Realness...

Perspective y'all, perspective. Once, when I lived in New York, I missed a train. I was cursing out loud to myself (I was very pissed off). A man came up to me and said "What's wrong?" I told him (angrily) that I'd missed my train. Him: "Well, if that's the worst thing that happens to you all day, you are very blessed." I will never forget that, or the pic above.

Coming back strong soon...just getting my perspectives in order!



pic from mama's got moxie

An Ode To David Mills....

Last week, David Mills passed away at 48. For those of you who don't know, David lived the life that a lot of writers only dream of...he wrote for The Washington Post, and then moved on to TV as a writer and/or producer for Homicide: Life In The Streets, E.R., Kingpin, The Corner, NYPD Blue, The Wire, and the upcoming HBO series "Treme".

He was also my blogging mentor, and one of the reasons that I didn't quit blogging numerous times. His site "Undercover Black Man" was one of the first blogs I read regularly. I don't remember how I found him, but at the time he was doing a series called "Giant Negroes", about the ridiculous claims and sightings by whites of "Giant Negroes" in the late 19th and early 20th century. I found it interesting and amusing. Of course that is what sums up David perfectly--interesting and amusing. With the last part of the trifecta being inspirational.

David has inspired, outraged, entertained, and taught a whole throng of Black creative thinkers in the blogging community. Through him, I found many people who think and exist the way I do, when previously I thought that I might be isolated in my mindset. He frequently featured me in his "Blog In The Spotlight", which always gave me joy. All of my life people have told me that I should write as a living, but I never felt true validity until being under David's watch, and that's real. I even started a thing called "The Negro Justice League" on this blog that included David, which amused him very much.

When I read that David passed, it hit me hard, more than anyone, except maybe Michael Jackson. Strike that--it was akin to Michael because of its suddenness, its shock through the heart, and the mourning of a loss of huge talent and genuine artistic integrity. I was shaken up in ways that I did not expect in his passing.

I waited a while to post this, as I wanted to be careful about what I said, and do a justifiable legacy to him. It is apropos that I am writing this on Easter, as he will always be resurrected in many a heart and mind. I feel the best way to pay him tribute is to begin blogging regularly again, at least for a little while. Cause you know what? One of the thoughts that would pass through my mind almost daily was that I knew David was checking for new posts on this blog and there were none. And that, in and of itself, will always make me feel special.

Will always miss you, David...

Me Wanna See "Brooklyn's Finest"!

*Wah!*

Why, oh why is this all I can find on the flick "Brooklyn's Finest" the movie directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Tears Of The Sun) starring Don Cheadle and Wesley Snipes? The plot:

"Tango is an undercover officer on a narcotics detail that forces him to choose between duty and friendship. Having been to hell and back, he wants out, but the powers that be won't let him quit. Family-man Sal is a detective tempted by greed and corruption. He can barely make ends meet, and now his wife has an illness that threatens the life of their unborn twins. Eddie is nearing retirement age and has long since lost his dedication to his job as a cop. He wakes up every morning trying to come up with a reason to go on living...and he can't think of one. Fate brings the three men to the same Brooklyn housing project as each takes the law into his own hands"

There has to be something out there....can a negress get a screener, a preview invite, a decent trailer?* Dang!


*hint

A New Avenue For Black Cinema?

This is a cross-post of an article I did for our Black Cinema collective blog Shadow And Act; please join us over there for updates throughout the day, every day, on Black Cinema and it's offshoots...


Over the weekend, I watched two, ummm...how shall we say, very frugal DVD productions; "Peaches" (thanks a lot Sergio) and "Applause For Miss E." Both are Black stage plays transferred to DVD.

I'd written about "Peaches" starring Wendy Raquel Robinson, a little earlier this year, after Sergio emailed me a trailer of it. It is the story of a Jezebel/femme fatale that drives men crazy and you readers gave it a hearty thumbs down, deservedly so...honestly it was akin to a middle school play--just atrocious.

But when I watched "Applause For Miss E" (to see the trailer click HERE), which is about a woman who missed her chances as a comedienne and in life, it made me much more reflective. You see, it had the same shoestring budget, and the same lightweight elementary school-type plot as "Peaches", but the huge difference was in the casting. It starred Vanessa Bell Calloway and mistress of a thousand hairstyles, Jazsmin Lewis, (no real surprises there) but it made my heart heavy to see the beautiful and talented Gina Torres involved with this. And as much as I talk sh*t about Roger Guenveur Smith, is was pretty disheartening to see him hamming it up and chewing up the scenery with the most mangled southern accent ever portrayed on stage here. He actually seemed drunk and high, and he probably was, to numb the reality of having to actually be associated with this project.

My first thought was, has it really come to this? Our A-list players being reduced to television (i.e. Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett), and our B string list going the so-called "chitlin' circuit" route?

But that is too obvious. Something deeper is brewing. Let me begin by saying that I have no problem with these plays being done; I have actually enjoyed a few. There is an audience out there that lives on them, so why should they be denied? Sergio and I were on Afronerd's podcast with David Talbert (who is the original Tyler Perry) and he relayed that he makes the same type of play, with the same themes, and the same morals over and over again because it was what people wanted, and it was the only thing he knew well, and he had absolutely no ambitions beyond that. I gave him a huge amount of respect for not pretending to be anything else.

That being said, maybe we should take a page from Talbert's and Tyler Perry's books. They have taken a mostly ignored medium and have taken ownership of it, with varying degrees of success. They know what the market is, and haven't waited on the YT studio system to give them comfort and aproval, and they have their visions played out to the masses on their own terms. Maybe we can explore the same route in getting our stories told that we desperately want to see...say Harriet Tubman's life story, or a realistic Black romance, via the stage to DVD route.

A while back I did a "7 Questions" with actor Carl Gilliard, and his advice to up and coming filmmakers was to keep costs down by filming a movie like a play. Few actors, just a couple of sets, and really concentrate on the script. We have complained many times about how quality Black films are either not getting greenlit, or are not distributed in a way to reach a general audience. Could this be a way to take matters into our own hands?

Think about it. In the 70's and 80's, stage plays were hugely popular and big events for Blacks--Colored Girls Who Have Considered, Your Arms Too Short To Box With God, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Dreamgirls...I could go on and on. Of course, these were more pricey productions than the current state of stage plays, but that is my point. Why not tweak the current formula and bring in Black Hollywood actors that are undervalued and underused in the YT system? (I don't know about you, but I am tired of seeing the same 5 Black actors in high profile movies). Build beautiful set designs, use amazing scripts, maybe some big name Black directors with stories we want to see? Plays written from bestselling Black books? The possibilities are endless. Then transfer these plays to DVDs. Black folks surely have always found a way to buy Tyler's Madea plays en force. This can be a very genuine and viable way for us to command our own ship, so to speak (with the real threat of piracy, haha).

