tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77157939905301059492024-02-18T21:10:29.528-06:00my best friend gaylewe rock matching pinky rings.summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.comBlogger224125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-37663116103506538022012-04-09T14:25:00.001-05:002012-04-09T14:25:39.227-05:00Burger Queen of Hip-Hop Soul<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"></div>Wow, Mary J. Blige! Way to attempt to throw Burger King under the proverbial bus. The only thing more laughable than your people's move to distance you from the role you played in Burger King's celebrity-laden rebranding effort was the actual commercial.<br />
And yes, I laughed. Hard. Hysterically. More than once.<br />
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Let's take another look:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PMI29AnOS98" width="560"></iframe><br />
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God, that's funny. <img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" src="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" /><br />
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Burger King initially pulled the add over a "licensing issue" (Blige is singing the jingle over her "Don't Mind" track, so maybe that's conveniently true) after a swell of negative responses about it. Blige, also feeling heat, issued a statement the following day:<br />
<blockquote>"I agreed to be a part of a fun and creative campaign that was supposed to feature a dream sequence. Unfortunately, that's not what was happening in that clip [...] I understand my fans being upset by what they saw. But, if you're a Mary fan, you have to know I would never allow an unfinished spot like the one you saw go out."</blockquote>(I think I gagged on a crispy chicken wrap.) Fortunately, the internet is not the Bermuda Triangle, so nothing posted on it ever really disappears. And I've been chortling over this commercial ever since. I've also been side-eying Blige's press release, as her anger over this alleged "unfinished" ad is as pitiful as anyone who got mad about it.<br />
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Blige's people stated that she was supposed to be featured in a dream sequence. Would that have made it any, um, "better"? How does Burger King pitch a more explicit dream sequence wherein Blige <em>still</em> asks, "What's in the new chicken wrap?" in such an astoundingly declarative-sounding, yet clearly a rhetorical question tone that would have made her unnecessary--yet funny as hell--sassiness more tolerable? Does this jingle sound better as a lullaby? I imagine not, as it is already awesome. Not as awesome as Mary's audience rocking those crowns as they bow down to the queen, though. Or as awesome as the manager's body roll. Or as awesome as the two silent black women standing behind the white guy asking about the snack wraps at the beginning of the commercial. Their silent presence is almost...magical. And the younger woman's Beats By Dre-esque headphones not only foreshadow music, but <em>hip</em> music--performed by a black woman. Genius, Burger King! Bravo!<br />
Furthermore, does Blige's claim that she would never knowingly allow an "unfinished spot" to air totally neutralize the fact that she allowed it to get <em>started</em>? Seriously, Mary, if you didn't pull out of the ad when you saw and recorded the jingle, what standard do you have? How firmly should we believe in your code if, after the 20th take or so, the director asked you to put your hand on your leg and stick your hip out as you asked/said, "What's in the new chicken wrap?" Or was that your idea? Perhaps you believe there is dignity in singing about <em>criiiispy chickennnnn/wrapped up in uhhhhhhhh...</em> That's what <em>The Help</em> taught us, I guess.<br />
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At the end of the day, we all know Mary did it for the money. Just like MC Hammer before her, and anyone thereafter. And I understand that. I'd sing about chicken for the right price. And the rest of you Mega Millions losers would, too. Times are hard, and it's unwise to stare a gift chicken in the mouth.<br />
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Which reminds me, chickens need better PR. At this juncture, they fair much worse than watermelon in the race for things that keep holding Negroes back. If any food has continually sacrificed its life for the nourishment of many bodies, regardless of race, it's chicken. And we should remember that, Easter being yesterday and all. Chicken is an innocent bystander in all of this mess. From my vantage, it's never done anything to anybody; it didn't sign-up to be part of this tandem stereotype. When yet another instance of it emerges, no one ever speaks for the yard bird. Twitter explodes about black people singing about chicken. But why isn't an infuriated @chicken account tweeting something like, "(Black) people on tv singing about us again #smh" or "Colonel Sanders is a colonizer #occupykfc #gtfoh"? Because, especially since those Kia Soul hamsters are still dancing a jig, that would be absurd. But not nearly as absurd as Mary's face-saving attempt or any alleged anger and/or surprise about this "incident." Or Jazmine Sullivan singing lovingly and longingly about cotton being the fabric of her <del style="color: red;"></del><br />
basic-ass<br />
life. #justsayin'.summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-70079145116507852732012-03-26T11:12:00.000-05:002012-03-26T11:12:10.535-05:00For My Players in the(ir) Hood(ies)<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://newsone.com/files/2012/03/million-hoody-march-trayvon-martin.jpg" height="127" src="http://newsone.com/files/2012/03/million-hoody-march-trayvon-martin.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" width="230" />The support for Trayvon Martin has been rather remarkable. The public has gone into their protest toolkit and hashtagged, blogged, marched, sent Skittles, and updated Facebook pictures accordingly. <a data-mce-href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/11484426-418/trayvon-martins-death-personal-to-president-barack-obama.html" href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/11484426-418/trayvon-martins-death-personal-to-president-barack-obama.html">Even the POTUS,</a> notoriously mum and/or known to toe borders on issues that concern race, went as far as to suggest that his male offspring would have perhaps resembled Trayvon Martin.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">The most popular method of expressing dissatisfaction with the way that the Sanford, Florida, police department has handled the Martin case has been the donning--and therefore Facebook picturing--of people wearing hoodies. Martin had been wearing a hoodie when Zimmerman killed him; in fact, he had put the hood on his head to protect himself from Zimmerman, whose gaze he found worrisome, to say the least. An act, ironically, that exacerbated Zimmeran's presumably prejudicial determination that Martin was suspicious. </div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Million Hoodie Marches were held in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. (If you missed them, feel free to purchase a souvenir in support. <a data-mce-href="http://www.spreadshirt.com/-C3380A9484698" href="http://www.spreadshirt.com/-C3380A9484698">Thanks, Capitalism!</a>) And although Republican presidential candidates have been uncharacteristically wise enough to simply call what happened a "tragedy," (un)fortunately not everyone got the memo.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Last week, I was reminded that Fox News had pulled Geraldo Rivera out of formaldehyde when clips of his response to the Trayvon Martin tragedy hit the interwebs. Clearly a student of the blame the victim school of thought, Rivera spent his camera time implicitly arguing that Martin's sartorial choice was the reason for his violent demise:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Obviously, Rivera's logic is absurd. But it's not uncommon. It's the kind of rationale that blames rape victims for being raped, the poor for being poor, the city of Cleveland for The Decision. The powerful are absolved for flexing their power. I don't think it's endemic to this country, but it feels like a very American tendency to me.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Although I enthusiastically advocate the show of support for Martin and his family by throwing on one's favorite hoodie and snapping a picture, the act is marginal at best, as it simultaneously highlights yet mutes the core issue. Which is to say that it wasn't simply the hoodie, but rather the black body inside of it that sparked the suspicion--not vice versa. After all, the KKK wears hoods; monks rock them. Geraldo's son wants them for Christmas. It seems that no clothing can quiet the suspicion that black bodies inspire. Even our previous efforts to dress ourselves in the attire of respectability never thwarted the gaze--especially the one that helps aim the gun--from concluding that black people did not resemble and therefore stood outside of the body politic. Thus, the hoodie didn't do it. Rather, the violence occurred because Zimmerman concluded that the body inside the hoodie did not belong <em>inside</em> gated spaces. Blackness is (the) outside, making those black bodies within exclusive regions vulnerable, and violently disconcerting to the ever powerful gaze of and/or view of one who more readily identifies with whiteness.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Furthermore, the preoccupation with the hoodie--whether as a symbol of support or blame--above all, is most ironic. Because it seems to me that those who have done the most harm to this country and other people make daily sartorial choices that could be regarded as antithetical to the hoodie. Business suits should be regarded with more suspicion than any other uniform. But again, the act of blaming the powerless is a tendency that did not begin with Geraldo. It's a crafty strategy that averts gazes to those who seemingly don't belong. And black bodies never belong. And as we dress ourselves in protest it's best that we remember that.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Our silence has never protected us; our clothes haven't, either.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><em>N.B. In <a data-mce-href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/03/today-in-post-race-history-a-modest-proposal/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/03/today-in-post-race-history-a-modest-proposal/">last week's post</a>, I lamented the lack of an Ida B. Wells-like, internet version of The Red Record to document instances where innocent, unarmed black people are killed for being black (and therefore suspicious). Well, I'm no Ida B. Wells, but I've started one. Visit and follow <a data-mce-href="theredrecord.tumblr.com" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-admin/theredrecord.tumblr.com">The Red Record 2.0</a>. Contact and/or help the project: theredrecord@gmail.com.</em></div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-17624899931557994102012-03-19T08:00:00.002-05:002012-03-19T10:24:43.212-05:00Today in Post-Race History: A Modest Proposal<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">To: President Barack Obama<br />
cc: Attorney General Eric Holder<br />
cc: GOP Presidential Candidates </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Dear Mr. President:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">I hope this letter finds you well. With the Republican race looking more and more like the <em>Real Housewives</em> of something and March Madness in full swing (<a data-mce-href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1109864-obamas-bracket-predicting-when-the-presidents-bracket-will-be-busted" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1109864-obamas-bracket-predicting-when-the-presidents-bracket-will-be-busted">sorry about your bracket</a>), I imagine that your spirits are rather high. I hope a note from one of your crankiest constituents doesn't ruin that.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Perhaps you are surprised that I would be writing to you. After all, as my gmail chats and (protected) tweets suggest (maybe you've seen them?), I'm not your biggest fan. Nonetheless, I feel compelled to reach out to you, as the concerns of this letter demand the kind of help only the most powerful person in the world can provide. Should my request be granted, I promise to vote for you in the fall. (I know Illinois is already blue for you, but sometimes it's the act that counts.)</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Although I'm rather certain that you have not said much of anything about the <a data-mce-href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/03/18/446768/what-everyone-should-know-about-about-trayvon-martin-1995-2012/?mobile=nc" href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/03/18/446768/what-everyone-should-know-about-about-trayvon-martin-1995-2012/?mobile=nc">Trayvon Martin</a> killing, I'm sure you've heard of the story and the ensuing drama. But just in case you haven't, in case you've been too busy with...stuff, late last month, the 17-year-old Martin was killed by George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old white man, who was presumably working his shift of the neighborhood watch. Zimmerman spied Martin, who was black, coming back from a trip to the store to grab some Skittles and a can of iced tea for his younger brother. Although Martin was simply walking, Zimmerman found his behavior suspicious and consequently chased him down before physically overpowering and fatally shooting him. Zimmerman claimed self-defense and was neither arrested nor charged with any crime. As details surrounding the case emerge, however, it has become increasingly clear that Zimmerman's version of events is untrue at the very least. It seems, then, that in order for justice to be served, as we imagine it in this country, Zimmerman will need to be arrested and tried for the death of Trayvon Martin. And that is exactly what many activists and regular citizens--many of them your supporters--are demanding. The uproar has gotten louder, but it is nowhere near its crescendo. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Now, I'm no student of history, but I know enough to understand that the United States has a tendency to, let's say, occasionally murder innocent black men, women, people for being, well, black and therefore suspicious...and thus guilty--of something. The murder of Emmett Till is probably the most oft-cited example, but we need not go back that far. Sean Bell. Oscar Grant. Troy Davis. And now, Trayvon Martin. Since a digital <em>Red Record </em>has yet to emerge to track these post-Emmett Till killings <strike>(<a data-mce-href="theredrecord.tumblr.com" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-admin/theredrecord.tumblr.com">seriously, if Ida B. Wells can do it with no internet, wtf is our problem?)</a></strike>, I'm sure many other names have been forgotten.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Even though you're the president, I'm not suggesting that there is something you should say or do about Trayvon Martin's tragic death. That would be an unreasonable demand. I should tell you, though, that folks are really, really angry. And if justice is not properly served, there might be an issue. And I'm sure you do not want Revs. Al and Jesse to be 2 of your 99 problems. (That said, Dr. West might shift his focus. So there's a silver lining for you.) But fret not, Barry! I have a solution. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Here's the situation: Trayvon Martin's murder really freaked out a bunch of black people. I know you're the king of calm, but the thought that one--or one's son or nephew or brother or even Cousin Pookie--could just be murdered while walking down the street definitely stirred the jug. It's not that we didn't <em>know</em>. It's just that we don't like these kinds of reminders. It's like standing in the TSA line griping about having to undress just to board a plane, and then some asshole says bomb while you're waiting. No one enjoys that kind of reality check. Trayvon Martin's murder is akin to the Homeland Security Alert jumping to red when it's not even a holiday weekend. As a former race woman, I can assure you that black people don't enjoy such an abrupt change in color. We understand the default color as yellow (elevated) and go about our day. But red, son? Not cool. Not that these kinds of crimes committed against blacks are like terrorism or anything. It just seemed like a worthy comparison. But I digress. Let me re-focus. As the sign says, "If you see something, say something." Here goes:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Although the trilogy has been conspicuously absent from the Obama reading lists blogs love to publish, my guess is you've heard of <em>The Hunger Games</em>. Maybe your daughters have read them. The first movie will be released this week. It's going to be major. Even I have tickets to a midnight screening. Anyway, the story takes place in Panem, the country that formed after the United States was destroyed after a series of apocalyptic events. Panem is comprised of a wealthy Capitol, located in the Rocky Mountains, and 12 other, poorer districts. Many years before the first book opens, the districts rebelled against the Capitol. The districts did not succeed in their revolution efforts. In a really horrible gesture to both punish and remind the districts of their failure, the Capitol started the Hunger Games. Each year, two tributes (one male, one female) from each district participate in a fight to the death against tributes from other districts in an outdoor arena. The proceedings are televised. The winner returns to her district and is rewarded with a home, food, the overall hook-up. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">This is my solution for ending racially charged violence against folks like Trayvon Martin: in exchange for the dismantling of neighborhood watches that kill young men like Martin, the end of the death penalty, the firing of trigger happy police officers, the cure to HIV/AIDS, and anything else killing black people at an alarming rate, citizens of black America will agree to participate in a version of the Hunger Games. Each year, we will conduct a lottery to select two tributes from each of the 12 cities with the highest population of blacks and send them to Washington, D.C., where they will participate in a death match not unlike the one Katness Everdeen experiences. The producers of <em>Survivor</em> can build the arena. Ryan Seacrest (or Roland Martin or Soledad O'Brien or...) can host. All related events could be televised on Fox News or C-SPAN or OWN (if you'd like to help the ratings of your homegirl's fledgling cable channel). The <strike>survivor </strike>winner will receive the following swag: reparations for everyone in his or her family up to and including 2nd and play cousins; the criminal records expunged of anyone in the family with one; a three bedroom, two bath home on the old money side of town; a yearly paycheck equal to 10% of the salary of the highest paid NBA player the year of his or her Games victory. Nike and Pepsi can sponsor everything.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Mr. President, I sincerely implore you to seriously consider this proposal. The deaths of the aforementioned young black men feel so senseless. Creating a Games not only eliminates such pointlessness, but also quenches the American thirst to voyeuristically and racistly consume black bodies in peril. Further, it ends the needless killing of black people by not eliminating such madness, but rather creating a method to it. Americans are entertained; you avoid a riot on your watch. Your prison population doesn't even feel the impact. And black people can send their children to the store, take out their wallets, drive a nice car, go home, and breathe without fear. Ok. Less fear. At this point, we'll settle for less fear.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">I trust that you will recognize the reasonableness of this request and act affirmatively. Black people can only hope that giving such structure to this truly American pastime would allow the odds to finally be in our favor. Ok. More in favor. At this point, we'll settle for your approval rating. Please advise.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Best of luck with your re-election.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Sincerely,</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Summer M.<br />
