Tomorrow is Father’s Day
2009. This will be my first Father’s Day
without my father, who passed away earlier this
year in February. For some reason I wanted to
know about the history of Father's Day. I grew
up believing that Father’s Day was invented by
the greeting card companies. I conducted some
research and learned that the first Father’s Day
was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, WA,
when Mrs. John B. Dodd first proposed the
idea of a "Father's Day" a year earlier. At
that time there were no Father’s Day cards.
Mrs. Dodd wanted a
special day to honor her father, William
Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when
his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth
with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to
raise the newborn and his other five children by
himself. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult
that she reflected and appreciated how strong
and giving her father was when it came to
raising his children as a single parent.
At about the same time
in various towns and cities across American
other people were beginning to celebrate a
"Father's Day." In 1924, President Calvin
Coolidge supported the idea of a national
Father's Day. In 1966, President Lyndon
Johnson signed a presidential proclamation
declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's
Day.
Over the decades
Father's Day has become a day to not only honor
your father, but all men who act as a father
figure including stepfathers, uncles,
grandfathers, and adult male friends.
If you were fortunate
like me to have a good relationship with your
father or any man that positively influenced
your life, celebrate them and their memory.
Find a way that is meaningful and personal for
you.
My father, Samuel H.
Johnson, lived a full life. Despite his
unbelievably tragic upbringing and not having a
father in his life, he managed to be a wonderful
father. As a young adult, he had men in his
life who taught him how to be respectful and
trusting of others, when he lived in a world
where very few people could be trusted.
Somehow my Dad managed
to make his children feel safe and loved in a
world that did not provide those things to him.
He had a lot of help from my mother, but my
focus is on Dad today. Toward the end of his
life, I have some very powerful and treasured
memories of my father. We spent a lot of
quality time together during the last year of
his life. We laughed and shared a few
heart-felt moments that help me put life in
perspective.
If your father is living
and you have a relationship with him, don’t take
it lightly. In your own special way, try to
make every day “Father’s Day.” Respecting,
loving, forgiving and appreciating you father is
no easy task, but it is worth it in the end.
I miss my Dad. A few
days before he passed away, my Dad told me there
would be aspects of my life that would change
when he passed. In short, he warned that I would
have some difficult days in front of me. My
life was pretty good. I didn’t understand what
he was talking about then, but here I am four
months after his death and I’m beginning to
understand what he was trying to tell me, which
makes me appreciate him more.
Watching my Dad’s health
decline to a point where he depended upon others
to do for him was tough. In helping to care for
him, I believe I was setting the best example
for his prize possessions—his two grandsons. My
sons had a front row seat for what it takes to
care for a loved one. You must be patient,
caring and have a heart-felt desire to give the
patient the best quality of life.
My father was a good man
who overcame obstacles in life that would have
ruined most people. I promised my father that I
would follow in his footsteps and be a father to
my sons that he was to me.
So on this day, and
every day, I remember my Dad. To all the men
who have stepped up to the plate and handled
their business and other people’s business when
it comes to fatherhood--Happy Father’s Day!
Gary Johnson is the Founder &
Publisher of
Black Men In America.com a popular
online magazine on the Internet and the Black Men
In America.com Blog. Gary is also
the author of the new book“25 Things
That Really Matter In Life.”
So
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Money Matters: It’s Time To Fight Back
By
Gary A. Johnson
I don’t know about
you, but I’ve had enough of the banks and
credit card companies taking advantage of
hardworking consumers and people who
consistently pay their bills on time. Not
all of the people struggling to pay their
bills and meet their financial obligations
used to have good credit, but have fallen
prey to the revolving credit card industry
and/or hard times.
The current downturn
in the economy has made life “tough” for
millions of Americans. “Tough” is a
relative term, in that “tough” for some
people is cutting back on their Latté’s and
the housekeeper. “Tough” for others means
they have no savings and are about to lose
their home.
I own and operate a
small business. I’ve tried to grow my
business and like millions of others
businesses, the economic downturn has
negatively impacted my company. In fact,
the terrorist attack on our country that
occurred on September 11, 2001 was the
beginning of the loss of revenue for the
company.
As a result of
trying to hold on to the business I used my
sterling credit rating in the form of credit
lines to fund and eventually restructure the
business. I’ve had a 30-year relationship
with the American Express company. As a
result I was able to secure a business line
of credit via both gold and platinum
corporate cards. I selected American
Express because they offered services that
were supportive of small businesses.
Imagine my surprise
when I received a letter from American
Express informing me "that after a thorough
review" of my credit profile they have
placed a spending limit on my account. My
first reaction was OK, times are difficult
and many banks and companies are tightening
their credit and lending practices. As I
continued to read the letter, I was informed
that my credit had been drastically
reduced. I went from a six-figure credit
line to a low four-figure limit. In
fact, the limit is so low that I cannot run
my business with the new limit.
Let me put my
situation in perspective. My company has
no history of late payments or outstanding
balances. In fact, my last month’s
statement had a surplus balance. American
Express showed their appreciation by
crippling my ability to run my business.
Thank you American Express.
I would not dare
compare what’s happening to American
consumers to “mafia-like” tactics. That
would be an insult to the mob. However, I
can’t help but wonder if consumers would be
better off if their accounts were managed by
organized crime. Many of these banks, were
forced to take tax pay dollars. Some of the
banks needed the money to survive and others
did not. American consumers were misled.
Through a series of press releases and
announcements, consumers were led to believe
that some of the financial institutions who
took the money were going to help consumers
with their debt. Many of these banks took
our tax dollars and wiped the books clean of
their debt and mismanagement and proceeded
to make more money by screwing consumers
with tricky fees and raising interest rates
without warning or on a seemingly ad-hoc
basis putting their customers deeper in
debt.
The Obama
administration says they recognize that
what’s happening to consumers is not fair.
They tout the Credit Card Accountability
Responsibility and Disclosure Act that
outlaws several of these credit card
policies that have sparked consumer outrage
including retroactive rate increases on
existing balances for cardholders who are in
good standing. Other deceitful tricks,
albeit legal, include hiking rates for new
charges without at least 45 days' notice;
"double-cycle billing," which allows fees to
be charged for balances that were already
paid off; and "universal default," which
applies rate hikes if a customer is late
with payments on unrelated bills.
Sounds good doesn’t
it? I wouldn’t pop any champagne just yet.
The new law amends
the Truth in Lending Act, which only governs
consumer loans. It does not apply to
corporate cards. Say what?
What this means is
limited liability corporations and other
companies that use traditional corporate
cards, the same old rules will continue to
apply. Let me translate this in a more
vernacular kind of way: Some of the credit
card companies will continue to have the
legal authority to insert a golf umbrella in
your rectum. Other companies will try and
open the umbrella.
It is time to fight
back. I’ve decided to use all of my
business adversity to motivate me to do
better. To work harder, be smarter and do
what I can to help others who have it worse
than me.
I can’t quit. I
have faith that I will not be down for long
and I will emerge from this downturn
stronger than ever.
American Express’
decision to reduce my spending limit has
crippled by ability to conduct business. I
was upset. I only allowed myself to stay
upset for about 30 minutes. My net move was
to fight back. I decided to fight back
strategically by terminating my relationship
with the company. Consumer advocates tell
you NOT to close your accounts immediately
because this action can impact your credit
score in a negative way. I have enough
credit lines and alternatives. I’m willing
to take that risk.
I called American
Express and when the Customer Service
Representative (CSR) came on the line she
announced her name and asked some
identifying information to confirm that I
was the cardholder. Her next question was:
“How can I help you today?” Before I could
answer, the CSR replied, “Oh, I think I know
why you’re calling. You received a letter
about your spending limit.”
I wanted to make
sure that my call was being recorded for
accuracy. Once confirmed I calmly asked the
rep if my account was in good standing. She
acknowledged that it was. I then asked if I
had a history of late payments or
outstanding balances. She she acknowledged
that this was not the case. I asked why my
spending limit had been reduced. She
explained that my credit report reflected
high balances on some other accounts. She
then suggested that I get a copy of my
credit report and work to reduce my card
balances with the other lending
institutions. The rep also was sure to
let me know that American Express would
re-evaluate my situation at a later date.
I explained to her
that I was aware of the contents of my
credit report and that I have no history of
late or delinquent payments. I am in good
standing with all of my creditors. I
advised the representative that American
Express has their method for dealing with
customers and I have mine. My method
involved dealing with companies based on how
they dealt with me. As a result, I don’t
like how I’ve been treated and advised her
that I wanted to close my account. The
credit card companies don’t want to lose
your business, but every action has a
consequence. I’ve decided that it was time
for me to part ways with American Express
Corporate Gold Business card. During my
company’s heyday, I would generate $5000 to
$10,000 dollars a month in charges. The
company would get their money within
30-days. Those days are over. By their
actions American Express has told me that
they no longer want to be a partner as they
have been in past years. I’m sure they want
more of my money, however, when business
gets better, I will give my business to a
company that demonstrates that they want to
work with me during both good and bad
times.
I am in the process
of getting a pay off balance, cancelling my
account and moving forward to reduce my debt
to credit ratio to become less dependent
upon the banks and credit card companies.
I really feel good
about this action. This was my way of
staying empowered. If more people took
small steps like this, we would send a
message to the predatory bank and lending
institutions.
I am not an
economist, but I believe this country would
have been far better off if every citizen’s
debt was reduced by 50%. We would not need
a Stimulus package, recovery money and all
of the other programs, many of which will
result in waste and fraud, again costing the
taxpayer more money.
The president of the
American Bankers Association says the
legislation "changes the entire business
model of credit cards. "Edward Yingling
says it restricts the ability to price
credit for risk -- in other words, to charge
more for those more likely not to repay
their debts.
Lots of people pay
off their credit cards in full each month to
avoid finance charges. This is not good
enough for some credit card companies. Some
industry experts say credit card providers
might start charging new fees for their
cardholders and could raise their interest
rates.
Don’t get mad
people, get strategic. Consumers need to
find a way to fight back against the credit
card companies and lending institutions in a
manner that will allow them to stay
empowered and be whole. This philosophy has
worked for me. This is how I maintain my
sanity. Folks, I’m one of the most blessed
people on earth. I have a loving family
which serves as my support structure. How
do the folks who don’t have a support
structure surviving?
I would suggest that
everyone in need assess your skills and
abilities and look for opportunities to
prosper, even during these terrible economic
times. Times aren’t bad for everyone. Many
people and business have not been affected
by the economy and others are thriving.
Come on people! Let’s get started!
The Isley
Brothers had a song out years ago called
“Fight The Power.” Fight it! Fight the
power!
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Comedian Michael Steele
May 19, 2009
Comedian Michael
Steele gave a much anticipated speech today
at the National Harbor Complex in Oxon Hill, MD,
where he tried to steady the sinking ship also
known as his “leadership” of the Republican
National Committee (RNC). If you’ve
followed this man’s career, it is hard to take
him seriously. This is why I refer to him as
comedian Michael Steele.
In his one-man show in
the form of a speech today, comedian Steele
promised the that "the era of apology for
Republican mistakes of the past is officially
over," declared that "we're going to take the
president head-on" and boasted that the
Republican comeback is already under way. Oh
really?
Rush Limbaugh
Steele is shaking in his
boots that he doesn’t upset another entertainer—Rush
Limbaugh, because that will mean Steele
would have to apologize to Limbaugh (again).
Absent from the
comedian’s remarks were new ideas. He said
nothing new and nothing of substance. This dude
is really obsessed with President Barack
Obama. I don’t know what the President ever
said or did to him, but comedian Steele never
misses an opportunity to try and “diss”
President Obama. Comedian Steele repeatedly
argued that President Obama was making
our lives worse by increasing federal spending.
He never mentioned any Republican plan to help
families and small businesses.
I bet leaders in the
Republican Party are sorry they ever elected
this dude as the front man for their party.
Why do I say this?
For starters he appears
to be in over his head. He doesn’t know where
he stands on an issue and some of his positions
are not consistent with the party line. I don’t
care what HE says, comedian Michael
Steele appears very much to be a figurehead
for the organization and he knows it. What is
beginning to bother him is that WE know
it!
Comedian Steele
addressing reports that the RNC is
seeking to reduce his funding authority told
FOX News that part of his job is to “manage
the money” and suggested that if committee
members strip him of that authority he’ll step
aside. Think about it. The RNC elects a
black chairman to run the party and now they’re
looking to implement ways to restrict his
ability to manage the money. Yeah, that’s a
vote of confidence.
The Republican Party
is treating comedian Michael Steele like a baby
wearing “Pull Ups.” They just don’t think he’s
ready for “big boy” pants. Real POWER in
POLITICS comes with MONEY! If you
can’t control the money, you have no power. The
Republican party is sending the comedian Michael
Steele a “warning shot” in the form of a message
by threatening to mess with his money.
“They can contemplate
all they want to, but the reality is if they
want a figurehead chairman you can have a
figurehead chairman, but it won’t be Michael
Steele,” the comedian said.
If ever there was an
“empty suit” it is comedian Michael Steele.
His party lost the presidency and control of
Congress in the last two major national
elections and national polls show more Americans
are moving away from the Republican Party.
Under Steele’s
leadership the big debate on the agenda today is
whether to refer to the Democratic Party
as “socialist.” Is this leadership?
And you wanted to know
why I refer to this guy as a comedian. He’s
funny and not to be taken seriously—that’s why.
So
what do you think?
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I wish I didn’t feel
the need to write this commentary. I don’t like
putting people on “blast.” However, if your
actions warrant that you need to be taken to the
woodshed, then let’s go and get it over with.
While watching the news
yesterday my attention was drawn to a segment
where James Harris of the Pittsburgh
Steelers refused an invitation to visit the
White House and meet with President Obama.
Harrison says he does not believe the invitation
is all that special. "I don't feel the need to
go, actually," Harrison told Pittsburgh station
WTAE-TV. "I don't feel like it's that big a deal
to me."
Hey, that's his
choice. Harrison is consistent on this issue.
He skipped his visit to the White House in 2006
when the Steelers were invited by President
George W. Bush. Seems like he hasn't learned
much in two years. Perhaps, James Harrison
is a very deep thinking, introspective guy who
really sees no value in accepting an invitation
to the White House to meet the President of the
United States. It's possible!
Teammates describe
James Harrison as an “individualist.” If
you read the papers, most people think he’s a
“dumb ass” with no sense of history. I really
don’t understand why the media continues to put
a microphone in the face of athletes,
particularly the ones who have proven that they
don’t know a damn thing about current events or
history. At this point, I don't know if he's a
"dumb ass." He appears to be pretty ignorant.
I feel more comfortable saying that Harrison is
probably terribly misguided.
I’m sure Harrison is
well compensated for being the NFL Defensive
Player of the Year. However, his actions and
statements prove that no amount of money can buy
“common sense” and respect. Harrison may be a
“smart” guy, but he also appears to be terribly
misguided and uninformed.
Barack Obama is a
historical figure in our history. Forget the
fact that he is the first black President—he is
the President of the United States of America.
Where is your sense of history?
I remember when I was
asked to work at the White House. I was 23
years old and asked my mother if I should take
the job. My mother looked at me and replied
with a question. “How many times do you think
you will have this opportunity?” Enough said.
I took the job.
Let me be clear.
