's watching. Black unemployment, education a wreck and housing markets imploding (disproportionatley affecting us) and we get a lecture about the importance of fathers. But where's the policy attention to our plethora of issues? My devotion and committment to him are genuine because yes, he's the first. But he's also a balanced progressive and a damn good man. Yes, too cautious, but we can't have it all. Afterall, America would've never voted for a "John Shaft" kind of brother. However, the office of the presidency is about setting policy and directing tax dollars to the issues and interests of your political platform (and PACS). It's about who you're giving your money to. Yeah, we know the wife has to get hers but we need some respect too. Problem is the wife (Middle Class to Wealthy America) wants it all and doesn't want to share. Enter all the taxcuts for the wealthy. And whenever this happens, it's always left to the husband/President to put his foot down and say what's what.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Reality TV and Black Imagery
It's been said already that reality television has a special place in it's heart for Black people. With all that positive imagery for our kids to feed on like Flavor of Love, Housewives of Atlanta, Hip Hop Love and Basketball Wives we should see a new generation of strong, intelligent and self-confident Black youth poised to take on this big competitive world.
But really, has anyone noticed that the stakes have gotten even higher lately. I mean VH1 has almost solely turned into the reality show network for black people to humiliate themselves for money. No matter how much they already have. I've heard that they're producing shows for the brother from Georgia, Antoine Dodson, who stopped intruders from raping his sister and the sassy ex-husband of actress Jackee, Elgin Charles, who's a famous Hollywood hairdresser. Say what you may, but VH1 keeps it colorful.
But then I see the Celebrity Apprentice comes out with a record cast of 5 black people that include: Dionne Warwick, Latoya Jackson, NeNe Leakes, Star Jones and Lil' John. This is a record cast because Trump's show really never casts more than one or two black celebrities, and they usually cast one or two crazies or jerks to add the spice and keep you watching. But this looks like a recipe for Black women to show out. Which is of course what they want. And then there's Lil John, the sole black man on the show. This negro has never been known to even articulate a coherent sentence. I know he'll just scream out "YEAHHHH!!!" at any inappropriate business moment.
Now to the Animal Planet of all networks. They're coming out with a show called "Taking on Tyson". I'm like, are they serious? How in the F**k does Mike Tyson end up on the Animal Planet. He is not an animal. Then he's making silly-ass music video parodies with Bobby Brown and Wayne Brady. Seems they waited long enough to re-invent their worst nightmare into a laughable figure with his appearance in "The Hangover" to this fiasco. Remember when they were seriously scared of Mike Tyson. Now he's Mr. Comedy. How sad.
I'm convinced reality tv is the popular tool to convince society, and black people themselves, that no matter how far Black people go or what you achieve, this society will never respect them. Of all the "Housewives" franchises, the Atlanta women aren't really rich. Most of them do OK by the other franchise standards, but most aren't well-off or even actual housewives. Then, on all the other black reality shows where the women are bonafide wealthy, they still act a damn fool. Perpetuating the idea that no matter how much they have, they're still undignified, unfocused and ignorant.
So what's a conscious, progressive black man or woman to do? Stop watching that dumb shit.
But really, has anyone noticed that the stakes have gotten even higher lately. I mean VH1 has almost solely turned into the reality show network for black people to humiliate themselves for money. No matter how much they already have. I've heard that they're producing shows for the brother from Georgia, Antoine Dodson, who stopped intruders from raping his sister and the sassy ex-husband of actress Jackee, Elgin Charles, who's a famous Hollywood hairdresser. Say what you may, but VH1 keeps it colorful.
But then I see the Celebrity Apprentice comes out with a record cast of 5 black people that include: Dionne Warwick, Latoya Jackson, NeNe Leakes, Star Jones and Lil' John. This is a record cast because Trump's show really never casts more than one or two black celebrities, and they usually cast one or two crazies or jerks to add the spice and keep you watching. But this looks like a recipe for Black women to show out. Which is of course what they want. And then there's Lil John, the sole black man on the show. This negro has never been known to even articulate a coherent sentence. I know he'll just scream out "YEAHHHH!!!" at any inappropriate business moment.
