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Thats right folks.
We don’t really have a choice here do we? TWiB! is in fact about Black people and this is the BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION awards right? Think of it as “Black Star Power” meeting “Black Snark Power.” Tonight Bassey Ikpi (HBO’s Def Poetry Jam) & TWiB!’s on Elon James White (VH1, Huffington Post) will be throwing down what you’re probably thinking but too polite to say. 7:45pm. watch it HERE – http://thisweekinblackness.com/betawards09/
To Whom It May Concern:
Greetings. My name is Elon James White. I’m Black.
I write this letter on behalf of alot of people that fall into the category of Average Black People. (Yes, I capitalize it, as if it were a title.) I do not claim to represent them because that would be absurd. I really, truly don’t. I don’t even represent my circle of friends. At any point in time one of my Black buddies will, in fact, tell me to go to hell when speaking on concepts of race, politics, or religion.
I do, however, qualify as an Average Black Person. I am neither a part of the Black intelligentsia, nor do I fall into the category of your garden-variety street Negro. A lot of folks see Black people in one of these two categories. Normally, let’s be honest, it’s the latter.
I don’t qualify.
I do come from “the Hood.” That’s right. I am a born and bred Brooklynite raised in the middle of Bed-Stuy. If you aren’t familiar with Bed-Stuy, perhaps you have never listened to gangster rap. You’re probably also unfamiliar with Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, or the thousands of songs that yell out “Brooklyn!” and then give a shout-out to Bed-Stuy. It’s fine. Just understand that Bed-Stuy has a primarily negative connotation and for many years was used in boasts to gain respect or fear because it’s an incredibly violent environment.
In other words, you could get shot, son.
Speaking of which, I am the son of a single mother. My father is in prison. My grandfather was a pastor and I grew up in the church. I, without shame, also enjoy fried chicken, watermelon, ribs, and orange soda. I can have an incredibly in-depth debate on the best five MCs ever. My credit isn’t great and I’ve been shot.
With facts like this I qualify as a STEREOTYPICAL Black person right?
But I am also a computer programmer. I’ve been known to quote Nietzsche. I, on occasion, host dinner parties where I serve five-course meals, including a specialty of mine, White Truffle Tilapia (It’s delightful). I have the entire John Williams discography and wear a backpack that is emblazoned with the Thundercats insignia.
Those with one half of that story shake their head at the sheer mass of stereotypes I carry. Then those with the other half question if I even understand the Black experience at all. Some refer to me as someone who “made it out.” I currently live in Crown Heights. Some say “You’re not like the others.” Most people I interact with are very similar to me.
I am an Average Black Person.
So, as an ABP I have a few requests:
Media.
Please stop referring to blacks as a monolith. I can’t possibly express to you the different types of Black people that exist. We neither move as an entity, nor do we move as three or four entities. For every Sharpton, there’s a Steele. And for every Sharpton and Steele there are a hundred folks in the middle. What we share is a past, which on occasion helps shape our view on things. Also? Obama is not a unicorn. Please stop acting like Obama and his family are magical in the Black community. Just because some of you may not have seen a Negro like this doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Lots of smart black folk living with their smart mates and their cute smart kids. So please remember. Obama? Not a unicorn. Black people? Not one voice: I don’t care what the supposed Black leaders try to claim.
Supposed Black Leaders.
Please stop speaking for us as if we were a monolith. This is NOT the 1960s. We don’t need a Martin Luther King, Jr. or a Malcom X. You speak for yourselves and your view on what’s happening. You also can’t police black people. THERE ISN’T AN US. Are there issues within the Black community? Absolutely, but its not everybody as much as it’s certain groups, most time classes that are in need of help and focus. Hence you can’t speak for “Blacks.” There are people who NEED your help and don’t want you SPEAKING for them. Oh, and for the love of all that is holy, could you please stop critiquing Obama simply to show you aren’t drinking the kool-aid. I get it. You’re sugar-free. Got it.
Critics Of Obama
Hey, um . . . guess what Black people are not? A monolith. We are not holding Obama on a pedestal. Some critique him harshly (and personally I feel unjustly) and others love him. This is the case WITH EVERY PRESIDENT. Obama is not the spokesperson for Black people. He is a symbol of hope. He is a symbol of opportunity in a land where opportunity for us seemed nonexistent. He’s a symbol of a fight where people cried and died and sacrificed in order for the opportunity for HIM to exist. But his actions are his actions and have to be judged. Just not 4 months after he walked in the door with one of the worst clean up jobs in the countries history. You may critique him without critiquing Blacks’ ability to critique him.
