Of Apes and Black Men

Photo taken from New York Post

Anyone who thinks that it’s okay to compare our President (or any black man) to an ape or a chimpanzee is terribly wrong. Call it satire if you want New York Post but I ain’t buying it. This is not only cruel and insensitive but is wrong on so many levels. The comparison of black people to monkeys is nothing new in our uncomfortable racial history. Is the President supposed to be a monkey, dumb as a monkey or like the Connecticut chimp on a rampage?

For whatever reason, the folks over the Post thought they were being clever and witty and responded with the following:

“The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington’s efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist.”

Just because we’ve elected Barack Obama as President doesn’t mean our ugly racist past is behind us. Do we really need to have Rev. Al Sharpton mixed up in this? Of course not, but as usual, Sharpton feels he has dominate selective stories about race and racism as if he represents all black people. Have a seat Rev. Al, we’ve got this one. For other opinions about the Post’s cartoon, visit The Swamp.

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Talk to You Later, Buckwheat

Buckwheat

When is it ever appropriate to address a black person as Buckwheat? Evidently, Louisiana State Representative Carolyn Dartez thought it was okay to do so. According to news reports, Dartez had called the mother of the NAACP’s local president, to thank her for driving voters to polls and ended the conversation with “Talk to you later, Buckwheat.”

Of course, Dartez has apologized for her insensitive remark (though she probably didn’t think she said anything wrong) and wants everyone to know that she has a record of helping the black community. As a black woman, I have never at any point thought it was okay to call anyone Buckwheat especially not an elderly black woman whose son is the president of the local NAACP.

For those of you not familiar with Buckwheat, he was the black child on the 1930′s television show, “Our Gang“. He was dark, had eyes like saucers and had this nappy hair that stood on end and was the embodiment of all things black during this era. Stereotypes about black people haven’t changed very much over the years particularly with regard to the entertainment industry, black people are still around to entertain, shuck, jive, dance, etc. Buckwheat is not a black character that any of us remembers fondly.

I bet someone has already given her the telephone number of Al Sharpton and/or Jesse Jackson to help her out. As of late, Rev Al has been the sole representative for black people everywhere and is one of the few blacks who has the power to pardon Dartez in the court of black public opinion. I look for either him or Jesse to fly down to Louisiana and do a prayer meeting, appear on ‘Larry King Live’ and/or have a town hall meeting in Morgan City because we all know Dartez is not a racist. Rev Al has had a busy year absolving white folks of their sins and representing all 30 million black folks, I hope he gets to have a vacation and straightens this Dartez woman out.

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Let Rev Al Bless Him

That “I’m Not A Racist” playbook is getting a workout this year. The latest victim caught on tape dropping the ‘N-bomb’ is A&E’s scruffy and scuzzy Dog the Bounty Hunter (aka Duane Chapman). Of course he wants you to know he’s not a racist, he’s already apologized and is seeking spiritual advisement from his black pastor, Rev Tim Storey. Seems like Dog has a problem with his son’s black girlfriend and not with soap and water as I had previously suspected.

Just like others caught dropping the ‘N-bomb’ before him, he’s reached out to the one and only, Reverend Al Sharpton (Note from “I’m Not A Racist” playbook: an apology to Rev Al is an apology to ALL black people). Rev Al’s phone has been ringing off the hook this year, he’s O’Reilly’s “go-to” negro and must be on the speed dial of every white man who thinks he may slip up and call someone a NIGGER.

Instead of apologizing to a group of people who could care less, why doesn’t Dog apologize to his son and his girlfriend Monique instead? I don’t care who he wants to call a nigger but I do care that he expects to maintain the spoils of celebrity, like keeping his show on A&E. A&E was smart to pull the plug on Dog’s show and it didn’t take a letter-writing campaign and days of indecision for them to do it. Now if someone could pull the plug on Rev Al, I’d really be pleased.

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Al and Bill, Part 2

This story is too good to pass up. Let me preface it by saying that I don’t like Rev. Al Sharpton and I definitely don’t like Bill O’Reilly, the fact that these two socialize doesn’t come as a surprise to me. Permed-out Al is always on the hustle, looking to right some kind of wrong or act of racism for personal gain. He is the opportunist extraordinaire who has appointed himself spokesman for the monolithic group of black people that the U.S. media believes he represents. There’s a fine line between being a preacher and being a pimp; the flashy clothes, the seductive rap and the bouncing and behaving hair.

