"They use it so why can't we?"

           It never ceases to amaze me how indignant folks in the majority population can get over the fact that they aren't allowed to use the n-word. If I hear this familiar refrain again:  "They use it to each other so why can't we"? one more time, I swear I will find religion.

My views on the subject of the n word is well documented, I personally don't use the word, but I am not as offended as others when the younger generation of African Americans use it. And I certainly can appreciate it  when it is used in the context of art. "Sucka Nigga" is still one of the greatest hip hop songs of all times (RIP Phife Dawg), and I can appreciate its use in film and other forms of artistic expression as well. 

Having said all of that, given how the word was used by whites historically (and how they still, in some quarters, continue to use it today) it is never ever cool for whites to use the word in general conversation. 

This notion that they can use the word because we do is preposterous. I have Italian friends who refer to other Italians as the d word, that does not give me the right to use that word to an Italian American, and I would certainly never make an issue of the fact that I am not supposed to use the word because it is repugnant to them when it is said by someone who doesn't happen to be Italian American. 

It's really that simple, folks.  

This all leads me to Larry Wilmore's use of the word (or something like it) to close the White House Correspondence Dinner last night.

I played tennis with an older African American gentleman today who was furious that Wilmore even went there to his Oness. To him, it was disrespectful, given the historical nature of O's presidency and the fact that this was his official send off from the Washington elites. And judging from what was said on twitter and in other quarters, he was not alone. Heck even Rev Al weighed in, and he, like others, gave it a thumbs down.  

I personally was not so much offended by the word as I was the fact that the line was not particularly funny. Wilmore is a fine comedy writer, but let's face it, he is not a very good stand up comedian, so that joke, like a few others, fell flat.

Leonard Greene, writing for the New York Daily News, had a good take on it.

"That’s not to say Wilmore bombed the whole set. He managed to get off quite a few good lines, like the one about Obama’s graying hair.

“Mr. President, your hair is so white, it tried to punch me at a Trump rally,” Wilmore said. “The President’s hair is so white it keeps saying ‘All lives matter.’”

Wilmore should have quit while he was ahead.

Besides unfairly putting Obama on the spot about the most loaded word in the English language, Wilmore just gave white people, many of whom have for nearly eight years been beside themselves over a black man in the White House, license to use the N-word against the leader of the free world."

Yep. "They use it, so why can't we?"









  

Incident at the beach.

If we are all trying to learn from each other and improve race relations in America, let's have a civil discussion in the comments section about the following incident:

"Chicago’s Oak Street Beach is a popular summer destination, but for one mother, it turned out to be a lesson in racism for her young children.

Raquel Bolton posted a video on Facebook that shows a white woman calling her and her two children the n-word after her children, ages 4 and 8, accidentally splashed the woman.

Bolton explained what happened on Facebook:

While at the beach #oakstreetbeach this lady called us the N Word three times in front of my children all because they splashed water on her. I asked her to stop yelling at the kids and said I'll call the police. She walked in my face twice yes I could've reacted but I didn't. Yes I thought this lady was going to spit or put hands on me first because that's how angry she was....here's

On the video, the irate white woman rattles off the n-word several times and even questions Bolton's education.

"Of course you haven't graduated and you don't know the Constitution of the United States and what it says," the woman states.

"Of what? That you could just walk around calling somebody a n--ger?" Bolton asks.

The woman responds, "Yes, it's called free speech in America. Right to free speech. Look it up."

It didn't take long for Internet sleuths to figure out the identity of the white woman. According to The Frisky, Angelle Marie Massion is the irate woman in the video. Massion's Internet footprint led the women's site to her blog. But what's even more interesting is the fact that Massion seems to have a history of incidents involving racist outbursts. In 2006 she was reportedly arrested in an incident involving harassing students at Northwestern, with police saying that she yelled racial slurs at officers, according to the Daily Northwestern.
 

'It's times like these when having a cellphone readily available is a good thing. Especially when it puts people's racism on blast for the world to see."' [Source]

I have my own views about Ms. Massion, and this might surprise you, but in a way I actually feel sorry for her. She seems like a rather pathetic individual.  Somehow, though, these particular types of individuals always seem to be the most racist: Miserable human beings who made nothing of their lives so they lash out in the only way that they know how.  

Good for Ms. Bolton for not making an already bad situation worse. I am glad she showed  some restraint and was able to capture her ignorant beach buddy on video for all the world to see.

*In my best John Quiñones voice*  What would  you have done in this situation?

The N word, slavery, Chuck and Sarah.

