the neo

New Digs.

2008-09-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

I've (finally, finally!!) relocated to a WordPress blog at my very own domain name. You should be automatically directed from here, but in case you're viewing my feed through an RSS reader, please be sure to subscribe to my new feed: http://www.shanio.com/?feed\x3drss2 See you at my new spot. (And don't forget to update your links.)

Thoughts on a Saturday.

2008-09-27T09:46:00.001-07:00

Sometimes -- like now -- I wish I could write. Like, really, really, write. Because then, I could express just how heartbroken I am. Instead, I've got a million cliches, none of which can tell. I haven't felt this sad in a very long time.

I'm often alone, but rarely lonely.

My head aches.

The remedy feels worse than the disease. When will the lump in my throat go away? Will the stinging in the corners of my eyes stop? Will I feel better in a week? A month?

I hate it here.

Patrick Stump Covers Kanye West.

2008-09-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

I kinda dig Patrick Stump (dude from Fallout Boy). His voice is pretty decent, and rather hookalicious on The Roots' "Birthday Girl." He does a really good cover of 'Ye's "Love Lockdown" that I think I like better than the original.

Why WaMu Being Seized by the Government is Awesome...

2008-09-26T08:59:00.001-07:00

... for me personally, that is. I went to the WaMu website, and they have a helpful guide for what will change and what will stay the same, now that JP Morgan Chase owns the bank. My favorite part:

"Soon: You'll be able to use over 9,300 Chase ATMs fee-free - jointly, that's 14,000 ATMs for your banking convenience!"

No more driving 10 miles to the nearest WaMu to bank; I'll be able to walk to the Chase down the street from my office. Hopefully, "soon" means within, like, a year. Just gotta find that silver lining, Americans!

Easy Like Sunday Morning.

2008-09-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Does your desk ever get so messy that you cringe when your boss or a client stops by? Mine's been like that for a minute now. Since the end of July I've been drowning in paperwork and some pretty serious/important projects. So now I'm spending a lovely Sunday cleaning my desk, doing general office-keeping and organizing my life a bit. Luckily, I can catch up on Gossip Girl while I fill up the recycling bins. Also, Blair and Chuck! OMG. They're electric.

Natural Curl Pattern.

2008-09-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

This is how I feel when people come toward my hair with their hands.

The New Essence.com

2008-09-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Ok. I don't read Essence. I actually don't read many magazines, unless they're about politics. But my homie Charreah has been working her cute little buns off over at Essence, and is part of the team that has brought you a totally revamped and fabulous Essence.com. I know a little something about major site overhauls, and these things don't just happen overnight (even though they look like they do). Go look!

Michelle is a Better Dancer...

2008-09-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Michelle Obama gets jiggy on Ellen. She so fab.

I'm such a loser.

2008-09-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

Did you cry? I cried. http://www.wildlifenow.com/

The Omnivore's Hundred.

2008-09-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

I did this over at PB, but I thought you guys might find it funny to do. It's a list of the one hundred foods every omnivore should eat once in their lifetime.

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions. 2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten. 3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating. 4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison 2. Nettle tea 3. Huevos rancheros 4. Steak tartare 5. Crocodile 6. ~~Black pudding~~ 7. Cheese fondue 8. Carp 9. Borscht 10. Baba ghanoush 11. Calamari 12. Pho 13. PB&J sandwich 14. Aloo gobi 15. Hot dog from a street cart 16. Epoisses 17. Black truffle 18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes 19. Steamed pork buns 20. Pistachio ice cream 21. Heirloom tomatoes 22. Fresh wild berries 23. Foie gras 24. Rice and beans 25. Brawn, or head cheese 26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper 27. Dulce de leche 28. Oysters 29. Baklava 30. Bagna cauda 31. Wasabi peas 32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl 33. Salted lassi 34. Sauerkraut 35. Root beer float 36. Cognac with a fat cigar 37. Clotted cream tea 38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O 39. Gumbo 40. Oxtail 41. Curried goat 42. Whole insects 43. Phaal 44. Goat’s milk 45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more 46. Fugu 47. Chicken tikka masala 48. Eel 49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut 50. Sea urchin 51. Prickly pear 52. Umeboshi 53. Abalone 54. Paneer 55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal 56. Spaetzle 57. Dirty gin martini 58. Beer above 8% ABV 59. Poutine 60. Carob chips 61. S’mores 62. Sweetbreads 63. Kaolin 64. Currywurst 65. Durian 66. Frogs’ legs 67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake 68. Haggis 69. Fried plantain 70. ~~Chitterlings, or andouillette~~ 71. Gazpacho 72. Caviar and blini 73. Louche absinthe 74. Gjetost, or brunost 75. ~~Roadkill~~ 76. Baijiu 77. Hostess Fruit Pie 78. Snail 79. Lapsang souchong 80. Bellini 81. Tom yum 82. Eggs Benedict 83. Pocky 84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. 85. Kobe beef 86. Hare 87. Goulash 88. Flowers 89. ~~Horse~~ 90. Criollo chocolate 91. Spam 92. Soft shell crab 93. Rose harissa 94. Catfish 95. Mole poblano 96. Bagel and lox 97. Lobster Thermidor 98. Polenta 99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee 100. Snake

Happy Birthday Mike!

2008-08-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

It's Michael Jackson's 50th (and John McCain's 72nd) birthday today. Still love ya, despite the craziness. I tried to find an embeddable version of "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" (my personal favorite MJ song) but to no avail. Click here.

Future First Family.

2008-08-29T07:11:00.001-07:00

Like Snob, I too, will never get tired of looking at this family. She has a million and one pics of them from last night. Go look. And is it just me, or is Malia the world's tallest ten-year-old? She's gotta be about 5 feet tall -- she comes up to her father's shoulder. Those girls are from a genetic goldmine; they got the best of both of their parents.

Breaking Down.

2008-08-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

I got my cable turned back on. I've been without it since February, simply because I found I just didn't watch much TV. I hate television, frankly. It's a time waster, and it makes you dumb. When I did have super-basic cable, the only channels that didn't enrage me were The CW, Disney Channel, and C-Span. And in the time since I've stopped watching it, I've found that the few occasions I'm with people who have it on, I get angry. I generally have to restrain myself from shouting "WHY ARE YOU WATCHING THIS GARBAGE?!" And pulsating rage, as I'm sure you can tell, is not a good look for me. I've even been known to throw things at the television (soft things, of course). This generally only happens when there's a pundit on TV, though. Unfortunately, even the morning news shows I used to love watching have begun to get on my nerves. I mean, everyone loves Al Roker, but how many times can he say "and SLOWLY I turned" before it stops being funny? So I'm sure you're wondering why I got my cable turned on. Well, since you asked, here are my three Very Important Reasons. 1) Barack Obama. I know, I know. But I really wanted to watch his speech tonight, and I really want to watch the debates when they start up. I need to see him and Joey Biden (with Mama Biden looking on lovingly) crush McCain and his veep. And once he's elected, I'll have to watch the inauguration, so that means I might as well bite the bullet until January. 2) Serena and Blair. Gossip Girl is the Greatest Show of Our Time. And I missed it so hard when I gave up TV, but then I discovered they started streaming full episodes online. And then they stopped. But now they're gonna start doing it again, but dangit, I can't watch GG while I'm at work (or can I?) so cable it is. I miss Serena's ability to screw everything up without lifting a finger. I miss Blair's sheer awesomeness. And I need to see what freakishly long-legged Jenny Humphrey is wearing this season. 3) Simpsons reruns. There's nothing like coming home from work and watching The Simpsons for an hour. I miss Marge's disapproving grumble. Of course, all of my current goodwill toward cable television will be shattered if I have to see any of the following: Wolf Blitzer; One Tree Hill; Matt Lauer; and anything with "Cashmere," "Love," "Hell," or "Desperate," in the title. Cross your fingers for me!

An Emotional Election.

2008-08-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

[Picture borrowed from the lovely and hilarious Black Snob. She keeps us swimming in Obama family photos.] Is it just me, or is this the most tear-inducing presidential election ever? I've cried or come close to it soooo many times since Iowa, I'm a little ashamed of myself. Between Barack's amazing speeches (to which I've become somewhat immune, though I'm sure I'll need a box of tissues on Thursday) and the gorgeous Obama family, I'm often a pathetic, weepy, mess. The speeches from last night were no exception. And I know it's not just me. It's also my friends. And I would say maybe it's just because black folks are so durn proud of the Obamas that we can't help ourselves, but it ain't just us. My Puerto Rican-Jewish coworker said his wife (who's white) was crying by the end Michelle's speech too. What got me while Michelle was speaking was the moment when her eyes started to shine and you could hear in her voice that even she was close to tears. I'm not complaining, mind you. It's good to feel something about the political process, just as it's important pay attention to the actual issues. I just wanna know, did people cry when FDR was running for president? Did people tear up at the sight of Nancy Reagan on stage? In other news, I posted a round-up of reactions to Michelle's speech on PB, and I somehow managed to keep my hormones out of it.

Madness 2008 Redux: 'We've Gotta Pay For These Things. They Don't Come For Free.'

2008-08-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

During the Obama interview at Saddleback, Rick Warren asks the senator what it means to be rich. Or, more specifically, what is the threshold for taxation? (This is the question McCain jokingly answered with $5 million/year.) Obama answers in pretty effective manner, and then drops the following:

"If we believe in good schools, if we believe in good roads, if we wanna make sure that kids can go to college, if we don't want to leave a mountain of debt for the next generation, then we've gotta pay for these things. They don't come for free. It is irresponsible, intergenerationally, to spend ten billion dollars a month on a war, and not have a way of paying for it."

And applause. This right here is the thing that kills me about the Bush/McCain tax plan. Because this is what they did: cut taxes, bumped up funding for an impossible war by billions, and incurred a truly stupendous amount of debt. And all the while providing luscious tax cuts for rich people. Now that the economy is in the toilet, due to spending on things that Americans don't need or want (war), the Republicans who put us here have the nerve to talk about "regular Americans" getting screwed over by Obama's plan to end tax cuts. raising taxes. And what's more: no one is calling them on it. Aside from your neighborhood lefty bloggers, the traditional media and the pundits are having a frickin' field day out there talking about McCain's plan as though it's legitimate. This is all part of the madness. It's not. Let's talk this through. The economy sucks, because of the Republicans. However, these crazy American people still want those good social services the government provides (many of which lost a lot of funding over the last 7.5 years) -- you know, federal grants, scholarships, up-to-date text books, free immunizations, decent food in schools, roads that don't have potholes, safe public transportation, more cops on the streets, and the list goes on. And moreover, these nutty American people also don't want the economy to suck forever. Obama is suggesting, in not so stilted words, that it's time to pay the piper. The U.S. can't keep going the way it's been going for the last 90 months. It simply isn't sustainable. Not for four more years. You can't keep spending and keep spending, and fail to replace the money. Or in third grade terms: you have four apples and you give someone an apple every day. After four days you're borrowing apples. You're in apple debt. Are you going to keep borrowing apples while your quality of life gets worse, or are you going to stop giving away apples and start putting in work to grow your own? What's it gonna be, U.S.A.? The people making millions each year need to start doing their part to shoulder the cost of the things that Americans want and need. Middle-class people want the government to provide basic services, and presumably, they want the wealthy to stop skating. Meanwhile, McCain (like Bush, and every Republican in the last 30+ years) is trading on the notion that the middle-class won't realize what the deal is. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the GOP bets that Americans are dumb, while the Dems pray to FDR that Americans are smart. Ultimately, it's up to the middle-class portion of the electorate to actually educate themselves on the candidates' respective economy plans. (That's right, I said it. Educate oneself. My beef with the whole "I dunno what that Obama guy is really about" phenomenon is another post.) And if not, at least don't vote for the guy who's happily singing the tune of the worst president ever.

Blawgin' updates.

2008-08-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

I updated the hair blog with shots of my hair today... it's my two month anniversary! I can't believe it's been so long. On Saturday night, I met the friend of a friend who had awesomely huge, super kinky hair (I don't think mine is that tightly coiled) and was immediately jealous. I'll have to wait another year before it gets that big but I soooo can't wait! I also posted the Evin Cosby piece on PostBourgie with a mini update, so go and comment (or comment again!) if you haven't already. What are you still doing here? GO!!

Stephanie Tubbs Jones in critical condition

2008-08-20T11:36:00.000-07:00

From Congressional Quarterly Politics:

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones died Wednesday in an Ohio hospital after suffering an aneurysm a day earlier, according to a senior House Democratic aide.

Tubbs Jones, a Democrat who has represented Ohio’s 11th District since 1999 and was chairwoman of the House’s ethics committee, suffered the aneurysm Tuesday night while driving near her hometown of Cleveland.

Tubbs Jones, who would have turned 60 on Sept. 10, was scheduled to attend the Democratic National Convention next week as a superdelegate.

“Tuesday’s condition followed a full day of activity, including planning for an upcoming forum on electoral reform, scheduled for September 4, 2008 at Cleveland State University,” according to a statement released earlier Wednesday from her office. She was admitted to Huron Hospital.

