Now What?

I must apologize. It has been a minute since I posted. I initially thought I’d take a few days and marinate about the magnitude of Obama’s presidential victory. Then it turned into a month. Anyways, since I didn’t post about that, let’s talk a bit. I am happy that we have a new president that is qualified, certified, and the best man for the job. It is simply the icing on the cake that he is a black man. If you voted for him because he is black, shame on you and you really don’t deserve the right to vote. [seriously] If you had the foresight and intelligence to review the issues and actually pay attention to the debates, platforms and campaign stump speeches and chose to vote for him because he IS the best man for the job, then congratulations. Those who actually reviewed the candidate’s views, stances and platforms know that there really wasn’t much in the way of difference between McCain and Obama, however Barack Hussein Obama IS our new president (I know he hasn’t taken office yet, but that’s the way I want to say it).

I was never more embarrassed than to see so many black folk over the age of 25 who were voting for the first time in this presidential election. What the hell have they been doing? Where have they been living? I would be willing to bet that these are the same idiots who ran around complaining about the mayor, governor, city councilman, etc and were too lazy, stupid or trifling to take part in the process. I always say that we have the right to vote, but we have the responsibility to be informed voters. I hope those who are 1st time voters aren’t last time voters. I believe we ought to vote every time there’s an election. Vote for everything from dog catcher to county tax assessor, they all affect you and your place in this society.

Now, I know this might not be a popular stance, but hear me out and, by all means, share your views as well. As I was saying, I believe that the election of this nations first non-white president says less about this country and racism than it does about the black community. Case and point…we keep hearing, “they finally elected a black man.” Think back and name three black men who were qualified, competent and available to run for POTUS in your lifetime…I’m still waiting. I didn’t think so. We’ve had Jesse and Al, neither of which were suited, competent or qualified for the job, and both are opportunistic racist morons who care about nothing more than the spotlight being shined on them and their fake causes. Then there’s Alan Keyes, from the republican Motissa tribe. He is an idiotic, moron who doesn’t have sense enough to know that they use him to try and divide the black vote every time they can. In order for there to be an indictment of this country, we ought to have had someone who was qualified in the position to run for president. Who’s to say that we wouldn’t have had a black man in the white house before? I can call Barack an African-American, because he IS one. He is 1 generation removed from the continent and actually has family to visit there. I’m about sick of black folk claiming to be African American [that’s another topic for another day].

Anyway, I say congratulations to America, Barack Hussein Obama, and all of my countrymen who will put their shoulders to the plow and work to make this country a great one under this new administration. This country and its leaders need our prayers, determination and ingenuity to turn around this economy and our reputation in the world’s eyes. While it is a great feat to have achieved, I’m not sure it is one that is going to be as great as he thought considering the plight he faces. He’ll be criticized greatly for not implementing all of the things he promised during his campaign, but those who pay attention will know that he can’t with the economy as it is, spend some of the money needed for the implementation of some of his platform programs. In 2012, his opponents will play looped tapes of him promising things that will not have been delivered. We musn’t be fooled by such. I simply pray that he and his administration are able to steady this economy in one term, then we’ll go from there.

This musing is entitled ‘Now What?’ for a reason. Regardless of why he won the election, as black people in America we are in a different position than we were this time last year. We have all heard folks complaining about being held back just for being black...not any longer. Now what will you use as your excuse? A black man now holds the most powerful title in this land [some would say the world]. What I really appreciate is all of the statistical realities that he shattered. In a time where black men aren’t respecting their women we have one who tells us every chance he gets that she is his rock and showers her with affection regardless of where they are. In a time where black men aren’t staying around to raise their kids we have one who is not only married to the mother of his kids, but is active in their lives. In a time where statistics say that the product of a single parent home is more likely to go to jail than college, we have one who graduated top of his class from one of the most prestigious colleges in the world. In a time where women are putting off having kids for their careers or having kids and letting someone else raise them for their careers, we have a strong, competent black woman, putting her career on hold for her the well being of her children. This family is a great American story as well as an inspirational story. Congrats to us all…I look forward to seeing the accomplishments he’ll be able to make in his second term.

