Al and Bill, Part 2

This story is too good to pass up. Let me preface it by saying that I don't like Rev. Al Sharpton and I definitely don't like Bill O'Reilly, the fact that these two socialize doesn't come as a surprise to me. Permed-out Al is always on the hustle, looking to right some kind of wrong or act of racism for personal gain. He is the opportunist extraordinaire who has appointed himself spokesman for the monolithic group of black people that the U.S. media believes he represents. There's a fine line between being a preacher and being a pimp; the flashy clothes, the seductive rap and the bouncing and behaving hair.

Last time O'Reilly and Sharpton were together was at Al's civil rights convention. O'Reilly attended and Al even debated Sean Hannity. Bill and Al got together again to have dinner at Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem. If you don't know about Sylvia's, its a Harlem landmark and one of the best soul food restaurants anywhere. O'Reilly, who obviously doesn't travel outside his conservative, narrow-minded crowd much, showed his true ignorance:

"I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it's run by blacks, primarily black patronship," he told listeners. "It was the same, and that's really what this society's all about now here in the U.S.A. There's no difference."

And later, speaking with National Public Radio correspondent and Fox analyst Juan Williams, O'Reilly said there "wasn't any kind of craziness at all" during his dinner with Sharpton: "There wasn't one person in Sylvia's who was screaming, 'M.F.-er, I want more iced tea.' "

"It was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense that people were sitting there and they were ordering and just having fun," he continued.

Poor Bill. Al hasn't spent much time enlightening his BFF. O'Reilly thought he was complimenting black people but he really just showed his ignorance. Al needs to school Bill on the ways of the real world. Sounds like it was Bill's first visit to Harlem and probably the first time he has ever been around more than one black person in his life but he only felt "safe" because Al was there with him.

I'm just waiting for the backstory about what Al and Bill did after they left Sylvia's. I bet they went to the strip gentlemen's club to get for lap dances smoke cigars and talk business. I'm expecting Al to step forward to defend O'Reilly's ridiculous, ill-informed comments.

Fair and Handsome

One of Bollywood's biggest stars, known as SRK (on the left) is endorsing s skin lightening cream for men called Fair and Handsome. SRK must believe looking like chalk is preferable to having dark skin. This ad has reignited a debate among the Indian community in Britain about skin color and age old perceptions about dark skin that African Americans are quite familiar with.

The idea that dark skin is some kind of misfortune is being perpetuated by these television ads and it is worsened by the fact that SRK, one of Bollywood's biggest stars makes it worse. The dark guy in this commercial, no matter how handsome or charming, will never get the girl because he has dark skin. His luck changes for the better after using Fair and Handsome lightening creme, he not only attracts the girl but he has to beat women off with stick because they find his light skin very desirable. You don't have to speak Hindi to understand the message here: lighter skin is the key to success.

I'm just wondering when this guy meets and marries the woman of his dreams, what are they going to do about their dark children? Perhaps Fair and Handsome will come out with a lightening creme for children.

Link of the Day: Brother Peacemaker

Challenging stereotypes and assumptions is a full-time job for black folks. Having to bear the burden for the race is a heavy load for all of us who are working in corporate America. No where is this more thoughtfully articulated than in Brother Peacemaker's, Racism on Cruise Control.

Cost of the War in Iraq: $500,000 A Minute

That cliched often used idea that "freedom isn't free" has been borne out. According to the American Friends Committee, this ever-changing war in Iraq is costing us a bunch of money. For all those people who are advocating that we maintain a presence in Iraq indefinitely need to be slapped upside the head. They are the same people who would rather squander our tax dollars in places like Iraq so that their buddies at Blackwater, KBR and the rest of those profiteering from the war can make millions. It really isn't about our freedom or security here in America, it's about them getting R-I-C-H. If you aren't angry about this, you should be.

I'm with the "cut-and-run" crowd, we need to get the heck out of Iraq. I can't think of anything more patriotic than ending our involvement in Iraq and spending some of that $500,000 on treatment for those brave soldiers injured in Iraq. They face years of inadequate, under funded medical care from ill-equipped Veterans Hospitals. To me, it's unpatriotic to fund the war but not take care of those who fight it. Am I the only one?

Link of the Day: Demand Justice for the Jena 6

Amnesty International has gotten involved in the Jena 6 case. Just in case you haven't heard, they've added the case of the six black Louisiana high school students who were arrested and charged with attempted second degree murder for a racially motivated fight at their high school. No guns or knives were drawn, but according to the prosecutor, a sneaker is a deadly weapon. The white student who was injured in the fray was treated and released from the hospital the same day; he was well enough to attend a school function later that evening.

I'm not a lawyer but I would think for attempted second degree murder, the alleged victim would have spent more time in the hospital. None of the white teens involved in the altercation were charged but felony charges were filed against the six black teens who could get up to 80 years as the maximum sentence.

This incident does have an element of race and the entire story harkens of something from the Jim Crow era when black people were intimidated, over prosecuted and denied basic civil rights. The severity of the charges filed against the black teens for this school fight do not fit the crime at all. I guess in 2007 black folks must still know their place, dare not challenge white authority and definitely must not sit under the "whites only" tree in Jena, Louisiana. Please urge the Justice Department to investigate this case.