Tubbs Jones was among the five black members who claimed committee chairmanships when the Democrats ascended to the majority in 2007.

A dyed-in-the-wool Clintonista, Tubbs Jones was one of the most influential black Democrats in Congress. Update: People must really want this woman gone, because there are several conflicting reports out there. But apparently, she's in critical condition and not expected to recover. Now CQ is saying:

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones was in critical condition Wednesday in an Ohio hospital, her doctors said, amid conflicting reports that she had died.

Jones suffered an aneurysm late Tuesday while driving, which caused a brain hemorrhage and left her with “very limited brain function,” according to a spokesman for Huron Hospital in East Cleveland, Ohio.

Sources, including congressional aides, had said earlier that Tubbs Jones had died.

Update #2: She died last night around 6 p.m. My sincere condolences to her family, constituents, and sisters in Delta Sigma Theta.

Leroi Moore, 1961-2008

2008-08-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

I was a huge DMB fan in high school and college. I own all of their studio albums up to American Baby, and several live albums. My favorite is Live at Red Rocks, but the best one was Live in Chicago (and that's how you know your stan-dom, when you know your personal fave isn't necessarily the best). I used to regularly stalk the website, and can rattle off the names of the five original members in a single breath. Dave Matthews, Boyd Tinsley, Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, and Leroi Moore. Dave did the strummy-la-la and the unintelligible singing, Boyd killed it on the violin, Carter held down the drums, Stefan did his cool bass thing, and Leroi brought the jazz. Leroi brought the jazz. The saxophonist was the quietest member of the band, rarely giving interviews, and generally content to let the other members speak. I'm sad to see him go. Lover Lay Down - Dave Matthews Band

BOO, you WHORE.*

2008-08-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

*cough cough* I'm sick. Which is why I haven't been posting. Sorry. I have a monstrous head cold which is making it difficult for me to hear, smell, or taste anything. Thank God my breasts can always tell when it's ... already raining.* Shout outs to the lovely bloggers with whom I spent Saturday night. Recap coming soon! *Who can guess the reference? La, you're disqualified.

Madness 2008: Am I Losing My Mind?!

2008-08-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

Ok. Barack Obama was 'presumptuous' when he went to Berlin to give a speech. He was 'presumptuous' because he did the same thing McCain did a few months earlier, which was meet with various world leaders. He was wrong to go to Iraq, even though is what McCain was telling him to do. Soooooo presumptuous. And yet, John McCain, a senator from Arizona, is on the phone every day with the president of Georgia. John McCain, a senator from Arizona, is sending a DAGGONE DIPLOMATIC TEAM TO INTERVENE IN A WAR BETWEEN TWO NATIONS. *ahem* All the while, the effing President of the United States is cooling his heels and pretty much keeping the US out of the conflict. But John McCain isn't presumptuous. And let's all just ignore the fact that McCain's top foreign policy adviser was a lobbyist for Georgia. And here's the thing. I don't remember it being like this. Four years ago, there were plenty of ridiculous charges flying, but Kerry was a lame duck. And the U.S. doesn't elect a new president during wartime. So, fine. But was it always like this? John McCain and his surrogates are straight-up, flat-out lying, and yet the so-called 'liberal media' refuses to call a lie a lie. It's like everyone who has traditional platform is pretending that these things make sense, and I'm the only one who can see the monster on the wing of the plane. (Sorry, I mix metaphors when I'm upset.) But seriously, folks. Is this the Twilight Zone? And another thing. Sen. McCain, I for one, am NOT a Georgian. I'm an American.

Reggin, please.

2008-08-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

No one should be judging and assuming that because I'm black, I have to speak in that hip-hop way. That's something I prefer not to do.

This newsflash comes to us from Evin Cosby. (Because everyone gets to choose how they speak.) The Cosby scion, who's trying really hard to make news about her new boutique which I will not publicize here, goes on to share the following gem:

I always went to private schools - Bank Street elementary, Columbia Prep - so I was surrounded by people like me. Not so much African-American, but privileged. I don't really have a connection to other people who didn't have my lifestyle.

It looks like she learned well at her father's knee. And this is the thing about privilege that bugs. It's one thing to acknowledge your privilege. It's quite another to wade in it, to splash in it, to swim in it. I'm privileged. I'm guessing everyone who reads this blog is. You have access to the Internet, don't you? But that privilege isn't something to be proud of. It doesn't make you better. It makes you luckier. Privilege is the best reason to connect with people who don't have the same opportunities. It's called giving back. And while giving back and selling $500 polyester dresses aren't mutually exclusive, I suspect they are in Ms. Cosby's world. Sigh. I could go on, but this is making me tired.

Five Favorite Cover Songs

2008-08-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

A while back, I wrote about my top 5 songs of all time. After hearing about the death of Isaac Hayes this weekend, the thing that kept coming into my head was his cover of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By." See, the art of the cover song is practically lost. These days, it seems like every time a singer gets a bit of popularity, he or she wants to re-sing something. But as we all know, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Because of these travesties (I'm looking at *you*, ScarJo, Usher, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, and ugh, BABYFACE!), covers have an understandably bad rep. But there are some good ones. Without further ado, here are my top five favorite cover songs, in no particular order. Walk On By - Isaac Hayes Originally by Dionne Warwick, composed by Burt Bacharach Hayes' voice, deep and rumbling, coupled with the strings and organ turned a sad little piano ballad into something dark and powerful. I'm a fan of Dionne Warwick, but this is one case where the original just can't hold a candle to the remake. Julia - Chocolate Genius Originally by The Beatles I heard this a few years ago, before I even heard The Beatle's version of it. Part of the reason I like it is the production value. It's simply higher quality. But I'm also digging Choc's voice in it. Say Hello, Wave Goodbye - David Gray Originally by Soft Cell This may actually be my favorite cover of all time. I have an affinity for super-long songs, and SHWG clocks in at 9 minutes. Gray's cover of the Soft Cell b-side transforms the sorta cheesy, New Wave, synth-pop track into a long and rambling guitar-driven plea for a failing relationship. When I compare the two, I have no clue how he did made this out of *that*, but I'm so, so glad he did. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Eva Cassidy Originally by Simon and Garfunkel I happened across Eva Cassidy's work sometime in my senior year of college. Cassidy, who died in her thirties of cancer, had a songbook which consisted mostly of covers and standards. Her voice is really pure and clear, and her version of Paul and Art's classic is soulful and sweet, but a bit heartbreaking. When I'm not feeling too hot, this song goes on repeat. Maps/Since U Been Gone - Ted Leo Medley of songs originally by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Kelly Clarkson This came out right around the time Clarkson's SUBG hit its stride. In fact, at the time, people thought Leo was mocking the fact that Clarkson's hit had clearly borrowed from The Yeah Yeah Yeahs to achieve it's rockability. But Leo said he just really liked both songs. As a fan of both Maps and Since U Been Gone, this live cover made me smile. Honorable Mentions: There were a million and a half covers of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy." My two favorites were by Nelly Furtado and The Kooks. Nelly's was very chill, while The Kooks had the sexy British accent thing going on. Lauryn Hill - I Can't Take My Eyes Off You Amy Winehouse - Valerie Jamie Cullum - High And Dry What are your favorite cover songs?

Does Anyone Else Miss Beyonce?

2008-08-11T07:03:00.002-07:00

Or is it just me? I haaaaaate this video, but watching it made me feel ... safe.

Beyonce ft Jay Z upgrade u High Quality
by darman40

Mikey wrote a hilarious post about the void in the music industry since B's been busy getting married and lightened up by Loreal. I, too, miss her crazy behind. I'm sure once she's back I'll be annoyed with her inside of a week, but come back soon!!!

'You're nice but...'

2008-08-07T18:19:00.001-07:00

Ok. Here's my quandary (it's been a minute since I asked for relationship advice):

I met a guy randomly in the town where I work. He seemed nice, and we chatted for a bit. We exchanged numbers. This was a month ago, by the way. He called me before I was going to Boule, wanting to hang out, but I was busy. We hung out once in town, walking around, chatting, getting ice cream. He was still nice. But... there was no there, there. He was saying all the things that most girls would want to hear (you know, the 'total package' nonsense) but there was no evidence that he reads, or thinks critically about things.

And that's the thing. My linesister was like, 'you need to date someone like you.' And by that, I took her to mean I need someone who's curious about life, politics, race relations, gender issues, and doesn't just listen to whatever's playing on Hot 97. Granted, most people don't fit this bill, but that's just the deal. I tried dating someone I didn't have anything in common with (some of you may remember TL). It didn't work. Here's the thing: I like to talk about stuff, and one day, I'm gonna find someone who likes to talk about the same stuff (we don't have to agree). Until then, I'll have to occupy myself with a string of lovaahhs.

Point being, what do I tell this boy? Do I keep avoiding him? I've been putting him off for three weeks, with flimsy excuse after flimsy excuse. Do I tell him, straight up, "you're nice, but I don't want to date ... you." Or do I ...?

Un-Review: 'Sketches of A Man'

2008-08-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

I've been jamming to Dwele's Sketches of a Man for the last couple of hours. Like most other people, I came to him through 'Ye's "Flashing Lights" (my first favorite cut offa Graduation, and one of my favorite songs of the last year). Sketches is really, really good. Mellow, cool, and jazzy, it's reminiscent of the good part of the (gag) neo-soul movement; you know, Baduizm, Voodoo, and 1st Born Second. Sketches is something of a companion piece to New Amerykah. Though it isn't as funky, it has the same feel to it: warm, revealing, a little funny, and groove-tastic. Dwele even has a Dilla-inspired track, much like Erykah's "The Healer" and "Telephone." He covers Jay Dee's "Workinonit" from the posthumously released Donuts. Dwele's version caught me by surprise; he took Dilla's sliced-up, sped-up, sampled, mash-up (which is featured on my workout playlist) and turned it into a very smooth, very sexy, (and very short, sadly) cut. Dwele: Workin On It - Dwele Dilla: Workinonit - J Dilla I highly recommend Dwele's Sketches of A Man. The best part about it is the lack of corniness which tends to plague R&B albums these days. Even my previous R&B favorite, Raheem Devaughn's Love Behind the Melody suffers from a wee bit of lameness. Go forth and purchase! Previous un-reviews: New Amerykah Rising Down

Blawgin' Updates

2008-08-05T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all. I'm gonna be blogging over at PostBourgie from time to time, so check it out. Today I wrote about the lameness that was TyChelle BanksBama in Harper's Bazaar. I also updated my hair blog with a lengthy, boring post about my current regimen. Enjoy!

Baaastin in Review.

