A Black Face at the Tea Party

Dave Chapelle used to do a sketch about Clayton Bigsby, a black white supremacist member of the KKK. This guy would go on and on about how niggers are lazy, good-for-nothin’ swindlers. He became a leader of the white supremacist movement and would hype the crowd at Klan rallies, ending every speech with “White Power.” Bigsby didn’t know he was black because he was blind. The white people attending the rally didn’t know Bigsby was black because he had on a hood. Chapelle used to joke that he figured that sketch would eventually get the show cancelled. He was always willing to push the envelope and take risks with his humor. I thought the sketch was genius in how it showed the ridiculousness of racism and hating someone because of the color of their skin.

Now I’m questioning my own prejudice. I recently read about a black conservative musician named Lloyd Marcus. He gets the crowd pumped at the rallies on the Tea Party Express Tour, a conservative movement that wants to “take the country back.” From who, I wonder. During the 2008 campaign, Marcus sang his own version of “Sarah Smile” to cheer up Sarah Palin. Marcus wrote the “American Tea Party Anthem.” The lyrics call the President’s agenda a socialistic scheme that seeks to redistribute wealth to lazy folk and kill the American dream. Sound familiar? The video for the song mocks the President.

Some of the protesters at the rallies say things like, “They can have my country when they pry it from my cold dead hands.” Protesters also expressed fears that all of President Obama’s “czars” are either communist or socialist. They are afraid the President is going after kids and conducting an experiment with population control. They also held up signs showing the President as an African witch doctor. Some advertised about militia training, saying civil war is an option if necessary. Wow!

Is it fair for me to be sickened by the fact that Marcus, an African American man has become the poster child for this movement? Because I am. Marcus and his supporters say he is being unfairly judged by many African Americans because his views don’t line up with Democratic principles. The vast majority of African American voters are registered as Democrats. I’m not sickened because he disagrees with the Democratic Party’s beliefs. I don’t agree with all the Democratic Party’s beliefs. I’m not a Democrat. I’m sickened because Marcus calls himself a “ditto head” and is blindly lining up behind the rhetoric of extremists. I am sickened because Lloyd Marcus reminds me too much of Clayton Bigsby. I am sickened because I think Lloyd Marcus is being used. Maybe not all of the people at those rallies are filled with hate. Maybe some of them just want what’s best for the country. I only fear what some of them think “best” is and whether Mr. Marcus or I are included in that picture. The Tea Party Express Tour wraps up in Orlando on Nov. 11. Maybe I’ll grab a hood and go check it out.

The Vince Carter Story: A Modern Day Fairy Tale Come True

Let me start by admitting I know extremely little about sports. However, I was compelled by the story of Vince Carter who plays his first home game tonight as a member of the Orlando Magic.

Because so many African American boys aspire to be sports stars, Carter's story is especially remarkable. It is the story of a boy who watched his hometown heroes play, dreamed of one day playing with them, pursued his dream, and is now experiencing his dream. Carter grew up right in Central Florida. He played for Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. He went to Magic games and admired players like Nick Anderson.

Now little boys will be going to watch Carter play. But they won't be just watching a great basketball player. They will be watching a genuinely good guy. Carter's character off the court is just as worthy of emulation as his skills on the court. He's a down-to-earth guy who doesn't get caught up in the glamour and glitz of stardom. He also believes in giving back. He has held camps for youth in Daytona for years. He donated $1.6 million to help build a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center with his mother Michelle Carter-Scott.

Speaking of his mother, when Carter was growing up, she didn't play. She made sure he had his priorities straight. He had to attend church and keep his grades up. Then he could play sports. If his grades slipped, he didn't get to play. She also made sure he was well-rounded, not just depending on basketball. He was drum major in his high school marching band and even wrote music.

The Magic's season opener is against the Philadelphia 76ers and will be broadcast on Sun Sports at 7 p.m. So Orlando, Vince Carter has come home. He's glad about it. So are we.

