Of Little Black Girls, Missing Self-Esteem and White Face

What do you see when this photo?

This painting by Margaret Bowland (MargaretBowland.com) is so haunting.  Oddly enough when I see this painting, I see myself as a child.

I remember wearing the tons of barettes and hair balls (dunno what they're called lol) to subdue my thick tuft of kinky hair.  I remember the routine I had to go through every morning just to make my hair look "presentable."  Anything else was uncivilized. 

I also remember living in a foreign country that really didn't prize people that looked like me, and it showed.  I remember feeling not really all that beautiful unless I could swing my pretend hair all around (I used a towel lol).  Then I would wish my hair would magically be straight one day.

This may or may not be Margaret Bowland's intent, but that's how I see this portrait.  I don't just see myself, I see so many of my black friends back home, some girls I knew and didn't like, but recognized their affliction.  This little girl is a lot of us.  It actually made me teary eyed because I can't believe I looked like this; we looked like this.  Sure, we don't have the paint on our faces, but it's there, isn't it?

Little black girls have so much sadness they experience because the "beat down" begins early for them.   It began early for me.  I can't be too mad though, because I would never be able to appreciate what I have now had I not fought to get it, hold on to it and learned to love it; get to know it.  It's confidence, pride, knowledge of self. 

If I had to reimagine this little girl to be me, she would start off like this.  The paint would get thicker through her tween years, and maybe a bit in her late teens.  It would gradually start to fade in her early twenties, and it would be washed off vigorously, almost violently, by her late twenties.  The hair balls and barettes would be gone, and that hair would stick right out.  And that downcast look would be the biggest smile you've ever seen.

What do you see in this photo?

Spotted at FlyGirls

(Originally posted at HappyNappyHead.com)

How are you gonna be against gay rights, and you get a DUI after leaving a gay bar?

So I'm seeing shades of Larry Craig on this one; remember him and that infamous gay bathroom? Well, how about this for a dose of good ol' Republican/Conservative hypocrisy 2010 style from (R-Calif) State Senator, Roy Ashburn; a reported staunch anti-gay rights legislation supporter:

Early Wednesday morning, State Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Calif.) was pulled over and arrested for drunk driving. Sources report that Ashburn -- a fierce opponent of gay rights -- was driving drunk after leaving a gay nightclub; when the officer stopped the state-issued vehicle, there was an unidentified man in the passenger seat of the car. (source)

Ashburn has since apologized for what he called "poor judgement." But the jury is still out on whether he was referencing the choice of driving drunk, or that of being a closet homosexual with an anti-gay legislation stance. Oh well, maybe someone slipped him a mickey in his drink before he went into the club, hence him not realizing where he was. Yep, when in doubt, always blame it on alcohol; and, add the mickey theory for great effect. Being a Republican who champions for family values and all that other good shit?

People will believe your story.

Pure F*ckery: O.J. Simpson honored as a Black History Month hero?

Yeah, obviously I realize that February is over, but since some of us are conflicted as to the relevance of Black History Month. I figured I'd take a moment to share this story hot off the press:

LOS ANGELES - Three Los Angeles elementary school teachers accused of giving children portraits of O.J. Simpson, Dennis Rodman and RuPaul to carry in a Black History Month parade have been removed from their classrooms, a school district spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Children from other classes at the school displayed photos of more appropriate black role models, such as Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman and President Barack Obama, Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman Gayle Pollard-Terry said.

The incident occurred Friday at Wadsworth Avenue Elementary School in South Los Angeles, where the student body is more than 90 percent Latino.(Source)

And the f*ckery continues! Matter of fact, I'm going to go ahead and nominate myself for Special F*ckery Correspondent to this blog because I can't win for losing! Rippa, if that's alright with you of course! So this is what Black History Month is reduced to? Orenthal James Simpson, Dennis Rodman, and RuPaul? A Negro who is in prison, a Negro who is in drug rehab on a VH1 reality show, and a male Negro cross-dresser?? Well dammit if I said you could slap me right across the face. You white folks out in California sure have been having a lot of fun at the expense of black people and Black History Month lately. Yep, y'all shole'is funny. Lemme guess, next year they're gonna give the kids a pictures of the D.C. Sniper, Gary Coleman, and Flava Flav, right?

