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It's been awhile since any single commentary has sparked this much controversy in the black intellectual community. My experience with my personal colleagues has proved that most blacks, including my own family are pretty divided on whether Cosby was in the right or wrong for his now widely famous "pound-cake speech".

I say, it really doesn't matter if what he said was right or wrong. The fact is, he said it. And that's far more powerful and prolific than our mamby-pamby commentary and opinion on what he said. In fact, most black writers' articles in response to Cosby's words say the number one thing that Cosby did wrong was actually say what many have long been thinking in a public forum.

Even William Jelani Cobb's whiny criticism of Dr. Cosby managed to begin with,

"...the comedian has been praised by white conservatives and black folk at large for essentially keeping it real. For airing dirty laundry. For saying in public what your uncle Bobby has been saying behind closed doors for years."

Christopher John Farley of Time magazine wrote an article where he too remarked,

"There are still certain things some black people won't talk about in front of some white people. American culture may be seemingly more integrated than, say, 50 years ago, but cultural walls remain. Racial issues, in multiracial company, are often circled until they are impossible to ignore and have to be discussed; blacks, when there are only other blacks around, often cut to the chase...Last month, Bill Cosby broke the unwritten rule of keeping black dirty laundry in black washing machines."

This may be all and well, but the dirty laundry was bound to start smelling at some point or another. The biggest problem has long been that no one ever bothered to add any soap and water to the washing machine. So instead, the dirty laundry just sat there untouched and the stains set in. Cleaning up this mess is going to take more work than it would have if we started earlier.

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The Cosby Show's former mom Phylicia Rashad, also known as Clair Huxtable, and one of my favorite actresses made history last night as the first black woman to ever win a Tony for best actress in her role as Lena Younger in the classic Lorraine Hansberry play, A Raisin in the Sun. Maybe this doesn't mean a lot to many, but I grew up in a theatre household so I know this is a hard-earned and deserved award. Far more so than an Academy Award for best Actress in Monster's Ball. When I found out this play was coming back to Broadway I was pleased. When I found out Sean "Puffy" Combs would be taking on Sidney Poitier's old role, I was not so pleased.

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I'm always in the mood for a little heat, and today the prize undoubtedly goes to Baldilocks for her post regarding the overwhelming blame placed on black men who don't father their children. She examines the other side of the coin and puts some of the fault on a place most deserving: black women. How novel. It's getting hot in here and I'm lovin' it!

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Today marks the national opening of the suprisingly non-controversial movie Soul Plane. If you've even seen 30 seconds of the film preview, it is clear that the folks at MGM took a double dose of plain, old, ignorance when they conjured up this one. You might as well be watching a music video on BET. This movie offends on so many levels, I don't even know where to start. It's hard to even point the finger. Who should we be upset with for perpetuating such stereotypical garbage? I recall a time last year when actor Will Smith was quoted as saying something rather prolific about the film industry, "Hollywood isn't black or white. It's green." My family and I managed to have quite an interesting debate about this statement alone. What is it about the movie industry that fuels such ignorance, complete irreverence, misogyny, and stereotyping?

You often hear people say things like, "Hollywood is racist". Generally this comment is directed towards the fact that people of color are underrepresented in film and television. I've never been in Hollywood so I am in no position to comment on a struggle about which I know nothing. What I do know is that the number of people of color in leading (and edifying) roles has been low in the past. Things have definitely changed since the day black actresses were only relegated to roles as servants or maids. I still say there's more honor in that than some of these roles certain black actresses are taking on these days. I wish I was blogging back when Halle Berry won an Oscar for her "riveting performance" in Monster's Ball because I would've had something to say about that. Hattie McDaniel has one over Halle Berry: she didn't have to take her clothes off to win an Oscar.

Then there are those who claim, "Hollywood isn't racist. It's all about money". I can agree with this more and more as the days go by. However, at what point are we the viewers, the ones buying the tickets, held accountable for what we sow into? Hollywood isn't going to produce something that they don't think people will watch. For this very reason, every major media conglomerate turned down a partnership with Mel Gibson when he was shopping around his little ole' Jesus movie. So when we buy into stereotypical junk, now who's racist, the producers or the viewers? Or both?

