Thursday, June 30, 2011
Mother Allegedly Kills Her Baby, Then Shops with Him for Three Hours
Your Black World.
Toyrianna Smith is accused of doing the unthinkable – she allegedly killed her baby and then carried him around on her chest for the next three hours while shopping. Her three-month-old son, Ken Blackman, Jr., was in a BabyBjorn, which mounts on her chest. Prosecutors claim that the baby died after Smith repeatedly beat and suffocated the child the night before.
SMHNews: The NFL Lock Out Has Made T.O. Refuse To Pay His Child Support…
Technorati Tags: Terrell Owens,Your Black World,Melanie Paige Smith,Child Support,NFL,Lock Out,Money,Court,Bengals
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
SMHNews…
click here to read more…
HipHopNews: Producer Robbed At The Filming Of The Game’s New Video…
Technorati Tags: Chris Brown,HipHopNews,Los Angeles,Mars,Producer,Robbed,Robbery,The Game,Your Black World
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
HipHopNews…
click here to read more…
SMHNews: Baby Dies After Mother’s Boyfriend Bites & Beats Her To Death..
Technorati Tags: Ty'Shea Austin,Martwane Mackey,Your Black World,Zariah,Death,Child Abuse,First Degree Murder
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
SMHNews…
click here to read more…
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
BlackWomensNews: What Is Good Hair? What Is Bad Hair? [video]
Technorati Tags: Tyra Banks,Good Hair,Bad Hair,Light Skin,Dark Skin,Your Black World,Relaxer,Natural,Black Women
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
BlackWomensNews…
click here to read more…
IndependentWomensNews: 42% Of Black Women Are Single!!!!! Why? [video]
Technorati Tags: Black WOmen,Your Black World,Single,Successful,Mothers,Daughter,child,money,power,love
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
IndependentWomensNews…
click here to read more…
SMHNews: Popeyes Runs Out Of Chicken & Black People Lose Their Minds!!! [video]
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
SMHNews…
And they wonder why black people are so violent… When you run out of chicken then expect black people to act like this…
click here to read more…
HipHopNews: Rick Ross Being Sued For Death Of Woman’s Puppy…
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
HipHopNews…
Apparently a woman in Atlanta, GA. is now suing Rick ‘Ricky Rozay’ Ross…
click here to read more…
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
CelebrityNews: Tia Mowry Gives Birth To A Baby Boy!
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
CelebrityNews…
A rep of Tia Mowry tells E! News that she and her husband, actor Cory Hardrict, gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Mowry gave birth this morning at a Los Angeles hospital. Congrats to the family and we at Your Black World cannot wait to meet the kiddo!
Ol’SchoolMusicNews: The Five Heart Beats Speak On Their Reunion At The B.E.T. Awards…
Technorati Tags: Five Heartsbeats,B.E.T. Awards 2011,Performance,Music,Your Black World,Black Celebrity Gossip
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
Five Heartbeats…
click here to read more…
DevastatingNews: Former NC State & NCAA Player Killed In Bus Crash…
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
R.I.P. Lorenzo Charles…
Just Monday, 47-year-old Lorenzo Charles died in a tour bus accident in Raleigh, NC.
click here to read more…
AreYouSeriousNews: Drunk Woman Sprays Police With Breast Milk After Beating Up Her Husband…
Technorati Tags: Stephanie Robinette,Your Black World,White Folks News,Ohio,Breast Milk,Assault,Charges,Disorderly Conduct,SMH,AreYouSeriousNews
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
Are you serious?
An Ohio woman is being charged with counts of disorderly conduct after she sprayed Sherriff’s deputies with breast milk and beat up her husband.
click here to read more…
Monday, June 27, 2011
FashionistaNews: Loving Big Sean’s Gear…
Technorati Tags: Big Sean,Your Black World,Rap,HipHipNews,Fashionista News,My Last,Chris Brown,B.E.T. Awards,2011,Blue Blazer,Lions,Detroit,Kanye West
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
At the B.E.T. Awards last night, Big Sean killed his performance along side Chris Brown, who is now able to claim being the Prince of R&B once again. When I saw him hit the stage I was in ‘awwwwwwwwww’ literally. His outfit was SO FRICKIN’ CUTE!
