You've probably never heard of "them", but they are deserving of my slave-catcher award this week. Which is a first, because I'm used to spotlighting individuals and never before an entire movement. Yes, an entire friggin movement, folks. A movement aptly titled Operation Black Storm.
So who is Operation Black Storm? Well, it's only a political action committee (PAC) that's put together to raise funds all the while promoting 15 black republicans running for office in the upcoming midterm elections.
I have no problem with a bunch of "brothers" getting together and pooling their resources in an effort to advance a cause; even if it is one of political and social conservatism. However, when your site says, "Tired of being called racist? Do something about it today! Help us elect qualified Conservative candidates," and urge people to donate, that qualifies slave-catching behavior in my book.
"My aim is not to provide excuses for black behavior or to absolve blacks of personal responsibility. But when the new black conservatives accent black behavior and responsibility in such a way that the cultural realities of black people are ignored, they are playing a deceptive and dangerous intellectual game with the lives and fortunes of disadvantaged people. We indeed must criticize and condemn immoral acts of black people, but we must do so cognizant of the circumstances into which people are born and under which they live. By overlooking these circumstances, the new black conservatives fall into the trap of blaming black poor people for their predicament. It is imperative to steer a course between the Scylla of environmental determinism and the Charybdis of a blaming-the-victims perspective." - Dr. Cornel West (Race Matters)
To not acknowledge the racist tactics employed by your political affiliates, to only turn around and "pimp" race or play the "race card", which is a move they despise, to raise money... how else could they be seen as anything but slave-catchers, sellouts, and Uncle Toms? But yet people like me are wrong about them.
Malcolm X had a gun and said "Respect me, or put me to death."
Martin Luther King had a dream….blah, blah…and it went a little something like this:
“I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today”.
Well apparently, Martin Luther King had a dream but many Blacks are all too comfortable holding onto a historically self-sabotaging class system of beliefs that are the exact opposite of Dr. King’s vision of ‘equality’.
Some Blacks think equality is just a nice thought, because I don’t think they actually believe that ‘the White ma' is willing to (or capable of) viewing Blacks as equal. And quiet as it’s kept; these same Blacks do not want to re-evaluate their own precious perception of themselves as a sub-standard race. They would never openly admit they themselves don’t see Blacks as being equal to Whites and they want to make sure that people like me don’t think I’m equal either.
“Oh, So You Think You’re Better”
Shit, if I had a dime for each time someone started a derogatory rant with this line right here. It’s often the prerequisite before the laundry list of reasons I am not ‘better’ than them. They will point out each and every visual and assumed indicator of why I must feel ‘better than’ them and how each visual indicator isn’t good enough. They make sure to remind me that I’m not White and therefore I am NOT equal (and I dam sure don’t matter either).
Vomit, puke, spit and loose bowels to a confused chick who thinks that her blood relation to MLK has allowed her to inherit his wisdom and intellect.
A speaker @ the right-wing rally on the Washington Mall with Glen Beck, Sarah Palin and the rest of the insanity yesterday had even my great grandmothers flipping in their graves. An avid conservative, tea bag supporter, she epitomizes the crisis in black political, social and religious organizations.
Simply put, we are in such a chaotic state, some will be happy to drink Beck's red and purple koolaid.
One thing I do agree about, she has courage because I know a couple of relatives are ready to snatch the shit out of her pimping her dead uncle's name and work.
Another thing I agree is that she is lacking common sense.
On Fox last night, she said that MLK would have been proud of Glen Beck and his message on the mall.
WTF
Her rationale to taking a stance in the name of MLK is that she stands as the expert on all things Civil Rights because her uncle was an ultimate ride-or-die activist. According to her, her blood relations makes her an automatic heir.
Now, I have crackheads, thugs, a couple of perverts, and hermit in my family. I am not the expert on any of those philosophical existences, and didn't inherit those thinkings. So what makes this chick think MLK passed his on to her.
So here I am, somewhere at the intersection of Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child" and Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come". I'm not confused or lost in applesauce as is the expression, because maybe I'm something like "Black Caesar" or that old James Brown classic "A Blind Man Can See It". Quite frankly, I'm a bit disappointed, and disturbed by the negative backlash the movie "Precious" is receiving from and within the so-called Black community.
