Yesha Callahan on Rep Chris Lee-Craigslist Scandal: Owning My Shit

[Editor's Note: The following is an official response from my longtime friend, Yesha Callahan to the media and public at large on the subsequent backlash from the Rep. Chris Lee Craigslist shirtless photo scandal.]

Since all anonymity is lost, and I’m the “bad” guy, might as well say my piece on my own site.  Sure, I received photos, yes I sent them to Gawker. It’s nothing that I haven’t said to Gawker, The Loop 21 or The Washington Post, whom apparently received an anonymous tip from someone that gave them my name. So no, I didn’t reach out to The Washington Post to “give” them my story. They were the first to find my name and the reporter actually was pretty easy going about it. Thank you Lonnae.

Sure, I’m the bad woman.

Some even say I enticed former Congressman Chris Lee into sending me the shirtless photo. Excuse me for not realizing asking “Do you have something that doesn’t look like a JCPenney Ad” is considered enticing nowadays. Maybe I’ll use it more often. Maybe it’ll keep me off of Craigslist. Maybe it’ll yield me a financially & emotionally stable man. I mean anything is possible right?

Barack Obama: The New Slumdog Millionaire Costs Taxpayers $2 Billion on Trip to India

See What $2 Billion Gets You?

I think it's pretty funny how "certain people" scrutinize Barack Obama and any member of his immediate family when they travel overseas. It's almost like people are following their every move because they expect them to do something that of course qualifies them as un-American. This much attention has never been paid to any other first family in history; and even though I kinda have an idea, I still wonder why this is so.

I'm not sure if Barack gets this much attention because of the fact that he's black. I mean, black folks in America were entering restaurants via back doors just last week, so I'm sure for some white folks, his etiquette may be a concern. I'm pretty sure when he goes to other countries and meet dignitaries, and it's televised nationally, people expect him to act "niggerish", throw out a few fist bumps, and curse on occasion.

What, that's just what black folks do, right?

Sure it sounds stereotypical, but I can't be mad if that's what they expect. Hell, every president before Obama   has entered other countries by jumping out of a plane wearing a green beret a la John Wayne. I mean this is the first black president so quite naturally "certain people" expect to see a Richard Pryor routine with a few crotch grabs, and few choice words thrown in for good measure.

But not our Barack Obama. Our president has carried himself with much grace as would any black guy raised by white folks. Sorry white America, it's the other Negroes you have to worry about; you know, the ones raised without a fathers while their welfare queen mothers stay in and out of jail while addicted to crack. Yes white America, no need to worry, our president though black is somewhat privileged like some of you.

The Media's Lackluster Reporting on Afghanistan

A couple of days ago I was having a conversation with my friend and journalist, Tracie Powell, about the recent WikiLeaks debacle. In our conversation I noted that in my opinion, there's a certain apathy within the general public towards the war in Afghanistan. I told her that I thought the media had a lot to do with it. Although I'm not sure why, but it seems to me that we're not as inundated with war coverage in Afghanistan as we were with Iraq under the previous administration. Am I wrong about that?

Not only were we assaulted with coverage of our infamous war for oil, which came up a tad bit short on the hunt for those ever elusive WMDs. There was hardly ever a news broadcast which did not feature the angst of the general public as captured by war protests. Oh how funny things have changed from one president to the next. Last July is on record as being the deadliest month to date as far as U.S. casualties in Afghanistan, but you'd hardly have a clue of this fact if you haven't been following Afghanistan specifically.

So what is it? Could it be true that the Obama administration has some secret lock on the mainstream media as some of our friends on the right espouse? Or is it that we're so past 9/11 and the tragic events of that day that this war meas nothing, similarly to the fight for health care for New York's first responders? Does someone in the halls of Congress have to go into an enraged conniption fit the likes of Congressman Anthony Weiner to bring this home for the public at large via the media?

So now that Michael Jackson is Dead the Molested Child Decides to Come Clean and Say it Was a Lie?