I'm not saying that this is the end all, but it can be a real way to get out of the dreadful and sorry current state of Black Hollywood, because in my opinion, it certainly can't get any worse than it is right now. Ask Roger Guenveur Smith if you don't believe me.

Kettles, Robots, and Swimming in "Post Racial America"....

I think it's safe to say that our infatuation with the promise of a "post-racial America" is officially way over. Not that I ever bought into it, for sure. Much about race is bubbling up these days, and while a tiny bit of it just has me shaking my head, the rest of it just makes me wanna kick somebody's ass sometimes. Like Field Negro said, it's just exhausting trying to keep up.

What leaves me going "whatever, dude" is pot/kettle Quincy Jones' non-revelation about Micheal Jackson "wanting to be white". "Have you seen his kids?" he asks in an interview. Wow. This from a man who I've never seen date anyone darker than a Sunset Spray Tan, and whose daughters can pass so well they actually get work in Hollywood. This is who he was with in Europe instead of attending the funeral of the man who made him zillions:



Speaking of Micheal, spotted this on my blogging buddy Eric Easter's site "Big Ideas" from Ebony/Jet.Com. It is a video of Sammy Davis Jr. comparing himself to Michael Jackson on Arsenio Hall, and ends up being something close to a confessional on race. Sammy goes in a few different directions, but you can see and feel the pain this immensely talented man went through, and he used that talent to navigate his way through a tragic life, just like Mike. It was his shield, just like Mike. Oddly Sammy was the only other celebrity besides MJ that made me cry when he passed.




What makes one want to put foot to ass is the situation in Philly that most have heard about by now, where a group of children were denied entry into a swimming pool because it was feared they may change "the complexion" of the pool area. Yes, the fools that run the joint actually said that.

I am not surprised, however, as the same thing happened to me as a kid. My family and I took a road trip to Canada, and in one hotel in Washington state we went swimming. When we went in, all of the YT's promptly got out. I saw one kid crying to his mom "Why can't we swim? I want to swim!" and his mother hissed at him to "shut the hell up". When I asked my mother if everyone got out because of us (it was even obvious to me as an 8 year old), she said "don't worry about it, there's just more room for us to swim now". And being a kid, I promptly forgot about about it. But now that I know better, I'm sure she felt all of the pain, hurt, and frustration those kids in Philly felt, and what made it more ridiculous is though Black, she is the same skin tone as those who got out. I am grateful she made light of it for my sake, so I did not feel what she felt too.


And finally, a cinema related statement on race; a post that my blogging soulmate Tafari did for The Afrospear, which he relayed got him a lot of heated haterade comments:

"Yesterday, I made it a point to go see “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” in IMAX. Ever since the last Transformers theatrical release I had been giddy for more.

Hours before I headed to the movies, I started reading posts online that discussed racism in the movie but still I pressed on to Showcase Cinemas and dropped $10.50 for my ticket.

Fast forwarding 2.5 hours later. I’m walking out of the theater with my mind blown for many reasons; 1st, the movie was so action packed I thought I was going to slip into a seizure. 2nd the movie was overtly sexual, which made it seem like an R rated movie instead of PG-13 and 3rd the racism that was built into the movie was billed as comedic relief.

As I drove home, I tried to reconcile the racism but I could not, so I decided to sleep on it.

So this morning, when I woke up, I actually got mad about what I saw in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” The racism that I’m talking about in case you don’t already know is dealing with the Autobot twins “Skids” and “Mudflap” or the “ Little Black Sambo[ts].

1. Both of the twins talk like they are straight from a Lil Wayne video.
   
   
2. They play the dozens (crack jokes on each other and anyone else) in every scene.
3. They are seemingly proud of the fact that they cannot read. “Read?! Nuh-uh…” “No, we don’t really do much readin’!”
   
   
4. Skids has a GOLD front tooth. Yes, a big bucked out gold tooth
5. The names “Skids” and “Mudflap” imply darkness and or nastiness.
   
   
6. Do I really need to add a 6th, you should get the picture now.

(Wait, for extra measure, if you want to see another relevant countdown list, you have to read this. “7 reasons why Transformers 2 might be racist…”)

With all this now parsed out, I’m wondering why and how this stereotypical bullshit slipped past Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures. Did they care? Did they know? Did they think it was ok?

I feel bad and torn because I actually liked the movie a lot, but how could I in good conscious? Maybe it’s the kid in me remembering watching the cartoon way back in the mid 80s.

Although the racism pisses me off about this flick, I was also disturbed about the adult content and overt hypersexuality. But like I said, I liked the movie, so what does this mean about me?

I know I won’t see the movie again, nor will I purchase the DVD. I do not want my kids seeing this mess and not only that it’s so not a kids movie. Don’t let the PG-13 rating fool you!

Transformers used to be all about the kids way back when, but not so much now thanks to Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures. I’m just saying.

Side note: This post is not nearly what I wanted it to be. Not at all! My thoughts are with and on Michael Jackson. As I wrap this up, I’m chair dancing to “Off The Wall” while I try to control my urge to cry about a man that reached my soul through song, dance and beauty."

From IW: Why am I not surprised that Mike Epps was the voice one of those coontastic robots?

Update: OK, I was misinformed. It wasn't Mike Epps, but one of the voices was YT Tom Kenny, who also voices Spongebob Squarepants :-(

When, When, When, Will It End?

I was going to post some more about the movies I saw over the weekend, but it's difficult for me to talk about frivolous things when I'm right here in Oakland in the midst of the aftermath of the murder, yes, murder of Oscar Grant. In case you don't know, Oscar Grant was shot and killed, while laying face down, in what some say were handcuffs, in Oakland by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police. Yes, transit police.


It is ironic that just a few weeks ago I posted about my own experience with the BART police slamming my newborn son's head on the trunk of a car here.

During that time, I met a man whose son was also murdered by the BART police. His son was sixteen years old, and was falsely accused of stealing a Walkman because "he fit a description". When the police officer questioned him, the young man, knowing his innocence, walked away from the officer, and was shot from the back by the cop, killing him.

He was also unarmed, minding his own business, just as I was, when these animals came upon him, just like they did to Oscar Grant, scarring families and lives for eternity. The father always carried around this huge scrapbook of his son under his arm, filled with newspaper articles, letters, pictures, and depositions. I was so filled with sorrow for him every time we met, because I knew that book was his own personal cross to bear. It brings tears to my eyes even writing about it now. As far as I know, the father never received any type of justice for his son, just as BART wrote a letter regarding my baby's slammed head and stint in foster care as "justified" because "the officer felt threatened". I couldn't talk about my experience until very recently, and a part of my life was taken away from me that day, never to return.


