Not just another blog…
Are you tired of the spectacle called Lindsay Lohan? 2007 DUI conviction, cocaine possession conviction, blatant violations of court orders and more appearances in front of judges than Bobby Brown, come on. If Lindsay Lohan was a Tanisha Washington we wouldn’t be hearing about her everyday because she would be locked up somewhere for an oddly excessive amount of time.
Popularity: unranked
In the very recent past, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had the not so brilliant idea to call Anita Hill and ask her to reconsider her actions in the past that had a major impact on the confirmation process of Justice Thomas years ago. Virginia Thomas had the audacity to ask Anita Hill to apologize. Experience has taught that while on occasion, the saying that there is nothing worse than a woman scorned can be held as absolute gospel, generally women state the facts, have momentary pity parties (if warranted), hold their heads high and keep it moving. Anita Hill was no different. Then, and now, most probably believed every word she had to say about all incidents involving Clarence Thomas. I’m sure once she found out that the call from Mrs. Thomas was not a joke or a skit from an upcoming Punk’d episode that the two words that came out of her mouth were “Bitch Please!”
The two classes of victims I am most sympathetic and partial to are those that have suffered any sexual abuse (harassment included here) and discrimination claims (primarily racial). Both classes are difficult to prove and always controversial. The violators in both classes typically fein ignorance and intent, and deflect back to the victims that somehow they are overreacting to the situation and simply misunderstanding.
The chickens are coming home to roost. Payback is a @#$%! Karma=Revenge without the satisfaction. You pick the cliche’, all are appropriate. For nineteen years, Anita Hill has probably endured undue whispering every time she entered a room. Anyone watching those confirmation hearings could see that she was a credible, composed and intelligent person conveying her honest recollection about how things went down around the honorable Thomas (pun intended). Almost 20 years later, coming to the stage and breaking her silence, Lillian McEwen, Clarence Thomas former girlfriend.
Again we have a credible, professional, black, female telling of similar behaviors of the good judge and essentially that she has no doubt that Anita Hill’s assertions were probably spot on. Ms. McEwen has written a memoir that she is shopping around and admits, “I don’t look good in this.” Now retired and not in fear of the truth adversely impacting her professionally, McEwen is sharing. She realizes that she will probably no longer be on the Thomas’ Christmas list, oh well.
A few takeaways from all of this:
In the words of Ms. McEwen,”I have no hostility toward him, it is just that he has manufactured a different reality over time. That’s the problem that he has.” Isn’t it masterful how attorneys take a simple four letter noun that defines someone that is not telling the truth (liar) and re-crafts it to one whom has manufactured a different reality over time.
Popularity: 24%
A part of me feels like Reggie Bush took the high road when he decided to return the coveted Hesiman he earned for his on the field performance while attending USC. The other side of me feels like he should have carefully packed up the award and sent to someone he really trusts in a land far far away. All of these big time sports programs and the NCAA continually fein that student athletes are in school to get an education. The paradigm has been flawed for a long time. Sure, a college degree is the outcome for some. But for many elite athletes, their college experience ends with no degree and no plan for when their 3-5 year professional sports career has ended. We won’t even discuss the path for the undrafted.
Did Reggie Bush know what he was doing was wrong? Maybe. Does him returning the Heisman change anything? Doubtful. It is tiring to continually read about the athlete that violated some NCAA guideline. One of the most noted offenses Bush was guilty of was that a would-be agent provided a home for his parents to live in. This was deemed an improper benefit. I don’t know what Bush’s situation was like and don’t care to spend the time researching it. I do know that if you offered such extravagance to most teens, the likelihood that they say yes to giving their parents a home would be pretty high.
Bush’s statement was polished, contrite and admirable:
“One of the greatest honors of my life was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2005. For me, it was a dream come true. But I know that the Heisman is not mine alone. Far from it. I know that my victory was made possible by the discipline and hard work of my teammates, the steady guidance of my coaches, the inspiration of the fans, and the unconditional love of my family and friends. And I know that any young man fortunate enough to win the Heisman enters into a family of sorts. Each individual carries the legacy of the award and each one is entrusted with its good name.