The hypocrisy of saying we are not One, and yet speaking for the exact group for which I just emphatically denied exists, is not lost on me. Perhaps there are Black people who absolutely want to be spoken for and referred to as if we were one big team. I acknowledge the possibility, but if this was the majority people like Dyson and Smiley would be way more important, and let’s be honest: they aren’t. After reading this, the next time you talk to a Black person you can feel comfortable in NOW KNOWING with every fiber of your being that you have no clue what they think or feel based on their skin color.
But if they’re wearing a Soulja Boy shirt you may disregard this essay and judge them immediately.
As Featured in The Huffington Post:
If you happen to have perused the latest Rolling Stone you might have come across an interesting comment by celebrated Black academic Dr. Cornell West:
That’s not my calling. Yeah, brother, you find me in a crack house before you find me in the White House. I’ll go into the crack house before I ever go that far inside.
Dr. West was answering a question about whether he would ever accept a position in the Obama adminstration’s White House. On the surface this might seem like the rebel response. No, he won’t join the institution that is holding down Black people across the land. He is a free thinker who will not be bound by a country who still doesn’t take the plight of all of its citizens seriously.
Or you could see this for what it is. Sheer lunacy.
Michael Russnow, a blogger at the Huffington Post wrote a piece titled : Racial Advancement on TV: Is the Progress Depicted Well-Intentioned Fantasy? where he points out a few things that just seem SILLY on TV right now…
For example, almost every prime-time television show features romantic inter-racial relationships, most notably between its Caucasian and African-American continuing characters. While there are certainly more such situations in our current life than in former decades, is it as prevalent as depicted? As commonplace so as not to be noticed or rarely discussed?
Here is a partial list of such shows on CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX and CW, just from the last few seasons:
Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, ER, House, Boston Legal, Gossip Girl, Dirty Sexy Money, Bones, One Tree Hill, Everwood, Lost, Heroes ,The West Wing, Desperate Housewives, Chuck, Kings, Lipstick Jungle, 90210, Cold Case, Ugly Betty, Privileged, October Road and Brothers and Sisters.
…Why do they do it in such great numbers, when it goes against statistics, according to a 2007 piece by Harvard professor Roland G. Fryer, Jr:
… In Gossip Girl every grouping has a rainbow assortment of races. Equal opportunity bitchiness on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace with the main high school clique consisting of white girls, black girls, Asian and Hispanic. As if life conforms to a quota system, which for the most part just isn’t so.
It’s funny. My response while reading this article initially was “Go Fuck Yourself” because I immediately took offense to it (I do that sometimes). He also pointed out that there aren’t that many black doctors, surgeons, lawyers and judges. I quickly realized that my anger stemmed from the fact that I know a bunch of black lawyers and doctors. I know tons of interracial couples. Hell I’m IN one. I’ve known so many that I started to think there was something in the water. For me that aspect, the professional Blacks and interracial unions, isn’t fantasy.
But I also live in New York City.
Cities in general have a more diverse backdrop. Yes, if you’re in the Midwest a Black doctor might be strange. But I’ve worked at 2 different hospitals in NYC. It’s not strange at all. I’ve worked at Fordham University. There’s tons of Black kids going for the Bar.
When Minorities are in environments with Whites, are we supposed to NOT mix? Sure there are plenty of White people who have no connection to blacks, but is it that way in reverse? Past a certain class, almost ALL Blacks I know have white acquaintances and friends. Not to fill a quota, but because that’s JUST LIFE.
Those of us who use Google like our grandparents used lard in their food know that Google images is an invaluable tool to stalk…er…find pictures of people, places and things. There’s nothing in the world that I haven’t seen! If I hear of something and don’t currently have a mental image of it, BOOM. Google that ‘ish.I assume that’s how aliens will learn about us. Google images. But have you ever done a google image search on Black People? If not? Don’t worry. We were bored this morning.
>>>more
#1 – Soooo, I tried to get a bigger version than the thumbnail nd it just doesnt exist anymore. I wish I knew what this says because it looks like a white girl. It says black people and there may be a black dude behind her (OF COURSE), but thats a white girl. I’m uncomfortable with this being the #1 image for black people. Atleast its not fried chicken.
#2 – Yes. This IS the number 2 image for the phrase black people. I mean thats reasonable right? When I think black people I don’t actually envision real live black people, I imagine white people in black face. Thats the type of black folks I can deal with.