I was watching Isiah Thomas and Grant Hill's eloquent take down of the "N" word, and while I was proud of these two former athletes having such a grasp of their history and the wonderful way they articulated it, I couldn't help but wonder about buffoons  like Charles Barkley and Shaq who openly defended the use of the N word as used by Matt Barnes (bad) and Richie [no more] Incognito (worse).

This latest episode of racial cluelessness involving Sir Charles got me wondering why he is so embraced and beloved by folks in the majority population.

Of course I suspect that I know why: Charles is that black guy who makes white folks laugh and feel comfortable about using words like the "N" word in his company. I wonder how often Sly Stallone would use the "N" word around Charles.

Charles supposedly likes to shock us and speak his mind on matters of race, but the truth is, there is nothing shocking about what Charles Barkley has to say about racial issues. In fact, when it comes to Charles, it's all pretty predictable.

"I just watched NBA (on TNT Thursday night) and was appalled to hear Charles Barkley and Shaquille Oneal say that it was okay to use the “N” word on national television.

It was so crazy. I just sat there looking at the television dumbfounded. I could not believe the words that were coming out of Charles mouth. He said it with purpose..."

Of course he did, white America was watching. Charles has to keep them smiling.

Speaking of the "N" word, I bet George Junius Stinney Jr. heard it a lot growing up in South Carolina. And I bet the members of the all white jury that sentenced him to death used the "N" word a lot as well.

Unfortunately Junius Stinney Jr. was only 14 years old when he was strapped to the death chair and fried. That all white jury made sure that he would never hear the "N" word-- or any words-- ever again. 

Now, thankfully, some historians are trying to clear his name. We are talking about South Carolina here, so I am not expecting much to come of these efforts, but I am glad that people like Ray Brown are at least trying.

Finally, I don't agree with Martin Bashir's harsh opinion of Sarah Palin, but I do believe that girlfriend has been on somewhat of a roll of late. Glen Rice's former liaison sans lendemain made less than flattering remarks about the Pope, and compared the national debt to slavery.

Of course, as is to be expected, she apologized to the Pope. She did not, however, apologize for her slavery remarks. Sarah wants Catholics to like her, they might buy her books. Unfortunately, though, Sarah could care less about Negroes not named Glen Rice.

Sadly, she doubled down on her ignorant slavery comments.

Something about apologizing to Negroes doesn't sit well with Sarah.





     

Riley is caught off guard and George is caught speeding.

Most of you who come to the fields on a regular basis know that I live in Philly and I am a huge Eagles fan. Come football season I ride with Gang Green no matter what. So it is with a heavy heart that I have to report tonight that the Big R has struck Eagles Nation.

One of Tim Tebow's best buds -and his roommate from college- was caught dropping the N- word at a good ole boyz concert. Now Riley Cooper is no politician or person influencing public policy, so if he is a closet racist it doesn't really bother me that much. It's all par for the course as far as I am concerned.  What does bother me is the distraction that he has become to my team.

"Embarrassed Eagles receiver Riley Cooper stood fittingly with his back to a wall outside the team's training complex press room Wednesday night, apologizing for a racial epithet used after a confrontation with an African American security guard working a June 8 Kenny Chesney concert.

The six-minute, 45-second apology -- which followed a Twitter apology -- was only the beginning for Cooper, who was fined an undisclosed amount by the team and now awaits word on whether the NFL will tack on more discipline.
The receiver said he intended to apologize later to his teammates, many of whom are African American, following a 7 p.m. walk-through practice.
VIDEO: Cooper's outburst

"It's going to be very difficult for me. I'm going to tell them, 'I'm extremely sorry,' tell them exactly what I'm telling you guys. There was a confrontation and I handled it extremely, extremely poorly,'' Cooper said to 25 reporters and six local television cameras. "This is kind of the lowest of lows. This isn't the type of person I want to be portrayed as. This isn't the type of person that I am." [Source]

Actually, Riley, that is exactly the "type of person" that you are, and it's only the "lowest of lows" because you got caught on camera. Sadly, you are a pretty good receiver, and with one of our other top receivers out for the year with a torn ACL, you were going to be number two on the bird's depth chart. Now every time I see you going over the middle I am torn between wanting to see your head separated from your shoulders by some crazed linebacker or you catching the rock and taking it to the house.

Good luck with the apology tour with your teammates. I hope they make that extra block for you this year. I am sure you do as well. We wouldn't want one of those N*****s ending your career.

Finally, it looks like child killer, George Zimmerman, is in the news again.Unfortunately for George he was caught speeding with a gun in his car. Fortunately for George he was stopped in a place called Forney, Texas.

"Hey, ain't you the guy that killed that N****r boy down in Florida? Sir, you have a nice day, and let us know if you have any problems down the road. We will be glad to provide an escort for you."