My Hair is Good Enough Thank You

I checked out the Chris Rock movie Good Hair this weekend. I found it to be funny and thought-provoking. However, the highlight of my experience did not take place on screen. Sitting a few rows in front of me was a white gentlemen and two ladies. There is a scene in the documentary where Rock is talking with a chemist about the danger of using relaxers (sodium hydroxide). He showed how the chemical melts aluminum and said even inhaling this substance (let alone putting it on your skin) can damage a person for life. The white guy turned to the black lady sitting next to him and said, "So why would you put that on your head?" I thought to myself, "I was just thinking the same thing." Anyway, here are a few things I learned:

1. Black Hair Care is a multi-billion dollar industry; but black people don't make the money or control it. Black people only get into styling. We are shut out where the real money is made, in manufacturing and retailing. For the most part, Koreans manufacture the products and only sell to Korean retailers.

2. Dudley is one of only 4 black-owned hair care manufacturing companies.

3. Weave comes from Hindu temples in India where Indian women sacrifice their hair. I had no idea!

4. People pay as much as $1000 or even more for weaves. What!?! Not just people like Tyra Banks and Vivica Fox. People like the the teller at the bank. Seriously, girls will miss a rent payment to pay for some Indian girl's hair.

Rock did an excellent job of answering the what. Now we've got to figure out the why.

By the way, make sure you catch the Ice-T line at the end. Too funny.

Black is the New Black

I remember a time when calling somebody black was an insult, even to black people (especially to black people). If you really wanted to tell a good Yo Mama joke, you would start it, “Yo mama so black…” or “Yo mama hair so nappy…” Many have searched to figure out the origin of these expressions of self hate. Slavery? The media? Racism? Low self esteem? A combination of everything? The black inner battle over skin color and hair texture has been the topic of many a research paper, some of them mine.

The upcoming Chris Rock movie, Good Hair and some new positive media images have given me a glimmer of hope that all this study and discussion have not been in vain. Black people are beginning to really come to grips with some self hate issues. We are discussing and dealing with them openly and among ourselves. Because we are beginning to love ourselves, we are creating positive media portrayals of ourselves.

Good Hair opens nationwide tomorrow. It is a documentary dealing with black women’s seemingly endless struggle with hair. Rock says he was driven to make this movie when his daughter asked why she didn’t have good hair. Many of us have had this moment and cringed saying, “Oh Lord, not my baby too.” Women in the movie share their tales about perms and weaves. Rock makes us think. What is good hair? Is the hair God gave me bad? I’m excited to see it.

As we are dealing with the issues with Chris Rock, our media images are reflecting our progress. I’m sure most everyone has heard about the new Disney Princess Tiana. I must say I was thrilled when the news came out that Disney is producing a new movie featuring a black princess. The Princess and the Frog opens December 11. The voice of Tiana will be Anika Noni Rose from Dream Girls. Disney has received criticism in the past for racist images. Hopefully, this new princess represents a new day. She is a budding entrepreneur who hopes to own her own restaurant and meet her prince. Talk about girl power! (Little girls will be able to meet Tiana at the Disney Theme Parks beginning October 26). Only a few people have actually seen the film, including Oprah, but I still hope my excitement is not premature. I hope Princess Tiana will make little black girls everywhere proud, including my little princess.

Not only will little black girls have Princess Tiana to look up to, Barbie has a new line of black dolls. Not the black Barbies I grew up with (which were just white dolls painted brown). The So In Style (S.I.S.) dolls will have different shades of brown, full lips and some will have curly hair. The creator of these dolls, Stacey McBride-Irby says she created them to answer a need in her community for positive black female images. The S.I.S. line features Grace, Kara and Trichelle who are interested in art, journalism, music and math.

We’re working to get to the root of the problem. With truth and love we are working together to heal ourselves from the inside out.

God Bless Rush Limbaugh

When I was in school, the best way to get everyone’s attention was for someone to yell, “Fight!” Everyone would run in the direction of the commotion. The more hair pulling, scratching, and cussing, the better. Everyone would talk about it for days. Some were legendary.