Now to the Animal Planet of all networks. They're coming out with a show called "Taking on Tyson". I'm like, are they serious? How in the F**k does Mike Tyson end up on the Animal Planet. He is not an animal. Then he's making silly-ass music video parodies with Bobby Brown and Wayne Brady. Seems they waited long enough to re-invent their worst nightmare into a laughable figure with his appearance in "The Hangover" to this fiasco. Remember when they were seriously scared of Mike Tyson. Now he's Mr. Comedy. How sad.
I'm convinced reality tv is the popular tool to convince society, and black people themselves, that no matter how far Black people go or what you achieve, this society will never respect them. Of all the "Housewives" franchises, the Atlanta women aren't really rich. Most of them do OK by the other franchise standards, but most aren't well-off or even actual housewives. Then, on all the other black reality shows where the women are bonafide wealthy, they still act a damn fool. Perpetuating the idea that no matter how much they have, they're still undignified, unfocused and ignorant.
So what's a conscious, progressive black man or woman to do? Stop watching that dumb shit.
Who The Hell Is George Galloway?
For those of us who remember Mr. Galloway and his testimony on the Iraqi War before the US Senate back in 2005 we already know how powerful a speaker, writer and activist he is. But for the rest of us, I'll state a little about what I know and why we need to listen carefully to this Brit.
Born in Scotland and former Member of Parliament for the Labour Party and the Respect Party, he is a fierce critic of US foreign policy, particulary in the Israeli-Palenstinian struggle over land rights. He is adept, unflinching and fierce with any opponent without falling back on ad-hominum attacks and comedy.
It feels like the left in this country is so damnnnn weak. I mean really weak. We allow Glen Beck and the rest on Fox and "mainstream" media to talk so much shit and set the agenda for politics in this nation. Not just in terms of media, but our elected Democrats don't do a strong job of setting shit straight and unifying with a clear strong message. I need to emphasize the word strong. Here, I'll highlight and italicize: STRONG. They (the left) let the right and the middle (really the right) take the healthcare debate hostage, and anyone who differed in opinion was "Un-American". Then across the pond is a liberal who's not afraid to give a strong voice to important political matters. Mr. Galloway has that British "in your face" political approach, but I like it and wish we had more of it in American politics. A quick, smart, aggressive politician with a clear opinion that doesn't waiver based on the polls is sorely needed on this side of the Atlantic.
Has anyone ever noticed that the stronger voices from the "left" that are on national television are from comedians, albeit smart people, but still comedians like Jeaneanne Garofalo, John Stewart and Bill Maher. So is anyone taking what they say seriously in a real political sense? What happens to their point when it's wrapped in witticisms and jokes. Now they are comedians so that's what they do. But my question is: why are their voices the loudest "left" voices in the public sphere?
But back to George. I practically wish we could clone him to step up the game here in the U.S. He's unapologetic and doesn't allow his detractors to flip shit and change the discussion. He asks questions of the questions and deconstructs our assumptions. His opinions and unwaivering support for Palestinians in their fight for land could probably never survive on a national level in the media in this country. He, afterall, calls out Islamophobia for what it really is, racism by another name. And as an outspoken critic of Israel's policies in The Gaza his views would run counter to our nation's foreign policy in this region, as our country is the largest benefactor of foreign aid to Israel. Which is more the reason that people need to hear what he has to say. Not necessarily agree or believe him, but just listen. In general, alternative views on the Mid-East aren't highly tolerated and tend to get shut down immediately. So who the hell is George Galloway? Someone we need to hear and form our own opinions about. But luckily he's on every Wednesday on WBAI in NYC from 9am to 10am. For anyone out of town you can stream live on http://www.wbai.org/ or check him out here in NYC at 99.5 FM.
Born in Scotland and former Member of Parliament for the Labour Party and the Respect Party, he is a fierce critic of US foreign policy, particulary in the Israeli-Palenstinian struggle over land rights. He is adept, unflinching and fierce with any opponent without falling back on ad-hominum attacks and comedy.
