OK, so yeah, I see you giving me the laser-beam side-eye right about now after reading that title. But follow me on this one and hopefully you'll understand. You see, this week DeNeen L. Brown, Washington Post staff writer delivered another tired and retreaded piece on the state of single black womanhood in America. The piece was titled: Single black women being urged to date outside the race. At the rate they're going with this crap I won't be surprised if a game show will soon premiere on national television called "Who Wants to Marry a Black Woman". They might as well because articles like these seem to pop up every other day. Next thing you know, Barack Obama is gonna be under pressure to do something about this national epidemic of suicidal lonely black women. Yeah Barack, single black women need a "stimulus package", bruh.
My man AverageBro suggested to me the other day, that there may be a correlation between the sudden popularity and frequency of these stories, and Michelle Obama being the first black first lady. And you know what? Now that I've thought about it, he might be right. Not saying that these articles never existed before the Obama's moved into the White House. But it would appear that ever since they have, you'd be hard pressed to miss these featured articles on the plight of the black woman; yep, especially now that black is the new black. Personally, I see it as a direct attack and further emasculation of the black man, but that's just me. So yeah, maybe my man AverageBro is correct; maybe with Michelle Obama's prominence, this is just "the man's" way of reminding sisters that they'll never be as lucky?
I'm currently in the market for a new car. Actually, I've been doing research online - something I've never done before - for about the last six months. This last week has been hectic as me and Mrs. RiPPa have been running around the city test driving cars. With all the negative talk surrounding Toyota, and having listened to testimony by consumers on Capitol Hill. Let's just say that when I encounter Toyota products at dealerships, I treat them like a possible HIV/AIDS infested stripper working the pole at any local shake joint. I'm just sayin', you can't trust a big butt and a smile anymore these days; and, for right now the truth is, Toyota is that bitch.
Which is ironic because I could remember when "The Big Three" had to come crawling to DC to be bailed out by the government. The so informed court of public opinion gave them hell for making shitty gas guzzling cars, and pissed on their graves in Detroit. And they did this all the while suggesting that it served them right because they should have gotten with the times like Toyota and other foreign auto manufacturers. If only we knew that Toyota's profit margin was more important than the 34 deaths they're accountable for in America.
But like Jay-Z said, "It was allgood a week ago," when people were screaming, "Buy American." Hopefully all of this doesn't lead to a return to any conflict between the USA and Japan. Especially since we import everything we consume from those cats and their Chinese cousins. The last thing we need, is to import "stuff" other than baby cribs with lead.
I'm not gonna talk about yesterday's Health Care Summit or whether Barack pulled out another ownage of Republicans. I mean what does it matter when the Public Option is off the table, and subsequently any form of competition in the insurance industry to help control cost. Frankly speaking, and I'm speaking as both a supporter of Barack Obama and reform. Accepting the White House's version of the bill in its form without a Public Option because it's better than nothing. Is pretty much like a women rationalizing that her abusive spouse beats her ass out of love...
Dammit, I wasn't supposed to talk heath care on this one, but I digest.
But anyway, remember the guy pictured above? James T. Harris, remember him? It's been almost 2yrs since I've had anything to say about him and his kneecap licking ass. But he popped up on my radar and I guess it's all because somebody looked into a mirror and chanted "Coonwithjuice" three times . You may not remember him but he was the Negro who got on his knees at one of John McCain's campaign stops and begged for him to take it to Obama in the debate. Remember him now? He's also one of the few Negroes in attendance at Tea Party rallies across the country who is allowed to dance the jigspeak.
Speaking of McCain, I bet he wished his arms hadn't been shortened as a result of being a POW so he could slap the shit out of Obama when Barry-O reminded him that "The campaign is over," at the Summit yesterday. Dammit, I wasn't supposed to talk about the Health Care Summit, but I digestive tract....
So anyway, perennial slave-catcher James T. Harris was on Fox & Friends a couple of days ago and had this to say about Barack Obama, Harry Reid, the jobs bill, health care, and domestic abuse:
Yep, Obama is to blame for the rise in unemployment and the subsequent rise in ass-whoopins women are taking in this country. Uh-huh, and it's also his fault that the Killer Whale at Sea World decided to run up in that woman's living room and "attack" her unsuspectingly as he did. These Mis-guided Negroes, I tell ya.
Yeah, I know it's hard to believe; especially since all the pics of her reinforces that angry black woman stereotype. Judging from the picture above, either she took her work seriously, or had some pent up sexual frustrations. I mean who has time to think about sex when trying to help others escape the clutches of slavery, right? Surely even the female version of Moses, Harriett Tubman, had her urges, right? Yep, and how come nobody ever mentions her husband John Tubman, and where was he when she was out helping slaves?
No but seriously, could you imagine gettin' your freak on on the Underground Railroad back in the day? Obviously it's hard to conceive wrapping it up, or protecting yourself from HIV/AIDS when being chased by bloodhounds and slave catchers when you're fresh off of gettin' your ass beat for dozing off while picking cotton. Just the thought alone could serve well as a potential Viagra commercial. But then again, now that I think of it, maybe that's why we have so many babies and unprotected sex as we do today.
I have seen so much fuckery on YouTube this week, that I'm starting to get a headache. Matter of fact, I've already bought tickets on Virgin Galactic, only I don't think we're coming back.
This Oakland AC Bus fight story just won't die! And I swear, the story just gets funnier and funnier. Now, "Kung Fu Joe" decides to give his version of the event. In what's probably the best post fight interview in history, I present to you, Michael; the brother who was left "leaking" when it was over:
OK, first of all, I'm not gonna believe that this cat is 50yrs old. Sorry pal, but lying and making yourself older than you actually are doesn't diminish the fact that you got your ass whooped. What, I'm 'posed to give you a pass because you're an old nigga and your Eddie Gordo skills may have diminished? Shit, the dude that whooped your ass was 67yrs old! Sorry Bruce LeRoy, but I'm not falling for the banana in the tailpipe buddy. Besides, if you really are 50yrs old you deserve a beatdown just for wearing braids and that tired ass flannel.