Harrison has every right to pass on his
invitation to visit the White House and meet the
President. And I have every right to think that
he is misguided to the point of being a dumb
ass. The dude “doesn’t know what he doesn’t
know.” I believe that years from now he may
look back on this decision and try and kick his
own ass.
Having worked inside
the White House, I can tell you, politics aside;
it is an honor and a privilege to be invited to
meet the President of the United States
regardless of who he or she is.
Look, if the dude doesn’t want
to go to the White House to meet President
Obama leave him alone. Let him stay home.
James Harrison is out to prove a point.
There's something to be said about being your
own man and making your own decisions, even if
they go against the grain. I’m not sure if it’s
the point that he wants to prove. The only
thing Harrison has proven to me is that having a
high IQ on the football field, doesn't always
translate to having a high IQ off of the field.
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Master P To Launch New Cable TV Network
Last week it was announced that rap impresario Percy
Miller aka “Master P” is planning to launch a new cable
network called Better Black Television (BBTV). Miller
says the new network will be "family-friendly" with
"positive subject matter."
Now before you say, “Master P…?” This appears to be a
new and improved Master P and this new network may just
work. Off all the Hip-Hop and Rap moguls, Percy Miller
is probably the most self-made. As the Founder and CEO
of No Limit Entertainment, Miller earned his fortune
selling tapes of his music out of the trunk of his car
to running a business conglomerate in the areas of
music, film, TV, films, fashion, books and sports
management. Miller has earned 5 Grammy awards and sold
over 75 million records. He may be worth more than P-Diddy
who has a higher public profile.
Let’s think about this. BET has sunk so far off the
radar that it won’t take much to improve programming on
the Black cable landscape. All Master P and company
have to do is dust off the original BET blueprint and
BBTV can be what BET was supposed to be.
A few months ago it was announced that a black news
network spearheaded by former Congressman J. C. Watts,
Jr., was coming our way in 2009. The Black Television
News Channel (BTNC), would be the nation's only
African-American news network. The firm announced a
multi-year carriage agreement with Comcast, the
country's leading provider of cable, entertainment and
communications products and services.
Make no mistake; there is a need for quality “black
interest” programming. The programming on the
forthcoming Master P led BBTV will be diverse and
contain programs about health and fitness, animation,
financial planning, reality TV, sitcoms, dramas, movies,
responsible hip-hop music and videos, politics, sports
and entertainment news, educational children's shows as
well as teen and family shows. In addition, BBTV is in
the process of purchasing local cable channel affiliates
across the country.
Miller seems to have done his
homework and has surrounded himself with some very solid
consultants which makes him the smartest guy in the
boardroom—because he knows where all the smart people
are located.
"Better Black Television has been a
vision of mine for some years," said Miller. I've done
a lot to promote and change the way messages are relayed
to our children and our families over the last few
years. Promoting positive content and positive messages
is so important to educate and preserve the next
generation. Being exposed to positive content is what
changed my life. I believe that there is a market in our
community for a new diverse network that provides a new
brand of superior programming that caters to all aspects
of television from reality to original programming. In
addition, I'm excited to be able to expose the urban
community to a vast array of jobs in the entertainment
community that they might not otherwise be privy to. I
have a great relationship with BET and MTV and my son
and I will continue to do work with them and support
their networks. With BBTV, we're spearheading the
initiative to meet consumer demand for family friendly
hip-hop content."
The BBTV Advisory Board members
consist of some of the most significant entertainers in
the entertainment and sports industries including Denzel
Washington and Will Smith.
The Better Black Television mission
statement reads as follows:
Better Black Television (BBTV)
is committed to being a leading African-American
multimedia entertainment company by establishing a
distinct, valued, trusted, and socially responsible
consumer brand within the African-American and
multi-ethnic, English-speaking marketplace. We plan to
accomplish this mission by delivering quality, family
oriented entertainment and information to the quickly
growing urban consumer base of our target audience
through the use of television and Internet resources.
For more information visit the
network’s web site at
What do you think? Can
Master P deliver on his promise of providing a
quality television network that serves the needs
of the black community?
My Reaction To CNN Presents "Black In America" by Gary
A. Johnson
Part II of CNN Presents Black In America focused
on “The Black Man.” I hate to sound like a broken
record, but this show fell short of my expectations. It
was so negative that at one point I thought I was having
a heart attack. If I was wearing a blood pressure cuff
it would have blown off of my arm. Would it have been
so bad to show one black male success story from start
to finish?
There are tens of thousands of black men who don’t have
children out of wedlock. There are tens of thousands of
black men who have children out of wedlock and take care
of their children financially and are involved in their
lives.
Some of CNN’s portrayal ofblack men
included showing brothers married to white women, a
marketing executive with mostly white friends and whose
black friends say he's not black enough, a lower-tiered
rapper and a 32-year old high school graduate with some
college finding a part-time job after months of
searching.
The segment featuring the Reverend/Doctor/ProfessorMichael Eric Dyson started off well and ended
with a negative showing his brother going back to jail
cell to serve his life sentence. I know this is life for
many folks in America. I can accept this. Let's also
show the other side. There are positive aspects of life
for black men that were not shown. Let me repeat my
earlier question:
Would it have been so bad for the show to have one
segment featuring a black man without any negatives?
I’m assuming that CNN would argue that the
segment featuring the brother who was an Assistant
School Superintendent in Arkansas married to a Circuit
Court judge was very positive. They had three sons. OK,
let’s look at that segment through my lenses. They lived
in a 6,000 sq. ft. home in a mostly white neighborhood.
(I have no problem with that). Two of the three sons
were married to white women and the third son was
involved in a shooting where he escaped jail time. When
asked about the incident both the son and the father
refused to discuss the matter. Again, that's their
choice. (I’m sure having a mother who is a judge and a
brother who is a prosecutor didn't hurt).
My main complaint has to do with the issue of balance in
the coverage of the challenges facing black men. This
show did not show the full range of black
men in America and their families as they claimed in
their promotional pieces that preceded the show. If
they did, we would have seen more “positives” than
“negatives.”
Having seen both shows, I saw a clear and consistent
“common thread.” Every segment that started out with
what appeared to be a “positive” story ended with a
“negative” outcome. Am I wrong on this?
The only segment that I could stomach was the segment
with filmmaker Spike Lee who talked about the
impact of the negative images of black men in Hollywood
and his challenges of making films other than comedies
that perpetuate negative stereotypes.
Let me state for the record that I applaud Soledad
O’Brien for this effort. I believe that her
intentions starting out were honorable, however,
somewhere along the way either she and/or CNN got
off track. This was not an accurate and full portrayal
of life in Black America. It focused way too much on
the negative aspects of black life for my tastes.
CNN Presents Black In America is the perfect argument for why we
need strong black owned media outlets. Perhaps if there
was a black owned media outlet with the capability and
“reach” of a CNN a different story would have
been told. It’s not good enough to have just the outlet.
You have to have strong leadership willing to exercise
courage to tell the whole truth. You need a company
willing to resist the temptation to lean toward the
negative and portray more of a balance of life in black
America.
There was a time when we had such a media outlet, it was
called BET. However, I don’t think the story
would have been any different under the leadership of
Bob Johnson. We need black owned media outlets
willing to tell our story. Some will argue that Bob
Johnson formed a film company to tell “our story.
Yeah right. Let’s take a closer look at this argument.
This is the same Bob Johnson,
founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET),
who sold BET to Viacom, and became this
nation’s first male black billionaire. You are correct.
Johnson did form a film company called “Our Stories
Films,” which debuted its first film on July 27,
2007, entitled “Who’s
Your Caddy?”
starring actor/rapper
Big Boi and Sherri Shepard. WTF?
Bob Johnson
and Tracey Edmonds (the former Ms. Babyface) said
they want to produce films that show black people in a
positive light. So they give us
“Who’s
Your Caddy?“
as their first film. (I stopped using the N-word.
Where’s Jesse Jackson when you need him? Bob Johnson,
talking down to black people, I'd like to ...)
“_________ Please!” Don’t start me cussing up in this
camp.
This is Bob Johnson’s way of telling “our” story.
Making a film that even Stevie Wonder could see
that the characters in the film depict racially
offensive stereotypes and the jokes are stupid and
crass.
Folks, it is time for solutions. What are we going to do
for ourselves to help break these cycles of violence,
poverty and apathy?
A good friend of mine helped me
calm down today and put this whole thing in perspective.
He said to me, “Gary, the reason you’re upset is because
you expected too much from CNN. CNN is a
news organization that does not have the perspective to
tell our story.” Thank you
Janks Morton,
you of all people should know
“What Black Men Think.”
Am I being too hard or critical about the CNN
series? What are your thoughts?
Rev. Jesse Jackson
apologized today to Sen. Barack Obama for
making what he describes as "regretfully crude"
comments about Obama during what he thought was
a private conversation three days ago.
Jackson, during a break from taping "Fox &
Friends" was heard responding to a question from
a guest about Obama’s speeches on morality at black
churches. Apparently, not aware that his microphone
was on, Jackson whispered, to the other that Obama
had been talking down to black people and later
remarked: "I want to cut his nuts off."
Bill O’Reilly
aired excerpts of Jackson’s comment on his show and
said the following: “I want to tell the audience,
and I want to tell you, that we held back some of
this conversation, and we did that because we didn't
feel it had any relevance to the conversation this
evening. We are not out to get Jesse Jackson. We are
not out to embarrass him and we are not out to make
him look bad. If we were, we would have used what we
had, which is more damaging than what you have
heard. What we are trying to get at here, is that
there are some people who believe that the
victimization here goes to hell if Barack Obama is
elected president. The accusation that we live in a
racial society, unfair to blacks, all blows up if
you get Obama into the White House.”
Jackson declined to repeat the comments, but said he
decided to apologize publicly after hearing from Fox
that it would air them. "For any harm or hurt that
this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I
apologize," Jackson said in a written apology.
Jackson also said he called Obama's campaign to
apologize.
Jackson's comments sparked something of a family
feud. His son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who is
who is an Obama national campaign co-chair said of
his father’s statements: "I'm deeply outraged and
disappointed in Reverend Jackson's reckless
statements about Senator Barack Obama. His divisive
and demeaning comments about the presumptive
Democratic nominee -- and I believe the next
president of the United States -- contradict his
inspiring and courageous career."
Jackson, Jr, also said, "Reverend Jackson is my dad
and I'll always love him," he said. "He should know
how hard that I've worked for the last year and a
half as a national co-chair of Barack Obama's
presidential campaign. So I thoroughly reject and
repudiate his ugly rhetoric. He should keep hope
alive and any personal attacks and insults to
himself."
Some in the media are trying to make this a race
issue. I don’t see this as a race issue. I see this
as a generational issue. Jesse Jackson got caught
being Jesse Jackson.
What do you think?
So
what do you think?
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Hillary Clinton--Loser?
Sore Loser? Or Both?
This past
week has not been good for Hillary Clinton. Let’s
recap. She made a statement that Obama cannot win
the white vote in the general election. She had a
double digit primary loss in North Carolina, a
narrow victory in Indiana and more superdelegates
shifted to Sen. Obama.
Barring
an act of God or some catastrophe in the Obama camp,
Sen. Hillary Clinton cannot win the democratic
party's nomination for president of the United
States of America.
Sen. Clinton and her husband, former president Bill
Clinton and some of their supporters look like sore
losers as they continue to “move the goal post” to
define victory. Remember Bob Johnson’s negative
remarks about Obama? How about Bill Clinton’s
numerous comments that offended many black voters in
South Carolina? Or Hillary’s insistence that the
votes in Florida and Michigan be counted even though
those primaries were held against Democratic Party
rules. Rules that all of the candidates agreed to
abide by last year.
Clearly a fighter and consummate campaigner, Sen.
Clinton found her voice and her stride too late in
the contest. The string of 11 primary loses forced
her to used the now famous “kitchen sink” strategy.
It was at this stage of the campaign that America
saw yet another side of Hillary Clinton. No more
tears. She was rough and tough. We saw Sen. Clinton
drinking beer and chasing shots of hard liquor. In
walks a gift-wrapped Rev. Jeremiah Wright and game
on again for the Clintons. With a faint political
pulse Clinton need to win North Carolina (or at
least come close) and Indiana. She lost North
Carolina by double-digits and barely won Indiana.
So here we are today—early May. Hillary Clinton does
not have any of the 3 M’s (Math, Money and
Momentum) to win the nomination. Obama’s
delegate and superdelegate count is so high that all
the big state victories she piled up can’t win her
the nomination.
So now what? What does Hillary Clinton do now? What
does Barack Obama do? Obama should do exactly what
he’s doing now—focus on John McCain and allow the
Clinton camp to implement an exit strategy that will
allow her to close her campaign with dignity.
If Hillary Clinton wants to continue the contest,
more power to her. I would advise the Clinton
campaign to be aware of the consequences of such
actions to her political reputation and the
Democratic Party.
In my mind, her behavior over the past several days
have seriously damaged her chances of being on the
ticket as Vice President. I wouldn’t put her on the
ticket. I don’t trust her. Yes, I said it. Hillary
Clinton would not be my Vice President. I don’t
believe that she is genetically capable of being Vice President Clinton to
President Obama.
That was a dream ticket two months ago. It is a
train wreck today.
The
Democratic Party needs to focus on unifying the
party and get ready to battle the Republicans and
John McCain.
So
what do you think?
If you
would like to respond to this review
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When Will Hillary Bow Out?
Notice I didn't say quit.
Showing no signs of surrender,
Hillary Clinton says she will
remain in the presidential race
"until there's a nominee."
Hillary Clinton is a fighter.
However, she and her campaign
have to face the reality that it
is time to implement their exit
strategy and work to unify the
Democratic Party.
It is time for the Clinton
campaign to stop moving the goal
post when it comes to deciding
victory. For example, the
Clinton campaign continues to
bring up the votes associated
with the Michigan and Florida
primaries. That's just silly.
Obama's name wasn't even on the
ballot. The Democratic National
Committee made it very clear
what the rules were regarding
those primaries.
Clearly, Sen. Clinton can
stay in the race for as long as
she wants, but for the good of
the party I say it is time to
bow out. I'm using a rather
simple formula that I call
"The 3 M's" to come to this
conclusion.
Math
Money
Momentum
Do the math. Obama has
more votes, has won more
primaries and has more money. As
of today Sen. Clinton has loaned
her campaign $11.4 million
dollars ($6.4 million last
month). The Clinton campaign
acknowledged that Sen. Clinton
may lend the campaign more
money. According to the
latest campaign finance reports
filed with the Federal
Election Commission, Obama
began the month of April with
$42 million in the bank for the
primaries to Clinton's $9.3
million.
The Clinton campaign bus is
leaking oil and dropping bolts.
The Obama campaign has
consistently raised more
money than the Clinton
campaign and after last night's
primaries in North Carolina and
Indiana; the total delegate
count is as follows:
Obama - 1844
Clinton - 1695.5
Once again, do the math.
It is highly unlikely that Sen.
Hillary Clinton can win.
Obama has picked up 100
superdelegates since Super
Tuesday and Clinton has picked
up fewer than 15. The
last two months Sen. Clinton has
proven to be a tough campaigner.
She's used the "kitchen sink"
strategy and taken advantage of
everything that has come her way
(Rev. Wright). However, it
appears that this strategy was
implemented too late in the game
for her opponent.
Sen. Barack Obama has run an
extraordinary campaign. Six
months ago, I don't think any of
the political strategists and
experts would have predicted
Barack Obama as the front
runner. It's only a matter of
time before folks start jumping
off of the Clinton bandwagon.