You would think as we get older, we would mature. As adults, when there is a potentially dangerous disturbance, we are supposed to know to alert the proper authorities. Unfortunately, it seems that adult fights are nastier and draw greater attention. Just look at the highest rated T.V. shows. People are drawn to blood, conflict, and controversy. Now reality shows rule. The ones with the most chaos shoot to the top (e.g. Jon & Kate Plus 8 Plus the Nanny). The news is filled with violence. The biggest news makers are the ones who scream the loudest, meanest, cruelest, most offensive remarks. Producers don’t have to pay writers to make it up anymore because reality is more striking than fiction. When’s the last time you saw a new comedy show? Why pay writers when people will get on T.V. and act a fool for free? And millions will watch it and talk about it at work the next day. Those who missed it will go watch it on YouTube after work (or during work).

Is there an end to this cycle? Our culture really seems to be obsessed with conflict. It’s not just on T.V. Those who call themselves leaders are the biggest warmongers it seems. Someone calls someone a name (like liar) or even throws a blow. The other person retaliates. Everyone watches. Sometimes people start taking sides. Eventually, if nobody is reasonable enough to search for a resolution, you have an all out war going on. I’m afraid our country is in a state of perpetual conflict. Bill O’Reilly calls it a culture war.

We have to decide what our strategy is going to be. Will the majority stand around watching as Democrats fight Republicans, blacks fight whites, poor fight rich? Will the strategy be to fight until our country is battered and torn and only one side is left standing? Or will someone, for the sake of the country, search for a resolution?

Take the latest situation with Rush Limbaugh for example. He says some outrageous, even racist things. Everyone talks about. He stays at the top of the ratings. Now he tried and failed to become a team owner in the NFL. Of course, everyone is talking about it. His ratings have probably never been better. That has been his M.O. He would say something offensive. Someone would say something back. The media would yell, “Fight!” Everyone would watch. Now I’m afraid people are starting to take sides.

We have to ask ourselves what is the next step? Can anyone step up and call for peace? What if some black leader of some organization, instead of responding to Rush with counterattacks, invites him to the next convention to discuss the problem. Might this neutralize the venom? Some people call it hate. Some people call it evil. I must continue to believe that the only way to overcome evil is with good. In other words, if somebody’s cursing at you, bless ‘em. If somebody yells “fight,” run toward the peace. It may not get that much attention, but everybody will be better off.

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Our President has won the Nobel Peace Prize. Wow! So now what? Instead of expressions of national pride for this honor, many questions have been raised. Contrary to what many Obama supporters say, questions are good. Awards are given out so often now that it is becoming a bit trite really. Awards are given out for everything from best recipe to ugliest dog. Kids get awards in sports for just showing up. But what is the point of giving awards in general? What will be the outcome of this award in particular?

President Obama won the award for diplomacy, his willingness and skill in working with other leaders and keeping peace. Some question whether President Obama should accept this award considering he hasn’t even been in office a year and hasn’t had enough time to “accomplish” anything. Others say the President deserves this award because he has been willing to take a risk in going against the former American diplomacy strategy of might makes right. The Nobel Prize Committee has said Barack Obama deserves this award for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

So what should happen now? Some people say all the questions are just another example of unfair scrutiny of Obama. After all, other questionable people have won this and other awards without getting all the flack. However, the President knows he will always get extra examination and accepts it without complaint. When awards are given, the choice should be taken seriously. An award is recognition from one’s peers. It is a prize. But it is also a duty. The award winner becomes a standard bearer, a symbol and representative model. When we give awards, we should keep this in mind. Maybe now that so much close inspection is being done in this case, we will take more care in our choices in the future.

Also, when we receive awards we should handle it as an undertaking of responsibility and not an ego enhancer. In fact, the President has called this honor a humbling call to action. He says that he is more inspired to continue his work in nuclear non-proliferation, reversal of the global economic shutdown and resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The Bible says peacemakers shall be called the children of God. Barack Obama has been declared a peacemaker among peacemakers. The Nobel Committee said that our President has “captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future.” Those of us who consider it a duty to work to make the world better can look to this distinction and be inspired.