Link of the Day: What About Our Daughters

I have to give a shout out to a thoughtful, well-written piece about the emerging role of of black women as concubines. If all we can aspire to be is a babies mama, then our destinies are doomed. Yes, I'm talking about the Diddy-Kim Porter foolishness that earned an Essence magazine cover earlier this year and Porter's subsequent follow-up interview after her ass got dumped. This is an embarrassment but none of the people in this mess have enough sense to be, not even Essence magazine. No pride, no sense of responsibility.

I am going to stand with my sister over at What About Our Daughters, I've had enough of the destructive portrayals of black women in popular culture. Enough is enough.

Other Babies Mama Drama

(image from Rhymes with Snitch)

Poor Kim Porter. She's finally rejoined us from her trip down "denial" now that she's broken up with P. Diddy. Now she's running her mouth to any celebrity rag who will listen. Another ridiculous interview with Essence where she bemoans the fact that her "man" had impregnated another woman, how she's going to focus on her career (as if she has been anything other than a babies mama) and her new found courage to walk away from her relationship. (YAWN) Sounds like she got dumped to me.

What Kim Porter knew about the other woman (women) and when she knew it doesn't really matter, especially if you read the exclusive interview with Sarah Chapman (Diddy's other babies mama) over on Sandra Rose's blog. In defense of Miss Chapman, she has shunned the spotlight while Porter has actively pursued it. When you put yourself out there like Porter, you should expect to be humiliated and embarrassed when your man has dumped you for someone else. Porter spoke disparagingly about Jennifer Lopez, the "little Puerto Rican girlfriend" but look who has the last laugh now? Porter didn't approve of Diddy's high profile relationship with Lopez and responded by insulting Lopez when she should have summoned every ounce of her self-respect and left the man.

I'm still going to talk about P. Diddy, another black man who prefers to impregnate women rather than marry them. Players and pimps get more "props" than fathers and husbands. There is no honor in being a "babies mama" and neither is having five children by three different women. I don't care how much money you have. A fat child support check is no substitute for being a real father to your children. Being Diddy's "jump-off" for 13 years doesn't make Chapman any better than a struggling unwed mother; in spite of her being "friends" with Diddy, she has to call him every month for her child support check.

This whole situation is sad and is an excellent example of why the black family is being decimated. Women, no matter how educated, are willing to settle for any piece of a man whether they have to share him with another woman or not. Are we that desperate? Judging by this well documented drama of Diddy's babies mamas, it sure sounds like it.

Black Folks & Foolishness

It's time to call out some black folks for some dumb ass behavior this. In spite of all of the advances that we've made as a people, surviving the Middle Passage, the emancipation from slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, we still say and do some ridiculous stuff.

For every Condolezza Rice, there's a New York (a.k.a. Tiffany on VH1's "I Love New York) bringing her ghetto ass, hoochie mama flavor to weekly television. No one takes Britney Spears seriously, but when rapper Foxy Brown allegedly assaults someone with her Blackberry, we are all accountable. No matter what, there is always going to be some black folks who will drag the rest of us down whether we like it or not. It's been a busy week. Here's my list of the most ridiculous black celebrities:

1. Oprah
   (Okay O, you've done some great things, but leaving $30 million to your dogs is off the chain. You probably should've kept that quiet. (Sigh) This just proves that black billionaires are just as crazy as white billionaires.)
   
   
2. Kanye West
   (Another tantrum at MTV's music awards!? You didn't learn from that ish last year? No matter how big your ego is or what position your CD is on the Billboard charts, I'd vote for anyone but YOU. I'd rather see you have another tantrum rather than hear your arrogant mouth accepting an award. If you go back next year expecting an award, you are a fool. Besides, who said you were ALL THAT anyway?)
   
   
3. A quarter, two dimes and a nickel (a.k.a. 50 cent)
   (Exaggerated sense of self-importance. I'd be impressed to learn that your IQ is larger than your nickname. (Sigh) Forget the bullproof vests, luxury cars and G-Unit, let me see you floss something other than your thug credentials and rabbit teeth. I don't care if your CD outsells Kanye West's because I wouldn't spend a dime on either one.)
   
   
4. Beyonce
   (Your dimwittedness never ceases to amaze. Wishing to be Latina...not sure how to take this but the wrong way. If you knew enough about your own culture you wouldn't have to wish to be Latina. Those lace front weaves must be cutting over the circulation of blood to your brain. A thump on the head to you.)
   
   
   

Link of the Day: Our Voices Together

On the anniversary of September 11th, I believe it's important that we try to find a solution to terrorism that doesn't involve more troops in Iraq or Afghanistan or drawing non-existent parallels between Iraq and the attacks on the World Trade Center. No matter what President Bush or the rest of his people say, "fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here" is nonsense.

Besides provoking and alienating people, there isn't too much else the Bush administration can do. If only they spent less time on their imperialist swagger and more time on finding diplomatic solutions to the problems they've created. Diplomacy is a loss art, especially in the Bush administration. For all the escalation of U.S. troops in Iraq, things are not getting better, I don't care what General Petraeus says.

If we spent more time on pressing domestic issues like poverty, health care and education, we wouldn't have to squander billions abroad in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Learning to respect other people's culture and faith is an important step to promoting peace here and abroad. Please sign Our Voices Together's Responsibilities in the Global Community petition.