Rocking a blue blazer, one of the sickest shirts I have ever seen, a leather Detroit Lions fitted cap, and vintage Air Jordans. His performance was crazy, but I loved the outfit even more. Get It Big Sean!
BET Awards need tweaking
LOS ANGELES - The BET Awards, hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, rocked the cable airwaves late Sunday night (June 26). Embattled singer Chris Brown (the viewer's choice winner) delivered a stellar performance highlighted by solid vocals and silky smooth dance moves.
17-year-old phenom Justin Bieber made a nice cameo. Beyonce's concert overseas was televised for the viewing audience. And R&B legend Patti LaBelle won the lifetime achievement award.
A couple quick thoughts:
1) BET should consider removing the Gospel segment from it's annual award show. The commingling of religious music and gangsta hip hop seems too awkward. For instance, while performing the hit single "Look at me now," the aforementioned Brown and old school rapper Busta Rhymes had some of their lyrics beeped out to suffocate profanity.
Roughly an hour later, gospel singers were standing on stage in unison singing "What a friend we have in Jesus." Like I said, just plain awkward. From what I understand, BET already has a Gospel Awards Show. That should be enough.
2) Overall, Hart did an admirable job of hosting. But his skits, mainly 'The Real Husbands of Hollywood,' were too buffoonish. Given the abundance of racially-insensitive programming, is it time for BET to change its name?
Could you image the uproar if corporate executives were to create a WET (White Entertainment Network)?
Twenty years ago, BET featured several decent programs in a long list that includes 'Teen Summit, BET News, Mad Sports, Historic Black Colleges & Universities and Video Soul.'
Today, the programming is significantly different. Share your thoughts.
Wayne Hodges, an MBA from St. Mary University, is the Editor-in-Chief of “Mass Appeal News.” He also serves as a contributing writer to YourBlackWorld.com, he’s a Democrat reporter for the Examiner, and he’s a movie critic and journalist with ILoveBlackMovies.com. Wayne welcomes your comments 24/7 at whodges@massappealnews.com
Sunday, June 26, 2011
"Bad Teacher" makes mockery of public education
HOLLYWOOD – Producing a film that devalues the unceremonious profession of teaching takes a lot nerve; especially in today’s dire public educational climate. However, to be considered a theatrical success, the flick should, at the very least, generate a few laughs in consolation.
A vigorous comedy that underscores an abundance of unladylike desires, “Bad Teacher” falls miserably short in the funny department. The story chronicles the moral failures of Elizabeth Halsey (played by Cameron Diaz), a promiscuous, raunchy, somewhat thuggish middle-school teacher who’s disturbingly content with guzzling liquor, tossing profanity-laced tirades and getting high.
After getting dumped by her rich fiancé, Elizabeth is forced back into teaching; a profession she’s obviously unsuited for. “I don’t need a blackboard or a classroom to set an example,” said Elizabeth in defense of her unsatisfactory teaching methods.
“From now on my full-time job is finding a guy who’s gonna take care of me.”
In spite of her advanced age, 38-year-old Elizabeth is in mad pursuit of a $20,000 boob job. She also speaks openly to colleagues about delivering sexually-explicit favors.
“I want to sit on his face,” said Elizabeth to a faculty member.
“When’s the last time you had a good dicking?” she asked another.
To compound matters, Elizabeth made a controversial habit of showing up to school every morning donning short mini-skirts while wearing no bra and/or panties.
*Critic’s note: Does the term ‘midlife crisis’ permeate Hollywood theater? Like Stacey Dash and LisaRaye McCoy in VH1’s ‘Single Ladies,’ Diaz’s character comes off as a desperate, gold-digging, middle-aged hooker clinging on to what was once considered above average looks. Her implacable advances are not sexy. Instead, they’re pathetic and borderline delusional. Ladies, once you approach or reach the conservative age of 40, please let it go.
Moving on…
Written by Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, and directed by Jake Kasdan, the movie brings into question the sad premise for which it was originally conceived. After all, Elizabeth is more concerned with scamming money for her breast implants than improving classroom participation or state-mandated test scores.
For instance, Elizabeth told a distraught male student, if younger, she wouldn’t date him either. Her lesson plans often involve showing R-rated movies in class that have absolutely nothing to do with the curriculum.