Race Woman Emeritus</div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-44692181653734814982012-03-05T08:00:00.002-06:002012-03-05T08:00:14.016-06:00On the Inevitable #Fail of the Whitney Houston Biopic<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://musickrecords.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/whitney-houston.jpg" data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" height="264" src="http://musickrecords.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/whitney-houston.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" width="180" /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">As much as I'd like to stop publicly mourning the death of a person I never met, I'm not ready. Tweeting #shoopforjesus, randomly saying "'Re ain't here!?" to whomever will listen, and concluding that Whitney wasn't that bad of a dancer after watching the "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" video are clear indicators that I'm: 1. my mother's child and 2. not quite ready to let go. So, (un)fortunately, I must write about Whitney again. (I'm sure you can find a pundit sounding off on Rush Limbaugh somewhere on the internet.)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">It makes sense, then, that I went in on my friend Maegs when she mentioned news of a Houston biopic and tried to defend why Jennifer Hudson was a legitimate option. My profanity-laced diatribe not only included the "J.Hud's not pretty enough" angle, but also featured a rather long-winded digression about how much I hate her Weight Watchers commercials and thus would not stand for her playing my mama's favorite singer.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Sadly, the other nominees being considered to play Houston in this inevitable biopic make Maegs seem (comparatively) right:</div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Rihanna -- Seriously, dude, Rihanna can't play a good singer in real life, what makes folks think she can play one on tv? </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Jordin Sparks -- Is there some conspiracy to keep <em>American Idol</em> contestants employed? </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Brandy -- Though I have major love for Brandy's second album, and her little brother's agony as Whitney's casket left the church moistened many an eye in the room I was in a few Saturdays ago, I would much rather watch Brandy awkwardly "date" on a Vh1 reality show than play her idol. If she needs the work, though, I image I could almost support this choice. America loves a comeback #iwannabedown. </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Beyonce -- I have learned to appreciate Beyonce. However, if she is pegged to star in this biopic, I know that she will be all diva-like and insist on remaking all of Whitney's songs. If any of this is allowed to happen, I will make it my life's goal to seek and destroy every wind machine on this planet. (Yes, that is a threat.) </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Vivica A. Fox -- Although Ms. Fox does hail from my home state and I have a decent recollection of the series<em>Out All Night</em> (that theme song was the jam), I think the fact that Fox' most recent films are default choices for B.E.T. Blackbuster nights (or whatever they call them, not that I watch) automatically disqualifies her...as does that horrendous plastic surgery she's had done. Plus, the idea of Vivica on the talk show circuit publicizing this project makes me want to #setitoff, and I'm too handsome to go to jail. Please don't choose her. </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Willow Smith (as young Whitney) -- Aren't there child labor laws that would allow the authorities to arrest Will and Jada?</blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Clearly, Derek Luke will play Bobby.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">What these rumors help reiterate is my point about Whitney Houston having no peer. No matter who is chosen, she will pale in comparison to the perfect storm that was the real life talent of Whitney Houston. And that will make us miss her more. I'm afraid that the focus on crafting celebrity, and not developing young actors, makes even the theoretical exercise of casting for Whitney a disappointing endeavor. Such talent, even to mimic her, it seems does not exist. And thus we are stuck swallowing the bitter pill that the best person for this role is someone who can barely properly harmonize with her own doppelganger in her own damn commercial.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">I understand that my rather irrational opinion that there is no one on this planet talented enough to even impersonate the inimitable Whitney Houston is a belief probably only held by a few other Whitney stans, my mother, and me. My protest is futile. If this film must happen, and it seems that it must, please just pick a [profanity redacted] model and let her lipsync already. In the meantime, I'll hope that Tyler Perry won't pull the private plane card in an effort to be hired as a director.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Let us pray.</div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-42931339509669479382012-02-20T08:29:00.003-06:002012-02-20T10:28:41.560-06:00Spilling Whitney's Tea Redux<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><img class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/18/article-2103164-11C9FBE5000005DC-152_468x372.jpg" height="223" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/18/article-2103164-11C9FBE5000005DC-152_468x372.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" title="houston" width="281" />Since I have done nothing but act like my mother's child and mourn the passing of Whitney Houston for the last 10 days, I knew today's post would be a return, in some way, to <a data-mce-href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/02/the-voice-remembering-whitney-houston-1963-2012/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/02/the-voice-remembering-whitney-houston-1963-2012/">The Voice</a>. Early last week, I had resolved to write a fun, lighter post, tentatively titled, "Whitney: Anatomy of a Diva," where I post videos of Whitney singing with other, clearly lesser singers and offer commentary.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">But that will have to wait.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">After last Monday's post, I got a really thoughtful and thought-provoking email asking about whether or not it was too soon discuss the nature of Whitney's relationship with her former assistant, Robyn Crawford. It took me a few days to respond, because I thought I was deeply ambivalent about the matter. <a data-mce-href="http://passportharlem.tumblr.com/post/17724874216/spilling-whitneys-tea" href="http://passportharlem.tumblr.com/post/17724874216/spilling-whitneys-tea">In reply, I questioned the impulse to posthumously out folks</a>, and wondered if we had not found other ways to validate our own sexuality. I made that last claim with a little trepidation, because although I don't find being able to identify with a celebrity in such a way helpful to my own self-esteem, I must acknowledge that others feel differently. (Moreover, I must readily confess that my addiction to poorly produced webseries starring lesbians of color does not stem solely from my thirst for things to hate on.)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Although I thought I'd simply no longer discuss the matter of Whitney and Robyn's relationship, it seems necessary to reiterate my position after reading a deeply problematic article written by LGBT activist, Peter Tatchell. I found the post, subtly called, "<a data-mce-href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2103164/Whitney-Houstons-REAL-tragedy-giving-female-partner-Robyn-Crawford.html#ixzz1mvdoExhD" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2103164/Whitney-Houstons-REAL-tragedy-giving-female-partner-Robyn-Crawford.html#ixzz1mvdoExhD">Whitney's REAL tragedy was giving up her greatest love of all - her female partner Robyn Crawford</a>," incredibly troublesome and an example of why I think we need not discuss this relationship beyond what <a data-mce-href="http://www.esquire.com/the-side/music/whitney-houston-6654718" href="http://www.esquire.com/the-side/music/whitney-houston-6654718">Crawford said in her own eulogy of Houston</a>. (And I say this with full understanding that I violate my own stance by contributing to the conversation. Such is paradox.) </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Tatchell's article is an appropriate example of the concern I was attempting to explain in my e-mail reply. He writes: </div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Whitney was happiest and at the peak of her career when she was with Robyn. Sadly, she suffered family and church pressure to end her greatest love of all. </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
She was fearful of the effects that lesbian rumours might have on her family, reputation and career. Eventually she succumbed. The result? A surprise marriage to Bobby Brown. </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">The marriage was a disaster. Bad boy Bobby was never her true soul mate. Giving up Robyn – they’d been inseparable for years – must have been emotionally traumatic. </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
Whitney’s life started going downhill soon afterwards. Previously wholesome and clean-living, she went on drink-and-drug binges – evidence of a troubled personal life and much unhappiness.<br />
It seems likely that the split with Robyn contributed to her substance abuse and decline. </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
There is a known correlation between denial of one’s sexuality and a propensity to self-destructive behaviour. Homophobia undoubtedly added to the pressures on Whitney and hastened her demise.</blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">At the risk of sounding like a creepy conservative, this article sounds like an item on the gay agenda. It's so predictable. (Compulsory) Marriage to a man + church/family pressure = drug addict lesbian. <a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxCx6KIpJVE" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxCx6KIpJVE">Cousin Dionne Warwick could've seen</a> this coming.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">C'mon, son. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">A couple of things.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">First, if Tatchell had done his homework, he would've read <a data-mce-href="http://www.esquire.com/the-side/music/whitney-houston-6654718" href="http://www.esquire.com/the-side/music/whitney-houston-6654718">Crawford's words</a> and learned that Houston made her own (damn) decisions. And if that point is central to Crawford's remembrance of her "best friend," I think we should heed those words as indications that whatever pressure there might have been, it paled in comparison to Whitney's own agency and her desires for her career. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Second, can we please stop blaming Bobby? Can we stop pretending like Houston's off-stage life correlated directly with her public image? I seriously doubt that Bobby Brown introduced Whitney to drugs, or that the marriage marked the end of Houston's "wholesome and clean-living" life. Seriously, Peter, what celebrity you know got out of '86 without sniffing a line or several? (Word to Dwight Gooden.)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Third, as the funeral showed, the Houstons were not fans of the Browns. Further, Bobby Brown's solo career helped usher in the nasty era of R&B. So the idea that Houston married Brown in order to quell lesbian rumors and please her family is utterly ridiculous. No diva with half a brain would've decided on Brown as the choice to clean-up an image. Clearly, Peter Tatchell has neither heard of nor visited Newark or East Orange, New Jersey. Since we're going to play guessing games, I'm going to guess that Whitney saw home in Bobby, and he gave her permission to feel and be at home in front of the camera #somethingincommon.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">To add, invalidating Houston and Brown's relationship in this way is nothing but a pathetically veiled attempt to deny the fluidity of sexuality and forward the "born gay" argument at the core of this iteration of the gay rights movement. I'm not sure about a lot of things, but I'll bet the $.30 in my savings account that Whitney and Bobby loved each other very deeply. So much so that the suggestion that Robyn was Whitney's "one true love" (again, part of the "gay people aren't promiscuous" argument also at the center of the gay rights movement) is reflective of a logic as foggy as whatever hovered over the center of Clive Davis' head during the funeral. (Seriously, what was up with that?)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Articles like Tatchell's exhibit the exact concerns I attempted to address <a data-mce-href="http://passportharlem.tumblr.com/post/17724874216/spilling-whitneys-tea" href="http://passportharlem.tumblr.com/post/17724874216/spilling-whitneys-tea">in my response to the email I received after posting my Whitney eulogy.</a> It's so clear that Tatchell's investment is not in honoring Houston or her relationship with Crawford. Rather, Tatchell sees Houston's death as an opportunity to forward his own agenda. Houston is not a friend, but an example. And using people as examples is a horrendous thing to do, as it selectively chooses the portions we find (un)acceptable and does away with that we do not in order to preserve or undermine a myth we have locked in our minds.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">And so, I must repeat myself: writing in a way that choruses Whitney’s alleged (homo)sexuality is something I don’t really agree with. I’m taking my cue from Robyn. If she’s not saying anything, I don’t think I have a right to beyond what I’ve outlined here. I’m not a fan of outing—even posthumously so. I question the impulse to want to discuss it at all. I question what we reap from it. I question the desire to continue to pick apart a life that has already been so unforgivingly dissected on front street. I don’t mean to suggest that same gender relationships are ugly, that they should not be talked about, that talking about this would tarnish Houston’s legacy. I say that because I want to think about the interlocuters of those conversations, their motives, etc. What’s the point of the conversation if the news just sounds like pornography emanating from gossipy lips?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">You prove my point, Tatchell. Tsk, tsk.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Let Whitney rest, y'all.</div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-77191574468566482712012-02-13T13:24:00.004-06:002012-02-13T16:16:28.260-06:00The Voice: Remembering Whitney Houston (1963 -- 2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Flickr_Whitney_Houston_performing_on_GMA_2009_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Flickr_Whitney_Houston_performing_on_GMA_2009_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">The Voice. When one is colloquially known as such, it becomes easy to forget that such sound emanates from inside a human being. The Voice. A disembodied moniker. So spectacularly general, simply an article and noun sans the dressing of more instructive, clarifying wording: "of reason" or "of God" or "of an angel." The Voice. So intangible, yet generating a viewable response that cannot be contained within the body, that must express itself in paroxysms of applause, spontaneous standing, or dimmed eyes, mouths agape, heads nodding in utter disbelief of what their ears have witnessed. The Voice. An appellation, like air or magic, that implies an ethereal otherworldliness, an omnipresence so unique that the one to which it refers can never be confused with another.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">This weekend, The Voice lost its vessel. </div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">The death of Whitney Houston at the age of 48 was as unexpected as it was devastating, and many are still reeling. I cannot recall another time when my mother has had to end our conversation abruptly because she could not bear to speak after hearing such news, or subsequently send me a heartfelt email about what the life of a famous person meant to her:</div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">She was there for everything: when I met the love of my life, after a hard day at work, through the happy and the sad. Yes, Whitney Houston was there for all of the events of my life. [...]<br />
<br />
As others criticized her for troubles, I held fast that she would recover and regain the respect she deserved. I sat through every episode of<em> Being Bobby Brown</em>, relating to how she played down to fit in rather than make others come up. I feel that I dishonored her by taking part in that low point rather than help somehow. We love to focus on the flaws of others--especially the beautiful and talented, as it enables us to feel better about our own flaws. </blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">I watched on September 1, 2009, when she made her come back in Central Park. I didn't have expectations that she would be in perfect voice. I was just glad that she was back. Seeing her healthy made me feel like <a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNIcVTmUSOU&ob=av2n" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNIcVTmUSOU&ob=av2n">a million dollar bill</a>! And I am here now saddened by the news that she is gone.</blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">This is the effect of The Voice, of Whitney Houston. Whitney Elizabeth Houston (<a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6qsoP75y4Q" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6qsoP75y4Q">not Susan</a>). Perhaps no one else has been more appropriately christened (until, perhaps, the appearance of one Beyonce Giselle Knowles in the birth record). A birth name so sophisticated and rich-sounding that becoming a first-name-only diva seemed not simply a righteous and logical path, but like fate. A phenomenon so perfectly named, even white mothers found it fit for <a data-mce-href="http://www.namecandy.com/celebrity-baby-names/blog/2012/02/12/rip-whitney-houston-her-name-its-rise-and-fall" href="http://www.namecandy.com/celebrity-baby-names/blog/2012/02/12/rip-whitney-houston-her-name-its-rise-and-fall">their daughters</a>.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Like Michael Jackson, the arc of Whitney Houston seems to follow that curious path of being black and (then becoming really) famous in the '80s. (That Eddie Murphy's only "transgression" was playing taxi driver at the wrong time in the wrong neighborhood is incredibly remarkable in this context.) Born in 1963 in Newark, New Jersey, Houston was the youngest child and only girl of John, an entertainment executive, and Cissy, a soul and gospel singer. Like so many black artists before her, Houston grew up singing in the church. Indeed, The Voice was a seed embedded and cultivated in a soil of gospel and soul, sprouting a flower most apposite for the time: a nearly perfect blend of physical beauty and flawless talent, ripe for pop culture icon status. An incredibly timely gift that can neither be gleaned nor instantly spotted in today's fabricated world of reality television singing competition shows. Even if <a data-mce-href="http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/" href="http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/">the most popular one borrows</a> its name from her, no matter how impressive the performers, it cannot find a talent in her likeness. No, Whitney was an inimitable prototype, one that every music executive with a proclivity to act like one of <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Scissorhands" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Scissorhands">Vincent Price's more memorable characters</a> has attempted to emulate in the decades since Houston's appearance on <a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MrmoIyLlSw" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MrmoIyLlSw">Merv Griffin</a>. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">And all audiences were ready to consume her. Houston serves as a prime example of Nelson George's ever-problematic notion of the post-soul. The term has merit here, though. As rooted as Houston was in gospel, her crossover appeal was nearly uncanny: A black woman in the center of Americana. Sexy, but not overtly so. Refined. A physical beauty that was "worthy" of a <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Whitney_Houston_Barbie_I_Wanna_Dance_1.jpg" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Whitney_Houston_Barbie_I_Wanna_Dance_1.jpg">Barbie doll</a>. Decent acting skills, as appearances on<em> Gimme a Break!