I hate to be cynical about this, but I have to ask: will Black people ever be happy? We have people who are bothered by this movie who see it as just another one in a long line of stereotypically negative images of Black people (or more specifically Black women) in the mainstream. Then there are people like me who totally see this movie for what it is: a necessary film that promotes and draws attention to various pathologies that are often overlooked and rarely discussed within our so-called Black community. Hello, Shaniya Davis anyone?
"Not since The Birth of a Nation has a mainstream movie demeaned the idea of black American life as much as Precious. Full of brazenly racist clichés (Precious steals and eats an entire bucket of fried chicken), it is a sociological horror show." - Armond White (Source: nypress.com)
What gets me, is that people are caught up in the idea that maybe this movie is representative of all people of color in America - a rather foolish line of thinking in my book when you consider that we're not a monolithic people. However, rich or poor, upper or middle class, the central themes of this movie knows no discrimination, and is not exclusive to any family of a certain socio-economic class. Yet and still, some of us are hell bent on promoting the idea that this is all fantasy which has the effect of making us look bad. I'm sorry, but I don't quite get you "image-conscious" individuals, and I'm going to need some help with that.
Yes I know we don't all have the same story, and yes I know there are many different narratives of the Black experience in America. But isn't the "Black experience" and our various stories riddled with conflict and pathologies (some of which we don't even realize) that may be detrimental to our survival? I'm sorry, but when a film is put together and produced by two of the most powerful Black people in the entertainment industry (Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry), it's hard for me to overlook the films message and focus on the "Blaxploitation" meme. Who better is there to bring to life a narrative such as this than a person of color?
"Winfrey, Perry and Daniels make an unholy triumvirate.They come together at some intersection of race exploitation and opportunism. These two media titans—plus one shrewd pathology pimp—use Precious to rework Booker T. Washington’s early 20th-century manifesto Up From Slavery into extreme drama for the new millennium: Up From Incest, Child Abuse,Teenage Pregnancy, Poverty and AIDS. Regardless of its narrative details about class and gender, Precious is an orgy of prurience." - Armond White (Source: nypress.com)
That said, should people of color with power and influence in the industry, ignore any attempts to bring to life subject matter that's considered taboo to the Black petite bourgeoisie, and the Black community at large? Come to think of it, maybe that's why there aren't as many "quality" Black movies of substance being produced, no? Precious is a movie produced by people of color that has already created an Oscar buzz, but yet Negroes are mad because it's not exactly Terms Of Endearment or Guess Who's Coming To Dinner material? Which is funny because when a white person makes a movie like Hotel Rwanda, Black folks never have anything negative to say, or even support it for that matter.
Well RiPPa we need to see more Black movies with more than one narrative! True, we do; but let's not act like they haven't been produced. It's disingenuous to give the impression that everything coming out of Hollywood for and about Black people by Black people are just bastardly negative. But then maybe therein lies the problem - that would be, the thought that each of these movies reflect us and our individual and personal story.
One thing that should not be ignored, is just how hard it is for a person of color to break into the Hollywood movie making industry; an industry dominated by people who pretty much determine American culture. What's funny about that, is while we as Black people remain image conscious, the power elite steals our culture and promotes it.
Where are the "image conscious" Black folks among us when little white sub-urban kids run around looking and acting as if they too had the privilege of growing up in the ghettos we despise and sweep under the rug?
Listen, "Precious" is no more representative of the Negro collective anymore than "Nino Brown" is - they are both representative of a reality that exists among us, and we should never feel shameful about these movies or these characterizations. Ironically, it is this very shame which may become a major factor in this being Gabourey Sidibe's only leading role in a movie while we bitch about all the light skin people who somehow dominate the media market. So yeah, you guys can continue to beat that tired drum and stay with the whole shooting the messenger, and missing the message thing. You're gonna need it when there are no more Black production companies in Hollywood especially when somebody like Steven Spielberg decides to do Boyz In The Hood II.