It is for these reasons that I have made the difficult decision to forfeit my title as Heisman winner of 2005. The persistent media speculation regarding allegations dating back to my years at USC has been both painful and distracting. In no way should the storm around these allegations reflect in any way on the dignity of this award, nor on any other institutions or individuals. Nor should it distract from outstanding performances and hard-earned achievements either in the past, present or future.
For the rest of my days, I will continue to strive to demonstrate through my actions and words that I was deserving of the confidence placed in me by the Heisman Trophy Trust. I would like to begin in this effort by turning a negative situation into a positive one by working with the Trustees to establish an educational program which will assist student-athletes and their families avoid some of the mistakes that I made. I am determined to view this event as an opportunity to help others and to advance the values and mission of the Heisman Trophy Trust.
I will forever appreciate the honor bestowed upon me as a winner of the Heisman. While this decision is heart-breaking, I find solace in knowing that the award was made possible by the support and love of so many. Those are gifts that can never be taken away.”
Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush produced on the playing field. That is what the Heisman was about. Why didn’t anyone ask Bill Belichick to return his Super Bowl rings? According to the rules he actually cheated. Belichick was not even suspended. Go figure. If Bush was indeed aware of what he was doing wrong, now that he is rich and can afford great representation, he should make the Heisman disappear. Put it in a Trust for his grandchildren or something. It’s wrong to take back the accolade that was awarded for his on-field performance. Possibly, as the story continues to evolve, my feelings may change. For now, send that trophy down south to momma nem’ for safekeeping.
Popularity: 100%
There is not one thing I would pay a hard earned dollar to hear come out of Sarah Palin’s mouth. Obviously, a few brilliant minds at CSU Stanislaus felt otherwise. Earlier this year they paid Palin $75,000 plus numerous expenses inclusive, but not limited to, first-class airfare for two and additional travel accommodations for others in her entourage, premium hotel rooms, and even bendable straws for name brand water consumption. Talk about a Queen B! [Click here for a copy of the contract.]
We won’t even address the issue here that CSU is a school in the broke state of California where another round of IOUs are imminent. Come on, $75,000 for 30 minutes of whining from this trailer trash to national icon hussy? Only in America. It must be said, this was a fundraiser. It will be interesting to find out how much money was raised for the event and what were the net proceeds to the organization.
The whole situation came to light when the school was asked to provide a copy of the contract signed with Washington Speakers Bureau on Palin’s behalf. CSU claimed they did not have a copy initially. A court order caused one to magically materialize.
It’s ironic that so many of Palin’s ilk have the hubris to label Michele and Barack Obama as elitist. Where is all the backlash from the same folks about Palin earning $150,000 per hour. The entire Palin clan should be eternally grateful to Senator John McCain. We have him to thank for gifting Palin to the world. Is there any wonder why Arizona is in such disarray?
Stay tuned for the upcoming remix release of B@!&h betta’ have my money… Starring AMG, DJ Quik and Too Short with a featured special guest appearance by the biggest pimp of them all Sarah Palin. You better not forget the bendable straws!
Popularity: 12%
Are you weary yet about all of the talk about whether President Barack Obama is a Muslim? You are witnessing the lengths at which some will go to cause any distraction possible to influence upcoming decisions in the voter’s booth.
Uncertainty has always bred fear. In such a hypocritical place as the United States it is ironic that two leading debates in the country right now are tied to religion. One issue deals with whether or not it is appropriate to build a mosque around the corner from Ground Zero, the other on whether or not the President is Muslim or Christian. Whatever happened to freedom of religion? If President Obama is a Muslim, so what?
Behold White Supremacy hard at work. This is what you get when those accustomed to power see their monopoly disintegrating. Oh how short our memories. There was similar uproar when women were given the right to vote, when blacks were no longer forced to utilize separate bathrooms and could eat at the same counters as whites, and when Martin Luther King Jr. was labeled a Communist.
It is sad commentary that because a man can respect multiple cultures, religions and political regimes that he is labeled as supportive of or a member of those groups. America grew too accustomed to leadership that was more renegade cowboy than distinguished and diplomatic.
The short term memory loss in America is incredible. It wasn’t too long ago that Christians used religion to carry out and justify the slave trade in America. On Sunday around eleven in the morning all over the country, you will still find most Christians in a very segregated house of worship. The blood on the hands of Christians from a historical perspective is much worse than the blood on the hands of the terrorists that hijacked the planes on 9/11.