Also, while puffing marijuana on school property, Elizabeth told one of her aspiring female students it’s flat foolish to entertain the idea of becoming president someday. Hell, about the only thing Elizabeth doesn’t do wrong is sleep with her students.
That’s because she has a new teacher, Scott (Justin Timberlake), within full-view of her salacious crossfire.
To obtain Scott’s affection, however, Elizabeth has to battle a rival teacher, Amy (Lucy Punch) while ignoring a more suitable romantic interest, Russell (Jason Segel), in the process.
The narrative gets even wackier from there.
In summary, “Bad Teacher” delivers a surplus of obscene behavior while yielding to an equally disappointing shortage of awe-inspiring comedy. Timberlake does an adequate job of playing a geeky, bow tie-wearing educator.
Although I must admit, the comical ‘White Woman Loves Nerd’ theme has become as redundant as the proverbial ‘Lonely Black Woman Seeks Desperate Male’ plot that continues to haunt African-American theater.
Diaz, once a funny, sexy, movie personality, shined in such entertaining films as “There’s Something About Mary” and “Charlie’s Angels.” Nevertheless, it’s simply embarrassing to watch her slum through a production as morally ungratifying and visually repulsive as this one.
“Bad Teacher” is more than just an accurate depiction of ineptitude, porn talk and sick, crude comedy.
The film also makes a mockery of public education.
Rating: 2 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Wayne Hodges, an MBA from St. Mary University, is the Editor-in-Chief of “Mass Appeal News.” He also serves as a contributing writer to YourBlackWorld.com, he’s a Democrat reporter for the Examiner, and he’s a movie critic and journalist with ILoveBlackMovies.com. Wayne welcomes your comments 24/7 at whodges@massappealnews.com
Saturday, June 25, 2011
LoveNews: New York City Legalizes Gay Marriage…
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
This is a proud and happy day for the gay communities of New York…
Friday, June 24, 2011
SMHNews: Female Minister Sentenced To Life In Prison For Rape & Genocide Of Rwanda In 1994…
Technorati Tags: Pauline Nyiramasuhuko,Your Black News,Women,Rwanda,SMHNews,Genocide,Rape,Murder,Life In Prison
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
Pauline Nyiramasuhuko…
click here to read more…
RealityTVNews: “Real Housewives of Atlanta” Husband Speaks On Battery Charges…
Technorati Tags: Cynthia Bailey,Peter Thomas,Your Black World,Black Celebrity Gossip,PatriceJohnson,Real Housewives of Atlanta,Not Guilty
Technorati Tags: Cynthia Bailey,Peter Thomas,Real Housewives of Atlanta,Husband,Not Guilty,Black Man
by: PatriceJohnson, Your Black World
Peter Thomas & Cynthia Bailey…
‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ husband, Peter Thomas, has recently been found not guilty in the case of battery against a woman in his restaurant.
click here to read more…
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
“Post-Racial” America: The LeBron James Spectacle, in Black and White
Exaggerated self-importance is deemed an individual fault, but a racial virtue. -Kelly Millar
Yes, I watched it, and odds are that you did too. I’m talking about “The Decision” on ESPN, which left many of us slack jawed as superstar LeBron James revealed where his talents would reside over the next few years. In the beginning, I and most of the people I associate with, were united in our displeasure of his Miami Heat choice, because we knew the history of sports heartbreak that the City of Cleveland has endured over the years. We also viewed LeBron as a hometown hero and savior, since he was born and raised 40 minutes outside of Cleveland. Loyalty, or the lack thereof, was the word of the night, and consequently, LeBron lost much face for not staying in Ohio and delivering a World Title to the Championship starved city.
That was then…this is a year later, and America appears to have transitioned from a near uniform voice of disapproval, into a division of two distinct groups, seemingly correlated along the lines on race. I first noticed this as I meandered within my own social circles: some networks were comprised predominantly of Blacks and other minority groups, while other networks were comprised primarily of my White mainstream counterparts. Generally speaking, within my Black networks, the temperature of hate towards LeBron had cooled significantly over time, as they took the year to ponder such questions as, “What exactly did LeBron James do that was so wrong, and is the level of vitriol and criticism leveled at LeBron really justified?” Conversely, within my White social circles, the animosity towards LeBron had generally increased, and in some cases it had reached a fevered pitch, with individuals calling him every name in the book, save his own. There seemed to be no shortage of references to his perceived arrogance, selfishness, cowardice, and laziness, which only grew louder and more spiteful over time.