Ok, so maybe it didn't quite go down that way, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it did.

"Zimmerman, who informed police that the weapon was in the car shortly after being pulled over, was asked where he was going, to which he responded, "nowhere in particular," according to the site.

CBS News reports that, during the traffic stop, which occurred at 12:54 p.m., Zimmerman also asked the officer if he recognized him from television.
This is the second time Zimmerman has been in the news since his trial ended on July 13.

Three days later, Zimmerman reportedly came to the aid of a family trapped under an overturned SUV on a Florida highway, pulling two children and their parents to safety".

Yes George, I am sure that he recognized you. This is why you were only given a warning for speeding with a firearm in your vehicle.

Oh, and about that "overturned SUV, story.......

His Home might need improvement, and five things for Don.

I was going to blog about Tim Allen and his confusing and convoluted diatribe about the use of the "N-word" but honestly, it's not even worth it. For the life of me I cannot understand why certain white folks feel so strongly about being able to say the word, Nigger.

 "I've had this argument on stage a million times. I do a movie with Martin Lawrence and pretty soon they’re referring to me, 'Hey, my n*****'s up.' So I'm the n***** if I'm around you guys but seven feet away, if I said n*****, it's not right. It's very confusing to the European mind how that works, especially if I've either grown up or evolved or whatever, it literally was growing up in Colorado, with Hispanics and Anglos, that's all I remember. So when Paula Deen (admits her language), they go after her, and now we've gone backwards in the world. She said n***** in '83 or something?"

Back in the day folks like Tim Allen and Paula Dean called us "Nigger" so much that I bet some blacks folks thought that their name was actually, Nigger. Not anymore, and I honestly think that this bothers some folks. This is why we have the constant cries of double standard because we are allowed to use it to each other (sorry Don Lemon, that will not be changing anytime soon) and they can't.  

Finally, I really wanted to feature an article by Lauren Victoria Burke, an editor over at Politic365. My only wish is that Mr. Lemon reads this news site, and that he will check out Lauren's post over coffee tomorrow morning.

"CNN let Roland go and kept this? –> see video On this whole Don Lemon thing, it is a shame to waste time on 24 hour cable’s many flim flam artists — but in this case it’s a must. You see, Don actually believes he’s right. Anyone left who is confused on the question of whether a person can be mis-educated yet have a national platform has found their answer.  With that, I want to bring something up that’s been on my mind for some time now. Which is: If journalists can’t confront complex issues in a smart way they should shut up.

Yeah, yeah, I get it: If you can get paid to run your mouth why not right? Ratings, attention, fame: Good for you Don Lemon — look at you go. Just “pull your pants up,” everyone.  I guess any flunky on TV could come up with “Don’s 5 points”, and wouldn’t you know it, one did.  Sadly, TV’s Billy O and Double Down Don have no solutions. Long after these guys are gone harder questions will remain.

The deeper questions: How did we get to the place where the N-word is used casually in music and 1 in 28 kids in the U.S. has a parent behind bars? How do we break the cycle? This is where TV flunkies Don and Billy O fail. We are the country that leads the world in putting humans in cages. Why is any so-called journalist acting shocked that American youth have adopted prison culture with 1.5 million kids with a parent in jail? It appears a network anchor knows nothing about the effects of the war on drugs. Scary.

It took Michelle Alexander 332 pages to detail those effects, particularly on Black communities, in The New Jim Crow. Perhaps Don and Billy should read more. Or how about a viewing of The House I Live In? It’s never surprising when a Fox anchor doesn’t care to learn these issues. But one of the only Black anchors on a major network?

So if Don wants to “really fix” problems I say we start with “fixing” Don. Here are 5 things to consider Don — I write directly to you and no one else. Because it’s time for “tough love.”

1.
News reporting around the story of a 17-year-old who was followed and then ended up being shot to death is not the time for “lessons to Black people.” Only if you are a brainless dupe who is too stupid to see you’re a dupe could you fall for the wingnutty spin that switches topics from Trayvon to “black on black” crime. Don, what’s with opening you’re 7 minute “discussion” as if it’s somehow related to the death of Trayvon Martin — then saying you know it isn’t — then launching into how correct Billy O’Reilly is then rolling a clip of him doing just that? Everyone knows the first rule in the Fox debate playbook is “change the subject.” The only reason Billy O is talking about problems in the black community is as a device to change the subject from Trayvon. Billy will only return to the subject when he needs a handy way of saying Blacks are f’d up. And what did you do: Dance like a reverse Jolson to his narrative.
2.
The N-word and pants sagging are the end result of pathology not the start of it. No one exits the womb doing these things. Sitting in pious judgement without considering a myriad of factors is a precarious adventure. But sure, it’s great for ratings and getting booked on The View? And do I have this right: You’re a gay black male and you don’t appear to understand what it is to be judged by others who don’t know you simply because you belong to a particular group? I hope I don’t have this right.