Oh yeah, and what the fuck is up with him going all "Theo Huxtable" with his diplomatic tone and apologies? Um, how you gonna come off all "job interview" and tell people that's not how you normally behave as seen in the video? But in the same breath, you blame gettin' your ass stomped on, by being drunk. Yeah, try that "I was drunk," excuse when your ass is in child support court and see if that's acceptable. Oh yeah, and fuck your brother being a veteran; and your apology to all veterans. I'm just sayin' they're all laughing at you anyway.
At this point I give a pass to Epic Beard Man's embellishment of the story; he's crazy, and I expect that from him. Besides, he won the fight, and so what he stretches the truth just a tad to score some booty. But as for this dude Michael? To me, he's just another punk who jumped up to get beatdown. And I'm sorry, but if he was my boy I'd still be laughing at his ass for being pwned as you carried the entire race on your back.
I just caught this recording of a conversation on Al Sharpton's radio program. I thought it was interesting exchange. I've actually listened to what Tavis Smiley said in his commentary on the Tom Joyner Morning Show as he did this morning. However, if what Tavis is saying is true, then I think Sharpton pretty much felt some type of way and came at him sideways as he did on the air in his defense. But from what Tavis said, and yes he did provide direct Sharpton quotes from the New York Times of what Sharpton said upon leaving the meeting at the White House. Sharpton obviously felt the need to take it in another direction, well, to make Tavis look the part of the opportunist. You know, something most people claim Sharpton to be?
When I first saw this video below at Crunk and Disorderly, I literally watched the whole damned thing through because it is hard to fathom someone playing themselves openly and boldly on camera for thousands of people to see. When I first spotted it, it only had 119 views. It now has over 4,000 as of this time and climbing. How could it not? This is like the circus coming to town. You know who the ringleader is?
Nicki Minaj and all that Harajuku Barbie shit she talks about has taken another one. If you don't believe in zombies, I highly encourage you to get a load of Nicki Minaj stans. They are worse than Beyonce stans. At least Bey stans have tangible reasons for being rabid fans. Nicki Minaj fans, not so much.
Nicki Minaj has turned a legion of black women, both young and old, into babbling, fake British accent using, gregarious weave wearing, teenage mutant Barbie wannabes. The above basket case in the video is probably one of the worst cases of Nicki Minajitis I have ever seen in my life. And it won't get better. The chick has steadily built up more PR about her, so she's generating more rabid, and devout, fans every day. I almost feel like it's Armageddon.
I know this is a societal problem, but I'm more concerned that black women are on their "white girl" because someone with what could be classified as identity issues (Nicki Minaj refers to herself as the Nicki Lewinsky, black Sarah Jessica Parker and black Hannah Montana) is making them believe it's cool. Everything about the video screams narcissism and delusion, but what's seriously disturbing is this disdain for anything perceived to be black, and the desire to sound like a ditzy white girl. And people wondered why I railed against the So In Style Barbie line Mattel unveiled.
I guess sounding like an intelligent black woman is a complete fail, when sounding like a ditzy, bougie white girl is apparently where it's at. And this is the appeal that Nicki Minaj has for her rapidly growing, and pathetically vapid, fanbase. She is Lady Gaga-esque in that she makes the absurd and moronic look totally legitimate and sensible. At least we all know that Lady Gaga is a hybrid of many cool artists, most notably Grace Jones (who did it better) and even Kelis. Who is Nicki trying to emulate? What are her influences aside from colorism? Nicki Minaj peddles the "White Valley Girl" steez to her fans like she is selling snake oil to pay rent.
What's disconcerting is that far too many black women have fallen for it. Another aspect of her appeal is this perceived femininity, but that femininity isn't natural. It's drawn from age old notions that white women, and all of their quirks, action, style, etc. are feminine, so therefore emulating those stereotypes (some of the worst ones) will therefore make one feel feminine. This is problematic because that, in and of itself, stipulates that black women and their quirks, their actions, styles, etc. are not feminine.
What would've been a plus--her being irreverent and quirky and different--turned into a negative when she associated that with "whiteness." The message equates being different with being white. But if you ask Grace Jones, being different and "odd" had little to do with race; it just happens naturally.
I'm not begging her to talk about toting guns, or gangbanging or baby daddies or riding or dying; all the things that people would assume a black woman would rap about. I'm just asking if the REAL Nicki can please stand up and reveal herself, because this shit right here about being a "ditzy white girl" with a fucked up British accent is sad.
Why do black women latch on to some of the worst "role models?" Why do we as a collective praise the Natalie Nunns, Nickis; you know, all the Sapphires and Jezebels of pop culture, and completely disregard the queens? Where are those who want to emulate Corrine Bailey Rae, or India.Arie, or Ayo, or Sade, Jill Scott? Why do black women run to the women who peddle self-hate and envy of others? When will we learn to embrace people who embrace US?
P.S. Before anyone gets on this whole "you envy her" thing like they did in the Beyonce post, please understand that whether or not you choose to see it, it is clear when sisters have fallen for the "trap." This is not about being "blacker than" or anything like it. I just want to know why Nicki has made it clear that she equates coquettishness and the atypical with "whiteness."