Naturally, I attributed the differences in opinion between my Black and White networks as being endemic to my own social sphere, largely because I had no way of extrapolating them to the general population. That was, until last week, when I was graced with two fortuitous emails, regarding LeBron and his decision.
The first email was a disparaging spoof of “The Decision”[1], with a snarky reporter questioning LeBron on his election to play in the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) to compete for a championship. This piece was complete with the reporter affirming that LeBron let people down, included constant interruptions as he attempted to give his answers, condescendingly correcting his word pronunciation (as the camera showed a sheepish looking LeBron), and ultimately culminated with the reporter calling him a “F_cking a_shole”.
The second email was an article written by Roger Groves[2] of Forbes Magazine. In his article, he described the systematic demonization of LeBron by the media, despite facts that indicate he could, and should, be viewed as a positive role model for any child to follow. His article highlighted the $3 million raised and donated to the Boys and Girls Club of America (a direct result of The Decision), how LeBron actually LOST money by going to Miami (negating claims that he was selfish), explained how “The Decision” was more than likely a creation of the ESPN television network (rather than LeBron’s), and how the media effectively distanced themselves from the chaotic aftermath, leaving LeBron to hold the proverbial empty bag.
Through the power of Information Technology, I was able to harness Facebook to acquire historical and real-time updates of those posting the aforementioned Youtube clip and Forbes article, along with their apparent racial identities and “add-on” comments as they posted each piece. What I discovered, via the postings, was consistent with what I had already empirically observed in my real life networks. Upwards of 95% of those posting the disparaging LeBron Youtube clip were non-Black, and they would often accompany the post with jeers directed at LeBron, or exclamations of how humorous they found the clip to be. I observed nearly the opposite reaction with those that posted the Forbes article, in that approximately 85% of the posters were Black, and would often add commentary expressing frustration and disgust with the way the media and society were treating him.
All of this brings us to the question of why? Why do different groups coexisting within a society view the same thing, and yet walk away with reactions that are diametrically opposite?
The answer can be found in our cultural “mental models”, and our ontological assumptions of the world. Through our collective experiences of history, we create mental models (as short cut representations in our head) to understand and interpret a world that is far too complex and intricate to ever comprehend completely. The caveat is that these mental models have limitations and gaps in understanding of what is acceptable in the “real” world, or worlds other than our own, since it is only a shortcut representation. We always act rationally and in accordance with our mental models, but the mismatch between the model and the world can result in someone acting completely RATIONALLY according to their established mental model, but IRRATIONALLY towards the world in general.
This is what is happening in the LeBron saga. The White mainstream is acting rationally according to their traditional and cultural mental models, but their mental models translate to irrationality when viewed through the lens of Black cultural mental models. I do not believe that the mainstream majority are racist, or should I say, intentionally racist. Their cultural mental models simply do not include a deep understanding or calculus of historical African American oppression, suffering, and humiliation. It is for this reason that a Black person can view the derogatory Youtube clip and wince when the White interviewer treats LeBron James (a fully grown man) as an ignorant “boy”. Many within the mainstream majority can look at the same clip and laugh, without the slightest bit of indignation. Within a society built to cater and respond to White male patriarchy, there is a perceived hierarchy of power and authority, of servant and master, of first and last. According to mainstream majority mental models, this hierarchy is acceptable and rational, but to progressive Blacks and other minorities living in America, circa 2011 A.D., this hierarchy and subjugation is considered irrational madness.
It is this irrationality and inconsistency that causes LeBron to be lambasted for being disloyal to Cleveland, but elicits no outcry from the masses when the Los Angeles Clippers organization (this very year) unceremoniously traded Baron Davis to Cleveland, despite the fact that Baron Davis is an LA native, and was heartbroken to leave his home city. It is because of this irrationality and inconsistency that LeBron endures withering criticism of selfishness, while there is deafening silence from the population as Chauncey Billups is traded from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks (also this year). Chauncey is a Denver native who likewise did not want to leave his hometown, and later received a public apology from the General Manager and the Coach of the Denver Nuggets, who cited the trade as a “business decision”. I never heard the outcry from the media, the mainstream population, or the city that was receiving or dismissing the players as chattel. How was LeBron’s decision any different? Yes, LeBron could have handled things better, but the reaction to his mistakes is by far disproportionate to what he deserves.