As for momentum,
Hillary Clinton has none.
Barack Obama has string of
decisive primary victories over
Clinton and the Obama campaign
has more momentum. The next few
weeks should be devoted to
providing Sen. Clinton with a
"soft landing." Sen. Clinton is
still a key player in this race,
even in defeat. She must be
afforded a way to exit
gracefully with her dignity
intact. Obama and the Democratic
Party will need Hillary
Clinton's supporters to win the
White House.
What do you think?
Gary Johnson is the Founder &
Publisher of
Black Men In America.com a
popular online magazine on the
Internet and the
Black Men In America.com Blog.
Gary is also the author of the
new book "25 Things That Really Matter In
Life."
The Fallout of the Obama/Wright
Controversy Is Nothing New
For the record,
I did not want to write this
column. I am sick of the mainstream
media deciding that Rev. Wright is
going to be the dominant political
story for weeks and weeks on end. I
felt this column may contribute to
that, however, after some
deliberation I decided to put my
views out in the blogosphere to add
some perspective as to why this
situation with Rev. Wright and
Barack Obama continues to dominate
the headlines and serve as a wedge
between black folks, Hillary
supporters, Obama supporters,
pastors and their church hierarchy.
Are you ready?
What I’m about to say is not sour
grapes or whining. It is what I
believe to be THE fundamental
truth if you are a black man living
in America. Barack Obama is a
charter member of the “Double
Standard Club.”According
to the current by-laws, if you are
an active member of the “Double
Standard Club” you will be held
accountable for every other black
person’s views and behaviors.
That means that Barack Obama, by
society’s view must answer questions
and explain Rev. Wright to the rest
of the general public.
Some white
political figures are held
accountable and others are not. It
seems that those who are held
accountable for the controversial
opinions and behaviors of their
pastors or colleagues are not held
accountable to the same degree as
their black counterparts. For
example, MSNBC's "The Verdict
with Dan Abrhams," CNN's "AC 360"
featuring Anderson Cooper and
FOX's "Hannity's America"
starring Sean Hannity have
all devoted special programming to
the Obama-Wright Controversy.
Hillary Clinton was grilled over
Geraldine Ferraro's remarks;
however, I don't recall network
specials on their relationship weeks
after the incident. I'm not saying
it doesn't happen, I am saying it
usually doesn't happen the way it is
happening to Barack Obama.
It ain’t fair,
but until the current system is
changed, that’s the way it is.
Many in the
mainstream media have made it their
business to make sure that Rev.
Wright and his antics cause
“Jerry Springer” like debates on
buses, in barber shops, beauty
salons, classrooms and in the church
among pastors and church members.
If you don’t
like what’s going on the next
question is: "What can you
do?" The first thing you need to do
is to make a commitment. If Barack
Obama is your guy you stick with
him. You can’t quit, you can’t lose
focus, and you just have to suck it
up, be strategic and work smarter.
All is not
lost. Obama can still win the
democratic nomination. Yes, there
is some truth to some of what Rev.
Wright said, particularly when it
comes to his social commentaries.
In some ways, I think Rev. Wright is
a brilliant guy who is “caught up”
and determined to get his 15-minutes
of fame. Further, I believe that
people who don’t want Barack Obama
to win the democratic nomination and
the presidency have deliberately
taken some of Rev. Wright’s words
and positions out of context to slow
or derail Obama’s momentum in the
campaign.
Folks, this is
“big boy” politics. Barack Obama
has to find the right balance to
play with the big boys and girls,
gain white support and stay above
the political fray. Whether you
agree with him or not, Rev. Wright
has made it clear that he is going
to make himself a part of this
campaign. Depending upon what
“street corner” you’re standing on,
the issue with Rev. Wright is a
combination of a race issue, a
generational issue and of course a
political issue.
Some have
argued that Obama started this mess
when he “dissed” Rev. Wright by not
inviting him to be present publicly
when he kicked off his presidential
campaign and when Obama publicly
told the nation that Rev. Wright
held a distorted view of the
nation. Obama further referred to
his spiritual mentor as "divisive."
Did Obama break some type of
unwritten code? You be the judge.
I say, “No.”
Barack Obama is
a savvy politician running for
president of the United States. I’m
not saying that he will do and say
anything to get elected; I’m simply
reminding you that he is a
politician who made a politically
expedient decision put some distance
between himself and Rev. Wright.
That’s what smart politicians do.
Is that throwing Rev. Wright under
the bus? Again, you be the judge.
Obama better be
prepared to be grilled on the issue
of his judgment. The Wright
controversy puts the spotlight on a
man Obama has known for two
decades. A man who introduced him
to Christianity, married him and
baptized his daughters. It's not
that he didn't know about Rev.
Wright's views; it’s how he chose to
manage the situation over the years
that people are evaluating.
In closing, if
Obama is your guy I suggest that you
forget about Rev. Wright. Take him
off of your radar screen. Take a
deep breath and regroup.
Don’t get
mad, get strategic!
Like
Him or Not, Rev. Wright Is Here To Stay
April 28, 2008
Rev. Jeremiah Wright has decided to
speak for himself and in effect defend
himself. People will debate whether Rev.
Wright's "coming out" is helpful or
hurtful to presidential candidate Barack
Obama, however, I don't think Rev.
Wright cares.
It is clear to me that the Rev. has
decided to define himself and defend
what he believes is his good name. I
can't say that I blame him. Who wouldn't
want to defend their hard earned name
and reputation?
While speaking today at the National
Press Club in Washington, DC, the Rev.
was asked about his patriotism. Wright
replied as follows: "I served six years
in the military. How many years did
Cheney serve?"
Rev. Wright has made it clear during
his string of recent public appearances
that he is a pastor and not a
politician. He reminded the audience
that Sen. Barack Obama is a politician
and that he and Obama will do what they
have to do in their perspective roles.
This is a very important point of
distinction and clarification. The role
of a pastor and politician are different
and Rev. Wright seems to be clear about
his role.
"I'm not here for political reasons,"
Wright said to a packed house last night
of about 10,000 people at a NAACP
gathering in Detroit. "I'm not a
politician," he told the crowd. He went
on to say, "I'm not here for political
reasons." "I am not running for the Oval
Office. I've been running for Jesus a
long, long time, and I'm not tired yet."
Perhaps the lines have become blurred
for others. Wright seems to be clear,
confident and at peace with his role as
a pastor.
What Rev. Wright is doing is allowing
the world to see him as he "really" is.
Rev. Wright is not the character and
YouTube phenomenon that he has been
portrayed over the past several weeks.
This is a very smart and worldly black
leader. Wright also told the audience at
the NAACP dinner that despite what his
critics say, he is descriptive,
not divisive, when he speaks
about racial injustices.
In the view of Rev. Wright he is
speaking out because of the media
attacks on the black church. He
stated his belief that the media attacks
are about him.
Many in the mainstream media as well
as Hillary Clinton and others will
continue to link Rev. Wright to Barack
Obama in the most negative ways. If I'm
a strategist in the Obama camp, I
probably would not be happy right now.
Why? Watch the media coverage of Rev.
Wright over the next several weeks.
Rather than focus on the positive truths
in his message, many in the media will
actively look for negatives or attempt
to twist his words to make him a
negative force and deflect from the good
that he's done.
Commentators will focus on his body
language, his gestures and his
"attitude" instead of what he's actually
saying. That's called distortion. The
office phone lines here at Black Men In
America are blowing up with calls from
black folks who are mad at Rev. Wright
for coming out now. One caller said,
"Wright is giving Hillary and the
Republicans more ammunition to deflect
from the issues." Whether you like him
or not, Rev. Wright is here to stay.
Susan Rice, a spokesperson for the
Obama campaign commented on MSNBC this
morning after Rev. Wright's speech at
the National Press Club in Washington,
DC. She described Rev. Wright as a
"sideshow." She went on to say the Rev.
Wright was more concerned about
redeeming his legacy. I see this as a
problem. Outside forces both black and
white will be calling for Obama to
distance himself further from Rev.
Wright and essentially pit these two
black men against each other. The
Clinton campaign will be in full attack
mode about Obama's judgment. This is
politics folks. Obama campaigned that
he has better judgment than his
opponents.
Barack Obama said that he believes
that Rev. Wright is a legitimate
political issue. That's the equivalent
of a "green light" for Senators Clinton,
McCain and others to deflect from other
legitimate issues that should be
discussed in this campaign.
Former Congressman J.C.
Watts Behind BLACK TELEVISION NEWS
CHANNEL (BTNC)
Commentary
by Gary A. Johnson
Last week it was announced that a black
news network was coming our way next
year. Black Television News Channel (BTNC),
the nation's only African-American news
network, scheduled to launch in 2009.
The firm also announced a multi-year
carriage agreement with Comcast,
the country's leading provider of cable,
entertainment and communications
products and services. Comcast is also a
major partner with TV One. Under
the agreement, BTNC expects that
it will be added to Comcast systems in
Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit,
Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Baltimore.
In terms of media, our needs are great.
The black community desperately needs a
serious news channel. Lord knows we
don't need another sitcom. Last week's
debut sitcom starring William
Jonathan Drayton, Jr., was a
disaster. I'm sorry. Forgive me,
you probably know Mr. Drayton by his
stage name Flav Flavor.
Flav stars in a MyNetworkTV
sitcom, "Under One Roof" also
starring Kelly Perine. This show
is an embarrassing stereotypical show
that marginalizes us before the world.
I got sidetracked, let me get
back on point. Where was I? Black
Television News Channel.
BTNC
is the endeavor of J.C. Watts, Jr.,
former U.S. congressman from Oklahoma
and celebrated athlete, and broadcast
and cable news veterans. "Our unique and
vast content partnerships with African
American newsmakers will provide our
viewers LIVE access to the stories and
people in whom our viewers have a
special interest," said Watts. "With
this agreement, Comcast continues to
demonstrate its commitment to working
with independent programmers with
diverse points of view."
So far, Watts and the folks from BTNC
are saying all the right things. There
is certainly room for another
perspective of news and views that
impact our community. Both BET and TV
One rely on short snippets of news
usually through other wire and media
sources. This "news" if that's what you
want to call it, is often important, it
lacks analysis and "linkages" to those
things that matter to us.
Now some of my colleagues have opined
that they are worried that J.C. Watts
will become another Bob Johnson
(whatever that means). Actually, I know
exactly what that means. I don't think
Watts will allow his politics to get in
the way of making a buck.
Be prepared to hear from some naysayers
who will be threatened by this
announcement. I can hear them now. "Why
do they need a black news channel?" The
obvious answer is that the mainstream
media gives us little black interest
news. Some naysayers may also cry: "We
don't have a White Television News
Channel." Yes you do! There are several
white television news channels. Let’s
see you have CNN, MSNBC, FOX, ABC,
CBS and NBC.
BTNC
will be a 24/7 cable news network that
will provide a new voice that represents
blacks in mainstream media. BTNC's
programming aims to shed light on
the unique social, economic, and
political challenges facing urban
communities. This will help bloggers by
providing news of interests to our
readers and insights and analysis from a
black perspective. BTNC can't get
here fast enough for me. I'm ready.
So hurry up BTNC, the clock is
running.
Yeah boooooyyyy!
We really do have to do better. We
can and we will.
So
what do you think?
If you
would like to respond to this review
click here
and sign our
Guestbook to leave a public or private statement, comment or reaction.
When I saw
LeBron
James
and supermodel
Gisele
Bundchen
on the cover of
Vogue
magazine, I was
uncomfortable
with
the visual.
Perhaps I’m too
sensitive. It
is true that
I’ve been
accused of
seeing almost
everything
through a
“racial prism.”
I don’t disagree
with that.
When I saw
the cover, I
asked, “Why is
LeBron being
portrayed in
what appears to
be an over
animated pose,
especially
compared to the
pose being
struck by
Gisele? Why
couldn’t he be
dressed
nicely?” After
all, LeBron is
the first black
man to grace the
cover of the
magazine. I
also wondered
what the cover
was suppose to
convey.
The list of
black men who
have made poor
decisions with
regard to their
image is long.
This list of
black men who
have repeatedly
made poor
decisions with
regard to their
image may be
longer.
Cuba Gooding,
Jr., is
the first name
that comes to my
mind. When you
look at his
entire body of
work (feature
films, TV and
commercials)
this guy appears
to have selected
more "bufoon-like"
roles than any
other black male
actor in recent
years. He
actually won
an Academy Award
for his
portrayal of Rod
Tidwell,
the "jackass"
wide receiver in
the movie "Jerry
Maguire"
who clowns and
yells, "Show me
the money!" Are
you kidding
me? One could
argue that
winning an Oscar
for that role
set black men
back two
decades. Have
you seen Cuba
Gooding, Jr., in
the Haines
underwear
commercials with
Michael
Jordan?
Could he be
portrayed any
dumber?
(He sniffs a
pair of
underwear, annouces
to a crowd that
he's wearing
Jordan's
underwear
and hugs Jordan
tightly as he
gets turned on
by the feel of
the soft
cotton). Give
me a break!
Why do some
black men
continue to take
these
stereotypical
roles that
portray black
men as "less
than?" I don't
want to hear
anything about
money. I know
money is a part
of it, but money
is not
everything.
Perhaps some of
these
brothers don't
know any
better. They do
not understand
how important it
is to have
positive images
of black men in
the mass media.
ESPN.com
columnist
Jemele Hill
has a unique
view of this
situation. Read
a little bit of
what she had to
say:
“LeBron
making the cover
is a good thing.
But the pose,
not so much.
LeBron’s image
clearly means a
lot to him,
maybe even as
much as pursuing
a championship.
And that’s why I
can’t understand
why he would
allow Vogue to
feature him with
supermodel
Gisele Bundchen
in such a
distasteful
manner.”
LeBron
James has a
perspective. ”I
was just having
fun with it, I
was just showing
a little
emotion,” James
said Saturday,
according to
Ohio’s
Beacon Journal.
“We had a few
looks and that
was the best one
we had.
Everything my
name is on is
going to be
criticized, in a
good way or a
bad way. Who
cares, honestly,
at the end of
the day.” ”I
am happy with
it, absolutely,”
James
said.
Hill’s column
rightly points
out other
notable black
athletes being
presented in
photos as angry,
overly
aggressive,
overly sexual,
or just plain
emasculated.
She cites
the 2002
Sports
Illustrated
cover that
featured
Charles Barkley
chained like a
slave.
Ricky Williams
wearing a
wedding dress on
an ESPN
The Magazine
cover in 1999.
And while it
didn’t appear in
a magazine, the
Terrell
Owens-Nicolette
Sheridan
intimate-encounter
tease for
‘Monday
Night Football’
gave viewers a
sexualized image
of a black man.”
Helena Andrews
has written a
thought-provoking
piece on this
topic for
The Root.com.
In her column
Ms. Andrews
opines, “I’m
trying to brush
off the fact
that the first
black man ever
pictured on the
magazine’s cover
is not gracing
it, he’s debased
by it. They’re
trying to
dismiss the
recent calls of
racial
insensitivity as
hypersensitivity.
And we’re trying
to explain why
seeing a big
black man baring
his teeth whilst
an alabaster
damsel drapes
his side still
hurts us in
2008.”
Over the
past several months, several high-profile people who
originally supported Senator Hillary Clinton have
switched their support to Senator Barack Obama. The
cold reality of politics explains why some politicians are
jumping off the Hillary bandwagon.