The last thing I wanted to do today was write another Michael Jackson related blog. But as I sit hear listening to "Man in the Mirror" I feel moved to bring this one to you. Yes we've been inundated with MJ coverage in the media; coverage which is understandable considering that it’s Michael Jackson and not a panty-less Brittney Spears we're talking about here -- I mean lets be real, this is the friggin King of Pop!

I’ve been taking in the media coverage in small doses so as to prevent myself from going smooth tha f*ck off as the sharks in the water circle around the negative aspects of this man's life. I felt the need to pull myself back from it all even though I understand just how the media machine works. However, I just read this next piece and I'm wondering how come it's not breaking news?

After the sudden death of Michael Jackson Evan Chandler tells the truth.

In 1993, Chandler told a psychiatrist and police that he and Jackson had engaged in sexual acts that included oral sex, the boy gave detailed description of Jackson’s genitals. The case was settled out of court for a reported $22 million, but the strain led Jackson to begin taking painkillers. Eventually he became addicted.

Now maybe for the remorse of his death Chandler decides to tell us the truth. ” I never meant to lie and destroy Michael Jackson but my father made me to tell only lies. Now i can’t tell Michael how much i’m sorry and if he will forgive me ”.Evan Chandler was tape-recorded saying amongst other things, “If I go through with this, I win big-time. There’s no way I lose. I will get everything I want and they will be destroyed forever…

Under the influence of a controversial father (Jordan Chandler) told his son to tell that Jackson had touched his penis. Jordan Chandler then told a psychiatrist and later police that he and Jackson had engaged in acts of kissing, masturbation and oral sex, as well as giving a detailed description of what he alleged were the singer’s genitals. ” Now for the first time i can’t bare to lie anymore. Michael Jackson didn’t do anything to me, all was my father lies to escape from being poor.” [source]

Now when I first read that I was about to lose my damn mind; yes, this has been an emotional three days for me and, oh, maybe another several million people around the world? But then my ever so rational mind-state took over -- could this be another bullshit press release the likes of all the ominous stories involving the lifestyle of Michael Jackson? You know, stories like the one about him and Rick James getting coke’d up and drunk while having wild sex with kidnapped young women in basement pits? Ok yeah, so that's not exactly a story in the streets right now, but don't be surprised if it surfaces.

If what Evan Chandler said above is true, or if this were an actual press release I sure would love to see it covered on CNN. As much as I've been critical of the media circus and the death of MJ, just once I wish they – the media -- would look at the man in the mirror like Evan Chandler allegedly did and tell us the truth or at least stop it with the salacious and speculative reporting. But then again, these are the very same people who had us believing that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and that George Bush was telling us the truth.

QUESTION: If this story is true (which I doubt it is considering the legal backlash), how does it make you feel knowing this after MJ has died?

I'm not gonna run out and get a Jheri Curl or anything, but...

I find it ironic that I'm watching the very media who made him, who eventually killed his career, eulogize him and even still, try to assassinate his character even in the end. I mean damn, it's not like he died taking a shit like another famous entertainer or anything even though he did f*ck his daughter. Yes he's and icon, yes this is shocking, but even in the end, they just can't leave him alone. Wasn't that what he asked for? No wonder he lived outside of the country as long as he did. That's all I got for right now folks.

The U.S. media, what a symbiotic relationship they had.

Reporting Live From The Crack House

My wife and I were just talking not too long ago about how we've cut back on viewing cable news channels. I swear, I can only take so much of the shit every damn day. Whatever happened to news stories like "Man bites dog". Some shit like that, instead of what the hell is going on with the economy, Wall Street, Obama, and Republicans, would be a welcome for me. I'm also sick of all the racially slanted pieces. Ok, so Obama won, I get it Don Lemon, its history. Damn, do I need to see you do a story every weekend about some unnoticed Black first?

Here's a story for you Don, do a story or expose on all the Black men like me who are tired of this shit. CNN canceled D.L. Hughley, isn't it time that they follow suit? No. Instead, they're coming out with Black in America II in a couple months. What are they going to do different than last time? Probably nothing but show us the edits from the last episode. Hell, they never offered any solutions the last go around. The way I feel right this very moment as I type this, I don't know if I'm going to even watch it. Now, unless they show me a clip of Soledad O'Brien reporting live from inside a crack house, which just might change things for me. That's right Soledad, do a story from inside a crack house, and be sure that the dealers and patrons are White.

