Why Are So many black gay and lesbian stars still in the closet?

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be cognizant of the fact that folk rock singer Tracy Chapman is a black lesbian. So why is Chapman still reticent  about being a lesbian since  her first album was released in 1988?  Chapman has sold millions of albums, is a multiple Grammy award winner, and a black lesbian feminist icon. Chapman’s audience knows she is a lesbian yet she refuses to come out of the closet and declare she is gay.

Another interesting fact, Tracy Chapman’s core audience is white and not black. Even though, Chapman sings about racism and other forms of discrimination, she  is still not  accepted by the black community.

I think some black people just didn’t “connect” with Tracy Chapman  due to homophobia and sexism.

I think most black people already know Tracy is a black lesbian woman.

Another reason, the black community can’t “connect” with  Tracy Chapman is due to the fact she is a folk rock singer and not an R&B and soul singer.

Some blacks say Tracy Chapman is acting white and that’s such bullshit. Chapman is an individual and it is sad that the black race we don’t respect her.

Why can’t a black entertainer break the racist and sexist stereotypes? I applaud Tracy Chapman for having her own vision and being extremely successful. Why should all black singers just sound like Mary J Blige or Beyonce? Isn’t this boring? Musical taste is a personal choice and preference it’s just interesting that many blacks have shunned Chapman for so many years.

Why has Tracy Chapman been on the cover of Rolling Stone but not Essence, Upscale, or Ebony Magazine?

After all, Chapman is a multi platinum international superstar. Why is Chapman shunned by the black media ?

Although Tracy doesn’t discuss this it’s got to hurt, that her own race disrespect her this way. Tracy Chapman is a legend, it is so horrible that black people have no respect for this legend.

Chapman was never really embraced by the black media or  black community for a plethora of reasons. The first obvious reason I believe Tracy Chapman wasn’t accepted by the black community is due to her androgynous appearance.  Although Chapman has a feminine voice and personality, she is a butch lesbian. Chapman doesn’t wear seductive clothing or utilize her sexuality to sell records. Some heterosexual people of African descent are uncomfortable with Chapman’s masculine appearance.

Another point to consider, is the black media can be very myopic at times. Tracy Chapman was never treated fairly by the press in the black community. Tracy was often ignored on black radio, BET, black magazines and newspapers.

Tracy is an incredible artist a black woman who defied the odds.

She is a music superstar, she shattered through the pop world and claimed her place and audience. Chapman’s tours are very successful and yet the black race ignored her due to prejudice. Tracy has never denied her blackness she is a  proud black woman and yet blacks still treat her badly.

Why is the representation of “black music” so limiting? I think there is more to black music then just R&B and hip hop. However, black radio and the people in the black media still promote less talented artists than Tracy Chapman. I think if the black media did make the effort Tracy Chapman could have had a larger black audience. I do wish black radio, black TV was a bit more open about different musical formats. I mean why isn’t Meshell N’Degeocello on BET more often?

Tracy Chapman has never denied she is a lesbian, but she hasn’t exactly been open about her sexuality either. I understand Tracy has a career and she has a right to a private life. However, given the fact that black gays and lesbians we have so little visibility in the mainstream it would be nice if Tracy was more open.

By now, I am sure, everyone knows that the bisexual feminist writer Alice Walker and Chapman were involved in a romantic relationship in the 1990s. Walker talked about her former lover Chapman in an interview with the UK newspaper The Guardian. Here is the link: http://books.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1972800,00.html

Another black entertainer that lived in the closet is Luther Vandross. Luther Vandross situation is similar to Tracy Chapman, but Vandross was loved and respected in the black heterosexual community. Vandross was gay, yet he kept his secret leading all the way to his death. People will say “well the black audience didn’t care that Luther was gay we loved him anyway.”  I disagree because  I think the love the black audience had for Luther was not unconditional because if it was he would have come out. I think Luther remained in the closet not just because he feared about losing revenue by coming out but he also feared losing his place within the black community.

Vandross was cognizant that he needed the black heterosexual audience to buy his CDs, concert tickets, DVDs. Vandross also was aware of the fact the white gay community certainly was not a market he could rely on to keep the revenue flowing. Luther had a “don’t ask don’t tell policy” with the black community.

An issue that is rarely discussed in the mainstream media is the fact to be “gay” means to be “white” this displaces queers of colour.

If you look at the gay magazines such as Advocate or Out Magazine or the LGBT movies being released the message is gay people are white people.  The gay celebrities that   come out of the closet  are rich white gays and lesbians such as Ellen Degeneres or Rosie O Donnell.

Being black and gay is unique because we are a “double” or even “triple” minority.

Maybe some black gay and lesbian stars are correct in being fearful of the racism of the mainstream white gay community?

What is the point coming out as a black gay or lesbian star when you can be marginalized due to your race?

Next, black gay and lesbian stars have to worry about the entrenched homophobia in the heterosexual black community.

Some black heterosexuals believe black gays and lesbians we are going straight to hell they are very religious people.

So, the option for many black gays and lesbians is to remain in the closet because they are safe in the black community. Meanwhile, black gays and lesbians can surreptitiously explore their homosexuality in the gay community.

I think this is the quandary that hurt Luther Vandross. Luther had to negotiate between the white and black public spheres.

I think it’s so sad that Luther’s life was a tragedy he wasn’t able to really be himself in the public sphere. The black media did ask Luther numerous times in interviews about his sexual orientation and he always either ignored the question or just denied that he was gay. I wonder though, would the black community really turn on him? Everyone knew, Luther was the “eternal bachelor.”

It was the “fear”, I think that held Luther back the unknown. In some ways. Luther was a sex symbol for some black women he sang songs about heterosexual love. Vandross was the “classy” R&B singer he didn’t sing the bump and grind such as R Kelly and his clones.

Yet when a black entertainer does come out the black community and the mainstream white gay community either ignores or disrespect the  artist.

For instance,  bisexual singer Meshell N’Degeocello has been out for several years although she has never attained the success or respect she so richly deserved. I still believe there was a resistance to her work because she was so brash, bold, and outspoken. Meshell never denied or hid the fact she is bisexual.

I think this is part of the reason Queen Latifah refuses to come out of the closet. Queen Latifah has more to lose than someone like Meshell N’degeocello she is an A list black actress. Queen Latifah has numerous endorsements, high profile film roles, and she is loved by the black heterosexual community.

I think most black people “know” Queen Latifah is a lesbian but she has not declared she is gay due to fear. Perhaps Queen Latifah doesn’t want to come out because she is not interested in being a “role model” to the gay community or seen as a “spokesperson”?

When I was coming out as a teenager, in the mid 1990s, it really helped me a lot to accept my sexuality. I remember watching  Meshell talk about her sexuality and life on Much Music. People that are not black and gay don’t understand what it feels like to invisible and be a double or even triple minority.