The past year has reaffirmed that despite having a Black President, we are by no means living in a post racial society. Blacks and Whites still live and function in two Americas, often with two different realities. The lack of empathy between the two communities is dangerous because of the ease in which it reproduces itself from generation to generation. However, the disconnection will never be resolved until we stop simply hearing each other, but LISTENING and seeking to truly understand.
Author: C. Frank Igwé, PhD
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Motivation, History, and Political/Economic Control by a Few
In this article I continue to discuss motivational factors that must be taken into account to develop different ideas for helping black Americans improve their position in the American economy. Decades of government programs and trillions of dollars have not achieved acceptable outcomes. Some black American demographics are worse now than when massive government programs started in the mid-1960’s, involving increased family breakup and increased number of children born out of wedlock by teenagers. Different knowledge must be applied to develop different approaches that will achieve acceptable outcomes.
This article, and several that follow, discuss a major motivational factor relating to people understanding the significance of what they do. People who understand the importance of their actions will strive harder to do better. To understand the importance of their actions black Americans, along with all common Americans, have to increase their knowledge and understanding of history.
News reports recently stated that Americans know little about history. Having extensive university course work and decades of independent reading in the social sciences, including history, reviewing high school and university history textbooks brings to mind the possibility that little governmental or media effort is directed toward Americans knowing much about the real past. Uninformed, uneducated people, kept ignorant of their past, are easily fooled and herded for the political and economic benefit of a few wealth people. People, who study the social sciences across the broad scope of history, can see this pattern. It has existed for thousands of years and is designed to control the many for the benefit of a wealthy few. The pattern continues to exist throughout the world but is little discussed in textbooks or publicized through media news or programs.
Because of our American representative/democratic form of government it is more difficult for a few wealthy people to control our government as opposed to other nations like England, China, Russia, Angola, Mexico, etc. These other nations’ governments recognize different classes of people within their populations either legally or on a practical basis. They are established based on the assumption that a few wealthy people will control the government and economy and these few people will stay wealthy generation after generation while most people will remain uneducated, uninformed, politically powerless, poor, and a source of cheap labor.
Throughout thousands of years the wealthiest nations have been class-based made up of a few people who controlled governmental power and structured the economy for their personal benefit. During the last 500 years a movement has gained traction based on the idea that all people should be first-class citizens. The American founding documents included words about people being created equal and having equal rights, etc. Our history has included progress toward making these words a legal and practical reality, but only since the mid-1950’s has our Supreme Court and Congress institutionalized these concepts into legal practice. This progress must be seen as a continuation of the American Revolution but progress has not been uniform or continuous. It has been a “two steps forward but one step back” activity. Our efforts to continue this revolution must continue today.
A normal, human impediment to continuing the American Revolution involves efforts by the already wealthy to control government for their benefit and pass their riches from generation to generation. Based on our democratic system and practical implementation of a classless society during the last 60 years, wealthy Americans must resort to other means to control government and the economy as opposed to those used in other nations. Today to maintain this control, the wealthy own media outlets including television and radio networks, newspapers, news websites, movie and television production companies, and contribute massive masses of cash to political campaigns.
The following articles briefly discuss several elements of this strategy, including passage and enforcement of laws and government regulations that encroach on civil rights and liberties and imprison large segments of Americans, overemphasis on the need for government and government protection, increased taxes for common Americans, and implementation of approaches that foster divisiveness among the common people. This strategy involves governmental pronouncements and manipulation of news and historical information designed to keep common Americans in their place. Of course, black Americans continue “in their place” where they have been for 400 years, but for them to do anything meaningful about this they have to better understand their past and devise new approaches to accomplish different results from that that have been resulting for the last 60 years.
Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D. is a retired business/organizational consultant, seeking to improve society using his decades of experience enhancing corporations and government agencies. What is a society other than a large, complex organization created by a people for their own betterment? He is executive director of the non-profit ABetterSociety.Info, Inc.