Last time O’Reilly and Sharpton were together was at Al’s civil rights convention. O’Reilly attended and Al even debated Sean Hannity. Bill and Al got together again to have dinner at Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem. If you don’t know about Sylvia’s, its a Harlem landmark and one of the best soul food restaurants anywhere. O’Reilly, who obviously doesn’t travel outside his conservative, narrow-minded crowd much, showed his true ignorance:

“I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it’s run by blacks, primarily black patronship,” he told listeners. “It was the same, and that’s really what this society’s all about now here in the U.S.A. There’s no difference.”

And later, speaking with National Public Radio correspondent and Fox analyst Juan Williams, O’Reilly said there “wasn’t any kind of craziness at all” during his dinner with Sharpton: “There wasn’t one person in Sylvia’s who was screaming, ‘M.F.-er, I want more iced tea.’ “

“It was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense that people were sitting there and they were ordering and just having fun,” he continued.

Poor Bill. Al hasn’t spent much time enlightening his BFF. O’Reilly thought he was complimenting black people but he really just showed his ignorance. Al needs to school Bill on the ways of the real world. Sounds like it was Bill’s first visit to Harlem and probably the first time he has ever been around more than one black person in his life but he only felt “safe” because Al was there with him.

I’m just waiting for the backstory about what Al and Bill did after they left Sylvia’s. I bet they went to the strip gentlemen’s club to get for lap dances smoke cigars and talk business. I’m expecting Al to step forward to defend O’Reilly’s ridiculous, ill-informed comments.

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David Banner vs. Al Sharpton, Part 2

I love it when black folks debate! Rapper David Banner had some choice but profane words for the Reverend Al Sharpton the other day. Sharpton’s camp shot back with an equally infantile response that will not be repeated here but the good thing is that there is some dialogue. To say that there is a generation gap that separates the old guard civil rights leaders like Sharpton and Jesse Jackson from hip hop artists like Banner and Ludacris is an understatement for many reasons.

First of all, I always get rankled when black folks get appointed a leader either by default or by faux representation. Jesse Jackson has made a career out of this, Sharpton is a bit late to the game but always manages to insert himself into events that do not require his attention. Like Jesse, Sharpton is a publicity slut of the worst kind; if there’s a camera and some injustice, you can count on him to be there. Jesse Jackson has always claimed to have marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and been down from day one of the civil rights movement but Sharpton’s mentor is the late great James Brown.

Sharpton proudly claims that his permed out ‘do was the result of a promise he made to the Godfather of Soul. Though he’s never asked my opinion on the subject, I don’t think Brown would mind one bit if Sharpton lets that perm go, neither will I. Like Melanie Griffith’s character Tess says in the movie “Working Girl,” “If you want to be taken seriously, you’ve got to have serious hair.” Take note Al, the perm has had its day. You can’t very well be criticizing rappers for using words like “bitches and hos” when you run around looking like a p-i-m-p. It’s disingenuous; besides that, partnering with Russell Simmons will not improve his credibility with hip hop artists. I don’t think Simmons has run Def Jam since the 1980s plus rap music and hip hop have changed quite a bit since then. I would think Jay-Z has more credibility with rappers than Russell Simmons, I bet Sharpton never thought to call Jay-Z.

The other thing that annoys me about these faux leaders is that no one seems to benefit from their boycotts, demonstrations and other acts of civil disobedience but them. Jesse Jackson can probably give you the play book on corporate shake-downs and boycotts. I haven’t heard Sharpton or any of the other leaders address an issue of any substance in the last ten years especially with regard to issues facing young black men, HIV/AIDS or education. I’d love to hear Sharpton preach about the importance of education to black youth rather than hear him whine about racial profiling and racism because there’s nothing he can do about either one of them. If there were no racism there would be no Al Sharpton. He’s parlayed his faux leadership skills into a full time job and a six figure income. If black folks miraculously overcame all of the injustice and adversity in their lives tomorrow, Al Sharpton would not have a job. Believe that.

As for David Banner, he’s a released another statement that eloquently criticizes civil rights leaders, please follow the link here.

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Link of the Day: SOHH Interview with David Banner

Rappers David Banner and Talib Kweli put Al Sharpton and other alleged civil rights leaders on blast for their ‘faux’ activism. While Banner’s commentary is laced with profanity, it doesn’t make it any less true. You have to question Sharpton’s motives for jumping on that Don Imus ‘nappy headed hos’ controversy. Sharpton was front and center, calling for Imus’ firing.

Ironically, it wasn’t Sharpton or any other civil rights activist that got Imus fired, it was Imus’ advertisers who pulled the plug. Like any good attention slut, Sharpton made the best of this opportunity. I wasn’t the only one rolling my eyes at his foolishness and permed out ‘do. We shall overcome, one day.

Check out SOHH’s interview here.