If you
understand the game of politics then it stands to reason
that a candidate who wants to get re-elected is not likely
to go against the "will of the people" when the people
they serve overwhelmingly support Barack Obama. I get
that. It's a very convenient way for a politician to shift
their support from one candidate to the other.
Such was
the case with civil rights pioneer Rep. John Lewis,
one Hillary Clinton's longtime friends who shifted to Barack
Obama. The Lewis switch to Obama led me to ask: How
far should loyalty go in this election?
Before we
start let's get a common definition of loyalty. For many
people loyalty is usually seen as a virtue. For me loyalty
is constituted by a strong commitment, often found in
friendship.
What
are the limits of one's loyalty?
Clearly "superdelegates"
and other supporters are free to endorse whomever they want,
to switch back and forth between candidates, or to wait
until the convention to make their choices. However, there
is a lot of talk about black supporters of Hillary Clinton
who are being pressured to support Barack Obama.
This is not
limited to politicians. Talk show host Tavis Smiley
claims to have received death threats for "calling out"
Barack Obama for not attending the 2008 State of the Black
Union symposium. For the record Tavis Smiley has not
publicly endorsed a candidate. However, it is widely
perceived that he is firmly in the Clinton camp because of
his public criticism of Obama in his commentaries on the
radio and because of his longtime friendship with the
Clinton's going back to when Bill Clinton was
president.
Are their limits to
loyalty?
Isn't real loyalty
sticking with your friend until the end? I'm just
asking.
Is it ever acceptable to
"jump ship?"
Let's go
back to the case of John Lewis and his "loyalty" to his
friend Hillary Clinton. When John Lewis endorsed Hillary
Clinton, Barack Obama was a relative unknown and Clinton was
the nationally known frontrunner. Lewis campaigned for
Clinton touting her experience to lead the nation.
"I did it
because I felt in my heart that I had to support Mrs.
Clinton because of our friendship," Lewis said. "I don't
regret it," Lewis added. Lewis said his decision to change
was an anguishing one.
Hip-Hop
mogul Russell Simmons, a frequent critic of Obama has
announced that he is supporting him. Toni Morrison recently
announced her support for Obama. Other celebrities who
support Barack Obama are George Clooney, Oprah
Winfrey, Will Smith, Rob Reiner, Laurence Fishburne, Warren
Buffett, Ethel Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, Sen. Ted Kennedy,
Matt Damon, NAS, Emilio Estevez, Sharon Stone, Kareem Abdul
Jabbar, Halle Berry, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Jesse
Jackson, Sr., Ben Affleck, Wyclef Jean, and Charles Barkley.
I'm not
sure how many of the above celebrities were originally for
Clinton and later switched their support for Obama.
Whatever the number is I'm sure that some of the folks who
are leaving her camp to jump on the Obama bandwagon were a
devastating blow to her campaign and to Ms. Clinton
personally.
In a recent
interview John Lewis put it that way: "Mr. Obama is the
embodiment of the hopes, dreams and aspirations of a lot of
people," Lewis said. "He represents something different,
something new. But he also represents a long line of
individuals who carry the aspirations of the people."
Are
you really loyal if you support your candidate,
campaign vigorously for them, criticize their opponent and
then later switch your support to the opponent when it looks
like your friend can't win?
If
loyalty is seen as a virtue, albeit a problematic one, what
does it say about a person whose loyalty is tantamount to a
windshield wiper moving across both sides of the
windshield? Which side is your side?
Loyalty is
a big thing with me. If I pledge my loyalty or support to
you in the beginning, I will be there with you at the end.
Short of some major fundamental difference in philosophy or
I discover that you're a serial killer, rapist or child
abuser; I will be with you to the end.
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What Tavis
Needs To Do To Put This Controversy Behind Him
Tavis, you preach
accountability. How about stepping up and
demonstrating some accountability on this issue?
Calling out Barack Obama and then rejecting his wife
to speak at the State of the Black Union (SOBU)symposium
was not a good move because most people believe
that if Bill Clinton had asked you to attend the
(SOBU) on behalf of Hillary, you would have
welcomed him with open arms. Whether or not that's
true, is irrelevant at this stage. The firestorm
surrounding you suggests that the majority of people
are not with you on this issue. To be fair, you did
state that you wanted "candidates only" at the
SOBUand to date you've been consistent.
Tavis, this
controversy is not likely to go away until you take
some decisive action. Be consistent and step up to
the plate and "say"
something substantive regarding this matter. No
more press releases from
The Smiley Group,
Inc.,offices brother. Forget the print
interviews (at least for now). You need to use that
same "bully pulpit"
that you use every Tuesday and Thursday on the
Tom Joyner Morning
Show and direct it toward yourself. Talk
directly to the people about this issue. Folks want
to "hear" from
YOU! If you want to stick to your story, that's
your prerogative. If you want to reflect and
publicly "check yourself" that's strictly your
decision. A move along those lines would go a long
way to putting this matter behind you. That's my
take.
G. J.
So
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Talk show host Tavis Smiley has denied that he has any tension with
presidential candidate Barack Obama for
declining Smiley’s invitation to speak at
the 2008 State of the Black Union
symposium. This has been a much discussed
topic on the Internet and blogs for the past
few days. Earlier this week on the
syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show,
Smiley said it would be a “missed
opportunity” for Obama or any candidate to
skip the forum. During his commentary Tavis
further explained that an offer from
Michelle Obama to attend the Feb. 23 event
on her husband’s behalf was refused. He
noted that the invitations were for the
candidates and not their spouses. That’s
cool. I have no problem with that. Click
here to listen to Michelle Obama on the
“Michael Baisden Radio Show” as she explains
why Barack Obama decided to decline the
invitation to appear at the Black State of
the Union symposium.
In a statement released on February 14th,
Smiley reportedly said he enjoyed a
collegial relationship with Obama for many
years. Senator Hillary Clinton
has agreed to speak at symposium. Smiley
did say Senator John McCain
and Govenor Mike Huckabee
have not made a decision about whether they
will attend.Here’s my take on this. Tavis
deserves much credit for his personal
accomplishments and for much of his work in
the black community. Like many of his kind,
it appears that Tavis has been caught up in
some of his own hype. There’s a long line
of dynamic and influential folks who worked
hard to develop themselves and overstepped
their bounds along the path to success.
Given what’s at stake and his position in
this presidential race, there is no need for
Barack Obama to rearrange his schedule to
accommodate Tavis and the State of the Black
Union symposium. One can argue that Barack
has nothing to gain hanging out with Tavis
and Company. Tavis makes a big deal about
Hillary Clinton accepting his invitation.
Big deal, her ass NEEDS to be there. She’s
lost 8 straight primaries to Obama. She’s
finding that the “old black magic” that the
Clinton’s once held with Black America is
not what it was. You can thank guys like
BET Founder Bob Johnson for
that. (Yeah, he really delivered the black
vote). Remember his speech where he planted
the seed that Obama may have done more than
just use drugs in his youth? I would love
to ask Hillary: “How has having Bob Johnson
stump for you worked out?” Hillary talks
about her great judgment. She obviously
approved having Johnson onboard. Is that
exercising good judgment? By the way,
Bill’s been kind of quiet the past few
weeks. Hmmm.
Tavis Smiley is a “big boy.” He’s proven
that he can run with the “big dogs” and play
on the varsity team. This incident about
Barack appears to have exposed Tavis in a
way that caught him by surprise. My pulse
check of the people indicates that Tavis
misjudged his “juice” or power to
influence. The people are not with him on
this issue. Tavis Smiley’s image appears to
be taking a negative hit and unraveling.
Many bloggers and callers into radio talk
shows have described Tavis as being small,
petty, egotistical and all about
himself. Imagine that?
The bottom-line as I see it is this:
Barack Obama is running for
president of the United States.
He does not have to prove himself or debate
with Tavis & Company. This is a high-stakes
poker game and Barack Obama has decided to
gamble and not play that “State of the Black
Union” hand. It’s just that simple. In my
humble opinion, Tavis should have accepted
Barack’s decision and moved on. One of the
last things that Tavis said during his
February 14th radio commentary on the
Tom Joyner Morning Show was
that he was not going to address the issue
any further after his commentary that
morning. We’ll see how long that lasts
given all the attention that his remarks
have generated. If Tavis says he’s not
going to talk about the issue then I won’t
either.
Moving on. (For the
record, the Smiley camp
issued a statement the
next day in an attempt
to clarify Tavis’
position).
Click here to read that
press release.
Barack Obama has defied almost all odds.
He’s making history. Further, Barack Obama
continues to raise money at a mind-boggling
rate without political action committee
donations. To date, he’s taken the Clinton
campaign’s best shot. They’ve used their
operatives (Bob Johnson, Bill
Clinton and others) to try and
distract Obama, slow his momentum and get
him “off point.” This is a compelling
election. I’m watching the dynamics within
the black community, particularly the black
folks who endorsed Hillary Clinton when she
looked unbeatable.
Three months ago all of the major polls
showed Hillary Clinton holding a majority of
the black vote against Barack Obama. Here
are some notable black folks who are on
record supporting Hillary Clinton:
Maya Angelou, Magic Johnson, Bob Johnson
and 50 Cent. How long will
these folks stay on that bandwagon? Who
will have the courage to switch?
Rep. David Scott of
Georgia, said he would not go against the
will of voters in his district, who
overwhelmingly supported Obama last week.
Rep. John Lewis, an elder
statesman from the civil rights era and one
of Hillary Clinton’s most prominent black
supporters, reportedly said on February 14th
that he planned to cast his vote as a super
delegate for Sen. Barack Obama in hopes of
preventing a fight at the Democratic
convention. This is a long race and it is
far from being over. However, Barack Obama
has traction and momentum and that means
something.
Let me put myself out there. I am firmly
on the Barack Obama
bandwagon. Three months ago I was skeptical
and undecided. I was weighing the
“experience” argument that was floating
around about him. I used to work inside the
business side of the White House also known
as the West Wing. I worked there for just
under 4 years. I’ve seen how things run on
a day-to-day basis. I’ve worked with and
observed presidential “handlers.”
Believe me when I tell you, Barack Obama
is ready to be president of the United
States. I base this on carefully reviewing
presidents over the past 25 years. (I
really didn’t have to go back that far. I
could have simply compared him to our
current president. That comparison is a
slam dunk for Obama). Barack Obama is not
the perfect presidential candidate—no one
is. Barack has a vision and the uncanny
gift of being able to connect with all kinds
of people and he’s getting better at
communicating every day.
There is something special about Barack
Obama. He is the right guy at the right
time for this country. He’s done a solid
job of running his campaign and surrounding
himself with the right people which speaks
well of his judgment. He’ll do the same
thing as president. While I’m on a roll let
me give props to his wife Michelle Obama.
Is this a sharp down-to-earth sister or
what? Whew! This woman can represent.
Let me wrap this thing up. The Clinton’s
have been exposed. They are desperate.
Yes, I said “they.” Hillary and Bill have
been behaving as if they have a sense of
entitlement to the presidency for 2008.
The Hillary Clinton campaign bus is
dropping bolts and leaking oil on the way to
the finish line. She has a new campaign
manager (a black female), a new deputy
campaign manager and she’s had to use $5
million dollars of her own money to donate
to her campaign. These are not good signs.
However, the Clintons are professional
campaigners. They don’t like to lose and
will do ANYTHING not to lose this race. Do
not be surprised about anything that happens
in this race from this point on.
If Hillary Clinton loses the next two or
three primaries, staying on the Clinton
bandwagon is tantamount to re-arranging the
deck chairs on the Titanic. We know how
that story ended.
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Finally…Someone Takes a Stand to Stop
the Foolishness: Earl Graves Pulls the Plug on Eddie Griffin
Am I the only person who thinks “comedian”
Eddie Griffin is more vulgar than funny? For those who
have not heard about the Eddie Griffin/Black Enterprise
incident, let me give you the Reader’s Digest version. Earlier
this month Earl Graves, Founder of Black Enterprise
magazine shut off Griffin’s microphone approximately 10 minutes
into the “comedian’s” routine at the 14th
Annual Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge.
Apparently the sold-out audience didn’t appreciate Griffin’s
Michael Richards
impersonation.
Picture this setting.
The event was held at the swanky
Legends Ballroom of the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami.
People get “dressed up” for the evening entertainment.
This is a crowd of 1,200 achievers, black business elite and
their white corporate partners. You get the picture. So when
Eddie Griffin walked out on the stage wearing
short pants, sneakers, a white cap
turned sideways and a cigarette in his hand, it would seem that
he had one strike against him. My mother always told me, “You
never get a second chance to make a first impression.” No truer
words were spoken. Eddie Griffin never got a second chance with
this crowd.
It’s been
reported that Griffin used the "N" word and a few
"MF" bombs as an
icebreaker to start his act.
Black Enterprise CEO
Butch Graves, son of Earl Graves
reported that a torrent of MF's by Griffin was beyond
comprehension. He said Griffin then went on to talk about
"killing white b-----s" and other language that was offensive.
Moments later, the 72-year old Earl Graves
appeared on stage with a cord and plug in one hand, a working
microphone in the other. He told the posh Doral Golf Resort
audience that Griffin's microphone was turned off because he
repeatedly used the n-word, an offensive and degrading term.
For this action, Mr. Graves received a standing ovation. "We
at Black Enterprise will not allow our culture to go backward,"
Graves said. We will pay Mr. Griffin all that we owe him but we
will not allow him to finish the show if that's the way he's
going to talk. Black Enterprise stands for decency, Black
culture and dignity."
I’ve had a few weeks to reflect on this
incident. On one hand, I have to wonder why Black Enterprise
would invite Griffin to speak at a corporate function. What
Einstein came up with that idea? Like him or not, Eddie
Griffin’s standup act has always been profanity laced and
crude. Apparently Byron Allen and Wayne Brady had
other commitments. Besides, Eddie Griffin hasn’t been funny
since the movie “Undercover
Brother.”
Butch Graves told CNN’s Roland Martin that Griffin sent
Black Enterprise a DVD showcasing his clean show before he was
hired to perform at the event. Graves further explained that
Black Enterprise put language in the contract stipulating that
Griffin was to perform a clean show.
Black Enterprise didn’t do their homework. A few MF’s and the
N-word is "clean" for Eddie Griffin!
You can’t take a foul mouth “comedian” like
Griffin and expect him to behave, when he gets rewarded for his
low-ball act. “Comedians” like Griffin with acts full of
profanity usually have limited vocabularies. According to Butch
Graves before taking the stage, Black Enterprise officials, the
sponsors of the evening, as well as Griffin's manager reminded
him to keep it clean. Apparently Eddie has a comprehension
problem as well. When he took the stage, he performed as
someone who had not been warned at all.
To their credit Black Enterprise
acknowledged that they were culpable for hiring Griffin. Butch
Graves made it clear that the kind of language Griffin used will
not be tolerated by Black Enterprise because they believe in the
upliftment of African Americans.
As a member of the “black media” I’ve had
enough of this foolishness in our community. I know I am not
alone with this sentiment. Too many black people continue to do
detrimental things that hurt and embarrass themselves and our community.