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I was never taught to see the favor of God as superceding the systems of men

From the time that I gave my life to God when I was 16 years-old, I've always felt different. I knew I was marked, I knew my life was branded forever, I knew I wasn't like the average person. I have often noticed that many Christians do not have the proper perspective on their rights and privileges as sons and co-heirs with Christ. It is interesting that "privilege" in this country is often assumed to be a negative thing. People scoff at those who've had the descriptor "privileged" bestowed on them. I've never quite understood why we've built up such an animosity for the "privileged". I spent most of my entire scholastic career amongst privileged individuals and even they began to despise their own privileged-ness. Most people in the United States of America are of the persuasion that certain people in this country are where they are today because of some nepotism, their race, their gender, their class, their educational background (which is usually dictated by class and race), and many other things. I can't say I disagree with that theory. What I will say is that I believe there is privilege in belonging to God that supercedes all other privileges and some.

Being that I am a black person, I can take this a step further and say that many black Christians have come to have more distrust in corrupt socially-generated systems than they have trust in the almighty God. Collectively as a people, we have turned to the government and other social institutions to meet many of our needs, and then turned around and placed blame on those very same institutions when they weren't doing what we thought they should do. Somehow the favor of God gets left out of all this. Speaking for all races, it seems we have come to be a nation of victims in many respects. We point our fingers in a number of different directions, blaming others for our present condition, or the choices and privileges we were denied. I am often bothered by Christians who spew this mythology of blame and dependence on "hand-outs" to rise to the proverbial top.

Every day I am becoming more aware of the always present reality that being a child of God has more rights, privileges, and responsibilities than anyone could ever imagine or keep track of. Not only do we not have to be subject to many of the corrupt schemes and systems that are holding so many back, we have power over them! We carry on our backs, a knapsack of favor and privilege everywhere we go. This knapsack we have isn't invisible; it's neon yellow, plain for the world to see. The favor of God on a person's life is perhaps the most beautiful thing. This knapsack isn't to be shown off or flaunted. It's to give God the glory and draw others to him.

Having this privilege as a child of God is definitely something we are accountable for. In fact, I think it's a travesty when we don't exercise our influence and keep that knapsack closed. I decided to take some time out to think about all the glorious privileges of God I've experienced in my life. In listing some of these out, I realize these are situations and certainties to which many others cannot lay claim. This is the essence of true privilege.

Continue reading "God Privilege: Recognizing & Utilizing the Neon-Colored Knapsack">>>

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Like most middle-class black families, I grew up in a household where we were pretty much expected to go to college. There were really no other options. Community college was not an option. Trade school wasn't even close to being an option. The military was definitely not an option. A year abroad with a service organization wasn't even a close second. No. We had no other choice but to go to college, or be kicked out of the house. (The kicking out of the house threat was done in a very Bill Cosbyesque nature, and we all know how successful Cliff Huxtable was at kicking kids out the house).

My parents's expectations weren't unfounded of course. College would allow us the "most opportunity for success". In fact, we all (my siblings and I) had a pretty clear path laid out for us from birth. My parents mandated that we became successful in life, did whatever God called us to do, and were passionate about our careers. That of course, unequivocally, meant that somewhere in the plan was a college education; perhaps even graduate or law school. So you can imagine their disappointment went I told them three years ago that my elite university wasn't "teaching me anything" and was a "waste of our money". I said "our" because I too was footing some of the bill.

Then there was the time this past Fall when my sister decided she'd defer college in order to go into a 1-year intensive ministry leadership internship at the Honor Academy in Texas. These were of course horrifying words for well-educated black kids to even utter. College was the "Great American Way" and we weren't worshipping the idol as we should have. This is the story of my life.

Continue reading "The Pervasive Deification of Education in Black Communities">>>

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I think not. AlterNet.org, an organization purposing to strengthen "independent journalism" recently published an article by Bill Berkowitz titled, "Religious Right Plays the Race Card" Aside from his poor use of the term "race card", Berkowitz presents a half way balanced argument. He asserts that the "religious right" has been seeking out African-American churches to cry alongside of them in the crusade against gay rights, namely gay marriage, in an effort to court the black vote. Well, we all know that's not going to happen so let's just squash that notion right now. This issue will not send masses of black people to the Republican polls come election time. Not yet at least. It does however, challenge the moral conscience of those who have remained brainwashedly loyal to the Democratic party.