[Editor's Note: Do checkout this following post from my man Brown Man from the blog Brown Man Thinking Hard. Be sure to pay attention and follow through with action upon reading it]
I've got a million other things to do today, but I went to bed angry and I woke up mad about the lack of an outpouring of heartfelt compassion for dead IRS employee Vernon Hunter. Actually, "angry" isn't the right word. I'm upset. I'm incensed. I am in a foul mood. To put a finer point on it, I am in a "put a match to gasoline soaked cracker-assed crackers who dare to utter one word of praise for Joe Stack" kind of mood today about the lack of press coverage of Vernon Hunter, or any real information on his life, or any concerted effort by any media to talk to his family members.
It wasn't until I went to my hometown this weekend in South Carolina that I realized Mr. Hunter was from the very same place. I have been stewing ever since. I wrote an article about it at Big Think.com, where I do my thing on my own media platform of sorts on my blog "Resurgence". It wasn't enough. It wasn't until I read jimstaro's diary "Son Speaks Out" this morning that my fingers started getting itchy and my head started to throb. It wasn't until I thought about all the bullshit we waste time cauterwauling over that I knew what I had to do.
So by now I'm sure everyone has seen the infamous Oakland bus beatdown caught on tape recently. I ran this story several days ago, and I've probably watched the video at least 50 times. I've watched it over and over because, well, there's something funny about seeing a 67yr old white guy who looks like "Papa Smurf" catch wreck at the expense of the reputation of of a young brotha on a bus! And doing it so well so as to produce the line of the week, "Bring the Ambalamps." Well, the Heavy Weight Bus Boxing Champion of the World has been identified as Thomas Bruso, and he has a lot to say:
So obviously recently I thought it was ridiculous that Lil Wayne's jail sentence was delayed because he had to get his teeth fixed. Yeah, I couldn't believe a judge took that into consideration and gave this fool an extension so he can run around and impregnate an entire state as he is known to do to go to the dentist before serving a 1yr prison sentence. But then I read the following story and figured it made sense since obviously "Them boys from the south got them golds in they mouth," as notable poet and thespian Master P once eloquently stated:
So the last time I touched on the hypocrisy that is Sarah Palin, certain people got offended that I referrenced her vagina, and used the word retarded. I think from what I was told that the politically correct term for the retarded is Neurologically Atypical? Oh yeah I was also told that the term Mentally Challenged was offensive as well. Which is funny because, well, in the following interview with Bill O'Reilly, I didn't hear the term Neurologically Atypical tossed around. Instead, I heard a bumbling idiot pimping her kids as she has always done since being thrust into the spotlight back in September of 2008. I don't know of you've heard of all the talk surrounding the 'Family Guy' episode, but check out what she had to say:
You know what I like to do to celebrate Black History Month? I like to read about influential Black leaders and put on my gold teeth, tack on a tacky weave (No Britney Spears) and enjoy some malt liquor and fried chicken at a good old Compton Cook Out. Oh, YOU ain't know?
Officials at UC San Diego are condemning a ghetto-themed party organized by fraternity students to mock Black History Month.
So lemme get this straight; a white male angry at the government flies a plane into a government building in Houston, and it is not considered an act of terrorism? What, terrorism or terroristic acts are only considered as such if the perpetrator is black or if his name sounds like you're hacking up a lung? Is that right? Is that how it is? So when it's a white guy, he's just considered to be having a bad day, right? Yep, he was "Falling Down". Hopefully the next time I have a bad day and I get a speeding ticket, my Willy T. Ribbs impersonation isn't seen as a personal Jihad or an attack on America.
Of course Joseph Stack didn't just have a bad day. Not when right-wing nutjobs start a Facebook group in your honor and you're heralded as a hero, and a true patriot. You know, sorta the same way abortion doctor murderer, Scott Roeder, was recognized last year? Sure Stack wasn't a terrorist or an extremist; he was an "activist". Yep, to be a terrorist you have to first be of another ethnicity and be proficient in wielding box cutters, and throwing rocks.
After reading about the bus beatdown Rippa posted about earlier (Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with public transportation these days? Obama, come handle this! We need cash for clunkers to get these crazies in cars ASAP), I just had to add my two cents about a now infamous beatdown, by way of Seattle (so ashamed).
In case you didn't know, most of the country was captivated by the attack on 15 year old Aiesha Steward-Baker in the underground bus tunnel in Seattle. Most people were shocked, as was I, that this "poor" girl was attacked from behind, beaten, and stomped down to the ground a la Rodney King, all while security guards and bystanders watched. To make matters worse, she was robbed by a gang of people and left on the ground. I felt bad for her, and I wanted nothing more than for the little assholes who beat her ass to be put UNDER the jail. Well, apparently good ol' Aiesha had it coming in a BIG way; check it:
Tami Cox, of Shoreline, says she was disturbed when she saw the now-infamous videotape of 15-year-old Aiesha Steward-Baker being kicked, punched and robbed in Seattle's bus tunnel.
Cox was herself the victim of an assault and robbery on May 23, when she was attacked on an Edmonds street by two girls.
One of the girls arrested and charged in the assault was Steward-Baker.
"The video of the [transit tunnel] beating is awful, but once I saw her on 'Good Morning America' it made me sick to think that she has the nerve to play the victim when a few months back she was doing that to somebody else, and that somebody else was me," said Cox, 50, an accountant at a law office.
Cox said she was walking home from an Edmonds pub shortly after midnight on May 23 when two "nicely dressed and polite girls" stopped and asked her for the time. When Cox pulled out her cellphone to check, the girls jumped her. One put Cox in a head lock and yanked at her hair while the second girl punched her in the face and chest and grabbed her purse.
Cox identified the girls who attacked her. She also spotted her purse, which was sitting on the hood of a squad car.
While Cox wasn't hospitalized, she said that the fight left her with a sore neck, a bruised lip and chest and clumps of missing hair.