When K.D. Lang and Melissa Etheridge came out in the 1990s they did not register with me because they are white. I just couldn’t relate to them. Yet when I saw an interview with this courageous young black woman Meshell N’Degeocello on Much Music I felt  empowered. Meshell she discussed  her incredible second album the amazing “Peace Beyond Passion” and the song “Leviticus Faggot”.

I love Meshell! Meshell is one of my role models! It was incredible for me to see this black LGBT woman Meshell N’Degeocello on television talking about how wonderful it is to be black and an LGBT person.

It meant so much to me to see someone that looked like me on TV that was black and gay. It takes a lot of guts what Meshell did it really does.

Meshell never looked like the typical female black singer she has a shaved head, her music was not just soul, it was also rock, funk, pop, maybe even some folk too. Meshell was not a puppet controlled by the record company either. Although Meshell is slim she wasn’t a size two, she didn’t wear the designer clothes but she has a lot of natural talent and is a true multi instrumentalist musician. Meshell was radical in the sense she was proud of her sexual orientation and her blackness.

Meshell has spoken honestly about the pernicious racism, hypocrisy, and bigotry of the mainstream white gay community. When Meshell came out she didn’t receive that much press in the white gay media either. Meshell she was ignored by the mainstream white gay magazines such as Out or Advocate. The white gay media treated Meshell as though she was just an afterthought. However, I felt Meshell was so incredibly talented and her talent allowed her to rise to the top.

There was an indifference and ambivalence the white gay press had for her because she is an outspoken black bisexual woman. Meshell refused to play the racist game of ignoring her “blackness” to just focus on her “sexuality.” Meshell she was cognizant of the fact there is an intersection of race, sexuality, and gender.

Meshell let it be known that just because she is bisexual does not mean she didn’t care about black issues or the black community. Some heterosexual black people still believe this fallacy that just because a black person is gay that means we don’t care about black issues and that’s false.

I know for a fact that although there is homophobia in the black community the racism in the mainstream white gay community is so rampant and so obvious. It’s the reason why I couldn’t be bothered with the gay pride events in Toronto, I don’t read the gay newspapers because they never write about issues or things I am interested in. I don’t go to the gay bars in Toronto either.

Some people say Meshell’s music was too ”preachy” meaning too “black” but I loved it! Meshell should of sold millions of albums she should of become a bigger star. Meshell can play several instruments and she also is a very good singer/songwriter. Meshell basically started the “Neo Soul” movement all by herself in 1993 with her first album”Plantation Lullabies.”

Yet black heterosexual singers Erykah Badu, Maxwell, and Jill Scott get all the credit. Meshell released five albums on the Maverick label yet not one album went gold or platinum. Meshell never even won a Grammy award. How could such a talented artist be so disrespected? I think part of the reason Meshell wasn’t more successful was because she was honest about her sexual orientation.

I remember when I was sixteen back in the year 1993 and I had the biggest crush on Tevin Campbell I absolutely adored him. A lot of people I talk to these days say they always knew Tevin was gay. I recall rushing home from school and tape recording Tevin’s hit songs “I’m Ready”, “Always in my heart”, “Can we talk” and playing the videos over and over and over again. I just loved him! I still believe Tevin’s second album “I’m Ready” is one of the best R&B albums of the 1990s.

Tevin as everyone knows got caught a few years back trying to solicit gay sex with an undercover police officer. Tevin has never officially come out of the closet but its well-known he’s gay. Tevin is trying to make a comeback he’s in the musical “Hairspray” and he’s working on a new album.

So is Tevin going to be singing about loving a woman when everyone knows he prefers men? I understand the music business is after all a business but shouldn’t music be made from the heart? Why do so many closeted black gay and lesbian singers sing about the opposite sex when everyone knows they are gay?

There are a few black rappers that everybody knows are lesbians yet they will continue saying in the press that they aren’t gay. I mean people aren’t stupid people can put it together. I am not going to mention the names of these black lesbian rappers because anyone that’s paid attention to hip hop music can figure it out.

There are also some black entertainers everyone knows are bisexual or gay yet its another one of those “don’t ask don’t tell” policies. I can understand if the black gay actor was a leading man it could perhaps shatter the mystique the female audience has with this entertainer. I think that could be a reason some of the black gay male actors in Hollywood remain in the closet. Also, there is the issue of being typecast.

I wonder if we will ever be honest with each other? Anyone that’s been to the black church knows there is always the ubiquitous choir director, gay piano player, or gay pastor. Everybody knows somebody that’s gay whether it is a realtive or a friend.

The easiest way fans can figure out if an artist is indeed gay is not by what they say but by what the entertainer doesn’t say. Actions speak louder than words. Whenever you read an interview about your favourite black star think to yourself why does this black celebrity never talk about his or her’s love life? Why is the topic off limits during the interview?

Whether people want to admit it or not the public wants a connection with stars. It is the human connection that not only attracts people to the star but also gets people to go see their movies, buy their CDs, DVDs, or got to their concerts. If society is so accepting of homosexuality these days why is there an imbalance in the type of stars coming out and those that remain in the closet?

Scenes from Gabrielle Union’s Controversial New Dramatic Film Neo Ned. Why hasn’t Neo Ned been released yet?

Neo Ned is a  controversial indie drama, starring Gabrielle Union and Jeremy Renner. Neo Ned has won a lot of indie festival prizes,  and  praise by movie critics. Yet after two long years still no distribution. Is there any hope for a release for Neo Ned? Why can’t the producers of this movie get this film into the art house theatres? I think the people behind this movie must be seeking a theatrical release still? I believe Neo Ned is the best performance of Gabrielle Union’s career, this film should be her breakthrough.

Yes the N word is used in Neo Ned, however, the movie is clearly about fighting racism and prejudice. The movie appears to be too intelligent and controversial for Hollywood. Here is a role complex, dramatic role for a black actress and Hollywood refuses to release Neo Ned due to the Hitler factor. Gabrielle’s character Rachel is clearly “pretending” to be Hitler she is a victim of sexual abuse. Why can’t people expand their thinking a bit and think outside of the box?

I mean why wait two long years? If the producers behind Neo Ned wanted a DVD release couldn’t they have gotten one by now? I think the people behind Neo Ned still want a theatrical release. Its so sad that a movie that is so controversial and so thought provoking cannot get even an art house theatre release? Neo Ned uses strong language but it really challenges the viewer to think.

Neo Ned is Gabrielle Union’s best performance. Gabrielle really shines in this clip her acting is incredible. It was so nice to see Gabrielle try something different and do a drama instead of a romantic comedy. I really wish Gabrielle would get more film roles like this instead of the saccharine roles she gets like her new Christmas film coming out in a few months. Neo Ned should of been Gabrielle’s breakthrough. No the movie is not another Monster’s Ball contrary to what some people are saying. Why can’t Gabrielle get more challenging films like Neo Ned? Gabrielle tends to be typecast in those stereotypical black romantic comedies. Gabrielle obviously needs to work but why is Hollywood so myopic about the young black woman’s experience? Why can’t black actresses be challenged with tougher more complex roles?

