Monday, May 14, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
Commentary on Barack Obama and Racism
A COMMENTARY ON OBAMA AND RACE
Obama's protection reveals ugly 'secret'
Leonard Pitts, a syndicated columnist in Washington:
McClatchy-Tribune NewspapersPublished May 8, 2007
Not Rudy Giuliani, who is a supporter of abortion rights.
Not Tom Tancredo, who is a hard-liner on immigration.
Not John Edwards, who is a critic of the war in Iraq.
Only Barack Obama, who is black.
No other presidential candidate, no matter his or her polarizing positions, has felt it necessary to seek protection from the Secret Service. But last week we learned that Obama has sought and will receive that protection, the only candidate ever to do so this early in the process. Only one other candidate even has a Secret Service detail: Hillary Rodham Clinton. And that's because she's a former first lady.You know who else required early protection? Jesse Jackson, when he ran for president in 1984 and '88.Neither Obama's campaign nor the Secret Service will comment on precisely what went into the decision to assign a detail to the senator, beyond saying it was based on no specific threat. But one need not be a seer to divine the reason. Put it this way: The darker the candidate's skin and the more serious his candidacy, the earlier he seems to need protecting.All of which adds a telling dimension to the ongoing debate about Obama and blackness that has percolated for months beneath the surface of his candidacy.On the one side, you have earnest white people insisting that, because his mother was white, Obama is not really black, but "biracial."On the other side, you have earnest black people insisting that, because his heritage does not trace to slavery, Obama is not really black enough -- that is, not black in a cultural sense.Apparently, however, he is both black and black enough for whatever individual or individuals unnerved his handlers enough to seek Secret Service protection.That's a truth that cuts the clutter.In a sense, the fact that we have the luxury of debating "what" Obama is testifies to the racial progress this nation has made.
Once upon a time, nobody had to debate. Back before Colin and Cosby and Condoleezza, before Air Jordan took wing and Johnson made Magic, before Oprah was America's favorite sister girl and Martin spoke of dreams, back when a Southern restaurant caused an international incident by refusing service to an African diplomat -- back in the day, there was no need of abstract rhetoric on what black is.You knew. The world made sure of it.If we have moved beyond that day, if we are proud to think ourselves more enlightened now, it is nevertheless naive to believe the naked meanness of that day has wholly disappeared.It is fashionable now to speak of systemic racism and the need for black folk to take a greater hand in their own salvation. Those discussions are valid. But it is also occasionally instructive to remember that old-fashioned mean-as-a-snake, thick-as-a-brick hatred is still alive and well and living in the U.S.A.
Sometimes, it lolls in the shade of the intellectual cover provided it by the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
Sometimes, it is dressed in suit and tie and sounds reasonable when told by the likes of David Duke.
Sometimes, it is sung in wobbly adolescent voices by the likes of Prussian Blue.
And sometimes, it just rears up on its hind legs and brays that it will commit violence rather than accept a black man as its president.
We like to pretend this bile is not still in us. We like to pretend we are beyond it. Then the man who could be our next president must ask to be protected from those who think him too dark for the job. Something to remember next time you are tempted to debate what black is. The world still has ways of making you know.
And people have a nerve to say that we're colorblind. Colorblind my foot! Racialism is alive and well and it's not going away as long as bigots in high places promote, reproduce, and tolerate antiblack racism as a means to maintain the status quo.
Obama's protection reveals ugly 'secret'
Leonard Pitts, a syndicated columnist in Washington:
McClatchy-Tribune NewspapersPublished May 8, 2007
Not Rudy Giuliani, who is a supporter of abortion rights.
Not Tom Tancredo, who is a hard-liner on immigration.
Not John Edwards, who is a critic of the war in Iraq.
Only Barack Obama, who is black.