It feels like the left in this country is so damnnnn weak. I mean really weak. We allow Glen Beck and the rest on Fox and "mainstream" media to talk so much shit and set the agenda for politics in this nation. Not just in terms of media, but our elected Democrats don't do a strong job of setting shit straight and unifying with a clear strong message. I need to emphasize the word strong. Here, I'll highlight and italicize: STRONG. They (the left) let the right and the middle (really the right) take the healthcare debate hostage, and anyone who differed in opinion was "Un-American". Then across the pond is a liberal who's not afraid to give a strong voice to important political matters. Mr. Galloway has that British "in your face" political approach, but I like it and wish we had more of it in American politics. A quick, smart, aggressive politician with a clear opinion that doesn't waiver based on the polls is sorely needed on this side of the Atlantic.
Has anyone ever noticed that the stronger voices from the "left" that are on national television are from comedians, albeit smart people, but still comedians like Jeaneanne Garofalo, John Stewart and Bill Maher. So is anyone taking what they say seriously in a real political sense? What happens to their point when it's wrapped in witticisms and jokes. Now they are comedians so that's what they do. But my question is: why are their voices the loudest "left" voices in the public sphere?
But back to George. I practically wish we could clone him to step up the game here in the U.S. He's unapologetic and doesn't allow his detractors to flip shit and change the discussion. He asks questions of the questions and deconstructs our assumptions. His opinions and unwaivering support for Palestinians in their fight for land could probably never survive on a national level in the media in this country. He, afterall, calls out Islamophobia for what it really is, racism by another name. And as an outspoken critic of Israel's policies in The Gaza his views would run counter to our nation's foreign policy in this region, as our country is the largest benefactor of foreign aid to Israel. Which is more the reason that people need to hear what he has to say. Not necessarily agree or believe him, but just listen. In general, alternative views on the Mid-East aren't highly tolerated and tend to get shut down immediately. So who the hell is George Galloway? Someone we need to hear and form our own opinions about. But luckily he's on every Wednesday on WBAI in NYC from 9am to 10am. For anyone out of town you can stream live on http://www.wbai.org/ or check him out here in NYC at 99.5 FM.
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Browning of Black Men
Just a footnote to my last post: have some famous black men been bleaching their skin and its gone by unnoticed? I couldn't help but notice that Eddie Murphy looks significantly lighter than he did back in his Beverly Hills Cop days. I mean Rick James called him and his brother, Charlie "darkness" Murphy, the 2 blackest people in Hollywood back in the 80's. He looks brown to damn near light skin in recent magazine pictures.
Then Chris Rock looks substantially lighter today than back in the 80's. Remember him as "Pookie" in New Jack City and his cameo in "Coming to America". I mean he looks a hell of a lot lighter right about now. I hope this isn't a trend that will become the norm since it hasn't seemed to get any public questioning. We've been accustomed to the Jacksons and their love for hydroquinone and cosmetic surgery but that seemed to be a separate issue for a talented but strange bunch. And let's face it, they're really no longer relevant, at least entertainment wise. But the two aforementioned cats are still active entertainers whose image is still very public. It's pretty sad that while society has placed many brothers on a pedestal for their stong prominent "African" features, the "mandingo" thing, there are still many who have internalized white racism and want to genetically assimilate. Goes to prove that there are no substitutes for true authentic self-esteem regardless to what media winds blow about your God-given beauty. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong about Eddie and Chris but no matter what, money and fame don't protect black people from a weak self-concept and low self-image.
Then Chris Rock looks substantially lighter today than back in the 80's. Remember him as "Pookie" in New Jack City and his cameo in "Coming to America". I mean he looks a hell of a lot lighter right about now. I hope this isn't a trend that will become the norm since it hasn't seemed to get any public questioning. We've been accustomed to the Jacksons and their love for hydroquinone and cosmetic surgery but that seemed to be a separate issue for a talented but strange bunch. And let's face it, they're really no longer relevant, at least entertainment wise. But the two aforementioned cats are still active entertainers whose image is still very public. It's pretty sad that while society has placed many brothers on a pedestal for their stong prominent "African" features, the "mandingo" thing, there are still many who have internalized white racism and want to genetically assimilate. Goes to prove that there are no substitutes for true authentic self-esteem regardless to what media winds blow about your God-given beauty. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong about Eddie and Chris but no matter what, money and fame don't protect black people from a weak self-concept and low self-image.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Black Men and the Beauty Myth
We've all seen the pictures of a sickly looking Vybes Cartel and the new slick-haired Sammy Sosa making many a sister question, what is going on with our brothers? Because the eurocentric beauty standards have always applied more harshly to women in general (white women included) we never really looked at how or even if these white standards have affected our black men and their self-perception. It obviously affected who they've historically chosen as mates and held up as the standard of black beauty. Black women who have light skin, slender facial features and hair that is curly or wavy and generally long have tended to be more valued .