Neo Ned is even better than monster’s Ball. Watch this clip and you will see why Neo Ned should be released. I mean the plot is a bit out there about a black woman that thinks the soul of Hitler is trapped in her body and she falls in love with a white male Neo Nazi guy. However, “Neo Ned” is an independent film and although the language is strong the performances of Union and Renner make this movie special.

Sanaa Lathan, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, and Meagan Good, Can they become the next black female superstars?

I don’t go to the movies that much these days and why should I? I am serious. There is absolutely nothing at the theatres these days that interests me. Am I supposed to get excited about “Superbad”? Its like give me a break! The last good movie I saw was The Notorious Betty Page.

I have written a play and I have sent the play out to various theatre companies. I have also gotten rejected but I am determined to make things happen for myself. I doubt very much my play will be produced in Canada I just don’t think it will happen here. I am determined to make things happen for myself. I want to start small and try to get a play produced first. I figure I’m starting with theatre. I love theatre. I remember when I was a kid in the late 1980s and early the early 1990s I was in a few school plays. The hunger is back and I want to create new art. I am tired of writing articles and sitting on the sidelines. Its time to explore the artistic world and get involved. I might even consider going to film school because I am tired of all the garbage films about the black experience that Hollywood puts out.

Now the argument is Hollywood will only release films that make money and due to the “research” black comedies tend to be more successful at the box office. However, is that all there is? I mean how many times do I have to see a black man in a dress? People praise Eddie Murphy, Tyler Perry, and Martin Lawrence but I just feel like screaming at the top of my lungs when I see their ludicrous drag queen movies. I feel like those movies emasculate black men. Yet if you go to www.boxofficemojo.com go look at the box office for these kinds of movies and you will see why Hollywood keeps on releasing this kind of crap.

And once in a while Hollywood will release a black drama at the end of the year such as “Ray” or “Last King of Scotland.” And what about black Canadian films? When was the last time I saw a good black Canadian movie? I think it was a decade ago when I saw “Rude”.

However, notice my dear readers that the black dramatic films are always about black heterosexual men and not about black heterosexual women, black gay men, and black lesbians. Next, people say to me well what about “Brokeback Mountain.” Well so what? “Brokeback Mountain” has nothing to do with the black gay man’s experience that’s for sure. And I didn’t think “Brokeback Mountain” was that good a film either. I am so sick of not having anything good to watch at either the art house theatres or the mainstream movie complex.

Why does everything that is related to the black experience centers around black heterosexual men? It appears to me we still live in a heterosexist male dominated world. The quality of scripts for black women and other women of colour are seriously lacking as well and nobody seems to care. What about the rest of us? Do our lives matter? Film and theatre is important because I want to see more textured representations of black people in art. Whenever there is something about gay people that is either a hit movie or play its always about white gay men. Now what does that got to do with me? I ask again is that all there is?

The mainstream media has focused on Queen Latifah and Halle Berry for the past five years both women have released once crap movie after the another.Latfiah had once decent film this year called “Life Support” but it was a TV film on HBO. Latifah unfortunately is the new black mammy of Hollywood. I mean look at new musical “Hairspray” and see for yourself. Halle Berry is the opposite of Latifah she is stereotyped as the black jezebel. Berry can’t seem to keep her clothes on she’s always semi nude in so many movies she’s released in the past five years. Hopefully for Halle her new movie “Things We Lost In a Fire” will return her to the glory she deserves.

It is times like this when I wonder why the Hollywood quota system is so racially stratified? Hollywood continues to ignore a second group of young talented black actresses that are poised for a major breakthrough. Black people we want to see good quality films. The black media to its credit has profiled Sanaa Lathan, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, and Meagan Good. Lathan, Union, Washington, and Good have got the looks but also the talent as well. However, the kinds of roles these talented black women have received is nothing to get excited about. I mean has anyone seen “Waist Deep”?

Sanaa Lathan is well respected in the black community for her work and talent. Sanaa is a beautiful woman that unfortunately hasn’t gotten the right roles to match her incredible talent. Lathan tends to headline her own films such as “Brown Sugar”, “Something New”, and “Love and Basketball”. However, Sanaa’s movies also tend to be created specifically for a black or urban demographic. Lathan has attempted to diversify her roles with high profile movies such as “Out of Time” and “AVP.” Lathan was also on the FX show drama “Nip/Tuck” last season. Lathan should be a bigger star but Hollywood has already filled its black woman quota. Right now Queen Latfiah and Halle Berry get the best scripts and then after them every other woman of colour gets a chance.

Gabrielle Union is best known in the USA mostly for her role in the teen comedy “Bring It On” and the film “Bad Boys II”. Gabrielle has done a lot of black romantic comedies and she usually was the eye candy. Gabrielle Union is very beautiful and also very talented. Some people say Gabrielle has been typecasted as the “strong black woman” too often. Gabrielle has tried to find roles where her character is more vulnerable and I commend her for that. I love Gaby’s voice! It was nice to see Gabrielle expand her talents when she was cast in the the wonderful science fiction show called “Night Stalker” I loved that show but ABC cancelled it two years ago after just six episodes. Night Stalker is available on DVD there are ten episodes on the DVD and you will see why ABC should of saved that show.

After “Night Stalker” ended Gabrielle was in the controversial indie film “Neo Ned.” Neo Ned is a film starring Jeremy Renner and Gabrielle. Gabrielle’s character Rachel is a woman that has been sexually abused and she believes the soul of Hitler is inside her body. Rachel and Ned meet up at a mental institution and he’s a white male supremacist. Go to www.neoned.com and see for yourself. Neo Ned I believe could be Gabrielle’s breakthrough performance. The critics have been raving about Neo Ned for the past two years yet the movie hasn’t been able to acquire distribution. I think its because the subject matter is so controversial.

Gabrielle was also in an indie film this year called “Constellation” and even the black media ignored “Constellation”. I don’t understand our community? We complain about the lack of quality roles for black women in Hollywood and when decent films come along we don’t support them?

Gabrielle was also in the Tyler Perry movie “Daddy’s Little Girls” now I am the first to admit that Tyler Perry is not that great a movie director his movies tend to be comedies. And sometimes I wonder is that all Hollywood thinks black people are just for a good laugh? “Daddy’s Little Girls” was more of a romantic drama and it was different then Tyler Perry’s other films because the drag queen character Madea was not in the film. “Daddy’s Little Girls” grossed $31 million at the box office it was nice to see Gabrielle be the star of a film but I just feel like her incredible talent can be better served elsewhere. We like to complain about the gate keepers in Hollywood not greenlighting scripts for black actors but maybe more of us need to get involved and do less complaining?