This article, and several that follow, discuss a major motivational factor relating to people understanding the significance of what they do. People who understand the importance of their actions will strive harder to do better. To understand the importance of their actions black Americans, along with all common Americans, have to increase their knowledge and understanding of history.
News reports recently stated that Americans know little about history. Having extensive university course work and decades of independent reading in the social sciences, including history, reviewing high school and university history textbooks brings to mind the possibility that little governmental or media effort is directed toward Americans knowing much about the real past. Uninformed, uneducated people, kept ignorant of their past, are easily fooled and herded for the political and economic benefit of a few wealth people. People, who study the social sciences across the broad scope of history, can see this pattern. It has existed for thousands of years and is designed to control the many for the benefit of a wealthy few. The pattern continues to exist throughout the world but is little discussed in textbooks or publicized through media news or programs.
Because of our American representative/democratic form of government it is more difficult for a few wealthy people to control our government as opposed to other nations like England, China, Russia, Angola, Mexico, etc. These other nations’ governments recognize different classes of people within their populations either legally or on a practical basis. They are established based on the assumption that a few wealthy people will control the government and economy and these few people will stay wealthy generation after generation while most people will remain uneducated, uninformed, politically powerless, poor, and a source of cheap labor.
Throughout thousands of years the wealthiest nations have been class-based made up of a few people who controlled governmental power and structured the economy for their personal benefit. During the last 500 years a movement has gained traction based on the idea that all people should be first-class citizens. The American founding documents included words about people being created equal and having equal rights, etc. Our history has included progress toward making these words a legal and practical reality, but only since the mid-1950’s has our Supreme Court and Congress institutionalized these concepts into legal practice. This progress must be seen as a continuation of the American Revolution but progress has not been uniform or continuous. It has been a “two steps forward but one step back” activity. Our efforts to continue this revolution must continue today.
A normal, human impediment to continuing the American Revolution involves efforts by the already wealthy to control government for their benefit and pass their riches from generation to generation. Based on our democratic system and practical implementation of a classless society during the last 60 years, wealthy Americans must resort to other means to control government and the economy as opposed to those used in other nations. Today to maintain this control, the wealthy own media outlets including television and radio networks, newspapers, news websites, movie and television production companies, and contribute massive masses of cash to political campaigns.
The following articles briefly discuss several elements of this strategy, including passage and enforcement of laws and government regulations that encroach on civil rights and liberties and imprison large segments of Americans, overemphasis on the need for government and government protection, increased taxes for common Americans, and implementation of approaches that foster divisiveness among the common people. This strategy involves governmental pronouncements and manipulation of news and historical information designed to keep common Americans in their place. Of course, black Americans continue “in their place” where they have been for 400 years, but for them to do anything meaningful about this they have to better understand their past and devise new approaches to accomplish different results from that that have been resulting for the last 60 years.
Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D. is a retired business/organizational consultant, seeking to improve society using his decades of experience enhancing corporations and government agencies. What is a society other than a large, complex organization created by a people for their own betterment? He is executive director of the non-profit ABetterSociety.Info, Inc.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Racist GOP ad underscores black hypocrisy
SACRAMENTO, Calif – The buzz on Capitol Hill has everything to do with a tawdry, new right-wing political ad (video) that was both produced and disseminated by a conservative action committee named ‘Turn Right USA.’ In the production, California Democrat Janice Hahn (a white woman) is depicted as an underclad vixen (or stripper) who gives raunchy booty dances to a pair of gun-toting, ignorant, black gangsta rappers.The lyrics go: “Give me that cash ho, so we can shoot up the streets. Give me yo cash bitch so we can buy some more heat. Give me yo cash ho so we can get out the pen. Give me yo cash bitch cause we back in again.”
The ad also shows Hahn giving oral sex.
Ouch!
“This ad does not reflect the values of California’s hardworking women and men,” said Jennifer Crider, deputy executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Craig Huey’s silence should send a chilling message to our mothers, sisters and daughters that this kind of outrageous and sexist material is tolerated.”
Many in the African-American community and fellow Democrats have already labeled the unctuous video the most racist, sexist, tactless political ad in U.S. history.
Most sexist? Possibly.
Most racist? Um… not so sure.