2008-08-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

It was an adventure. It always is, though, when I get together with the BFF. We drove up Saturday morning, and got there around 1. BFF swears by her GPS, so we plugged it into my car and it was surprisingly useful. I harbor a suspicion for many electronic devices, because they aren't totally reliable — and TomTom did crap out a couple of times — and I think it's so important to maintain basic knowledge. Like knowing how to read a map. (I remember driving around NY two summers ago, and asking my sister to look at the map. Her response: "I don't read maps." My response: "Whuh?") But we managed pretty well with the GPS device. We got to the Hilton in Woburn, MA, which was only 20 minutes from the Boston. The hotel had a slightly retro vibe, with mustard-brown colored carpet and taupe walls, but it was clean, nicely appointed, and we had a room overlooking the atrium. The room has this sliding door, and you can step out onto your carpeted balcony above the hotel bar, pool, and restaurant, but you're protected from the elements by a huge slanted glass wall, so it's like being outside without the weather. The view from the balcony: Nice, huh? One other bonus was that staying in a room above the atrium means you can catch the free wifi signal coming from the lobby. We relaxed in the room for a bit (a 5 hour drive is tiring), made reservations at Legal Seafood, per Wife's suggestion, and then headed to Boston. No particular destination in mind, we ended up on Boylston Street, parked, and started walking. Always in the mood for Thai, we stopped in at Bangkok Blue, where BFF had mediocre pad thai, and I had amazing chicken panang. We wanted to sit outside, but the hostess looked ominously at the overcast sky, asking, "Are you sure? It's going to rain soon." It looked cloudy, but not rainy, and I almost objected, but decided to defer to her. And, wow, am I glad I did. It was sprinkling by the time we finished eating, but when we were ready to head outside, it was pouring. I didn't have an umbrella — since I've gone natural, I've proudly eschewed all forms of rain gear — and BFF had a tiny one, which I insisted she use for herself ("I'd rather have you dry, then both of us partially wet"). I stepped outside gamely, and was soaked to the skin within 30 seconds. I was wearing a skirt and a white tank top, and a white kid riding by on his bike took note of this, asking where my umbrella was, then shaking his head at my lack of common sense. And of course, as he rode away, shouted, "wet t-shirt contest!!" (And yet, he was oddly polite the entire time. I had trouble gauging Bostonians, because they all seemed really mellow and nice, which is antithetical to the New Yorker.) By the time I got back to the car, I looked like a drowned rat. BFF was mostly intact, however, due to her ingenuity and force of will. We drove back to the hotel, put on PJs, hung up our wet clothes, and chilled for a while, watching Fox News*. We eventually dragged ourselves back to the car, drove to State Street, and walked around the Long Wharf, Faneuil Hall, and Quincy Market. The wharf was really cool, and we summarily decided to purchase a boat together. Dinner was at 9, and because it was really busy, our poor waiter started off by simultaneously greeting us and the young couple next to us. I felt bad, because he had clearly been double-sat (sat with two parties at the same time), which is one of those things hosts try to avoid at all costs. I expressed outrage at the injustice, and he was great to us the entire night. Of course, the fact that we splurged on lobster and wine may have helped, but he seemed genuine. We chatted when he came to our table, and it turned out he was born in North Africa, which explained the accent and the middle eastern look. He was henceforth known as our Sexy North African Server. He even tied our lobster bibs on for us, sexily, of course, and he gave me his e-mail address to send him the pictures we took with him. 20% for you, sir! Post-dinner, BFF drove us back to the hotel, and we passed out like negroes after a church picnic. The next morning was absolutely gorgeous. Puffy white clouds in a bright blue sky, and warm but breezy. We got brunch in Cambridge, at a place called the B-Side Lounge. We ordered a bunch of food, but BFF's pancakes were like cardboard, and she ate less than half of them, so we asked the server to take them off the bill. She acted like it was a huge inconvenience, and said she'd have to 'ask the chef.' Considering the fact that our bill was over $50, I didn't think it would be much of a stretch to take a $5 item off of it, and the chef concurred. But I thought it was strange she seemed so put-upon. When I thanked her, and told her everything else was delicious, she gave me a very ... sarcastic look. 15% for you, ma'am! We drove to Harvard, and caught the free Unofficial Harvard Tour. The tour guides, Harvard students, were funny, and it seemed like we got a lot of tidbits that probably weren't on the official tour. The guides walked backward the entire time, and enunciated very well (how old am I? "Enunciated very well"?? Sheesh!). Peep the "Hahvahd" shirts. Yes, that is how people talk in Boston. 'Charges' = 'Chaaahges.' We walked around Cambridge, and down to the Charles River, which is etched in my mind as the site of super-trippy Harvard Man, one of my fave guilty pleasures. After that, it was time to head home. The weather was mostly beautiful and sunny, with a lovely cool breeze. Somewhere in Connecticut, I was leaning out of the passenger side window enjoying the sun and the breeze when the Mack truck next to us honked. I looked up, and this Cletus-the-Slack-Jawed-Yokel-looking-dude had pressed a piece of yellow construction paper to his window. "U R HOT" it read, in black magic marker. I started laughing, he was grinning, and a good time was had by all. I guess you have to make your own fun when you're on the road for days at a time. By the time we arrived in New Jersey, around Newark, it had started pouring again, but we got a nice welcome-back present... *A note on Fox News: I finally understand why people call it Faux News. It's amazing that there is a channel which calls itself news and is yet and still, consistently, undeniably, wrong and a proud propagator of false facts.

Nothing Quippy To Say.

2008-08-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

I know I call Morgan Freeman a Magical Negro, but I'm hoping for once that I'm right. According to the AP, Freeman, 71, has been hospitalized, and is in "serious" condition after a car accident. Sadness. Get well soon.

Kathy Hilton Gets What She Pays For.

2008-08-03T15:38:00.001-07:00

John McCain's campaign makes an ad which ostensibly makes fun of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears while comparing Obama to them, but Paris' mom isn't happy.

Why? Because she and her husband have donated $4600 to the McCain campaign.

Oh the irony.

These, dear Kathy, are the politics you've paid for.

On a related note, I've begun reading Conrad Hilton's memoir, "Be My Guest," because they left it in the hotel room in Boston. This man's two most important values were Prayer and Work (his capitals).
I wonder what old Connie would think of his legacy.

This Just In: McCain Not Playing With a Full Deck

2008-08-01T16:15:00.001-07:00

Sen. John McCain has been doing some downright ridiculous (and not fun, Nicole Richie ridiculous) nonsense, lately.

Most recently, his campaign has accused Sen. Obama of 'playing the race card,' for saying he doesn't look like your usual presidential candidate.

Well, he doesn't (though maybe it's time for Barack to retire that bit of rhetoric)! At this juncture, I'd like to introduce a new phrase into the lexicon, because, Christ on a cracker, I'm tired of this foolishness...

McCain is totally "pulling the 'pulling the race card' card."

It's a bit unwieldy, I know, but I think it gets the point across.

'Who's Gonna Save My Soul?'

2008-08-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

I saw this posted over at Soror 1969's spot. Gnarls made a really simple concept video that somehow manages to be weird, gross, and really heartbreaking.

Baaastin.

2008-08-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

I'm going to Boston. My best just got back from six weeks in Italia, and we planned to hang out this weekend... ...you know what, I'm not even gonna lie. I don't need an excuse to take a road trip. One of my favorite things to do, when gas was about 2/3 the price it is now, was take a drive. I've driven all over New Jersey. I've gotten majorly lost. I've ended up in Nowhere, Pennsylvania. I used to drive down to D.C. on a whim. I love to drive, and I've come to a certain sense of acceptance when it comes to gas prices. They're high, and that's just the way it's gonna be. Of course, it helps that my '06 Scion xB is costs just about $40 to fill up (I do miss the days when it was $28, but back then, I felt like I was getting away with something bad) and I can get more than 300 miles out of one tank. So anyway, BFF and I were going to go somewhere boring like Philly, when it occurred to me that we could and should totally drive to Boston. We got a hotel for Saturday night, and we're driving up early in the morning. I haven't been to Boston since I was a senior in high school, for a journalism conference. It's one of my favorite memories. I have no idea what we're going to do while we're there, but knowing me and BFF, we'll make our own fun no matter where we end up. See ya on Monday!

Leave Barack Alooooooone!

2008-07-31T08:05:00.000-07:00

Woman A Go Run Dis Country

2008-07-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

I think I've mentioned this before, but in case you didn't know, my mother is Jamaican. Her ex-husband was a prominent member of the People's National Party (PNP), and that's the political party my mother identified with when I was a kid. The other party is the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP), but none of our Jamaican family or friends were JLPers, so I tended to wave the PNP flag, even though I didn't know anything about its politics (and still don't). Today, I was changing my Facebook political views from 'conservative' to something more clever but equally ambiguous, and I noticed the form has an auto-fill feature (if you type the letter 'D' then 'Democratic National Party' appears. I typed the PNP just for fun, and it came up. I decided to check out the website, and had a look at Portia, Jamaica's first female PM (and current opposition leader). Like HRC, Portia Simpson-Miller just goes by Portia. She was defeated for reelection by intermittent JLPer Bruce Golding (who, incidentally, is called Bruce. Jamaicans don't seem to stand on ceremony). ANYWAY. The best part about the PNP site is the music. Three seconds into my visit, I was nodding my head to the current PNP theme, "Full Speed Ahead." I share it with you now. Full Speed Ahead There's a full CD worth of songs on the site. Some of my other favorites... When PNP Come To Your Town And... Woman A Go Run Dis Country (Remix) (Note: I love that they remixed the song.) Don't you think this is just what the DNC needs to put them over the top? Some great propaganda songs about Barack? Except for "Yes We Can," the music about the party has been unrelentingly lame. I think we should take a cue from Jamaicans and start demanding better music. Wouldn't you rather listen to this... Portia Story (Mi Get The Thing Dem) ...than U2's 'Beautiful Day'? Again?

From the Office of: "White People Are Always Concerned About the Wrong Thing."

2008-07-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

This white lady in Arkansas goes in to the county office pick up her new license plate. It has three random letters on the end. N G R. She's immediately like, "I'm not putting that on my car!" The clerk is like, "huh?" Then, "oh." Consequently, AK has decided to stop releasing the series of plates with NGR on them. The video is hilarious, because ABC6 never really says what the three letters are supposed to represent. And then they interview what they call "some who you might think would be offended" (e.g. black people). The brothers interviewed had the same reaction I did: "it's nothin'." Oh, and the title of the story is "'Racist' License Plate Stirring Controversy," although race or racism is never explicitly mentioned by anyone. Oh, TV news. I mean, really. Come on, folk. It's three letters. I think this kind of refutes the point that some people try to make. Black people don't go looking for racism. Something that had a white lady all in a tizzy went unnoticed by the court — and knowing how black folks like them good gov'ment jobs, I'm willing to bet the clerk she spoke to was black. And while it's nice that she's so concerned about appearing racist (or maybe appearing to be a black person? I didn't really get what she was upset about), there are more important things to worry about... like why those brothers were chillin' in a parking lot in the middle of the day. Can we get them a job? Black joblessness is close to 10 percent, double that of whites. Let's move on that. Anyway, what about you? Did you see the three letters and immediately see the n-word? Am I wrong? Maybe Nas should've named his album NGR... The title is (c) Adei: "See, that's the difference between blacks and white. White people are always worried about the wrong thing, all in stuff that don't pertain to them! With black people, as long as its not hurting anyone (see: me) I ain't got NOTHIN to do with it!"

'Where Are The White Heroes?'

2008-07-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I saw a note about Tobey Maguire starring in a film about Brown v. Board of Education called "The Crusaders." I almost posted about it, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to say. The film is based on a book by Jack Greenberg (Maguire's role in the film) which tells his perspective as a member of the Legal Defense Fund under Thurgood Marshall. Greenberg's story is both admirable and noteworthy, as his crusading against de jure segregation and discrimination continued long after Brown. He appears to be, what my grandparents would have called, "a good white man." A white hero. The reason I finally decided to write about this is another story that popped up in my news feed. Danny Glover struggled to find funding for his film on the Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture who freed Haiti from French oppression and slavery. According to Glover, "Producers said 'It's a nice project, a great project... where are the white heroes?" He eventually got half of his funding from a foundation set up by Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan president, and U.S. side-thorn. What I'm getting at is this: in the black community, the tradition has been to tell our own stories, because no one else can or will. But if we want to tell those stories to a larger audience, we need capital, and the only way to get capital is to have a bankable white hero. Or Will Smith. While I'm glad the Brown movie is being made — though I'm less glad about the sexy, but one-note Terrence Howard playing Thurgood Marshall — I wonder if the story could have, or would have been told if it were from the perspective of, say, the only female member on the team. Constance Baker Motley, the first African American woman to argue before the Supreme Court. The first African American woman elected to the New York State Senate. The first African American woman appointed to the federal district court. But no one would fund that movie. Sigh. In the picture, I believe it's Greenberg who is third from the right.

It's Friday...

2008-07-25T10:20:00.000-07:00

...and things seem pretty quiet, news-wise (I'm also super-busy, so this is my post for the day). I think people are getting ready for the weekend. After giving a large portion of my paycheck to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I'll probably be doing something low-key and free. How about you?

Nas on the Colbert Report

2008-07-24T07:45:00.001-07:00

H/T to Yellow Rebel for posting this at his spot.

Ok, I'm Sorry About This.

2008-07-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

But I love this wedding picture of Michelle and Barack. I'd love it even if it weren't them, though. It's so laid back, which is a rarity for a wedding portrait. According to People, this is on their mantle at home. Straight chillin' with the shoes off. Love my people. .

5 Reasons I'm Not Watching BIA

2008-07-23T18:19:00.001-07:00

Ok. So after seeing many Facebook status messages touting the fact that people I know are actually choosing to watch 'Black In America' because they think it's going to be groundbreaking and important, I posted the following status message: "Shani is annoyed at everyone who is watching 'Black in America' unironically." I immediately got two postings on my wall. One from a soror who was giving me props for the status, and one from a cat who wanted to know why I was annoyed. After a brief consultation with the Wife, I came up with five reasons. Here they are. 1. It's on CNN, a network incapable of looking at anything with nuance, simply by virtue of it being a cable news channel. 2. Why do blacks in America need to watch a special on being black in America? Is it to verify that we are, indeed, both black and in America? 3. Considering the fact that all black people aren't from the same background -- slavery, namely -- it's ridiculous to suggest we all have the same vision and experience in the US. 4. If there was 'Hispanic In America' or 'Asian in America' folk would be in an uproar. Mexicans vs. Puerto Ricans, Koreans vs. Vietnamese. 5. I can already tell you what it's gonna cover: it sucks to be a black woman, because sistas are forced to do it for themselves. Also, black men are an endangered species due to institutional inequity and a propensity for commiting violent crime. But blacks have hope for the future. The end. And here's a bonus: it's a ratings ploy! Come ON people!

'Black Women It Sucks To Be You!'