More people need to exercise courage and
stop this madness. Yeah, I said it—madness!” You know the same
madness that saw the NAACP award singer R. Kelly with a
NAACP Image Award in 2004 -- despite facing indictment in a
child pornography case that is still awaiting trial. A
few weeks ago before Michael Vick decided to tell the truth, Dr. Charles
Steele, president of the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference(SCLC)
said, “We need to support Michael Vick no matter what the
evidence reveals.” Enough is enough! STOP the madness
people!
We need to get ourselves together and not
be so quick to blame white folks for many of the ills that we
face. In many cases we are our own worst enemy. So one hand
you can say Black Enterprise got what they deserved because they
had no business hiring Eddie Griffin. On the otherhand, I think you have to give
Mr. Graves credit for shutting Eddie Griffin down.
Pulling the plug on Griffin is a start.
Most of us have more power and authority than we give ourselves
credit. One can only imagine what life would be like if Bob
Johnson had taken a stand based on similar principals when
he owned BET.
Earl and Butch Graves proved that it’s
never too late for individuals and institutions to do the right
thing and take folks “to the woodshed” and in the case of Eddie
Griffin, pulling the plug on his microphone. We can work
together and use our influence to provide respect, dignity and
good citizenship in our communities.
Posted September 16, 2007
Sources: CNN, AP, Essence.com, JET,
TMZ.com.
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Michael Vick and The Apology
August 27, 2007
Michael Vick made his first public
statement today outside of a Virginia courtroom. The
apology appeared to be genuine. He did not read from a
prepared text. He glanced at notes, but for the most
part this apology appeared extemporaneous and from the
heart. The only part of the apology that I questioned
was the timing of turning himself over to God. Better
late than never.
Powerful
words were spoken.
Vick said he wasn't
honest in his previous
statements, saying he was
"ashamed."
"Dogfighting is a terrible thing," Vick said.
"I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts," Vick said. "What I did was very immature. ... I need to grow up." Vick asked for "forgiveness and understanding," saying he took full responsibility for his actions.
Michael Vick appeared to be contrite and as public apologies go this was one of the better public apologies by any celebrity or athlete in the face of crisis in recent memory.
The reality is that it doesn't matter what I think. Time will tell whether or not he lives up to his words. I hope that Michael Vick can learn from this incident and turn his life around and positively influence others. If today's apology is any indication, he is on his way to recovery.
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The
Michael Vick Case
August 24, 2007
Michael Vick filed his plea agreement in
federal court today admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting
ring, helping kill pit bulls and financing the operation.
He also participated in the hanging of dogs. He denied
ever betting on the fights. A few hours later NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely
without pay. Click here to read Vick's complete statement.
I am growing weary of the media
coverage of the Michael Vick situation. I’m especially
concerned about the media coverage of black people who
support Michael Vick. Some of the coverage leads one to
believe that the overwhelming majority of black folks in
America support Michael Vick and believe he is being
unfairly targeted by a white racist criminal justice
system. I know a lot of black people and I’ve only met one
person who supports Michael Vick and this person admits that
the only reason he’s supporting Vick is because he’s black.
Let’s take a closer look at this
situation. I’ve read the indictment and have followed the
case. Michael Vick is a multimillionaire athlete who
has finally admitted to have been intimately involved in virtually every
aspect of a cruel and inhumane dogfighting operation for
more than six years. The government's case includes
evidence that Vick and his boys slammed a poor performing
dog to the ground until it was dead. In another incident, a
dog was soaked with a hose and then electrocuted.
Vick is plead guilty to conspiracy. Had he not agreed to plead guilty, Vick would
be faced with being linked to things that occurred even if
he was not present. Unlike his former
co-defendants, Vick could afford to hire the best legal
representation that money can buy. With his boys having
turned on him, Michael Vick found himself alone to fight the
charges.
According to the
indictment, Vick was the Kingpin. He was intimately
involved in everything. He purchased a vacant piece of
property for $34,000, had sheds built for training dogs and
staging fights and had a fence erected to shield the
operation from view.
Why is it that some folks refuse to
believe (under any circumstances) that Michael Vick is
guilty of killing and brutalizing dogs with is bare hands
and funding a dogfighting operation? I think many people
have a difficult time matching their vision of Michael Vick
the football player with Michael Vick the alleged dog
killer. Anyone who would do what Vick is alleged to have
done has a dark, cruel and sinister side.
I don’t support Michael Vick but I can
understand why some people do, despite the mountain of
evidence and testimony of his “friends” who testified that
Vick is guilty of cruel and inhumane treatment of dogs.
It is clear to me that most of the
black folks I’ve seen on television who support Michael Vick
do not understand the issues. Some are claiming racism. I
see racism in everything, however, I do not see this solely
as a racial issue.
The media coverage of black athletes
and white athletes is different. The mainstream media is
more critical of black athletes. Many folks do not trust
the criminal justice system because of its track record of
disproportionately prosecuting and jailing blacks. These are the flashpoints that cause some folks to
support people like Michael Vick, O. J. Simpson and other
prominent blacks who appear to be unfairly treated by the
criminal justice system, regardless of evidence that suggest
some culpability on their part.
In a recent
poll conducted on ESPN 75% of the respondents said Michael
Vick should not be allowed to play in the NFL
again. In a poll conducted yesterday on Black America
web the respondents overwhelming said Michael Vick should be allowed to resume his NFL career.
Let me pause for a sidebar and speak to some of our black
athletes for a moment. Fellas, if someone puts a
microphone in your face and asks you to comment on the
Michael Vick case, just shut the f#&k up! Be
careful. Do not attempt to analyze the situation and
confirm to the world that you are ignorant about the facts
in the case. If you want to give your opinion, fine.
Unless you know the facts, I would suggest that you
just shut the f#&k up because most of you have no
idea how ignorant you sound and look.
Here are
several examples that support this position:
1.
NFL Running Back
Clinton Portis had to apologize for
his ridiculous comments supporting Vick only after a huge
backlash from the fans, his team and the general public.
2.
NY Knicks basketball player
Stephon Marbury. Here’s
what Mr. Marbury told Capital News 9, an Albany NY
television station: "I think we don't say anything about
people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know,
from what I understand, dog fighting is a sport. It's just
behind closed doors. I think it's tough that we build up
Michael Vick and then we break him down." Marbury went
on to say: "I think he's one of the superb athletes, and
he's a good human being. I just think that he fell into a
bad situation."
Who cares what Stephon Marbury
thinks about anything? Marbury is not alone. Within the
past few days, boxer Roy Jones, Jr., football players
Alge Crumpler, Joe Horn and a few current and former
teammates have all made public statements in support of
Michael Vick. Crumpler said: "I try to send him a positive
note every day. I want to make sure he keeps his head up.
Michael Vick made a mistake.” (More
on that later).
3. Vick's former teammate,
free-agent running back Fred McCrary, called the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday evening because he said
Vick is being unfairly portrayed. "I ain't condoning what
Mike did. He might have had something to do with it -- he's
admitting to that. Everybody is throwing Mike under the bus
and it hurts. They're making Mike seem like the worst person
in America. We grinded with this guy. Just because the
man made a mistake, we won't turn our back on him."
(What?
OK, that's two people saying Michael Vick made a mistake?
A mistake is when you grab your girlfriend's sister by
the ass at a party because you thought it was your girl from
behind. You got the asses mixed up. That’s a
mistake).
I wish the media would ask a more
diverse group of black folks for their opinion.
Other athletes see the Vick situation
differently and have spoken out suggesting that Vick forget
about football and put his attention on his life. Warrick Dunn referred to Vick as an “ex-teammate.”
Why is the NAACP using its
resources to support Michael Vick?
R. L. White, president of the Atlanta NAACP is asking
the public not to make judgments until Vick has had his day
in court.
Aren’t there more pressing issues for the NAACP to be
involved with than a multimillionaire athlete who has a
pattern of irresponsible behavior and poor judgment?
Who decided that the Michael Vick situation should become
a civil rights issue?
The NAACP is not the only civil rights
organization supporting Michael Vick. Dr. Charles
Steele, president of the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference(SCLC), said, “We need to support Michael Vick no matter what the evidence
reveals.”
Enough is enough! STOP the
madness! Keep this issue in context.
Michael Vick is guilty and his actions cannot be defended.
It is
time for Michael Vick to step up and take responsibility for
something that I believe he knew was wrong from the
beginning. If he didn't think anything was wrong with
what he was doing then why has he been so secretive.
Why hasn't he made any public statements on his own over the
past several months. Why not be open?
Michael Vick lied. He lied to his
teammates, the team owner and to the fans, some of whom have
a blind loyalty and equate him to being a hero. When
this story became public in May, Vick said he’d never been
to the home, even though he owns it and was letting a cousin
live there. He blamed relatives for taking advantage
of his generosity and vowed to keep closer tabs on his inner
circle. We now know that was a lie.
Vick was cornered by the federal and
state governments. He "friends" bailed on him and now
he is alone. A polarizing figure who blew over 130
million dollars in salary and endorsements. That's a
heavy price to pay.
When it comes down to it, I think
Michael Vick's environment had something to do with
inability to exercise good judgment. I don't say this
to excuse his behavior, I simply think the way he was raised
was a factor. His brother Marcus is a mess too.
I guess you can't teach class no matter how much money you
make.
His father has come out in an
interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution and pretty much
said that dogfighting is Vick's thing and that they hosted
dogfights in the family garage. The timing of "Pops"
coming out is questionable. He admits that his son
rejected his offer of a $700,000 loan.
There are plenty of people who came
from worse environments who have done well in life.
Michael Vick is not one of them.
On Tuesday, August 28, 2007, Vick is
scheduled to give his first interview about this case to
radio host Tom Joyner on his syndicated radio show.
That should be interesting. Why Tom Joyner? It's
a good bet he won't be asked many tough questions on that
show. He's likely to get a lot of love, which fuels
this sense of entitlement.
Michael Vick, like many other people
has a side to him that allowed him to behave with an
untouchable attitude and a huge sense of entitlement.
I believe in second chances. If Vick pays his debt to
society I believe he should be allowed to resume his career,
if he has one left.
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Don Imus Is Gone...Now
What?
Who Cares What Whoopi Thinks
On April 11, 2007, MSNBC announced it will
drop its simulcast of the “Imus in the Morning” radio
program, responding to growing outrage about the radio host’s
racial slurs on April 4th against the Rutgers women’s basketball
team. This was a business decision. The next day,
CBS Radio followed suit and dropped the radio show from its network.
Make no
mistake, MSNBC and the
CBS action came after a growing list
of sponsors — including American
Express Co., Sprint Nextel
Corp., Staples Inc., Procter &
Gamble Co., and General Motors
Corp. — said they were pulling
ads from Imus’ show for the
indefinite future. Had it
not been for this action, I
believe Imus would still have a
radio show. Imus has said
worse things over the public
radio airwaves. If
MSNBC and CBS were so outraged
by Imus' remarks, why did it
take them 8 days to fire him?
Why didn't they fire him the
next day? When former
NBA player Tim Hardaway
said on a radio program that he
hated gay people, the NBA fired
him that day.
This incident has become part of a national
conversation. I've tried to stay clear of the Imus
controversy, but now that Snoop has come out of the Dogg
House with his comments and 50 Cent released a statement
on this issue, I decided, why not give my two cents.
Snoop, "Fitty" and other ignorant and misguided rappers should just shut up.
Not all rappers are guilty of negative lyrics and images.
Rappers with a positive message and image such as Common
and Mos Def apparently aren't controversial enough.
They certainly don't get the same type of coverage from the
mainstream and black media that other rappers get. Perhaps
some decision makers in the mainstream media want to keep
rappers like Snoop, "Fitty" and Nelly at the forefront of
their media coverage to keep negative images in the
consciousness of black people. We can do better than this
and we will.
So many people appear to be outraged by this incident.
How much of this outrage is real? I think much of this
outrage is fake because it took too long for anything to happen.
Remember, Imus was fired 8 days later.
If you examine this “controversy” at the
core, you will discover that Don Imus is not the biggest problem
facing the black community. He is a symptom of a much bigger
problem; fueled mainly by rappers like Snoop, record companies,
media outlets and the failure of black leadership to effectively
deal with this problem.
I saw Whoopi Goldberg on CNN the
other night. She was jumping on the
bandwagon talking about how degrading Don
Imus's comments were.
How many of you know the name of Whoopi's
production company?
Her production company is named
"One Ho Productions."
How did Whoopi get credibility in this area?
In 1993, Whoopi came to the defense of then
boyfriend Ted Danson when he appeared
at a Friar's Club roast in blackface
reciting a highly racist monologue.
That was about the time when Whoopi joined
my "Hall of Shame," of people with
questionable talent." I have no doubt
that Whoopi Goldberg (the story behind how
she selected her last name is another story)
has experienced racist and sexist comments.
Maybe somebody slipped some "Hater-Ade" in
my Gatorade this morning. Whoopi
Goldberg has every right to participate in
this national conversation. I think
she's a hypocrite and not the most credible
person to interview for this topic.
OK, moving on.
Let's not make Don Imus more powerful
than he is. We have the power to curb these negative
images in our homes, in our schools and in our communities.
The problem is that too many of us have not answered the call to
action. We have become de-sensitized to the point where
many of us do nothing.
Many black rappers and entertainers have
“de-sensitized” a generation of people by bombarding us with
lyrics, movies and videos that marginalize and characterize
black people, especially black women in negative ways.
There has been a raging debate for years
within the black community about the lyrics by black rappers.
For the record Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson do not endorse
offensive lyrics and images. However, I think it is
fair to question whether or not they have
done enough to curb black entertainers from producing negative
images that have become common in our community. Do you
see Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Sharpton applying the same
energy toward black rappers as they have Don Imus and Michael
Richards? How much pressure has been put on Nelly,
50 Cent, Jay-Z, Snoop and others? Rappers seem to be
the target, but this problem goes far beyond rap music.
Black comedians and other entertainers have just as much
responsibility to clean up their act. That's right, Eddie Griffin, Dave Chappelle and a long line of lesser
known comics and entertainers need to clean up their act.
Both Sharpton and Jackson are viewed
by many as “racial opportunist” and “carnival barkers” who are
always seeking the largest media stage.
Why do white people call Al Sharpton
and Jesse Jackson, Sr.? Is it because they
appear to be the most visible black leaders? When did Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson
become the spokespeople for black America? I missed that memo.
White people who say bad things about the black people must have
those guys on speed dial. How many black people do you know
give Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson a proxy to speak for them?
Who are the white spokespeople in America?
Do you know? (Hey, I’m just asking).
If I were advising Imus, I would have
advised him NOT to go on Rev. Al Sharpton’s radio show. I would
tell Imus to address the Rutgers Basketball team privately,
which he has done. They said they forgive him. The results of that meeting should
matter the most.
Rev. Sharpton has a history of saying
inflammatory things, for which he has not apologized. Remember
the
Tawana Brawley court case? Rev. Jackson referred
to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown" in
January 1984 during a conversation with Washington Post
reporter, Milton Coleman.
What is the difference between Snoop Dogg
and other black rappers referring to black women as bitches and
ho’s, and someone who is not black like Don Imus saying the same
thing?
"It's a
completely different scenario," said Snoop.
"[Rappers] are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls
who have made it to the next level in education and sports.
We're talking about ho's that's in the 'hood that ain't doing
shit, that's trying to get a nigga for his money. These are two
separate things. First of all, we ain't no old-ass white men
that sit up on MSNBC going hard on black girls. We are rappers
that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that
are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them muthafuckas
say we in the same league as him."
There you have it.
