Stuff Black People Like…

When I wrote this post “Stuff White People Like”, I had planned to do one about Black people too. Well that time has come so here it is. These are the 10 things that first came to mind, which are based on my observations and experiences. They are in no particular order of relevance or importance.

1. A White Jesus

You ever go into a Black persons home and the first thing that meets your eye as you enter is a picture of a white hippie looking, blond hair and blue eyed Jesus!? The one that really get’s me is the picture with the “sacred heart” on the outside of his chest. In previous times, I would ask the host (usually a family member): “who is the white hippie dude in the photo? Is he family!?” They would look at the photo and I could tell that the wheels in their mind would start to turn… then they would look at me long and hard, like they couldn’t believe I wasn’t struck dead (and probably silently praying that I would be), then and there by lightening! If you close your eyes and think about Jesus and the above image comes to mind, then read this and you may also want to read this book.   

2. Barack Obama 

On the flip side of worshipping a white Jesus, Black folks all over the world worship Barack Obama as the “Black Messiah”. I swear that when they see him, ole negro spirituals starts playing in their heads! He can do no wrong in their eyes. He is Moses and Jesus all rolled up into one, sent by the Almighty to bring them into the new heaven and the new earth. The post-racial promise land that is America. 

3. Hating on Tavis Smiley 

Ever since Tavis Smiley called on then presidential candidate Barack Obama to be accountable to the Black American electorate, he has caught hell from that community (see here). I recently read a post where the author referred to Tavis as a “self promoting race hustler”. “A self promoting race hustler!?” Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson… maybe. Tim Wise and Soledad O’Brien… for sure. But Tavis!? I guess if you criticize or question the Black Messiah and don’t get struck by lightening, then the true believers are obligated to demonize you. 

4. Swagga  

I like this definition of Swagga from the urban dictionary: “one’s own unique style or personality that sets them apart from anyone else.” There is no doubt that we are the leaders and trendsetters… worldwide… when it comes to the originality and uniqueness of style. From the Caribbean to Africa… from the Americas to Europe… whether it’s in popular culture, fashion, urban wear, hair styles, art, music, dance, slang, etc., we set the bar. Individually and collectively, we get our “swagga on” like no others! 

5. Saying “hello” to other Black people    

I have been blessed to travel to many parts of the world and the one of the things I find that really defines us, is our acknowledgment of each other. Whether it’s a lift of the brow, a nod, a smile, a wave, or a simple hello, we will greet each other, especially when we are in an environment where there aren’t that many of us (if you know what I mean). Granted not all of us are like this and some of us are even down right nasty and disrespectful when it comes to dealing with another Black person. However overall, I find that overwhelmingly there are many more good experiences with this than bad… and I hope we never lose that quality with each other. It brings a certain level of community and reassurance. 

“Why the GOP Can’t Win With Minorities” by Shelby Steele

Op-ed article from the Wall Street Journal. March 16 2009

Today conservatism is stigmatized in our culture as an antiminority political philosophy. In certain quarters, conservatism is simply racism by another name. And minorities who openly identify themselves as conservatives are still novelties, fish out of water.

Yet there is now the feeling that without an appeal to minorities, conservatism is at risk of marginalization. The recent election revealed a Republican Party — largely white, male and Southern — seemingly on its way to becoming a “regional” party. Still, an appeal targeted just at minorities — reeking as it surely would of identity politics — is anathema to most conservatives. Can’t it be assumed, they would argue, that support of classic principles — individual freedom and equality under the law — constitutes support of minorities? And, given the fact that blacks and Hispanics often poll more conservatively than whites on most social issues, shouldn’t there be an easy simpatico between these minorities and political conservatism?

But of course the reverse is true. There is an abiding alienation between the two — an alienation that I believe is the great new challenge for both modern conservatism and formerly oppressed minorities. Oddly, each now needs the other to evolve.

Yet why this alienation to begin with? Can it be overcome?

Undercover “N” Words

I wanted to do this post last week but I was just too busy with doing “da life thang” to blog. I was inspired to get it done after reading this post by brotherpeacemaker: The “N” Word.

The Queen-Mother informed me of a news story she saw that in the southern U.S., they are using the term “Canadian” as a code word to refer to Black people. It replaces the publicly unacceptable term “nigger”. Huh!? Apparently in 2003, after a prosecutor in Houston, Texas got a double manslaughter conviction, his boss sent out a congratulatory email to the whole office, commenting that the conviction and stiff sentence was secured although the jury had some “Canadians” who were feeling sorry for the defendant. There were no people from Canada on the jury but there were some African Americans. There was also a story of a Black store clerk who kept overhearing patrons complaining that they were always being served by the “Canadian”. She didn’t know who they were talking about and finally asked a co-worker, who was this “Canadian” she kept hearing about? She was enlightened that it was her and it was a new code word for “nigger”. But why the term: “Canadian”… because Canadians aren’t Americans… they’re “outsiders!” See news story here.   