2008-07-23T07:42:00.001-07:00

The ladies over at What About Our Daughters slay me. And more importantly, they do it while shedding light on an underreported subject: African American women and girls. You know how Nancy Grace loves to devote hours of airtime to missing (white) girls and children? Did you know she does it while completely ignoring women of color who have gone missing? Well, WAOD blows the trumpet on injustice regularly. And they still manage to maintain their humor. They pretty much hit the nail on the head as to why I wouldn't watch CNN's 'Black in America' special even if I had cable:

Will Black women be misrepresented yet again? Will CNN try to pull an ESSENCE and depress the heck out of us all or try to prey on our paranoia? Will they scratch beneath the surface and go further than the epidermis or will we just hear the same pablum regurgitated in the tradition of NBC New's African American Women Where they Stand also known as "Black women it sucks to be you!" Or are Black people inherently difficult to please and all other networks should avoid trying to tell Black folks who they are? Man I miss Ed Bradley. Now HE would have put together a heck of a series on Black people and not just rehashed and reheated the panels from Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Folk's Union presented by Exxon Mobil, McDonald's and Rudy Ray's Rib Shack and Waffles.

Seriously (also, Rudy Ray's Rib Shack and Waffles? *dead*). Because CNN ruins everything, it was inevitable that they'd do their best to ruin blackness. And as I've said time and time again, as there are no blacks who are also women, it's sure to have lots of hand-wringing about the endangered species: black men. If you catch it, let me know how awful it is. I refuse to subject myself to it (no matter how many chain e-mail messages I get from black people reminding me to WATCH CNN'S BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL TONIGHT). I don't care how cool Soledad O'Brien is, either. Bah.

HIMYM - the Hot/Crazy Scale

2008-07-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

I've been really race-heavy today. (I've also been really post-heavy today, lol.) I mentioned How I Met Your Mother in the last post, and despite my minor gripes with it — while it's not a sexist show, it's a show that's clearly written by men — I still love it. Actually, though the show's not sexist, Barney is. Enjoy this clip about the Hot/Crazy Scale.

The Only Way to Be Racist is To Call A Black Person A Nigger

2008-07-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Katie Couric opens mouth and inserts foot while she's in Israel. Couric:

I find myself in the last bastion of male dominance, and realizing what Hillary Clinton* might have realized not long ago: that sexism in the American society is more common than racism, and certainly more acceptable or forgivable.

I saw the quote on Gawker. A commenter seconded Couric's assesment, adding, as though it were perfectly reasonable:

Based on my own experiences, I'd honestly have to agree with that statement. I'm a Middle Eastern woman living in the sticks of Colorado. I've been the victim of sexism many times, but (believe it or not) have only faced racism once or twice in my life (and that was in high school during those dark 9/11 times). My bf is from Somalia and I know that he's dealt with racism far less than I've dealt with sexism.
It's much more accepted to call a woman a slut, cunt, etc. than it is to call someone a nigger or sand nigger. It's much more accepted to tell a woman she can't do something because she's a woman than it is to tell someone they can't do something because the color of their skin. Most people are outraged when they witness racism, but most people don't even realize (or care) when they see sexist behavior. Sexism is everywhere -- on the TV, in the hip hop lyrics & music videos, in advertisements, in the workplace...

First. Who out there is calling Couric a slut or a cunt? At least, who out there is doing it in a public forum? The sexism that Couric has been subjected over the course of her career isn't the obvious, 'what a bitch' sexism. It's subversive, women-don't-belong-in-the-old-boys-club sexism. I would never deny that it exists. But why is it that sexism can be subtle, but racism is always and only ever the head-clubbing usage of the n-word and 'you people'? My hypothesis is as follows: racism does not exist amongst educated people. Only backwoods, barefoot, outhouse-using, toothless, bathe-once-a-month, cousin-marrying whites are racist. (Or blacks. Blacks are always racist.) The people who continually cite calling someone a nigger as the most prominent example of racism are usually educated, fairly liberal whites, who refuse to acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, racism can be a bit more nuanced than that. These are the people who give arguments like Hillary's and Katie's traction, whilst black women like me sit back and roll their eyes. And that's another thing. I know I've asked this before, but are there no women who are also black? Sexism is everywhere. And it's not just relegated to hip hop music videos. Try watching Desperate Housewives or Cashmere Mafia with your thinking cap on. Those women aren't feminist. They're bonkers. But racism is also everywhere, and just as acceptable. Where are the black main characters? I don't really watch TV anymore, but I remember being excited back in '98 about Joey's sister's black boyfriend on Dawson's Creek. And even my two favorite shows, How I Met Your Mother, and Gossip Girl, both seem to exist in a New York where everyone with a speaking role is tall, thin, and white. And somehow, that's ok. I ask you, how is that not racism? The common answer is, well, these characters wouldn't have black friends anyway, so why try to shoehorn them in? These characters also wouldn't go through 3/4 of the foolishness that happens in any given episode, so are we talking real realism, or are we talking acceptable realism? *Why on earth is Couric taking a public stance on such a powder keg? If she wants to talk about sexism, that's one thing. Sexism is a real issue, and more women should stand up to it. But don't bring up Hillary Clinton, aka Captain Polarization.

Spotting the Otherness in Whites

2008-07-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Absolutely fascinating piece on Racialicious. The author reflects on nonwhites who spend a lot of time trying to pick out nonwhite heritage in people who identify as white. It's natural and automatic (and problematic), and almost like a sporting event. You can look at someone and just be certain that they're part black/hispanic/asian/whatever. The author, Nadra Kareem:

My then soon-to-be boyfriend laughed hysterically throughout the reading. He’s not Native American—not by more than a drop, anyway—but he is often assumed to be “other.” In fact, at the reading even I assumed that he was half-something, and the mostly Latino and black students he teaches routinely ask him the question that makes mixed folks worldwide cringe: “What are you?”

The answer he gives is one they don’t expect. “I’m white,” he says.

“You’re not white! You’re not white!” they protest in disbelief. And they are not alone. Both strangers and acquaintances alike take it for granted that my boyfriend is a person of color. When the teachers at the school take count of their few white colleagues, my boyfriend is oft-overlooked. His dark-brown hair, beige-pink skin, prominent nose and lush lips take him out of the running. “You can pass,” one of his coworkers tells him. Only, in his case, she means pass for non-white.

I know I do it. Do you? And more importantly, why? What do we stand to gain by pointing out a presumed white person is really one of our tribe? There's a certain sense of satisfaction, of ... knowingness, maybe.

'How To Tell People They Sound Racist'

2008-07-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

Jay Smooth is one sharp dude. This ties into what Ta-Nehisi wrote a while back on Slate. You just can't tell someone they're racist (even if they are) because all of a sudden, you're pulling the 'racist card.' Jay gives us tips on how to tell someone they sound racist, not that they actually are (even if they actually are).

Why I'm Done Talking About Barack Obama...

2008-07-22T08:52:00.001-07:00

... that is, until he gets into office and starts doing things that piss me off. From Time Magazine (via Daily Kos).

Oh, let's just admit it: John McCain is a long shot. He's got a heroic personal story, and being white has never hurt a presidential candidate, but on paper 2008 just doesn't look like his year. And considering what's happening off paper, it might be time to ask the question the horse-race-loving media are never supposed to ask: Is McCain a no-shot?

Yes. Hillary was the one to beat (remember her?). Now it's Barack's race to lose. It doesn't matter how many thousands of hours CNN and MSNBC waste, trying to prove that John McCain has more than a shot. They want to keep us tuned in. If you follow the numbers, you'll see the horse race is just not that close. Unless you're talking red states, which, of course, is particularly bad for McCain. So Barack will win, because he rocks, and because McCain is everything that's wrong with this country — an old white warhawk. Note: Despite rocking, Obama's made some poor choices (well, smart choices, I guess) that are not exactly favorable with his thinking base. I'm talking about people like me who support him — with words and wallet — but aren't expecting him to walk on water. It's up to us to hold him accountable. We know he's gonna win, so let's worry less about defending him from the press and the GOP, and more about making sure he represents what we want. Anyway, at this point, the Obama I'm interested in is Michelle. I suspect she might effect more change than Barack will when it comes to race. Not through specific actions, but by simply being an around-the-way girl who's rising into the upper echelon of American political life with grace, class, and a strong presence. (JJP documents some recent positive articles on Michelle.)

Busy Bee

2008-07-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

I'm back at work after being away for three weeks and I have a major project on my plate. It's good because my awesome boss is giving me more and more important work to do, but bad because it's a wee bit stressful. Ah well. I probably won't be updating more than once a day for a little while, so I wanted to let you guys know why. Also, Boule was awesome.

'I'm So Glad'

2008-07-19T09:14:00.001-07:00

'I'm So Glad'
Originally uploaded by Shani-O

Policy vs. Personal Responsibility

2008-07-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Even though I'll be spending my days in sessions here at Boule, I'm still keeping up with the news. I read the text of Barack's speech (over at www.jackandjillpolitics.com). It was what it should have been. He addressed policy off the top, and then hit on personal responsibility. Of course, the media will latch onto Barack scolding or admonishing blacks, because that's the narrative they adore.

The thing I struggle with is as a middle-class black woman, I'm somewhat familiar with both sides of the story. My parents grew up poor - one in Kingston, one in a small city in Virginia. Some members of our family have done very well for themselves, and can be considered quite wealthy. Some are still struggling, living check-to-check, day-to-day. We're between these two markers. My folks came out of poverty to create a pretty comfortable life, and I know it's not because they're superhuman. They both were just kept their noses to the grindstone. They didn't have a network of people encouraging them to succeed, either. Because of them, I believe that for most things, you get out what you put in.

But policy and a history of oppression (or possibly what I've heard called 'Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome') make their mark.

The question is, why do some poor people make it into the middle class, and why don't others (most, I guess)? I really struggle with this, due to personal experience, when I'm trying to unpack the complexities of poverty and race. I'd love to hear from you guys on this subject.

It can't be all government policy, or all shiftlessness, can it?

Live-Blogging Boule

2008-07-13T16:00:00.001-07:00

Michelle Obama has accepted honorary membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Update: as you can imagine, I was really excited when I sent off this post (blogging via Blackberry is dangerous, y'all). But here's what actually went down. At the Public Meeting, our Centennial International President Barbara McKinzie announced that Sen. Obama received an award -- the Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Medallion of Honor. Barack wasn't able to attend, so he wrote a letter, which she read to the room. In it, he thanked the sorority for the award, and then said something to the effect of, "and Michelle is honored to have been selected as an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha." And the room went wild. If you know me, or have read this blog for some time, you'll know that I adore Michelle. She's the one who brought me to Barack. And not to get all corny and vomit-inducing on ya, but she is, to me, everything a woman (and an AKA, by extension) can be.

More On Harlem Real Estate

2008-07-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

Brother Charlie Rangel, bless him, is renting not one, not two, not three... but four rent-stabilized apartments in one uptown building, for a fraction of what they would normally cost on the market. According to the Times:

Mr. Rangel, who was first elected to Congress in 1970 and is one of the city’s most recognizable elected officials, has written and spoken extensively about his devotion to his home in Harlem, but does not appear to have ever publicly acknowledged that he has been permitted to lease four rent-stabilized apartments there. According to a public records database and interviews with neighbors, he has lived in the building since the early 1970s, but it is not clear when he amassed the four units.
Mr. Rangel, 78, declined to answer questions during a telephone interview, saying that his housing was a private matter that did not affect his representation of his constituents.
“Why should I help you embarrass me?” he said, before abruptly hanging up.

I love it. Although, this is really just another case of the rich and powerful getting things for cheap, while the people who could really use a rent-stabilized place are getting the shaft. Ah, capitalism. Rangel, who did a lot of good back in the day, is old and comfortable, and I guess he feels like he's getting his due. But then again, His Awesomeness, NY Governor David Paterson, also has a rent-stabilized apartment in that building. And so does his dad, who pays less in rent for a one-bedroom than I do. I think I'm mad.

Culture Clash in Harlem.

2008-07-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

The new white residents in this one building in Harlem don't like the loud drumming across the street in Marcus Garvey Park (though, it's a park named after Marcus Garvey, for cryin' out loud). That's fine. In fact, I find it to be illustrative of the cultural difference between blacks and whites. H/T RaceWire for the link to this Times piece:

The drummers in the park are African-American and from Africa and the Caribbean. They form a circle and have played in the park, in one form or another, since 1969, when the neighborhood was a more dangerous place. The musicians, who play until 10 p.m. every summer Saturday, are widely credited with helping to make the park safer over the years.
Their supporters, who acknowledge that the drumbeats can pierce walls and windows, regard the musicians as part of the city’s vibrant and often noisy cultural mix. But some in the building at 2002 Fifth Avenue, most of them young white professionals, have a different perspective: When the drummers occupy a spot nearby, residents say, they are unable to sleep, hear their television sets, speak on the telephone, or even have conversations with their spouses without shouting. Some say they cannot even think straight.