Let’s quickly compare a few scenarios and shine a little light on some extreme hypocrisies. Islamic extremists killed more than 3,000 people on 9/11. America initiated a war, not in retaliation but over weapons of mass destruction (otherwise known as oil) that the government knew was a false pretense. Death toll unknown. America dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima killing hundreds of thousands of Japanese citizens. The President at the time was Harry S. Truman, a Southern Baptist.
Genocides in Darfur have killed and displaced millions over the last decade. Essentially, Arabs continually persecute non-Arabs with Sudanese government support since. The most brutal system of chattel slavery known to man, The American Slave Trade, robbed millions of their religion, culture and knowledge of self with three primary tools: the Bible, Christianity and violence.
No belief system nor its membership is exempt from reprehensible acts. Based upon my study of religion, all suggest man is fallible. All provide for some methodology for redemption. As the world continues to speculate on the religious leanings of the President, take a moment to pull out the book associated with your belief system and look up the passages and scripture that addresses; peace, judgement, love and hate, violence and war and ask yourself a simple question.
Have I been a good ___________________ today?
Fill in the blank appropriately: Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic….
Stop the hypocrisy and bury the hate!
Popularity: 24%
Lift every voice and sing til’ earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty…
Right about now in the song, especially blacks 40 and under start humming the words hoping no one around them is realizing there is no way you are going to even try the words to verses two and three. You might be saying, I didn’t even know there were more verses.
James Weldon Johnson wrote the poem in 1900. Soon after Johnson’s brother transformed it into a song. It has been in heavy rotation at every Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute and ceremony, NAACP Convention and any other gathering when more than a hundred blacks assemble for something positive. The only reason the Electric Slide gets more play is because it is now played at gatherings where the attendees are not just black. We won’t even mention DJ Casper’s Cha Cha Cha song right now.
Professor Timothy Askew at Clark Atlanta University, has an interesting perspective on the ideal that the song is actually separatist. Professor Askew has spent a lot more time than most researching James Weldon Johnson while at Yale University. This is a bold position from a professor at a HBCU.You know he has been called Tommy (short for Tom) Askew a couple of times for his position.
It is intriguing how many debates are rampant about the attempt and need to assimilate in a rather all-in nature since the occupants of the White House have been a little different from the past. According to history, Lift Every Voice an Sing was never the official “Black National Anthem”. Arguably, the song never makes reference to any racial group at all.
In Askew’s new book, Cultural Hegemony and African American Patriotism: An Analysis of the Song, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing‘, he explores the ideals and traditions surrounding the song. According to Askew, by singing the Black National Anthem, blacks are sending the message that they prefer to be separate, and have their own nation. Hmmm.
While I respect the professor’s point of view and appreciate the intellectual analysis, I have to say, brother please. First, I honestly don’t believe enough black people even know the words to the song past the first verse. Second, just because you hold onto something near and dear and treat as tradition does not make you a separatist ready to start a revolution or revive the Marcus Garvey Movement. Lastly, at the root of many of the problems faced by blacks today is a lack of knowledge and understanding of self and that deep seated, often unspoken desire for assimilation and acceptance from the dwindling majority. The revolution will not be televised.
Sing a song full of the full of the faith that the dark past has taught us…
Popularity: 36%
Last week Omar Thornton murdered eight people at his place of employment near Hartford, CT. He also killed himself. His simple reasoning, racism. As you have already witnessed, it was immediately national news. You obviously know, Omar was a black man and all of his victims were white. What you probably have not heard about, and is most likely news to you is the fact that since May of this year, more than 15 people have been stabbed in or around Flint, MI by a knife wielding, muscular built, young white male assailant. Five of these victims have died. All of the victims have been black males.
Officials in Flint are not assigning any racial motive in spite of a clear pattern. The attacker apparently feigns distress or asks for directions before launching his assault on the unsuspecting victims, police said. There is a serial killer on the loose and the officials are unwilling to ascribe racism as a likely motive. Really?
From murders to abducted children, when the victims are not white, there is an incredible pattern of foot dragging that goes on. Loss of life due to senseless violence is tragic regardless of the race of the perpetrator or the victim. You would not know this from the longstanding tradition of not fairly covering the tragedies that plague black victims in comparison to the coverage that takes place when the victims are white.