With the year drawing to a close, and as we tend to reflect and look back on the year. I think in doing so, its only right for me to present the "House Negro Of The Year" award. Considering that there are a few days left to the year, its only appropriate that I announce this years recipient right now. I seriously doubt that any Black person can out do this guy even with a few weeks to go in 2008.
Now, in light of the decision last week for Clarence Thomas to call for a meeting to discuss Obama's citizenship, and subsequent eligibility for the highest office in the land. I'm sure some of you may see him fit for this years award. Oh yeah, in case you didn't know or forgot, Clarence Thomas is Black; don't let his Uncle Tom-ish ways fool you into thinking differently. However, Clarence Thomas is currently the holder of the Lifetime Achievement Award in my book. And thus, makes him ineligible for any future awards. Lets be honest, he's in the "House Negro Hall Of Fame".
This years recipient is none other than Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson. If you don't know him, he can be found on pretty much any Fox News program playing the part of the "Slave Catcher". From the first time I heard him speak over a year ago, this guy amazed me. Oh yeah, he's pretty damn good. He said that White people posses a false sense of White guilt. He even went as far as to say that the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement were/are racist. And that White people are falsely accused of being racist. As a matter of fact, he was so good at playing his position I gave him the award last year for saying that Blacks were more racist than whites, and we Black people should stop it. Huh? Yeah, just on that, he got the award. But this year, he outdid himself.
Check it out...
Seriously, you have to watch this...
Now, this year was kind of a tough to call. There have been many instances of Negroes showing out which would make them worthy of this much prestigious award. That dude James T. Harris comes to mind. You guys remember him? Yeah, the guy who begged John McCain to take to Obama in his debate? Yeah, I wrote about him a few months ago, and yes he made me ashamed to be a Black man. But thanking White people for slavery, and saying that it was God's way of helping Black people...
and you're a preacher...??
You are definitely "House Negro Of The Year" material.
Matter of fact, this man has raised the bar. I seriously doubt there is anything anyone Black can say to top that as obvious self hate. Soulja Boy the rapper said something similar, but hey, he's a young man, and a pretty dumb one at that. Thats the shit I would expect from him. After all, he had idiots singing along to his garbage and Super Soaking Hoes nationwide. So yeah, thankfully to our slave masters, we are able to have Bling and Spinners on our cars. Hell, I'd take a beating or having my foot cut off like Kunta Kinte just to have that Bling son!
I promise you, sometimes, I wish we could have a race trade kinda like they do in professional sports. If I had it my way, I'd trade Jesse Lee Peterson just so we could get O.J. Simpson back. Sure O.J. probably killed a White woman and got away with it, but at least he wasn't running around saying stupid shit like this guy. I mean all he did after he got off the first time was screw White women and play golf. Nothing wrong with that. Most successful Black men do that shit everyday; we're used to that by now.
Hell, I'd even take Michael Richards for Jesse Lee Peterson. Never mind his now infamous racist meltdown on stage, at least we know where he stands, and we can claim him as just another ignorant White dude, or somebody for us to beatup and punch in the face once a week. At least he's a comedian, but umm, having Jesse Lee Peterson as a part of my race just isn't cool anymore. Just when we're proud to have a Black President for the first time in American History, we have clowns like him to be accomplices to the system of White Supremacy.
I love White people...
God know I do...
But not as much as this Negro....
QUESTION: If we could have a race trade, who would you offer up for whom, and why? Sorry White people, but Black athletes are not up for grabs. You guys already own them.
I really hate to continue discussing this guy James T Harris, but dammit, he just won't stop it with the cooning. I mean, this guy has taken his 15 minutes of fame to new heights. I've even read his blog, and since this all broke on Friday, he has written three blogs about his instant fame, and as he sees it, racist notoriety. Yeah, he said he's been getting death threats, and that most of the negative commentary, and blogs about him are coming racist black people like me.
After begging John McCain to "take it to Obama" at the next debate, this black man is now making the news circuit. In the following clip, here is he beimng interviewed by Fox. I think its funny that he's being interviewed and not the angry old white man who stood up and spoke at the very same rally. Instead of him, they're parading the BLACK MAN to speak thru the media of his support for McCain.