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Bad Newz for Michael Vick

The thought of dog-fighting sickens me. Rumors about Michael Vick’s involvement in high stakes dog-fighting involving pit bulls have been circulating for months now have finally come to fruition. A few days ago, he was charged along with two associates with felony dog fighting charges with details to grisly to recount. There is no doubt in my mind that Vick is being tried in the news media.

The newly minted Vick, one of the NFL’s few black quarterbacks, is being accused of some horrendous charges that involve unfathomable cruelty to animals. I can’t say if he turned out to be serial killer and murderer of humans that he would be as reviled as he is for his alleged cruelty to animals. Cruelty to animals like cruelty to children is a very sensitive subject with most people.

Never one to watch a controversy from the sidelines, Al Sharpton jumped into the fray along with Russell Simmons to condemn Vick and to call his sponsors to pull their endorsements. Today they got their wish. Nike and Reebok suspended their sales of Vick’s jerseys, footwear and other athletic gear. The animal cruelty charges that Vick faces are too disturbing to ignore, even for his sponsors. Although they have put their endorsements of Vick on hold for now, I expect all of his sponsors to jump ship shortly or face the wrath of PETA and other animal rights activists.

Vick like many other careless black athletes before him have succumbed to that multi-million dollar mentality that makes them believe they are immune to the kind scrutiny that their illicit activities can bring them. The NFL is bursting with ethically challenged athletes like Adam ‘Pac Man’ Jones and Ricky Manning whose exploits off the football field bring them more notoriety than their exploits on the field. A few years ago, Vick was accusing of giving herpes to woman who was more than happy to settle out of court for a hefty sum of money. Vick neglected to tell this woman that he had herpes. You didn’t hear about Nike, Reebok or the Atlanta Falcons wanting to distance themselves from Vick then. Furthermore, you didn’t hear Sharpton or Simmons criticizing Vick for practicing unsafe sex or passing along herpes to his female partner. The people who are the loudest in criticizing Vick’s alleged activities, were noticeably quiet about the herpes incident.

It doesn’t matter if Vick just signed a $130 million dollar deal with the Atlanta Falcons but it does matter that he is a black man excelling in one of the few areas where the income potential for black men is virtually unlimited. Whether the charges are true or not, his reputation is tarnished. This time, his high profile multi-million dollar contract will do more harm than good, at least for now. Whenever I hear these kinds of stories about privileged black athletes making millions of dollars who continue to display bad judgment, I always have to shake my head in disgust; Vick is no exception.

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O’Reilly, Hannity & Sharpton, Oh My!

Activist and self-appointed leader of the black community, Al Sharpton will be hobnobing with two of Fox News‘ finest, Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity. Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) is having a convention this week beginning Wednesday, April 18 in New York City. Some of the other media folks scheduled to participate in this three day convention include Soledad O’Brien(CNN), Brian Williams (NBC), Paula Zahn(CNN) and Joe Scarborough (MSNBC). And you wonder why Al Sharpton is the media authority on race and civil rights issues!

Rev. Jesse Jackson must have shared his “get rich and die lying” playbook with Rev. Al because the hustle is on. The similarities between the two are not coincidental. I’m so glad Jesse elected to bypass the perm. Operation P.U.S.H. and Sharpton’s National Action Network websites have radio broadcasts, highlight civil rights accomplishments and praise their leaders’ power broker credentials and political clout. Makes me cringe to think that some people are stupid enough to buy into this nonsense, but if it worked for Jesse, it will work for Al. Rush Limbaugh is quoted in Al’s biography as saying that “Reverend Sharpton has the best shot of anyone at becoming the “Limbaugh of the Left”. Say what?

Knowing Rush is impressed with Al means that you shouldn’t be surprised that xenophobe Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity are attending Al’s convention. O’Reilly is listed as a special guest at the Keeper of the Dream VIP Reception this Wednesday night. Somehow I’m getting a visual of Al and O’Reilly sweatin’, smilin’ and doing the electric slide in their tuxes and shiny patent leather shoes. Friday evening Al will debate the other Fox News’ personality, Sean Hannity on “Race in American in the 21st Century”. (Note to Al and Sean: The race issue is b-o-r-i-n-g. Why not debate the difference between “hardcore hos” and “nappy-headed hos” or how Al is going to address misogyny and the degradation of women in hip-hop.)

Another guest at Al’s convention worth noting is Michigan Representative, Carolyn Cheeks. Ms. Cheeks is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute who has partnered with Fox News to bring us two presidential debates. I’m certain Ms. Cheeks wasn’t invited there so Al could talk her into pulling the plug on CBC Institute’s partnership with Fox News. He’s probably going to congratulate her and share some tips on how to become a legitimate power broker.