Yes I am gay but I am not blind. I remember watching Rogers television last year a press conference for the film “The Last King of Scotland” and I couldn’t take my eyes off of Kerry Washington. Kerry is gorgeous!!! Everybody talks about how pretty Halle berry is but Kerry Washington is very attractive and a very serious actress. I read an article in Essence Magazine with Kerry and she is starring in a movie right now called “Lakeview Terrance” co starring with Samuel L Jackson I hope it works out for her. Kerry Washington appears to be the one that might be able to become a big star. Washington has endorsements for L’Oreal Cosmetics and I have seen print ads and TV ads for her.

Meagan Good is the youngest out of this group she is only twenty six so she’s got a bit more time on her side. Meagan is best known for being the eye candy in hip hop films such as “Stomp The Yard.” However, does anyone remember “Eve’s Bayou”? Eve’s Bayou was released over a decade ago it was an amazing African American drama and Meagan had a very important role in that movie. I still think its Meagan’s best work. Meagan was also in a film called “Brick” last year but her part was small.

Meagan is currently starring in a film called “The Love Guru” its a comedy and it is being filmed right here in Toronto! I wish Meagan well and I hope it works for her. After “The Love Guru” Meagan will be starring in a controversial film called “Sundays in Fort Greene” Meagan will be playing a lesbian in this movie. Its nice to see Meagan try to expand her craft as an actress and try new roles.

When are we going to see some serious dramas about black women that are female centered? And no I am not talking about “Dreamgirls.” “Dreamgirls” in my mind was nothing special it certainly wasn’t a serious drama it was a musical. Oprah can’t save the world you know. Black men have always had it easier then black women and other women of colour in Hollywood. Why isn’t Parminder Nagra a bigger star? Yes Parminder is on ER but I mean I think she can do a lot more then that. What is Lucy Liu up to these days?

I just wish the day will arrive when more then just two black women at a time can be big stars and get high profile roles. In the 1980s to mid 1990s it was Whoopi Goldberg and Angela Bassett and now its Halle Berry and Queen Latifah. People also need to discern that stars are created by the Hollywood dream factory there is a network of TV shows such as Entertainment Tonight, magazines, radio, internet, even the tabloids have a role in creating a star. However, for women of colour in Hollywood its just harder. And I commend all these ladies for actually trying to make it in this crazy world called Hollywood. People also have to remember movies aren’t just entertainment. Movies are very important in popular culture because messages are sent through the films.

A lot of people have been complaining forever that there are only a few solid movies with an all black cast per year? People need to pay attention and demand more. Perhaps even get involved? I’ve written a play that I hope will be produced one day because I am tired of all the crap that is being released from the vault in Hollywood. There is so much more to the black experience that needs to be explored.

Black women talk about black gay men and black straight men. Scene from the movie Jungle Fever. Are the ladies right?

The Ontario Provincial Election Is next month and No I am not excited about it

         

              

         I really hate provincial elections they just aren’t exciting. I also hate the fact that people thirty and under around my age aren’t “into” politics. I am not into “politics” either but I try to pay attention by reading the newspapers, watching the news, reading on the net and try to discern through all the media psychobabble. The media just don’t concentrate on the very important issues. Usually we are lost in a cyclone of fear and not on the facts.

    The first photo is Dalton McGuinty he is the Premier of the province of Ontario and the leader of the Liberal Party. The second photo is John Tory he is the leader of the Progressive Conservative party and he is also the opposition leader. The Opposition party is the second largest party in the province but not the party in power. The third photo is Howard Hampton he is the leader of the New Democratic Party and they are the smallest of the three main political parties in the province of Ontario.

        Remember Aileen Siu the Asian Canadian woman that disrespected the young black man Evon Reid that applied for an Ontario government job? Siu has not been fired but “resigned”. Aileen Siu isn’t really the problem she’s just one individual. The real culprit here is the systematic racism and discrimination against young black people. The Evon Reid case was a perfect example of employment discrimination and its a issue I think that could be an election issue. The mainstream media swept that issue right under the rug. Young black voters should pay attention to that one that’s for sure. The Liberal Party said all the right things but when push comes to shove there is an apathetic attitude towards black voters in the province of Ontario.

      I know politics is important because it affects all of our lives. Now prior to McGuinty being in power there was a man named Mike Harris he was the leader of the Progressive Conservative party and he lead a “Common Sense Revolution”. Basically Harris cut a lot of social programs, slashed welfare rates, and hurt the poor in the province of Ontario. Harris had a lot of supporters because Harris was very big on giving tax breaks to big business. The Progressive Conservative party is trying to comeback in the province of Ontario but I am not sure if they have enough support to win the election but you never know?

          The Liberal party currently lead by Dalton McGuinty have been in power for the past four years snapping a very long streak of Progressive Conservative power. However, this is the first Liberal Party in power since the year 1990. The New Democratic Party was briefly in power in the early 1990s but now the NDP is the smallest of the three political parties in the province of Ontario. McGuinty the Liberal leader has been in power since 2003 and he made a lot of promises in the past four years.

         The NDP party lead by Howard Hampton has been really struggling in the province of Ontario they simply don’t hold a lot of weight and power. The NDP needs to find a way to stand out to distance themselves from the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives.  The NDP does deserves some praise for pressing the Liberals hard to raise the minimum wage in the province of Ontario to $10 dollars per hour now. The Liberals have stated that the minimum wage simply cannot be raised quickly or the economy will be “disrupted.” The minimum wage is supposed to increase to $10 dollars in about three years in the year 2010. However, lets say the PC party wins will John Tory honor this? The PC party certainly doesn’t care about poor people that’s for sure. The PC party’s ”theory” is that people should just work hard as if just working “hard” everything will fall into place. There is something called systematic racism and discrimination in the workforce. And the other two political parties have enough common sense to realize that there are people working so hard and yet they still cannot find a way out of poverty. People are losing jobs in the auto sector. And the automobile sector is the one the strongest sections of the Ontario economy. People are losing jobs and life is a struggle. And what about the people that work so hard yet are still poor?

           The tuition for post secondary education has increased and yes the Liberal Party did in fact freeze tuition rates a few years ago but the freeze is over. Tuition is increasing and the Ontario universities and colleges are charging more then ever then before to attend. Now of course, I must point out the tuition rates in Ontario is  much lower then other countries but still it costs a lot. And let’s say young people do get a post secondary education there is no guarantee for jobs or even good paying jobs. And what about people that want to go to Law school or Medical school? The tuition rates for those two programs has increased dramatically. What are the Liberals going to do about that?

           My theory is that there is a survival of the fittest scheme in the province of Ontario. The people of colour population in Ontario is increasing and many families of colour tell their kids that an education is a way to move up the social ladder. However, how does the privileged keep certain groups out? They increase tuition to such a ludicrous high level that they keep minority groups out. And this is taking place in the province of Ontario its getting really expensive to attend university or college.

