Why Trayvon Martin is not "America's problem."

So I was listening to a talk radio host here in Philly on my drive home today talk about the Trayvon Martin case. Dude was saying that he has sons who are Trayvon's age and that they are prone to wear hoodies every now and then. "But for the grace of God go I" is what he said. Sorry Mr. Smerconish, with all due respect, your sons would have not been shot to death on that fateful day in Central Florida. Your sons do not look like Trayvon Martin.

This is one of the benefits of white privilege that most whites take for granted. In a "color aroused" society, you don't have to worry about how you will be perceived by Joe Public. I am fortunate enough to be able to go to some very nice establishments, and I am always aware of what I wear to certain places. It shouldn't have to be that way, but it is. Unless you are a famous black person (and even when you are), you just do not get the benefit of the doubt. Those "color aroused" instincts always take over and makes things uncomfortable for certain people. Unfortunately, sometimes the results can be deadly. 

Some pundits worry and wonder why this particular case is not "America's problem" and why it is only a black one:

"Trayvon Martin, like so many “suspicious-looking” young black males with similar "fates, did not have that luxury. No one can hide his or her skin color and, in the context of vigilante violence, the false threat of black skin is a uniquely black male problem. That doesn’t mean that those who have not experienced it cannot see why it is so obviously troublesome, nor does it exonerate non-black people from the responsibility of demanding a more just legal system that sends a clear enough message that murders like Martin’s are so unacceptable that they will, for the most part, go away. That lack of joint responsibility may be the single most troubling part of this story.

When Caylee Anthony disappeared, Nancy Grace almost single-handedly decided for us that this was America’s Problem. For a good year, this was America’s Problem. This was America’s Problem despite the fact that, by the time Caylee’s mother was arrested and acquitted, there really wasn’t anything anyone could do about it. Black media leaders had to cover Casey Anthony’s trial, too. And Joran Van Der Sloot’s. And Amanda Knox‘s. The lack of reciprocity, particularly in cases with black victims, is stark and needs to be addressed."  [Source]

It "needs to be addressed", but believe me, if it's not, we won't be surprised.
As Americans we do have a lot in common, but unfortunately, problems like this isn't one of them.

Finally, Rick Santorum came out against pornography the other day; and he has been forceful in his condemnation of this particular phenomenon in A-merry-can life.

I admire the guy's passion, but if he really wants to do away with pornography he has to stop posing shirtless for all the world to see. I, like, Justice Stewart, know obscene pornography when I see it. That pic, my friends, was obscenely pornographic.


*Pic courtesy of The Grio.

Thank you Mrs. Lacks!

Life can be so unfair at times. I was thinking that while listening to Rebecca Skloot talk about her book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks", this evening. (Shout out to Michael Smerconish for featuring this author on his radio show. BTW Mike, I am still waiting for my check. You can't just steal a brother's logo and not break him off with something.)

So here is the story: Mrs. Lacks visits Johns Hopkins Medical Center (The "colored" section. It was, after all, 1951.) after experiencing pain in the area of her cervix. She was later diagnosed with cervical cancer. During her treatment doctors removed samples of her tumor for research purposes. (Without her knowledge or permission.) The cells from the tumor would eventually become the "He La immortal cell line" which is a very important and often used cell line in biomedical research.

Mrs. Lacks' cells were special, because, unlike no other cells before, they could be kept alive and even grow. Here is a quote from Wiki:

"..Demand for the HeLa cells quickly grew. Since they were put into mass production, Henrietta's cells have been mailed to scientists around the globe for "research into cancer, AIDS, the effects of radiation and toxic substances, gene mapping, and countless other scientific pursuits".[11] HeLa cells have been used to test human sensitivity to tape, glue, cosmetics, and many other products.[1] Scientists have grown some 20 tons of her cells.[1][15]

Doctors still have not discovered the reason for HeLa cells' unique vigor, but suspect that it is due to altered telomerase function. There are almost 11,000 patents involving HeLa cells.[1]

In the early 1970s, the family started getting calls from researchers who wanted blood samples from them to learn the family's genetics (eye colours, hair colours, and genetic connections). The family wondered why and this is when they learned about the removal of Henrietta's cells. No one else in the family had the traits that made her cells unique .."

That's all great, and, by all accounts, billions of dollars have been made by bio research companies thanks to this woman's unique cells. Now she is getting all kinds of posthumous recognition, and a movie by Oprah is in the works. The irony is, of course, that her family remains poor. And they cannot even afford to get health coverage today for their own ailments.

This quote from Ruth Faden in the Baltimore Sun is on the money:

"The contrast is stunning between the well-endowed world of biomedical research and the situation of the Lacks family, and it contributes to our unease about the inequities in our society generally, but especially when it comes to health care."

Folks, I hope that the next time you hear a wingnut ranting about "Obamacare" you will think of Mrs. Lacks.

Niggers always lie.

*

I know that there are copy cats for everything these days. But there is no truth to the rumor that Joe Wilson would have thrown his *shoes at the O man if he didn't have holes in his socks.

No, but seriously, I have been trying to tell you Negroes in A-merry-ca and you progressive whites that there is a very large segment of the A-merry-can population that will not even acknowledge his O ness as their president. They just can't bring themselves to do it. Obama could give everyone of their households a brand new home, promise them that they wouldn't pay taxes for life, and give free college tuition to everyone of their kids, and they still wouldn't acknowledge his black behind.

Joe Wilson, like most in the republican party, is one of those people. And just like the shoe thrower in Iraq, last night he just couldn't take it anymore, he finally gave in to his passions. To many in A-merry-ca, Joe Wilson is a hero today, because he did what many of them wish they could have done. What he did last night will guarantee him celebrity and riches that he could not have imagined before. (See Sarah Palin) All because he gave a big fuck you to his O ness. Oh, he didn't quite say those words, but given the time and place that he said what he did, he might as well have. Joe Wilson also has a dirty little secret. (Well, maybe it's not so much of a secret, it's probably why he got elected in the first place.) At least it used to be a secret until last night.

"Looking into the background of Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, after his heckling of President Obama last night, I came across this:Joe also has been a member of the Columbia World Affairs Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Sinclair Lodge 154, Jamil Temple, Woodmen of the World, Sons of Confederate Veterans, ....This is an organization that, as the SPLC has detailed assiduously, has been taken over in the past decade by radical neo-Confederates who favor secession and defend slavery as a benign institution. Leading the takeover is a radical racist named Kirk Lyons, who's been an important legal figure on the far right for some years.." [Thank you Crooks & Liars]

But it all makes sense: The "birthers", the vitriol, and the relentless unyielding attacks from the likes of glenn beck [No caps for his name] who will not stop until this president ends up under the wonderful manicured lawns of Arlington.

I will leave you with a little anecdote as told by Michael Smerconish: Michael Smerconish is a popular conservative talk show host who runs a nationally syndicated radio show out of Philadelphia. And rather than trying to give you all the details, I wil just let you go to this link and read it for yourself.

Folks, this is not an isolated incident, and if you think it is, well then I have some beautiful oceanfront property in Kansas to sell you. These are interesting times here in A-merry-ca. There is a war going on between those who think that they are losing their country and others who want to make the country better. Most people have already taken sides, and the ones who are trying to decide which side to go with are probably sizing up the different camps as I write this.

So in closing, I will leave you with this: For those of you who are still making up your minds, let me say right here and now that I don't bite. And neither do the rest of the people here in A-merry-ca who look like I do.

*Pic by ArtMaggot