</em>, <em>Silver Spoons, </em>and movies showed; yet simultaneously stationed within black cultural production, as the <a data-mce-href="http://vimeo.com/3407350" href="http://vimeo.com/3407350">Randy! Watson! rendition</a> of "The Greatest Love of All" in <em>Coming to America</em> indicates. In all ways so readily ideal for the stardom black celebrities had not really seen before the 1980s.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Nothing, not even singing a Coke jingle, better elucidates Houston's importance to American popular culture than her memorable <a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupsPg5H6aE&feature=related" data-mce-style="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupsPg5H6aE&feature=related">Super Bowl performance</a> of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Draped in red, white, and blue, Houston sang the national anthem in a way that no one has--or probably will. Houston's version dripped with an emotion I interpret as a kind of melancholic patriotism, something I infer whenever black performers sing American anthems. (Consider Ray Charles' "<a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg" data-mce-style="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg">America, the Beautiful</a>" or Houston's "<a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSvH4s-4sCQ" data-mce-style="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSvH4s-4sCQ">Battle of the Hymn Republic</a>"). All she had to do was stand there and sing. That was enough. <a data-mce-href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001365/bio#quotes" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001365/bio#quotes">The Voice was enough</a>. The Voice--and all that it gave and inspired.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">As the ensuing tributes will surely reveal, one cannot manufacture such a natural anomaly. Try as they may, neither Jennifer, nor Cristina, nor Mariah will be able to deliver an offering fit for the goddess their careers have attempted to match. Their efforts to honor, though well-intentioned, will only show that no one can utter notes as flawlessly, as effortlessly as Ms. Houston. These green divas-in-training cannot be blamed, though. At the risk of blaspheming, their elder stateswomen will not likely fair better. Not Aretha, not Mama Patti, not Chaka. <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Burrell" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Burrell">Ms. Burrell</a> will be the best of them all, but even she is not in the same stratosphere. Which, again, compels me to remember that Ms. Houston's life is an answer to the question: <a data-mce-href="http://fecundmellow.blogspot.com/2006/10/poplife.html" href="http://fecundmellow.blogspot.com/2006/10/poplife.html">What is it like to have no peer?</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Proof: Even the constellation of women surrounding her could not prepare her for her stardom. A successful mother (Cissy), famous cousins (Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick), a godmother whose royalty is commonly acknowledged (Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin). None of them could adequately serve as primers for the life ahead. Presidents can talk to other presidents. The Voice, though? As the name suggests, The Voice sings. No one engages it; no one can. It has hearers, but who can really listen or advise when the harmonies are replaced with utterances of anxiety, fear, fatigue? Two men, <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jordan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jordan">one whose retirement reeks of a peripatetic loneliness</a>, the other, <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson">gone too soon</a>, perhaps have an inkling of what it must have been like. As scrutinized as they were, lonelier is the journey of a black woman with no real predecessor. And that, perhaps, played a crucial role in what she experienced, exacerbating the curious punishment that is American fame.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">She found someone, and for 14 years became even richer fodder for the tabloids, for those of us who name schadenfreude a favorite hobby (yours truly included). We watched her struggle; we saw her fall. We heard The Voice falter. Thus, we were goaded into remembering that The Voice was moored inside a person who, perfect as she looked, was as flawed as we are. She struggled as we do--humanly. Yet on the cusp of a classic American comeback that most of her fans were not truly worthy to witness, and maybe on terms other than her own, she died. And The Voice with her.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Worst Black History Month ever? Yes, perhaps. We have indeed suffered great losses. My heart aches for Bobby. Yes, he loved her. They loved each other deeply; I do not doubt it. But none of us are her beloved Bobbi Kris, truly her greatest love of all. My heart aches for her child. And although collectively we have lost the privilege to witness the The Voice, though the talent godly, none of that compares to a young girl who has lost her maternal root. And I hope that motherly Voice again reaches Bobbi Kris. In dreams, in memories. Some way, somehow.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">May Ms. Houston exhale. May she find peace. (And if there is a heaven, don't out-sing the angels too much. Bless you.)</div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-72348454673958778922012-01-30T08:52:00.002-06:002012-01-30T10:18:22.490-06:00The Real Housewives of The Help Go to Africa<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Hollywood is so full of liberal do-gooders always on the cutting edge. As such, in advance of Black History Month, they have bestowed many acting awards upon members of the cast of <em>The Help</em>, namely Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, who both won SAG Awards last night.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Perhaps it was because the embarrassingly entertaining <em>Real Housewives of Atlanta</em> happened to be arguing about how to properly acknowledge one another at the mall at the same time the SAG Awards aired, but Twitter responses to Marlo's desire to eat some African (it's a country, you know) food like fish (what she order?/fish filet?) were briefly interrupted by folks going on and on about the greatness of Viola Davis' acceptance speech. My allegiances are to <em>RHOA</em>, so I googled the speech. Davis looked really nice (those Bassett-esque arms!). Her professional community gave her a standing ovation. She talked about dreams. Shouted out Cicely Tyson and Meryl Streep.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">If my feed was any indication, (Black) Twitter really loved this moment. When the most sensible member of <em>RHOA</em> has to be fed a line about apartheid, I can understand the adulation. Juxtaposition compels one to do odd things.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">But wait.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Weren't we just mad about this movie three months ago?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Although I tend to think I have the ability to understand contradiction, I'm having some difficulty comprehending the collective embrace of this ambiguity. Many of us criticized--or refused to read--the book. Many of us criticized--<a data-mce-href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2011/08/on-not-seeing-the-help/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2011/08/on-not-seeing-the-help/">or refused to see</a>--the movie. Yet, we laud the speech of an actor who has become a critical darling and gives a speech we deem "brilliant," "wonderful," and "beautiful," precisely because she starred in the very film that we so stringently derided? Um, how does that work?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Perhaps it was the fact that I experienced all of this through social media, but the <em>RHOA</em>/SAG Awards moment was so incredibly odd. On one hand, I'm reading tweets about how embarrassing the former is--a humiliation so integrally tied to context. The twitterati's chagrin was so palpable, you would have thought Nelson Mandela was within earshot of Sheree and Marlo's argument. After all, the <em>RHOA</em> are up to their usual weekly shenanigans, but it's the fact that they're in an apartment in South <em>Africa</em> that makes it all the worse. And we all know you don't play with <em>Africa</em>. It's the Motherland! From whence we came! No jokes nor (n)ignorance allowed. Serious business. Singular and serious focus is required at all times. So much so that we cannot possibly begin to unpack the way in which that kind of grave reverence is based upon a fetishization that is just as problematic as Cynthia's dashiki or Kandi's chosen animal print dress for evening festivities. On the other hand, voices from the same cohort praised Viola Davis' speech. An admiration that required a willing forgetfulness of the vehicle which brought her and her co-star, Octavia Spencer, to that stage last night. An admiration totally divorced from that context. Convenient, really. Inconsistent, truly.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Davis and Spencer are both incredible actors whose talent demands that they consistently star in--and be awarded for--performances that do not require the revivification of old stereotypes. And if it is our claim that Hollywood needs to do better, I'm not sure how we applaud acceptance speeches that don't begin with, "Damn, it sucks who I had to play to get this..." Context is everything. And it is not a convenience. We cannot cringe at the thought that @BravoAndy has watched and will be commenting upon Negroes acting crazy for our entertainment with some Hollywood celebrities (or the owners of <em>RHOA</em> resident house slave, Sweetie, for last night's episode) after we've stopped shaking our heads, then not feel similarly nauseated by the visual of a room full of (white) Hollywood standing and applauding our latest pitch-perfect portrayal of a maid--even if she is dressed to the nines.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Despite the implications of that last line, I say that with a deep respect for Viola Davis' dream and her ability as an actor. My comments, though inspired by, are not about her. But how we applaud her acceptance speech without giving her at least a little <a data-mce-href="http://bossip.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/picture-110-e1268058259404.png?w=450" href="http://bossip.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/picture-110-e1268058259404.png?w=450">Sam Jackson Face</a> is something that perplexes me. (Unless, of course, it's because we had a sneaking suspicion that someone had to tell Mo'Nique who Hattie McDaniel was, and we assumed Viola Davis knew her history all along.)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Clarity regarding the matter would be greatly appreciated.</div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-66201490164598047312012-01-09T11:20:00.002-06:002012-01-09T13:22:02.153-06:00Toure's Northern State of Mind*<div style="line-height: 19px;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few weeks ago, writer <em>slash</em> (cultural) critic <em>slash</em> Twitter all-star, Toure published a piece in the <em>The New York Times</em> about the allegedly recent flurry of white women rappers. From rehashing <a data-mce-href="http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/story/_/id/6894586/imagining-michael-vick-white-quarterback-nfl-espn-magazine" href="http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/story/_/id/6894586/imagining-michael-vick-white-quarterback-nfl-espn-magazine">black respectability in an article about Michael Vick</a>, to considering the black middle class in a discussion of the Obamas' vacationing tendencies, Toure is no stranger to writing incendiary and ill-conceived articles. And this latest work is no different. Like the ones before them, this story generated a considerable amount of discussion on Twitter and other social media outlets where anyone with an internet connection can articulate her beef.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the piece, Toure argues that even within a genre considered so hypermasculine and black, the combination of the largely white male demographic that listens to rap music and Americans' overall obsession with blondes indicates that eventually--perhaps even soon and very soon--a white woman rapper or several will garner mainstream attention. Toure then goes on to list a small group of white women emcees who have gained some notoriety on the web. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course many took </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strike>the bait</strike> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">issue with Toure's article and his list. Some showed concern over the fact that he ignored a slew of white women rappers, such as </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.myspace.com/invincilana" href="http://www.myspace.com/invincilana" style="font-family: inherit;">Detroit's Invincible</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, who have been around since before a Twitterfeed and a YouTube channel was all one needed to become famous. Others scoffed at his vehement reluctance to acknowledge black women rhymers in any sustained manner. I have no similar beef. The problem with Toure's work here, as I see it, is the position he has to adopt in order to make this subject matter even remotely interesting--or infuriating--to readers. In the preamble to the list, Toure writes:</span><br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is nothing about the skills required to be an M.C. that makes it impossible for white women to rhyme. It’s not that their mouths can’t do it. The true barrier to entry is that there is an essence at the center of hip-hop that white women have an extraordinarily hard time exuding or even copying. For many Americans, black male rappers are entrancing because they give off a sense of black masculine power — that sense of strength, ego and menace that derives from being part of the street — or because of the seductive display of black male cool. </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">Black women and white men who have been successful in hip-hop have found ways to embody those senses and make them their own. But hip-hop coming from a white woman is almost always an immediate joke. Take Gwyneth Paltrow, for example, showing how much she loves hip-hop by <a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Oej7K469I" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Oej7K469I" title="Gwyneth Paltrow on Graham Norton Show">earnestly rhyming the lyrics</a> to N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton” on a British television show or Natalie Portman furiously spitting rhymes in<a data-mce-href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/1404/saturday-night-live-snl-digital-short-natalie-raps" href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/1404/saturday-night-live-snl-digital-short-natalie-raps" title="A video of Natalie Portman rapping">gangsta-rap style</a> on “Saturday Night Live.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As soon as white women start rhyming, no matter what they say, it’s seen as cute and comical, like a cat walking on its hind legs. Seeing them try to embody the attributes of hip-hop’s vision of black masculinity is a hysterical gender disjunction: they wear it as convincingly as a woman wearing her husband’s clothes.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">A (re)phrasing of the assumptions made in this argument are in order. And I understand it as this: The premise of the entire article is the reification of racialized gender stereotypes in order to delineate the kind of aural and visual dissonance that seeing a white female rapper compels in the viewer. In other words, white women have to be understood as the apotheosis of American cultural femininity in order for this article to be at all "interesting." White men can quasi-access this (black) male masculinity because they are men. Black women can almost gain entrance because they've been emasculating black men for centuries, as the story goes, so their appearance in the hip-hop cosmos, if I may borrow Toure's language, isn't at all worth note. So although I appreciate those who want to teach Toure his white female emcee history or call him out for his ignoring and utter disrespect for black women--again--in this case, I think those critiques miss a central and problematic point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This article is remarkable precisely because it relies on and echos a problematic understanding of black maleness and gender roles that black women have never really had access to--and frankly, why would they want to?--in order to be noteworthy. So Toure's dismissal of black women, it seems, is less about his dislike, but more about his implicit rehashing of damaging stereotypes in order to justify a thousand words on white female rappers. Gwyneth Paltrow's recitation of NWA is funny and "cute" only if we interpret her as an ideal example of femininity and female beauty articulating a language that is thoroughly antithetical to her physicality <em>and</em> our understanding of her social position. Our laughter ceases, however, when we realize what such chuckles would require us to think of white women, black men, and everyone in between. It's all very <em>Soul on Ice</em> if you ask me (see: "The Allegory of the Black Eunuchs"). This is why Invincible, those unnamed black women rappers, et. al. don't make the cut: they're not feminine in the way Toure needs them to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I bring all of this up not simply to knock Toure's hustle--and a hustle it is--or take it as another opportunity to call him out for the way his antagonism toward black women is always present just underneath the surface (as exemplified <a data-mce-href="http://liquornspice.tumblr.com/post/15153532501/getting-back-into-twitter-toure-still-profoundly" href="http://liquornspice.tumblr.com/post/15153532501/getting-back-into-twitter-toure-still-profoundly">here</a>). Nor is my desire to note how <em>un</em>-post-black (whatever that means) Toure's work often seems despite his recent book. Rather, I wanted mark this latest moment because Toure seems to be mainstream media's latest black "it" guy. He's evolved from that crazy Afro dude who wrote that one article about Lauryn Hill and appeared on all those Vh1 shows, to a suit rocking commentator with expertise enough to explain racism in sports <em>and</em> moderate some topic of discussion involving black people in a city near you. Folks, this is the latest guy charged with explaining black people, black culture to the masses. Yet as fresh as his face might be to many, it seems that this jack of all trades has simply repackaged an ever-problematic understanding of the way race and gender work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So retweet and quote him if you want to, consider him your Twitter guide to all things black and relevant, but remember that it's all the same song. A misogynistic and un-nuanced notion of blackness refrain that should grate upon your ears more than his voice does. #justsayin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">*FYI: <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_State_(band)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_State_(band)">Northern State</a></span>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-16093830740041996422012-01-02T10:09:00.005-06:002012-01-04T09:15:25.996-06:00Pariah's Pariah: A Review, a Critique<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">*Spoiler Alert*</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://blackthespian.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Kim-Wayans-Pariah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://blackthespian.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Kim-Wayans-Pariah.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">On Friday, Dee Rees' much lauded independent film, </span><em style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a data-mce-href="http://focusfeatures.com/pariah" href="http://focusfeatures.com/pariah">Pariah</a> </em><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">will expand its release from four theaters to eleven, increasing the opportunity for many to view this incredibly important Focus Features picture. Rees' debut work has deservedly generated a deluge of critical praise, and should at the very least garner a few nominations come award season.