Pearls of wisdom from Snoop.
Is Snoop entitled to his opinion? Absolutely! I think Snoop
should direct his attention to his upcoming court date.
The rapper is scheduled
to be arraigned April 18, 2007, in Pasadena, California, on
felony charges of sale or transportation of marijuana and
possession of a firearm. The charges stem from the rapper's
October arrest at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California.
Don
Imus has been this way for years. This latest incident was the
“straw that broke the camel’s back,” due in part to the
attention that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson brought to this
matter.
I don’t know if Don Imus is a racist. I do know that he
and his show have made racist statements in the past.
Are you familiar with the singing group
Prussian Blue? Prussian Blue is a white nationalist
singing group comprised of 14-year old twins Lamb and Lynx Gaede who preach a message of hate. They
have one album and another one on the way.
The twins have been
nurtured on racist beliefs since birth by their mother April.
April home-schools the girls, teaching them her own unique
perspective on everything from current to historical events. In
addition, April's father surrounds the family with symbols of
his beliefs -- specifically the Nazi swastika.
We
need to be strategic as a community about how we deal with Don Imus, Michael Richards, Prussian Blue, rappers and anyone
else who crosses the line and disrespects us. We should
not allow this behavior to be prevalent in
our community.
Make no mistake. Prussian Blue and
the comments of Don Imus are threats to our community and
therefore need to be exposed.
Final thought (for now).“Over time, when things go
unchallenged, they seem normal.”
Think about it.
Posted
April 11, 2007, updated April 15, 2007. Snoop Dogg
quote various media sources.
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Singer James Brown Is Dead
James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul,”
died early Christmas morning. He was 73. According to news
reports, Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford
Long Hospital on Sunday and died of heart failure around 1:45
a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music.
He initially seemed fine at the
hospital and even told people that he planned to be on stage in
New York on New Year’s Eve, Copsidas said. Three days before
his death, he joined volunteers at his annual toy giveaway in
Augusta, and he planned to perform on New Year’s Eve at B.B.
King Blues Club in New York.
James Brown influenced generations of
musicians and was arguably the most “sampled” recording artist
of the past 50 years. Artists such as Prince, Mick Jagger,
Michael Jackson, Usher, David Bowie and Public Enemy have been
influenced by Brown’s music and his footwork. No one had a
funkier band than James Brown. The J. B’s and other versions of
the band set the standard for “funk.” James made Maceo Parker,
Bootsy Collins, Fred
Wesley and Bobby Byrd household names in most black homes. James Brown had his own
beat, his own groove and his own band.
James Brown earned the nickname “The
Hardest Working Man In Show Business,” by performing like no
other. Ask anyone who ever attended a James Brown show,
especially in his “hey day.” From the time he entered the stage
to the time he exited draped with a flowing cape, his repeated
faints to the floor at the end as band members tried in vain to
get him to leave the stage. You always got more than your
money’s worth at a James Brown concert. Brown reportedly
routinely lost two or three pounds each time he performed
according to his lawyer Jay Ross.
Brown was a songwriter, bandleader,
record producer, philanthropist and civil rights activist. In
addition, he was a pretty decent piano and keyboard player.
Brown had a string of hits too long to
mention.
His musical legacy includes more than 900 songs.
The classics include “Please, Please, Please,” “Papa’s
Got A Brand New Bag,” “(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex
Machine,” “I Got You (I Feel Good)” “Living In America” and “Say
It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud.”
James Brown was one of the first
musical entrepreneurs owning his music, record label and radio
stations. “He was an innovator, he was an emancipator, he was
an originator. Rap music, all that stuff came from James Brown,”
entertainer Little Richard, a longtime friend of Brown’s, told
MSNBC.
Brown lived the life of a stereotypical
rock and roll star. He had problems with drugs, alcohol, women
and money. In 1988 Brown spent more than two years in prison
for aggravated assault and failing to stop for a police officer.
Brown is survived by at least four
children — two daughters and sons Daryl and James Brown III.
For the most comprehensive information
on the career of James Brown, visit our brother at
Soul-Patrol.com.
They have discographies, album reviews, streaming audio, concert
reviews and information on related artists such as Bootsy
Collins, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Bobby Byrd, and Lyn
Collins. They also have commentaries on James Brown's
impact on Black Americans and on life in America over the past
50 years and more. Visit Soul-Patrol's James Brown section
at: www.soul-patrol.com/funk/father.htm.
Sources: AP, CNN, MSNBC
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"Kramer" Wakes Up Some Black Leaders
Why did it take Michael “Kramer” Richards
to get some black "leaders" to urge comedians and other entertainers to
start a boycott against the use of the word “nigger?” Is the
use of the word “nigger” the most important issue on their
agenda? You would think so with all of the recent publicity.
The use of the word nigger is a concern.
Is it the most important issue of the day?
Why would it take this issue to galvanize
some black "leaders?” We couldn’t do this on our own? In the
words of the late singer Marvin Gaye, “What’s going on?"
Michael Richards goes off on a racist rant, gets caught on
video, apologizes on David Letterman Show on the eve of the release
of another Seinfeld DVD and decides (I'm sure with the help of
legal counsel) that he needed to
apologize further to black America. He "decides" or was advised that the best
way to reach out to black America is through Jesse Jackson’s
radio show “Keep Hope Alive.”(WTF?
I didn't get the memo that Jesse was "the"
spokesperson for us. How many of you reading this article
were aware that Jesse Jackson had a radio show? Let me see a show of hands.
Uh huh, just as I thought. Here's the link to the show's
web site: http://www.keephopealiveradio.com).
Richards told Jackson he was not a racist
and had never used such racist epithets before. "It's a first
time for me to talk to an African American like that -- that's a
first time for me," Richards said on the program. (How many of you reading this are
buying that explanation? Oh my goodness). After the show, Richards
told reporters he was seeking professional help "to get to the
depths of my anger, the issues of anger. I'm seeing someone
now."
Why has this been headline news for the
last several weeks?
This is probably the most publicity Richards has received since
"Seinfeld" concluded the series.
Comedian Paul Mooney joined the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Al
Sharpton and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) in calling for a
moratorium by entertainers who use the word nigger. The group
has urged rapper to stop using the word as well. Good luck on
that request. I’m sure a lot of rappers such as 50 Cent,
Ludacris will
be the first to comply. (Hey
Gary, what does 50 Cent have to do with this)? I’ll get to “Fitty” later).
Some rappers and hip-hoppers may comply.
This is an issue in our community that is viewed through generation lenses.
If the black leaders pushing for this ban demonstrated this type of effort and
commitment to teaching our children to read, be polite and
engage in critical thinking, I don’t think “Kramer” using the word
nigger would be #1 on our radar screen. Are some black leaders
“sipping the Kool-Aid" by continuing to make this a big deal
in the press?
Kramer being caught on video has spurned
this debate (again). Richards "went off" because a brother
from the audience told him he was not funny. If his rant were not caught on video and broadcast
around the world, would we be having this discussion?
Let's recap briefly. It took the use of the word nigger
by a white "comedian" to get
some of our “leaders” back on the front page of the newspapers.
Is this issue worthy of this much attention? Do we have
more important issues that we should direct our attention to?
This type of publicity fuels the fire by many in and outside of
our community that Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and others, who
have done good work for the community, often risking their lives
to help others, are also “racial
opportunist” who seize issues like this to gain headlines by
the mainstream press.
Mooney, who claims Michael Richards as a
friend, said he believes Richards "was trying to channel Lenny
Bruce," the late comedian who was credited with using “shock”
humor into laughs. He was also imitating "Paul Mooney and a
bunch of other people," Mooney added in his mea culpa. "He had
heard it in rap and all that. I'm part of the problem. I
contributed to it, yes." (Give
me a break! C’mon Paul, that reads like a weak
explanation, even for a friend).
Mooney said, "I'm free of it. I won't be
using that word onstage, and I won't be using the b-word. We're
asking the rappers and all the people on Earth to stop using the
word."
Jesse Jackson called on Americans to not
buy the “Seinfeld” DVD boxed set of the seventh season of the
hit TV show on which Richards portrayed the character Kramer.
(What's
the reason or rationale for that request?)
Mooney, who is probably most famous for
writing for Richard Pryor, also wrote for a number of TV shows,
said he will “wean” himself from the word like an alcoholic. I
wish I had a dollar for every slip up by the foulmouthed but
talented
Mooney.
Not using the word nigger is not a new
debate. My goodness, black people have fought over the word for
years. There is a new generation of blacks and non-blacks who
have grown up watching cable and satellite TV featuring movies,
TV shows and music videos with people they admire using the word
nigger. In their mind, they see nothing wrong with
using the word.
What do you think the chances the
hip-hop and rap community will listen to Jackson, Sharpton, Waters, Mooney, et al? What are the odds? Have you
seen Def Jam Comedy lately? For some of those comics, if they
stopped using the word nigger they wouldn’t have an act.
Ludacris was on
The Oprah Show with the cast of the movie “Crash.” Oprah and
Ludacris briefly discussed the use of the word nigger. Ludacris
explained that the word was not as bad as Winfrey and others
have claimed and attempted to further explain some acceptable
uses of the word. Oprah strongly disagreed. The two
respectfully agreed to disagree.
There are some enlightened and
educated entertainers. You also have another set of
artists that don’t have a clue, which brings me back to Fifty
Cent.
Earlier this year, “Fitty”
accused Oprah
Winfrey of deserting her African-American roots to pander to the
middle-aged white female demographic. “Fitty” was reported to
have said: "(She)
started out with black women's views but has been catering to
middle-aged white American women for so long that she's become
one herself.”
Why would
anyone give any “intellectual weight” to comments by an ignorant misguided
rapper who glorifies many of the ills in our community?
Joining “Fitty” are fellow rappers
Ludacris and Ice Cube who claim Oprah has a negative attitude
towards rappers and has very few on her show. (Excuse me while I get a tissue).
I’m not aware of any statements by
Oprah Winfrey that she does not like rappers. Just because she
doesn’t have a lot of rappers on her show, doesn’t necessarily
mean that she dislikes rappers. Oprah’s “bread and butter”
audience is not in the hip-hop/rap demographic.
These boys need to
"man up." There are other talk
shows that “Fitty” and the other rappers can
showcase their "talent." Perhaps they should give
Tyra Banksa call.
Oprah Winfrey can book any guest on her show she chooses. I’m not
saying that all rappers are bad, ignorant and glorify
violence. If Oprah doesn’t want to book rappers on her
show, she doesn’t
have to. There are some rappers that I won't feature on this web site
because I don't like what they represent. When you own your
product, you can do that.
A lot can be said of about
Oprah Winfrey, but to say that she’s deserted her African
American roots is hard for this writer to believe.
(If you had said that about Whoopi Goldberg, I would
believe it. Hey, that's my bias, so I guess one can have a
bias against "O").
Oprah Winfrey has probably given away more
money both privately and publicly to black causes than any other
black celebrity living or dead.
(OK, back to our original topic).
None of us should use the word
nigger gratuitously and out of context. Are our vocabularies
that limited? (Don’t
answer that).
If it took
“Kramer” to get some black “leaders” headlines in the mainstream
news and this is their solution, we’re worse off than I
thought. There are far bigger issues in our community than
Michael Richards showing his true colors on a comedy stage.
Perhaps we should re-prioritize our issues as well as our
“leaders.”
Photo
courtesy AP
Posted 12/4/06
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Mixed Signals: Why Emmitt Smith’s Victory Is Bad For
Some Men
I’ve watched the ABC TV show “Dancing with
the Stars” competition for all three installments. I was
initially drawn to the show's first installment to see Evander
Holyfied. Holyfield, a former three-time heavyweight champion
represented himself well. He was stiff and uncoordinated, but
showed some improvement before being voted off.
The second collection of talent included
NFL legend Jerry Rice and rap impresario Master P who was
pressed into action because his son, Lil' Romeo was injured and
could not compete. Rice was much better than Holyfield.
Master P was a complete embarrassment. Master P displayed
contempt for the dance profession by not wearing dance shoes.
When his professional dance partner presented him with dancing
shoes, Master P showed his appreciation by throwing the box on
the floor. He insisted on wearing his "P Miller" athletic
shoes. He should have been kicked off the show
immediately.
The third collection of stars promised to
be strong. This eclectic lineup included Vivica A. Fox,
Emmitt Smith, Monique Coleman, Jerry Springer, Mario Lopez and
Joey Lawrence. This was the most talented collection of stars
the show had assembled.
As Emmitt Smith, “a man’s man” improved
every week; more wives and girlfriends pressured their guy to
take dance lessons.
(Fellas, “The Running Man,” “Cabbage Patch,” and “The
Shaft” don’t qualify as ballroom dances).
(Ladies, just because your man was
drawn to watch the show, doesn’t mean he wants to take dance
lessons).
This season’s show has become a phenomenon. You couldn’t help
but watch the show. Let’s analyze the differences in the
perspectives of men and women who watch this show.
Men watch the show because they like
football and Emmitt Smith represents football. If you love
football, you want to see how Emmitt stacks up to the
entertainment stars.
Women watch the show and envision their guy
wearing the sleeveless satin shirts exposing half of their
chests with muscles bulging. They hear romantic music and float
on air.
Men don't hear music. The simply
watch the show and think, “Emmitt’s doing a damn good job. Go
Emmitt!”
I’ve taken dance lessons. They were
offered to me for FREE. When I enrolled, class was
scheduled on Monday night. Monday night? I would miss the
first 30 minutes of Monday Night Football. That wasn't too bad.
However, I didn't understand the dance
culture.
People in dance class typically don’t
depart immediately after class. They tend to linger and talk
about the class and sometimes they want to go over the dance
steps again.
Five minutes before class was scheduled to
end, I had my car keys in my hand and remotely started the
engine. One minute after class I was at the first
stoplight "burning rubber" to get home.
Then there was this thing called
"practice."
(We talkin' bout practice man).
You can’t take dance lessons without practicing. Practice is
the only way to get better. Practice conflicted with other
activities in my life. Attached to practice is going out to the
clubs to practice more and learn "dance etiquette." WTF?
There's
also an inherent illusion built into “Dancing With The Stars.”
Some women watch the show and think the outfits the men wear
will look just as good on their man.
Women watch the show and see this:
As soon as the show goes off, women turn to look at their
guy and see this:
The dance group that I joined was
affiliated with a dance club that practiced on Sunday nights.
Sunday nights? Yep, here we go again. I would have to
miss some portion of Sunday Night Football.
I was uncomfortable missing the NFL
pre-game shows. Once it was clear that I would miss some
portions of NFL games consistently, I quit.
Can I dance? Absolutely. If I applied
myself, could I be a good dancer? You bet your ass! Am I
motivated to learn how to dance for the sake of dancing? No!
If you challenged me with a contest or
competition, I would do it and win! However, I’m not motivated
to learn how to ballroom dance for the sake of dancing.
I don’t dislike men who can dance; I
dislike the pressure that is placed on men for not wanting to
take ballroom dancing.
Ladies, beware of the guys who claim they
love dancing. Some of these guys are "broke ass players"
on the prowl. They meet you at the club and appear to be
compatible with everything that you like. They're
non-threatening, like your best girlfriend. We call him
"Dance Guy."
"Dance Guy" doesn't complain about missing
sports and is just fine hanging out with you. Listen up
ladies,
"Game recognizes game."