And so you and Billy O want to talk about black males and the American criminal justice system? Well hot damn, let’s talk. The NYPD has stopped over 4 million innocent people in over 10 years and the majority of those stopped were innocent black and latino males. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly apparently wants to “save” black and latino males from being subjected to 4th and 5th amendment protections even though crime is at a record low in NYC. But there are no drugs and guns in Bensonhurst or Staten Island?  Perhaps you should consider who the disproportionate target of law enforcement is in the city you live in — even when that target is innocent and there is no probable cause.  Over 473,000 innocent people were stopped last year — 55% Black.  Find an interview.

Personal behavior is very important. And that behavior is often driven by the (read: limited) choices we have in front of us. Let’s ask ourselves: Is arresting kids better than suspending them? Are we making it easier or harder for people to get a criminal record? And when they do: Do we make it easier or harder for them to re-enter society? When stats show that black males are sentenced 20% longer what effect is that likely to have? Does our society make it easy for people to attend college? Does a poor kid have the same educational opportunities as a rich one in America? When a poor kid sees few opportunities what decisions is he or she likely to make? Last I checked there were 50 million Americans — 1 in 7 — in poverty. That’s a lot of people facing the above questions.

3. 
Your “respect where you live” advice was my favorite. “I’ve lived in several predominately white neighborhoods in my life, I’ve rarely witnessed people littering,” you say. Stopping litter will save us? 

Well how about you stop littering: On the group you are in. Ask yourself: Would anyone in any other religious or ethnic group in America do what you did on live TV to the group they are a member of? Think: Would Thomas Roberts or Capehart rag on gays on the air as you did on Blacks? Would you? Would any Latino anchor take to the air and “call out” Hispanics? Would Fareed Zakaria do a screed like yours on Muslims? Would anyone of the Jewish or Catholic faith be critical of others in their group in this way? And the Catholics had a sex scandal.  Every group has their issues.  Sit back, close your eyes and ask yourself why no other group in America but African Americans do public self flogging as celebration. 

4. 
Remember the last line from Adolph Ceasar’s character in A Soldier’s Story: “They still hate you…”  Well President Barack Obama finished high school. He got a B.A. from Columbia U. He then graduated Harvard Law School. He became the 44th President of the United States.  And people demanded to see his birth certificate. You think you can escape from blackness by winking to Bill O’Reilly who demands the President’s “hidden college records.”  You’re reminding me a bit of Sgt. Waters in A Soldier’s Story with this episode.  The line, “you know the damage one ignorant Negro can do…” has many interpretations. 

5. 
Finally you may want to take note that the same people who now suddenly want to talk out-of-wedlock babies are the same people who advocate against sex ed in schools and contraception. The same people who want to abolish the Department of Education and cut funding for public schools are the same people who request $30 million to throw more people in jail even after that policy has proven it does not work. Chicago’s mayor “finds” $300 million for a sports stadium but closes 46 schools to “save money.” Chicago’s Senator finds $170 million for a prison but no money for summer jobs? Black youth unemployment is 46%. How about 7 minutes on that?

If I’m wrong I apologize but I’m going to go ahead and bet you didn’t study sociology, criminology or psychology. I’ll bet you’ve spent an entire life in journalism — a life of watching and not doing. I can speak first hand on what a vacuous vocation that can be. It can be a brilliant profession. It can also reveal deep ignorance." [Source]

One correction for Lauren, there is nothing ignorant about what Don Lemon is doing. He knows exactly what to do to become known and to drive up his ratings.


 



 

This is not how we start an honest conversation about race.

I know that AG Holder wants us to have an honest conversation about race in this country, but someone should explain to our white friends that certain words are a non- starter.

"An unidentified White man was rushed to the hospital Friday with a massive head injury after allegedly calling a Black man a racial slur at a Manhattan restaurant, the New York Daily News reports.

The altercation took place at Benny’s Burritos in the West Village neighborhood around 5:30 p.m. when a White man approached a Black patron in the outdoor seating area. Douglas Reddish, 25, was eating with his girlfriend when the man, who was reportedly drunk, stumbled to his table, according to the New York Post.

Reddish reportedly tried to help the man regain his balance before he allegedly said, “This ni*ger wants to fight me!” Reddish did not take the insult well, knocking the man out cold with a blow to the face. The man fell backwards onto the concrete.