Please allow me to expound.
For starters, it would be difficult (if not damn near impossible) for blacks to prove racism in a conception such as this because the perpetrators on display are African-American. Yes, ‘Turn Right USA’ demonstrated poor taste. And yes, the GOP should condemn the video. But the black males who foolishly participated are what concerns me most.
Their pathetic behavior, in a nutshell, sums up the socioeconomic plight of Urban America. Blacks routinely sell-out; rendering our valiant quest for African-American progress to an arduous one at best.
We have officially become crabs in a barrel.
In recent weeks, we’ve held ample discussions via the Mass Appeal blog debating the importance of improving the black image. Because of the senseless remarks spewed by such acclaimed malcontents as rapper Lil Wayne and NFL player Albert Haynesworth, others outside the black race have secured legitimacy in their perilous assault on black women.
For example, ‘Psychology Today’ recently revealed a scientific study indicating black women are less attractive than everyone else. Perhaps predictably, the conspicuous article was removed and an apology was subsequently given. But, hell, the damage has already been done.
Lil Wayne: “My daughter is the first and last dark skin child I’m having. The rest of my baby moms [are] light skinned chicks. I even got an Asian baby moms to make sure I have a daughter with good hair. Too bad we had a son.”
Albert Haynesworth: “I couldn’t tell you the last time I dated a Black girl.”
After reading such ridiculous twaddle, one could make a strong argument Lil Wayne and Haynesworth are indeed the true masterminds behind the ‘Psychology Today’ article.
Although appalled, I’m certainly not surprised ‘Psychology Today’ and ‘Turn Right USA’ threw blacks under the bus. Why? Because our declining reputation, particularly as black men, precedes us.
Yes, I said ‘black men.’
Doesn’t matter if rich or poor.
As brothas, we all look ‘Flavor Flav’ bad.
For instance, black women (generally speaking) have done an impeccable job when it comes to landing gainful employment, raising children and pursuing higher education. Statistically, the ladies have made tremendous strides the past 30 years or so in the meaningful categories of median income, college enrollment, investments, etc.
Conversely, too many brothas have immersed themselves in a self-destructive prison culture that’s proven counterproductive in the key areas of economic growth and building strong family structures.
Rather than pursue a 9 to 5 like everyone else, a vast majority of young black men (with marginal talent) have been hoodwinked into believing it’s more financially feasible to chase a rap career, or land a roster spot with an NBA or NFL franchise.
Yet, we wanna cry ‘foul’ when others, like ‘Turn Right USA,’ commercially exploit us.
As African-Americans, we must understand it’s pure hypocrisy to ask non-black instigators to clean up their houses when we have schools of cockroaches, silverfish and mice roaming around inside ours.
Hypocrisy?
Think about it.
1) Many blacks routinely address and greet each other with the ‘N-Word’ only to holler ‘racism’ when another race utters it.
2) Bishop Eddie Long basically admitted guilt by settling his sexual misconduct lawsuit for a mind-boggling $25 million. Yet, the majority of his congregation at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church showed up the following Sunday morning for early service.
3) Through a false sense of empowerment, single ladies typically claim to want a munificent man with a phat bank account, breath-taking looks and a shiny, new Porsche to boot. But, most of us appear absolutely mystified 60% of American women are single and 70% of black ladies are chilling solo. Word on the street claims consumer purchases of Duracell and Energizer AA batteries have gone up significantly in recent years.
And 4) men have made it known from the ‘get-go’ a woman’s not truly a woman unless she dons a Coke bottle frame accompanied by a Beyonce-quality face; ignoring such important intrinsic values as decency and self-respect.
I guess what I’m trying to say is:
‘If we’re hell-bent on originating characteristics that uniquely define black culture, it’s imperative we adopt a set of moral values that both properly inspire and uplift.’
Otherwise, we're as much to blame as ‘Turn Right USA’ and ‘Psychology Today.’
Wayne Hodges, an MBA from St. Mary University, is the Editor-in-Chief of “Mass Appeal News.” He also serves as a contributing writer to YourBlackWorld.com, he’s a Democrat reporter for the Examiner, and he’s a movie critic and journalist with ILoveBlackMovies.com. Wayne welcomes your comments 24/7 at whodges@massappealnews.com
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