According to charging papers, Steward-Baker told police that she struck Cox, stole her purse and then dumped the bag in some shrubs.
It gets better! She also attacked a security guard by punching him in the head at Saar's Market Place when he stopped her friend for shoplifting. Gotta love it! But wait! It gets better!
Steward-Baker's public defender, Frederic Moll, said Wednesday that the girl plans to plead guilty to second-degree robbery Monday. However, he plans to seek a significantly reduced sentence because the teen suffers from an "abnormal" heart condition that can result in her death if she's under too much stress or becomes short of breath, according to plea paperwork. (Source)
Hmmm... If her heart condition is such a concern, then why wasn't she worried about that when she ran from Cox and attacked the security guard? Matter of fact, she seems fine after that ass whoopin' she so richly deserved took in the transit tunnel! Yes, Aiesha. That thing that happened to you? It's called karma and it can be a bitch sometimes. You brutalized an innocent woman who graciously offered to help. You attacked a man for doing his job. Why should we take pity on you?
I don't feel pity for her because she deserved it. She robbed, so she was robbed. She attacked people, so she was attacked. I personally want to congratulate the two officers who let her get her just desserts because she was overdrawn in her karma bank account. The people who beat her should go with her to jail... Matter of fact, just go ahead and establish a penal colony for little shits (and their derelict parents) and leave them there. At no point, did she ever take the mature route and say, "You know what? Save your pity. I am NOT a victim."
And that's what pisses me off the most is that she will make it harder for women, particularly black women and girls when they've been attacked for no good reason at all. She even has a lawyer from the NAACP, but we all know they are pretty worthless. From now on, when she comes on my television, I'm turning the channel. I don't care about her fake victimhood, nor do I care about what happens to her after they start roasting her for her insincerity and lack of responsibility. At least not until she grows the hell up and becomes a productive and valuable part of her community and the world.
There are plenty of people who deserve the care and attention this little monster is sucking up like a leech. Had her mama been disciplining that behind from jump, some kids wouldn't have had to put on her in the first place; What goes around comes around. Treat others the way you would want to be treated, Aiesha. The next time, you won't be so lucky. Someone might be waiting for you with a gun or a knife and you will no longer be at liberty to take out your self-hatred on others.
I pride myself as being astute when it comes to the art and skill of communication; be it verbal or written, I'm pretty good. Unfortunately, not everyone can be as skillful as I. One only has to look at some of the exchanges in the comment section of this blog to understand what I mean. So, allow me to demonstrate via the San Francisco AC Transit a much needed ghetto PSA directed at trolls and the allegedly intelligent alike:
Failure to take heed could result in requesting an "amba'lampse"... while your blood spews everywhere as people laugh at you. Just because we have bigger penis' doesn't mean that you can throw on cornrows, look thug-like, and go around smacking 67yr old white men. For all we know that white man still has flashbacks about Vietnam every-night. It's too bad that Sho'nuff didn't notice the words on the back of the old dudes shirt which read...
By the way, just in case you're a Tea Party aficionado. Let it be known that this is so not the way to go around "taking the country back." Don't let this one brother fool you into thinking that you guys can go Bufford "Walking Tall" Pusser if you feel like it and win. Stick to the internet with that; not in the streets.
Several years ago, I could remember watching The Chris Rock Show on HBO where he interviewed legendary boxing promoter Don King. The one line that has always stuck with me from that interview was when Don said, "The problem with black people is that they're too busy worrying about what's in another niggas pockets." I found that to be very profound then, and even more so today in light of a recently published article in the New York Times, about the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) titled In Black Caucus, a Fund-Raising Powerhouse.
Now just by the title alone one would think this was an article singing praises of this institution. But upon reading it, it's quite obvious that that assumption couldn't be further from the truth. The piece all but made the CBC out to be a bunch of Negro crooks who robbed Fort Knox of all of its gold. At least that's what I thought of it, and sadly a few of my melanin afflicted cousins agree, or are of that very same opinion. I guess the caveat of the impending black rage came from this information in the New York Times piece:
In 2008, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation spent more on the caterer for its signature legislative dinner and conference — nearly $700,000 for an event one organizer called “Hollywood on the Potomac” — than it gave out in scholarships, federal tax records show.
Yep, I've been hearing the talk about the CBC being a bunch of greedy Negroes who walk around lining their pockets for the last day or so. Sure, I could understand the rage especially when all you focus on is that tiny piece of information. But when you over look the fact, as the piece states, that from 2004 to 2008, the CBC raised a total of $55 million via corporate and union donations. Of which all but $1 million was funneled into non-profit organizations that are setup to assist African Americans. I guess I can see how some folks can be upset, and exert what I'd like to call myopic lunacy.
Lemme go ahead and beat this barely breathing dead horse on race and the economy. More specifically, why our government should be held to account and pressured into enacting policies aimed at people of color in communities most affected by the current economic meltdown. I use independent media sources for my political news for the most part. And Link-TV, my favorite television station, in conjunction with The Applied Research Center, recently released an awesome documentary which highlights just what I've been saying particularly on this blog for quite some time.
This documentary uses a single black mother of three children as an example to illustrate just how women of color are demonized, and stigmatized; and more importantly, just how racial bias plays heavily into the shaping of policy. Now, not everybody out there is hip to Link-TV and what they do. But they bring feature stories and programing from all over the world without the corporate media bias exerted in the mainstream media. They do it so well that I've actually donated to the station to keep them alive and on the air. But that's not what this post is about.
This post is about the following documentary that I hope to God that you take the time to watch and understand just how racial economic inequalities play out for people of color all over the country. The best part of this documentary is that it explores solutions, and dispels some of the long held stereotypes about people of color and how social policies impact their lives. Most importantly, it shows just how communities are coming together to work with local government to affect change, by creating jobs.