            Just a few years ago minimum wage was only $6.85 per hour and its hard to believe but some people actually worked forty hours a week on that meager salary to feed their kids and pay the bills. For people under the age of eighteen the minimum wage was $6.40 per hour. Now I must give the Liberals credit because they did follow through with a promise to increase minimum wage and they have. However, Howard Hampton the NDP leader argued it simply wasn’t high enough and that’s why the poor in Ontario are getting poorer. The NDP Party lobbied hard and said the minimum wage should be $10 per hour. Now in the province of Ontario we still don’t have $10 per hour minimum wage yet.

              However, the Liberal Party has raised the minimum wage in incremental stages and the current minimum wage in the province of Ontario as of February 2007 is $8.00 per hour. For teens under the age of eighteen in the province of Ontario the minimum wage is $7.40 per hour as of February 1st 2007. Now let me be clear $10 dollars per hour is certainly not great pay since the standard of living is increasing in the province of Ontario and especially in the greater Toronto area. I don’t live in Toronto I live in the suburbs of Toronto but to actually live in the city is very expensive its not cheap.

          Also, I must point out Ontario does not have the highest minimum wage in the country. The largest and newest territory in Canada Nunavut has the highest minimum wage in Canada at $8.50 per hour. The lowest minimum wage in Canada is in Newfoundland and its $7.00 per hour. Now after the Liberals did increase the wage some companies complained there would be higher unemployment and they wouldn’t be able to pay their employees. However, people need to live, pay their bills, and pay taxes. If people do not have disposable income and not make enough money how will the economy grow? People just don’t care about people anymore these days I cannot be more blunt then that. The theory that a lot of people still have is if you work “hard enough” you can achieve. However, school isn’t for everybody. I think for the young people that are not interested in post secondary education more apprenticeships and other training programs should be created. The province needs to reach out to the young men and women that are not interested in attending university or college.

         The Toronto media haven’t really talked about this issue enough lately and I think they should. The rich don’t care about the struggling university students, the single mothers, the elderly, and the disadvantaged. Now not everyone can attend university and even those people with university degrees such as myself are struggling. A university degree is not a perfect antidote for poverty. Life is indeed not easy in the greater Toronto area. The price of living here just keeps on increasing. Toronto’s standard of living is increasing every single day there are people paying over $1000 dollars a month or more for rent. Now imagine if you had children to feed, and you need to pay for daycare, and you need to work? How far is $8.00 an hour really going to go? Its amazing how poor families on the poverty line survive they have to find creative ways to live because the province sure isn’t doing enough.

           In the greater Toronto area we have something called the TTC also known as the Toronto Transit Commission. The TTC certainly isn’ the greatest system. Why hasn’t the TTC been extended to the suburbs yet? We have a subway system and buses for transportation that isn’t the greatest. It costs $2.75 cents just to take the TTC one way. You just know its going to be raised over $3.00  cash fare to take the TTC very soon. Life is getting more and more expensive. There is so much traffic and gridlock in Toronto. We also don’t even have a direct subway line to the airport. Toronto is still in the dark ages compared to other cities across the globe.

           I agree with the NDP Party that the minimum wage should be increased to at least $10 dollars per hour because it would make life just a little bit easier for the poorer people in the province or the people on the borderline. I think the minimum wage should be even higher then $10 dollars per hour I think it should be $14 dollars per hour the higher the better within reasonable limits.

           I think the issue of the minimum wage should be an election issue more needs to be done. I also notice the Progressive Conservative leader John Tory isn’t talking about raising the minimum wage because poor people are the bottom of the PC party list. As far as the PC party is concerned poor people are non existent. Tory has been focusing on the ethnic “middle class” families. Tory has been proposing in the media that if he won the next election he would pay for religious schools. I personally believe Tory is just trying of course gain more “ethnic” votes. Also the idea of the province paying for religious schools is a waste of money. Its total bogus and just a voting scheme by the Progressive Conservatives.

             Notice that I didn’t say that John Tory or Dalton McGuinty cares about the black vote because they don’t. Even though Ontario has the largest black population in Canada the PC party and Liberal Parties could care less about obtaining the votes of black voters. One thing I have noticed is that more minority groups are getting involved in politics but black people we still aren’t getting involved in larger numbers. I can understand why some young black voters are apathetic about Ontario politics. However, I urge young black voters and other young voters to vote. If you don’t vote your voice will not be heard. The PC party is going after the “middle class” ethnic vote because they are conducted their research and they know that there is safety in numbers.

               The PC party’s strategy of course is to go by population numbers and they realize that certain ethnic communities in the province are actually very conservative and they want their votes. John Tory has a strategy and he is well within his rights to establish his platform. However, I don’t subscribe to the religious school vote scheme of Tory because why should everybody pay for special schools that are for a small section of the population?

                 We have public schools for a reason and public schools are for everybody. I personally disagree with Tory and I do not believe taxpayers money should be spent paying for different communities ”special schools” for their children. If people want religious schools for their kids then they should pay out of their own pockets. I don’t think Catholic schools should  exist and I definitely don’t believe taxpayers money should be paying for that. Could you imagine if Catholic schools never existed? Imagine how much taxpayer’s money would be saved? It would be in the millions if not even higher. However, since Catholic schools have existed for a long time I am sure there would be an uproar if they were abolished and of course that’s just never going to happen in the province of Ontario. Parents that want specific religious or ethnic schools for their children do have an argument though. The argument is why should taxpayers money pay for “Catholic schools” and not for say “Jewish schools” or “Hindu schools” or “Muslim schools” or specific language schools such as “Chinese schools”?

             Now of course not one of the three main political parties has proposed that Catholic schools should be abolished because there are simply so many in the province and it would most likely be impossible to remove them. However, I just don’t believe in religious schools because I believe there is a separation between church and state. I think one of the things I love about Canada is that there is a clear line between the two. Now in other countries the lines between church and state are blurred not in Canada there is a clear division and I want it to stay that way.

             There also is the issue of homelessness that will not go away. Recently in the Toronto media there have been articles and news reports about aggressive pan handlers and violence. The provincial government hasn’t done enough about this issue and the winter is coming up real soon.

        

The white American media Are like Wolves Waiting In The Darkness to Attack Serena Williams With Any Opportunity They Can Get

             

               Well it was bound to happen I am surprised it took the white American media this long at the US OPEN to commence their usual annual anti Williams racist rhetoric.  Usually the white American newspapers complain about the Williams Sisters during the first week of the US OPEN. I wonder why they waited until now to attack Serena Williams? Oops I  guess the minute they “found something” really “horrible” that they just had to report it.  Its like a broken record and its so pathetic and  lame of the mainstream USA press. The latest uproar is that Serena did not give “credit” to Justine Henin? Did Justine Henin give credit to Marion Bartoli when Henin choked the Wimbledon 2007 semifinals? Henin claimed the match with Serena the day before was too “emotional” for her and that contributed to her loss to Bartoli. Henin wasn’t exactly very nice to Bartoli either. Did the UK or American newspapers complain about that? Of course not.

