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3/12/2004
The "Image" of Black Americans As Told by the NAACP
Last night, clearly having lost my mind, I tuned into the re-run of the NAACP Image Awards. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but in my defense, I happened to be previously watching that channel, took a phone call, got distracted, and when I came back it was on, and like a zombie, I watched. Props to blogcritics.org, who have published a much beter re-cap than I could've including pre-awards show controversy over the nomination of R. Kelly. Apparently, Kwesi Mfume now believes that future nominations of entertainers warrant a moral standard. Shouldn't every nomination? Project 21's Mychal Massie was pleased with this decision. Although it may seem the NAACP was "out of touch" in their nomination, part of me can't help but think this was all a sick ploy for ratings. But what isn't these days?
Some noted observations and un-highlights of the night:
Singer Beyonce was chosen as the "Entertainer of the Year", an award which clearly must be based on record sales and beauty alone. In introducing the awardee, actress and comidenne 'Monique lauded Beyonce's "booty-shakin'" song "Crazy in Love" and joked about how the song made her want to shake her backside in church. Most definately in poor taste if you ask me. Beyonce's acceptance speech made it clear that there was no depth to her music nor did she even seem convinced she should've been up there in the first place. She was right to feel that way. I'm not sure if I was more disgusted by Beyonce being recognized for her scantily clad image or Queen Latifah being awarded a best actress award for her work in the film Bringing Down 'Da House?! There is nothing more to be said. The NAACP has officially gone off the deep end. Keep in mind, the criterea for awards given is, "...projects and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary works by and for people of color". The NAACP has certainly re-defined "exemplary".
Then comes the God section. All African-American awards show have one as we have a rich spititual heritage and find it necessary to incorporate God into all that we do. I long for the day when we stop "incorporating" and start "serving". So the so-called "Gospel Movie" The Fighting Temptations (an MTV movie by the way) won for best film. I could have predicted that since black people have a propensity to rally behind most things that have to do with God, the Church, or Gospel Music. The trouble is, we usually don't have the discernment to recognize the real from the fake. Case and point: "Rev." Al Sharpton. Growing up, we used to joke about how anyone who ever sang gospel music at the Apollo never got "booed" off the stage.
In tribute to awardee Bishop TD Jakes of the mega-church "The Potters House" in Texas, Donnie McClurkin (one of my favorites) and Yolanda Adams sang a beautiful tribute, followed by Kirk Franklin running around the stage and yelling (never singing) as usual with his choir One Nation Crew. They sang "Hosanna", a great song and what would the NAACP be without a great gospel song? So of course the audience is on their feet, clapping and singing, many not even fully convinced of the words they speak, "Hosanna forever we worship you". The camera caught Cuba Gooding, Jr. clapping off-beat (I knew something wasn't right about that boy). That was a good moment. T.D. Jakes had some good words, but nothing he could've said could rescue the train wreck that had just taken place on that stage. It was a disturbing night.
LaShawn Barber posted some good insight a few days ago about the NAACP needing to be extinct. The Image Awards only further proves that point. We are in desparate need to re-define as a society what we believe to be a "good image"; especially African-Americans. God help us all.
posted by ambra at 3/12/2004 11:07:11 AM | link to this entry |
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