Yes, for the sweetheart deal of only $100, you too can purchase a Haitian child displaced by the recent earthquake. Why take a chance of getting caught at the border of the Dominican Republic as a few Christian do-gooders were, after abducting 33 children without the proper documentation? Why do that when you can have that and more for the low-low, by employing the services of Mr. Yis Jean Guerson pictured below as he poses with a would be or eventual child lost to the clutches of evil human trafficking opportunists.
This fine gentleman and stallworth humanitarian just so happens to also be a school teacher who is dedicated to improving the lives of Haiti's youth. He was caught on tape recently by British journalists trying to uncover a child trafficking ring in Haiti. A group of journalists who were shocked that this is so easily done, and at such a low cost:
So I rolled over and looked at my wife this morning and wondered to myself, "How did these kids get here, and why aren't we having sex right now?" Ah yes, Valentine's Day, the day for lovers; and, it's on a Sunday. Here we are on the morning after the guy who sells roses in the club made off like a fat rat with enough to put one of his kids through college. The morning where in-spite of said roses being bought, and alcohol consumed, someone has to skip out at 5am from the bed of a stranger hoping to slip back into the house without his or her wife or husband noticing.
Here we are on the day that Jamaal, the brother who hasn't seen his kids in more than a few months, makes nice with his "baby momma" and try to get back in good under the guise of love. When the real truth is that he's just trying to get a cut of that tax refund check because, well, that earned income tax credit comes in handy. Valentine's Day, the day of love, the day when hate reigns supreme birthed by the happiness of people you know. The day when a woman's best friend begrudgingly utters the line, "So what he bought you a ring for Valentine's Day; he ain't shit noway. You lucky you my girl that I'm even telling you that he fucked me last week." But hey, every cloud has a silver lining (except for the mushroom shaped ones, which have a lining of Iridium & Strontium 90). And sure you may say that there's more fish in the sea, but who wants to go out with a fish?
Have you ever been discriminated against at your place of employment? Ok, I'll go first and say that I have, and it was on the basis of race. I won't go into details, but just know that I did something about it, and I was quite pleased with the outcome. But this is 2010 and we're post-racial now, right? Surely everyone has caught on by now, and those numbers have declined. Well, in a recent piece by my man Kevin Myles of The Wichita NAACP Blog, this isn't exactly true:
Employment discrimination charges were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2009 at near record levels. According to the EEOC's annual report, the agency received 93,277 private sector discrimination charges in 2009, the second highest number in 20 years. The Performance and Accountability Report FY 2009 (PAR)noted that the number of private sector charges is projected to exceed 100,000 by the end of fiscal year 2010.
Most notably:
According to the EEOC's fiscal year data, which ended Sept. 30, 2009, three types of discrimination complaints increased over the last year. Disability complaints increased by 10 percent, from 19,453 to 21,451. National origin complaints increased 5 percent, from 10,601 to 11,134. Religious discrimination claims increased 3 percent, from 3,273 to 3,386.
The number of charges alleging age-based discrimination reached the second-highest level ever - 22,778 compared to the 2008 record high of 24,582.
Continuing a decade-long trend, the most frequently filed charges with the EEOC in 2009 were complaints alleging discrimination based on race-based discrimination (36 percent), retaliation (36 percent), and sex-based discrimination (30 percent).
But more interesting and far more illuminating are the statistics on findings of reasonable cause. According to EEOC data released on their website, very few cases ever see the light of day.
Of the 68,710 complaints that were filed on the basis of violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights act, only 188 resulted in lawsuits. (That's 0.27%)
I guess the old saying, "It's not what you know, it's what you can prove," holds true. Fortunately for 23 black men employed here in the city of Memphis, they were able to, as we say in the hood, show and prove via this EEOC press releasel:
February 11th marked the twentieth anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from Robin Island. Twitter was filled with his quotes and praise for what a wonderful forgiving soul that he is. In his lifetime Mandela has been transformed from a simple man, to a near God like figure who we consider to be above question.
His fight against apartheid and wrongful imprisonment has sparked hope in millions of people. The mythos surrounding Mandela is such that to question any of his actions is not permissible. That he is a man, and therefore subject to the very same imperfections as every other mortal is denied in order to cement his heavenly martyr status. We are desperate to hold on to the lie that racism has been defeated and Mandela is a major key to this social myth.
Since his release from prison, South Africa has largely been governed by Blacks and a Black bourgeoisie has risen to take its place at the table. The fact that a few have been allowed to rise is offered as proof that the evils of apartheid have been defeated and that the country has indeed begun to heal from generations of race based violence.
Mandela preaches forgiveness and he has been praised globally for not holding onto hatred in his heart. Turn the other cheek has always made Whiteness comfortable because it is well aware of the heinous nature of its crimes against the coloured peoples of this world. Even those that would fight for equality fear the righteous retribution of Black rage and therefore; a figure like Mandela is comforting.
In light of the extreme winter weather conditions across the country, and particularly here in the south where I reside. Screw global warming theorists; one only has to look to the White House to see that hell has frozen over this week. This past Wednesday, president Barack Obama invited black leadership to the people's house to discuss the plight of black folks in this economic shit-storm; or more appropriately, the economic tsunami from which many of us are drowning.
Not exactly a "beer summit", but an unprecedented move indeed; especially since it's been said that Obama cannot specifically help our melanin afflicted brothers and sisters in the struggle; a claim that I unequivocally dispute:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama and three prominent African-American leaders grappled Wednesday with how to improve economic opportunities for blacks, whose joblessness looms well above the national average and is nearly twice that of whites.