             It is racist incidents such as this why I suggest to the readers of my blog to pick up the book on black tennis called “Charging The Net” by Cecil Harris and Larryette DeBose. Harris and Debose compile sixty five interviews with black tennis players and coaches. The truth about the white American tennis establishment is exposed in this book but of course I am sure my dear readers you haven’t heard much about this wonderful book. Harris and Debose point out the obvious but they back up their claims with proof that the white American tennis establishment has a unwelcome mat for black tennis players.  Is it any surprise that this wonderful book hasn’t really gotten much press in the mainstream USA media? The USTA certainly doesn’t want to be reminded of their racist and sexist history against black people. And don’t expect USA network or CBS to be promoting this book either.

                 Today in various American newspapers  the white American media have lashed out at Serena Williams for her “attitude” after her loss to Belgian Justine Henin. Serena lost last night in the  quarterfinals of the US OPEN.  And I guess the white American tennis player Andy Roddick is perfect? Roddick is  very unprofessional on the court and off the court in press interviews. Roddick also has had tense press conferences. Yet you will never read anything in the mainstream American newspapers complaining about Roddick’s immature behaviour with the media. Roddick swears at his opponents, at the lines people, at the chair umpires. Yet Roddick is the white American tennis hope that has faded into oblivion.  Andy Roddick has proven to be just a bunch of hot air and hopeless he’s no longer a top contender in men’s tennis. The hype machine has burst for Roddick he hasn’t won a grand slam singles title since 2003. Why doesn’t the white American media complain about Roddick and his often outbursts on the tennis court? ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe applauded Roddick for his disgusting behavior at the 2007 Australian Open when he played a black Frenchman Jo Wilfred Tsonga the match was close and Roddick was cursing at Tsonga. I guess in the USA media there are different standards for black and white American athletes.

           Is Serena supposed to be happy or thrilled that she lost to Henin? Of course not.  I can honestly say that Justine Henin was the better player on the court last night she simply out played Serena.  Justine is a very quick player and her speed won her the match. I felt like Serena was kind of slow tracking down balls.  

     The  real reason  the white American media are so “distraught” is because they want Serena to say that Justine Henin is a “better” tennis player then her. Serena is never going to utter those words. Justine may be having a more “consistent” year then Serena  but  I personally believe Serena at her best is the superior tennis player. Henin and Serena are tied 6-6 in their head to head matches .  My personal opinion is when Serena is playing her best she is better then everybody else on the WTA TOUR.

              Isn’t it interesting that the white American press are so quick to turn on an American tennis champion such as Serena Williams because they  want her to give praise to a foreign player Henin just because Henin is white? Let’s be real here that’s the real reason the white American press are so “angry”.  The white American media have no respect for Serena Williams as a great champion so why should she give respect to them? Respect isn’t just one way traffic.

                   It just goes to show in this world nationality can be thrown out the window because race always matters. And in the USA since Justine Henin is white and Serena is black the USA mainstream media will be firmly in Henin’s corner. Henin is a great tennis player she’s a lot better then the blonde bimbo of the WTA Maria Sharapova that’s for sure. Henin is a champion but Serena is also a champion and I certainly didn’t expect Serena to sit in a press conference and give ten minutes of praise to Henin. I think the speed and the swiftness of the white American media’s hatred for Serena Williams speaks a lot about them and how disgusting American racism truly is.

       After the difficult loss Serena was well within her rights during last night’s  press conference to answer  the questions the way she wanted to. The  press conference was short and quick and the white American tennis reporters just didn’t like that. The avalanche of negativity is not only surprising its a bit disconcerting but typical of white America. Although I am a foreigner I am cognizant of how the white American media operates in relation to black people. The public lynching Serena got in the USA press just demonstrates  and speaks volumes to the kind of vindictive white reporters there are in America.

             I watched the match on TSN alternative feed and I  had to turn the volume down low because I wanted to concenrtate on the match. I just didn’t want to hear the termagant tennis analyst Tracy Austin and her sidekicks the two spineless  cockroaches John McEnroe and Ted Robinson.  John McEnroe is no fan of the Williams Sisters everyone knows that. McEnroe’s along with Austin and Robinson have been anti Williams for the past ten years.  McEnroe never has anything  intelligent or insightful to say he’s just a   bitter old man. Ditto for the for  “scarecrow” Ted Robinson he has zero credibility and veracity at all.  Tracy Austin was at least kind of professional but that’s saying a lot about her. Austin its hard to believe actually was netural which is surprising for her. Austin usually always has something negative to say about Serena yet last night she was quiet. Austin let McEnroe and Robinson do all the bashing.

                I read various articles on the web in American newspapers and no surprise the white American tennis reporters unleashed their racism, their bigotry and their lack of class against Serena Williams in print.  Serena already lost to Justine Henin isn’t that what the white American tennis reporters wanted? Will they ever have the guts to admit the truth? Of course not.  Why can’t these white American tennis reporters just be honest? They don’t like Serena Williams because she’s a  strong, inteligent, young black woman that has talent, confidence and she won’t kiss their white asses. And why should she? Serena owes the American press nothing.

            Its just like clockwork though whenever Serena Williams loses a tennis match the white American media always have to find something to complain about. I am not American but I am not blind to the legacy and history of this obvious pernicious racism. The white American tennis reporters are intelligent enough not to pull a Don Imus in print. However, these covert racists aren’t fooling anybody that’s for sure.   The white American press always have some negativity against the Williams Sisters. Race, class, and gender, are framed. The white American tennis media want to paint a negative picture of Serena Williams. These tennis crtiics have always had a gruding disrespect for Serena and last night she just wasn’t interested in it.  Why can’t these racist tennis reporters  just be real for five seconds? People are smart enough to discern and read between the lines.  The white American tennis establishment should be thanking Serena  and her sister Venus because they are the only American women winning grand singles titles. The other American women currently playing behind the Williams Sisters simply are not talented enough to become champions.  Serena won the Australian Open in January and Venus won Wimbledon.The last American woman that wasn’t a Williams Sister to win a grand slam was Jennifer Capriati five long years ago.

               Serena is a champion she’s not like James Blake she’s not an Uncle Tom she’s a fighter. Serena didn’t want to be fined $10,000 dollars so she showed up at her press conference. Serena did her part of the job. The white American tennis media are just “upset” that Serena didn’t give them the answers they wanted. However, Serena owes the American press nothing she did her job she gave the answers she felt best to answer. I doubt Serena cares what the white American media thinks of her because she already knows they are a bunch of anti black bigots. As I have written on this blog before racism in tennis is not just overt its also covert.