I have also been made aware that another code word for us Black people is “Mondays”. Why “Mondays”? Because people usually don’t like Mondays! I was mistaken to believe this was just an American phenomenon. I was telling a friend who lives in Toronto, Canada about this and she told me of an incident she recently had on the subway. She was standing and holding on to a pole on the train with 4 other white people who knew each other, when one of the guys started talking about “Mondays”. She didn’t know what he was referring to, but she thought it was strange because it wasn’t a Monday. She stated that one of the white women with them gave her a “look” and she felt strange, so she moved. She later came to realize they were referring to her.    

WOW! It makes me wonder what other new age references and/or derogatory terms they have for “us”? Ignorance is never bliss! 

“Tell me why I don’t like Mondays…. I want to shoot the whole day down.” The Boomtown Rats.             

External Factors: Cause of Africa’s Woes?

I want to share this is an interesting article at The African Executive. 

September Carnival: The Mis-Education of the Negro in the 21st Century

Welcome to Afrospear’s first Blog Carnival. I would like to thank those who participated. If you have any ideas for future Carnival topics, let us know.

EJDoshoi discusses the need for diversity in education in her essay: “Let Me Be Diverse”  

Victor at Ensayn Reality provides an insight into how the current “reactionary” form of teaching and propaganda lies at the basis of our “mis-education”. The mind is the new battleround.  

Asabagna shares what he believes to be 3 aspects which reflects our “mis-education” today, utilizing a case study.        

Here are 2 essays from The African Executive which looks at the issues surrounding higher education in Africa:

1. How Relevant is Education in Africa? 
2. Public Higher Education in Crisis

A late addition from brotherpeacemaker but well worth the read. The title of the post says it all: The European Hand That Rocks The African Cradle. 

On Responsibility, Accountability and Values

I have been shaking my head at all the hype and commentaries concerning the Barry Bonds and Michael Vick sagas. Usually I don’t weigh in on these topics because I find that they are dishonest moments in media (and society at large) ingenuity. Yes Barry Bonds did steroids (allegedly). So did many other baseball players and MBL and the media knew about it, condoned it and turned a blind eye to it. The long ball, re: McGwire, Sosa, Giambi and Bonds resurrected  baseball after the 1994 – 1995 strike. So I say put an asterisk* by his name…. after you put one right beside Babe Ruth’s. Ruth got the record when African Americans weren’t allowed to compete in the MLB. He never faced pitchers like a Satchel Page, nor did he have to compete with the likes of slugger Josh Gibson for the home run title. And back then, just like when steroid use was rampant in the 90’s, the ownership and the media went along with the status quo. 

Then there’s Michael Vick. This multi-million dollar player got caught up in the world of dog fighting and the illegal gambling which goes along with it (allegedly). He apparently owned a house where the dogs were being trained and executed for poor performance. He has been indicted and offered a plea deal which expires Friday, when more charges will be pending.  

Now the reason I bring all this up, especially in this forum, is that I was listening to a couple of sports talk radio shows today. I found that all the Black callers were not only supportive of Bonds and Vick, but expressd that were indeed obvious victims of media bias, FBI conspiracies and societal racism. I know that Bonds has used the “race card” many times himself. One radio host, who was Black, stated that Vick shouldn’t accept the plea deal, because as everyone knows, as a part of any plea deal you will have to “snitch” on other participants and the code of the street is that you don’t snitch! Are you freaking kidding me!? This from a grown, mature man! A professional sportscaster!

Jena Six Updates, Action, and Coverage

Please take time to view the awesome resources Color of Change has put together regarding the Jena Six.

Two commenters have left reporting updates:

George L. Cook III of Let’s Talk Honestly interviewed Alan Bean at Friends of Justice about the case here. The interview and media notes also have important e-mail addresses to the Jena Six Defense Fund, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, and the National Action Network:

Jena 6 Defense Fund
jena6defense@gmail.com

Louisiana Attorney General’s office
CivilInfo@ag.state.la.us Civil Division
Executive@ag.state.la.us Executive Division

National Action Network ( Al Sharpton )
crisis@nationalactionnetwork.net

Ana alerted me that Le Monde in Paris covered the Jena Six today as a feature story; check out this story: “L’arbre de la colere (The Tree of Wrath).”

Thin Black Duke of Slant Truth has created a Facebook group and cause for the Jena Six. Much obliged, man; much obliged. There are a couple of other groups dedicated to the Jena Six too, if you’re interested in joining them. The most important thing is to spread the word.

And I just spotted this on his site and it’s awesome (yes, I’m still wowed by the interwebs):

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

THE PETITION IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SIGNING HERE.

UPDATE: Mychal Bell (one of the Jena Six) has been convicted of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second-degree battery.