On a day of treacherous weather in Washington, Obama kept his scheduled meeting with Benjamin Jealous, president of the NAACP; Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League; and the Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network. Dorothy Height, chairwoman of the National Council of Negro Women, could not make it to the White House because of the pounding snow and winds that kept most of the nation's capital shut down.
The meeting did not yield immediate announcements or initiatives.
Obama and the other leaders focused on targeting aid to regions to help black people and other groups that have been hit disproportionately hard by the recession, Jealous told The Associated Press.
"When you try to focus on how to lift all those boats, what you come back to are places -- geographic areas, urban and rural, where assistance should be located," he said. "That approach can work if Congress lets it work."
He added: "This is about place. It's not about race."
Obama, the nation's first black president, has consistently held that he cannot adopt employment strategies that are designed to solely help blacks. But he supports targeting help to regions most in need, which in turn, he says, would lift the African-American community. (Source)
Well look-a-here, look-a-here! Isn't this the same stuff I've been saying on this blog for some time now? Uh-huh, but yet I'm met with nothing but opposition from Neo-Negroes and trolls alike on this issue? I've said it from day one: steps should have been taken with the stimulus bill to ensure that these funds trickle down to the areas that are most affected. Areas within which a disproportionate population of people of color exist. And in the shaping of a so-called jobs package, it is imperative that these areas are considered.
By now you're probably tired of hearing about John Mayer and his "David Duke" penis. I know you are! I'm over it, but I had to share one final nail in the coffin with you. This post was so brilliant, I literally stood up and clapped like I was in church.
The Brown Nipple Theory™ is a catchphrase created during my youth to remind my group of friends that white guys were in fact interested in us. For years we’d all believed that white boys would never lay a hand on your average black girl, but we proved that tired theory wrong both by experience and simple logic. Basically, men love to go to the “locker room” and tell other men about their exotic exploits, one of which, in some circles, is having seen a brown nipple firsthand (hence the name of the theory).
Trust me, the desperately single black women who wonder where all of the black men are may have a larger media presence, but those of us who have stolen boyfriends from little white girls are quite large in number.
Preach, Thembi! It's an awesome post, and she goes in even deeper, so check it out. I thought long and hard about her comment on the media presence of single black women, and this morning I woke up with a "Eureka!"
What's the difference between Sarah Palin's mouth and her vagina? Only some of the things that come out of her vagina are retarded. What?!! Oh c'mon, don't act like you didn't think that was funny; no seriously, I heard you laughing. OK, so you might think I was dead wrong, and you're right. Linking Sarah Palin with the retarded is definitely an insult to the mentally challenged among us. But allow me to get my John Mayer on, dammit; allow me to be great! But if you feel the need we can both hop on the euphemism treadmill in the comment section of this post. Either that or you can talk to the hand...
No but seriously, how in the world can Sarah Palin during last weekend's Conservative Cross Burning & Klan Swap Meet Tea Party Convention in Nashville Tennessee criticize Barack Obama for using a teleprompter, when her simple ass had a friggin cheat-sheet scribbled on the palm of her hand? I mean what's up with that shit? If I were a republican or fellow Tea Party boozer I'd be mad. Not at the fact that she dissed Barack Obama - they relish that shit. But more so because she got paid $100,000 to deliver the key note address.
Well, yeah, I'm not gay, and thank God I'm not because I just so happen to be the marrying type. I love the "sanctity" of marriage so much that I'm on my second go-around at it. Which when I think the idea of gay marriage I just wanna reach out and slap all gay people in America currently bitching about not being able to enjoy the blissful sanctimonious institution that I - a heterosexual male - has the privilege of enjoying. I mean they scream about equality but yet fail to realize that the government - be it state or federal - is actually looking out for them.
That's right; the government's just doing its part to ensure that gay people get to heaven. I mean its bad enough that they engage in those un-godly perverse sex acts which goes against all of God's laws of intercourse written in the fine print in the bible. But no, now they want marriage equality? How the hell are they supposed to get into heaven if they're allowed to do that? If you ask me, denying them the right to marry does them a huge favor. And no I'm not talking about having to be a part of the 50% divorce statistic.
But like I said, thankfully I'm not gay and I don't have to worry about violating God's law of marriage as presented in the bible. My current wife and my ex both had a child before we tied the knot; a child by someone other than myself. And all I can say is that it's a good thing the bible recognizes virgin births because I'd sure hate to have to kill them both under the watchful auspices of the “Most High” heterosexual because being gay wasn’t his choice.
Sorry gay folks, but youse people should just repent for your sins now so you can direct the choir in heaven as you already do here on earth every Sunday. Besides, be thankful that you don't have to meet the fate as those lying-ass non-virgin heterosexual women who get married. Yep, it's better to be alive and gay than a dead heterosexual "Just Married" woman the morning after the marriage is consummated as we do, right?
I don't know, but maybe the sight of all that snow on the east coast in recent days has driven Rush Limbaugh to relapse. I could be wrong but seeing all that "white powder" piled high at every turn could be the very thing to force an addict to pick up a crack pipe I suppose. A well known one-time drug abuser, something Limbaugh said on his show today has me thinking whether somebody needs to drug test him before each episode. Personally I say screw the piss test and take him off the air, but that would be too much like infringing on his right to free speech.
So anyway, Conservatives being their racist conservative 'selves have been pulled another label for Barack Obama out of their "Post Jim Crow But Not Really" trick-bag. My guess is they're tired of the "Nazi" talk and now they've found that through the results of much research by their xenophobic public relation think tanks. That maybe calling him "Professor" may be more, how should I say, politically correct. Posted at InsideHigherEd.com, Harvard Professor Charles J. Ogletree weighed in on the use of that word and noted said racial/racist undertones. Ogletree's argument was that "professor" was a coded way to call Obama "uppity".