Was this piece of shit that shot Oscar Grant "threatened" as well? I'm sure if there were no real witnesses, that would have been the lie told for the thousandth time by those dogs. Thank the Most High for video phones and YouTube. This gross abuse of power is absolutely sickening, and is just one of many examples of how far we have to go in equal justice. I learned through a police-watch group that the BART police are monitored by NO ONE, and therefore ARE NOT held accountable for ANYTHING that they do.

Until now. Why the fuck is anyone killed, or having their children taken away, just for riding a public train? The BART police are, in essence, a bunch of wild cowboys in uniform in my opinion, and it is way past time for a rebellion like this to happen regarding the suffering they have put on Black riders for years.

Yes, there were fires, and protests, and a damn near riot, and I'm sorry for anyone that suffered because of it. But I am also, to be very, very honest, almost gleeful that the whole country can finally see what has been swept under the rug, and covered over with dirt for so very long.

And oh, Mr. Murdering Cop? Mr. Johannes Mehserle? Sorry honey, resigning is not nearly enough. No freaking way. You should be in jail, even as I write this, never to see the light of day again, just like Oscar Grant, who begged you not to harm him for the sake of his young daughter, will never see the light of day ever again. May you burn forever.



Here is some footage of one of the protests, cause I couldn't find it in me to post the videos of his murder, but you can find it all over the net:



UPDATE: Spotted on Slant Truth from RaceWire:

5 Things You Can Do Right Now About the Oscar Grant Shooting

1. Digg the story so that the national media can pick up on it

2. Contact BART Director Carole Ward Allen and demand that 1) the officers involved be taken off duty without pay and charged and fully prosecuted; 2) there be an independent investigation of the shooting that includes a review of training and hiring practices; and 3) BART establish an independent residents’ review board for the police Call her at 510-464-6095 or email the BART Directors at BoardofDirectors@bart.gov

3. Call the BART police to complain about the officers’ conduct and demand immediate action: Internal Affairs: Sergeant David Chlebowski 510.464.7029,dchlebo@bart.gov; Chief of Police: Gary Gee 510.464.7022, ggee@bart.gov

Call them toll free at 877.679.7000 and press the last four digits of the phone number you wish to reach.

4. Talk it up on your blogs, networks and talk radio shows (call Michael Baisden 877-6BADBOY or Rev. Al, etc. to get this on the national radar)

5. Stay tuned for other actions, protests, etc., especially if you are in the Bay.

In A State Of Grace....

I wanted to write this yesterday, but I was in Limoncello Heaven, so it's a day late. Though I don't celebrate Thanksgiving out of respect for the Native Americans, I do think about what I am grateful for.

My goal for some time has been to live my life in a state of grace; completely calm, with security, peace, and beauty deeply permeating my life on the daily (which, of course, means not going near Black Friday).

I'm not completely there yet, but the drama in my life (of which used to be almost unbearable) is no more. My home exudes peace, and I can focus on things that are important to me. Music being one (I was listening to Sylvester yesterday--whatcha know 'bout dat?) and the importance of friendships being another.

this is sylvester, or one of his album covers to be exact

I am so very grateful for the amazing and awesome friends that I have, and even more grateful that my circle is increasing on a strong foundation. I even found one of my dearest long term friends I lost contact with on the internets last week, bringing my grace factor up 100%! Please check her out at her blog Sistah Goddess; she is living her whole life in grace in a major way.

And speaking of friendships and the internets, I thank the most high for your presence here. Taking the time to read my sometimes crotchety opinions, laughing with me at the ridiculousness, leaving amazing and well thought out comments--I really love you guys (and no it's not the vodka talking, that was last night!) Folks like Ms. Marvalus, sdg1844, Madame Z, and the Happy Go Lucky Bachelor seem like cousins that I like hanging out with--I just name them cause they are here every day without fail. For all of you that are here every day, or once a week, or once a month even, please know you are truly appreciated by the author of this blog.

Be blessed and prosper your azz off in the '09!

Hope, Naivete, or Desperation?

While watching the debate last night, I tried not to get distracted by trivial things the way I usually do with these things, such as what was going on with the candidates lips (seriously, did Obama not have a razor within a mile radius before this important debate? Why were McCain's looking all coral lipstick-y?).

But I digress.

I was in a particularly political/militant mode yesterday, as before the debate I rewatched "Black August", the story of imprisoned Black Panther leader George Jackson. For those of you who don't know, in the 70's George Jackson was the boyfriend of Black Panther activist Angela Davis, and was sent to prison for 1 year to life for robbing a gas station of $70. While in prison he formed an offshooot Black Panther unit (The Black Guerillas); 3 of his comrades were killed by a guard in cold blood, and the guard got off scott-free. When the guard was murdered, George was one of the suspected. This, coupled with his Panther beliefs, subjected him to a heinous life of torture within the prison walls, until he couldn't take it anymore and organized a mutiny--in which he was shot and killed. His sixteen year old brother was shot and killed beforehand by taking a judge hostage to get George freed.

I have made the synopsis of his story very simplistic for the purpose of this post, as he was a complex man and the effects of his life are still being felt today, as it was with me yesterday. Gary Dourdan as George Jackson did an amazing job of showing that throughout American history, if you were/are an intelligent Black man that stands up for your rights, there was/is hell to pay.


It saddens me that the younger people of today (not all of them mind you) seem to have zero idea of the struggles we had even in the 70's (and George was in his 20's), much less what was going on during slavery. The simulated sex at parties, quests for Gucci, Prada, and other assorted junk--rims, weaves and the latest sneakers and cell phones are of the highest order of the day. It is so directionless, tragic, and amazing in it's cocooned ignorance. I try to laugh to keep from crying sometimes, but the shit is SO not funny. For example, a post I read on The Field Negro:

Scranton Pennsylvania ain't exactly field Negro country, if you get my drift. So I wasn't exactly surprised to hear that the good folks in Scranton were calling for the head of the skinny Negro with the funny name. "Kill Him" , one enthusiastic supporter shouted, while Congressional candidate, Chris Hackett, fired up the crowd. Oh, did I mention that this was once again a Sarah Palin rally? Well I didn't. But if you have been following these elections like I have, you would know that I didn't have to. Because I am sure you knew exactly who the guest of honor was.

Honestly, who are these people? Do they just follow Sarah around like "dead heads" or some shit? The Sarah Palin Hate Tour coming to a small back water town near you. And why didn't anyone in the crowd call out this guy? Why didn't Chris Hackett, who should know better, and who is running for Congress for crying out loud, rebuke the guy? Seriously folks; this stuff is not funny. These people aren't too smart, and if you keep telling them enough, they will really try to hurt that uppity Negro. Take that nigger, how is that for change? Since you are supposed to be the second coming, let me see you rise from the dead. Your dead ass is the only change that we all can believe in. We have god on our side , so we will go to heaven after we kill your ass.