Now of course, some parents weren't offended. Some think that O.J. Simpson and Dennis Rodman are still good "black heroes" because at one point they had their shit together. Let's just give them a pass, right? Wrong. Black kids--nay, the world, is constantly bombarded with negative images of black folks on a regular basis. Some would argue that we are the truest fine purveyors of our own black bullshit. But there are quite a few of us who would rather drink cyanide before letting our kids see O.J. Simpson as a role model. Yet, we continue to let a small, miseducated contingent speak for us again and again *ahem, Al Sharpton, ahem*

Mo'Nique has an open marriage, and...

When I heard that Mo'Nique was married or got married I was crushed. What can I say, I've always been attracted to her and thought she was sexy as hell; and I swear, I would kick Oprah Winfrey's ass to the curb if Mo' ever gave me the time of day (sorry Oprah). See I heard she kicked it with Gerald Levert, so naturally a big bonededed brotha like me just knew he had a chance, right? But she got married and not being one to break up a happy home I figured it was best to crush on her from afar, knawmean? But then yesterday I read this and it has given new life to my infatuation with the woman:

In Barbara Walter's annual Oscar Special, nominee Mo'Nique revealed her open marriage with husband Sidney Hicks isn't quite so open. "Let me say this," she said. "I have not had sex outside my marriage with Sidney."

But the same might not be true for him, NY Daily News reports. "Could Sid have sex outside of his marriage with me?" the 'Precious' star asked. "Yes. That's not a deal-breaker. That's not something that would make us say, 'Pack your things and let's end the marriage.'"

Even if it happened more than once, Mo'Nique said she wouldn't hold it against him. "What if it's 20 times? So what?" she said. "We've been best friends for over 25 years, and we truly know who we are. Oftentimes, people get into marriages and they don't know who they're laying next to. I'm very comfortable and secure with my husband." (source)

Damn, its like that Mo'? F'real?!! Holla at the kid, Ma! Nah I'm just playin, y'all. Trust me, I'm happily married, and no, Mrs. RiPPa isn't into the sharing thing or as "open" as my girl Mo'Nique is with hers. But hey if it works for them who am I to judge, right? Unfortunately, not everyone thinks like me, and is of the same opinion (which is too bad because life would be better for them if they did).

On my Facebook profile I asked for thoughts on this revelation and I was kinda surprised by some of the views expressed (I was shocked that this was old news for some - how come I didn't know?). In particular, some people didn't agree with her choice and suggested that she obviously has self esteem issues. If you ask me, I think it all boils down to the fact that muthaf*ckas don't like seeing black folks happy; especially married black folks; which explains all the headlines like Mo'Nique says hubby is allowed to cheat . Personally I think most people chalk it up to a low self esteem issue simple because she's a big girl. I mean, why would they assume that she has low self esteem based on this information?

Black folks, Credit Checks & Jobs: States considering banning credit checks on job applicants

Lemme get right on in and say that this is something I fully support. And no, I'm not saying this because I myself posses less than impeccable credit. I've always been of the opinion that it was some unnecessary tool used against people seeking employment. I mean, the only thing that should matter is a criminal background check; because, well, nobody likes the idea of sitting next to a serial rapist or child molester at work for eight hours a day. To me, that's more pertinent information to be considered when screening job applicants. Whether they are currently forced to put their utilities in the name of their kids or how many bankruptcies they've filed are of no consequence. I have some more to say on this but checkout this press release and tell me what you think:

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – It's hard enough to find a job in this economy, and now some people are facing another hurdle: Potential employers are holding their credit histories against them.

Sixty percent of employers recently surveyed by the Society for Human Resources Management said they run credit checks on at least some job applicants, compared with 42 percent in a somewhat similar survey in 2006.

Employers say such checks give them valuable information about an applicant's honesty and sense of responsibility. But lawmakers in at least 16 states from South Carolina to Oregon have proposed outlawing most credit checks, saying the practice traps people in debt because their past financial problems prevent them from finding work.