Many of us, self included, have memories of wanting Shirley Temple curls like Pecola Breedlove in the Bluest Eye or wearing our mother's half-slip or bath towel on our heads pretending to have shakeable hair like Marsha Brady. Or how many of us have picked scabs off our scalps cause the perm stayed in too long or gently smoothed vasline over our ear where our mother burned us with that hot comb in the kitchen on Saturday night so we'd look cute for church on Sunday morning. How many of us have paid $300 cash dollars to get a weave when our money could've been spent better elsewhere. So we all have stories, some shameful and painful, about our relationship with our hair. Our beauty is unique and often imitated the world over, but our history in North America is replete with Black women fighting to feel beautiful (sometimes at any cost) when our society deemed us ugly, dirty and low. Is it any wonder that Madame CJ Walker was the world's first self-made millionairess because she taught Black women how to straighten their hair and tend to our beauty needs.
But lately I've been more curious as to what has the beauty myth done to the minds of black men. Obviously women are not the only ones whose identity and self-image suffers because of the society's beauty standards. Our story about our natural beauty and the methods to enhance it have been talked about and analyzed more recently by Chris Rock and his documentary (or mockumentary) "Good Hair". But Chris himself had a Jherry Curl when he first became popular back in the 80's. Yes, he slept with a Jherry Curl bag on his head. And today I'm pretty sure that's a texturizer in his hair. That would be a "baby perm". So as he analyzed the culture and economy of Black women and their hair, he totally overlooked how black men have "lyed, fried and dyed" their own.
We've all seen the photos and know the stories of black men who had a "conk" before the afro took center stage in the 60's. Then came the "corporate 80's" and the need many blacks felt to assimilate saw the rise of the Jherry Curl. So I'm wondering if the visually-focused (music video and celebrity driven) society we're in has many of us turning against ourselves? The media is slowly widening the beauty standards for body types, i.e. Kim Kardashian and other non-black women imitating the black female form. But what about notions of beauty around facial features and hair texture? What has the affect of the long-hair flowing and pale skin images we're all inundated with had on our men. We know what it has had on the sisters because so many sisters on the street have a weave, and some just need to say no until they get some more money to get it hooked up. But I digress, so my question is: have brothers succomed to the look of the slick haired "pretty brother" with light skin that dominated the 1980's?
I have to admit I'm troubled by brothers with processed hair and of course skin bleaching is the craziest thing a beautiful rich-skinned black man or woman could do to themselves. I'm always proud and in awe of Esperanza Spaulding's wild mane and the full, fun cotton halo of Lela James. But do brothers ever regale in their own natural beauty that's not often celebrated in the media? Yeah their swagger is jacked and imitated by every "other" the world over, but what about their hair texture and broad features. Many of us have come across the brother with skin like smooth ebony wood who's still a little bitter today about the fact that sisters weren't checking for him in high school and felt he wasn't cute. He's still hurt 20 years later and yes, sometimes sadly, still taking it out on sisters. So yeah, we know that the beauty myth has hurt our men and many have internalized it and have the scars to prove it, but is the attack on our natural beauty becoming more strident today and affecting brothers differently than it did in the past?
But really at the end of the day it's ultimately our responsibility to accept and love ourselves without condition and living in a eurocentric nation doesn't help the people who aren't of European descent, but you still gotta love you. We have to find ways to celebrate our natural God-given, God-approved selves instead of worrying if we add up to another man's notion of what is beautiful. Yeah, easier said than done but it is just that uncomplicated a task.
