Don Imus called the Rutgers University women’s basketball team “nappy headed hos.” This set off a fury among black commentators. The fury stirred Imus to apologize. When that wasn’t enough, sponsors such as American Express and General Motors backed out of his program. Of course with the bottom line and their image in jeaporady, MSNBC and CBS put Imus on suspension and finally fired him. So has justice been served for the Rutgers women, black women and women in general? Does firing Imus get to the heart of the matter? What is the heart of the matter? Why did Imus say these things?
The fact is “nappy headed hos” came straight from black youth culture. Listen to the lyrics of much of rap music and you will certainly find these words said over and over again. Guess who is mostly listening to rap music, young white males. So it’s just like when a little kid cusses and everyone wonders where he got that kind of language. Imus got his language from our kids. Al Sharpton said it’s more of a problem for Imus to say this because he is a mainstream journalist. I disagree. The real problem is when our kids say it and believe it about themselves. That is what’s hurting us. Don Imus can’t degrade us. We are degrading ourselves.
Frederick Douglass was once riding on a train. The staff on the train told him he had to go and sit in the baggage car. Another person said that staff member must not have known who Mr. Douglass was to degrade him in this manner. Fredrick Douglass replied, “They cannot degrade Frederick Douglass. The soul that is within me no man can degrade. I am not the one that is being degraded on account of this treatment, but those who are inflicting it upon me.”
One can only degrade oneself. So when Don Imus or Snoop Doggy Dogg or Ludacris or any one else calls you names, they are only demonstrating what grade they are. Just know who you are.
The media and media hogs are always getting on television taking up time talking about things that shouldn’t really matter to us (i.e. Who’s the father of Anna Nicole’s baby?). This only serves to divert our attention from what really matters. OUR KIDS ARE FAILING SCHOOL. THEY CAN’T READ. THEY ARE KILLING EACH OTHER IN THE STREETS. THEY NEED US TO PAY ATTENTION.
So stay focused. Don’t get caught up in the media hype. What Don Imus says or doesn’t say about us is not going to heal the ills among us.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Woman's Work
To be black and female.
A curse. A gift.
Generations of backbreaking, soul-wrenching work.
Woman’s work.
We have done it so well that others copy us,
fear us,
revere us,
try to stop us,
hate us,
love us,
judge us,
tremble at the thought of us.
When Europeans first came in contact with us they stood in awe of us.
How we walked as graciously as lionesses, strong, confident, with our heads held high. This is the definition of beauty they said.
During slavery we took care of our children while nursing other people’s children and working from sunup to sundown.
They wondered “How in the world does she do it?”
We taught them how to laugh to keep from crying.
Sing when you want to moan.
Dance when your feet are aching.
When others complained about the size of their butts, hips and thighs,
Monique and Beyonce showed them how to “drop it like its hot”.
So when someone calls you a bitch, a nigger or a ho,
You remember who you really are.
A curse. A gift.
Generations of backbreaking, soul-wrenching work.
Woman’s work.
We have done it so well that others copy us,
fear us,
revere us,
try to stop us,
hate us,
love us,
judge us,
tremble at the thought of us.
When Europeans first came in contact with us they stood in awe of us.
How we walked as graciously as lionesses, strong, confident, with our heads held high. This is the definition of beauty they said.
During slavery we took care of our children while nursing other people’s children and working from sunup to sundown.
They wondered “How in the world does she do it?”
We taught them how to laugh to keep from crying.
Sing when you want to moan.
Dance when your feet are aching.
When others complained about the size of their butts, hips and thighs,
Monique and Beyonce showed them how to “drop it like its hot”.
So when someone calls you a bitch, a nigger or a ho,
You remember who you really are.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Have We Come to the End of the Era of Black College Pride?
Florida A&M University has in recent weeks been at the center of negative press and publicity. The state of Florida has even threatened to close the school. Some would see this closure as a tragedy because of the rich history and legacy of FAMU and black colleges in general.
The story of black education in America is one of struggle, focused determination and triumph against all odds. Before the end of the Civil War, blacks were prohibited from education in many Southern states. Those blacks who did receive education often taught themselves at the threat of punishment and even death. After the Emancipation Proclamation, some schools were established by ordinary people who believed education was the key to true liberty. They pooled their money, labor and resources to make sure their children would learn. Other private institutions were set up by churches and the Freedmen’s Bureau. One such private church-sponsored school is Edward Waters College, the oldest black college in Florida. It was established by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in 1866.