        For decades the white American tennis establishment has had little respect for black tennis players.  The USTA so called “tribute” to Althea Gibson was conducted posthumously. It was so disgusting the way the USTA has treated the late great Althea Gibson for all these years. The USTA contacted Gibson only twice during her lifetime for a tribute. Of course the USTA waited until Gibson was sick and unhealthy to contact her. Why didn’t the USTA have the tribute in 1987 when Althea was healthy and strong? I think Althea declined the USTA tribute because she most likely felt the USTA was insincere  and not genuine.  The USTA’s actions  speaks volumes about what the USTA thinks of black tennis players.  I thought the USTA tribute was not only very insincere I also thought it was just a very contrived and deleterious public relations ploy.

                           The USTA does not reach out to black youth or other minority youth. The American tennis estabishment and the white American media want a white American girl to be the USA’s next big tennis star. Its the reason why the USA press fawn over the blonde Russian Maria Sharapova. Sharapova wasn’t exactly thrilled when she was upset in the third round she was also sullen in her post match press conference. Why didn’t the white American media go after her? Oops I forgot even though Sharapova is Russian she’s still white and blonde.

                  The sad thing is there are plenty of  white American tennis journalists and the white American tennis establishment that were openly rooting for the foreigner Justine Henin of Belgium. I have checked out various internet tennis websites and there are plenty of  white and Asian American tennis fans that openly cheer for Henin even though Serena Williams is an American. I think the callous and bigoted attitude of some of these white American tennis reporters speaks volumes about the lack of class they have.

      Also, I find it very sexist that people expect female athletes to act differently then male athletes when they lose. There are too many male sports stars to count that lose big matches and I don’t see them get the kind of blood thirsty venom that Serena Williams received today. Just because Serena Williams is a woman doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a right to her own feelings and emotions. I think its pretty pathetic for the press to bash an athlete that just lost a major tennis match. When you lose are you supposed to be smiling and all happy? Also, this is professional tennis its not Serena’s job to praise Justine Henin if the white American media want to do that they can. Serena’s been around for ten years so I don’t understand why they are surprised by her behaviour? Should Serena have given Henin credit I have to say no I think the match speaks for itself.

     As I said yesterday the white American media want their black athletes to be nice losers like James Blake. Serena Williams is not a loser she’s a winner and she’s got eight grand slam singles titles.

           The NY TIMES writer Selena Roberts  slammed Williams in an article today and the Sports Illustrated writer John Wertheim of course bashed Williams as well.  Yet would Roberts or Wetheim have the courage to write about the covert racism in American tennis or of the USTA? I have not read any articles by Roberts or Wertheim criticizing racist tennis analysts such as Mary Carillo, John Mcenroe, or Tracy Austin.

      Wertheim has no credibility he’s been anti Williams for the past decade and a  classic  racist bigot. Wertheim and Roberts are  like wolves waiting in the darkness just waiting to rip Serena Williams apart.  I guess for white American tennis reporters Serena cannot be sad about a loss. Serena was unhappy and she’s human she just lost a tough match against the world number one Justine Henin. It is also weird that Serena has lost to Henin three times in a row usually this just doesn’t happen to Serena. The white reporters of course reported what they wanted to see and hear. I never listen to just what the media presents I remember from reading Dionne Brand’s work that the white media have their own anti black prejudices.

        Bill Dwyre the Los Angeles Times writer is the same writer that wrote a piece earlier this year saying that Williams Sisters should return to the racist Indian Wells tennis event they boycotted six years ago. Since the Williams Sisters are the only superstars on the WTA the Indian Wells event has lost its  commerical value and importance on the WTA tour.  I also have to  point out Chris Evert the former tennis champion is a part owner of the Indian Wells event. Dwyre bashed Serena as well. Its really tiring but not surprising when these white American tennis journalists claim that Serena should be more “nice” and credit her “white opponents” when they just hate her because she’s a proud black woman.

     Its just like clockwork whenever the Williams Sisters lose the white American media’s tentacles become unleashed. Let’s be honest here, the white American media just wanted an opportunity to gang up on Serena and naturally they did.  They want to destroy Serena’s spirit and soul but she won’t allow it and that’s why the press conference was a very quick one.  Serena Williams is still the best player on the WTA tour she has won all four grand slam singles titles and she already won the Australian Open title this year. The Williams Sisters don’t care about rankings they play the events they want to play and they proved this year that can still win grand slams. Serena had a solid year she won a grand slam and a tier I event in Miami this year. Serena has nothing to prove to anybody and I am so proud of Serena that she’s true to herself she doesn’t allow these racist bigots to try to force her to play by their rules. The Williams Sisters have always done things their own way and I applaud them for that. Well done Serena!

James Blake The Whitest Black man In Pro Tennis. He is also a “Nice Loser” and a “Good House Negro” too!!!

I watched James Blake fourth round match against the German player Tommy Haas yesterday and I cringed. Mary Carillo the termagant tennis analyst, and her annoying sidekick John McEnroe tried to hype the match up. Unfortunately, in Canada, we get American feed so of course the American commentators have to hype Blake up. I guess it’s a part of their job?

Why can’t the tennis experts just be honest with the tennis fans? James Blake is such a loser and a flake he doesn’t have the big balls to become a champion. Carillo said it was Blake’s match to win. I disagree, I thought the match was even it could of went either way. Haas is a solid player, he has a good serve, and I knew he had the game to defeat Blake. I guess part of the mandate of CBS is not being honest with tennis fans.

I also was correct that Blake was going to lose the match in five sets. Blake has a 1-10 record in five set matches, he just can’t seem to play, well when it matters most, in the grand slams or the important matches. Blake has lost several matches this year when he had match points or was in a clear lead. Blake also has a horrible record in Davis Cup, he just cannot seem to win when the pressure is on.

Blake is the classic underachiever, he always capitulates under pressure, he never ever comes through with the big win. The truth is in the results. Blake has the worst five set record of any of the male tennis players in the top 10. Blake has only reached two grand slam quarterfinals in his career at the US OPEN.

The USA media will make a big deal to point out that Blake is “articulate”, “humble”, and “nice.” I find this kind of language insulting because it conceals the covert racist messages the media is really sending. The white press are saying James Blake is a “good Negro” he “knows his place”. James Blake doesn’t just avoid race he runs in the opposite direction of reality. So if you are a proud black man that has self confidence and is not an Uncle Tom you can’t be articulate or nice? Give me a break.

The white tennis commentators like Blake because he’s the classic “good negro loser’ he doesn’t win anything big and he never “rocks the boat”. Its the excuse the American tennis establishment can say if someone says that they are covert racists they can say well they like James Blake.