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The coming of age story centers on Alike (pronounced uh-LEE-kay), played pitch perfectly by Adepero Oduye as a somewhat awkward 17-year-old high school student and aspiring poet. On the cusp of fully coming into her sexuality, Alike dons herself in boy's clothing at school and as she explores the gay nightlife of New York City with her friend Laura (Pernell Walker). At home, however, Alike dresses in a more traditionally feminine costume to throw her mother, Audrey (Kim Wayans) off of her increasingly difficult to mask scent. This, of course, is the core tension in the film, and the viewer's stomach tightens as the stakes get increasingly higher. As this central narrative unfolds, Alike smartly navigates her way through personal discovery, experiencing first love and a gut-wrenchingly painful heartbreak, all the while preparing for that ever difficult task of leaving the (parents') nest. </span></div><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had the fortune of screening <em>Pariah</em> at <a href="http://reelingfilmfestival.org/">Chicago's Reeling Film Festival </a>last fall, and it is excellent. The film is visually stunning and presents New York through an incredibly fresh and unique lens. Writer/director Rees has crafted a compellingly human cast of rich characters, including veteran comedian, Kim Wayans, whose convincing turn as Alike's prudish and lonely mother may come as a surprise to those familiar with her résumé. Wayans was absolutely impressive in her role, and has rightfully received buzz for her dramatic performance. Alas, Wayans' character is the most glaring of the few troubling aspects of Rees' otherwise awesome work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At several moments in the film, I was reminded of Lee Daniel's comparatively <a data-mce-href="http://womenandhollywood.com/2010/01/21/guest-post-how-did-she-how-did-we-get-here-reflections-on-precious-jones-shaniya-davis-and-black-motherhood-by-summer-mcdonald/" href="http://womenandhollywood.com/2010/01/21/guest-post-how-did-she-how-did-we-get-here-reflections-on-precious-jones-shaniya-davis-and-black-motherhood-by-summer-mcdonald/">more problematic movie, <em>Precious </em>(2009)</a>, the filmic rendering of Sapphire's novel <em>Push </em>(1996). My recalling Daniels' work has nothing to do with limited knowledge of film or a (mainstream) reviewer's rather lazy impulse to compare <em>Pariah</em> to the other, black film she was last required to see. Rather, the commonalities between the two films are few but significant, and include but go beyond the way that--although the lens is softer--the milieu, the visual effect of <em>Pariah</em> reminds me of the scenes inside Precious' apartment. And although both Precious and Alike are helped along the road of self-discovery through writing and poetry and the support of a (light-skinned) English teacher, that similarity is not the most glaring. In fact, <em>Pariah</em> has none of the issues around color Daniels' work does. One might determine that my comparison is rooted in the fact that Wayans, just like <a data-mce-href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2009/11/lost-in-translation-a-response-to-precious/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2009/11/lost-in-translation-a-response-to-precious/"><em>Precious</em>' Mo'Nique, </a>was known as a comedic actor before being cast in a dramatic role as the mother of a black teenager. And that is at least in the same region as my issue. For as impressive as <em>Pariah </em>is, the tension that propels this narrative is the unfortunately familiar castigation of black motherhood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My praises of Wayans' portrayal notwithstanding, though the character she is charged to play is the seeming antithesis of Precious Jones' mother, she reeks of a similar kind of pathology. That is, Audrey is unliked, distant, and the enemy of her daughter. As the matriarch of her conservative family, Audrey has an investment in maintaining a traditional, respectable family image that both her daughter and her husband (through his implied extramarital affair) reject with their actions. The irony, of course, is that black mothers are generally vilified for their inability to assimilate into the common nuclear family structure through their out of wedlock children, unmarried status, multiple sexual partners (and hence baby-daddies), and poverty. Wayans' Audrey shows that even attempting to emulate the nuclear family structure through consistent church attendance, commitment to traditional gender roles and heterosexual monogamy does not give one access to a kinder, gentler image of (black) motherhood that is seemingly endemic to one Clair Huxtable. Instead, Audrey, like black mothers before her, is cold, irrational, and incapable of unconditional love, a fact reiterated in a scene between Laura and her mother. Although Audrey's struggle to maintain a grasp of her traditional family unit through these resistances might allow for the structure itself to be called into question, the film expresses that the problem lies with Audrey and her selfish refusal to let her husband and daughter evolve (away from her).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Audrey is the personification of repellent. Nobody likes her. She has no work friends (she eats lunch alone while her coworkers talk about her within earshot), and her only social engagement is at church. Audrey's isolation might generate sympathy from the audience, but her inability to control her <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Street_(novel)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Street_(novel)">Lutie Johnson-esque</a> rage means that the anger continuously boils over, scalding her family. The audience's spying of Audrey waiting for her allegedly adulterous husband, Arthur, is the lone attempt to engender some form a sympathy for Audrey, but her other antics neutralize the scene, rendering it meaningless. Further, it's Arthur's adultery that becomes his part of an unarticulated connection with Alike.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Both Arthur and Alike forge a bond by knowing and keeping each other's secrets--from Audrey. Although this subplot sweetens an already loving relationship between father and daughter, the problem with this subplot is that it requires an understanding that the two have a common enemy, Audrey, and further ensconces her as such. So, as much as the audience thirsts for this black father-daughter link, that connection is predicated upon an implicit castigation of black motherhood. Which, as award history suggests, is probably part of the reason why Wayans is the cast member most likely to win an award. At least Mrs. Jones got to explain herself. <em>Pariah</em> leaves the impression that Audrey will soon lose her already tenuous grasp. And the audience is left with the impression that it should not care.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As much as I enjoyed <em>Pariah</em> and as much as it increased my fandom of Kim Wayans, I found her character disappointing. <em>Pariah</em> is an incredibly rich film that explodes caricatures of blackness and sexuality through its commitment to expressing the humanity underneath those identity markers. Unfortunately, as powerful as the storytelling is, it still rests upon and forwards an all too common image of black motherhood. So even as I applaud the film and strongly encourage everyone to go see <em>Pariah</em>, my ovation is tempered and slightly hesitant.</span>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-36638163023306573852011-12-12T12:38:00.002-06:002011-12-12T13:16:08.515-06:00Fightin’ Words: On Awkward Black Girl and the CFC<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><img alt="" class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://cdn.madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/awkward-black-girl-590kc051111.jpg" height="169" src="http://cdn.madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/awkward-black-girl-590kc051111.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" width="288" /><br />
<div>Of the many things I’ve received from the inimitable Grandma Charlotte, including second-hand smoke, the basics of knitting, and a tendency to yell at people appearing on television as if they can somehow hear me, her literary example and advice on general matters are probably the gifts I hold most dear. Grandma Charlotte is always reading; she has been known to give people book covers as gifts because she has not finished the book it clothed. Along with telling me that books were my friends, it was from Grandma that I first learned the following axiom on semantics, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it. It’s not the words that you use, but the way that you convey it.”<br />
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The above saying was one of the first things I thought of when I heard about the response (and ensuing "controversy") to the latest episode of the increasingly popular webseries, <em>The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl</em>, which has garnered praise from several websites including this one. Like many, on the first Thursday of each month or thereabouts, I log-on to<a data-mce-href="http://www.youtube.com/user/actingrl112" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/actingrl112">Youtube</a> and watch Issa Rae's extremely likable character, J, get in and out of awkward situations at work and in her dating life. This last clip is no different. After having dissed her best friend, Cece to continue trick-or-treating with one of her suitors, White Jay, J has to implore Cece to forgive her, because after an awkward moment on her date with White Jay, she needs advice. The trouble is this: the couple run into White Jay's ex-girlfriend, a moment that renders him speechless and J invisible. As J and Cece discuss what happened, J admits to feeling like Missy Elliott (she was wearing a garbage bag; see Missy's video "The Rain [Supa Dupa Fly]" to catch the reference) next to Angelina Jolie, to which Cece replies that "[White Jay's] ex-girlfriend is a tranny bitch in heels."<br />
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A letter appeared on the <a data-mce-href="http://crunkfeministcollective.tumblr.com/page/6" href="http://crunkfeministcollective.tumblr.com/page/6">Crunk Feminist Collective</a> Tumblr site in response, mainly, to this bit of dialogue and some other issues the composers of the letter wanted to bring to the fore.* A mini-internet controversy commenced in response to the response, with commenters calling the writers of the letter too sensitive, too politically correct, too much. In other words, many were just not going to allow any sort of critique of<i> ABG </i>stand, while others defended the perspective the letter took, while still others simply instigated everything. My purpose here is to do none of that. Rather, I'd like to unpack what I think the entire issue circulates around, which, put succinctly is this: the joke just didn't work.<br />
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Part of what makes Rae's series successful is main character J's likability, and part of this likability is the audience's ability to readily identify with J's context, her cultural touchstones. We understand the above Missy reference without the assistance of Google. We appreciate the casual shout outs to <em>Saved by the Bell</em> and<em> California Dreams</em>. We've seen <em>School Daze</em>as many times as she has; we'd quote Sam Jackson characters in our rap lyrics, too. Her touchstones are ours. To echo one of the central themes of this season, we get J. And we think J, in turn, gets us.<br />
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What we also get is that the writers of<em> ABG </em>know how to navigate touchy subjects like race and gender for comedic effect very well. They know what the words mean, they know what they meant, they understand interlocuters' relationship to them and how, then, audiences might respond to their use. They're well-versed. And generally the effect is funny. ABG thrives on our understanding that what happens is ironic and/or absurd. So when the omniracial character uses his racial illegibility to make stereotypical statements, but is later outed as Armenian and has to go to racial sensitivity training, we're supposed to laugh because it's ironic. Sub-plots like that work because we can see how the writers' mastery of the subject matter allows for that kind of manipulation. The writing is less successful when the fat jokes and lines about tranny bitches in heels get used as throwaway dialogue that is supposed to make J feel better and/or audiences chuckle. It becomes clear that the writers were less adept at understanding how those phrases might come off than they are about others.<br />
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And I think that's where I can understand what the letter posted on the CFC Tumblr was trying to do, but was unsuccessful because it resembles the kinds of texts people often associate with censorship through the forwarding of politically correct language and language policing. I understand another version of the letter might have read: <em>Hey, FYI: These words may connote some stuff you might not have realized and/or may want to think about the next time you decide to use them. kthxbye</em>. I may have written a version of the note that simply said: I don't think these kinds of jokes work, and here's why... But that message gets buried by the rather unfortunate line, "We have seen your responsiveness to the fans of <i>ABG</i> and we hope that by raising this concern you will respond accordingly by not using such language in future episodes."<br />
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Right or wrong, asking/telling people not to say things because they hurt our feelings inevitably engenders the kind of backlash we saw after the letter was published, and truly undermines the other, really useful parts of the note. Instead of a fruitful conversation about what does and doesn't work in this genre, the black versus queer debate was again inflamed and the lede got buried. Now we have, oddly, blackness in one corner and queerness in the other. Even worse, those on either side of the debate are deploying what I, in my secret life of writing stand-up jokes, call The Nigger Test.<br />
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Bear with me.<br />
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If I were a stand-up comedian, I'd have a joke called The Nigger Test. The Nigger Test is something people use when someone says something that is ostensibly, debatably offensive. It works like this: someone says <em>fag</em>, someone takes offense, some else says, "What's the big deal?" Then someone else says, "If they had said <em>nigger</em> instead of <em>fag</em>, you'd feel differently." In other words, substitute the offensive word in question with <em>nigger</em>, try the statement again, and see if it's offensive now. This test is in the politically correct handbook or something--and I hate it: 1. I'm tired of black people being used as some baseline example of discrimination, as if that's all we're good for; 2. If I am ever in a situation where I'd have to use The Nigger Test, I'm going to gouge out my eyes because the person I'm talking to ended up in the wrong century. Seriously, if your response to hearing someone use The Nigger Test is, "<em>Ohhhhh</em>, I get it now," please leave 2011; 3. Nigger is not a synonym for other offensive words. It is not analogous to other words, <a data-mce-href="http://mybestfriendgayle.blogspot.com/2011/01/today-in-post-race-history-nigger-x-219.html" href="http://mybestfriendgayle.blogspot.com/2011/01/today-in-post-race-history-nigger-x-219.html">not even slave</a>. Nigger has its own history, and it is not available for lease; 4. Slurs and other offensive language have their own histories that need to be heeded and known on their own accord.<br />
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Folks defended both sides by using The Nigger Test, and it doesn't work. It didn't work because it obscured the issues the letter writers were concerned with and placed queerness and blackness at odds. It also didn't work because we know that the writers of ABG know how to deploy <em>nigga</em> properly. In addition, The Nigger Test also allowed for the false analogy of <em>ABG</em> and other, non-fictional use of slurs and offensive language like Michael Richards or Don Imus, for example. The fallacy of those comparisons is that the latter examples were moments where such language was used with either lack of forethought or with the precise desire to incite, whereas the scene in<em> ABG</em> offers none of that. Which brings me back to Grandma Charlotte's point: It wasn't simply what Cece said; it was how she said it. Reviewing the scene, it's clear to me that those who wrote it have no Imus-like intentions, which is to say, they know what they're saying is problematic, and that's exactly why they're deploying it. Instead, what I saw was an attempt to say something snarky, funny even without knowing the full context. Like a kid cursing. The remark seemed lazy, haphazard. An attempt at a quick laugh that fell flat.<br />
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The joke didn't work. And it didn't work for the same reason the other jokes in the series do, which has nothing to do with being part of the in-group. Rather, it is a matter of being impeccable with language and requires an intimate knowledge of the words that are deployed. Still, eliciting offense instead of laughter does not call for the jettisoning of such language altogether. We must allow words, even the ones that hurt our feelings, to breathe. As writers, we have to be purposeful with our language. And should we choose to water the seeds of certain words, then it behooves us to understand the soil from which they grow. And if we fail at that, then our narratives do, too. It's a risk we take. It's why revision is key. It is why criticism--including the CFC letter--is crucial. It is why Grandma Charlotte, as she told me when I was a child, is always right.<br />
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<em>*Full disclosure: I consider myself a friend of Moya Bailey, one of the letter writers, and chatted with her briefly regarding this issue. </em><br />