Many of us, self included, have memories of wanting Shirley Temple curls like Pecola Breedlove in the Bluest Eye or wearing our mother's half-slip or bath towel on our heads pretending to have shakeable hair like Marsha Brady. Or how many of us have picked scabs off our scalps cause the perm stayed in too long or gently smoothed vasline over our ear where our mother burned us with that hot comb in the kitchen on Saturday night so we'd look cute for church on Sunday morning. How many of us have paid $300 cash dollars to get a weave when our money could've been spent better elsewhere. So we all have stories, some shameful and painful, about our relationship with our hair. Our beauty is unique and often imitated the world over, but our history in North America is replete with Black women fighting to feel beautiful (sometimes at any cost) when our society deemed us ugly, dirty and low. Is it any wonder that Madame CJ Walker was the world's first self-made millionairess because she taught Black women how to straighten their hair and tend to our beauty needs.
But lately I've been more curious as to what has the beauty myth done to the minds of black men. Obviously women are not the only ones whose identity and self-image suffers because of the society's beauty standards. Our story about our natural beauty and the methods to enhance it have been talked about and analyzed more recently by Chris Rock and his documentary (or mockumentary) "Good Hair". But Chris himself had a Jherry Curl when he first became popular back in the 80's. Yes, he slept with a Jherry Curl bag on his head. And today I'm pretty sure that's a texturizer in his hair. That would be a "baby perm". So as he analyzed the culture and economy of Black women and their hair, he totally overlooked how black men have "lyed, fried and dyed" their own.
We've all seen the photos and know the stories of black men who had a "conk" before the afro took center stage in the 60's. Then came the "corporate 80's" and the need many blacks felt to assimilate saw the rise of the Jherry Curl. So I'm wondering if the visually-focused (music video and celebrity driven) society we're in has many of us turning against ourselves? The media is slowly widening the beauty standards for body types, i.e. Kim Kardashian and other non-black women imitating the black female form. But what about notions of beauty around facial features and hair texture? What has the affect of the long-hair flowing and pale skin images we're all inundated with had on our men. We know what it has had on the sisters because so many sisters on the street have a weave, and some just need to say no until they get some more money to get it hooked up. But I digress, so my question is: have brothers succomed to the look of the slick haired "pretty brother" with light skin that dominated the 1980's?
I have to admit I'm troubled by brothers with processed hair and of course skin bleaching is the craziest thing a beautiful rich-skinned black man or woman could do to themselves. I'm always proud and in awe of Esperanza Spaulding's wild mane and the full, fun cotton halo of Lela James. But do brothers ever regale in their own natural beauty that's not often celebrated in the media? Yeah their swagger is jacked and imitated by every "other" the world over, but what about their hair texture and broad features. Many of us have come across the brother with skin like smooth ebony wood who's still a little bitter today about the fact that sisters weren't checking for him in high school and felt he wasn't cute. He's still hurt 20 years later and yes, sometimes sadly, still taking it out on sisters. So yeah, we know that the beauty myth has hurt our men and many have internalized it and have the scars to prove it, but is the attack on our natural beauty becoming more strident today and affecting brothers differently than it did in the past?
But really at the end of the day it's ultimately our responsibility to accept and love ourselves without condition and living in a eurocentric nation doesn't help the people who aren't of European descent, but you still gotta love you. We have to find ways to celebrate our natural God-given, God-approved selves instead of worrying if we add up to another man's notion of what is beautiful. Yeah, easier said than done but it is just that uncomplicated a task.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
What's New For You In 2011?
Today is the fifth day of the new year and I'm reflecting on my accomplishments and set backs in 2010 and all that I want to do in 2011 as I'm sure anyone reading this is doing as well. I hope my personal thoughts and this little share on the internet helps somebody or inspires anyone who may be wondering what has happened and what the hell do they do now. In 2010 I did make some progress with taking chances and getting out of the box. In 2010 I joined an organic urban farm, a theatre group, finally learned to play chess and started to make some career changes. And, oh yes, I created this blog. Most importantly I let go of a lot of residual emotions that were holding me back from getting to where I need to be. Letting go of these emotions was necessary for me to go forward but I also had to "reframe" my perspective of some things. For some things we can't change, we need to look at in a different way so we can find something to appreciate and learn and then move on.