Wisconsin state Rep. Kim Hixson drafted a bill in his state shortly after hearing from Terry Becker, an auto mechanic who struggled to find work.

Becker said it all started with medical bills that piled up when his now 10-year-old son began having seizures as a toddler. In the first year alone, Becker ran up $25,000 in medical debt.

Over 4 1/2 months, he was turned down for at least eight positions for which he had authorized the employer to conduct a credit check, Becker said. He said one potential employer told him, "If your credit is bad, then you'll steal from me."

"I was in a deep depression. I had lost a business, I was behind on my bills and I was unable to get a job," he said.

Hixson calls what happened to Becker discrimination based on credit history and said his bill would ban it.

"If somebody is trying to get a job as a truck driver or a trainer in a gym, what does your credit history have to do with your ability to do that job?" Hixson said. He said he knows of no research that shows a person with a bad credit history is going to perform poorly.

Under federal law, prospective employers must get written permission from applicants to run a credit check on them. But consumer advocates say most job applicants do not feel they are in a position to say no.

Most of the bills being proposed this year resemble laws in Hawaii and Washington that prevent employers from using credit reports when hiring for most positions. The laws contain exceptions in cases where such information could be relevant to the job — for example, if the person is applying to work in a bank or an accounts-payable office. (Read More: Yahoo News)

The article goes on to show how opponents of this measure suggest that there is a direct correlation between people with bad credit and workplace fraud. Which is bullshit because there really isn't any empirical evidence to support this claim; and the practice is as egregiously discriminatory as is the assumption that black people, generally posses poor credit scores. I can tell you as someone with a background in marketing and sales, that on more than one occasion, at different companies, I was reminded to "stay away" from black consumers because of said assumption.

That said, I can't help but to think of just how this is used as a tool to further discriminate against people of color on the sly when it comes to employment- people who are already behind the eight ball as the income gap continues to widen. But I guess it's important to be sure to hire people who are less apt to steal food from the office refrigerator.

Even though more companies are using credit checks, only 13 percent perform them on all potential hires, according to the Society for Human Resources Management's most recent survey. Mike Aitken, the group's director of government affairs, said a blanket ban could remove a tool employers can use to help them make good hiring decisions.

Aitken pointed to a 2008 survey by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners that found the two most common red flags for employees who commit workplace fraud are living beyond their means and having difficulty meeting financial obligations. The same survey estimated American companies lost $994 billion to workplace fraud in 2008.

Aitken said someone who cannot pay his or her bills on time may not be more likely to steal, but might not have the maturity or sense of responsibility to handle a job like processing payroll checks.

With Blacks and Latinos disproportionately affected by the economic fallout - especially the ones targeted by sheisty predatory lenders - it's sad that along with worrying about their applications being pushed to the bottom of the pile just on the strength of having an "ethnic sounding" name. They now have to contend with having to navigate the job market at a disadvantage because of their credit score. The gentleman highlighted in the story above - Terry Becker - is white man and even he had a hard time finding employment. That said, I don't have to tell you just how this practice moving forward as the economy recovers would affect people of color.

WHITE POWDER!!! WHITE POWDER!!!! WHIIIIIIITE POWDEEEERRRR!!!

Oh well, this just in, in crazy white "we want our country back" people news:

DENVER - FBI agents have arrested a Denver area man suspected of sending white powder to multiple governmental offices including the offices for U.S. Senators Mark Udall (D-CO) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and the local office of Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Aurora.)

The suspect, Jay Devaughn, of Denver, faces a federal charge of mailing threatening communications and was told he could face up to five years in federal prison and up to a $50,000 fine.

He is due back in court on Wednesday for a detention hearing. His preliminary hearing is set for March 10.

Many details about the white powder have not been released, but 9Wants to Know has learned the mailings happened during 2009. Officials will not say if the mailings were sent to Sen. Udall and Sen. Bennet's local or Washington D.C. offices.

Coffman spokesman Nat Sillin said the powder came in an envelope mailed to the Congressman's Lone Tree office. The envelope arrived Nov. 24, 2009.