Yes, so definitely not funny. And yet when Obama spoke up about why at these rallies people were screaming "kill him", (which I was surprised he actually brought up--he's usually above it) McCain is like "boy, how dare you insult my people? I will not sit hear and listen to these insults" WTF? Not once addressing that it was actually said. If they were saying that about McCain at an Obama rally, they would have brought that shit back to the 50's, straight up, with dogs, and hoses, and teargas, and billyclubs, and pepper spray, and if it got too hot, bullets.

And so it goes. I am hoping with all of my heart that this election is the last true bastion of unashamed racism. Am I just being naive in that hope, cause as George Jackson said (paraphrasing) "every time we we give them the benefit of the doubt, the Fascists always stay true to who they are" ? Which is to say, it may just be inherent in some circles to stay the same, no matter what is going on in the rest of the world--there will always, always be someone to carry on the torch. I hope (again) that's not true.

I'm also hoping (again) that if Obama wins this election, it will be an awakening to those who don't know anything about George Jackson, and couldn't care less. Maybe they can see the beauty, the real beauty of being Black, which is also the beauty of being just a human, something that a lot of the times we aren't allowed to do.

As one who has received great amounts of hostility for NOT being ashamed of my blackness in any way, where I've lived, where I've worked, where I've gone to school, and sometimes being covertly (or overtly) punished for it, I see this as the first step in the direction of well deserved respect in an Obama win. Yes, I have respect for myself, and yes, I respect others, and I want everyone to treat me with that same respect. People would be more hard pressed to lynch/taser someone to death someone if our president is Black. I would like to think.

My fate has been sealed for a long time. My great, great grandfather was born a slave, and I am not an old person. When I had a baby, I had my six week old son in a front carrier on my breast. A BART policeman accosted me when I got out of the car, and when I had the audacity to ask him what he wanted and what I had supposedly done, he twisted my arm behind my back and slammed me on the hood of the car, with my 6 week old baby under me. When I went bananas, I was arrested and taken to jail; they took my breastfed son away through child protective services, and it took me days to get him back. The cop had to cover up and lied and said I assaulted him--I had to got to court 4 times because I would not say I was guilty, though they tried to scare me into saying it. They dropped that charge, but till this day, I have no idea why that BART cop rolled up on me, and to my knowledge he was never punished.

I knew the pain of what my ancestors felt when their children were stolen away from them. Until you feel that pain of complete and total injustice, you can actually listen to a bullshit artist like McCain, and a potentially dangerous airhead like Palin. Me? They make my ears bleed. My experiences are why I'm a Malcolm X and not a MLK, and why I am a George Jackson and not a Barack Obama. There are those of us that know our fate--that if it all goes down, you will be on the front line, full force, no questions asked. There's nothing in you that will allow for anything else.

I am hoping (again) that it never comes down to that, because Obama is our MLK--yes, it's cliched, but he is our hope, what George Jackson was longing to see in his lifetime. If he was able to have that hope, he might not have died, just as our brothers are dying in the streets by their brother's hand. Maybe his winning will heal some of our hurts, give us more pride, make us remember the struggles and sacrifices that were made by our people in the last century to get to this point, and make no one ashamed of their Blackness anymore.

I hope.




to read more about george jackson, click here

Reader Opinion: Who Are Today's Black Hollywood Greats?

Tambay Obenson, who had probably the best blog on Black film "The Obenson Report", has decided, sadly (or unsadly, depending on your view) to venture on to different things. He now has a blog called "Watch Us Explode" and he left this comment for me the other day:

Paul Newman was that very rare breed of celebrity - not just an entertainer, but a real actor, and an activist who invested both time and money in various social causes. He got it, unlike so many others. This just got me thinking, and maybe this is a potential future post for your blog :o) - as Hollywood's stars from yesteryear (its so-called golden age) are starting to pass on to the next life, who are the next group of stars (I guess the baby-boomers) who will replace them? The likes of Paul Newman, Marlon Brando, Sydney Pollack, Ossie Davis who have all died in recent years, as well as their contemporaries who are still alive like Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Robert Redford, Ruby Dee, etc... Who are today's golden stars? Are they even comparable to those that came before them?

I have had the same questions on this blog about non-Black Hollywood, but never really brought it up here about who will be the greats in Black Hollywood. I have my thoughts on this, but I would like to know yours...I will use your comments in a post early next week. Who do you think will be picking up the torch of the greats like Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee? Will any of today's Black Hollywood be remembered 50 years from now and why? (in your opinion). And everybody can't say Angela and Denzel, haha!

btw, who put taye diggs' ass in that pic?

Just Asking....

Isn't 8 years of smirks, snide remarks, and one-liners enough in place of real politics and leadership in our country?

WAKE THE F*CK UP!!!

Damn.



this is sarah palin at an anti-peta rally (not really). this woman is half a breath from being our president. do you REALLY want that?! ps: i already know the vast majority of the readers of this blog are too smart to drink that koolaid.....

Photo credit: Ryan McFarland http://www.zieak.com/2007/05/21/governor-sarah-palin-and-the-vikings-and-valkyries/

Reader Comments....

There were some terrific responses to the post I wrote the other day regarding Wesley Morris opinion piece on the state of Black Hollywood called "A Black Hole". The comments were are relevant to many posts I have done on this blog, so I will put up a few of them in the upcoming week. Many were very thoughtful and well written. First up is Tambay Obenson's from The Obenson Report:

Your title to this entry says it all... "So what else is new?"

As I've probably mentioned before, I'm simultaneously attracted to and repelled by articles like this. On one hand, when I read Wesley Morris's piece (and the myriad of others like it), I'm encouraged that there are some of us who do demand and expect better; but then I'm also turned off by what feels like a rather "defeatist" attitude that's unfortunately prevalent amongst us.

I've grown weary of talking about what's wrong with black cinema. I feel like we've already granted it much lip service and should be past that, enough to see a shift towards some real action! So, I'm much more interested in hearing plausible solutions.

Maybe we should borrow from Malcolm X, and adopt a "by any means necessary" kind of stance, and build from there.

I think we all should be challenging ourselves here (myself included, of course)! Do we REALLY want change, and if so, what are we doing individually to see the change that we want? Or rather, what are we WILLING to do? Are we being passive, waiting for someone else to lead? Or should we be unwaveringly aggressive, and start blazing new trails?