While many African Americans may find loud drumming for hours on a Saturday night annoying, they probably aren't going to call the cops on the group that's been doing the same thing every Saturday night for thirty years. I think it's because most black people have a higher tolerance for plain-old cacophony. Also, most black people aren't about to call the cops. We're a loud people, no? And African drums include a subset called 'talking drums.' It's only natural that they're going to be ... attention-getting. (Anecdote alert: My mother used to get on my nerves because she was so loud when she'd talk to her friends. Then, I got to HU and saw that all my friends' mothers, and aunties, and sisters were like that.) Though I'm a pretty quiet person, noise, disorganized or organized, doesn't bother me. It all is part and parcel of the way we communicate. My initial reaction was to take the side of the drummers, but, then I remembered a piece I read recently about a black real estate agent in Harlem who is selling (out?) homes in the area to the highest bidder. This, of course, is her prerogative in a capitalist society. But it does make you wonder how much sacrifice will have to be made in a traditionally black area such as Harlem, where young white professionals move for both the affordability and flava'. As the people who made Harlem what it is are forced out by rising real estate prices, and whites move in (which makes sense, because white people gotta live, too), what happens? In short, does a 30-year-old drum circle have a place if the people who loved and appreciated it are no longer there? And are we asking too much of the new neighbors to adopt the habits of the neighborhood?

Jesse's Not (That) Wrong

2008-07-09T19:34:00.000-07:00

I know most people who hear this story aren't going to know what the context was, so I've provided video... The 'nuts' part might have been rather crude. Or, as a friend said to me over the phone: "Seriously? How emasculating. That's some antebellum, 'Strange Fruit' shit right there. Score one for the white man." But. Jesse isn't wrong about the 'talking down to black people' part. That's what Barack has been doing on his personal responsibility tour. It's one of a few things he's been doing lately as the nominee that makes me feel uncomfortable. Poor black parents know their kids aren't gonna grow up to be rappers or ballers. But they also have to work crazy hours (if they can get a job) to put food on the table. It's all about priorities, and I don't think the blacks whom Obama is encouraging to 'do right' are purposely letting things slide in their homes. Sigh. Some things are getting hard to justify right now.

Revised: He Actually IS a Dream Killer

2008-07-09T15:34:00.001-07:00

He voted for that mess of a FISA bill, granting Bush and cronies full immunity. Granting full immunity to a man who is basically a war criminal. This, after saying several times that he would never do such a thing.

I'm trying not to get upset until I hear his statement. This, this is the burden of the thinking Obama supporter.

Barack Obama is a dream killer...

2008-07-09T11:37:00.001-07:00

...or, more likely, just somebody's daddy. ABC News' blog (blog?!) has a small item about Obama speaking to people about the economy in soon-to-be-purple Georgia. Some of the speech included the regular drill: stay-in-school, don't do drugs, you're not a rapper...

You are probably not that good a rapper. Maybe you are the next Lil' Wayne, but probably not, in which case, you need to stay in school.

(Am I the only one who laughed at that?) Considering the fact that Weezy has been making hits since he was prepubescent — which kind of robs him of his street cred, if you ask me — got a GED, and is "attending classes" at the University of Houston, I think this was a flawed analogy. Nonetheless, Obama continues to spread his message of personal responsibility far and wide. This is why I've always said he's your garden variety black conservative in a lot of ways (there's a difference between being a black conservative and a black Republican). He's not moving more to the center. He done been there.

Centennial Boule + Centennial Barbie

2008-07-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm heading to DC on Saturday for Alpha Kappa Alpha's Centennial Boule. First off, Boule is always a huge event (it only happens every other year) and on top of that, this is our hundredth year, so... you get the picture. And since the Centennial Boule will be my very first one, I'm super-excited. Also, I haven't been back to DC since October for Howard Homecoming. In other words, I've been bouncing all week. Numbers vary, but there are something like 20,000 members of the org who are registered for the conference, plus innumerable unregistered members... and that number doesn't include our fans. Many greek men I know who live on the Eastern seaboard will be making their way to DC for as my Sigma co-worker put it: "AKA heaven!" And, um, we have a Barbie doll. It was announced earlier this year, but the pics have just surfaced. I love her features, though I wish she were a little darker (so she could be representative of more women in the sorority, while avoiding the brown paper bag stereotype), but eh... it's one of those things where you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. Isn't she purty? [Photo courtesy the Chicago Sun-Times] The other thing I love: her dress is actually in our colors, SALMON pink and APPLE green (not magenta and forest green, not hot pink and kelly green).

Everyone Needs Anger Enhancement

2008-07-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

Do you read Kanye West's blog? I used to subscribe to it, but that ninja (or his assistant) posts like fifty times a day. Some of the posts have got to be 'Ye, though. A post he wrote today:

Now the media is saying I'm going to anger management something or 'nother. I have never had any conversations about anger management. If anything, I need anger enhancement!!

I love him. I seriously love him. And his post on Soulja Boy vs. Ice-T had me dying. He really holds it down for the underdog. And I don't even dig Soulja Boy or anything, but this made some type of sense.

[Soulja Boy] had all of America rapping this summer. If that ain't Hip Hop then what is? A bunch of wannabe keep it real rappers that ain't even relevant, recycling samples trying to act like it's 96 again and all they do is hate on new shit?

Anyway, on top of that, he posts about cool random stuff like shoes and lamps. Check it out when you get a chance. (Warning for Jameil... he does curse a bit.)

Bathroom Shots

2008-07-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

I find myself talking/thinking about my hair a lot. But I don't want to bore you all with that, so I started another blog which will be solely about my natural hair 'journey.' (The word 'journey' is so corny, but eh.) It probably won't be updated more than once a week, and it's kind of diary-like, so you won't be missing anything terribly interesting... but if you are interested in natural hair stuff, check it out. Bathroom Shots

An Atypical Monday

2008-07-06T12:54:00.001-07:00

My flight to Sacramento was leaving Philadelphia at six. I wanted to be in the terminal at 4:30. I needed to leave my car in the faraway region of economy long-term parking, which meant I really needed to be at the airport at 4 (giving myself time to catch the big blue shuttle bus). And that meant I needed to leave home at 2:30, giving myself plenty of time to get to Philly.

But first I needed to get the oil changed in my car -- I had been driving with the 'maintenance needed' light for so long that I could swear my little blue box hiccuped and shivered every time I turned the key in the ignition. And I needed to pick up my budgies from the boarder. My sorority sister offered to pet sit (saving me $70), and I'll lean on the shield whenever I get a chance.

It was an atypical Monday morning. I got up at six, did some cleaning up -- I refuse to come home to a messy apartment -- went to work for an hour, then sat at Midas for 45 minutes while they tended to my baby.

I started 'Dreams From My Father,' which had been sitting on my coffee table since March, partly because I'd been doing other reading, partly because I didn't need another reason to believe in Barack Obama. I was only 50 pages in, but already I found his writing to be evocative, analytical, funny, and a host of other adjectives which make it plain that the cat who makes the pretty speeches isn't just some pr invention.

The bird shop didn't open 'til noon, and I was ravenous, so I pulled up at the little deli/diner which sits in the same tiny brick strip mall. It's the kind of place which announces SORRY NO CREDIT CARDS on a white board in crooked black plastic letters, and has an old man who rests on a stool at the lunch counter until a guest comes in, and then he rouses himself to greet them by name.

I took a seat at the counter and placed my order with him -- ham and egg breakfast sandwich, coffee, and orange juice. It was like being in another era. And maybe it's because California is dusty, sun baked, yet still somehow feels new and raw, that I'll never stop being surprised at how New Jersey feels old and settled, in a kind of 1950s time warp -- unless you're in Newark or Trenton, where it seems like it could be 1987.

It occurred to me as I sipped my weak coffee, that the old man who brought it to me could probably remember a time when a person who looked like me wouldn't have considered sitting where I sat. I was the only nonwhite person in the place. No one gave me a second glance, though. And that was unsettling, in its own perfectly unconcerned way. I instinctively avoid places that don't have anyone of color in them; more so now than I did before I went to Howard. It seems that after I found a place where I finally felt comfortable and free to be myself, I just developed a different kind of self-conciousness. There's just a certain -- usually unfounded -- worry I won't be welcome. It's not a fear of violence or blatant racism. The worry begat laziness. Why bother if I don't have to? Now I suspect it's a similar feeling that keeps ethnic groups apart. Not malice, not fear... just laziness.

But as I ate my brunch in unfamiliar surroundings, around people I wouldn't talk to, socialize with, or even think about on a regular basis, I couldn't help feeling comfortable. I read my book and looked up from time to time, watching the old man say hello to Catherine and Steve and Benjamin, and it made me smile.

Happy 4th!

2008-07-04T15:15:00.001-07:00

It's the Fourth of July, and I'm celebrating by pursuing that most American of pastimes... shopping! Two dresses and a skirt for $50. God bless the U.S. of A!!

And in other news, deuces to Jesse Helms. Hmph.

Shani-O's Safari Planet

2008-07-03T07:38:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the "Brian Fellow's Safari Planet" skits on SNL? Probably my favorite Tracy Morgan character, Brian Fellow always made me feel a little bad for laughing. But how do you not laugh when he exclaims, apropos of nothing, "I'm BRIAN FELLOW!" There's also something hilarious about a safari show host who knows absolutely nothing about wild animals, and is sort of afraid of them screwing up his credit. Anyway, I was feeling like that on Tuesday when I was at the pet store, looking for goldfish. I came upon an African Knife Fish, which I had never seen before, despite being a Petsmart junkie. It looks like this: And it moves like this (very short video): As Petsmart is usually stocked with your run-of-the-mill danios, mollys, platys, guppies, goldfish, and other tetras, I was a bit taken aback. "That fish is CRAZY," I said to myself, hearing Tracy Morgan's voice in my head. I looked at it for a while, then picked up three fantail goldfish. But ultimately, this post is just an excuse to put up a Brian Fellow video. (I need some time to catch up on the news and sort out my feelings on Obama's latest poor decisions, before I post on anything topical.) Without any further ado... Brian Fellows Safari Planet Part 1 - Celebrity bloopers here

If you have an extra $30 lying around...

2008-06-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

... You can afford to donate. Heck, if you have an extra $5 lying around — and you're a Barack Obama supporter — you can afford to donate. May was not a great fund raising month for the Obama campaign. They only raised $22 million ("only" being a relative term, of course). I suspect it was because in May, it was clear he had the nomination locked up, so people didn't feel pressed to donate. We still have a general election coming up, people. Don't believe the hype about McCain not getting the backing from conservatives that Republicans usually enjoy. The GOP is a well-oiled fund raising machine. Bonus: if you donate $30, you get an exclusive t-shirt that's not for sale in the Barack Obama store. AND, if you see something cool in the store (and there's lots of cool stuff), the proceeds from whatever U.S.-made item you buy go directly to the campaign. Or, you could buy a shirt or hoodie from Barack the Vote, and 25% of the proceeds will go to the campaign; but that probably won't be counted for June. So really, there's no excuse. Go!!

I said that I would do it, and indeed I did.

2008-06-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

I big chopped tonight. Well, technically, my dad did it. But it's been done. Before (this was at my birthday back in March, the last time I had a relaxer.): After: How it happened: I was driving home from Hayward with my mom, and I couldn't stop touching my roots, which have grown steadily. I decided I wanted to see them. Me: I think I'm gonna do it tonight. Cut off my hair. Mom: What? Why? Like a man? You'll look masculine. Me: I'm too pretty to look masculine. Mom: I wouldn't do it. Me: But... you had an afro for 6 years when you were in your 20s. Mom: I know. But I like your hair the way it is now. Those who know me know I like to be contrary, so that settled it. When we got home, it was time to recruit my dad to do the cutting. That went like this. Me: Are you ready?! Dad: For what? Me: To cut my hair. Dad: Sure. Gimme five minutes. About half an hour later, we were done. One of our classic family stories (you know, the kind you know by heart, even though you were too little to remember it happening) is the time my mom went to Jamaica, and my dad and I went to Virginia to see his family when I was two. He couldn't manage my hair, so he cut it short like a little boy's. Needless to say, Mom was upset. Tonight had a certain ... symmetry. I'm too full of thoughts right now to tell you exactly how I'm feeling, but maybe I'll have a better handle on it later. I will say that I like it.

CNN Ruins Everything, pt. II

2008-06-23T14:30:00.001-07:00

CNN is on, and I can't hear it, but the headline says: 'Obama fights Muslim rumors, but tries not to offend Muslims.'

Um, it's not Obama's job to fight rumors. It's the job of the journalists to set the record straight. He's said he's a Christian. His daughters are raised in a Christian church. His pastor said he was Christian. What in the heck does the press even DO these days? They must seriously just surf the blogosphere and spit out whatever they see on exposeobama.com. Ugh. This is just another case of media hyper correction -- after getting scooped by the blogs time and time again, these fools on CNN and MSNBC treat everything on the internet as true until proven false. That is NOT how it's supposed to work.

And as for him trying not to offend Muslims, just... no. Y'all (CNN et. al) kept reporting the Muslim non-story to a point where Obama practically had to shout from the rooftops 'I AM NOT A MOOSLEM!!!' And now you have the nerve to 'worry' that he's offending Muslims? Two ignorant volunteers at a rally do not represent the campaign or the senator.

Father Pfleger is back! Someone get that man a TV show!

