Thursday, February 23, 2006

False alarms

I've been slacking big time during black history month but I promise that I will make it up to you readers that still come around.

Today's topic is WHEN IS IT RACIAL or Are we too sensitive?

In this post I will put forward several situations that may or may not be racial. It all depends on your perception and your ability to see things for what they really are. You be the judge.

Case 1:
Like many New Yorkers I was affected by the MTA strike back in December. The TWU lead by Roger Tussaint called a strike for all transit workers in NYC. He sited that the MTA has been treating their workers unfairly and that this was not just about money but about their dignity. Talks are still in limbo.

A majority of NYer's thought it was all about the money. And Tussaint's call for a strike was a bit much and he should just make a deal (read roll over and play nice). But Tussaint's pride wouldn't let him.

Tussaint was vilified in the press. Now was it cause he called for a strike that made New York City loose over 10 million dollars. If the president of TWU was a white man would he get bad press the way Tussaint got it?

IMO: I think anyone that makes New York loose money is gonna get bad press. Tussaint being black has nothing to do with him getting bad press. But there were trigger words used in the press (ex. calling the workers thugs) to describe the workers. And let's not forget that the union is a minority run union (meaning there are more black people in the union than white.)

Case 2:

Shani Davis. Is he an angry black man who's not a team player or is he misunderstood?

IMO: Based on what I've read he's a loner and sometimes people can be rubbed the wrong way by that. It looks racial in the way the press has covered it, let's be honest here; it's black guy playing a white sport. No matter how anyone covers the story is going to look racial.

Sometimes black people in America see racism when it ain't there. But that's cause most of us have experienced it for most of our lives.

Yes that's a valid excuse white folks so deal with it. We didn't create racism we just live under it's evil thumb.

So when is it racial? Is it racial when a white man stands up side by side with a black man and says "YES THIS IS RACIALLY MOTIVATED." Or is it a matter of how we perceive things? So in an effort to help my white brothers and sisters I've come up with a guide to help you tell when things are racial.

  • When a black person with no criminal record gets shot or beaten by the cops, chances are it's racial.
  • When a black person runs for public office and the media wonders what he or she is going to do for the rest of the community, chances are it's racial
  • When a black person dominates what we've been told is a white sport and gets bad press chances are it's racial.
  • When the sentence is 25 to life for crack while the sentence for cocaine is one year, chances are it's racial.
  • When a white rapper sells more records than a black rapper, chances are it's racial.
  • When black people loot and white people find, chances are it's racial.
  • When a Harvard MBA looses to a High School graduate on a reality show, chances are it's racial.
  • When a black TV star runs out on a 50 million dollar contract and runs off to Africa, chances are it's racial.
  • When your land gets "discovered" even though you've been there, chances are it's racial.
  • When your continent and respective countries gets renamed and borders are changed without you being notified, chances are it's racial.
  • If your oil and diamond rich country is in debt to the IMF, chances are it's racial.
  • If there is more of your people in jail than in college, chances are it's racial.
  • If you can't believe your hair or skin is beautiful without treating it with lye or bleach chances are it's racial.
  • If your character dies within the first 30 minutes of a movie, chances are it's racial.
  • When you get called a refugee in your own country, chances are it's racial.
  • When your neighborhood gets washed away and the gov't doesn't care, chances are it's racial.
  • When your church gets blown up with four little girls inside, chances are it's racial.
  • When a white person just doesn't get it, chances are it's racial.
  • When you get shot for having a dream, chances are it's racial.

I hope this guide helps my white brothers and sisters out there. Have a nice day.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Black History Month 2006

Yes it's that time of year again so before I get into the race ranting I want to open up this post with a quote from my frat brother Carter G. Woodson.

"If you can control a man's thinking, you don't have to worry about his actions. If you can determine what a man thinks you do not have worry about what he will do. If you can make a man believe that he is inferior, you don't have to compel him to seek an inferior status, he will do so without being told and if you can make a man believe that he is justly an outcast, you don't have to order him to the back door, he will go to the back door on his own and if there is no back door, the very nature of the man will demand that you build one."

I guess that is the point behind Manderlay. But I'll get into that later.

Last year I really set the bar high for myself. So my intentions this year are to surpass my work and take it to another level, so let's get started shall we hmmm...

This month I want to hit on a few things that I didn't get to touch on last year.

Some of it is gonna be positive and some of it is gonna be down right ignant. So let the race ranting begin.