Tyler Perry doesn't really give a shit about what we think, and frankly, I'm tired of talking about the man! He is what he is, and will continue down whatever path he chooses, regardless of what any of us says or does! As someone said above, he fills a niche, and that's fine. Just because we aren't members of his niche audience doesn't automatically disqualify what he's been able to accomplish! He's in a comfortable position, and I don't see him doing anything to ruin his treasures! The same goes for the rest of the black Hollywood elite - Will Smith, Denzel, Oprah et al! They each have their own personal agendas - agendas that don't necessarily include the rest of us. So, is there really any point in concerning ourselves with what we think they should or shouldn't be doing, since we have absolutely zero control over the choices they each make, and doing so only leads to further frustration? I say no!

As radical as it might sound, maybe what we should be talking about here is some kind of revolution from the ground up. Instead of waiting for them to foster change, those of us who are aware and "mad as hell" should lead the way... and the rest just might actually follow!I obviously don't have all the answers, and I don't expect any one person to generate the ultimate solution, but let's start hearing some real solutions to the problem, especially those that are within the power of the people, whether individually or collectively!

So What Else Is New?

Reader Janice posted a link in the comments to an article on a subject that many of us have lamented about repeatedly. It was written by Wesley Morris, a Black film critic at the Boston Globe. I have been Brother Morris' number one fan since his days at the San Francisco Chronicle, and a link to him has been on my blogroll since the first day I started my blog.

He is an insightful reviewer with excellent writing skills, and I always read and trust his film reviews before anyone else's; I rarely disagree with him. And I most certainly agree with him on this subject, without a doubt. Check it:

A few weeks ago I got to see Terrence Howard and Anika Noni Rose play Brick and Maggie "the Cat" in Debbie Allen's Broadway production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." I went home depressed. Not because the show was bad, although, in its clanging way, it is. I was depressed because for all its shortcomings, the show was a big entertainment event that doesn't happen much in the movies: It had premium melodrama and black stars being starry. As a moviegoer, I hurt for that kind of glamour.

I felt the same hangover leaving an exhilarating concert by Erykah Badu and the Roots earlier this month, and watching both "The Wire," which just said goodbye to us and HBO, and the staggering acting in that production of "A Raisin in the Sun" ABC aired in February: Why isn't black life this interesting, vibrant, or complex at the movies? How is it that Terrence Howard can play a legendary character on the New York stage but is stuck as the sidekick who's jealous of Robert Downey Jr.'s hardware in "Iron Man"?

When it comes to black America, the movies are stagnating. Well, when it comes to any nonwhite male subject matter at the movies, the pickings are slim. But there's such a wealth of black stars, producers, and directors that the scarcity of movies - big-ticket or small, serious or light - focused on the lives of black people, is surreal. There's a gaping entertainment void. It's not just the lack of quantity. It's the lack of variety. Despite the usual death notices posted for hip-hop, black popular music is alive and well.

At the moment, black movies come in two flavors: uplift dramas and Tyler Perry. The first is represented by all those feel-good movies - "Akeelah and the Bee," "Stomp the Yard," "Pride," "The Great Debaters" - that, bless their hearts, wanted to empower us, but that nobody flocked to see. Message movies are a great notion but tricky as entertainment. The makers of these films have this noble but somewhat misguided idea that the average black moviegoer wants to feel like she's in school.

Perry's megaplex successes suggest that the average black moviegoer wants to feel like she's in church. His movies have sermons. His movies have soap opera. And, increasingly, his movies have stars. In the past, I've said only somewhat jestingly that a Tyler Perry movie is where black actors go to get back in touch with their roots. (The prim, post-Nipplegate Janet Jackson who showed up in "Why Did I Get Married?" wasn't just making a movie, she was asking for forgiveness.) But now a Tyler Perry movie is where a black actor goes to act. Angela Bassett is the star of "Meet the Browns." "Daddy's Little Girls" had Gabrielle Union and Idris Elba. And the movie that Perry, who essentially works without Hollywood's help, is currently filming has Alfre Woodard, Sanaa Lathan, and the loveable Taraji P. Henson, that pregnant, hook-belting hooker from "Hustle & Flow."

(to read the rest of the article, click HERE )

KICK ROCKS!!

The time has come
We don't care how.
But Hillary Rodham Clinton
Will you please GO NOW!

Your campaign is becoming

An endless charade,

So get off the trail,

Burn out now, don't just fade.

You can swim down a river

Of crocodile tears.

You can surf on a wave

Of terrorist fears.

Enough with the red phone!

Enough with the NAFTA!

If you like,

You can go now by White Water Rafta.

Hillary Rodham Clinton,

We don't care how—

HRC,

Will you please GO NOW!

You can leave on McCain's

Straight Talk Express.

You can leave all made up

in a Muslim headdress.

Kucinich will take you

On his UFO

But good God, dear Hillary

Just go go, GO!

You can ride home on coattails

Or in big biz's pocket.

Or maybe you'd like to

Ride NASA's new rocket.

You've raised a gazillion

From execs on Wall Street.

But when it comes to real change,

Barack's got you beat.

You can go by limo

Or lobbyist jet.

You can ride an old donkey

Just get, Hillary, GET!

Your negative ads

Are bringing us down.

You should get off the air,

You should get outta town!

You can go to New York

Or back to The Hill,

But get yourself home….

and don't forget Bill!

Hillary Rodham Clinton,

We don't care how—

HRC

Will you please GO NOW!

From IW: Amen!!

from www.againsthillary.com via Long Live THE MESSAGE

He's Not The Second Coming, But....

I've been reading this book on the spiritual laws of prosperity. I was grabbed by one particular passage today....I guess it's because I have been thinking so much about politics lately:

"This is the most enlightened age the world has ever known. It has been stated that more progress has been made on this planet in the past one hundred years than in the past ten thousand years! Jesus promised that, when the Spirit Of Truth is come, it would guide us into all truth. This is the age when the truth about God, man, and the universe is being explored and revealed as never before."

IW: I'm not super religious or anything, but Amen. I think Obama is part of this awakening; he has a consciousness and conscientiousness like no politician I've ever seen. I wish him well on his journey, and no matter how things turn out, he has given politics the much needed shake it has deserved for way too long--and as a result has put many a perpetrator under the microscope for the fools and/or hypocrites that they are.

Spike Lee On Hillary...

This from an interview at the Chrysler with the "Behind the Lens" Awards where he was recently honored:

Q: [You said 'your man Obama,'] you're obviously supporting Obama. Can you comment on that?

Spike: I just think that the Çlintons are bad people, they will do anything to win, and they keep demonstrating that. This last thing when she said she was under fire and my man Sinbad straightened that out real quick. That’s not something you just, you know, 'oh I thought it was Tuesday' and its Wednesday. No, that was complete fabrication -- just fabricating stuff.