What you see depends on where you sit. Many black people (not all), heard the story about Omar and his justification for his rampage and quietly related to their mind’s eye, the man finally snapped. At the same time, many whites (not all), immediately related to their mind’s eye, that since the union officials and multiple employees countered the racism claim levied by Mr. Thornton, that the company was always fair and just in dealing with minority employees and never could have discriminated against him.
When the victims are not white, their stories still deserve to be heard. Their cases still deserve to be solved. It’s sad commentary that when crimes perpetrated upon ethnic minorities occur, there is an unspoken assumption that the case will go unsolved and the cases rarely make the news. Why is it we still don’t know who shot Tupac and Biggie? There is a serial killer active in Flint, MI who is white and all of his victims have been black. Why haven’t you heard about it?
Popularity: unranked
Right off the bat let’s make one thing clear, I support President Barack Obama. With that said, I have a simple question (actually a few). I wonder, will his legacy be one of style or substance? What do you feel he has done right? Where do you feel he really dropped the ball? Tavis Smiley, Dr. Cornel West and Rev. Jesse Jackson have expressed varying degrees of frustration with his candidacy and presidency. Are their criticisms warranted? Yesterday we had a great dialogue on Facebook about the delicate balance Obama manages being a race-neutral political figure with so much pressure in a race-conscious America. The conversation started because Dr. West was bagging up the President on how he came at him after an event. It’s all very interesting. In your words, what have been President Obama’s achievements or shortcomings?
Popularity: unranked
This video was produced in the early part of this year. It appears that this version was shared as an agenda item in a Birmingham, AL council meeting. Mayor Larry Langford deserves applause for his courage. The piece was created by Reginald Bullock.
Something must be done to curb the violence and mayhem affecting black children. Commentary about this excerpt is being purposefully limited as the video speaks volumes.
Watch: A War for Your Soul
Popularity: unranked
Recently, our esteemed elected officials had to vote on legislation introduced by Al Franken (D-Minnesota) that would allow victims employed by companies that contract with the Department of Defense to sue instead of being forced into arbitration settlement hearings on cases of battery and rape. Franken introduced the Bill after learning about Jamie Leigh Jones’ ordeal while being employed at Haliburton and stationed in Iraq. Jones was repeatedly sexually harassed. Eventually the harassment escalated to the nineteen year old being drugged and gang raped. When she attempted to report the incident she was locked in a crate. After her release and return to the United States she sought remedy only to find out that due to the fine print in her employment papers, she relinquished her ability to pursue remedy outside of arbitration.
Fortunately, Frankens’ legislation passed. However, all 30 of the Nay votes came from Republicans. The Department of Defense was also against the anti-rape amendment. This is extremely disturbing but not too surprising. Take a look at the commentary by John Stewart and listen to the comments made by: Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). These fabulous five are adamant about tweaking legislation for the funding of ACORN in light of the whole video pertaining to tips on circumventing the system and helping a supposed pimp enhance his ring of prostitution. But impacting HBR and other companies that do business with the United States Department of Defense with this type of legislation must have hit a little too close to home.
Visit Republicans for Rape.org for contact information on this esteemed collective. The Thirty Dirty. Go figure. I guess this is what it looks like when the chickens come home to roost. It is often stated at the Opus that GOP is dead. Obviously, that position is a juxtaposition of what was and what might evolve. The Republican Party has lost the stranglehold it had with Latino voters, it’s ploy to reach out to African-American voters is a farce, and this latest gaffe is sure to alienate millions of women voters. Keep up the destruction.
I challenge every reader of this post to call or email as many of the Dirty Thirty as possible and let them know how you really feel. Please share the information with you friends and remember it could have been your sister, daughter, relative or neighbor victimized in Iraq. Political allegiances should not matter in every situation.
To vote against an anti-rape amendment is pretty sad commentary. I guess the old guard feels desperate times call for desperate measures. One’s political affiliation on some matters should be irrelevant.
It’s sad to see that we have legislators that support battery and rape but rail against helping a pimp become more efficient. It looks like they have a thing against the middle man. That was a joke.
Popularity: unranked
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