It is interesting that the masses still don't realize that on a whole, African-American people are not doing cartwheels over the homosexual agenda. We're talking about a group of people steeped in a rich spiritual history of Christianity. I don't care how far from truth we have fallen as a people, there are still some principles by which many black people still abide. Likening "gay rights" to "civil rights" was one of the biggest mistakes made by those pushing the gay envelope--John Kerry included. So why it continues to be a shock that black ministers and clergy members are siding with conservatives on this issue is beyond me. Bishop G.E. Patterson, presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ one of the largest predominately black denominations, has been quoted as declaring there is no such thing as "gay rights" because in order to properly assert your "entitlement to something" your posture must be "right". Thus, living the homosexual lifestyle is not "right" and therefore doesn't entitle you to specific privileges for solely being "gay". There are no rights attached to a lifestyle that deviates from God's intention. I'd have to concur with Bishop Patterson on that one and that pretty much settles the gay v. civil rights argument in my opinion. There is no way black people will be won over on that one. Even Jesse Jackson can't bring himself to compare the two. Maybe if there was a billion dollar gay corporation in the mix, he'd change his tune.

Berkowitz is clearly not writing from an unbiased perspective. He says some things that make me wonder:

"Given their overall political agenda, it isn't surprising that black conservatives - who manage to get a disproportionate amount of face-time on media outlets like the Fox News Channel - are eager to speak out against same-sex marriage."

Berkowitz hasn't even seen the half. Whether or not he personally believes this (since he is conservative), a comment like this just goes to show how threatened white liberals are that they could potentially be losing their grip on black people. Black conservatives manage to get a disproportionate amount of face-time on Fox News? Cry me a river.

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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.

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Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. UPN tells producers of its latest cartoon series Game Over, which premieres tonight, to take out the language and nudity in its yet to be aired pilot episode. This is most likely a derivative from the CBS nipple stunt. If you've been able to stomach three minutes of any of UPN's sitcoms it was probably clear the network is a joke. Who is UPN kidding? They're arguably one of the most raunchy and least-respected networks around. As poor judgment would have it, three of the stars of UPN's show Girlfriends a black version of Sex and the City, where the women prove just how ho-ish they can be, will be hosting this year's NAACP Image Awards. Yeah the "image awards". The same awards show that has nominated R. Kelly, walking pedophile, for one of their "Image Awards" given to entertainers. If UPN wants to clean up their act, they need to yank about 75% of their programming off the air. That would be a start at least. Then again, UPN is owned by Viacom, who I could assume doesn't give a care about the continued declining portrayal of African-Americans on their network. It seems "we" don't care much either. We watch it, write it, produce it, and star in it. UPN is the BET of primetime television.

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The Washington Post published an article recently around the portrayal of African American women as "angry" on reality television. It seems television producers are having a field-day clipping, editing, and stringing together unbecoming moments of some of reality tv's African American women to portray shall we say, a hard-hitting, ruthless, and stereotypical example of what I like to call "The Angry Black Woman". One in particular catching a lot of flack is woman named Omarosa from NBC's the Apprentice. I have a confession. Although I talk much "smack" regarding reality television (translation of the vernacular "talk smack": to speak ill of; to speak against; to say negative things concerning), I do watch the Apprentice. Yes, it's true. I too was sucked in like Al Roker's tummy. I watch it every week like a bad habit and trust me, I feel very bad about myself. I repent (to myself) even as I watch. It's really the business aspect that interests me. I could do without the drama and without Donald Trump's hairpiece and self-inflated reality (the man puts water bottles with his picture on it in his hotel rooms....Gag me with a spoon. Come down from the mountaintops Mr. Trump).

I lay much of the blame on these women themselves. They chose to subject themselves to the hands of TV producers who are only after ratings. What did they expect? In the article, Omarosa, who I think has made many poor judgment calls in her behavior, plus she formerly worked for Al Gore's campaign, which I WILL hold against her, emphasizes the point of clever editing seeking high ratings,

'Most of the women who complain about her on the show, she says, are now her very good friends. "This show is about ratings," and The Donald pitted her against the other women, she says, because he was "just being dramatic."'

Aside from what's already been stated about her poor choice of words, I don't have a problem with Omarosa. I think her attitude stinks sometimes, but I also think she's misunderstood.

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