I've been to the dance clubs. You can spot "Dance Guy" a
mile away. He's the "bama" wearing a "matching Kangol hat
and pink or lime green gators," twirling some sista around
hoping to snake his way into her social life. It's sad.
What can you do?
I saw "Dance Guy" at one of the last functions that I attended.
"Dance Guy" drives 30 miles out of his way to dance at your
club, making you believe that he's "just a nice guy."
Ladies, no guy does that without "expectations." That's
part of "the game." "Dance Guy" weasels his way into your
comfort zone and pretty soon you find yourself inviting him to
your social and family functions. The poor bastard has no
real social life and is doing the best he can. Bless his
heart.
Is this sour grapes on my part? Naw. "Dance Guy"
poses no real threat. He's more of a nuisance than
anything. Besides, he can never score without "an assist."
It is what it is.
Fortunately, I had great dance instructors.
A good dancer doesn't always make for a good instructor. I
know of a guy who had the instructor from hell. He
described his instructor as a combination of "The
Terminator and an Army Drill Sergeant."
Clearly Emmitt Smith's victory on "Dancing
With The Stars," has increased the pressure on "real men" to
take dance lessons. Fellas, many of you have already
gotten "the nudge" by now. You know,
"Honey, wouldn't it be nice if we took dance lessons?"That's the nudge. Dude, I've been down that road.
We need to create a "Man Law" on this topic. Hang in there
fellas, help is on the way.
If you are "strongly encouraged" or forced
to take ballroom dance lessons you need to take the profession
seriously. Dancing is serious work! If you invest the
time and hard work you may not be Emmitt Smith or Mario Lopez,
but you'll be a solid dancer and your lady will be pleased.
Photos courtesy (AP Photo/Adam Larkey-ABC,HO)
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Why Emmitt Won
Three-time Super Bowl champion Emmitt Smith
and his partner Cheryl Burke won the 2006 ABC TV “Dancing with
the Stars” competition. Smith beat out actor Mario Lopez. The
judges voted each couple a tie leaving the ultimate decision in
the hands of the voting public to decide.
If you judged the dancers strictly on
technical merit and the intricacies of the footwork, Mario Lopez
should have won. Lopez was as close to being a professional
dancer as I’ve seen on the three installments of the show.
“Dancing With The Stars,” is about the
technical merits of dancing and the entertainment value as
deemed by the viewing public. Emmitt Smith won the battle with
the viewing public. More people could connect with Emmitt
Smith. He had the “right stuff” at the right time. In addition
to being a football legend, Smith had three critical components
that attributed to his victory:
Natural ability
A strong work ethic
A willingness to try something out of
his comfort zone
Make no mistake Mario was fantastic. His
routines were complex, choreographed to perfection and perfectly
executed, but there was something about Mario’s attitude that
made him seem a bit disingenuous. Emmitt came across as a
"regular" guy who gave his best effort every week. To his
credit, Emmitt’s professional dance partner, 22-year old
two-time champion Cheryl Burke, choreographed routines that fit
Emmitt’s skill level and personality.
While Mario gained the reputation as the
“Bad Boy” and “Latin Lover,” Emmitt gained the reputation as the
guy who worked hard, accepted criticism and got better every
week. Smith made last year’s runner up Jerry Rice look like the
Tin Man on the Wizard of Oz. Emmitt transformed himself from a
gridiron hero to a man who exuded fluid and grace on the dance
floor. Unlike that jackass Master P, who was on the second
installment of the show, Emmitt respected the dance profession
and took ballroom dancing seriously.
The principles of discipline and the
willingness to accept coaching served Emmitt well. Emmitt’s
freestyle dance to M.C. Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This,” was great.
Mario’s freestyle tribute to "Old School" was outstanding.
Was Mario Lopez a better overall dancer
than Emmitt Smith? Yes! So, why did Emmitt win? The “hook” of
“Dancing With The Stars,” is to find someone who is not
a dancer and make them a dancer. In the end, the voting public
connected more with Emmitt Smith because they enjoyed seeing
someone who was not a dancer get better every week and become a
“damn good” dancer.
In a technical dance off Mario would beat
Emmitt ten times out of ten. “Dancing With The Stars,” is a
popularity contest. That’s why Emmitt won.
Photos courtesy (AP Photo/Adam Larkey-ABC,HO)
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Pioneering Broadcaster Ed
Bradley Dead At 65
Ed Bradley, the award-winning television
journalist who broke racial barriers at CBS News died Thursday,
November 9, 2006 at the age of 65. Bradley died of leukemia at
Mount Sinai hospital, CBS News announced.
Bradley’s death
shocked many because the general public had no idea that he was
ill, let alone close to death.
Ed Bradley joined the CBS Newsmagazine “60
Minutes,” 26 years ago and created a powerful body of work
interviewing some of the most dynamic and complex personalities
over the past 30 years including Michael Jackson, Timothy
McVeigh (the Oklahoma City bomber), Michael Jordan and Muhammad
Ali.
Recognized as one
of the pioneering Black journalists of his generation, Bradley
received numerous awards, including 19 Emmy awards and
a Lifetime Achievement Award from the
National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
In 1976, Bradley became CBS’ first black
White House correspondent — a prestigious position that Bradley
didn’t enjoy.
I often speak of the importance of
“trailblazers” in life. I define trailblazers as people doing
great things who look like you. Ed Bradley was a trailblazer.
There are untold numbers of black journalist who are in the
business because of Ed Bradley.
Ed Bradley had a remarkable career and left
a legacy of high standard reporting. I want to end this tribute
with Ed Bradley’s own words. When he accepted the NABJ Lifetime
Achievement award Bradley said:
“I look around this room tonight and
I can see how much our profession has changed and our numbers
have grown," he said. "I also see it every day as I travel the
country reporting stories for '60 Minutes.' All I have to do is
turn on the TV and I can see the progress that has been made."
But, he added, "There are many more rivers to cross, and many
more stories to cover and, I hope, a lot left in this
lifetime."
Let’s continue to educate ourselves and
“raise the bar” Ed Bradley and others have set.
Ed Bradley is survived by his wife,
Patricia Blanchet.
Sources: BMIA.com Staff and various
wire services.
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Spike Lee's "When the Levees
Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts"
By
Gary A. Johnson
Here it is, the day after watching Spike
Lee's third feature-length collaboration with HBO. I feel as if
I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster for the past two days.
I watched all of the Katrina coverage as it unfolded at the
time. However, to see this human tragedy bundled into four acts
is both powerful and heartbreaking.
This is a difficult story to tell. I think
Spike Lee did a masterful job. This was not a movie about
Spike. It was a movie about the people. I’ve traveled to New
Orleans on both business and vacation several times over the
past 15 years. I had some sense of the people and the culture.
For viewers who have not been to New Orleans, Spike Lee gave you
a sense of the rich history and culture of New Orleans by
letting the people tell their stories. This documentary is more
"personal" than political and that’s what makes it work.
Lee and his team selected a very diverse
(race, gender, education, occupation) group of people
representing a wide range of opinions to interview, including
Governor
Kathleen Blanco; Mayor Ray Nagin;
residents
Kimberly
Polk, Shelton "Shakespeare" Alexander and Rev. Williams;
activists
Al
Sharpton
and
Harry
Belafonte;
CNN's
Soledad
O'Brien;
and musicians
Wynton
Marsalis, Terence Blanchard
and
Kanye
West.
A number of the people interviewed were respected experts in
their fields.
Out of all the people featured, the
“star” of the film for me, (if there is such a thing as a “star”
in this context) was New Orleans resident
Phyllis
Montana LeBlanc.
If I ever see this sister, I’m going to give her a long
heartfelt hug. Phyllis LeBlanc was raw, honest and
compassionate as she shared her story of this disaster and how
it affected her and her family. For those of you who are not
sure who I’m talking about, Phyllis was the sister who
threatened to whip a Security Officer’s ass who she felt was
insensitive and harassing by asking her (LeBlanc) a string of
security questions as LeBlanc was trying to board an airplane
out of New Orleans.
I sat on my sofa, riveted to the screen. I
could not turn away. I felt anger, hurt, pain, despair and
triumph—after watching all four acts. There were many heroes and
compelling stories that were told, but the images and the
personal stories “make” this film.
How powerful were the images? Remember the
photos and footage of
Condoleeza Rice
buying Ferragamo shoes on Madison Avenue in New York and then
going to see a play while New Orleans was flooding? Or how
about the photos of
President Bush
doing a “flyover” of the city in Air Force One, instead of
seeing the devastation firsthand on the ground, like he did at
the World Trade Center site. And then there was the images of
Vice
President Dick Cheney
fly-fishing?
Bush finally returned to New Orleans and touched
the soil 12 days later and that was after enormous public
and international pressure to do something about the
colossal failure of his administration to help fellow U.S.
citizens.
The resolve of the New Orleans people who want to come
back and rebuild their city is heartfelt. The failure of the
government was worse than what I think most people remember or
could imagine.
Tears rolled down my face as I saw families
being separated like slaves on an auction block. People were
directed by armed officers to get on buses and planes with no
information about where they were going. The site of mothers
being separated from their children was heart wrenching. God
bless the people in the various states who accepted their new
neighbors and helped them transition. Can you imagine living in
New Orleans your entire life, surviving Katrina, being separated
from your family and being sent to an unknown destination that
is culturally opposite from everything that you know? Don’t get me started.
Lee’s documentary also pointed out a fact
that should not go unnoticed. In an interview with HBO Lee was
quoted as saying, “One
of the significant things about the title is that most people
think that it was Katrina that brought about the devastation to
New Orleans. But it was a breaching of the levees that put 80
percent of the city under water. It was not the hurricane. And
last week the United States Army Corps of Generals went on
record and finally 'fessed up, and said that we fucked up.”
Spike Lee said the following about his
film:
“One of the things I hope this
documentary does is remind Americans that New Orleans is not
over with, it's not done. Americans responded in record numbers
to help the people of the Gulf Coast, but let's be honest.
Americans have very, very short attention spans. And, I'll admit
there was eventually a thing called Katrina fatigue. But if you
go to New Orleans, only one-fourth of the population is there.
People are still not home. So hopefully, this documentary will
bring this fiasco, this travesty, back to the attention of the
American people. And maybe the public can get some politicians'
ass in the government to move quicker, and be more efficient in
helping our fellow American citizens in the Gulf region.”
If you have not seen this documentary, I
would urge you to see it. For me, this was a difficult film to
watch, but it is a “must see” piece of work.
This
commentary was posted on August 23, 2006. Top photo
courtesy of the Associated Press (AP).
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I
Remember Billy Preston
Billy
Preston, the exuberant gap-toothed keyboard wizard who landed
dream gigs with the Beatles and The Rolling Stones
and enjoyed his own hit singles including “Outta Space” and
“Nothing From Nothing,” died on June 6, 2006 at the age of 59.
Joyce Moore, his longtime manager, said a heart infection
last November left him in a coma, and he never regained
consciousness.
I made my first attempt to interview Billy Preston in 2002.
At that time, Preston was recovering from a kidney transplant.
Joyce told me to give Billy a few months to recover and we would
try and set something up. The next time we tried to hook up
Billy was doing well. In fact, he was on tour with Eric
Clapton.
I have fond memories of Billy Preston. I
remember watching him on the Della Reese show with Ray
Charles. Billy was being touted as gifted teen prodigy at
that time. He played piano and organ for Charles, Little
Richard, Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland.
In the early 60s, Billy went to Europe with
Little Richard who playing in Hamburg, Germany. The
Beatles were the opening act. That connection led to Billy
working with the Beatles. Billy was called the Fifth
Beatle because he played keyboards on such Beatle’s
classics as Let it Be, The White Album and Abbey Road.
He also played on The Rolling Stones's hit song Miss
You, and often played with Eric Clapton.
Billy also contributed his musical talents to
Aretha Franklin's "Young, Gifted and Black,"
Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" and Sly and
Family Stone's "There's a Riot Goin' On," three
of the most acclaimed albums of the past 35 years.
Preston's own hits included "Nothing from
Nothing," "Will it Go Round in Circles," "You Are So Beautiful,"
which Joe Cocker turned into an international hit and
“With You I’m Born Again,” a duet with Syreeta Wright
that became a favorite at weddings. Billy also won a Grammy
award for Best Instrumental in 1973 for “Outta Space.”
Billy’s maintained his friendship with the
Beatles over the years despite their bickering amongst
themselves. He played on solo records by Harrison, Ringo
Starr and John Lennon. He was the first act signed
to the group’s record label Apple Records.
Billy Preston battled drug addiction. This
was well documented over the years. In 1992, he was given a
suspended jail sentence, but ordered incarcerated for nine
months at a drug rehabilitation center for his no-contest pleas
to cocaine and assault charges. Five years later, he was
sentenced to three years in prison for violating probation. In
1998, he pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and agreed to testify
against other defendants in an alleged scam that netted about $1
million.
“[Jail] was a great lesson, an awakening. I
needed to reflect, to get rid of some of the dead weight around
me,” he later said. “You take the bitter with the sweet and I
have to say it was my faith that kept me going. I had nothing
else to fall back on.”
The term genius is often overused, but in
this case, it is appropriate. I will remember Billy Preston not
as a man performing without a working kidney and who battled
drug addiction, but as a high energy impresario with engaging
smile and towering Afro.
Billy Preston can be heard on the latest
albums by Neil Diamond and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
He's also featured on the Starbucks soul album "Believe
to My Soul" featuring Mavis Staples and Ann Peebles.
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Family Feud: For The Love Of Money (The Lou Rawls Family
Drama)
Have you been following the Lou Rawls
Family Feud? I remember on New Year's Day 2004 reading in the
newspaper that singer Lou Rawls married Nina Inman, a former
Continental Airlines Flight Attendant, who was reportedly 37
years younger than him. I also remember thinking that the news
of that union had "drama" written all over it.
Let’s fast forward to January 2006. Rawls
is dead and the family is fighting over money. Surprised? This
family feud is fueled by an incendiary phone message left by the new wife on Louanna Rawls’ (Rawls’
oldest adult daughter’s) answering machine that was played in
open court last month. On the message, Nina Inman is calling
Louanna a variety of names and threatens to destroy her
father financially. You can listen
to the message below.
When asked about his marriage to Nina,
Rawls was quoted as saying: “"Yeah, it was one of those spur of
the moment things. We got up and said, “Let’s do it.” Well,
just like I said, we woke up and looked at each other and said,
“Hey, it’s a new year. Let’s start off with a new start."
Hmmmm. Why would Rawls need a new start?
A year before their marriage, Rawls was arrested in Albuquerque,
New Mexico after he got into an argument with Nina who claimed
that Rawls shoved her. The charge was later dropped.
As time passed, I was intrigued by this
“for the love of money” soap opera. Was Lou Rawls an old fool
for marrying this woman? Was she a gold digger? Did she love
him? This is the ultimate “he said, she said,” situation.
Soon after Rawls and Inman began to date,
Rawls' oldest daughter Louanna reportedly urged her father not
to marry the woman, believing her to be a gold digger after his
money. Louanna urged Rawls to sign a pre-nuptial agreement.
That didn’t happen. Lou and Nina were married in an impromptu
ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee on January 1, 2004. According to
Louanna, Nina pressured her father to get married quickly. The
only people in attendance at their wedding were Rawls' road
manager and Nina's best friend. The spontaneous wedding was
held at the Peabody Hotel right after midnight, at 12:01 a.m.