I got awfully warm and fuzzy reading Al’s overly exaggerated biography, it reads like a work of fiction. It’s well written but it didn’t change my mind about him, I still believe he is an opportunist. Al can’t possibly represent all of the diverse opinions of black America any more than Hillary Clinton could claim to represent the diverse opinions of white America; the sooner the media realizes this, the better off everyone will be.

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Haterade, the Al Sharpton Version

While visiting one of my favorite websites, I decided to plug in “Al Sharpton” in the search box. Seems like I am not the only one who has a beef with Al. Quite a few people seemed to have a problem with him especially since this Don Imus incident. I heard that Meredith Vieira interviewed Sharpton on The View this week. I missed it but I hope she made him sweat out that perm.

Some of the angry comments about Sharpton had to do with race baiting, hypocrisy, his hair and the assault on free speech. If we deal with the race baiting accusation first, I believe Sharpton is an opportunist. Like his counterpart Jesse Jackson, he always manages to insert himself into situations that don’t warrant or need his involvement. Hell, if something goes down of the racial nature, Al is on the spot. I’m figuring him and Jesse have each other on speed dial and compare notes. Neither Sharpton nor Jackson would have a platform if the media didn’t rely on them to represent the black community.

I’m going to say this for the last time in 2007, it’s only April but it needs to be said: THE BLACK COMMUNITY DOES NOT HAVE A MONOLITHIC VOICE NOR ARE WE LED BY JESSE JACKSON, BILL COSBY, AL SHARPTON, BARACK OBAMA OR ANY OTHER FAMOUS BLACK PERSON. Contrary to popular belief, we do not caucus with Jesse or Al in a secret location to have them raise our concerns with the media or accuse white people. They do this on their own.

Is Al Sharpton a hypocrite? Of course! We shouldn’t have double standards. Let’s make black people accountable for the same things we make white people accountable for. _____________ (Fill in the blank of your favorite rapper here) is no less guilty than Don Imus. Sharpton has been notably silent about rappers and their “bitches and hos” chorus. Misogyny has taken over the rap game.

Now, on to the hair. Yes, Al’s hair is ridiculous. I can’t take a man whose hair looks better than mine seriously. He’s high maintenance. How much is a wash n’ set running now? In New York, I bet $50 – $100 a pop. The hair smacks of some deep-rooted self-hatred issues; natural vs. processed, nappy vs. straight, good vs. bad, black vs. white. Imagine Al with a ‘fro. No more trips to the salon, no rollers or curling iron and no head scarves. I believe it was Alice Walker who said, “Oppressed hair puts a ceiling on the brain.” Wash and wear Al, wash and wear!

Al Sharpton is definitely an opportunist. Being an opportunist requires that he capitalize on situations for his own benefit. Once he gets involved in a civil rights case, you soon forget what he was fussing about and it becomes all about Al. In this case, years of hard work shaming corporate America and preying upon liberal guilt has worked very well for Jesse Jackson so now Al is on the grind. The minute the narrow-minded, ethnocentric media begins to understand this, the better off everyone will be. If you stop putting the mic and cameras in front of Jesse and Al, they would both go away. I promise! Heck, Al might even let that perm slide for a few weeks. Okay, probably not.

I’m not even going to address the claim about Al and some FBI undercover agent on tape in a drug deal. All of this negative information has just popped up with the past few days since that blow up over Don Imus’ “nappy headed hos” comment. It should be clear to everyone by now that the only person responsible for Don Imus’ situation is Don Imus, not Al Sharpton. These claims only serve to shift the focus away from the real issue which is Don Imus. If you think it’s socially acceptable to characterize black women as “nappy headed hos” or any kind “hos”, you need to loose your job, just don’t blame Al Sharpton.

(Picture of Ann Coulter and Al Sharpton borrowed from The Phoenix.com)

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I’m Not Really a Racist , I Do Nice Things for Black People

The folks over at MSNBC have published transcripts of their exclusive interview with suspended talk show host, Don Imus. This time he wants us to know he is down with black people. He’s going to appear on Al Sharpton’s radio show and has “reached out” to another black minister, DeForest Soaries who “knows” that Imus is a good person.

Sharpton and Soaries will no doubt fast-track Imus’ “I’m Not Really a Racist” credentials before the monolithic black community they claim to represent. The only person missing from the fray is Jesse Jackson, I must be missing something somewhere. An incident involving racism and a camera, Jesse, where are you bro?

Let’s see if Sharpton, Jackson and these other black ministers will jump out front on this “bitches and hos” thing with the rappers. Now that’s something I’d like to see.

(Photo courtesy of myclockworks)

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