It’s Just My Opinion, But I’m Not Wrong.

CNN's New 'Nappy Headed Hoe'

In a time where we criticize the likes of Imus for calling basketball players ‘nappy headed hoes’…where political groups create caricatures of a presidential candidate on food stamps…where there are still James Byrd style draggings taking place…we have the likes of Darryl Lynn Hughley. When I initially saw the trailers for the show, I anticipated seeing something like ‘The Daily Show’ or ‘Colbert Report’, since I like both of these, I was eagerly anticipating the show’s debut this past week. I was sorely disappointed. Whether it was the seemingly endless barrage of racial jokes and stereotypical montages; the blatantly racist correlation between Obama’s candidacy and that of every minstrel on film from Sammy Davis, Jr. to Tiny Lister; or the jokes about the cholesterol level of black people I think he missed the mark.
Some may say, ‘lighten up, they’re just jokes’ others will say, ‘I liked it’. I, however, don’t think so. I believe if I would have been offended with Dennis Leary, Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart saying it, then it ain’t right for him to do it either. Darryl was trying to add a comedic spin on the presidential election, but wound up making black folk fodder for jokes by everyone watching. The appearance of ‘Freddie Mac’ discussing the pimp game and his cousin Fannie Mae was ridiculously offensive and, in my opinion, not funny at all. When will we as a people get past this type of crap?
He went on to explain Obama’s health plan’s benefits to include gold grills? Come one D. L.! You know you can do better than that. I would be less offended and disappointed had this been an up and coming comic who needed a ‘big break’, but D.L. is one of the Kings of Comedy [even though he wasn’t near the funniest]. He had the responsibility to evaluate and turned down this opportunity, or at least do it in a more responsible manner.
While I’m still pissed at Hughley, I’m equally irritated that a supposedly ‘real’ news channel would put this type of crap on the air. This type of crap has no place on an allegedly “mainstream” news network, especially within arm’s reach what’s called, the most important election in our lives. Sadly, I don’t remember any of DL’s jokes that didn’t focus on some stereotypical aspect of the black community. He helped perpetuate the notion of ignorance and shiftlessness that is pervasive in some circles.
I don’t understand what CNN hoped to accomplish with this program. I’m befuddled by this turn from legitimacy to lunacy. If they were trying to appeal to the black audience, they could have given a 30 minute show to Roland Martin. He would have filled the void we’ve had since BET stopped doing news [just a thought]. While on the subject of Martin, he ought to be offended by this garbage and the slap in the face by not giving him an opportunity to do something serious. I mean, if Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity can do it, I KNOW Roland could handle his own. At least he wouldn’t have feigned legitimizing the Obama campaign/presidency with saying Flava Flav would succeed him in the white house.
Don’t misinterpret this for me standing on a soapbox and pointing a finger. I love comedy and some comedians that make jokes about what they know, black life. I like Katt Williams, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and loved Bernie Mack, but these comedians stretch their abilities and don’t always fall back on the ludicrosity that D.L. does. My ‘black power’ fist isn’t always in the air and my dashiki isn’t in the dry cleaners. I do laugh at some things that maybe I shouldn’t, but I call a spade a spade.
I now understand why Petey Greene did what he did on the Tonight Show. He thought it was his big break, but came to the realization when he got there that they weren’t laughing at his jokes, they were laughing AT HIM and those like him. Maybe D.L. ought to watch ‘Talk to Me’, if he hasn’t already. If he has he ought to watch it again...and call up the creators and writers of ‘The Boondocks’ to watch it with him.

Is this really who we've become? Have we reverted back to being minstrels for 'the man'?

It's just my opinion, but I'm Not Wrong!!