“He was out cold. I thought he was dead,” said Benny’s worker Robert Garcia.
Reddish tried to attack the man again, but restaurant employees restrained him. Once Reddish realized the man was seriously injured, cops say he fled the scene; he was eventually tracked down, arrested and charged with assault.
A woman who spoke with the man before he was KO’d says he was upset over his wife leaving him and losing his job at Goldman Sachs.

Witnesses heard the man say, “You n—–s are why I lost my job.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” one witness said. “He mentioned the N-word, this guy hits him one time and he hits his head on the curb.”

The man was taken to Beth Israel Hospital. His status is not known at this time.

See what you started, Rush? I hope you at least offer to pay that poor man's hospital bill.

Another chef cooking up the N-word.

Sometimes you just have to back off that racism chase. Every chase just isn't worth it. (Like Sarah's“Lax-a-daisical,” comment.) I have to save my racism chasing legs for real racism.

Take the case of FOX Master Chef contestant, Krissi Biasiello. (In picture) I know that like another more famous white female chef, she was caught dropping the N-word, but Krissi being a racist shouldn't be worth a chase from the kid. Krissi does not have the power or the influence of Paula Deen, so she is basically just another racist in America. (Yawn) Her N-word is getting attention because she is on a popular television show.

 "A current contestant on Fox’s MasterChef reality program is in hot water for tweeting inflammatory remarks about black people.

A reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News unearthed the two now-deleted tweets showing MasterChef contestant Krissi Biasiello making some pretty derogatory comments last year.
“[W]hy do the [Philadelphia] 76ers keep coming up in my who to follow,” she asked in the first tweet from 2012. “i HATE basketball. NBA = Niggers Bouncing Around,” she explained, punctuated with a “#thatsracist” hashtag. [Tweet image below edited by Daily News reporter.] 

In another tweet from July 2012, Biasiello wrote: “Better make sure you’re on top when sleeping with a black guy … Otherwise it’s probably rape.” The tweet links to what seems to be a ChaCha poll on whether you prefer to be on the “top” or “bottom” during sex.

Biasiello is a 34-year-old paralegal based out of Philadelphia. She is currently placed within the top 11 contestants on this fourth season of MasterChef, a competitive cooking reality program co-hosted by Gordon Ramsay.
Following Molly Eichel’s Daily News report, Biasiello has deleted her account; but her official MasterChef account remains active." [Source]

I see you Krissi, and if you are sleeping with someone, be they black or white; let me say for the record that they deserve a medal of honor. Just saying.

Finally, CNN is examining the N-word tonight, and Don Lemon promoted the program by holding up an "index card" with the word "Nigger" on it. CNN, always looking for a ratings edge, is trying to cash in on the N-word being all over the news of late. I suspect that FOX will give the N-word their own special treatment next:

"Why can blacks say the word "Nigger" and we can't? That is not fair. If blacks can say the word Nigger to each other then so can we."

I think that you will be hearing a lot of that on Don's program. I know his position about the use of the word among blacks; he is against it.

But do we really need an entire cable news program dedicated to the N-word? Clearly the CNN bean counters believe that we do.

N-words in celebrity land, and a Pennsylvania Shell game.

I swear you Negroes are so sensitive. White folks just don't know how to act around you. Pretty soon you won't have any friends at all. Poor Gwyneth Paltrow. She tried to be down with you all and all she got for her troubles was a twitter firestorm. Come on now, what's a little "N-word" between friends?

Anyway, some of you celebrity Negroes who are used to white folks (unlike those Negroes in the hood who never see white folks) are jigging coming to Gwyneth's defense.

"...a couple of nights ago, a similar milestone occurred in Paris with Jay and Kanye's Watch The Throne Tour. It was at this show that my friend Gwyneth Paltrow tweeted something that got me a little twisted. I follow Gwyneth on Twitter and when I saw her tweet about the “N*ggas in Paris” show in PARIS, I said ‘Damn everybody is there but me.’ I’m a bit older and I don’t get to jet-set to concerts like I used to, but when I saw Gwyneth was there, I must admit, I got a little jealous. The tweet she sent has since angered some in the black community, since she used the n-word. But when I saw it, it didn’t faze me - not even one bit.

I have to throw my hand up and stand up for Gwyneth. I know her intentions were not to be offensive ... she was just proud of her friend, Jay-Z. My words are in defense of her.

I don’t have a permanent answer to the n-word controversy that appeases everyone. I remember when I tried to fix it and said we should maybe beep that word and a few others on the radio, Oprah quoted me as if I said not to use the n-word. However, for the record, I have NEVER told any artist not to use that word or any word in my life and I never will; a poet can choose their own words to describe whatever they want in their art."