#3 – I may be a horrible Black Guy because I’m not absolutely sure who this is. I believe its Sojourner Truth or Harriet Tubman. it was included in an article on the underground railroad so I guess these are reasonable guesses . I understand this being part of our culture and all but really? #3? In the year 2009 – #3? Can’t we get some modern blackness? MLK would be fine.
#4 – Crying black people. We’ve had possibly racist, definitely racist, slavery black and now CRYING black pictures. This just can’t get any worst.
#5 – I stand corrected.
So if you happen to be near Jadakiss, pass by him in the street, or just might be within ear shot, could you just yell this to him?
Thank you. That is all.
I don’t know about you folks but I’m tired of hearing Jada rap about how great he is and how he’s not getting the attention he deserves. Blah, blah, blah. Top 5, yeah, sure, Okay. Seriously. Rap and shut the hell up. Theres atleast 6 or 7 cuts on his new album about him being great but no one caring and he’s okay with that. Yes. SOOOO okay that he feels a need to keep rapping about it. For christ’s sake, he wrote a letter to B.I.G. complaining about it. I don’t think he gives a rats ass about it sir. Why don’t you stop doing that weird laugh you do on records and just focus on putting out music. Perhaps, just perhaps you should let everyone else say you’re that awesome and stop saying it yourself.
Ugh.
Friend of TWiB! Melissa Harris-Lacewell has an article currently on CNN.com talking about Black journalist and Academia representatives and their annoying chatter about Obama (My words, not hers).
Black people were not duped by some slick, media-generated candidate. African-Americans were co-authors of the Obama campaign. Through social networks, YouTube videos, political blogs and new-media echo chambers, black people were equal partners in shaping the candidate and his campaign. There was no need for the entrenched pundit class to tell black voters what to think or how to behave; they figured it out for themselves.
Oh Ms. Harris-Lacewell. Your smack downs are a joy.
Here’s my thing with Dyson, Smiley and their ilk. My genuine question to them is what the hell do they think they’re doing? I don’t think I’d be so annoyed if I felt that this was a genuine attempt to create a better world for Blacks. It feels self serving. It feels as if they really want to stand at the top of the Black hiearchy and explain whats happening.
Guess what? We know.
Dyson’s recent video speaking of how Black people are being played smacks of arrogance. You are just soooo much more brilliant than the rest of us so you have to break this down for us. You’re of such a higher class that you understand and have to explain because we can’t analyze? We can’t understand whats happening? The demands for implicitly racial answers for problems seems as if you’re trying create a divide. You guys are waaaaay to educated to keep saying things like this.
Seriously. STFU.
Seems that just because they can smoke a little herb and enjoy a bit of health care, it DOESN’T eradicate the need to dislike a few negros. Theres a story of a nasty custody battle for a 4 year old girl who’s Auntie desperately wants her out of her parents house because of their habits of starting White Power movements and what they seem to be teaching the girl.
Court has heard allegations the girl’s mother and stepfather taught her to hate people of colour, exposed her to racist “white pride” videos, and abused drugs and alcohol.
The girl’s aunt said her then four-year-old niece told her “we don’t like black people. They hurt people, they steal things and they hurt children.”
Oh! That’s the reason? Thats completley understandable. We all know how the Blacks run around stealing and hurting people and children. I know personally when I see a child I give it a swift kick to clavicle for good measure becauese really? Why wouldn’t I? Leave those parents alone! They’re just doin’ right by that child. Why not lock’em up for teaching that fire is HOT or that Puerto Ricans CUT. Sheesh, some people.
That’s right. We’re covering GLOBAL ‘iSH SON!
It seems that in Australia a politician named Marion Scrymgour has just screwed with the entire method of how things works over there.
In politics you can justify almost anything. But being an Aboriginal member of the Labor or Liberal Party is no longer one of them.
At least, that’s the case in the Northern Territory, and it’s all thanks to Marion Scrymgour, the former NT Deputy Chief Minister who yesterday walked away from t
e Labor Party and, in the process, changed the face of black politics in this country forever.
…From this point forward, that doesn’t matter anymore. Everything has changed. It might not be politically popular to afford black people equal rights and equal access, but it’s what you’ll have to do if you want to win office.
I don’t imagine for one minute that things will improve overnight for black Territorians. But irrefutably Scrymgour has re-shaped the political landscape in one of the most desperate regions of this country.
Aboriginal people now hold the cards, not to mention the balance of power. Indeed, they have for some time, but have either not realized it or been too scared to accept it.
I’ll admit, I’m not up on my Australian Policies and definitely not on the plight of the Aboriginal members (read: Black) of their society but I found a statement in this to be very disturbing.