Then the stuff Bill Clinton has been saying ... Maybe it went to his [Bill Clinton] head when Toni Morrison said he’s the first black president but its been back firing because of the stuff he said about Obama, South Carolina, and all that stuff. And then this whole thing with Florida and Michigan, each one of those democratic nominees understood the rules. Howard Dean laid it out. Florida and Michigan cannot be counted and Hilary Clinton was thinking like the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, 'It’s in the bag. F$%# Florida and Michigan, I’m not gonna need them anyway because by that time I'm rollin.'" But it didn’t work out like that, so now its like, oh this is un-American if the voices of Florida and Michigan are not heard. She wasn’t saying that stuff when she signed the thing. It’s a complete flip flop and I really think that Americans are getting more sophisticated. Some of us are not going for the okey doke.

But I will say this ... my Grandma, she put me through Morehouse and NY Film School. She lived to be 100 years old. She’s died Christmas Eve 2006, the day after James Brown died, both in Atlanta. Her mother was a slave so I’m only four generations from slavery and I think the mistake we make as African Americans is we talk about former years, but to get former years we have to talk about the day it ended, 1865. We talk about history, 1865 was like yesterday. And she [grandma] went to the grave for sure not thinking that a black man would ever be, or have the chance to be, President of the United States. So we living in an amazing exciting time.

When asked if he though Obama was going to win the democratic nomination and the presidency, Spike said yes. He added, "there's gonna be a lot of people who are going to have to explain themselves." He specifically mentioned BET founder Robert L. Johnson and Congressman Charles B. Rangel. Johnson, a Clinton supporter, came under fire for making a reference to Obama's admitted teenage drug use while campaigning for Clinton in South Carolina back in January. He later apologized. While announcing his support for Clinton’s presidential, Rep. Rangel, who represents Harlem, said Obama had no chance and claimed the people who enthusiastically backed him were motivated by “Black pride.” Rangel later reassessed his outlook. "I think its gonna be tight and I think he is gonna win the democratic nomination. But McCain, its not going to be a walk," Spike added.

From IW: Indeed.

Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself....

I was sent this by a couple of people (thanks tambay and sergio), and I'm sure you will read it elsewhere, too. But it is so wonderful, I just had too post it. Beauty incarnate.

Lest We Forget: An open letter to my sisters who are brave.

Alice Walker on Obama

I HAVE COME home from a long stay in Mexico to find – because of the presidential campaign, and especially because of the Obama/Clinton race for the Democratic nomination - a new country existing alongside the old. On any given day we, collectively, become the Goddess of the Three Directions and can look back into the past, look at ourselves just where we are, and take a glance, as well, into the future. It is a space with which I am familiar.

When I was born in 1944 my parents lived on a middle Georgia plantation that was owned by a white distant relative, Miss May Montgomery. (During my childhood it was necessary to address all white girls as "Miss" when they reached the age of twelve.) She would never admit to this relationship, of course, except to mock it. Told by my parents that several of their children would not eat chicken skin she responded that of course they would not. No Montgomerys would.

My parents and older siblings did everything imaginable for Miss May. They planted and raised her cotton and corn, fed and killed and processed her cattle and hogs, painted her house, patched her roof, ran her dairy, and, among countless other duties and responsibilities my father was her chauffeur, taking her anywhere she wanted to go at any hour of the day or night. She lived in a large white house with green shutters and a green, luxuriant lawn: not quite as large as Tara of Gone With the Wind fame, but in the same style.

We lived in a shack without electricity or running water, under a rusty tin roof that let in wind and rain. Miss May went to school as a girl. The school my parents and their neighbors built for us was burned to the ground by local racists who wanted to keep ignorant their competitors in tenant farming. During the Depression, desperate to feed his hardworking family, my father asked for a raise from ten dollars a month to twelve. Miss May responded that she would not pay that amount to a white man and she certainly wouldn't pay it to a nigger. That before she'd pay a nigger that much money she'd milk the dairy cows herself.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.theroot.com/id/45469

Blogging For Justice

I know I have some new readers...so in case you didn't know, sometimes I go on a political bend. It is too much a part of my nature not to. I was a member of the Bloggers For Justice For The Jena Six, and am part of the Afrosphere Action Coalition.

I know some of my political subject matter may not appeal to all who visit here; if not, I understand. Just scroll on down. :-) Back to normal business tomorrow. For the others, today is another day of Blogging for Justice with my fellow Black blogging brothers and sisters.

This is a non-Hillary zone, I'm sure you must have noticed by now. The fact that she tried to get MI and FL to redo their primaries was tantamount to a spoiled child throwing a fit in my opinion. She was the only one on the ballot! The politrickin' of her "considering Obama" to be Vice President was almost laughable in it's unadulterated arrogance.

So dear readers, I am in solidarity today with my Afrospear and Afrosphere folkses....read on:

Day of Blogging For Voter Justice

The Democratic presidential nomination is over! The VOTERS have spoken. Senator Clinton cannot win by legitimate means as Politico.com has noted.

Yet, in Hillary Clinton’s undying personal ambition she has endorsed the other party’s candidate over her own democratic teammate, and has conducted a scorched earth campaign of ‘if I can’t be the president, no Democrat will’.

We are asking our readers who do not want to see four more years of Bush/Cheney in the person of John “100 more years in Iraq” McSame to do three things:

1. First, sign the petition

2. Make contact with the DNC, and even Hillary Clinton’s office to let them know your stance. It can be as simple as sending an email with a link to the petition, saying that this is your stance; or whatever you want it to be.

3. Contact superdelegates that represent you with the same message. Superdelegates include democratic congressmen and governors.

The Democratic National Committee:

Mailing Address:Democratic National Committee430 S. Capitol St. SE Washington, DC 20003
Main Phone Number:202-863-8000

For their email form, go here

For Hillary Clinton’s contact information, go here

From the Afrosphere Action Coalition press release:

The Afrosphere Action Coalition (AAC) is circulating an online petition to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), to super-delegates, and calling upon Senator Hillary Clinton to “face the reality of the earned delegates count, concede defeat, and thereby contribute to healing a wound which is opening and continues to widen” in the Party. Therefore, the AAC is sponsor “Day of Blogging for Voter Justice.”

As the nomination contest for the Democratic nomination wears on, Senator Hillary Clinton insist on waging an increasingly divisive campaign; throwing the “kitchen sink” at Senator Barack Obama, dismissing democratic voters as in consequential in those states with large Black populations, in small states, or in what she regards as “red states”. In fact, Clinton discounts every state that she fails to win.

Behind in the earned delegate count and the popular vote, “Clinton’s desperate political tactics threaten to split the long-standing Democratic Party coalition.” “We utterly reject Senator Clinton’s endorsement of the other party’s candidate’s; an act which unprecedented.” If she cannot win enough earned delegates under the current process, “Clinton seeks self-serving rules changes or to win in a smoke-filled room.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 2008 Democratic National Committee Convention Chair, states that “If the votes of the Super-Delegates overturn what’s happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic Party.” (New York Times)

The Afrosphere Action Coalition concurs and therefore calls upon the DNC, super-delegates and Hillary Clinton to “end her relentless war against established Party principles and constituencies and concede defeat in the nominating process.”