Ahhhm....Russell, I have a news flash for you: Gwyneth is not a poet. But I get your point. Still, if I was Gwyneth, I would just stop hanging around you Negroes.  

Finally, as another governor fights for his political life tonight, my governor is busy selling out Pistolvania to Shell Oil. $1.7 Billion??!! That can buy a lot of school books.

My friend Will Bunch wrote an excellent article exposing Governor Big Oil:

"They are the world's second largest corporation by revenue, and last year Royal Dutch Shell made an astronomical $31 billion in profits - more than triple what the global oil giant was earning just two years earlier.

But Gov. Corbett apparently doesn't think the hard-earned cash you fork over every time you pull into a Shell station is enough.

He wants to give them your tax dollars, too - perhaps as much as about $1.7 billion over the next 25 years.

It would actually be too kind to call Corbett's corporate-welfare scheme involving Shell's planned ethane-cracking plant on Pennsylvania's far western border a tax break - because the deal has already won state approval to avoid taxes, in a specially created Keystone Opportunity Zone. So this proposed new deal - which was being negotiated in secret until long-time Harrisburg journalist Pete DeCoursey broke the news Monday - is essentially just a straight-up cash giveaway to Big Oil.   

For a facility it is already planning to build here.

In the state where it arguably would have been built anyway without a single dollar of tax incentives, since this is where ethane wells are already being drilled.

Did I mention that this is the same Tom Corbett who wants struggling unemployed folks getting food stamps to prove they don't have money stashed away, whose steep 2011 cuts to school funding deeply exacerbated an education crisis that's risking everything from school plays in Upper Darby to the janitor who cleans your son's classroom here in Philadelphia? I guess janitors didn't realize the threshold to get Corbett's attention is $31 billion.

"It's essentially a big giveaway of money we didn't have, to attract a company we were already getting," said Sharon Ward, the director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, a progressive think tank, who called the proposal "unprecedented." [Article]

This is not "unprecedented" this is the new normal here in America: Corporations first, people second. Oh wait...corporations are people. Never mind. 

A "teachable moment", but who should teach it?

If you know anything about me you know that I love open dialogue and honest debate. It's why, for the most part, I never censor people on this blog. I always want to know how folks feel, no matter how ignorant, detestable, and abhorrent their opinions appear to be.

So when I saw the story about the white teacher who has filed a federal lawsuit against the Chicago School District because they fired him for using the n-word to teach his students, I was immediately drawn to the story. I thought that we could be looking at another one of those "teachable moments" when it comes to race relations here in A-merry-ca.   

"The incident occurred last October when Brown said he used the n-word after two of his students were passing notes with rap lyrics that included it, according to the Sun-Times. The lawsuit alleges Brown used the word during a "teachable moment" in the context of the book Huckleberry Finn in order to show how such language can hurt. But as the words left Brown's lips, the school's principal walked in to the Murray Language Academy classroom.

Murray Principal George Mason charged Brown with "using verbally abusive language to or in front of students" as well as "cruel, immoral, negligent, or criminal conduct or communication to a student, that causes psychological or physical harm."

Brown has just served the first of his five days of suspension, but told WLS-TV he's worried that this has ruined his reputation as a teacher."

Oh my! What to do? Principal Mason, a black man, knows the pain that the word can cause, and he has probably experienced it personally. Teacher Brown, on the other hand, probably wants to do the right thing, and he wants, in his own way, to teach his class about that horrible word.

Problem is, of course, that teacher Brown is white. And we live in a very race conscious and "color aroused" world. Teacher Brown doesn't have a black card which allows him to use the word even if he is using it to teach his students not to use it.

I am quite sure that if teacher Brown was a black man there would have been no suspension. To white people, this is unfair. To black folks, on the other hand, that is the reality. The word coming from you is different than when it is coming from us.

This is a white person's take which I suspect represents the popular view:

"COMMENTARY | The n-word is an ugly, hateful word. Any negative descriptor of race, creed, characteristic, religion, ideology or lifestyle choice is. Lincoln Brown, a white teacher in Chicago Public Schools, tried to teach his students why the n-word is wrong and got suspended. Brown had found a student note with the word quoted from a rap song. The principal walked in and heard Brown say the word as part of a sixth grade language arts anti-racism lesson, says ABC.

The principal, Gregory Mason, who is black, called Mason's lesson "cruel, immoral, negligent and verbally abusive." Brown is suing CPS, according to Fox Chicago News, saying this is damaging to his reputation, which it is. Teaching jobs are hard enough to come by with all the axing of educational programs. If you're 48 like Brown and you get a smudge on your record, fairly earned or not, you might as well kiss your career goodbye.