It might not be politically popular to afford black people equal rights and equal access,
I’m sorry, what now? I think we need to send some folks over there and talk to the Aborigine folks and get them on their “Oh hell no” grind. But now that the major ruling party now has to come to her and the other independent to get anything going, I want to see how it plays out. Don’t make me send Sharpton!
Man, I couldn’t even write that with a straight face.
I know where I grew up all the Black Girls were all just constantly yammering on about how much they wanted to be….a Rabbi? Alysa Stanton can now be their role models.
Stanton this weekend is set to become the first African-American female rabbi of mainstream Juda-ism. She’s graduating from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati on Sunday, after being ordained Saturday. She will then in August take her post as leader of Congregation Bayt Shalom in North Carolina.
Yay?
I have to wonder what her journey in school was and what its going to be coming up. I would imagine she’s probably experienced some things that people who, well, DIDN’T go to RABBI SCHOOL. I’m wondering at what point will White people go “Seriously. Stop it. Yes you CAN be anything but we will throw things at some point.”
I, on occasion, have been known to tell people to go fuck themselves.
I’m not proud of it. It’s not the most intelligent way to express disgust with someones statements or actions but for me, personally, it has just the amount of venom in it that I stand by it. Sometimes people need to be told “Go fuck yourself.” because perhaps they aren’t truly aware of the idiocy that they currently are spewing.
A lot of hub-bub has been kicked up after President Obama took his wife out to a Play in NYC. The right wing lost their minds at the concept that the President would spend “Tax payers money” in order to go have a night with his wife. I have been silent on this subject because I didn’t really think it necessary to speak on it. I have no problem with this.
“But Elon! He’s wasting money!”
Listen. I’ll say this in the simplest way I can think of. The man is the goddamn President. He gets death threats all the fucking time. If he decides sometimes that since he has all the responsibility and the stress of being President that he wants to enjoy some of the perks, THEN LET THE MAN WORK. Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with people?
But I just caught this particular piece of info from THINKPOGRESS.ORG
Monday night , June 1st, on Fox News, former Pennsylvania Republican senator Rick Santorumjumped on a popular right-wing meme and criticized President Obama for taking his wife on a date to New York City for dinner and a Broadway show. Santorum said that Obama is a “role model…whether he likes it or not, in the African-American community.” He then told Obama to act like a role model and…take his wife “down to the corner bar and have a drink, a shot and a beer”:
And you have an African-American community, particularly in the poor inner city areas, we’re looking at out of wedlock birthrates in three quarters to 75 percent (sic) of children being born out of wedlock.Marriage is an institution that’s a bridge too far for too many African-American woman and is not desirable among African-American males.
Here we have a president of the United States who says that marriage is cool. You have respect for your wife, and you treat her with the respect and dignity that she deserves. And she is part of this team. And it’s not just part of professional team, but it’s also part of a personal, romantic team. I think that’s all great. So I think it’s important that he keeps having his date night. [...]
I think he has to realize that flying to New York is…self-indulgent. Go down to the corner bar and have a drink, a shot and a beer. It does not matter where you go with your wife, is that it’s with your wife.
Ahem. Hey Rick Santorum? GO FUCK YOURSELF. Are you kidding me? Are you trying to explain how the first Black President of the United States can be a role model for Black people? Seriously? Is this whats occurring? Am I in a dream land? I’m pretty sure I’m not smoking crack (I have lost some weight) and I’m not even drinking. What would make you think this is some how with in your realm of expertise? How does your anger with a plane ride equate to random judgment on the black community? My head is literally detonating. You sir, are an asshole. Never, EVER speak of how the Black President should model himself for black people. Hell, never speak on anything. Wasn’t you the one who tried to get “Intelligent Design” into schools? Didn’t you get your ass handed to you by Casey in the 2006 election?
Someone kick this dude in the shin if you see him. Say it’s from Elon James White and I’ll gladly bake you a plate of cookies.
So I stole this from another website. The actual letter is in black. My responses are blue (I’m fairly sure you would be able to guess that.)