So I popped on to Twitter this morning only to be greeted by a host of angry black women going in on my man John Mayer. So naturally I'm curious to know why all the rage today, why John Mayer? What, did he call Michelle Obama a bitch or something? What gives? And isn’t he black? So then I found out that the sistahs were pissed off by something he said in an interview for Playboy Magazine.
Now, I'm not one to ever try and shape opinions with my writings on this blog. So I'll let you check out what he said and leave it up to you to tell me how you interpret it:
PLAYBOY: If you didn’t know you, would you think you’re a douche bag?
MAYER: It depends on what I picked up. My two biggest hits are “Your Body Is a Wonderland” and “Daughters.” If you think those songs are pandering, then you’ll think I’m a douche bag. It’s like I come on very strong. I am a very…I’m just very. V-E-R-Y. And if you can’t handle very, then I’m a douche bag. But I think the world needs a little very. That’s why black people love me.
PLAYBOY: Because you’re very?
MAYER: Someone asked me the other day, “What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?” And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, “I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’"
PLAYBOY: It is true; a lot of rappers love you. You recorded with Common and Kanye West, played live with Jay-Z.
MAYER: What is being black? It’s making the most of your life, not taking a single moment for granted. Taking something that’s seen as a struggle and making it work for you, or you’ll die inside. Not to say that my struggle is like the collective struggle of black America. But maybe my struggle is similar to one black dude’s.
PLAYBOY: Do black women throw themselves at you?
MAYER: I don’t think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick.
PLAYBOY: Let’s put some names out there. Let’s get specific.
MAYER: I always thought Holly Robinson Peete was gorgeous. Every white dude loved Hilary from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And Kerry Washington. She’s superhot, and she’s also white-girl crazy. Kerry Washington would break your heart like a white girl. Just all of a sudden she’d be like, “Yeah, I sucked his dick. Whatever.” And you’d be like, “What? We weren’t talking about that.” That’s what “Heartbreak Warfare” is all about, when a girl uses jealousy as a tactic.
OK, so this was just a segment of the full interview; an interview which covers his music, his life, and the trials and tribulations of being a celebrity. But this segment of the interview apparently has angered more than a few black women. So what he said that he doesn't normally fuck black women and by virtue this makes his penis racist. Yeah, so fuckin' what! Shit, I'd like to know just how many black women would be willing to give John Mayer some coochie if he wasn't, well, John Mayer?
If there were ever to be an award for douche of the year, I am most certain John Mayer would win hands down. He recently did aninterview with playboy that had me wanting to wash my eyeballs out and rip something. The following is just a short snippet of the horror that is John Mayer.
MAYER: Someone asked me the other day, “What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?” And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, “I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’"
PLAYBOY: It is true; a lot of rappers love you. You recorded with Common and Kanye West, played live with Jay-Z.
MAYER: What is being black? It’s making the most of your life, not taking a single moment for granted. Taking something that’s seen as a struggle and making it work for you, or you’ll die inside. Not to say that my struggle is like the collective struggle of black America. But maybe my struggle is similar to one black dude’s.
PLAYBOY: Do black women throw themselves at you?
MAYER: I don’t think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick.
PLAYBOY: Let’s put some names out there. Let’s get specific.
MAYER: I always thought Holly Robinson Peete was gorgeous. Every white dude loved Hilary from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And Kerry Washington. She’s superhot, and she’s also white-girl crazy. Kerry Washington would break your heart like a white girl. Just all of a sudden she’d be like, “Yeah, I sucked his dick. Whatever.” And you’d be like, “What? We weren’t talking about that.” That’s what “Heartbreak Warfare” is all about, when a girl uses jealousy as a tactic.
For the love of God, seriously SHUT THE FUCK UP! This over privileged White man decides to wax prophetic about Nigger passes and then tells the world what it is like to be Black. How is it that one being possesses so much douchbaggery? I suppose he feels that he is being down and edgy with the peeps but seriously, the man knows more about rainbow brite, than he knows about what it is to walk through the world with a real marginalization.
"People here are afraid of the police. They harass black people, they stop people for no reason and rough them up without charging them with anything." - Terry Willis (Vice President of the Homer NAACP chapter)
You may remember the story surrounding the death of 73yr old Bernard Monroe around this time last year. Out here in the blogosphere there was much chatter about after he was gunned down by a police officer in his front yard in Homer, Louisiana. At the time, there was much outrage within that small community, which heightened racial tensions beyond the norm. If you're not familiar with the story, check out the following clip:
Now this was last year, and as the report above noted, there was an investigation by several agencies at the local, state, and federal level. Well guess what? After all those tax-payer funded man hours dedicated to the investigation, a grand jury decided last Thursday not to indict the police officer of any criminal wrong doing.
NEW ORLEANS – A grand jury on Thursday declined to indict a white police officer who shot an elderly black man in the small Louisiana town of Homer in a case that heightened racial tension and sparked protests.
The panel returned a “no true bill,” meaning the case won’t go to trial, after considering and rejecting a range of charges including murder, manslaughter and negligent homicide against former police officer Tim Cox.
Many in the rural town of 3,800 were outraged by the shooting last February of Bernard Monroe, a 73-year-old left voiceless by cancer. Police said Monroe was armed when he was shot outside his home, but witnesses said he didn’t have a weapon.
The grand jury heard testimony from 20 witnesses over two days, said Kurt Wall, director of the criminal division of the state attorney general’s office. The attorney general handled the case after the local prosecutor recused himself.
“We believe it was a full, complete, accurate and thorough presentation conducted at a neutral site. We respect the grand jury’s decision,” Wall said.