Later, the United States government thought it was necessary to extend educational opportunities to more than just the wealthy. In 1862 the U.S. legislature enacted the Morrill Act to provide for the higher education of America’s ordinary folk. This act gave land to the states to be used for building colleges and universities to train working class people. These schools were called land-grant institutions. However, this act did not guarantee the education of blacks. Therefore, a second Morrill Act said states that received federal land-grant money had to provide for the education of African Americans as well. As a result of this act, FAMU was founded in 1887 as a land-grant institution. Many other black colleges and universities began as public land-grant schools as well.
The privately founded and funded institutions along with the public land-grant institutions went on to nurture and train many generations of black leaders. Toni Morrison (Noble Prize Winner and author), Sean Combs (producer and entrepreneur), Spike Lee (filmmaker), Common (Hip Hop artist), Keith Clinkscales (former editor of Vibe and CEO of Vanguard Media), Kwame Kilpatrick (youngest mayor of Detroit), Darrell Armstrong (NBA player), Samuel L. Jackson (actor), Ronald McNair (astronaut), and Steve McNair (NFL player) are just a few examples.
Today many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are in serious financial and management trouble. FAMU is only one example. There were originally 117 HBCUs. That number is declining as these historic schools lose accreditation, funding and students turn to majority schools.
Proponents of HBCUs argue that they are still very necessary. Some reason they give are that ¾ of all black Ph.D.s did their undergraduate work at black schools, black students succeed at a higher rate at black schools and black students gain the unquantifiable benefits of self awareness, confidence, leadership experience and pride when attending black schools.
Others argue that the country is moving beyond the need for separate schools for minorities. They say these schools violate laws against segregation. These schools only serve to separate the races and dilute funding sources and support for all students.
So are HBCUs still necessary or are they hurting us? Please comment about this issue. Make sure to indicate your age and where you are from.
The story of black education in America is one of struggle, focused determination and triumph against all odds. Before the end of the Civil War, blacks were prohibited from education in many Southern states. Those blacks who did receive education often taught themselves at the threat of punishment and even death. After the Emancipation Proclamation, some schools were established by ordinary people who believed education was the key to true liberty. They pooled their money, labor and resources to make sure their children would learn. Other private institutions were set up by churches and the Freedmen’s Bureau. One such private church-sponsored school is Edward Waters College, the oldest black college in Florida. It was established by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in 1866.
Later, the United States government thought it was necessary to extend educational opportunities to more than just the wealthy. In 1862 the U.S. legislature enacted the Morrill Act to provide for the higher education of America’s ordinary folk. This act gave land to the states to be used for building colleges and universities to train working class people. These schools were called land-grant institutions. However, this act did not guarantee the education of blacks. Therefore, a second Morrill Act said states that received federal land-grant money had to provide for the education of African Americans as well. As a result of this act, FAMU was founded in 1887 as a land-grant institution. Many other black colleges and universities began as public land-grant schools as well.
The privately founded and funded institutions along with the public land-grant institutions went on to nurture and train many generations of black leaders. Toni Morrison (Noble Prize Winner and author), Sean Combs (producer and entrepreneur), Spike Lee (filmmaker), Common (Hip Hop artist), Keith Clinkscales (former editor of Vibe and CEO of Vanguard Media), Kwame Kilpatrick (youngest mayor of Detroit), Darrell Armstrong (NBA player), Samuel L. Jackson (actor), Ronald McNair (astronaut), and Steve McNair (NFL player) are just a few examples.
Today many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are in serious financial and management trouble. FAMU is only one example. There were originally 117 HBCUs. That number is declining as these historic schools lose accreditation, funding and students turn to majority schools.
Proponents of HBCUs argue that they are still very necessary. Some reason they give are that ¾ of all black Ph.D.s did their undergraduate work at black schools, black students succeed at a higher rate at black schools and black students gain the unquantifiable benefits of self awareness, confidence, leadership experience and pride when attending black schools.
Others argue that the country is moving beyond the need for separate schools for minorities. They say these schools violate laws against segregation. These schools only serve to separate the races and dilute funding sources and support for all students.
So are HBCUs still necessary or are they hurting us? Please comment about this issue. Make sure to indicate your age and where you are from.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)