First off I want to get this off my chest. My history is not limited to one month out of the year. Black history is AMERICAN HISTORY. This country was built on the backs of black men and women. And I will be damned if my peoples sacrifices and contributions are not acknowledged YEAR ROUND. One month is not enough to talk about the accomplishments of black people in America.

A black man by the name of Carter G. Woodson invented this tradition. But I want my white brothers and sisters to not get it twisted. Just cause we keep this tradition alive doesn't let you off the hook the other 337 days out of the year.

Black history didn't start with Martin Luther King. As great as he was, his legacy stands on the backs of dozens of leaders who came before him.

That being said, as my fellow blogger Panama G. Jackson would say let the Stoned Soul Picnic begin.

Stay tuned.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Oscars Part I: The nominees.

It's that time of year again folks. And the nominees are..

BEST PICTURE
Brokeback Mountain - You can't make me like it. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
Capote - Very cool movie. I liked the pace of it.
Crash - It's always nice to see a race movie in the running. I just wish it was written by a black person, is that so wrong?
Good Night, and Good Luck - Very heavy handed. I got the point after the first half hour. I find that this movie is relevant to today but I think the pace of it was kinda slow.
Munich - I was blown away by this movie. Spielberg's best work since Saving Private Ryan.

BEST DIRECTOR
George Clooney, "Good Night, and Good Luck": He's a better actor than director.
Paul Haggis, "Crash": He's a better writer than he is a director.
Ang Lee, "Brokeback Mountain": From what I heard he does a good job.
Bennett Miller, "Capote": I really liked the feel of this movie.
Steven Spielberg, "Munich": I don't think he'll win but I think out of everyone nominated he deserves it.

BEST ACTOR
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote": He totally captured the voice and spirit of the character.
Terrence Howard, "Hustle & Flow": I really want him to win but I know it ain't gonna happen. And honestly who wants to win an Oscar for playing the role of a rapping pimp?
Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain": I guess he was the top.
Joaquin Phoenix, "Walk The Line": He totally captured the heart of the character.
David Strathairn, "Good Night, and Good Luck": See what I wrote about Hoffman goes double for Strathairn

BEST ACTRESS
Judi Dench, "Mrs. Henderson Presents": I didn't see this movie nor do I have any intentions to. If I want to see Judi Dench in a movie I'll rent a Bond movie.
Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica": So let me get this straight. She's a woman who's playing a man who wants to be a woman? Aww just give it to her already.
Keira Knightley, "Pride and Prejudice": Hell no. NO!
Charlize Theron, "North Country": Didn't she win already?
Reese Witherspoon, "Walk The Line": NO. I just can't see it.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
George Clooney, "Syriana": If he doesn't get the award for best director this could be the conselation prize.
Matt Dillon, "Crash": Is it me or did Don Cheadle get robbed?
Paul Giamatti, "CInderella Man":
Got robbed last year so he'll probably get it this year.
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Brokeback Mountain":
I just don't see it happening for him this time around.
William Hurt, "A History of Violence": Deserves it. But won't get it.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams
, "Junebug": She's the underdog in this category. I really liked her performance.
Catherine Keener, "Capote":
She's a safe bet to win but that being said the competition is stiff.
Frances McDormand, "North Country": I
didn't see this movie but I'm sure she turned out a great performance. She's just that good.
Rachel Weisz, "The Constant Gardener":
I hated this movie but I really like Rachel Weisz.
Michelle Williams, "Brokeback Mountain":
She's come a long way from Dawson's Creek.

BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Howl's Moving Castle": Didn't see it.
"The Corpse Bride": Tim Burton could win with this.
"Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit": This movie should have come out 3 years ago and maybe it would have had a chance.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana for "Brokeback Mountain"
:
I'm sure this movie was in development hell for years.
Dan Futterman for "Capote" :
Good stuff.
Jeffrey Caine for "The Constant Gardener": HELL F*CKING NO!
Josh Olson for "The History of Violence": Brilliant. This was the most direct movie I've seen all year.
Tony Kushner and Eric Roth for "Munich":
Awesome and telling. I loved this movie.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Paul Haggis and Robert Moresco for "Crash": I can't believe Haggis used to write for Different Strokes.
Grant Heslov and George Clooney for "Good Night, and Good Luck":
Who knew Clooney could write.
Woody Allen for "Match Point": Don't ya just love how Woody Allen sneaks in with this movie.
Noah Baumbach for "The Squid and the Whale": Nice title.
Stephen Gaghan for "Syriana" : Hard to follow at times but good idea.