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<em></em>N.B. There's a really good scene in the series, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-55wC5dEnc">Louie</a> that articulates this issue much better than I have. Feel free to skip to the 5:10 mark. *NSFW*</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-60640236837279117142011-10-24T10:52:00.001-05:002011-10-24T13:14:39.329-05:00Gumbel's Stern Words<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: inherit;">Last week, Bryant Gumbel's closing remarks at the end of his Emmy Award-winning HBO series, <em>Real Sports </em>sparked controversy:</span></span><br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Finally, tonight, if the NBA lockout is going to be resolved any time soon, it seems likely to be done in spite of David Stern, not because of him. I say that because the NBA's infamously egocentric commissioner seemed more hellbent recently on demeaning the players rather than his game's labor impasse.</span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"How else to explain Stern's rants in recent days. To any and everyone who would listen, he has alternately knocked union leader Billy Hunter, said the players were getting inaccurate information, and started sounding 'Chicken Little' claims about what games might be lost if players didn't soon see things his way. </span></span> </blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Stern's version of what has been going on behind closed doors has of course been disputed, but his efforts were typical of a commissioner who has always seemed eager to be viewed as some kind of modern plantation overseer, treating NBA men as if they were his boys. It's part of Stern's M.O., like his past self-serving edicts on dress code and the questioning of officials. His moves were intended to do little more than show how he's the one keeping the hired hands in their place. </span></span> </blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Some will of course cringe at that characterization but Stern's disdain for the players is as palpable and pathetic as his motives are transparent. Yes, the NBA's business model is broken. But to fix it, maybe the league's commissioner should concern himself most with the solution and stop being part of the problem."</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, the pundits went right to work dismissing Gumbel's comments, even with the recent anecdote about NBA star, <a data-mce-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/01/dwyane-wade-david-stern-yelled-labor-meeting_n_990329.html" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/01/dwyane-wade-david-stern-yelled-labor-meeting_n_990329.html">Dwyane Wade telling Stern not to point</a> at him like he was a child still very easy to find via a Google search. As the<a data-mce-href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2010/07/the-king-wants-rings-redux/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2010/07/the-king-wants-rings-redux/">LeBron James-Dan Gilbert situation</a> showed two summers ago and <a data-mce-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/15/adrian-peterson-slavery-nfl_n_836090.html" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/15/adrian-peterson-slavery-nfl_n_836090.html">Adrian Peterson's</a> comments during the NFL lockout last spring also proved, folks are committed to preserving the sanctity of chattel slavery in the United States. <a data-mce-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_Compares_2_U" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_Compares_2_U">Slavery is so Prince (or the Sinead O'Connor cover)</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: inherit;">And I think that's wrong.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, these are millionaires. Yes, professional sports labor strikes have absolutely nothing to do with the systemic and systematic dehumanization and disenfranchisement of an entire people, and its effects will not resound hundreds of years from now. I get it. I understand it. I promise I do. But...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: inherit;">Professional sports is a straight-up plantation economy. And when the primary bodies laboring in that economy are black, while those who both own and manage those bodies are mostly white--a group of white elites, mind you--it becomes a bit difficult <em>not</em> to think about the way that slavery echoes in <del style="color: red; text-decoration: line-through;"></del></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: inherit;">yet another</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: inherit;"> this multi-billion dollar industry.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When Stern took over as commissioner of the NBA, he was given the task to "clean up" a league that was regarded as too black to be economically successful; Stern's job was to make it more respectable, more palatable to white audiences. One such effort, for example, was instituting a dress code when hip-hop had thoroughly "invaded" the league. In other words, much of Stern's job is managing black bodies so that they are palatable to white audiences at all times. He manages their production on the court and their presentation while off. Yet we scoff at Gumbel's assertion that Stern is kind of a modern-day overseer?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: inherit;">I'm just sayin'. There is a curious racial component to both the NFL and NBA lockouts that cannot be adequately described as labor strife. It just can't, especially when we consider the incredibly short average career of both NFL and NBA athletes. Those bodies are used and discarded. (I will never forget how slowly Doug Williams shuffled into that Las Vegas food court. Never.) And when I hear pundits shut down the conversations that Gumbel's words reinvigorate, it's frustrating. Because it shuts down conversations about what it means to <a data-mce-href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2011/08/whats-your-fantasy/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2011/08/whats-your-fantasy/">vicariously "own"</a> these black bodies in fantasy leagues. It shuts down conversations about what means to call these black men "beasts" when we are in awe of their physical talents. It shuts down conversations about what it means to put players on the trading block or talk about their "value." It shuts down conversations about the <em>entire fucking NFL Combine</em>. It shuts down conversations about how the spectacle we so enjoy is contingent upon exploiting these men's physical skill set without ensuring that they have other skill sets to flourish once their bodies can no longer do the work of dunking and tip-toeing the sideline. It shuts down conversations about how irritated we get when athletes offer opinions; we don't want to know that they <em>think</em>!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The above isn't basic labor stuff. I'm no expert, but I'm not sure how the way workers are/were treated in factories, for example, give lucidity to this conversation. The plantation economy and the language of slavery sure is helpful, though. If there is another, less sacred example(s) we might employ to help explore Gumbel's words and all that they've reanimated, I'm very happy to hear them. But if we can only properly understand this by invoking the legacy of slavery, then why are we so reluctant?</span>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-77980240800792152852011-10-17T10:05:00.000-05:002011-10-17T10:05:15.383-05:00Alternatives to Occupying Things<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
Morning.<br />
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Last week, <a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/10/two-for-one-monday/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/10/two-for-one-monday/">I ranted a little </a>about the language of Occupy _insert city here_, and how we really need to consider how semantics inform our actions. As a bit of a reminder, I support actions that look to significantly counter the growing chasm between the haves and the have-nots, but I don't think we need to adopt the language--and behavior--of colonialists to do that. Besides, occupying occupied spaces does not make us much--if any--better than the folks we're protesting.<br />
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All that said, I thought I might start a list here. What alternatives are availble to those of us who can't or won't occupy _insert city here_ ? What else can we do to disrupt the heart of capitalism? Since we live here, it's nearly impossible not to participate, but perhaps we can limit our activity in some noticeable way.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><ol><li><strong>Barter</strong> -- There's no rule (is there?) saying one has to pay money for services. If you have a useful skill, why not offer that instead of the Benjamins? You need a hair cut? Offer to clean-up the shop in exchange for a fade. Accountant? Do someone's taxes in exchange for bike or car maintenance.</li>
<li><strong>Bank account</strong> -- Move your money. Find a bank or a credit union that didn't take a bailout. Or one that doesn't arrest folks for closing bank accounts. (<a _mce_href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/15/1026740/-Breaking:-30-Citibank-customers-arrested-for-closing-their-account" href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/15/1026740/-Breaking:-30-Citibank-customers-arrested-for-closing-their-account">So. Not. Cool.</a>) Hell, you and your friends pool your money and start your own bank. Yes, ATM's are convenient, but with bartering, who needs money?</li>
<li><strong>Support independent shop owners</strong> -- The holidays are coming. How about copping gifts some place not immediately tied to those Wall Street fat cats? This holiday season, buy unique gifts from a place that is not the subsidiary to some large multinational corporation. Or make gifts. Kwanzaa does not have a monopoly on the hand-made gifts game. That said, if someone can hand-make an iPad for me, I'll tweet or hate on people or fax stuff for her for like three years. (Sorry. Only skills I have.)</li>
<li><strong>Check 'Other'</strong> -- Seriously, folks. We can change the tennis match between Democrats and Republicans by adding other parties to hold serve. We treat our political system as if it's 1950s television. We're in the cable era now; let's require more choices. The two-party system is bogus. It's apparent. And both sides of the aisle are filled with folks who are more focused on maintaining power than employing it to make their constituents' lives better. There are options beyond Democrat and Republican. Perhaps those so inclined to vote should demand the other options.</li>
</ol>I hope we can generate conversation about how we can help with the aims of this OWS movement without occupying spaces. I know the above list is just a beginning. I also know that many folks who are in support of OWS and its goals want to help but can't. Perhaps those of us who can, will. I hope the (better) ideas I didn't mention here are shared. We've got to find a way to get what we want without replicating the behavior of our oppressors. Otherwise, such actions are pointless.</span>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-702598575227236572011-10-10T08:26:00.003-05:002011-10-10T11:44:18.165-05:00Two-for-One Monday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
Instead of giving you a long-winded blog wherein I attempt to make sense of (read: hate on) some nugget of pop culture, I thought I just comment on two issues that have stuck with me since I last wrote.<br />
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<strong>On Useless Knowledge and Occupy Wall Street</strong><br />
As a kid, I used to collect useless knowledge. You know, stuff like, If you tap the 57 on a Heinz bottle it'll make the ketchup come out faster. (You're welcome.) Now, I'm sure the invention of Google has made this kind of knowledge a little easier to come by and a lot less impressive--even when coming from the mouth of a 12-year-old. But I must share one more: Wall Street is called Wall Street because the Dutch built a wall to keep the indigenous folks from "invading." Perhaps this account is disputed, but even if this factoid is not entirely true, I think it's important to think about it in terms of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.<br />
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Grandma Charlotte says, "It's not what you say, it's how you say it." I understand that demonstrators are saying no to corporate greed and other reasons for the growing economic inequality in this country, but why do they have to employ the semantics of colonialism to express it? Although I can support the larger aims of these kinds of demonstrations, I cannot support <em>how</em> they are being expressed. I'm not trying to occupy anything. Calling for an occupation ain't revolutionizing anything.<br />
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Just as <a _mce_href="http://crunkfeministcollective.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/i-saw-the-sign-but-did-we-really-need-a-sign-slutwalk-and-racism/" href="http://crunkfeministcollective.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/i-saw-the-sign-but-did-we-really-need-a-sign-slutwalk-and-racism/">Slut Walk</a> has an inherently bourgeois, white woman tenor it--there's no point in attempting to reclaim a word you been called for forever and a day since your chastity has never been assumed--Occupy Wall Street has a similar feel. Ask the descendants of the indigenous folks the Dutch were trying to keep out--if they're still around. We like to remind folks on Columbus Day that you can't discover a place that is already populated; well, you can't occupy a space that is already occupied--and why would you want to?<br />
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Perhaps I am too crunk about semantics. But unless we are deliberate, <a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/08/whats-your-fantasy/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/08/whats-your-fantasy/">we think what we say what we act</a>. If we really want to revolutionize, how about everybody who shouldn't really be on Wall Street leave? Yeah. I didn't think so.<br />
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<em>N.B. I know that many <a _mce_href="http://theanimalnamesofplants.tumblr.com/post/11245511176" href="http://theanimalnamesofplants.tumblr.com/post/11245511176">sites</a> that speak to issues <a _mce_href="http://indigenousrev.tumblr.com/post/11234214419/occupy-boston-ratifies-memorandum-of-solidarity-with" href="http://indigenousrev.tumblr.com/post/11234214419/occupy-boston-ratifies-memorandum-of-solidarity-with">that (in)directly involve indigenous</a> folks and colonialist discourse have been eloquently arguing this point. I wanted to both echo and acknowledge them, and present a sloppy version of those arguments in this space.</em><br />
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<strong>Clothes, the Boogie Man, and... You?</strong><br />
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Has Hallmark come up with a line of coming out cards yet? Tomorrow is National Coming Out Day. Wouldn't coming out be easier if you could just head out to your local drugstore and pick up a pack of coming out cards that look just like those Valentine's joints we used to have to buy for our 3rd grade class? I can think of several catchy phrases to put on the front along with pictures of kittens--and Subarus<em>.</em><br />
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Seriously, though, I very rarely speak to the (black) youth who presumably <a href="http://blackyouthproject.com/">read this blog</a>. So to them and others who have trepidation about the ritual of coming out: If you don't want to, you don't have to. <a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/05/it-gets-better-when-youre-rich-andor-famous/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/05/it-gets-better-when-youre-rich-andor-famous/">Although it does help sell memoirs</a>, coming out in some (elaborate) manner is not an integral part of the gay certification process. Manage your life the best way you know how. If coming out feels dangerous, uncomfortable, or you're just otherwise not with it, I support you and your decision. And if there is (are) someone(s) telling you differently, exacerbating your trepidation, fuck them. Your life, your timing. <a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/ladies-first-and-only/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/ladies-first-and-only/">We love you, anyway<del style="color: red; text-decoration: line-through;"></del></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/ladies-first-and-only/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/ladies-first-and-only/">, Dana</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/ladies-first-and-only/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/ladies-first-and-only/">.</a><br />
<br />
Happy Columbus Needed a GPS Day.</span>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-51792361595158582692011-10-03T08:00:00.000-05:002011-10-03T09:59:51.520-05:00Today in Post-Race History: A Rock and a Hard Place<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I really hate it when politics interrupt my fantasy football preparation. There I was checking Twitter for tweets that might help my abysmal fantasy team when I started seeing posts about presidential candidate Rick Perry's little problem.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In case you missed it, according to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/rick-perry-familys-hunting-camp-still-known-to-many-by-old-racially-charged-name/2011/10/01/gIQAOhY5DL_print.html">a story published</a> in <i>The Washington Post</i> last Saturday, Perry's family's hunting camp was known as Niggerhead. In fact, the word was etched on a rock at the camp's entrance and, according to the article, the word was not painted over for quite some time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Gosh, don't you just love vintage America?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, Perry disputes several witnesses (some of them anonymous) who claim that there was a noticeable delay between when the Perry family began leasing the camp and when Niggerhead got the Sherwin-Williams treatment. Some claim Niggerhead could be seen on the rock throughout the 1980s and 1990s, while one alleges that Niggerhead was readily viewable on the rock as recently as 2008. Perry issued a patriotic nuh-unh with the following explanation:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.7362500070594251" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When my Dad joined the lease in 1983, he took the first opportunity he had to paint over the offensive word on the rock during the 4th of July holiday,” Perry said in his initial response. “It is my understanding that the rock was eventually turned over to further obscure what was originally written on it.” </span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And later:</span></span></span></div>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mother and father went to the lease and painted the rock in either 1983 or 1984,” Perry wrote. “This occurred after I paid a visit to the property with a friend and saw the rock with the offensive word. After my visit I called my folks and mentioned it to them, and they painted it over during their next visit.”</span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.21835634554736316" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love this response. If one has decided to lie, one might as well embellish. And Perry does so quite nicely. It's Perry's moral fortitude that brings the issue to the attention of his parents, because otherwise I suppose they wouldn't have noticed. Isn't it fun just imagining that conversation? </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perry: Hey Mom and Dad! Didn't know if you noticed, but there's a big rock that says </span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">'Niggerhead' at the entrance of our camp.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mom and Dad: Sure we did. Is there a problem?</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perry: Mom and Dad, the n-word is totally offensive. Didn't you guys see </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Roots</i>? <i>Eyes on the Prize</i>? Any movie starring Cicely Tyson?</span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or something like that. To ensure that discerning ears realized he was lying, Perry suavely mentions that his family had the word painted over </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">during the 4th of July holiday...because they are patriots like that</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Yet, if </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I may crudely paraphrase Frederick Douglass, what, to a niggerhead, is the 4th of July? But seriously, who outside of the campaign cares about Perry's statement regarding the matter? Isn't this the kind of response that we expected? God knows I hope this statement was sufficient. Otherwise, we may be hearing Perry's version of "A More Perfect Union," a speech I couldn't stomach the first time.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entire issue isn't about Perry's or his response, though; it's about ours. It's about our collective feigning of surprise that stories like this exist. It's about how offended we are--and why. We're not offended by the fact that Niggerhead existed, but about how long a future presidential candidate waited to paint over the words. Because, I suppose, we all always do what would be regarded as the right thing in a timely manner. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm not sure, though, what this story tells me about Rick Perry that I wouldn't otherwise know. Actually, I'm somewhat irked by the fact that <i>The Washington Post</i> allowed this many words to be dedicated to such a story. I understand, though. Such tales get clicks; they titillate us. They get us talking. But what they also do is allow racism to return to the realm of the impolite. Timing, after all, is everything. And one week after I joined the cavalcade of folks writing in response to the unjust killing of Troy Davis, we are talking about the name of the camp the governor who holds the modern-day record for prisoner executions. The death penalty is both classist and racist--and it is policy. Not painting over the word 'Niggerhead' is comparatively uncouth. But it is our wont to deal with surface level issues that allow us to believe we have positively exorcised racism from our body politic, instead of demanding acts that would eradicate racism to the degree that we would have to revolutionize our lifestyle. Responding to stories like 'Niggerhead' allows us to pretend that we've changed our diet. Getting riled up over the name 'Niggerhead,' then, is the moral equivalent to weight loss surgery. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact, I appreciate the symbolism of a rock with 'Niggerhead' on it at the entrance of a space where some of this country's most powerful (white) men have convened to engage in the violent act of hunting at one time or another over the years. As the article notes, the rock had been painted over, but a close observer could still see the words, "</span>In the photos, it was to the left of the gate. It was laid down flat. The exposed face was brushed clean of dirt. White paint, dried drippings visible, covered a word across the surface. An N and two G’s were faintly visible."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Eventually the rock was turned over, but it was never removed--maybe it can't be. I think that's one of the most apposite stories about race we've had in a while. Don't you?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-13899619077929817052011-09-26T08:37:00.000-05:002011-09-26T08:37:56.021-05:00They Reminisce Over You<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;">Last week I made the decision not to mention Troy Davis in my blog. This week, however, I feel the need to make a desultory remark or two. So random are my words that I am thinking about the law and morality. A bad move, I know. But I can't help it:<br />