Dear <website we stole this letter from>:
My husband and I are an interracial couple. (Yay for you!) When we’re alone or with our friends, everything is fine. The problems come when we get together with family. (Ugh, Family is the WORST) Neither one of our families were opposed to our marriage, (or so they would have you believe) but my husband’s family is obviously uncomfortable with it, and goes overboard to try and show me that they have no problem with the fact that I’m black. (Oh, you’re black. Thats never good) They talk about how bad slavery was,(It really was.) about the NAACP, (How annoying they can be?) etc. (Fucking etcs!) What irritates me the most is their overuse (well, just USE) of the phrase African American. (WTF! I say poisen them. They can’t say it if they’re DEAD!) It drives me crazy! I know they’re trying to be politically correct. But in their quest to make me feel comfortable, they make me feel UNcomfortable!(I say bust a cap in their asses) I am NOT an African American, (Oh, then you shouldn’t bust caps in their asses, cause thats what African Americans do.) I’m BLACK. I’m not from Africa.(Thank GOD. It’s violent over there.) My parent’s are not from Africa, (Score 2 points for you) and neither sets of my grandparents or great-grandparents were from Africa.(You’ve just scored the TRIFECTA) We were all born and raised in Baltimore.(Wait, I’ve seen The Wire. It would have been better to be from Africa) Sure, my ancestors were brought over to America as slaves, but that was two hundred years ago! (I’m thinking perhaps a little longer, if my Black Israelite on the Street ranting knowledge is correct) There is no one left living on this Earth that had anything to do with slavery.(Or so you beleive) I don’t need an apology from people alive today because black people were used as slaves so long ago.(I dunno, I enjoy a good random apology. I then ask for 20 bucks and go about my day) My Jewish friends don’t go around asking for forgiveness(they more like, demand it) from the Egyptians because Jews were slaves thousands of years ago, and I don’t need one for slavery now. That is just plain ridiculous!(Ridiculous? Or an excellent way to kill a few hours?) I live in America, and that makes me an American. Nothing more, nothing less. How in the world am I supposed to express my feelings to my husband’s family without causing trouble or hurting their feelings? (That is a tough one cause White people be crazy!) I wonder if Seal and Heidi Klum had this problem. (I’ve met Seal and Heidi Klum, and you maam, are no Seal and Heidi Klum*)
–Tamika Silverman (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That’s the most awesome name ever.)
This is probably why no one sends me letters.
*I have never met Seal and/or Heidi Klum.
Well they all said it.
The filthy Muslim who has taken over the highest office of the country has finally made his move to destroy freedom and hand us over to the terrorist.
CAIRO — President Obama pledged on Thursday to “seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world,” imploring America and the Islamic world to drop their suspicions of one another and forge new alliances to confront violent extremism and heal religious divides.
“We have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek,” he said. “A world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God’s children are respected.”
Listen. I’m not jumping on this bandwagon. I’m not giving the President a free pass (Good thing Dr. Dyson warned me about this!) to just go along doing whatever he goddamn pleases. WE HAVE TO PROTECT FREEDOM, and all this “alliance with islam” is bullshit! ISLAM HATES AMERICA! WE MUST SNUFF IT OUT! This “President” thinks he’s all open minded and “intelligent” but I see through it. I’m buying my shot gun and waiting for the revolution!
…
And that’s what I would have typed if it was “Opposite Day.”
Er…
I have to prefix this with saying that I actually like Amy Winehouse. Her 2 Albums Back to Black and the her debut Frank are both on the iPod and I enjoy them the same way one enjoys Luthor Vandross music. You realize that it was great but you’ll never hear new music from them again (He’s dead, and she’s…well she’s working on it.) But it seems that the Daily Mail is reporting that Amy Winehouse has gone on record stating that she would like children that are not of her naturally crack – er - caucasian* nature.
She says breezily: ‘I couldn’t have given him kids – and anyway I want black kids, not white kids.’
…
Um…that’s reasonable right? I mean really, who DOESN’T?
*that was a Crack – as in the drug, and not crack – as in the cracker.
I haven’t the pleasuare to visit South Carolina yet but I’m thinking maybe I should just put an X next to that on my travel map.
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – A new study shows black people in South Carolina are more likely to die from cancer than white people.
Whether it’s lack of proper healthcare, genetics, or just a pure coincidence, Dr. James Hebert and his research staff say that once a patient has been diagnosed with any type of cancer, they are more likely to die if they are black.
“If you are black and you live in South Carolina, you are at an extremely higher risk of dying from cancer. Can I answer the question what’s driving this? Not definitely,” said Dr. Hebert.
I knew it. I KNEW IT! CANCER IS RACIST. Overproduction of WHITE blood cells. Uh huh. EVEN WITH A BLACK PRESIDENT!
Okay, im done now. 
Oh, and yes, that IS a cancer cell with a Klan mask on. And yes. I had to make it. And yes, I enjoyed that a great deal. I named the graphic “KKCancer.jpg.”
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