An FBI spokeswoman said the bureau is continuing to investigate the case. (click to read more)
You know it's hard to remain hopeful when you hear the outcome of stories such as this one. For people of color in this country this has become all too common. But yet we're supposed to believe the idea that we now have the glorious distinction of being able to be living in a post-racial society? Why? Because a black man was elected president of these United States? The same black man who coincidentally hasn't uttered a word in the face of tragedies such as this? Man please! White folks saying that we're "post-racial," is like hedge fund managers saying that we're "post-poverty." Try telling that shit to the relatives of Bernard Monroe.
First we had Russell Simons endorsing the Rush Card and now we have Montel Williams endorsing payday loans. Are we ever going to arrive at the day when Black celebrities decide that it is not okay to promote these predatory business models to vulnerable members of society?
Montel Williams has endorsed MoneyMutual because it provides needed short term cash loans to people who have no other credit alternatives. Montel takes pride in being able to provide people with information which could help them to live better physically, spiritually, financially, and emotionally. When it comes to financial assistance, Montel understands that people will find unexpected and needed expenses from time to time that are difficult to pay for due to lack of funds or credit. Rather than bounce a check, or receive late payment penalties, Montel believes that a short term cash loan from MoneyMutual can provide the necessary immediate assistance and help avoid more costly fees. According to Williams, "MoneyMutual's online lending network is the only source you can trust for finding a short term cash loan quickly and easily." MoneyMutual allows people to receive instant approval on getting a cash loan of up to $1,000. Restrictions do apply. See Moneymutual.com for details.
Black blogs continually speak about the racism that we face, but what happens when the face of the oppressor is brown like yours? Montel exists with extreme class privilege and he will never have to access the very loans that he is busy peddling to an unsuspecting public.
"So don't be actin like you don't be backin that stuff up, girl in the club that's what you got ass for." - Mystikal (Shake Ya Ass)
Well, from the looks of it, everyone is getting in on the charitable bandwagon for Haiti. There was a telethon aired on MTV, Hip Hop for Haiti, and a host of other events aimed at raising funds for the beleaguered nation in the wake of one of the worlds worst natural disasters. In downtown Toledo Ohio, Marilyn's On Monroe got in on the act last weekend in assisting with funds for relief as advertised:
A couple of weeks ago in a featured post by Renee of Womanist Musings. We discussed the sexualization of black women as it played out in a new PETA ad campaign that featured a nude model. In that post I think we pretty much came to the conclusion that the ad was exploitive of black women; at least that's the idea many people who commented arrived at. I mean anytime a woman's body is used (or taken advantage of) to push a message or an agenda it's sexist, right? Shoot, we even discussed the exploitation of Beyonce's sexuality in the music industry in another post by my blog sister Seattle Slim.
Well, with that in mind, do we feel the same way about the undertakings of Marilyn's Of Monroe in Toledo Ohio? I'm just asking because I'm sure the people in Haiti could care less if any of the money used to purchase supplies came out of the crack of some strippers ass, or out of the pockets of the Pope himself.
Personally I found it funny that the "Christian" organization had no problem taking the money. Nor had any qualms with where any of the money is coming from. I especially loved the line "We don't have a right to judge a persons heart, if somebody is doing something they have to do for a living then that's the way it is." I loved it especially because we're often taught that "All money isn't good money."
But I guess the tragedy in Haiti warrants compromise, so I understand. Yep, and I can see a Dope Boys For Haiti fund coming real soon. That said, are you willing to compromise on your morals and principles and accept this act of charity even if it supports a patriarchal system? I mean clearly these women "own their sexuality," right? That said, is it really sexist, if the end justifies the means? I really would love to hear your thoughts, on this one. You can read the story at the Huffington Post, and I think you'll find the comments as interesting as I did.
So I'm cruising around on Facebook a couple of days ago catching up on family and friends as I do from time to time. Yep, just trying to reconnect with my folk and not looking for any f*ckery when I ran into this on one the page of one of my homies who happens to be a popular D.J. in Indiana. A good friend of mine who is all about his paper and has been quite successful as a D.J. on the club scene as well as in radio:
Yeah, I was stunned when I read that status update, or advertising for childcare services during club hours. You mean to tell me people actually drop their kids off at a daycare that opens at night to be able to go to the club? You mean they actually pay for this service? F*ck that; they advertise this shit? Two locations? Pick up and drop off services? Probably not a bad idea especially if little Deandre and Tyeisha's mom gets pissy drunk at the club. Oh well, I guess providing this service is better than running a weekend crack house. Hell, you gotta get that money, right? You know, sorta like the ladies in this next clip:
So I heard the other day that they were remaking the USA for Africa 80s classic We Are The World as a charitable effort to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Then I heard that Lil' Wayne was gonna be one of the artists featured in the song and singing Bob Dylan's part, no less. My first inclination was to run up on somebody and do a Rambo, just because. I mean did they invite him to be on the track because, well, he himself looks like a starved child from the Sudan? But then I heard they also invited Fonzworth Bently; you know, Pdiddy's jigging no talent havin' umbrella carrying Negro man-servant?
Surely inviting Lil' Wayne had nothing to do with him being a top selling popular Hip Hop artist, and had more to do with the sympathy factor, right? Nothing like seeing a malnourished looking black guy with gold in his mouth covered in tattoos to bring white folks to tears. OK, yeah, so I don't particularly care for Lil' Wayne; you got me; guilty as charged. However, I heard what he said at the end of a recent press conference discussing the remake and, well, I'll let you check it out:
“He who warned uh, the British that they weren't gonna be takin' away our arms, uh by ringing those bells, and um, makin' sure as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed.” -- Sarah Palin on Paul Revere