<a name='more'></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Despite my overall pessimism and general belief that this country will rarely, if ever, do the right thing, the hours I spent watching Democracy Now!'s fantastic coverage of the Troy Davis case last Thursday evening revealed that occasionally a modicum of hope that dwells underneath a crusty armor of curmudgeonly discontent emerges just long enough to be thoroughly crushed before I can toss it back into its secret hiding place. In other words, by 11:09 last Thursday evening, I was totally shook.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">They killed Troy Davis. And those who had the power to stop it did not.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">After the Supreme Court decided that the travesty of justice would go on, the last hope I had was that maybe a prison guard would say no and that such an act of courage would spread. Yet I understand that such an act would have required the sacrifice of one's livelihood. That kind of heroism should not be necessary. When those in power refuse to do the right thing, how can one expect those who are more immediately vulnerable to model the kind of moral courageousness we'd wish to see in our leaders?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">The Obama Administration should have said--done?--something, instead of hiding behind the veil of civility. Such problem solving is beyond the pay grade of a beer summit, I suppose. So nevermind. (And yes, we should be "unfair" to Obama by questioning him about this. Because if you can conveniently embrace blackness as an election strategy, then you need embrace everything about it--including the "burden.")</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">If saying nothing about state sanctioned injustice is, and my friend <a _mce_href="whatijustread.tumblr.com" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-admin/whatijustread.tumblr.com">Ashon</a> noted, an act of civility, then perhaps it is time for us to act "inappropriate and uncivil" (terms that, interestingly, are often associated with black people, anyway). Clearly, civility--and respectability--hasn't gotten folks very far.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">They killed Troy Davis.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">But there are more Troy Davises waiting to be executed. And all those death sentences are wrong. They are cruel. They are unusual. And there are many others who did, indeed, commit the crimes that landed them on death row. And all those death sentences are wrong. They are cruel. They are unusual.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">And I am again drawn to the idea of a <a _mce_href="http://nihilismfornegroes.tumblr.com/" href="http://nihilismfornegroes.tumblr.com/">nihilism for Negroes</a> because, again, it seems like the only thing that makes sense. How else can my brain process the meaning of all this trouble in the world?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-55063837476475224332011-09-26T08:35:00.000-05:002011-09-26T08:35:42.997-05:00Transgender Pillars of Salt<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;"><img _mce_src="http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20091119/300.bono.chaz.lc.111909.jpg" alt="" class="alignleft" height="180" src="http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20091119/300.bono.chaz.lc.111909.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" title="chaz bono" width="180" />Although I'd like to spend this morning ranting about how Peyton Manning's neck is going to make this the most intolerable football season in years, I understand that no one but me, Colts fans, and folks who drafted him in their fantasy league really care. And so, I dedicate this morning's post to something we all care about. That's right.<em>Dancing with the Stars.</em></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">It seems that while I was preparing for fantasy football drafts and such, the ABC Network was looking for more than contestants when it enlisted Chaz Bono, transgender activist and child of Sonny and Cher. When <em>DWTS </em>announced that Bono, who underwent both a physical and social gender transition several months ago, would be taking part in this season, controversy ensued. Organizations such as <a _mce_href="http://onemillionmoms.com/" href="http://onemillionmoms.com/">onemillionmoms.com</a> have called for a boycott of the show, saying that Bono's casting was "unacceptable" and imploring Christians not to watch it--to prevent any requisite eye-gouging, I'm sure. <a _mce_href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/perkins-assails-abc-having-chaz-bono-dancing-stars" href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/perkins-assails-abc-having-chaz-bono-dancing-stars">The Family Research Council </a>has gone as far as to suggest that ABC is attempting to indoctrinate viewers--because, I suppose, one surely catches "the transgender" by looking.<a name='more'></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;"><em><img _mce_src="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" src="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: url(http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/more_bug.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; height: 12px; margin-top: 15px; width: 677px;" title="More..." /></em><br />
As much as I try to respect the views of others, even those who would love to ensure that gays like myself did not exist, this is just silly. And a really pitiful approach, actually. One million moms should know better. I'm only quasi-parental and I know that the worst way to keep anyone from doing something is by telling them not to do it. That's, like, basic parenting. You tell a kid not to touch something, and what does she do? Touch it. Congratulations, onemillionmoms. You've just boosted <em>DWTS</em>'s ratings. Further, if the FRC thinks that the LGBTQ community can successfully indoctrinate a noticeable segment of the population by having one transgender person--of 12 total contestants--appear on a show once every 13 seasons, then that says a helluva lot about the power of "the gay." Because, you know, ballroom dancing is otherwise a thoroughly heterosexual endeavor.<br />
<br />
Or perhaps the fear of one Chaz Bono "against" eleven other ostensibly cis-gendered contestants speaks more directly to the tenuousness of sexuality and traditional gender roles these organizations are attempting to preserve above anything else. The fear inherent to these hysterical responses to Bono's appearance on <em>DWTS</em> is so incredibly transparent, that one is compelled to wonder if treating Chaz Bono as if he is kryptonite is more of an attempt to defend having to confront the construction of gender than it is an attempt to defend traditional "values."<br />
<br />
Above all, though, I suspect that this entire controversy will unfortunately garner support for Bono and prevent us from remembering who we all should really be voting for. That's right. Ron Artest.</div></span>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-41490811583142901822011-09-26T08:34:00.000-05:002011-09-26T08:34:25.472-05:00Game Theory #Pause<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;"><a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/09/game-theory-pause/the-game-outs-50-cent-for-being-gay-480x332/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/09/game-theory-pause/the-game-outs-50-cent-for-being-gay-480x332/" rel="attachment wp-att-18588"><img _mce_src="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/The-Game-Outs-50-Cent-For-Being-Gay-480x332-335x231.jpg" alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18588" height="217" src="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/The-Game-Outs-50-Cent-For-Being-Gay-480x332-335x231.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" title="The-Game-Outs-50-Cent-For-Being-Gay-480x332" width="323" /></a>Not that I pay that much attention to hip-hop anymore, but rapper, [The] Game (when did he drop the article?) spoke out recently about gays and hip-hop, and I noticed. And by "notice" I mean someone mentioned it to me and I bothered to Google it. Call it preparation for LGBTQ History Month.<br />
In case you were wondering or concerned, "Game don't have a problem with gay people." Let's all take a moment and release that collective sigh of relief. I wish I could follow that quote with "<span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game don't have a problem with not making albums anymore," but that would be a lie--or a wish. Take your pick. But I digress. So, yeah, <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game don't have a problem with gay people, but he does have a problem with believing myths and spreading them as if they are factually correct. <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game may not have a problem with the gays--and by gays <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game seems to speak exclusively about gay men--but he does have a problem with closeted men sleeping with straight women and consequently spreading AIDS to straight men who, I guess, would otherwise not have gotten caught up. This theory, as many of us know, has gained the appellation, "The Down Low Myth," and <a _mce_href="http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/09/the_game_calls_for_gay_rappers_to_come_out_the_closet_but_spreads_hiv_downlow_myths_too.html" href="http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/09/the_game_calls_for_gay_rappers_to_come_out_the_closet_but_spreads_hiv_downlow_myths_too.html">several blogs have responded</a> to <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game's comments by<a _mce_href="http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2011/09/13/22879341.aspx" href="http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2011/09/13/22879341.aspx"> refuting his argument</a>. I support those efforts. And I hope those fans of <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game (because, seriously, who else was paying attention) who believed his words <a _mce_href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/darian-aaron/the-game-gay-rap_b_959044.html" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/darian-aaron/the-game-gay-rap_b_959044.html">read those responses</a> and gained some clarity. There was, however, something that the pundits missed, and I'd like to address it here.<br />
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<a _mce_href="http://allieiswired.com/archives/2011/09/the-game-outs-50-cent-for-being-gay/" href="http://allieiswired.com/archives/2011/09/the-game-outs-50-cent-for-being-gay/"><span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game logged on to Twitter</a> to clarify some of his initial statements. Because, you know, what better place to attempt to clarify something you said than a space that only allows you 140 characters at a time? <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game reiterated that he doesn't have a problem with gay people. To be sure, I think that's a really great thing to say. <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game went on, though. In typical "Some of my best friends are..." fashion, to prove that he really was indeed ok with gay people, <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span>Game mentioned that he's cool with his girlfriend's hair stylist, who's gay (duh) and rapper, 50 Cent, who <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game<em></em>also claims is gay.<br />
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Now, I've said this many times, but it bears repeating: I'm not a supporter of outing people. I think coming out is a ritual fraught with many problems. More importantly, I think people know their situation better than others, and if they've chosen not to come out, we need to respect that. In no way do I support outing people for some larger cause. That's word to Queen Latifah.<br />
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That said, when <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game suggested that gay rappers come out of the closet, I semi-nodded my head in agreement. Not because I think it would be an excellent way of countering the homophobic lyrics in hip-hop. Not because word that a rapper is gay would spark the same kind of gossipy interest we have when we hear about ministers getting caught in the park with their pants literally down. But because if the "right" group of rappers came out, then maybe gay hip-hop wouldn't suck so much.<br />
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I'm going to get in trouble for that last statement, but I stick by it. Hip-hop in its current state sucks. Gay hip-hop <em>really</em>sucks. I know. Most of any given genre sucks--maybe 10 or 15% doesn't. Yet I've yet to encounter enough decent gay hip-hop to fill that 10-15% void. But I'm convinced I can't because most of the good rappers are closeted for one reason or another, and out rappers generate a noticeable portion of their fan base precisely because they are out. There is something to be said about being drawn to a public figure because they seemingly represent you. I cheer for black people on <em>Jeopardy!</em> for that very reason. But when it comes to art, I'm a little more discriminating in my tastes. I'd much rather listen to a misogynistic, homophobic rapper who can actually spit than a politically correct one who can't. And I'm not going to support the latter. I just can't muster support based on representation alone. Clarence Thomas taught me that lesson many years ago when I watched his confirmation hearings with my great-grandparents after school. Yes, Tupac's "Dear Mama," may be uplifting and nice to some, but Biggie's "I Got a Story to Tell," is one of the illest, misogynistic yet poetic narratives you'll hear, and it makes "Dear Mama" sound like the wackness that it is. (Sorry.) The same rules apply for gay hip-hop. (Sorry.)<br />
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So, yes, I suppose on one level I'm with <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">The</span> Game. I want gay rappers to come out. And if my gaydar works, I'm pretty sure many of the good rappers--some of the best even--are closeted. And if they came out and kept rhyming the way they have, then maybe the wackness quotient of gay hip-hop would diminish some. A purely selfish reason, indeed. Then again, isn't that where the impulse to out other people stems, anyway?</div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-13712622958789017552011-08-29T08:10:00.001-05:002011-08-29T08:15:55.007-05:00What's Your Fantasy?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYn4xsE5v3Uo9UMG-_0ERhOPv1uEMim4sXlC-AT_a73s0JymDOdpgkqd-FqOCuUIzvb_0v6AvtPSBTusiXBPKJdPL6l1qybVqe6DO_mSIuHu5kxLPSxvfJmbC0iLbvN74Nf8mwpFxcvvQ/s1600/large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYn4xsE5v3Uo9UMG-_0ERhOPv1uEMim4sXlC-AT_a73s0JymDOdpgkqd-FqOCuUIzvb_0v6AvtPSBTusiXBPKJdPL6l1qybVqe6DO_mSIuHu5kxLPSxvfJmbC0iLbvN74Nf8mwpFxcvvQ/s320/large.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">I keep trying to come up with reasons to justify my addiction to (fantasy) football. I praise the parity of the NFL and argue that the helmets help create anonymity that makes football the ultimate team sport. I discuss the elegance of a tightly thrown spiral arching through the air, landing in the hands of wide receiver walking the tight rope of a sideline. Those things may all be true. But what is also true is that football is America's gladiator sport. It is violent and boorishly brutal. And homoerotic as hell. I love it.</span><br />
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</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Last Friday marked the inaugural draft party of the Dirty Dianas Fantasy Football League. A small group of women gathered at my homie, Maeg's house to <del style="color: red; text-decoration: line-through;"></del></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">get drunk</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> get in on the nerdiest way to watch sports. As the commissioner of this new league, I wanted a few things to happen: our league would be all women, we would throw a party (and there would be cake!), and despite my ophidiophobia, we'd hold a snake [!!!!] draft.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There are a myriad of ways that one can construct a fantasy football league. But, from what I can tell, there are two ways to hold a draft. The most common way is a snake [!!!!] draft, where the first person to draft in round one will be the last to draft in the second round, etc. According to the fantasy experts, though, the fairest way to draft is via auction, where players are ranked, their "dollar" value pre-determined, nominated during the draft process, and auctioned off to the highest "bidder." Yes, you read that correctly.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I know, I know. <a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2010/07/the-king-wants-rings-redux/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2010/07/the-king-wants-rings-redux/">LeBron's infamous decision</a> last summer stirred up incredible controversy, including discussions about whether or not multi-million dollar athletes could liken themselves to slaves. Indeed, professional sports is not chattel slavery, but the lexicon of slavery remains hauntingly useful for those who talk about sports. One need only follow scouts on Twitter during the NFL combine--the "audition" many college football players participate in before the actual draft--to understand what I mean. But in case you missed those tweets last spring, the language around fantasy football helps illustrate, too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you peruse <a _mce_href="http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=NFLDK2K11ranksTop300" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=NFLDK2K11ranksTop300">ESPN's fantasy football rankings</a>, for instance, you will find a dollar amount next to each name on the list under the heading "Auction." Of the top fifteen players, 14 are black. In a league where 65% of the players are black, the ease with which commentators and fantasy fans employ the language of slavery is chilling. Fantasy football participants love to talk about the players they own. Yes, own. Listening to a fantasy football podcast for just a few minutes in, say, October, will yield discussions of trade value and whether or not a player is equal to another. Now that I have successfully uploaded the team rosters on to our site, any member of the Dirty Dianas can edit her <em>trading block</em>by marking whether a player is "on the block" or "untouchable." Clearly, folks who play fantasy football are not engaging in the real life buying and selling of other human beings. Yet the language that helped vivify that institution resonates in the realm of the NFL draft and in the region of fantasy football.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And most of us use it with such ease.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps we should slow the impulse to criticize players when they say that they are being treated like slaves when the language we deploy to describe them seems to suggest that we view them as such. If someone talked freely about my wingspan and flight time, I might occasionally imagine that I am a bird. So, although we know that professional sports does not require plantation work, we still must wonder how quickly that point is obscured as players are paraded in front of team representatives and measured for their brute force and (natural) athletic ability so that their value can be determined. How stringently can we chastise <a _mce_href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/638213-rashard-mendenhall-defends-adrian-petersons-remarks-regarding-slavery" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/638213-rashard-mendenhall-defends-adrian-petersons-remarks-regarding-slavery">Adrian Peterson</a> for saying he's treated like a slave when ESPN has his auction value starting at $59? It seems to me that if he is ridiculous, so are we for not checking each other for so glibly hanging around the water cooler talking about who we own in our fantasy league. I cringe at the fact that looking for a job in academia is described as going on the market. How many fantasy football team <em>owners</em> twittered similarly problematic and obnoxious words about their ownership of Arian Foster <em>to Arian Foster</em> when he hurt his hamstring the other day? I cannot imagine the number.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This language is not necessary. Rather, it is the residual effect of a capitalistic society that reduces humans, particularly black humans, to tools or commodities whose value is purely determined by (white male) gazers, whether the stakes are actual or fictional. If we can call out millionaire players for their hyperbole, then surely we have the ability to check our own language and interrogate the ways that the words we use show what, who, and how we value.<a _mce_href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fantasy-footballs-1-billion-a-221105" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fantasy-footballs-1-billion-a-221105">With the popularity of fantasy sports</a> reaching well beyond the realm of nerdy white boys, it seems time we highlight the language we use when we play. After all, games both reflect and teach us about culture; what does the language of fantasy sports, then, tell us about the reality of ours?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">P.S. Happy birthday, Michael Joseph Jackson</span>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-72353213561714851492011-08-22T08:57:00.001-05:002011-08-22T10:37:02.909-05:00Commercial Break: Athlete Slash MusicianIt seems I've been <a href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/08/on-not-seeing-the-help/">more polemical</a> than usual these last few weeks. So how about something completely worthless and asinine--ok, more worthless and asinine than what I usually post here--this Monday? Because, frankly, all I have to say about <i>The Help</i>'s (and <i>The Smurfs') </i><a href="http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/archives/weekend_b._o._aug.19-21/">continued box office</a> success this weekend is: Effing really<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">‽</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">‽</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> (God bless the interrobang.)</span></span><br />