The envelope contained one sheet of tri-folded white paper. There was nothing written on the paper, Sillin said.

"Postal inspectors came out and determined the powder wasn't dangerous and was not toxic," Sillin said.

9Wants to Know has also learned other leaders may have been targeted by the mailings.

Devaughn is in custody of the United States Marshal Service. FBI agents arrested him Friday at Porter Hospital, a day after his attorney says Devaughn checked himself in for a mental health evaluation.

"My No. 1 priority is getting his [Devaughn's] mental health issues addressed," John Scipione, Devaughn's attorney said.

Scipione says his client has not received the mental health medications prescribed to him at Porter Hospital.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jacki Kelley says Devaughn is receiving his medications.

Scipione said his client checked himself into the hospital after several search warrants were conducted including one at his office at the Community College of Aurora.

Devaughn worked at the community college as the director of library services. (Read More)

Oh well, at least he didn't fly a plane into any government buildings, or electrocute anyone...

I wonder if he'll be considered a hero?

WHITE POWDER!!

H/T Oliver Willis

Memphis mom shows up drunk at her daughter's school swinging a sword

So I've been living in the city of Memphis for the last 4yrs. And just when I decide to start "claiming" the city as my home within the last year or so, some of the craziest shit makes the news down here, forcing me to hang my head in shame. You can go through my archives and find some of the Madness I've blogged about involving parents and children in my new beloved hometown (like this & this).

In my archives you'll find a story I wrote several months ago about the pot-bellied ninja serial rapist that terrorized not only the city but western Tennessee. He has since been caught and arrested, but lo and behold, we have a new ninja on the scene in the form of a black woman last week here in the Bluff City:

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - A spitting match between two students at Riverview Elementary School Monday apparently led to a bizarre encounter in the office Tuesday morning.

"She had spit on me so I spit on her back," said second grader Aaliyyah Price.

Price and her grandmother spoke with us from the family's home.  They said 32-year-old Toni Price went to the school to confront the parents of the girl who spit on her daughter.

"She said she went up there to talk to the girl's parents," said Bennie Price.  "But the girl's parents wasn't there."

According to court records, Toni Price ended up inside the school where an employee reported a drunk woman was armed with a sword running through the halls of the school.  She told police Price was threatening to cut her.

Officers who arrived on the scene retrieved a black walking cane in which a long sharp blade is concealed.

"When I got up there I took the cane," said Price's mother, Bennie.  "I had it, police drew guns on me, and I didn't know what was going on."

Price's mother believes she probably had the weapon to ward off pit bulls in the neighborhood and had no idea where she may have gotten such a weapon.

"I don't know," she said.

She said she does know her daughter would have never actually hurt anyone inside the school.

Price told police she drank a 40 ounce bottle of Colt 45 before going to the school.  She's charged with aggravated assault and for having a weapon on school property.  Her bond is set at $4500. (Source)

"Call the police! There's a drunk Ninja with a sword running through the school hallway!" Can you just imagine that scene unfolding in front of your eyes? Yep, nothing like a 40oz of Colt 45 to put you in the proper frame of mind for a parent teacher conference. Not that this woman's action is reflective of the behavior of her child. But somehow I can't help but to think that 'lil mamma just may grow up to slice and dice a person or two; and now I have to wonder whether she drank a 40oz before spitting on that other kid.

Mrs. RiPPa's best friend is a teacher who once taught here in the Memphis City Schools district. And I've heard some crazy stories of parents showing up to school from being barely clothed to being belligerent assholes to teachers for reprimanding their bad ass children. But this one takes the cake thus far. Last semester as I was sitting in the parking lot of the high school my 16yr old attends. I was witness to two grown-ass women fighting each other, over an initial fight their daughters had. It was then that I realized that it was no wonder that some of these kids act the way they do in our schools.

Single black women, forget dating men outside of your race; skip that and go directly to animals, or go gay

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?

Toyota needs to hire 'Joe Isuzu'

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.

BREAKING NEWS: Barack Obama blamed for rise in Domestic Violence & Killer Whale attack

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 jig speak.

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.