(Sorry for the stream-of-consciousness, but this is blogging via BlackBerry.)

Her bikini: small. Heels: tall. She said she likes the ocean.

2008-06-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

I'm going back to Cali, y'all. So if you notice that posting is significantly lighter over the next week or so, that's why. Note: I haven't watched this video in ages. Two thoughts occur to me. 1) This was 1989...how did LL not get lynched? and 2) how art-house film-y.

Something is Rotten in the State of Zimbabwe

2008-06-22T14:59:00.001-07:00

How is it that the man who WON the election has bee intimidated enough to bow out of the runoff?

This is why so many African states are in deplorable conditions. Europeans cut up Africa, and now Africans like Mugabe are trying their darndest to keep people oppressed under unfair regimes.

Sigh.

King Statue Overhaul ... Not Terrible

2008-06-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

When I first heard that the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue was getting toned down from a having frown to a smile, I was pretty annoyed. The federal arts commission also didn't like that his arms were crossed, as that was "too confrontational." But come on, what was King, if he wasn't confrontational? It's like people want to turn him into the grandpa in the Werther's Original commercials, or something. But then I saw the picture which ran in the AJC. (Click image for a larger version.) On the left is the old, unfriendly version. On the right is the altered, more benign version. I think the new version is a definite improvement. Something in the brow was distinctly... not King-like. The version with a hint o' smile simply looks more like him. And they kept the arms crossed. King looks sorta like he's surveying the land, not expressing approval or disapproval, just observing. Me likey. Update: I wasn't familiar with the brouhaha over the statue having a Chinese sculptor until recently. To that, I say, pshaw. King didn't just make a difference in the U.S., he was an inspiration globally, even while he was being reviled at home ("Beyond Vietnam" speech, anyone?). King isn't the property of black Americans, and seeing him through the eyes of a so-called outsider can be nothing but beneficial.

Words to Live By

2008-06-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

Quote of the day (I saw a guy quote this on The Daily Show). War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. -Ambrose Bierce

Happy Juneteenth!

2008-06-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

This is more of a Texas holiday, but I remember celebrating Juneteenth events out in California — probably because the majority of black Californians came from Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and other Dust Bowl states. For those of y'all who don't know what it is... from Wikipedia:

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday or holiday observance in 27 states of the United States. Celebrated on June 19, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas.

As the story goes, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1862, but it wasn't until 1865 that the erstwhile slaves in Galveston, Texas were alerted that they were... erstwhile. It's an official state holiday in Texas, and in 2005, the Governator declared June 19th "Juneteenth Day" in California (which is just another reason why my governor is more awesome than yours).

Michelle Obama on 'The View'

2008-06-18T12:20:00.001-07:00

The Obama campaign posted this pretty quickly.

Cyd Charisse, 1922-2008

2008-06-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

I love musicals. West Side Story, Hello Dolly, Jesus Christ Superstar, White Christmas, Gigi, My Fair Lady, Meet Me in St. Louis, School Daze, the musical episode of Buffy, "Once More With Feeling" ... give me a movie with synchronized singing and dancing and I will watch it. My all-time favorite, one of the last big-budget musicals, is Singin' in the Rain. Part of my appreciation of the film had to do with my indomitable crush on the great Gene Kelly. But most of it was this scene. Cyd Charisse. Kelly is doing his thing, dancing joyfully, and then he slides across the floor and encounters a single, perfect, silk-stockinged, green-high-heeled leg. I used to practice this scene in my room. She's perfect in it. Slinky, unrelentingly sexy, and incredibly proficient. (Note: she spends a lot of this scene with her legs slightly bent, because she's actually taller than Kelly.) Setting aside the fact that her small role in the film is as a fictional character who is motivated by what men can give her, I love it. Charisse died yesterday at the age of 86. Her dancing was a joy to watch. RIP.

Five Reasons Black Women Are Angry

2008-06-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

Fox News pundit Cal Thomas made a point in a recent conversation about Michelle Obama that there are no non-angry black women portrayed in the media.

THOMAS: I want to pick up on something that Jane said about the angry black woman. Look at the image of angry black women on television. Politically you have Maxine Waters of California, liberal Democrat. She's always angry every time she gets on television. Cynthia McKinney, another angry black woman. And who are the black women you see on the local news at night in cities all over the country. They're usually angry about something. They've had a son who has been shot in a drive-by shooting. They are angry at Bush. So you don't really have a profile of non-angry black women.

(CROSSTALK)

PINKERTON: Oprah Winfrey.

THOMAS: Oprah Winfrey. Yes, there you go, Oprah Winfrey.

[H/T WAOD] Some people aren't pleased with the comments. Taken out of context, as these things almost always are, they are inflammatory, but Thomas is right (though his examples suck, as not all black women are angry because their kid got shot in a drive-by, I mean, come ON). Over at Daily Kos, there's an interesting post which strikes me as a teensy bit reactionary. But really, we know that images of black women in the media and pop culture tend to be angry ones. The unhappy bloggers out there seem to think that there's something wrong with black women being angry. I don't think there is. All black women aren't angry, but many (if not most) are, and I say, why shouldn't they be? Here are five reasons why black women have every right to be pissed.

Sisters have to do it for themselves. Something like 70% of black children are born out of wedlock. Some of those kids are supported by single fathers, but most are being raised by mothers, grandmothers, and aunties.
Mammy, Jezebel, and Sapphire. Black women in the media tend to fall into one of three categories. Either she's an asexual, maternal Mammy (Oprah), an acceptably lustful Jezebel (Halle Berry), or a bitchy, angry Sapphire (Omarosa). Not only are these dangerous stereotypes, but they also are terribly misogynistic, which contrasts nicely with the fact that...
"All the Women are White, All the Blacks are Men, but Some of Us are Brave." White women are the baseline for womanhood, and at no time has that been more clear than during this primary season. The myriad articles about women choosing Hillary, while blacks choose Obama (save one Times piece back in October) make little-to-no mention of the fact that black women are — you guessed it — both black and women. I used to think I chose my blackness first, but in the last few months, it's become clear that it was chosen for me. The fights between white and black feminists have been very telling, as well.
Professional black women are all at sea when it comes to dating. While I don't buy into the notion that there are no good black men out there for educated, well-off black women, it's clear that pickings are slim. There's encouragement to date outside the race, but like most women, black women are seeking to find a man who's like their daddy, or other important male figure, who is usually black.
There's not freedom to be oneself. Granted, this is something that every non-white-male group experiences in some way — anger isn't exclusive to black women, obviously — but black women are beyond the pale of the mainstream, different, in a way that isn't exotic or acceptably fetishizable, like Asian or Hispanic women are. Black women work so hard to fit in — hair relaxers, adjusting speech/code switching, wearing fashions which weren't designed for women with curves, the list goes on. Maintaining the veneer of acceptability is tiring, and when you think about it, utterly enraging.

So there you have it. Five reasons I think black women are angry. I'm a black woman, so I have a little bit of authority on this. Black women readers! What makes you angry? Not-black-women readers! What makes you angry? Let's talk.

Rediscovering of Negritude in France

2008-06-17T09:29:00.001-07:00

Very enlightening article in the Times. For Blacks in France, Obama's Rise Is Reason to Rejoice and to Hope There isn't a lot of information circulating in the MSM about blacks in other majority-white countries. I have family in the UK, and I think the not-talking-about-race-in-any-real-way is similar there, as it is in France. Most fascinating passage:

[...] it’s against the rules for the government to conduct official surveys according to race. Consequently, nobody even knows for certain how many black citizens there are. Estimates vary between 3 million and 5 million out of a population of more than 61 million. “Can you imagine if French officials said, ‘Well, we’re not sure, the population of France may be 65 million, or maybe it’s 30 million’?” declared a somewhat exasperated Patrick Lozès, founder of Cran, a black organization devised not long ago partly to gather statistics the government won’t.

Amazing. Truly amazing.

No, not 'Whitey.'

2008-06-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

This article on The Root kind of sums up why the whole Michelle Obama saying "whitey" in the pulpit just sounded totally fabricated to me. I don't know any black people who use the word "whitey." It's the kind of insult a white person would make up, not knowing anything about how black people speak. The author, Kim McLarin, writes:

The campaign of Barack Obama has had to rebut, not once but several times, the wild rumors that his wife Michelle used an insulting term for white people while railing from the pulpit of Trinity United Church in Chicago. His campaign has had to set up a website to refute the charge, and Obama himself has had to chastise mainstream reporters for spreading the lie.

What he hasn't done—because he cannot if he wants to win the presidency—is roll out the clearest and most obvious knockdown of Whiteygate. Namely this: "When the hell was the last time you heard a black person call somebody 'whitey?'

I may still be on my Malcolm X kick, but I think 'ofay' is much more likely and effective (with the added benefit of actually sounding pseudo-African).

Hey, Feminist Hillary Supporters? Still Want to Vote for McCain?

2008-06-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

He called his wife a trollop and you-know-what. Granted, as Slate noted yesterday, as passions have cooled, a lot of the Dems who said they'd vote for McCain have calmed down and come to their senses. I think I maybe just wanted an excuse to post this rather amusing video (which is brought to us by the creator of the "Yes We Can" parody vid). Warning: this one is pretty obscene. [Via Gawker]

Gore Endorses + Whose Environmentalism?

2008-06-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

Al Gore is finna' to endorse Sen. Obama this evening, which will help with the environmentally conscious constituency that is worried about Obama's efficacy. From 'Al's Journal':

Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action. With the help of millions of supporters like you, Barack Obama will bring the change we so desperately need in order to solve our country's most pressing problems.

This may not be something to write home about, as clearly, Gore wants a Dem in the White House. However, there's a certain idea that climate and environmental concerns are the provenance of the white upper- and middle- class people. In fact, a very telling comment on the Times story reads:

As a pretty serious environmentalist, I admit I’ve had trouble believing that a black guy from Chicago can move us forward in terms of open space, species protection, and other issues typically championed by upper middle class white folks. Hopefully Gore can bend his ear on more than global warming.

Ignoring the fact that Obama isn't just 'a black guy from Chicago,' (didn't you hear, he's exotic?) this comment brings up an interesting point. Many serious (white) environmentalists don't see global warming, climate change, and other environmental issues as something that black people care about, or are affected by. However, environmental injustice assures that pollution and 'open space,' are just as pertinent in the hood as they are in the suburbs. More so, if you ask Majora Carter, founder of Sustainable South Bronx. Carter (video of her speaking below):

As a black person living in America, I am twice as likely as a white person to live in an area where air pollution poses the greatest risk to my health. I am five times more likely to live within walking distance of a power plant or a chemical facility, which I do.

The Michelle Obama Watch

2008-06-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I am a fan of Michelle Obama. She was the one who made me sit up and take notice of Barack Obama's campaign. Before she caught my attention, I thought he was little more than the Democrats' flavor of the month. But she's getting vilified in the press, and by people who don't like it when a black woman speaks her mind. Hillary's supporters complain about sexism, but Michelle gets the short end of the stick when it comes to sexism and racism. There's now a blog which records all attacks on Michelle. The Michelle Obama Watch. H/T TooSense.

Barack Obama Channels Bill Cosby, But With Better Results

2008-06-16T07:04:00.000-07:00

Or, "Yet another reason why shani-o opted out of mainstream journalism." "Obama Sharply Assails Black Fathers" - NYTimes "Obama Tells Black Fathers to Act Like Men" - AFP "Obama Chides Absent Black Fathers" - International Herald Tribune "Obama Tells Black Fathers to Engage Their Children" - AP These are the headlines I read before I actually watched Barack's speech at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago. And maybe 600 words can't adequately capture the depth and complexities in the 20 minute speech, but reading about it is far different than watching it. I don't have a problem with Bill Cosby's speechification — I see him as a sort of crochety grandpa who has our best interests at heart — but I think people bridle at his message because he's so condescending. He talks at the young men and women, not to or with them. Obama's speech, while it does touch on some of the same issues — personal agency, responsibility, parenting — also addresses his own struggles as a fatherless father. He discusses how he went from self-absorbed to wholly concerned with his daughters. He also makes mention of the failures of the government to help the do-right men out there. I'm sure there are those who won't be satisfied by this speech, but to be honest, it's mostly directed toward the people who are active in their churches and communities, the people sitting behind him, nodding and clapping, singing out, "waaayle..." and "amen!" The voters.