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Anyway, in case you missed it, the NFL lockout ended, and I'm using the breaks from dissertating to prepare for the upcoming fantasy football season. I'm ready to defend last year's title (and take that money); I've also started a women's fantasy football league (because that's why feminists burned their bras in the 70s). In an effort to find enough women to participate, the homie, Liz and I Twitter-stalked ESPN's Jemele Hill trying to get her to take one of our slots. Despite the hilarity of our tweets to her, she eventually declined due to schedule (or so she says #notbitter). One of tweets I sent her was a mash-up of the New York Jets, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-fTvRGo-GY">Bart Scott's now hilariously infamous post-game interview and Nu Shooz 80s hit, "I Can't Wait."</a> My foray into technological prowess combined with Deion "Must be the Money Sanders' induction into the NFL Hall of Fame a few weeks ago got me thinking about athletes and their musical careers. And so, instead of the scathing pop culture criticism you've grown used to, I present:<br />
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Athlete Slash "Musician": A List<br />
<ol><li>Carlos Boozer, "Winning Streak" -- "Winning Streak" is a little like Carlos Boozer's stat line. You see 20 (points) and 10 (rebounds) and think this guy's an All-Star. You see Twista and Mario Winans (Quit frontin'. You know <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc8CIHgvKlA">"I Need a Girl"</a> was your jam) are on this song and think that it might not be as bad as you think. Then you listen and the first and only thought you have is how terribly wrong you were to argue that the worst thing about Carlos Boozer was his defense.<br />
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Best line: <i>I used to be another fellow with hoop dreams/Now I got the game laced up/Shoe strings</i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f-6ws6VIT48" width="560"></iframe> </li>
<li>Roy Jones Jr. "Ya'll Must've Forgot" -- True Story: I remember seeing the premiere of this video on <i>106</i> <i>and Park</i>. And if Free and AJ can't find anything nice to say... "Ya'll Must've Forgot" might be most aptly described as: Roy Jones Jr. raps his boxing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">résumé</span>. That said, Jones Jr. must've forgot that raps lines are supposed to rhyme. </span><br />
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Best line: <i>And they got the nerve to say I ain't fight nobody/I just made 'em look like nobody</i>. Totally, Roy.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pWIqZKhNY90" width="420"></iframe> </li>
<li>Tony Parker "Balance-toi" -- One of the first things I learned in graduate school was that you seem a lot smarter if your rudimentary comment contains a French phrase--because everything sounds better in French. Tony Parker totally explodes that argument with one rap song. Best line: Uhh, who wants to translate this for me?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-WuEJX3Ty9s" width="420"></iframe></li>
<li>Carl Lewis "Break it Up" -- Remember when Carl Lewis jacked up the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJLvCM4j2mg">national anthem</a>? Well, this is worse. The "Break it Up" video is something like Olivia Newton-John's "Let's Get Physical" meets an 80s hairband video meets Carl Lewis' <i>SportsCenter</i> highlights. And you know what? I love every minute of it. <br />
Best line: The entire song is the best thing ever.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jamJ4-C_TME" width="420"></iframe></li>
<li>Kobe Bryant "K.O.B.E." -- I relish at any and every opportunity to clown Kobe Bryant. I'm still trying to decide if Tyra Banks singing the hook to this song is the best or worst thing about it. Why stadiums don't play this when Kobe is announced during the starting lineup is beyond me.<br />
Best line: <i>Type that be loud in public/refrain my hand from a slap?</i> Um, what? <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MpzJgLzzX38" width="420"></iframe></li>
<li>Ron Artest "Champion" -- Apparently right after thanking his psychologist after winning the NBA championship, Ron Artest (aka Metta World Peace) penned the lines of "Champions" wherein he touts his awesomeness on the hardcourt and every other playing field. FYI: If you need someone who specializes in the impossible, including pissing off the Zen Master, Phil Jackson, Ron's your guy. <br />
Best line: <i>Call me incredible/work ethic impeccable/I did it for the decimals</i> Thanks, Ron. Sincerely, Decimals.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mRrN4pmEuQA" width="560"></iframe></li>
<li>Shaquille O'Neal "What's Up Doc? (Can We Rock)"-- This already basketball-heavy list could have been populated entirely with Shaq songs, but I chose this one because I needed a reason to bring up Moc Fu, Chip Fu, and Poc Fu, known collectively as Fu Schnickens. Oh, and Shaq's dance moves! Best line: <i>That's ok, not being bragadocious/I'm supercalifragilistic Shaq is alidocious</i>. Indeed, Shaq.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RIAVegnlNjc" width="420"></iframe></li>
<li>Allen Iverson aka Jewelz "40 Bars" (NSFW) -- No, he's not <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI">talking 'bout practice</a>. Basically, Allen Iverson wants to kill you. And rob you. <br />
Best line:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Sons and daughters/one order you'll be floating in water </i>So much for the children being our future. </span></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2skYVPGExgY" width="420"></iframe></li>
<li>Juan Pierre "The Natural" -- Nothing like winning the World Series to make you feel like you can do anything. Juan Pierre must have gone to the Roy Jones Jr. School of Rapping because none of this shit rhymes. <br />
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Best line: <i>And then we what?/We went to New York.</i> Because you know he briefly forgot what happened next.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Vl0dqWhzU6k" width="420"></iframe></li>
<li>Deion Sanders "Must be the Money" -- Best for last. Confession: I listen to this song once a week. Deion Sanders was not only an incredible football and baseball player, but he was a hip-hop pioneer, sing-rapping more than a decade before Kanye, Pharrell, or Drake. The number of body rolls in this video make it must see tv. <br />
Best line: <i>A drop-top Benz when I'm with my lady-friends</i>. Because when's the last time you heard a woman referred to as a "lady-friend" in a rap song--or ever?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KJWSm13LBh8" width="420"></iframe></li>
</ol><div>Bonus: Willie Beamen "My Name is Willie" (NSFW) -- Sure, this comes from the movie, <i>Any Given Sunday</i>, but I couldn't resist. </div><div><br />
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</div><div><br />
</div>What better way to start your Monday than by making fun of rich men with ridiculous athletic ability? Cheers.<br />
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summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-34290894893040172492011-08-15T08:00:00.000-05:002011-08-15T08:17:02.962-05:00On Not Seeing 'The Help'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://newsone.com/files/2011/07/The-Help-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://newsone.com/files/2011/07/The-Help-2.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>I did not see <i>The Help</i> this weekend; I also did not read the book. Since I both read and saw <i>The Secret Life of Bees</i> a couple of years ago and am conversationally familiar with <i>The Blind Side</i>, I figured I had earned enough credit to sit this one out. Call it a mental health decision.<br />
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The title alone was enough for me to know to stay away. The synopsis confirmed that I had made the right decision: A young southern white woman with dreams of becoming a writer comes home from college and upon hearing the news that her mammy has abruptly left Mississippi for Chicago, realizes that black maids are treated differently from white people and thusly decides to write about them from <i>their </i>perspective. This, folks, is a classic case of <a href="http://readpop.blogspot.com/2009/03/random-acts-of-enwhitlement.html">cinematic enwhitlement</a>...and exactly how Hollywood--and the rest of America--addresses race: A well-meaning (often southern) and heretofore racially oblivious (shall we say color-blind?) white person randomly discovers that the Negro they love most (and by extension other black people) is treated "differently," becomes tragically affected by the epiphany, heroically takes up the cause (on a micro or macro level), and gets some Colored Only signs removed. Oh and a whole bunch of funny shit happens in the middle. Like Klansmen becoming comic relief. Yep. That's exactly how Jim Crow was.<br />
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Despite my decision not to see <i>The Help</i>'s version of what I've just described, I was within earshot of those circles who had decided to address the film. And you know what? <i>The Help</i> is exactly what I had expected: historically inaccurate, stereotypical, reductive. Although viewing such films and responding in kind is the kind of thing I might have done previously, it's become pretty apparent that my words (to the choir) are thoroughly unnecessary. There are plenty of better equipped people eloquently discussing the issues in films like <i>The Help</i>. <a href="http://www.abwh.org/images/pdf/TheHelp-Statement.pdf">See, for example, the Association of Black Women Historian's letter to fans of the film</a>.<br />
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Besides, I was neither invited to <a href="http://newsone.com/newsone-original/tmallory/the-help-the-movie/">Michelle Obama's White House screening of the <i>The Help</i></a> nor to any other free viewing party. In order to see <i>The Help</i>, then, I would have had to pay. And since there's no space on a dollar bill to write, "I only paid to see this movie so that I could talk shit about it in an informed manner," I figured it best to avoid the cineplex altogether. Paying to see the film would have simply translated into support for more of these kinds of films to be made, and any critical words I might have written on a blog would not have countered that action at all.<br />
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But (as Tyler Perry teaches us) my dollars can say something to Hollywood. So how about you and I take the 45 gazillion dollars we would have paid for snacks and tickets to <i>The Help</i> and put it behind, I don't know, <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1996857943/the-misadventures-of-awkward-black-girl">a kickstarter project </a>that counters these trite race narratives Hollywood keeps feeding the masses? <a href="http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/archives/dolen_perkins-valdez_novel_wench_optioned_for_film_adaptation/">Dolen Perkins-Valdez' novel, <i>Wench</i> has been optioned for film</a>. How about a bunch of folks buy her book so the film actually gets made? What if enough of us bought copies of <i>The Chaneysville Incident</i> to put it on a bestseller's list? And although I absolutely cringe at the idea, don't you want--and think people <i>need</i>--to see <a href="http://www.spectermagazine.com/ghostblog/octavia-the-prescient/">Octavia's work</a> on the big screen? (Nevermind.)<br />
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Or, you know, we could just all go see <i>Rise of the Planet of the Apes</i> again. #HailCaesar<br />
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P.S. I cannot believe Whoopi Goldberg and/or Morgan Freeman were not in this film. Just can't believe it.summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-65160345357422488632011-08-08T08:30:00.002-05:002011-08-08T10:02:51.110-05:00Some Unsolicited Love Advice for Queen Latifah<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(Since my last <a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/17412/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/17412/">two </a><a _mce_href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/08/the-miseducation-of-lauryn-hills-fans/" href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/08/the-miseducation-of-lauryn-hills-fans/">blogs</a> have been relatively serious, how about something light this Monday morning?)</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.s2smagazine.com/sites/default/files/media/image/QueenLatifah_072911.jpg.crop_display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.s2smagazine.com/sites/default/files/media/image/QueenLatifah_072911.jpg.crop_display.jpg" width="129" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Queen Latifah,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, look at you! Just the other week I was <a href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/ladies-first-and-only/">considering the conditions </a>under which you might come out, and now word on the street is you're <a href="http://s2smagazine.com/stories/2011/08/queen-latifah-warns-against-too-much-t-and">all up in the magazines</a> talking about what kind of women you like:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Queen Latifah:</span></strong> …I just like ladies who have class. Period. And if it’s “T and A” you’re sellin’, that’s fine, as long as that’s what you’re selling. But you don’t have to show everything, you know? You can hold some back and just be yourself and let your personality shine and let your individuality show. To me, that’s sexier. A confident woman is a sexy woman, in my opinion. And I think guys find that to be the same way.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><strong>Jamie:</strong> Right.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><strong><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Queen Latifah:</span></strong> You don’t have to show everything; you don’t have to put it all out there to attract a guy. Because what kind of guy are you gonna attract? What is he really looking for? If you wanna be a booty call, I guess you can throw it all out there. (laughs) But if you’re looking for a relationship with someone who respects you and respects things other than your body—your mind, your spirit, your personality, your smile—then you have to kind of exude that more so than just yo’ booty and yo’ titties.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></blockquote><div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Niiiiice ! (Before I go on, shout out to <i>Sister 2 Sister </i>magazine for still being in existence. Who knew?)</span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Now, Queen, I know that there's a very distinct possibility that your people will issue a statement saying you're not a lesbian and that you were simply answering a question completely unrelated to your sexuality. Fine, fine, fine. That's what PR people are for. Besides, we all know that interviewers are constantly asking women celebrities to chime in on the kind of women they like. Our bad for getting all crunk and jumping to conclusions. We'll cancel the parade. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Should you not issue such a statement, however, should this latest quote be yet another example of you edging closer to unequivocally admitting that you have an Isles of Lesbos stamp in your passport, well, <strike>about effin' time </strike>good for you. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">I'm sure your people started receiving calls from Ellen and Olivia Cruises and Rosie and Suburu and Bravo after your appearance on <i>Single Ladies, </i>thereby confirming what your character, Sharon Love suggested: that being famous and gay doesn't really seem all that bad. Gay is not the new black, but it can be the new green for the more notable of us. I suspect that you have time to endorse a few more products in between filming movies. As the great Katt Williams says, "By all means, get ya paper, boo boo." Yet the other word on the street is that your long-time girlfriend broke up with you and that you want her back desperately. So here's a bit of advice from a lowly commoner: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Coming out as a business decision is lucrative; coming out to get your girl back is more gangster than Cleo. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Listen, Queen, I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I'm just sayin'. Publicly acknowledging what the public already knows in an effort to get back your boo could be the best business decision you make this year. What you really want is to be a guest judge on <i>Top Chef</i> so that you can hype your HSN line. Saying you're gay could get you all of that. But confirming you're gay under the guise of a broken heart!? You get your guest appearance, you and your woman (reunited and it feels so good) are on the cover of <i>Ebony</i> (seriously, if Tyler Perry can talk about a "girlfriend" in <i>Ebony</i> it can't be all that blasphemous to put you and your girl on the cover), your jazz albums are back on the charts (wtf?), <i>and</i> all of a sudden there's pre-Oscar buzz about you in the starring role for the Bessie Smith biopic written, produced, and directed by that white dude who brought us <i>Ray</i> and <i>Dream Girls</i>...And you prove me correct.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Do you see my vision, Queen? This is not about pride parades and rainbow wallpaper in your guest bath. This is about getting you into the Oscar <i>winners</i> party. It could be epic. And you'd get your baby back. Think about it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Thank me later.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Sincerely,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">Summer M.</span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-17103358558828551822011-08-01T08:00:00.000-05:002011-08-01T08:00:19.024-05:00The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill's Fans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blackcelebkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/hill6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.blackcelebkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/hill6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Last week, Lauryn Hill announced the birth of her sixth child, a son, and then somehow found the <a href="http://idolator.com/5957422/lauryn-hill-la-rising-after-giving-birth">strength to perform in LA</a> just days after giving birth. Of course, this newest edition to Hill's family surprised very few, since photographs of her on stage during her Moving Target tour last spring led to speculations that she was pregnant--a rumor she later confirmed. As is the tendency when news of Hill's personal life emerges, the commoners side-eyed, sighed, smh'd and almost angrily mumbled about Lauryn <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zTt9_7MX9Y">running game like the Knicks/build [us] up only to lose the championship</a>. Would she still appear at Rock the Bells and perform 1998's axis-altering solo debut, <i>The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill </i>as had been planned? Would we ever hear that follow-up studio album? This latest pregnancy put everything (the fans wanted) in jeopardy.<br />
