America has a race problem and it has nothing to do with the president.

In case you didn't notice it's getting tougher for men of color to navigate their way through the daily grind here in America these days.




Just minding your own business while walking down the street with your hands in your pocket can get you stopped by the police because some "concerned citizen" saw a black man looking.....well like a black man. (h/t twitter fam@6ft2breadwinner for this story.)




We are in a complicated and perplexing period of America's racial history that is difficult to understand. Even people in the majority population who used to consider their country to be "post- racial" and bigotry free are starting to question whether we have come as far as we thought we have when it comes to race relations.




Black people and other people in the minority certainly do not feel that we have.




Some people have suggested that America follows South Africa's lead and establish a sort of Truth And Reconciliation Commission. Good luck with that.


Most Americans believe that it's black people who are the racists. White folks are in deep denial when it comes to confronting their own "color arousal" issues or institutional racism which permeates throughout all aspects of American society. From hiring in corporate America to the justice system, the fix is in, and if you dare point it out you will be considered the racist.


In fact, right- wingnuts blame the president for "poisoning race relations" in America. (Now if that isn't a rich bit of irony I don't know what is.)  


"At a January 2012 Washington fundraiser, the president made subtle references to the idea that if he weren’t reelected, minorities would be denied opportunities to pursue the American dream, while he implied Republicans would be the ones do the denying. “The notion that we’re all in this together, that we look out for one another–that’s at stake in this election,” he warned. “Don’t take my word for it. Watch some of these [Republican] debates that have been going on up in New Hampshire.” The following August in Colorado, Obama kept that meme alive, insisting that Republicans, “want to take us back to the policies more suited to the 1950s than the 21st century.”


If such a divisive attitude were limited to the president himself, maybe race relations might not have soured as much as they have."


Yeah, right.


Anyway, the typical American attitude about race comes off as something like this: How can we be racists when we are Americans? We got rid of that pesky race thing when we gave Negroes their civil rights over fifty years ago. How much more do they want ?


I think they want to be able to walk down the street, play in the park, or just drive from point A to point B without being arrested for no reason or being shot to death.


Finally, I am not sure how many of you reading this are Christians, but if you are, I would like you to explain to me how your God got involved with the "mean girl" and "slut- shaming" game.


 "Republican staffer on Friday apologized for a Facebook post that criticized Malia and Sasha Obama's appearance at the annual White House turkey pardon ceremony, one of America's silliest holiday traditions.


Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.), wrote that the two teenagers should "try showing a little class," "dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar," and, most of all, "don't make faces" at Very Serious public events.
Read the full rant via Gawker:

Dear Sasha and Malia, I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play. Then again your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department. Nevertheless, stretch yourself. Rise to the occasion. Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised public events.

The First Daughters join President Obama at the ceremony every year, where they can hardly contain their disdain for the lame dad jokes that predictably follow. Before approaching Mac and Cheese, the two turkeys, the president remarked that it was "puzzling that I do this every year." Malia even declined her father's offer to pet one of the pardoned turkeys with a nonchalant, "Nah."
Lauten later apologized for rushing to judgment on Facebook.


"I reacted to an article and quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager," she said. "After many hours of prayer, talking to my parents and re-reading my words online, I can see more clearly how hurtful my words were. Please know that these judgmental feelings truly have no place in my heart. Furthermore, I'd like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience." [Source]


"Many hours of praying" ? My goodness, she gave the big guy an earful. I just hope she squeezed in a request for a brain at some point in the conversation.


First pic from redflagnews.com

Double standards?

Oh my! It seems that W had a wondering eye down in South Africa as well, and Laura Bush certainly doesn't look pleased.

According to the New York Daily News it was a long ride home. Poor W, if he thinks that dealing with Osama bin Laden was tough, just wait until Laura cuts off his *&%#@ supply.

But still, there is something deeper going on here. Remember the brouhaha over the looks Michelle Obama gave the president? Well you will get none of that with this former First Lady. You see, in America, black women are viewed differently than white women when it comes to how they comport themselves.   

Michelle was seen as angry. Laura is just being solemn and respecting the occasion. (This is actually what the current First Lady was doing)

I will write here what Roxanne Gray had to say about the subject.

"More than anything, the response to these latest images of Michelle Obama speaks volumes about the expectations placed on black women in the public eye and how a black women’s default emotional state is perceived as angry. The black woman is ever at the ready to aggressively defend her territory. She is making her disapproval known. She never gets to simply be.

Maybe the first lady is irritated with her husband or someone else, maybe she’s indifferent, maybe she’s thinking about the long plane ride home, maybe, just maybe, she’s recalling Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy. We will never know.
Meanwhile, the Internet is speculating about Michelle Obama’s mind-set, her motivations and the state of her marriage because if a married black man, always on the prowl even if he is the commander in chief, is seen smiling next to an attractive white woman, well, that’s curtains for the marriage. The white she-devil strikes again! The first lady can’t win. Last month, Michelle Obama was a “feminist nightmare.” Today she is angry and on the verge of losing her marriage. We can only imagine what tomorrow will bring.

And of course, there is another image that simply isn’t being shared with the same frequency or enthusiasm—one of Michelle Obama sitting with her husband and the Danish prime minister laughing and smiling openly. We are selective in what we choose to see. This image is being ignored because it doesn’t fit the narrative we want. There is also animage, shared by Goldie Taylor, of Laura Bush looking unamused while her husband speaks to a beautiful woman in the row behind them. Is she disapproving? Is she worried about her marriage? Is she “having none of it”? Or is she just sitting?" [Source]

She was just sitting. But then she isn't a black female. She can get away with "just sitting".

Seriously, how many people saw the second picture I have with this post? Michelle Obama looks very comfortable with her man to me.

Finally, it's really a shame that the memorial service of one of the world's great icons is being reduced to talks of a handshake, husbands behaving badly, and a fraudulent sign language interpreter.

Reporters and cable news outlets in this country have done their part to diminish and cheapen the event. But that's alright. We have come to expect this type of behavior from the modern day version of the fourth estate. They just have no clue.  

One day (maybe after this president is gone) they may get back to being real journalists again.

I, for one, will not be holding my breath.    

Pics from The New York Daily News.