If Democrats are going to act like republicans and steal elections from the voters, then what’s the point of voting for democrats?

Story behind the story: The Clinton myth

By JIM VANDEHEI & MIKE ALLEN

One big fact has largely been lost in the recent coverage of the Democratic presidential race: Hillary Rodham Clinton has virtually no chance of winning.

Her own campaign acknowledges there is no way that she will finish ahead in pledged delegates. That means the only way she wins is if Democratic superdelegates are ready to risk a backlash of historic proportions from the party’s most reliable constituency.

Unless Clinton is able to at least win the primary popular vote — which also would take nothing less than an electoral miracle — and use that achievement to pressure superdelegates, she has only one scenario for victory. An African-American opponent and his backers would be told that, even though he won the contest with voters, the prize is going to someone else.

People who think that scenario is even remotely likely are living on another planet.
Read the rest of the article

Bloggers Participating in the Day of Blogging For Voter Justice:

1. Francis L. Holland http://francislholland.blogspot.com/2008/03/concede-now-hillary.html
2. D. Yobachi Boswell http://www.blackperspective.net/
3. Villager electronicvillage.blogspot.com/
4. PurpleZoe purplezoe.blogspot.com/
5. Sojourner’s Place sojournersplace.blogspot.com
6. Vanessa Byers http://www.blackhandside.net/
7. JD www.blackinbusiness.org/
8. MrsGrapevine mrsgrapevine.com/
9. Sincere http://www.sincere-thoughts.blogspot.com/
10. Credo dowdellresearch.blogspot.com
11. Black Women in Europe blackwomenineurope.blogspot.com
12. Belizebound www.inpursuitofperfection.typepad.com/
13. Shawn Williams http://www.dallassouthblog.com/
14. MarvalusOne opinionatedblackwoman.com/
15. Rock AfricanAmericanPoliticalpundit.com & AfricanAmericanOpinion.com
16. Anne-Marie McReynolds http://www.backyardbeacon.org/
17. therealready.blogspot.com/2008/03/its-on-now.html
18. Phil philpierrepaul.blogspot.com/
19. imby.wordpress.com/
20. Gunfighter gunfighter1.typepad.com/warrior/
21. Tom automaticpreference.wordpress.com/
22. InvisibleWoman invisible-cinema.blogspot.com/
23. Baratunde www.jackandjillpolitics.com/ and www.jackandjillpolitics.com/
24. Marcus E. Carter http://www.inpursuitofperfection.typepad.com/
25. Terry Howcott http://www.terryhowcott.com/

Well Lookie Here....

Update on Shirley Q. Liquor:

Ain't this about a bitch? Sojourner from the blog Sojourner's Place wrote a post about foolio and said that the email to direct your complaint to at his/her management company is now defunct. Sure enough, when I checked that POS's website, all info was gone, as well as the pictures.

Let me get this straight, you can tour the country and disrespect me and my Black sisters on every level, but when we call you on that sh*t you run like "a slave from the church" (paraphrasing his/her words)?

If you really thought you were doing a "tribute to Black women" I think we'd be able to find you and your management, yes?

It ain't over Shirley Q. How you durrin'?

UPDATE!: WWW.BanShirleyQLiquor.com has been launched in an attempt to ban Knipp's minstrel show. Also, “The Bev Smith Show” on American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) will dedicate its entire broadcast today (8:12 p.m.-10 p.m. ET) to the campaign to ban Shirley Q. Liquor and spread the word about his upcoming performances.

National Black talk radio “The Bev Smith Show” on American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) will dedicate its entire Monday, March 3 (7p-10p ET) broadcast to the campaign to ban Shirley Q. Liquor and spread the word about his upcoming performances. AURN is the only African-American owned network radio company in the United States. It is the largest network reaching urban America, with more than 200 weekly shows, AURN reaches an estimated 20 million listeners.

To listen online click HERE.

This Shit Is NOT Funny!

You know I am pissed, cause I have never put a full on ugly curse word in the title of my posts. It's not Black Cinema, but it is related to why I started this blog; to help stop the negativity of our images in the media.

This irked me to no end. What the F--K is this?

While perusing Aunt Jemima's Revenge, I happened upon a story about some idiot whose stage name is Shirley Q. Liquor, VERY inappropriately and supposedly playing a "Black woman" in full on black-face. The blog says:

"Comedian Chuck Knipp aka Shirley Q. Liquor believes his parody of black women "was created in celebration of, not to downgrade, black women." I am stunned that this joker thinks black women would find this character as an uplifting tribute to them. I find it interesting that the same gay community that protested until Grey's Anatomy actor Isiah Washington was fired, can strongly support this guy's racist and sexist "Songs of the South" portrayal of a black woman."


From IW: Does this look like a celebration to you?

it's a celebration bitches!

The post goes on to state:

"To make matters worse, this person feels that he cannot be criticized for this horrific characterization by of all people, black women! Activist Jasmyne Cannick has been extremely critical of Mr. Knipp on her website and has successfully protested against his performance. Knipp has retaliated against Ms. Cannick by posting her personal phone number on his website and just recently he superimposed a photo of Ms. Cannick's face over another photo of an extremely obese and nude body of another unknown and unnamed African American woman. This attack on Ms. Cannick is typical of Knipp and the other racist and sexist images posted on his website."


From IW: The picture that he posted of the blogger Ms. Cannick was so sick and disrespectful that I have no words. I can't even post it.

To see this asshole's website--which made me want to hunt him down and put foot to ass, click HERE. Knipp describes Liquor as being “a welfare mother with nineteen kids (Cheeto, Orangello, Chlamydia, and Kmartina, etc.), who guzzles malt liquor, and drives a Caddy.” This fool makes close to six figures doing this "celebration and upliftment".

A sample of one of his "comedy" gems: “On the fifth day of Kwanzaa, my check came in the mail/AFDC!/Thank you, lawd!/Come on, kids/Let's go to the store/For some collard greens, ham hocks and cheese!" If you want to read another article about this piece of shit click HERE. It also has a link to the picture he posted of Ms. Cannick.

If you want to join Jasmyne Cannick, the Activist and Blogger he disrespected after she called him on the bullshit, and let him/her (Knipp) know we ain't havin' it click HERE. You can also view his/her youtubes there.

I highly encourage you to take the time to click on these links, and to write about, or at least mention this backwards ass mess on your blogs as well....I know my blogging sisters and brothers hear me out there!