It's not even Brown's career that is the crux of the issue. Nor is it the fact Mason suspended him in such a back-door way. The principal didn't just walk in, hear the word, assume it was used as a slur and confront Brown. Mason listened in on the lesson (which dove-tailed negative historical, literary, film and music references to blacks to show why the word is so problematic). Brown thought Mason approved. Apparently not. Two weeks later, Brown got suspended.

The core of the matter is, as Brown put it, "We can't solve these issues if we can't discuss them," according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Clearly, the word and all shaming comments are "cruel and immoral." It's not a "sticks and stones" thing; words hurt more than physical injuries because they don't heal. Brown wasn't fanning the flames, though. He was trying to teach kids not to fan it. In order to do so, he had to use the word.

History can't be sanitized in retrospect and silencing issues negates them. Hiding from problems makes them loom larger. The Minotaur gained power skulking in his labyrinth. It was only when Perseus ferreted him out that he was able to vanquish the beast.

Brown should be congratulated for turning swords into plowshares and giving us all a positive learning experience." [Source]

I don't know if it has been positive. But at least we are learning.





 

The N Is For Nigger

OK , either I am just getting too lazy to write, or some of these Inky columnist have been playing "Jedi Mind Games" with me. Because seriously, I have really been feeling some of their articles lately. Like the one below from a sister that really struck a nerve with me. Partly because I am still trying to find myself with this issue, and partly because she just flat out made some damn good points. I don't agree with everything she said, but I certainly think her piece was well thought out and well written. So here goes:

"N-word: Don't play with fire
By Annette John-Hall
Inquirer Columnist~
This country has become obsessed with the word nigger.
Everywhere I go, I hear it. Out of the mouths of blacks and whites alike. From garden-variety bigots and platinum-selling rappers. Kids on the playground. Loose-lipped politicians. Washed-up comedians. It's been heatedly debated and used as a punch line. Spewed in profanity and tossed around in love.
As the word continues to wreak havoc on our cultural consciousness, more and more African Americans are calling for its total banishment because of its enduring legacy as a racist epithet. A couple of months ago, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Congresswoman Maxine Waters urged people to stop using it, along with comedian Paul Mooney, who had once sprinkled the word liberally through his act.
Now Jet and Ebony, the venerable magazines for African Americans, have picked up the mantle. In the February issue of Ebony, editorial director Bryan Monroe, introducing a package of articles titled "Enough! Why Blacks - and Whites - Should Never Use the 'N-word' Again," writes that the word will no longer appear in his publications, except in unavoidable instances that will be subject to his approval.
(The Inquirer's policy prohibits the use of the word unless it has a "compelling journalistic purpose." Even then, it must be signed off by a top editor.)
I called my friend Bryan, who is also president of the National Association of Black Journalists, and asked him, "Why now?" After all, the controversy over the word is not new.
"It has been something we had talked about for the past few months," he said. Though it was rare for the magazine to print the word, he felt it was important that the biggest publications targeting African Americans take the lead on "such a crucial issue."
Plus, Monroe said, "When the Michael Richards incident happened [www.youtube.com], it created all the more urgency."
Truth is, I took the word out of my vocabulary long ago. See, I'm old enough to have felt the sting of it as a racist pejorative, not as a greeting or a term of endearment, as so many younger African Americans use it today.
Even before my kids started school, my husband and I explained the word to them. We instructed them as our parents instructed us: If anybody assaulted you with that word, all bets were off.
That's why my middle-school daughter retaliated recently with a shove to the head of a white kid, who called her the name on the school bus - with malice, of course. The most troubling part of the incident, apart from my daughter's loss of innocence, is that some of the other white kids couldn't understand why she was so offended.
I do know intention means everything. Look no further than comic Michael Richards' vitriolic attack of a black heckler. It took him three seconds to go from lashing out with the n-word to making lynching references. Interestingly, the punditry afterward was focused on the n-word, not Richards' pleasure in reminding us that "50 years ago we'd have you upside down with a [expletive] fork up your [expletive]."
Such is the enduring power - and offense - of the word.
"If a white person calls me the n-word, supposedly out of some hip-hop kinship, I can't dissociate that from being called that by white kids in the suburbs of Boston when I was a child," asks Imani Perry, a 30-something professor of law at Rutgers-Camden and author of Prophets of the Hood: Politics and Poetics in Hip Hop. "It's not about rules, it is about history. We have a history of white people using the word and backing it up with violence and mistreatment."
While some young folks are trying to flip a historically horrific pejorative into an embraceable form of cultural expression, it doesn't erase its history.
Which is what the Web site www.abolishthenword.com shows in its powerful challenge to visitors to make a personal commitment to rid themselves of the word. Its graphic and searing introduction breaks down the history of the n-word, spliced with a horrific series of photographs of black men being lynched with Strange Fruit, Billie Holiday's mournful protest dirge, in the background.
Blacks who are still debating the use of the word and whites who don't understand why they can't use it, should have a look at the site and ask themselves not just Why would you use the n-word today? but How could you ever use the n-word again?"