Nina, now officially, Mrs. Lou Rawls, began
to behave in a manner that split the family even further. Late
last fall when Rawls was diagnosed with cancer, his daughter
Louanna told her father to sign his bank accounts and holdings
over to her and the rest of his children. Louanna told her
father that the new wife was manipulating him. Nina wanted a
baby and she and Lou used invitro fertilization and another
woman as birth the mother for their infant son who was born in
September 2005.
Rawls appeared to "smell the coffee,” and
according to public records wanted to end his marriage to Nina.
A court hearing was held on September 15, 2005 but the judge
made no ruling at that time. According to reports, Rawls
claimed that Nina absconded with assets valued at hundreds of
thousands of dollars. Oddly enough, Nina admitted to
transferring nearly $350,000 into her account. She claimed she
did so to keep the funds from being seized by daughter Louanna.
The couple separated in September 2005.
In September
2005, though he was already quite ill, Rawls taped the annual Parade of Stars Telethon. Nina Inman was at his side.
In November they had a fight, and Inman
claimed that Louanna used their momentary rift to, in effect,
kidnap Lou Rawls and keep him away from his wife and child.
Annulment papers were drawn up and in December the matter was
heard in court. Friends close to Louanna claim that Nina threw
Rawls out. Days before Rawls died Inman claims that Rawls
wanted her back and that they reunited with the help of a
doctor. Rawls died with Inman at his bedside. She further
claimed to have invited Louanna to come to her father’s bedside
but she wouldn’t.
(Oh my
goodness! Can it get any worse? Uh, yes it can. Keep
reading).
Inman invited
Louanna to attend her father’s funeral, but she was not asked to
sit with the family. Inman filed a police complaint against
Louanna. She said Louanna took all of Rawls’ jewelry, including
his wedding ring, Grammy statues and his gold and platinum
albums. Friends of Louanna say these claims are not true.
(Who do you
believe?)
Friends of
Louanna have been quoted as saying that Rawls instructed his
road manager to remove those items from his Arizona home in a
notarized letter. Inman also says that Rawls is being buried
according to his will. Louanna and Rawls’ friends insist that
Rawls told them directly he wanted to be cremated.
Rawls’ other
daughter, Kendra, has taken Inman’s side in the feud. Rawls,
son, Lou Jr., is in jail.
One has to wonder: Did Lou Rawls have any
indication before he died that this would turn out to be the
equivalent of a hot ghetto mess? I find it hard to believe that
Lou Rawls wanted to go out like that. He could not have been
happy. Hell, if he could have seen how his wife dressed him for
his funeral, the shock of that site probably would have killed
him. Rawls was dressed for burial wearing a purple jacket and a
Kangol hat turned backward, rap-style. This is how Rawls went
out.
Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had “the
classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game.”
Lou Rawls had released more than 70 albums earning three Grammy
awards. His career spanned four decades. His first album was
released in 1962. His latest CD is “Rawls Sings Sinatra.” Most
notable, Lou Rawls was a longtime
community activist, who played a major role in United Negro
College Fund (UNCF) telethons that raised more than $200 million
dollars.
Click On Photo To Enlarge
Lou Rawls, with wife Nina, kisses his
baby, Aiden Allen Rawls, in February 2005
Rawls Family Photo Credit: Orlando Garcia/Getty Images
To
hear a phone message that Nina (wife) sent to Louanna (Lou's
daughter) click the link below.
Warning: This message is laced with profanity.
Please allow a few moments for the file to download.
For the
record Nina Inman-Rawls said she regrets leaving the message on
Louanna’s voicemail. Listen to the message and draw your
own conclusion.
February 2006
The New Apprentice Is Smooth As
Silk
Finally, we have a black apprentice. Randal Pinkett’s
"educational pedigree" is unmatched when compared to his “Apprentice” peers.
On December 15, 2005, before a live television audience, Pinkett was
declared Donald Trump's "apprentice," in the season finale of the hit
NBC TV show.
In my opinion, Randal Pinkett’s greatest accomplishment came
after he
was declared the winner. Randal touched off a debate about whether
or not he should have shared his award with his opponent.
Mainstream media outlets are portraying Randal as selfish. Here's
what happened.
Amazingly, after Donald Trump anointed Randal
the winner, he interrupts the brother's
celebration, calls him back to the table and began to speak glowingly of
Rebecca (Randal's opponent). Trump then turns to Randal and says,
"If you were me,
would you hire Rebecca also?" (Say what? Trump never asked any of the
previous winners if their opponent should be hired. Why should he
share the award? As Whitney Houston would, say, "Ah hell to
the no!").Randal looked Trump straight in the eyes and
explained:
"Mr. Trump, I
firmly believe that this is 'The Apprentice,' that there is one and only
one apprentice, and if you're going to hire someone tonight, it should
be one. It's not 'The Apprenti,' it's 'The Apprentice.'"
Donald Trump
With that said, and despite his clear desire to hire both
Rebecca and Randal, Trump replied, “Okay, I’m going to
leave it at that then. I think I could have been convinced, but you
feel that’s the way it should be, I’m going to leave it that way.”
The
show ended without Trump breaking his own established rules.
Randal, played the game with more integrity than anyone else in the four
seasons of “The Apprentice.” He also earned the respect of
basically every other candidate. Why should he be the one who
shares the award?
(Come on Gary, here
you go again. Once again, you're looking at everything through a
racial prism. Does everything have to have a racial angle
with you? Do you see race in everything?)
Let’s take a quick look
at what happened on live television in a matter of seconds. Whether he realized it or not, Donald Trump was doing something that
happens to a lot of successful black managers in companies and
organization all across America. Donald Trump was attempting to change the rules of “the game.”However, Randal, with 5 academic
Ivy League degrees wasn’t having it.
What Randal did in a smooth and emphatic way was to say to the world,
I
won this competition fair and square and I’m not going to allow you to
“water down” my victory by trying to get me to endorse hiring both
of us. If Randal had acquiesced and said, “Yes, Mr. Trump, Rebecca was
great, I would hire her as well,” that would have sent a very strong and wrong message.
Thank goodness this brother stood his ground. When Kwame was the
the runner up, Donald Trump never outwardly suggested that Kwame should
win. (Omarosa, stuck a
knife in that brothers back and did him in for good).
Randal is probably the most qualified candidate in the history of the
TV series.
If
Donald Trump wanted to hire both candidates then he should have done
that. Don't try and mask making that decision by getting the the
black man to endorse the white female as being just as good.
Rebecca was a
good candidate, but she's not in Randal's league by any stretch of the
imagination.
Randal Pinkett, 34, is the
founder, president and CEO of his fifth venture "BCT Partners," a
multi-million dollar management, technology and policy consulting firm
based in Newark, N.J., that works with corporations, government
agencies, philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Born in
Philadelphia and raised in Hightstown, N.J., he holds five academic
degrees in engineering, business and technology including a B.S. from
Rutgers University, an M.S. from the University of Oxford in England as
a Rhodes Scholar, and an M.S., M.B.A. and Ph.D. from MIT. A former
college championship track and field athlete, he has received numerous
awards for his accomplishments as an entrepreneur and technologist
including the National Society of Black Engineers "National Member of
the Year." A Leadership New Jersey Fellow and Next Generation Leadership
Fellow, Randal has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine and Ebony
magazine in their "30 Leaders of the Future" issue. He is a proud member
of First Baptist Church in Somerset, N.J., where he resides and is
happily married to his wife Zahara.
Simply The Best
1940 - 2005
You can go online or pickup your local paper to
read about the life and times of Richard Pryor. Pryor had been ill for
years with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nervous
system. A few months ago, I touched base with Jennifer Pryor,
(Richard’s wife and primary caretaker) for help in getting Richard’s
bestselling autobiography,
“Pryor Convictions.”
The book was out-of-print and was selling for double and triple its
original price on the Internet. (I can only imagine what the book is
selling for now). Jennifer had the book delivered to my office in less
than a week. Thank you Jennifer.
Here's my tribute to Richard Pryor:
"Richard Pryor was the best stand-up comedian
of my generation and arguably, the best stand-up comedian who ever
lived."
For a complete list of Richard Pryor's
accomplishments as an actor, writer, producer and director,
click here.
Richard Pryor Recordings
1. Is It
Something I Said? ® Gold 1975/Platinum 2. 1986/Grammy 1975 3. Bicentennial Nigger ® Gold 1976/Grammy 1976 4. Wanted: Richard Pryor Live ® Gold 1979/ 5. Richard Pryor's Greatest Hits ® Gold
6. 1980/Platinum 1986 7. Rev. Du Rite ® Grammy 1981 8. Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip ® Grammy 1982 9. That Nigger's Crazy ® Grammy 1974/Gold 1986 10. Black Ben The Blacksmith 11. Craps (After Hours) 12. Who Me, I'm Not Him 13. Are You Serious??? 14. SuperN*gger 15. The Wizard Of Comedy 16. ...And It's Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings
(1968-1992) ® includes 9 CDs/Grammy 2002 --Richard Pryor --That Nigger's Crazy --Is It Something I Said? --Bicentennial Nigger --Wanted/Richard Pryor Live in Concert Pt. 1 --Wanted/Richard Pryor Live in Concert Pt. 2 --Live On Sunset Strip --Here and Now --That African-American is STILL Crazy-Good 17. Shit from
the Vaults 18. Anthology 1968-1992 includes 2 CDs (Highlights from "... And
It's Deep, Too!")
Posted December 11, 2005
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We Remember Johnnie Cochran
Posted March 30,
2005
Los Angeles -
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., who became a legal superstar after helping
clear O.J. Simpson and other celebrities died of a brain tumor at
his home in Los Angeles, his family said. He was 67. During the
Simpson trial, Cochran uttered the famous quote “If it doesn’t fit,
you must acquit.”
Known for his
courtroom oratory and memorable phrases, Cochran was a vivid symbol
of justice for his clients, many of whom were not famous.
His
catchphrase in the Simpson trial, “If it doesn’t fit, you must
acquit,” was used to illustrate that a bloody glove that Simpson
tried on in court did not fit and therefore could not have been used
by Simpson to commit murder. Some legal experts called that phrase
the turning point in the trial.
O. J. Simpson,
said of Cochran, “I don’t think I’d be home today without Johnnie.”
Simpson said other
members of his defense team also deserved credit for his acquittal,
but added: “Without Johnnie running the ball, I don’t think there’s
a lawyer in the world that could have run that ball. I was innocent,
but he believed it.”
Simpson’s
acquittal was the crowning achievement in a long and notable
career. Over the years, Cochran represented football great Jim
Brown on rape and assault charges, actor Todd Bridges on attempted
murder charges, rapper Tupac Shakur on a weapons charge and rapper
Snoop Dogg on a murder charge. He also represented former Black
Panther Elmer “Geronimo” Pratt, who spent 27 years in prison for a
murder he didn’t commit. When Cochran helped Pratt win his freedom
in 1997, he called the moment “the happiest day of my life
practicing law.”
Born in
Shreveport, La., the great-grandson of slaves, grandson of a
sharecropper and son of an insurance salesman, Cochran came to Los
Angeles with his family in 1949. He came to idolize Thurgood
Marshall, the attorney who persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to
outlaw school segregation in the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education
decision and who would eventually become the Supreme Court’s first
black justice. “I read everything I could find about Thurgood
Marshall and confirmed that a single dedicated man could use the law
to change society.”
In his 2002 book, "A Lawyer's Life," Cochran wrote that the case
"gave me the platform to try to change some of those things that
need to be changed in this country."
His current
practice,
The Cochran Firm,
was
established in 1981 and has offices in 12 states and the District of
Columbia.
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Film Legend and Civil Rights
Champion Ossie Davis Dies
Ossie Davis, the
imposing, actor who championed racial justice on stage, on screen
and in real life for over 5 decades was found dead Friday, February
04, 2005 in his hotel room in Miami Beach, Fla., according to
officials there. Davis who was 87, was making a film called "Retirement," said Arminda Thomas, who works in his office
in suburban New Rochelle and confirmed the death.
Miami Beach police spokesman Bobby Hernandez said Davis' grandson
called shortly before 7 a.m. when Davis would not open the door to
his room at the Shore Club Hotel. Davis was found dead and there
does not appear to be any foul play, Hernandez said.
Davis, who wrote, acted, directed and produced for the theater and
Hollywood, was a central figure among black performers for decades.
He and his wife Ruby Dee celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary
in 1998 with the publication of a dual autobiography, "In This
Life Together." Their relationship is a great American love
story.
Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis
Generations of fans are
familiar with his work. Davis earned popularity with
younger people with his partnership with Spike Lee. Davis
appeared in three Spike Lee films, including "School
Daze," "Do the Right Thing" and "Jungle
Fever." In 2004, Davis and Dee were among the artists
selected to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.
Your Samuel L.
Jackson's, Denzel Washington's and a ton of other actors, both black
and white, male and female, owe Ossie Davis a huge debt of
gratitude. Can you imagine how many people that this man
mentored and inspired throughout the course of his lifetime?
Or how many kids got into directing, civil service, writing or
production because they saw someone who looked like them--Colored,
Negro, Black and African American?
When not on stage or on camera, Davis has been an advocate for civil
rights issues and efforts to promote the cause of blacks in the
entertainment industry. Davis also directed several films, most
notably "Cotton Comes to Harlem" in 1970.
The oldest of
five children, Davis was born in Cogdell, Ga., in 1917 and grew up
in nearby Waycross and Valdosta. As the story goes, Davis left home
in 1935, hitchhiking to Washington to enter Howard University, where
he studied drama, intending to be a playwright.
His career as an
actor began in 1939 with the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem, then
the center of black culture in America. There Davis met or mingled
with some of the most influential figures of the time, including the
preacher Father Divine, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Langston
Hughes and Richard Wright. Davis debuted on Broadway in "Jeb," a
play about a returning soldier. That was in 1946, his co-star was
Ruby Dee.
In December 1948,
on a day off from rehearsals from another play, Davis and Dee took a
bus to New Jersey to get married. They already were so close that
"it felt almost like an appointment we finally got around to
keeping," Dee wrote in "In This Life Together."
Many people
either don’t know or forgot that Davis delivered the eulogy at
Malcolm X's funeral, calling him "our own black shining prince who
didn't hesitate to die, because he loved us so." Davis reprised
that role in a voice-over for the 1992 Spike Lee film, "Malcolm X."
Davis also eulogized Dr. Martin Luther King at his funeral in 1968.
Davis received
innumerable honors and citations throughout his life, including the
Hall of Fame Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement in 1989, the
U.S. National Medal for the Arts in 1995, the New York Urban League
Frederick Douglass Award, NAACP Image Award, and the Screen Actor's
Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
Funeral services
(visitation) for Davis will held on Friday, Feb. 11 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Abyssinian Baptist
Church, 132 W. 138th Street, in Manhattan, NY. His funeral
will be held at noon on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Riverside Church, 490 Riverside
Drive, Manhattan. Both his visitation and funeral are open to
the public.
To appreciate the
value of this legend, review his extensive body of work below
courtesy of
IMDb, the earth’s biggest movie database.
How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass (2003) ....
Granddad ... aka Baadasssss! (USA: new title) ... aka Badass (USA)
... aka Gettin' the Man's Foot Outta Your Baadasssss! (USA: new
title)
Proud (2003) .... Lorenzo DuFau ... aka Proudly We Served (USA)
Commentary
by Gary A. Johnson