Update: It seems that I am very much on the late train with this, as the always on top of things Undercover Black Man wrote about this last year on his blog HERE in a post entitled "Umgawa!". In my defense, this was before I had the pleasure of his acquaintance :-)

Update #2: Villager had this to say:

"Villagers, the Knipp-Roach is supported by his booking agents at Diva Central (7510 W. Sunset Blvd, Suite 1445; Los Angeles CA 90046).

You can reach out directly to Diva Central by phone (323.864-1933) or email (divasanddjs@aol.com) if you want to join us in expressing our disgust and protest over the racist Charles Knipp show. "

From IW: To read the rest of his post, click HERE.

Update #3: Focused Purpose wrote a blurb today about it HERE on her blog.

Update #4: Michael Crawford from Bloggernista (who I believe is gay) just wrote about this travesty HERE.

The Audacity Of It All...

I know I am venturing off of the subject of Black Cinema, but until I start another blog, I need to say it here.

This primary/Obama situation is a catalyst for so very many things...I will be processing for a while.

It has caused me to lose much respect for some folks, and believe me, I'm not happy about it; Julian Bond, Andrew Young, Charles Rangel, and most importantly, the Clintons. At the same time I have a new respect for Oprah for completely putting herself out there for him early on, and the for Kennedys being newly regenerated for this millenium.

I laugh at the pundits that say Black folks are voting for Obama because he's Black. Maybe some are, but if that were the case, where were the strong showings when Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton ran? Whatev.

I find Barack believable, well balanced, thoughtful, and sincere. And I have since I read his autobiography 2 years ago, before the thought of him running for president even came to light. His truths that resonate with me go way beyond race, and that's why I think "others" feel him too. He is real. And after being lied to for so very many years by our government, I feel a lot of folks don't give a f**k what his color is. The important part is that they believe what he says.



I found some posts on other blogs about non-blacks diggin' on Barack. The first is from "A Black Man's View":


Today I had an interesting conversation with a guy that came into my office checking on the status of a background search that my office conducted on several of his employees. While I was pulling up the information, he asked me how I felt about this historic election that we will have this coming November. (This is a white Guy). He tells me that he is supporting Big O, and he proceeds to explain why the "O" man will get his vote on March 4.

Basically he told me that he is sick of the way Washington DC is, and he wants a change.

He told me that Obama is like a cold drink of water on a hot Texas day.

He told me that he could care less if Big O was black, white, or green with pink spots.

He told me that all of his friends feel the same way.

He also told me that Hill-Billy could bend down in front of him and.... well.... you fill in the blanks.

He then asked me who I was supporting. I told him my eyes were on Edwards, but now that he is no longer in the race, I have to go with Big O. He asked me if I was voting for him just because he is black. I told him that of course I am thinking about him being a brother, but ultimately my decision to back him is that I think he is a better candidate than Hill-Billy. I reminded him again that Big O was not my first choice.

Well the guy goes on to say that he is glad that Obama is black, because it will make America look good on the world market, since the current President has f--ked up America's reputation.

Keep in mind this guy is being very candid with me in my little cubicle. He is talking to me like we have known each other for years. Oh, I forgot to mention that this guy was a registered Republican until last year. Now he is an Independent.

Well, I finally get my slow-ass computer to cough up the information that he wanted and he shakes my hand, tells me I better hit the polls on March 4 and he leaves. After he left I got to thinking about the conversation I just had. If Obama can make a (white) Texas cowboy like this dude accept him ( A black man) at all costs, is nothing short of amazing.

I never thought I would see the day were a Black Man would have a legitimate shot of moving to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. I never thought that I would see the day where a Black Man that was not running a football, shooting a basketball or rapping, would get so much unconditional love from the majority of my beloved country. It really amazes me. If this guy represents what the rest of (white)Texas is feeling, I do believe that come March 4, Hill-Billy is in trouble.


From IW: Right on.


The second is from one of my blog loves "The Field Negro":

Today while shooting the breeze with one of my white friends, {He said} "Field, I am voting for that Barack fellow, you know why?" "Why?" I asked him. "Because then I won't have to hear you rip the white man anymore, and you will quit 'busting my chops' about white privilege."


Field also had this one:

My assistant has been with me for about eight years now. She was assigned to me by the city of Philadelphia and I couldn't be happier.

She is a white woman, and I think she is in her early fifties or so. She also happens to be a republican. I know this, because unfortunately, party affiliations and connections are two of the most important factors that are considered when folks get city jobs.

Now we rarely talk politics, but this morning my assistant asked me who I was voting for in the upcoming elections. Of course I knew right away where the conversation was heading. She then proceeded to ask me if I liked Obama. I told her I did but I still wasn't sure if I was going to vote for him just yet. "Why not?" She asked. "Well are you going to vote for him?" I asked her. "Yes I would consider it, I mean field, the man is so handsome."

Now I must admit, I never saw this coming. Not from her. I never even considered that she would consider voting for the "O" man. But after our little discusion it dawned on me that there must be quite a few A-merry-cans who will vote for the "O" man because they like how he looks, and how he carries himself.

I mean let's be honest; here in A-merry-ca we like our presidents to look, well, presidential. There are a couple of criterias that must be met. They must be tall, and they must have a full head of hair. It's why I knew Rudy was doomed from the get go. And it's why I know that Mike Huckabee, with his rice bowl bald spot in the middle of his head, has no shot. It's why Mike Dukakis- all four feet of him- had no shot when he ran against the first Bush. Think about it, pretty much all of our modern Presidents have been tall (I know the frat boy looks short, but he is really over six feet tall) with a full head of hair. The "O" man certainly fits that bill. And if my assistant is to be believed, he is handsome to boot.

So if I were John McCain I would be a little worried right now. I mean honestly John, I don't think A-merry-cans are feeling the comb over look. You might want to go the Joe Biden route and consider some hair plugs. And how tall are you? Could you get on one of the rides at Six Flags?... let me stop. The man does have one saving grace though, he is a war hero. Soldiers always seem taller than they really are don't they? I heard, for instance, that Ollie North was only like five feet six inches or some shit. Yet I see the guy on T.V. and he always looks like he is so much taller. (But I digress).

So back to the"O" man. Yes "O" man, if you are going to be the second coming of Camelot you better have the looks to go along with all the great speeches of inspiration. Fortunately for you it seems that you have that covered. And if my assistant is to be believed, it might carry you a long way; yes even with middle aged republican white women.


From IW: The Field makes a good point. The 'audacity of hope' indeed. And by the way, Tavis Smiley? STFU!



As George Clinton (not Hillary Clinton), Ice Cube, Yo-Yo, The Red Hot Chile Peppers, and Dr. Dre would say, "Paint The White House Black"** (video produced by Reginald Hudlin--how ironic):





**Thanks "The Black Snob" for video and pix