True confessions? As recently as a few months ago I found myself using the N word as a term of endearment with some friends of mine. No one noticed, and no one checked me. In fact, as I recall, some of my buddies used it too, and no one checked them. Now I consciously do not use the word for all the reasons articulated in this sisters post, but I still struggle with the some issues pertaining to whether it's right for black leaders to call for an out and out ban of the word. After all, I laugh just as hard as every one else when Katt Williams or some other black comedian uses it in a routine that I find funny. And as a fan of hip hop, I can honestly say that some of the tunes would not be as artistically rich without it. (That "N word) So I am feeling folks like my man Max, over at Free Slave, when he says he struggles with using the word as well, and I can only imagine how many more of us are out there.

So help me folks, I need an education on this one. Miss Annette John-Hall certainly dropped some knowledge on me, and I appreciate it. I am still not totally on board, but I am pretty damn close.

Oh, before I go, I would like to leave you with a little poem:

"Ten little nigger boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were Nine.
Nine little nigger boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were Eight.
Eight little nigger boys travelling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were Seven.
Seven little nigger boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six.
Six little nigger boys playing with a hive;
A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five.
Five little nigger boys going in for law;
One got into chancery and then there were Four.
Four little nigger boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three.
Three little nigger boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.
Two little nigger boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was One.
One little nigger boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself and then there were None… "

So if we banned the word, does that mean some folks wouldn't say this little poem anymore?

Mmmmmmm.

What's That Smell?

Excuse me America but someone just farted. I can smell it, and I am sure you can too. But like all decent people do when they are in the company of strangers, I am sure you are pretending you don't. But how can you not smell it, it's so strong, and stink. The thing is, whoever did it, let go with one of those silent ones, the real killers, the real stink bombs!

Why is every one still talking and pretending there is no stench in the air? Am I the only one with a sense of smell? I mean come on, I know my nose is bigger than that of everyone else but surely we all can smell can't we? Well I am going to say it right now; it wasn't me. Whenever I want to fart, I excuse myself from America's living room, because I know that nobody likes that smell. Yep, I only fart around friends, people who I know and trust. People I can laugh about it with, and can just blurt it out, instead of having to squeeze off one of those silent ones.

But someone among us has no sense of etiquette or how our culture works. I think it's that pesky "Past" guy, he is always doing things like farting and smelling up our living room. Someone ought to tell him that it's not polite to fart in public like that, and especially among strangers. Here in America we like to keep our living room clean and smelling really nice. After all, we want our guests to be able to come into our home and say what a nice place we have. We want them to leave and go back to their homes and say things like: Boy I wish my home was like America. Clean, fresh smelling, and all the family members get along so well.

But every now and then, that "Past" that, ah ahm, "black sheep" in our family forgets about how he should behave. And he does something like this; he farts. Now he has farted in the middle of an important time in America; election season. A time when we are going to choose the people to go out and buy the furniture for our living room, and decide how we will spend our money to keep our wonderful house-if you will- going. These people are important, and we are trying to elect them, and "Past" is smelling up the room with his nasty "N" word farts. Those are the worst kind too, because they really really stink, and they make every one want to leave the room. Because, let's face it, no one wants others in the room thinking it's them.

I know what we have to do, we have to throw "Past" out of our house, or at least keep him out of the living room. That way he can't go stinking up the joint with his farts. I mean decent people just don't do that type of stuff. But not "Past" he has no shame, and no sense of what we are trying to achieve here.

Sometimes we all wish "Past" wasn't even here, that he wasn't a family member and we didn't have to deal with him at all. But what are we going to do? He is, after all, family. And we are stuck with the guy. We just have to get him under control that's all; and teach him how to behave in the living room. He makes it just way too embarrassing for too many people.

So "Past" I am calling you out, because I don't want the people in the house looking at the field like I need a bath or something. It was you "Past", and I want every one to know it. Anyway,the next time you decide to stink up our beautiful home, you better think twice, or we are going to put you right down there in the basement with "History" and the rest of those rebellious kids. You got it?

Now will someone please pass the air freshener? I think "Past" did it again!