I mean shit! Make the news interesting for a change. Hell, tell me how the economy has benefited the hood. You know, show me a piece on "Big Shirley" and how she's making a killing boosting the latest gear from the mall. Or maybe how hard it has been for drug dealers; you know, with everybody out of work, as a feel good piece? Yeah CNN, shit like that. Fuck it, if you really wanna reel me back in, g'head and convince Dave Chappelle to be an anchor. Shit, at least make a brotha laugh every once in a while during this madness. Hell, tell Brittney Spears to drop a kid again or wear no panties or sumthin’?!

I tell you one thing, I’m so glad this pirate shit is over. Yes, I'm happy that they rescued Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship enterprise; thank you lord Jesus! For the last month it seemed like all they would ever talk about on the news were pirates. Do you want to know why? It's because they're Black; what else? Black men get a bad rap in the news, and it would appear that being a pirate is another illustration of how this happens. The funny thing about this is that I just read a report which said that watching the news pretty much reinforces stereotypes and negative perceptions of Black people. And here we are now, after this latest pirate escapade, a brother can’t even walk into a Red Lobster or Long John’s Silver without looking more suspect than before.

I think its bullshit that these pirates have gotten a bad rap. Hell, Johnny Depp made millions being a pirate, and nobody said anything. But when Somali's do the same thing? Pirates are all of a sudden bad. What’s worse about the coverage is that now they have every American hating pirates. Not just that, but they never showed any news pieces which would explain what’s happening in Somalia. Nope, they won’t tell the American people that the U.S. gov’t used the C.I.A. with the blessings of the UN, to overthrow the Islamic gov’t they had about a decade ago in the whole bullshit war on terror. They never tell the American public that European companies have been dumping toxic waste in Somali seas, and pillaging the shores for $300 million worth of seafood every year.

But as soon as this shit jumped off, they conveniently threw in a possible Al Queda link to scare the shit out of people. All of this while there is no gov’t in Somalia to protect its seas and people from the theft of one of its natural resources and way of life; which is fishing. Instead of those facts being provided to the public, the story of their terrorist activities are being exploited, only because they hijacked an American ship. You know what? Now that I think of it, Don Lemon should continue showing those positive Black firsts. Maybe if he continues to do so, White America would forget that we do more than corner the market on crime. Yeah, and maybe a brotha can eat a piece of fish in public without getting the side eye from folks who the media has left an impression on.

Now you tell me…

Who are the real pirates?

NOT ALL McCAIN SUPPORTERS ARE RACIST

Thats right, they're not all racist. So, to categorize "them" as all being racist ignorant fools is wrong. Matter fact, all generalizations are stupid when you really think of it. Ok, so obviously, the McCain campaign has been purposely negative in the last few weeks. And yes, much of what we've seen in the media paints his campaign negatively. But even in all of that, its important, in an attemot to promote fairness, that I present this clip to you readers.

WATCH THE CLIP...

Now, what you have just seen was put together by an journalist working with an independent news media outlet. Having said that, one can only understand why something like this is not reported in the mainstream media. In other words, its more profitable for the corporate backed media to push negative stories as they have. Now, again, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the McCain campaign hasn't been negative, or motivating their base with negatism. I am however saying that there are people who support McCain who are able to think for themselves, and are willing to speak out against idiots like the folks distributing those bumperstickers at the rally.

Its important to note, that the people who spoke out were both christian and muslim. And thought they support John McCain, they are able to see the reality of campaign bigotry. If only we could get more people in this country to think this way. Just remember this blog whenever you encounter the McCain supporters who you may come across who still think that Obama is a muslim with terrorist ties, as I have in recent days. The next time you encounter some idiot who says that, tell them that they're wrong. When they ask you how can you be so sure that he's not a muslim? Tell them that Jesus was a black man, and since he's the father of Christianity, there's no way Obama the magical negro can be muslim. Besides, there aren't any mulsim cats in the NBA that I know of, but yet we all cheer for them.