1. Dr. Elle has more information about the Jena Six, including a Microsoft Word document (7 pages) from the Friends of Justice detailing and analyzing the events surrounding the trial and the charging of the six young men involved.
2. Tom has prepared version 5 of the Jena Six petition to the United States Department of Justice; the petition is demanding a review of the charges leveled against the Jena Six for misconduct and bias:
   Petition to the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice
   This is a petition to request that the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice review events surrounding the prosecution of six Black students in Jena, Louisiana, for evidence of racial discrimination. The six students are reportedly facing prosecution for second degree attempted murder — and possible prison sentences of up to 100 years — for allegedly participating in an unarmed school brawl that resulted in no serious injuries.The brawl followed months of racial tension after hangman’s nooses were reportedly hung from a tree at the students’ school. Please see these articles for the situation in Jena:
   Chicago Tribune article
   BBC Article.
   The prosecution of these young men represents a gross miscarriage of justice, punishing Black students for opposing segregation of their schools while ignoring the threatening and provocative acts of those engaging in segregation.From a Chicago Tribune article on the cases:

   “There’s been obvious racial discrimination in this case,” said Joe Cook, executive director of the Louisiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, who described Jena as a “racial powder keg” primed to ignite. “It appears the black students were singled out and targeted in this case for some unusually harsh treatment.”

   In view of these facts, we the undersigned respectfully request that the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice launch a full investigation into events in Jena, Louisiana, beginning with the noose incident of August 31, 2006, and culminating in the alleged fight of December 4, 2006 to determine whether the civil rights of Jena residents have been violated.

   ———————————————————–
   [signatures]

   You can suggest any changes or recommendations for the petition at Tom’s blog, at my blog, at the AfroSpear Think Tank, or on the AfroSpear Forum (requires AfroSpear membership). We hope to begin circulating the petition by the middle of next week.

3. According to Brother J. Vallot of the National Action Network, you can watch a streaming version of the entire “Free the Jena Six” Rally on the Black Action Network website. He recommends watching it using RealPlayer through its stream rather than doing the download.
4. Calling the artistically inclined: Aulelia originally suggested that a banner be created for the Jena Six so people can post the image to their websites. If anyone is interested in designing something, please post a comment. Best case scenario is to create an image to couple with the petition so we can generate as many signatures as possible.
5. Carmen D. has shared previous coverage she did about the Jena Six on All About Race and an update with additional resources. Go take a look.

For previous information and updates, see Jena, Louisiana: Meet the Grassroots and Jena, Louisiana and the United States. If you have posted any commentary or information surrounding the Jena Six, please include a link to your work in the comments.

Support the Newark Women

from blogger Yolanda Carrington at The Primary Contradiction:

Four African American lesbian women from Newark, New Jersey were sentenced this past June 14th to excessively long prison terms in New York for the crime of defending themselves against homophobic harassment and violence. These young sistas were railroaded by both a dismissively misogynist judge and by the reactionary, sensationalist media. As Imani Henry writes in Workers World:

Deemed a so-called “hate crime” against a straight man, every possible racist, anti-woman, anti-LGBT and anti-youth tactic was used by the entire state apparatus and media. Everything from the fact that they lived outside of New York, in the working-class majority Black city of Newark, N.J., to their gender expressions and body structures were twisted and dehumanized in the public eye and to the jury.

According to court observers, [presiding judge Edward J.] McLaughlin stated throughout the trial that he had no sympathy for these women. The jury, although they were all women, were all white. All witnesses for the district attorney were white men, except for one Black male who had several felony charges.

Court observers report that the defense attorneys had to put enormous effort into simply convincing the jury that they were “average women” who had planned to just hang out together that night. Some jurists asked why they were in the Village if they were from New Jersey. The DA brought up whether they could afford to hang out there—raising the issue of who has the right to be there in the first place.

It’s gonna take the struggle of people around the country to get these young women out of prison. Here’s information from the organization FIERCE! on how we all can help.

*************************************************************

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Pro-bono legal support: Most if not all of the women need new lawyers for the appeal. Finding new counsel is the #1 priority for support. All leads and contacts welcome.
• Media contacts and writers: Journalists to report, community members to write opeds, and media-savvy people to advise the families about working with media.
• Pen pals: Prison is profoundly isolating, as well as boring. Express your solidarity and prayers for the women’s strength.
• Money: Some of the families have depleted their life savings paying legal fees. Also imagine: collect calls from prison, transportation costs upstate for prison visits, paying for prison commissary. Direct financial contributions (even $10, $20, $30) are needed, along with people to organize fundraisers.
• Diverse organizational support: Building a public campaign requires support from all
  corners. If you think the sentences these women are receiving are too harsh, there is a place for your support.

NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING:
Tuesday, July 10th at 6:30pm at the new office of FIERCE
located at 147 West 24th Street, 6th Floor
(between 6th & 7th Ave. – 1/F/C/E to 23rd Street)
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
For more information about how to get involved, please contact:
Bran Fenner [bran@fiercenyc.org], Jessica Robertson [jessonia@gmail.com], or
Jessica Stern [sternj@hrw.org].