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And then, Rohan Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley and the father of Hill's five other children, deflected our attention back to Hill's pregnancy. Almost as soon after we got that <i>Lauryn Hill is pregnant again?</i> look off of our faces, Marley turned to Twitter and denied paternity, his fathering this child, too, being something many had simply taken for granted. The vitriol with which many responded to Marley was palpable through our keyboards, and, perhaps, not unwarranted. After all, how many of us considered Marley an inherent part, if not the entire reason for Hill's "fall"? Wasn't he the one who started seeing Hill when he was already married? Did we not blame Hill's failure to come back on her seemingly constantly being pregnant...by Rohan Marley? What (career) woman would have <i>that </i>many kids voluntarily? He was keeping her from us, right? And here Rohan was publicly denying Lauryn and their unborn child. How dare he?<br />
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Many of us responded similarly last week when Rohan, again on Twitter, congratulated Ms. Hill on the birth of her new son. And again: How dare he disrespect Hill by claiming denying that he was the father of this latest child? Our righteous indignation, it seems, was somewhat misguided. In a surprising move, Lauryn Hill responded to fans decrying Marley's denial of paternity, stating (you guessed it, via Twitter):<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">“Mr. Marley and I have a long and complex history about which MANY inaccuracies have been reported since the beginning. To speculate without the facts can only cause people to form WRONG conclusions. We both value privacy and for that reason defend and preserve our right to it. Contrary to numerous reports, Mr. Marley did not abandon me while pregnant with his child. We have had long periods of separation over the years but our 5 children together remain a joy to both of us. Thank you for you concern and I appreciate all the well wishes regarding the birth of my new son.”</span> </span></blockquote>I guess we were wrong in our assumption(s). Duly noted.<br />
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Now, I'm not seeking to absolve Marley or his tweets. I found Marley's words of denial and later congratulations reeking of the stench of passive-aggressiveness. As part of such a private couple, it seems odd that Marley would be so public in his remarks--congratulatory or otherwise. And in both cases, Marley shot first, if you will, responding to rumors through a not so subtle invocation of Hill's sexuality and sexual practices. Marley's tweets seemed insincere and particularly tasteless, especially since they were directed towards someone he had been involved with since the late 1990s and has children with.<br />
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Yet news that Marley is not the father of Hill's newborn is what hardly interests me in this story. As I hinted to above, it seems to me that one of the narratives that has been constructed about Hill's private life is one that places Marley at--or at least near--the center of Hill's alleged downfall. That somehow, Hill would produce <i>The Miseducation...</i> <i>Part II</i> if she <strike>hadn't gotten caught up in some real basic shit</strike> would just stop having babies with Rohan. This, of course, stands in stark contrast to the story we tell ourselves about Erykah Badu who, although <a href="http://brownsista.com/erykah-badu-responds-to-her-critics/">we still position ourselves as judge and jury </a>of her sexual practices, has garnered some sort of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-KIf79BHdY">mythical status when it comes to sexual encounters</a>. The story we've created for Lauryn, however, is one where she is sort of endlessly dealing with Rohan, waiting for him to stop <a href="http://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/dixon.html">stunting like his daddy</a>, cavorting with ex-wives or Brazilian models, and just come home. This may have something to do with the vulnerability and subject matter on <i>The Miseducation </i>and the way we came to understand Hill's relationship with fellow Fugees band member, Wyclef Jean. It also probably has to do with the fact that we just can't help but monitor black women's sexuality. The title of CNN's article about the matter, "<a href="http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/27/who-is-lauryn-hills-baby-daddy/">Who's Lauryn Hill's Baby Daddy?</a>"is proof enough of this point.<br />
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The mere suggestion, by Hill herself, that her relationship with Marley is complicated to say the least, that he is not the father of her child--thereby suggesting, for the monogamous persons paying attention--that during those lulls she was engaged with other(s) and not necessarily waiting for Rohan to act right, nuances overly simplistic stories Hill's (alleged) fans have been circulating amongst each other. Perhaps the correction issued by Hill not only shows us how wrong we are and how we really just need to shut up about such things, it also exposes the level of difficulty the public have in properly computing non-normative relationships. Hill's statement demands a re-evaluation of our motives behind constructing her as a non-agent wasting her immense talent by allocating her time to fraught romantic relationships. Such tales only distract us from other, perhaps more honest assessments of her reclusiveness: that she wanted to (be a) mother, or that, as <a href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/blog/2011/07/17412/">Amy's death reminded us</a>, fame--and our demands on the famous--really, really sucks.<br />
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Not that we should be talking about any of this anyway.summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-92189119216035708052011-07-25T08:00:00.003-05:002011-08-01T00:22:50.006-05:00Amy Winehouse (1983 - 2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/files/2011/07/amy-winehouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/files/2011/07/amy-winehouse.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>Many of us were not surprised, but shocked nonetheless to learn of British soul singer Amy Winehouse's sudden death at the age of 27. Winehouse was found dead in her London home on July 23. As is the trend these days, fans and friends of Winehouse set Twitter on fire with condolences and all the mourning one can pack into 140 characters (or fewer). Sometimes, the internet is the only place big enough to collect all the sadness that accompanies such news. The world lost a very talented person two days ago.<br />
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Although the cause of death has yet to be determined, many have speculated that Winehouse's long and highly publicized struggle with drugs is the reason--at least in part--for her leaving this realm at such a young age. More than likely, they are right. I hope, as information emerges that will inevitably contribute to the narrative chronicling Winehouse's last few hours--a tale that will surely reach folkloric status--that we remember a few things. First, addiction, more accurately conquering an addiction, is not a matter of will power. Addiction is a disease that has to be treated, and those of us with hubris enough to judge folks who are struggling clearly have no idea that overcoming addiction is not a matter of strength of mind. Second, as much as we might romanticize the 27 Club, not many of us want to become members. There's a stark correlation between what troubles an artist and that which makes her great--or at least a strong belief in this seeming phenomenon. As someone who does not believe that happy art is good, I fall prey to such thinking. Winehouse's death is a moment to reflect on such theories. Finally, fame sucks. And if you don't believe me, look around. I cannot begin to imagine what it would be like to have your fuck-ups, your mistakes at 18, 21, 25 publicized for everyone to see.<br />
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Inevitably, (more) conversations about Winehouse's relationship to black music and larger issues of black cultural appropriation will re-emerge. It's my view that one might place an asterisk by the names of white British soul singers (Lisa Stansfield, Simply Red, Eurhythmics) that are uttered in such discussions. No matter what one's opinion of Winehouse and her relationship to black music is, she was a freakishly talented singer with a deep appreciation for (black) music, more than many of her black contemporaries featured prominently on your favorite blazing hip-hop and R&B station. At the end of the day, Winehouse made timeless, unforgettable music, and sadly left an abbreviated oeuvre for generations of fans to come to know and appreciate.<br />
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May she realize the peace she could not find while living.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tkLiYIDD794" width="560"></iframe>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-56740411113831310442011-07-18T08:16:00.001-05:002011-07-18T11:21:32.279-05:00Ladies First (and Only)?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bet.com/content/betcom/news/celebrities/2011/07/13/queen-latifah-talks-sexuality-on-single-ladies/_jcr_content/featuredMedia/newsitemimage.newsimage.dimg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://www.bet.com/content/betcom/news/celebrities/2011/07/13/queen-latifah-talks-sexuality-on-single-ladies/_jcr_content/featuredMedia/newsitemimage.newsimage.dimg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">It wasn't until I sat down to write this that I realized I'd have to confess to watching <em>Single Ladies</em>--more than once. It's true. Admittedly, I watched the first episode because I think <span _mce_style="text-decoration: line-through;" style="text-decoration: line-through;">Dionne</span> Stacey Dash is fine. And although I find the acting in some ways utterly intolerable, somehow I've seen enough episodes since to still be able to follow the story line. Saying I watch because I want to support Lisa[waaaaaybeyondhershelflife]Raye for miraculously still finding work--even in a recession--is pretty unconvincing. Perhaps I should just blame baseball season. Apparently, I'm not alone. Viewership of <em>Single Ladies</em> has been consistent, and Vh1, which has been steadily rebranding itself as a grown and sexy, older sibling counterpart to BET's blazing hip-hop and R&B, will more than likely renew the (two-thirds) black version of <em>Sex and the City</em> for another season.</span><br />
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Last week, <em>Single Ladies</em> accrued the most internet buzz it's had since the premiere, and it wasn't because viewers still find it hard to believe that there are that many straight people in Atlanta. (Or maybe that's just me.) Series executive producer, Queen Latifah made cameos on the last two episodes, appearing as Sharon Love, main protagonist Val's (Stacey Dash) former college roommate. As a teaser for last week's show, two weeks ago Love, a television personality, admitted to sleeping with Val when they were college roommates. Unfortunately for Val, the admission came while Love was mic'd and on air. Then last week, Love visited Val's boutique, offering following insight:<br />
<blockquote><span _mce_style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“It turns out being gay is fabulous. My Twitter is all atwitter. I have six new Facebook fan pages. And for every sponsor that’s fallen out, I’ve gotten two more. Who knew? Being gay is the new black.”</span></blockquote>Yes, Sharon, I suppose it is. Such a minor plot point might not normally cause such an internet stir. Yet folks have speculated about Queen Latifah's sexuality for practically her entire career, and Latifah's role in <em>Set it Off</em> as hyper-butch, bank robber Cleo notwithstanding, her remarks as Sharon Love mark the first moment that the queen has seemingly embraced (the idea of) the gay. QL's brief appearance on <em>Single Ladies</em> has left many of us wondering if Sharon Love may be a foreshadowing of what real life announcements may come. Does Queen Latifah intend to officially come out soon? <a _mce_href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Coming_Out_Day" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Coming_Out_Day">October 11</a> is just around the corner.<br />
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I'm more interested in a public apology for <em>Bringing Down the House </em>and forcing us to endure Common as the romantic lead in a movie than I am about Queen Latifah confirming some shit we already know. And I suspect that QL might only admit that she's been scuba diving in the lady pond like she was looking for Nemo if, in fact, she could pull a Sharon Love and turn such public confirmations into some lucrative lesbionicness. We're still waiting for our black Ellen, I guess. Sheryl Swoopes is on the back of my almond milk carton. Shout out to Wanda Sykes, but that voice is nearly Talib Kweli-esque. And although she did ride the "I sleep with chicks" wave until it crashed into a talk show and increased publicity, frankly she never had the pre-coming out cache of Degeneres--or Latifah. Furthermore, Sykes' situation is hardly analogous, and can't necessarily serve as a good measure of what Latifah might gain--or lose--should she choose to come out. It was--and still is--pretty apparent that Sykes has very little interest or investment in a black audience, and seems to nearly exclusively appeal to a white and gay one; QL, on the other hand, through her early days in hip-hop, starring role in <em>Living Single</em>, and the fact that she hosted last year's BET Awards, has a sizable one and may have some concerns that coming out will alienate black audiences who are presumably more homophobic than others.<br />
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So perhaps Sharon Love is QL sticking her proverbial toe in the water. With Whoopi Goldberg as perhaps the only precedent to QL's Hollywood popularity, there's a lot at stake. Maybe our e-responses will help gauge what more, if anything, QL may say. If rumors of their break-up are untrue, perhaps Dana and Jeannette can become the black gay version of Barack and Michelle. Maybe black gay America may soon have its own first couple? Next thing you know our favorite Cover Girl is on the red carpet holding hands with her lady talking about adopting babies. Don't hold your breath, though. QL's may counter her <em>Single Ladies </em>cameo with a string of appearances wherein she returns to being annoyingly heterosexual, as is her wont.<br />
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We'll see.summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715793990530105949.post-84575287474664808932011-07-11T10:55:00.000-05:002011-07-11T10:55:59.689-05:00On Little Dragon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Littledragon_(300dpi).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Littledragon_(300dpi).jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">If I had to choose, I suppose I would list Little Dragon as my favorite band. In fact, I spent the entire weekend listening to the quartet's second album, <em>Machine Dreams</em> perhaps in a little subconscious preparation for the release of their new album, <em>Ritual Union</em> next week.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Normally, I leave the music posts to Dallas, but a few words about the quartet from Gothenberg, Sweden: THEY ARE FANTASTIC.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I have to credit an ex for turning me on the Little Dragon several years ago. She had an assistant who slipped her a Little Dragon CD and upon hearing the opening notes of "Twice," she caught the Holy Ghost and started playing it on the radio. I, of course, benefited from this hand-to-hand exchange, and was also instantaneously converted into a fan, especially once I realized that the lead singer of Little Dragon, Yukimi Nagano, had been the voice on all those Koop songs I dug. I'm usually mad late to the game, but I'm glad to say I entered the Little Dragon building on the ground floor, and have been more or less glad to see their following swell.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Perhaps this is why I feel so, I dunno, invested in them. And as a selfish fan, this latest increase in their popularity concerns me. Yukimi seems to be everywhere: magazine spreads, on songs with Big Boi, on songs that are later "remixed" with a Drake verse. With my "Little Dragon" Google alert on fire lately, I worry that my beloved Little Dragon will soon go the way of Janelle Monae: awesome as a below the radar artist, but thoroughly and obnoxiously pretentious and intolerable once the masses start paying attention.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The first time I saw LD in Chicago, I went alone. I was standing by the bar waiting for my drink, and Yukimi Nagano walked by only to return moments later, standing close enough for me to tap her on her shoulder and say something dumb like, "Hey, next to those fish and Ikea, you guys are like the greatest Swedish export ever," but I was way too shook to say anything to her. Instead I was too shook, and opted to text my friends about how I was close enough to spill a drink of Little Dragon's lead singer. Next time they blow through the City of Wind, I doubt such intimacy will exist.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Although my track record of all-time favorite artists--Res, Esthero, Van Hunt, Lauryn Hill, to name a few--allows my narcissistic mind to logically conclude that the last thing a musician wants is me as a superfan, in actuality, I worry less about or even them releasing my personal jam as a single, and more about the way that notoriety seemingly destroys artistry. It's the curse of becoming a trend, I suppose. First you're a group of backpackers begging to for someone to listen to your demo. A decision or two later and you're the half-time entertainment at the Super Bowl. The capitalistic aspects of fame suck like that. Dear white Jesus, please don't let Little Dragon become the next Black Eyed Peas.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Yukimi's voice is so unique, though, it can't be long before <em>everyone</em>--including Pepsi or somebody--will start paying attention. I suppose those of us hard core Little Dragon stans can hope the group either a.) resist the temptation of being the soundtrack to Apple's latest ad, or b.) somehow find a way to be the same inspiring, quirky, creative, and ever-evolving band <em>and </em>super popular.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Cross your fingers.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tcP5ivpLbCM" width="560"></iframe></span></span>summer of samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07104085798565882996noreply@blogger.com2