See how they use black people? Especially when its to go against another black man, and create divisions. Sure it can be said that I'm guilty of this by posting this. But, do you really think thats what I'm doing here? No, I'm trying to show you people, just like I always have, how race is so much of an issue in America, that they will seek to exploit it. Now this guy is gonna be all over Fox News Channel like I expected. I swear, I wish we could offer a trade and get O.J. Simpson back in exchange for this guy. At least nobody wanted to poke microphones in O.J.'s face. Its too bad that this dude didn't do his jig at a McCain rally in las Vegas. You know what they say...what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas; just ask O.J. Simpson, and he'll tell you. If only this negro would stay off the airwaves, we'd all be happier.
Watch the video, and tell me...
doesn't he look less rehearsed in answering the line of questioning?
Kinda makes it look more and more like a publicity stunt at the rally the other day doesn't it?
After telling you people of my decision to vote for John McCain because he has a Black daughter, I am now ashamed. Why must my people belittle themselves the way they do? And why does it have to be often on national television?? I mean seriously, when will the Jigging stop?!! Wasn't "Flavor Of Love" and Flavor Flav enough?
Ok, so late last night I'm up watching Rachel Maddow's show, and I see a clip of one of yesterday's McCain stump rallies. I wasn't really paying attention as to who or what was gonna be said, but I figured it had to be more of McCain or Palin lies being espoused. That's what I expected to see. I mean, that's what they've been doing, right?
Instead of that,
I got this....
This brother (yes he's still a brother because he's black) has set us Negroes back 400yrs. Some of my caucasian readers may not feel me on this, but I know my black readers will. Upon seeing this, images of a black man begging his white master to keep him on the plantation as a slave after the emancipation proclamation flew into my head. Now I wasn't alive 400yrs ago, but I'm pretty sure that's what it looked like or sounded like. What the fuck is wrong with this Black man? Clearly, he's a republican, and a supporter of John McCain. Which would mean that he's not gonna vote for Obama. Could it be the fact that McCain is losing ground in this campaign that invoked this man's inner Uncle Tom? Yes I called him that, because that's what he is. Could it be that he's just another blind black man unable to see ...
Why didn't he beg for McCain to offer solutions to the economy? Instead, he begged...HE FUCKIN BEGGED...John McCain to go hard on another Black man with racially motivated hate. That's what I saw or got from it, and hopefully you did too. Like I pointed out in a recent entry, people...white people have been calling for the death of Barack Obama at McCain rallies. They even started throwing racial slurs at camera man who just so happened to be black at one event. Pretty sad ain't it? And the McCain campaign, has yet to say anything against the recent barrage of negative responses from their supporters in the crowd. And what do we have to back up the bullshit rhetoric? A black man who chose to step up and pretty much get on his knees to suck the dick of John McCain.
Look, I really don't care who you support in this election, but dammit, don't lose yourself in doing so. Because of this brother, I'm now afraid of the white people I encounter in the public. Because of him, I think that I am now expected to enter restaurants at the back door, sit at the back of the bus, drink at the colored water fountain, and shine shoes for the rest of my life. I hate to have to do all of that, but this guy has left me no choice. But then again, he may have just been a paid actor the McCain campaign picked up the the rent-a-negro store. I mean, have you noticed that there's always a speck of blackness sprinkled here and there in their television appearances? A part of me wants to think that this is just strategy; a paid appearance by some unknown struggling black actor. Yeah, I find comfort in that thought. It keeps me from getting enraged, or even crying in shame.
I know there are Black Republicans, and I know that they're sometimes seen as "sellouts" by other members of their race. But umm, this dude sure as hell doesn't do much to dispel that stereotype now does he? Its one thing to be a white McCain supporter spitting racial hate for the opposing Black candidate. But its another thing to be a black suporter encouraging and motivating racial hate in your support. Its no wonder blacks unanimously support the democratic party. I'll stop for now before they bring out the fire hoses, and police dogs to get my ass. Or worse...get
“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