Militant Monday: Perhaps I AM My Hair + 'Malcolm X'

2008-06-16T06:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, I promise this won't become a blog where I document the progress of my hair semi-monthly. But after more than 15 years with relaxed hair (son, I don't even remember my first perm), I'm going natural. But first things, first. It's Militant Monday! Last night, I watched Spike Lee's Malcolm X for the first time in close to ten years. Actually, I watched 2 hours of it. I still have an hour and some change to go. While I watched, between putting up the black power fist and snapping soulfully, I was chatting with Lauren on BlackBerry Messenger. I relayed, to her shock and glee, my plans to possibly cut off all of my hair, rather than do the slower transition. 'No more of the white man's chemical fire cream on my natural born black scalp!' I typed, forcefully. And so on. While I've been feeling an urge for natural hair for a while, the restriction the conk has put on my workout routine is the main catalyst. I want to go swimming and not spend two hours fixing my hair every single time. I want to wash and go. I want to stop planning vacations and events around when I do my hair. The list goes on. And it really isn't about getting 'back to my roots' (whatever that means). I went to Howard, where going natural was a aesthetic choice, and there was no guarantee that the fine brotha with the locks had read even a line of Marcus Garvey's, or that the sista with the fly 'fro was as interested in revolution as she was in how fierce she looked on the Yard. In fact, if being au naturel isn't as great as I think it is, I reserve my right to go back to the fire cream. With that said, there's a pretty dope exchange between Malcolm while he's in prison and the brother that leads him to the Nation. He's putting more conk on his head, because on the outside "everybody does it," to which the brother -- who's a bit of a buzzkill, truth be told -- responds, "Why don't you want to look like what you are? What makes you ashamed of being black?" During that scene, I wrote to Lauren.

Shani-o: I'm gonna show up to work bald. Shani-o: and they're gonna be like, "What happened?!" Shani-o: and I'll be like, "I watched Malcolm X, white devil!" Lauren: LMFAO!! Shani-o: This movie is bad. Shani-o: Black people shouldn't be allowed to watch it. Lauren: LOL. No they shouldn't. Lauren: Or 'A Time To Kill.' Shani-o: Or 'Rosewood.'

And so on. One of the benefits of not getting to the last hour of 'Malcolm X' is that you miss the denouement, in which Malcolm makes the Hajj and unpacks his extremist, all-white-people-are-devils mentality and takes a more moderate approach. Well, that, and the assassination. I'm one of those people who hopes that the ending changes whenever I watch a sad movie (like, in 'Love Story,' I'm always surprised and heartbroken at the end). But anyway, skipping the end means you get to stay outraged. I'm sure I'll calm down once I watch the end. But for now, happy Militant Monday everybody!!

Today sucks.

2008-06-13T13:21:00.001-07:00

Tim Russert dies, and R. Kelly gets acquitted.

CHICAGO - R. Kelly was acquitted of all charges Friday after less than a day of deliberations in his child pornography trial, ending a six-year ordeal for the R&B superstar.
Kelly dabbed his face with a handkerchief and hugged each of his four attorneys after the verdict — not guilty on all 14 counts — was read. The Grammy award-winning singer had faced 15 years in prison if convicted.

Minutes later, surrounded by bodyguards, he left the courthouse without comment. Dozens of fans screamed and cheered as he climbed into a waiting SUV.

I'm too through, y'all. Have a good weekend.

Tim Russert, 1950-2008

2008-06-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

From MSNBC.com:

WASHINGTON - Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after collapsing in the bureau, NBC News said Friday. He was 58.
Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” program when he collapsed, the network said. No details were immediately available.
Russert, the recipient of 48 honorary doctorates, took over the helm of “Meet the Press” in December 1991. Now in its 60th year, “Meet the Press” is the longest-running program in the history of television.
In 2008, Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Timothy John Russert Jr. was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. He was a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was a member of the bar in New York and the District of Columbia.

How To Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 101

2008-06-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

Spike Lee should teach a class. First, he takes Clint Eastwood to task for whitewashing WWII, twiceover. And then a trailer for 'Miracle At St. Anna' comes out, and it looks awesome.

Maria Shriver vs. The Governator

2008-06-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

The Times features a rather fluffy and romantic piece about the political foibles of California's first family. Arnold Schwarzenegger — who is actually a pretty good governor — supports McCain, while his spouse, Kennedy legacy Maria Shriver, reps Obama. The story gets a bit cutesy at times...

The lawn of their Brentwood home has dueling campaign signs. The breakfast table has become a casual debating society. Ms. Shriver is even threatening to bring a life-size cutout of her preferred candidate into the house, something the governor has seen her do in other elections. “When one of the candidates screws up,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said of the cutouts, “the kids carry them outside.”
The four Schwarzenegger children — who range in age from 10 to 18 — have already taken sides, though only one of them, Katherine, is actually old enough to vote. She favors Mr. Obama.
Advantage, Ms. Shriver.

... but there's a dearth of California news out here on East Coast (unless there's a wildfire or landslide), so I'm sharing it with you. Below, video from the February rally in which Shriver announced her support — in a rather breathless and inspired speech — of Barack Obama.

This can go one of two ways.

2008-06-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

Way One: I can respond to Fox's use of the term 'baby mama' in reference to Michelle Obama calmly. Way Two: I can get really, really angry. I'm leaning toward Way Two.

Virginity is for lovers

2008-06-12T06:45:00.000-07:00

"Human Nature" is one of my favorite parts of Slate (beaten only by "Dear Prudence" and sometimes, "Explainer"). In it, William Saletan tackles some truly touchy issues with patience and logic. In the essays, he does an excellent job of explaining why some things we consider to be "natural" are quite the opposite, and vice versa. What those of us who've descended from a judeo-christian tradition take as irrefutable human truths are often just constructs which were developed out of biblical misogyny — and seriously, the misogyny in the Bible is quite breathtaking in both scope and influence. Saletan has written essays on homosexuality and incest, oral sex, and most notably — and controversially — the effect of genetics on intelligence. He took a lot of heat for this last one, and later even wrote an apology of sorts. More recently, Saletan brought up the issue of "virginity restoration." A piece in the Times discussed the growing popularity of hymenoplasty among young Muslim women. The interest is spurred by a court case in France in which a marriage was annulled by a Muslim man who discovered that his wife wasn't a virgin (and he announced this to the still-partying guests before taking the woman back to her parents' home). The uproar is over the fact that French court allowed a marriage to be annulled based on something that's so clearly misogynistic. However, I'm not going to argue that the marriage shouldn't have been annulled. While the man's behavior was despicable, it wasn't totally unexpected. The emphasis placed on virginity in Islam (and even Christianity) is strong, and women more often than not know what they're getting into. But they shouldn't be punished for having sex outside of marriage, and if the structure they reside in won't allow for pre-marital sex, then I think hymenoplasty is a reasonable answer. Saletan:

You and I can sit here all day rehearsing these complaints. And some day, God willing, the twisted culture of virginity hypocrisy will wither away. But until it does, hypocrisy is its own best remedy. Help these women deceive their husbands and parents. If they want artificial hymen restoration, let them have it.

"White People Like The Black Guy. He Gives A Good Speech."

2008-06-09T04:42:00.001-07:00

Slate has updated the "Democratic Primary in Seven Minutes" video with another minute which includes the glorious ending. It was pretty funny back when the primary seemed interminable, and now that it's over, well, it's still funny. But also, sweet. And did you know, John Edward's dad worked in a mill?

Clint Eastwood vs. Spike Lee: Is it 1993?

2008-06-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

"A guy like him should shut his face," said Clint Eastwood, aging badass, referring to Spike Lee's criticism of the director's lack of black soldiers in Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima. According to Lee, who is beginning promotion for his own WWII outing, Miracle at St. Anna, "Many veterans, African-Americans, who survived that war are upset at Clint Eastwood. In his vision of Iwo Jima, Negro soldiers did not exist. Simple as that. I have a different version." Eastwood dismissed Lee's comment in a recent interview with the Guardian (which misquoted Lee's original statement), saying "The story is Flags of Our Fathers, the famous flag-raising picture, and they didn't do that. If I go ahead and put an African-American actor in there, people'd go, 'This guy's lost his mind.' I mean, it's not accurate." Because putting blacks in a historical film amounts to little more than affirmative action, apparently. Another Eastwood gem: "[Should I] make it look like a commercial for an equal opportunity player? I'm not in that game. I'm playing it the way I read it historically, and that's the way it is." He might as well have said Spike was pulling the race card. Oddly enough, two years ago, the Guardian ran an article detailing the 900 black soldiers who were at Iwo Jima, and made a direct correlation to the lack of blacks in Flags. 900 is a little bit more than the 'small detachment' mentioned in the Eastwood interview. From that article, Yvonne Latty (author of We Were There: Voices of African American Veterans):

"No one's asking for them to be the stars of the movies, but at least show that they were there. This is the way a new generation will think about Iwo Jima. Once again it will be that African-American people did not serve, that we were absent. It's a lie."

While blacks were mostly carrying ammunition in Japan, they were there, and to completely ignore the existence is totally irresponsible. My own grandfather fought in Europe during WWII, and if that weren't common knowledge in my family, I probably would have thought all soldiers ever (except for Bubba in Forrest Gump) were white. Update: A white woman on MSNBC's Morning Joe said Spike Lee was "really uppity." Either the person who wrote her lines hates her and wants her fired, or she's an idiot. Or both. Because, who even uses the word "uppity" anymore?

Forget Hillary, What Does Bob Johnson Want?

2008-06-05T14:34:00.000-07:00

Bob Johnson is mounting a one-man offensive to get Hillary Clinton on the bottom of the Democratic ticket. (Do watch the video. Although he can put sentences together in what appears to be a sensible structure, close listening shows his inability to say things that actually make sense. It's like word Jenga.) Johnson, founder of BET, one of the two black American billionaires (you know who the other is), sent a letter asking that the Congressional Black Caucus put some pressure on Obama to select Hillary as his running mate. Since his billionaire status came at the price of black dignity, I can't imagine that he has much juice with the CBC, and he's pretty much reviled amongst thinking negroes. So what is he angling for?

CNN Ruins Everything

2008-06-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

Remember how I said I don't like CNN? This is why. In one of their annoying Jeannie Moos videos (which are supposed to be funny, and possibly are, to white people over the age of 50), they tackle the 'fist bump' shared by Barack and Michelle in St. Paul on Tuesday. First off, it's not called a fist bump. That's lame. It's a pound, which falls under the category of dap. And the one thing CNN's cute little video fails to mention, is the black origins of said dap. You'd think they would, considering it was two black people sharing a pound who got all this started. The video hinted that baseball was involved in the evolution of the pound, but... come on. As Ta-Nehisi writes, something can be both black, and mainstream.

"The most interesting, and quite common, response has been "well I'm white as hell and I do the fist-bump with my wife, so it can't be that black." To me that response says more about the speaker--and race in this country--than about any measure of "blackness." It has as its unspoken premise that black is something that's stagnant, mutually exclusive to itself, and incapable of existing alongside other qualities. [...] The fact that you're in Wisconsin somewhere performing an ritual that was perfected on the South Side of Chicago probably means that it's mainstream. But that doesn't mean it didn't come from the South Side. Both are true at the same time."

It's amazing that even a little presidential nominee pound can open up discussions about race. I suspect CNN avoided the black thing purposely, because there's still some desire to paint Barack as post-racial.

The Only Way Donna Brazile Knows How To Rock

2008-06-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

I don't like CNN. But I've gotta hand it to them. Selling shirts is brilliant. Last night, there was a rather amusing exchange between serial pundit (and smackdown layer) Donna Brazile and closeted cutie Anderson Cooper. To wit:

"I'm looking for something [Obama] hasn't told anyone else, just you." "Anderson, you're not my boo."

After which, Andy giggled insanely. And now, CNN is selling shirts to that effect on their 'CNN Shirt (beta)' site.

Fondish Farewell To HRC

2008-06-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hillary doesn't need to concede; everyone else has done it for her. Bomani Armah lists 10 Moments in Hillaryland that we'd sooner forget, on The Root. Of note is # 8: "From 1+1 to advanced quantum physics, the ever-changing electoral math," or, as I like to call it, her magical math.

"You can take a look at my SAT math scores or my checkbook ledger from last year to realize that I am only adequate in math, but the Hillary campaign changed the x's and y's so much that I think I'm going to stick with my times tables up to 10 from now on. From now on the election equation is calculated by:

big states — small states X Democratic stronghold states — 2/3 of fly-over states — pi of caucus states x 250% of rust belt primary states — states with up to 40% of the Negro population + number of superdelegates who owe you political favors + Puerto Rico and Guam."

(Note, I searched high and low for a truly flattering photo, and eventually gave up and went with her official headshot, available on her website. I will say, she looks quite lovely in it.)