Now for what's up in 2011, I'm gonna embrace the idea of being a risk taker. Funny, as time goes by we forget to take chances and I think learning to be a risk taker becomes crucial as we get older. A willingness to learn new things, taste different foods, experiment with a new hairstyle all keep us feeling fresh, flexible and open to change which we all know is inevitable in life. Can't say I'll be bunjy jumping or going on a wild African safari anytime soon, but I plan to incorporate small risks on a regular basis to build up my risk tolerance.
Now for the "let go's" in 2011: I'm proud to say I've continued on my path of releasing people from my life which is a hard process. Not just the toxic people we're happy to let go of but the close family and old friends that we share bonds with but have come to realize that maybe, at least not permanently, we need a temporary respite from the ones we love and cherish. It's also a good cleansing time emotionally, spiritually and physically. I plan to completely delete sugar from my diet and reduce white carbs, try a new exercise regimen because that too has gotten old and really try to stop cursing this year-that's so unlady like.
But most of all I want to be more patient and loving with myself. I can be very hard on myself for not "getting it" fast enough and moving quickly enough. But it's all good. We move when we're ready. I just have to remind myself that I can move or get moved by life, God or the universe, so taking action is mandatory. I don't know where it came from, but I'm really ready for the major changes and shifts that need to happen for me to have a more satisfying life. I guess maybe I'm ready because I realize "if not now, when?" or maybe it's the deaths and illnesses of family and friends lately or maybe my faith has grown to that really trusting place with God that I feel like I can fly now. I'm not sure what has me so ready to leap but I'm finally here and just glad to be here.
When you reach a certain age you realize that your time is not infinite and that our time here on earth is a gift. Everyday is a gift and it really is like the old folks say: "As long as you've got your health you can do anything". In 2011 I'm committed to not stressing over stupid things, and allowing people and situations to determine my happiness. I am really the author of my own life and all the contents within it. Now I can't control what happens to me all the time but I can control how I react to everything. That's something I'm still working on and hoping to master in 2011. We all give too much power away and that's energy we need to keep pushing those boulders up our own hills.
Now for what's up in 2011, I'm gonna embrace the idea of being a risk taker. Funny, as time goes by we forget to take chances and I think learning to be a risk taker becomes crucial as we get older. A willingness to learn new things, taste different foods, experiment with a new hairstyle all keep us feeling fresh, flexible and open to change which we all know is inevitable in life. Can't say I'll be bunjy jumping or going on a wild African safari anytime soon, but I plan to incorporate small risks on a regular basis to build up my risk tolerance.
Now for the "let go's" in 2011: I'm proud to say I've continued on my path of releasing people from my life which is a hard process. Not just the toxic people we're happy to let go of but the close family and old friends that we share bonds with but have come to realize that maybe, at least not permanently, we need a temporary respite from the ones we love and cherish. It's also a good cleansing time emotionally, spiritually and physically. I plan to completely delete sugar from my diet and reduce white carbs, try a new exercise regimen because that too has gotten old and really try to stop cursing this year-that's so unlady like.
But most of all I want to be more patient and loving with myself. I can be very hard on myself for not "getting it" fast enough and moving quickly enough. But it's all good. We move when we're ready. I just have to remind myself that I can move or get moved by life, God or the universe, so taking action is mandatory. I don't know where it came from, but I'm really ready for the major changes and shifts that need to happen for me to have a more satisfying life. I guess maybe I'm ready because I realize "if not now, when?" or maybe it's the deaths and illnesses of family and friends lately or maybe my faith has grown to that really trusting place with God that I feel like I can fly now. I'm not sure what has me so ready to leap but I'm finally here and just glad to be here.
When you reach a certain age you realize that your time is not infinite and that our time here on earth is a gift. Everyday is a gift and it really is like the old folks say: "As long as you've got your health you can do anything". In 2011 I'm committed to not stressing over stupid things, and allowing people and situations to determine my happiness. I am really the author of my own life and all the contents within it. Now I can't control what happens to me all the time but I can control how I react to everything. That's something I'm still working on and hoping to master in 2011. We all give too much power away and that's energy we need to keep pushing those boulders up our own hills.
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