No other presidential candidate, no matter his or her polarizing positions, has felt it necessary to seek protection from the Secret Service. But last week we learned that Obama has sought and will receive that protection, the only candidate ever to do so this early in the process. Only one other candidate even has a Secret Service detail: Hillary Rodham Clinton. And that's because she's a former first lady.You know who else required early protection? Jesse Jackson, when he ran for president in 1984 and '88.Neither Obama's campaign nor the Secret Service will comment on precisely what went into the decision to assign a detail to the senator, beyond saying it was based on no specific threat. But one need not be a seer to divine the reason. Put it this way: The darker the candidate's skin and the more serious his candidacy, the earlier he seems to need protecting.All of which adds a telling dimension to the ongoing debate about Obama and blackness that has percolated for months beneath the surface of his candidacy.On the one side, you have earnest white people insisting that, because his mother was white, Obama is not really black, but "biracial."On the other side, you have earnest black people insisting that, because his heritage does not trace to slavery, Obama is not really black enough -- that is, not black in a cultural sense.Apparently, however, he is both black and black enough for whatever individual or individuals unnerved his handlers enough to seek Secret Service protection.That's a truth that cuts the clutter.In a sense, the fact that we have the luxury of debating "what" Obama is testifies to the racial progress this nation has made.
Once upon a time, nobody had to debate. Back before Colin and Cosby and Condoleezza, before Air Jordan took wing and Johnson made Magic, before Oprah was America's favorite sister girl and Martin spoke of dreams, back when a Southern restaurant caused an international incident by refusing service to an African diplomat -- back in the day, there was no need of abstract rhetoric on what black is.You knew. The world made sure of it.If we have moved beyond that day, if we are proud to think ourselves more enlightened now, it is nevertheless naive to believe the naked meanness of that day has wholly disappeared.It is fashionable now to speak of systemic racism and the need for black folk to take a greater hand in their own salvation. Those discussions are valid. But it is also occasionally instructive to remember that old-fashioned mean-as-a-snake, thick-as-a-brick hatred is still alive and well and living in the U.S.A.
Sometimes, it lolls in the shade of the intellectual cover provided it by the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
Sometimes, it is dressed in suit and tie and sounds reasonable when told by the likes of David Duke.
Sometimes, it is sung in wobbly adolescent voices by the likes of Prussian Blue.
And sometimes, it just rears up on its hind legs and brays that it will commit violence rather than accept a black man as its president.
We like to pretend this bile is not still in us. We like to pretend we are beyond it. Then the man who could be our next president must ask to be protected from those who think him too dark for the job. Something to remember next time you are tempted to debate what black is. The world still has ways of making you know.
And people have a nerve to say that we're colorblind. Colorblind my foot! Racialism is alive and well and it's not going away as long as bigots in high places promote, reproduce, and tolerate antiblack racism as a means to maintain the status quo.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
News for 5-10-2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
"The Apotheosis of Shawna" (2007)
I made the sketch over a two-week period. Isn't she lovely? What say you?
Friday, April 27, 2007
News for 4-27-2007
Here's a very disturbing report on the plight of Native American women. The Native American women are far more likely to be assaulted than other women. It's due to lack of police and tribal funding as well as lack of societal concern for such women and girls. Here's the link below:
Native American Women Face Higher Rape Rate
Policewomen in NYC are suing NYPD seargent for making insensitive racist/sexist remarks. Click here for story.
Imus producer upbraided Al Sharpton. Click here. Can't the producer accept critcism for once!
Native American Women Face Higher Rape Rate
Policewomen in NYC are suing NYPD seargent for making insensitive racist/sexist remarks. Click here for story.
Imus producer upbraided Al Sharpton. Click here. Can't the producer accept critcism for once!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Black and beautiful: African-American women haven't had an easy time in the fashion world
Related article:
Are black men dressed as women just a drag? By LaMont Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It's sad and it's wrong for Black women to be shortchanged in this manner by the Black community and society at large. If you don't like what I'm saying in connection to the plight of Black women in America, that's too bad because it's the truth and truth hurts.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
More on the Virginia Tech Shooting
Students held a vigil for the victims of thehorrendous massacre at VT on Monday
Window Photo of the professor shot at VT on MondayHere are several newslinks to the Virginia Tech shooting. This is the most senseless shooting in recent times. It could have been prevented by warning the students and faculty in advance after receving threats from the student there. Again, here are the links below:
May God watch us all and the family members of the victims and may the victims rest in peace, amen.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Tragedy in Virginia
Today, a gunman went to Virginia Tech, killing 33 people.
BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history Monday, cutting down his victims in two attacks two hours apart before the university could grasp what was happening and get the warning out to students.
This is the worst college shooting in U.S. history. Here are the links to this horrible tragedy:
Senseless Shooting in Virginia by Ann
News coverage of the shooting from ABC News
More coverage at Yahoo.com
BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history Monday, cutting down his victims in two attacks two hours apart before the university could grasp what was happening and get the warning out to students.
This is the worst college shooting in U.S. history. Here are the links to this horrible tragedy:
Senseless Shooting in Virginia by Ann
News coverage of the shooting from ABC News
More coverage at Yahoo.com
Another Detestable Video
Here's another example of the hateful spiel:
"I Detest Black Women"
Imus isn't the only person in the world saying such things. There are millions of foot soldiers who thought the same thing as Mr. Imus.
What say you?
"I Detest Black Women"
Imus isn't the only person in the world saying such things. There are millions of foot soldiers who thought the same thing as Mr. Imus.
What say you?
Monday, April 09, 2007
Don Imus Hateful Remarks
Right-wing talk show host Don Imus is embarrassed by his own racist/sexist remarks on the Rutgers Basketball team. Here's the story. However, his apology came too insufficent and not sincere in my opinion. Last week, he compared Rutgers team to the Tennessee Team and called Rutgers team in racially charged terms. He felt free to say such things because he has no respect for people different from himself.
Rev. Al Sharpton and the organization of Black Journalists are still calling for his resignation. After all, Mr. Imus has a track record of bashing Blacks and women on his radio/TV show. It's time for him to retire.
USA Today article on Imus
Critics Demand Imus to Be Fired
Blogger Ann has a well-written editorial on the Imus and societal stereotyping of Black women in America. Mr. Imus is part of the problem. He's in the long line of nonblacks who say or write hateful sterotypes and who insult Black women and got away with it because of racialized sexism that deems Black women as the least worthy of all Americans. People like Steve Sailer, Eminem, Rod Dreher who wrote a mean-spirited article on Aaliyah, Rush Limbaugh, David Yeagley, rappers, Hollywood, Madison Avenue, politicians in general who use race as a way to consolidate white supremacy, VDARE, George Will, the whole media conglomorate, Howard Stern, among many others.
It's high time to hold the organizations and people accountable for the racist/sexist devaluation of Black women.
Rev. Al Sharpton and the organization of Black Journalists are still calling for his resignation. After all, Mr. Imus has a track record of bashing Blacks and women on his radio/TV show. It's time for him to retire.
USA Today article on Imus
Critics Demand Imus to Be Fired
Blogger Ann has a well-written editorial on the Imus and societal stereotyping of Black women in America. Mr. Imus is part of the problem. He's in the long line of nonblacks who say or write hateful sterotypes and who insult Black women and got away with it because of racialized sexism that deems Black women as the least worthy of all Americans. People like Steve Sailer, Eminem, Rod Dreher who wrote a mean-spirited article on Aaliyah, Rush Limbaugh, David Yeagley, rappers, Hollywood, Madison Avenue, politicians in general who use race as a way to consolidate white supremacy, VDARE, George Will, the whole media conglomorate, Howard Stern, among many others.
It's high time to hold the organizations and people accountable for the racist/sexist devaluation of Black women.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Shaquanda is Freed!
From Rachel's Tavern: Shaquanda Cotton Released
Also, from Ann's website: Shaquandra is Freed!
A shout-out to Sharon Cullurs for keepin her plight in the forefront.
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