Imagine That

2008-06-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Things aren't looking too hot for the Pied Piper of R&B. As R. Kelly's trial for child pornography* plods along to its conclusion, it's becoming clear that he doesn't have very many people in his corner. Between the jokes about 'Trapped In The Closet: Part One Million" and the titles of Slate dispatches from the trial ("The Shaggy Defense" and "Sparkle's Revenge"), it would be funny, if it weren't so darn sad. There's a tendency to play blame-the-victim in sex cases, particularly when a male is the aggressor. When Mike Tyson was convicted of raping an 18-year-old beauty contestant back in '91, the defense attempted to paint her as a woman who had consensual sex with him, and then got angry she was treated like a one-night stand. I remember hearing a lot of people, men and women, asking why she went to his room. Having been 18, and having been in the room of a boy or two, I can safely say that going there is not always an indication that you want to go there. The willingness to paint men as sexual predators, and women as weak, yet solely responsible for their own sexual safety would be baffling, if it weren't so clearly misogynistic. When I was in college, and the R. Kelly stuff was just coming out, a friend of mine from Chicago told me once that a girl who went to his school had an 'arrangement' with Kelly. He bought her stuff and she let him hit, basically. This is obviously hearsay, but at the time, I, like most of my peers, pretty much just shrugged. Girls want stuff, and men want sex. But five years later, I find the concept that stat rape is okay if both parties are getting what they want to be totally disgusting. The Sun-Times reports that a couple of erstwhile Kelly associates are flying to the Chi to ... have a press conference. About what, nobody seems to know. But it doesn't look promising for Kelly. There was a time when I was able to separate Kelly's music from Kelly the person. But — and this may be directly proportional to the diminished quality of his music over time — I can't do it anymore. I played blame-the-victim, before. But I can't anymore. He's a criminal, and it's time for him to pay the piper. (See what I did there?) * If they prove it's him on the tape, will they be able to get him on the rape charges, eventually? Does it matter that the woman won't testify against him? These are the questions.

Transitioning

2008-06-03T19:27:00.001-07:00

Tonight, after hearing the news that the primaries (and campaign for the nomination) are finally, finally over, I was talking to Joy.

"Yes we can!" she said.

"Yes we DID," I said. "Well, we'll save that for when he gets into the White House."

"Well, for now can we say 'yes we are?'"

"Good transitive!" I said.

In the spirit of realism and remembering challenges yet unfaced... so it shall be written, and so it shall be done.

Yes, we are.

It's over.

2008-06-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

We have a nominee. He looks like this: I started to follow the Michigan and Florida delegate decisions made over the weekend, and found my blood pressure increasing when Hillary's supporters started chanting noise about going all the way to Denver with this foolishness. But then it occurred to me that Barack wasn't sweating the delegate count even before they decided to seat all the delegates with 1/2 a vote each. And if he isn't worried, why should I be? Barack Obama is the nominee. Even Hillary's supporters are calling her desperate at this point. And if a blind man can see that ... (sorry, I couldn't help myself!). As of today, I've decided I'm going to take a break from getting angry about that woman's magical math which puts her ahead in the popular vote. And her attempts to poach supers from Obama. And her racist supporters. And her husband. This primary — record breaking though it was — is over. And I'm gonna need my strength to get me through the general election.

"I have hair in my eye. Let me get it out, fiercely."

2008-05-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

[Photo and Video from the NYT] Tyra Banks has 275 smiles. Included in the short list of the 7 basic smiles, is the 'someone just gave you a diamond ring and you have no idea why, but you're really excited!' smile. I think that is so hilarious, and also, really sweet. The June 1 issue of the New York Times Magazine covers her, with an in-depth story about Banks, her company, and her hopes and fears and dreams. Tyra catches a lot of flack from all sectors. Some call her cheesy. Some call her a wannabe Oprah. Some call her fat. From the article:

Throughout all these acts of abasement and bravado, Banks seemed, as she always does on “Top Model,” analytically and emotionally invested. As her mother was to her, she is to these girls. “I don’t ask them to do anything that I wasn’t asked to do,” Banks said before the auditions began. “But even if they don’t become models, they have to learn how to be strong. When they give up, or they stop trying, I get so mad. I can never believe it. How can you quit? Life is hard sometimes, but how can you quit?”

I call her unsinkable.

Black People : Interracial Marriage :: Black People : Gay Marriage

2008-05-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

I wrote about The Root when it debuted back in February. I don't visit it regularly, and really only check it out when there's a link from the Slate home page (like this excellent and enlightening piece on fistula). When I saw one of the little home page article boxes on Slate, that read "If Anyone Should Support Gay Marriage, It's Black People," I should have known it would be problematic. The crux of the article was that because of anti-miscegenation laws (black people couldn't marry white people) that were ultimately overturned, blacks should support the gays' right to marry whomever they want. The author, Casey Lartigue Jr, wrote:

"Given this history, it might be reasonable to conclude that black people in particular would be opposed to laws limiting marital choices among adults. Unfortunately, there are many black people who are not only critical of interracial marriage, but also support banning gay or same-sex marriage today. According to a Pew Research Poll taken after the Massachusetts Supreme Court upheld same-sex marriage, far more blacks than whites disagreed with the court's decision. And that doesn't even include what is said at black barbershops."

He goes on to call blacks bristling at the comparison "a case of a former slave putting on his former master's clothing and wanting others to be treated as slaves." And that's where he lost me. In fact, that's where arguments of this kind always lose me, even though I'm not against gay marriage (full disclosure: I used to be, but denying marriage rights to homosexuals is illogical, and I respond well to logic). It seems that these days, pointing out the flaws in the black community is all the rage. I'm down with it, too, because we are not simply a noble people, we're not magical negroes, we're not perfect. That's fine. There is sexism, racism, and sexual prejudice (which encompasses anti-gay sentiment) within the black community. But this blacks are racist! blacks are sexist! blacks are homophobic! hysteria bothers me because it appears to be backlash and overcorrection from the days when it wasn't acceptable to criticize black people, as a group, at all in the mainstream media (say, late 80s to late 90s). Like I said, black people aren't perfect. But. Neither are gays. Neither are women. And in the race to the finish line of the Martyrdom Relays at these-here Oppression Olympics, we're tripping each other up. To be a martyr, you can't be flawed. Acknowledging the flaws in the other two groups who loudly vie for equality (while comparing their struggle to those of blacks during the Civil Rights Movement) is not done nearly enough. There is both racism and sexism in the gay community. There is both homophobia and racism amongst the feminists (and that, that is another post). But do we hear about it? No. Blacks get chided for turning into oppressors, meanwhile some of these so-called oppressed would just as soon see black men in jail as in the boardroom. The problem is one of painting a group with a broad brush. Just as Robinson wrote, there is no such thing as a monolithic black community, and I'm willing to bet there's no such thing as a monolithic gay, or feminist community, either. Not all blacks are anti-gay. Not all gays are colorblind. Not all women are for gay marriage. I'm pretty sure there's a Venn Diagram in there somewhere. I thought I could go one post without talking about Barack Obama, but can I help that he's actually intelligent and makes salient points? In an interview with The Advocate, he's asked to discuss parallels between the gay rights movement and the Civil Rights Movement, and the homophobia in the black community. He says:

"I don’t think [homophobia in the black community is] worse than in the white community. I think that the difference has to do with the fact that the African-American community is more churched and most African-American churches are still fairly traditional in their interpretations of Scripture. And so from the pulpit or in sermons you still hear homophobic attitudes expressed. And since African-American ministers are often the most prominent figures in the African-American community those attitudes get magnified or amplified a little bit more than in other communities."

That's one of the things Lartigue gets wrong. He doesn't acknowledge the religious tradition in the black community. He also doesn't acknowledge the flaws in the gay community, while all too easily decrying the flaws of the black community. I skimmed the comments section, and buried in the pile of ignorance ("interracial marriage isn't a sin, but sodomy is!" and "Gays just want to validate their lifestyle choice!"), someone actually said something that made sense, which is really what inspired me to write this somewhat bloated piece. Commenter rjmacadaeg:

"The idea that black people shouldn't be homophobic is as sadly mistaken as the assertion that gay people shouldn't be racist. Where we would hope to see a greater understanding based on empathy and wisdom gained through suffering, we instead find the same old prejudices."

There is truth in that statement. The concept that black people are fundamentally flawed, and that we're living some modern-day version of Animal Farm where all of a sudden we're the pigs wearing human clothes and sleeping in human beds while the rest of the equality-seeking beasts stay outside is laughable. Or, it would be, if it weren't so damaging.

Mocking Hillary at Trinity

2008-05-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

I'm not convinced this is actually important, per se, but it surely is hilarious. [Stolen from PostBourgie.]

Misspake?

2008-05-28T08:43:00.001-07:00

"Misspeak" is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as: To speak mistakenly, inappropriately, or rashly. Now, let's compare two recent political misspeakings. If you'll recall, back in March, Senator Clinton said: "I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base." The then-U.S. troop commander in Bosnia reiterated what everyone else (including Sinbad) said at the time. "She never had her head down. There was no sniper threat that I know of." Her camp responded quickly, and creatively, saying she 'misspoke.' However, as I cited above, misspoke doesn't mean 'lied.' Misspoke means, 'spoke mistakenly.' I think it would be hard to speak mistakenly about what should have been a memorable experience, unless it didn't happen. In which case, she's just a liar. Moving on. Recently, Senator Obama said his uncle helped liberate concentration camp prisoners at Auschwitz. As anyone who paid attention in history class would know, the Commies did the liberating at Auschwitz. And, as it stands to reason that Obama's uncle wasn't a Red, some critically thinking people pointed that out. As it turns out, he misspoke. His great-uncle didn't help liberate prisoners at Auschwitz, oh no! He... wait, what? He helped liberate prisoners at one of the concentration camps in Buchenwald? Well, that's completely different! Shame on you, Barack Obama! In my opinion, 'misspeaking' is making a mistake when you make a speech. Like, for example, saying the wrong name of a concentration camp. Or, saying 'uncle' when you mean 'great-uncle.' Misspeaking is not saying you landed in a warzone under sniper fire, when in actuality, you meandered down the tarmac with your only child by your side, stopping to chat with soldiers and small children. But, that's just my opinion.

Back and in Effect!

2008-05-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

How was your Memorial Day weekend? Mine was relaxing (no more work at the Grill!) and productive (I cleaned out my car, organized my financial papers.) I also read my personally signed copy (thanks, Demby!) of Ta-Nehisi Coates' The Beautiful Struggle. It was excellent, and I highly recommend you get a copy. Coates (whose blog I frequent) writes poetically about growing up black in Baltimore. The book certainly deserves more analysis than I can give at this very moment, but it holds within it the rhythm of hip-hop, the fear of youth, the cruelty of poverty, and ... multitudes. It's definitely a must-read.

Put Down Lines

2008-05-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

Lauren's post on pickup lines has me reminiscing. When I was younger, and still learning how to use my powers of bodaciousness for good, I could be pretty awful to a guy trying to holla. I would either ignore him, or say something smartass-y, or look at him dead in the eye and respond with a time-perfected mix of incredulity and sarcasm: "uh, no." These days, I'm much nicer. I realize guys have a hard time of it out there, so even if I'm not remotely interested, I'll usually smile and thank them for the compliment and keep it moving. That is, unless they're completely out of pocket, in which case they'll receive one of my former tactics. So anyway, here are some of my fonder memories receiving a 'cold open.' Memory #1: I was walking on U St. in D.C., on my way to the 7-Eleven with my BFF. Dude in a black truck (don't ask me what it was, I'm not into cars) slows down on the opposite side of the street, and honks. He's looking at me and smiling, saying, "hey, come over here, can I talk to you?" Setting aside the obvious fact that I'm not crossing traffic to talk to someone I've never met (if you know a girl who will, give me her address, so I can beat her with one of my very heavy Frye boots), I just kinda shook my head and kept walking. Him, as his tires squeal: "FOUR EYES!!!" My friend and I fell out laughing on the sidewalk. Variations on the theme: I have been asked to "come over and talk" to countless men sitting comfortably in their vehicles while I am clearly on my way somewhere. It's not like I'm leaning against a building, swinging my purse and chewing some gum. I'm walking at a brisk pace, and YOU want ME to come talk to you? For what? Get outta here! Memory #2: Junior year Howard homecoming. Yardfest. I'm crossing the Yard with a couple of friends, and there's a little traffic jam. While we're paused, I hear a guy behind me say, "I wonder if the front matches the back..." and next thing you know, I'm being tapped on the shoulder. I turn around reflexively, not connecting the statement with the gesture. Dude looks at me, smiles, and is like, "Yep. You're gorgeous." My arm gets yanked by a friend and I'm being pulled through the crowd before I can even process the objectification. Variations on the theme: Ruminations on the backside are not acceptable conversation-starters. I don't envy the ladies out there who haven't much to work with in the backside, but the flip side of the coin is that men believe it's ok to comment on physical attributes with heavy sexual overtones. And the verbiage! It's just... well, this is a PG blog, so I'll just say this: please don't make mention of the bum until we've hung out at least twice. (And again, I know there are women who get all giggly when a dude notices that she's wearing jeans that are two sizes too small, so if you see one, get her address.) Memory #3: The corniness. A old guy said to me, "girl, you look like your breath smells minty!" Points were awarded for originality, but immediately deducted for weirdness. There are lots of other corny, ridiculous, intelligence-insulting lines, but I'm sure you've heard them all. Bonus Lesson: Guys always want to know what works, and I promise you, any woman worth having will respond positively to the following: Hi, my name is X. How are you today? She'll love it because you're presenting yourself to her, not starting off with a "shawty, what yo' name is?" She'll also love it because you're giving her an opportunity to talk about herself. If you follow it up with a "that blouse really complements your complexion," you're in. Go forth and holla!