The only reason the white American tennis experts like James Blake is because Blake is a “safe black” he’s the “classic Oreo”. The joke is on James Blake because I don’t believe the white American tennis establishment really “accepts him” as an “equal”. If Blake was a winner they would find a way to turn on him too but the joke is on Blake because he obviously doesn’t get it. Since Blake is not a winner the white press go overboard in their “praise” for him there is no balance.

By contrast, the same USA white media hates the Williams Sisters and to a certain extent teen phenom Donald Young because they are black American champions that are proud to be black. The Williams Sisters and Donald Young are winners they may not win all the time but they believe in their talents and they don’t care what white people think of them they do their own thing. James Blake is the opposite he not only cares what white Americans think about him he craves their approval. Blake always wins the minor matches but can never win the big important matches at the grand slams in his career and Davis Cup.

Next, the cameras will gaze over at the most bizarre thing I have ever seen in tennis and that’s James Blake’s all white J Block crew. Where are James Blake’s black tennis supporters? Why is the J Block all white? Its a fair question. Now for the regular readers of my blog let me explain the J Block. The J Block are a bunch of rowdy white college guys and gals that wear T shirts and are Blake’s “supporters”. At the New Haven event prior to the US OPEN Blake’s opponents have complained about how rude the J Block have been to them.

In one match Blake almost lost to the Argentine Augustin Calleri even Calleri’s coach complained to the chair umpire about the J Block . Notice my dear readers the white American media have never written the truth about the J block? It appears Blake cannot fight his own battles on the courts he needs his “supporters” to upset his opponents? I think that’s really tacky and lame.

I wonder how James Blake would feel if the white tennis fans or white tennis players started to make taunts at him? I wonder how Blake would respond? Or would Blake cry to the media and say it was racism? Yet there is not one black person in the J block crew. I wonder why? The only black person I have ever seen support Blake is his older brother Thomas and he doesn’t even sit with the J block crew. Its just so weird to see a black man with just a group of all white supporters. I think this so called J Block speaks a lot about the kind of person James Blake is and where his heart is.

I have surfed various tennis internet sites and its the same topic that always pops up and its about Blake’s ambivalence about his black heritage. Has James Blake ever looked in the mirror? I am serious. Does Blake really think by “ignoring” the issue of race he will magically turn white? I understand that Blake has a white mother but in America if you look black you are black that’s how America works.

White North American people are the ones that created the one drop rule during the days of slavery. And the one drop rule exists today. On ESPN.COM tennis message board already over 2000 people have viewed the post about why doesn’t James Blake have any black supporters? Will the USA media have the courage to write an honest article about this issue? Or will they ignore it?

My perspective is the reason James Blake doesn’t succeed is because he has a conflict with his black heritage. When you are not true to yourself it shows. I also believe Blake has low self esteem if he had self confidence why the need for the J Block? I find it pathetic how hard Blake tries to attain white American acceptance. I also think Blake needed a black tennis coach years ago.

At the age of 27 I don’t think Blake knows what it means to be a young black man. I have to point out all the other black American tennis pros Williams Sisters, Lori McNeil, Zina Garrison, Chanda Rubin, Donald Young, and Malivai Washington all had black coaches. And the reason why is they realized they needed someone black in their corner that understands the psychological side of blackness in that small world of pro tennis.

No matter how nice or sympathetic a white coach is that white person will never know what it feels like to be black and a minority in a white dominated sport. I also believe pro tennis doesn’t really welcome black tennis players nor has the USTA done a good job to get young black kids to play tennis. The pro tennis world is still very white and the issue of racism is always something the white American and British media ignores because they love to ignore racism. A lot of the racism in pro tennis is covert.

I don’t think James Blake gets it even though the guy is 27 years old. Blake believes if he tries hard enough white people will like him. And I question why is Blake so desperate for white American acceptance? Why not just play tennis? Vincent Spadea a white American male tennis pro slammed Blake in his book last year. No one in the USA media questioned why Spadea specifically went after Blake and not the white American tennis player Andy Roddick? I think there is some jealousy in the ATP Tour lockeroom mixed with a vein of racism against Blake by his fellow pros because they believe he hasn’t really earned the media attention he has attained.

Blake’s father was black and he is now deceased but Blake has a couple of half brothers and a half sister that are also black. Blake has a black side to his family yet you never see them at tennis matches. Why is that? Its a fair question. When Blake lost to Andre Agassi at the 2005 US OPEN I realized he wasn’t a winner. And it wasn’t because Blake lost the match it was because of Blake’s attitude after he lost.

In the press conference Blake said he was “happy to lose” to Agassi. The Williams Sisters, Donald Young, the Black Frenchmen Jo Wilfred Tsonga, and Gael Monfils would never make such a stupid statement like that. The all white crowd at the Arthur Ashe stadium were happy for Blake in that match until they realized he was capable of beating the white champion Agassi and then they turned on him.

Now during the 2007 US OPEN in the second round against French journeyman Fabrice Santoro some of Blake’s white J Block even rooted against him.

In the New York Times this summer Blake’s memoir had a strong opening and it debut at number 22. However, the black critic Toure bashed Blake’s memoir for glossing over the issue of racism in pro tennis. Toure specifically was unimpressed with Blake for downplaying the racial incident with Australian pro Lleyton Hewitt at the 2001 US OPEN. Hewitt had the audacity to state that the black linesman was cheating for Blake because they are both black.

I also have to point out my dear readers Hewitt and Blake were supposed to play each other in Montreal just a few weeks ago but Blake did not play the match because he had an “abdominal injury.” Isn’t that interesting? Could it be that Blake is actually “afraid” to play Hewitt? Blake’s “sudden injury” in Montreal was magically cured when he played Cincinatti the next week.

I think Blake is cognizant of where the money is and I don’t think he even cares to be a tennis champion. Blake is all about making as much money from white America as possible. Blake is like the Uncle Ben of men’s tennis. James Blake seems to try to do everything in his power to deny he is black. And I think that’s the reason why some black tennis fans are suspicious of Blake. Some black tennis fans question if Blake is worthy of the black community’s support.

I mean why support someone that has a self hatred for black people? Black tennis fans and people of other races have been talking about Blake on the internet because we know in the mainstream newspapers this topic will never be discussed. Its a perfect example of the covert racism again they believe if you ignore something they can pretend and hope it goes away. Race always matters it always has and it always will to ignore race is to ignore reality.

My opinion is that part of the reason James Blake is not a champion is he’s just not that smart on the tennis court. Blake’s serve is garbage it is simply too weak. I can’t be more blunt then that. Blake’s serve gets broken too often. Blake doesn’t get a lot of aces in his matches so I don’t know why he tries so hard to hit hard serves? Blake needs a better service motion to get racket head speed on the ball. I believe Blake is a solid player with the current game he plays but I believe if he really does want to reach the top he’s going to have to use his brain a bit more. Blake’s backhand has improved but its always the side players pick on becuase they know Blake has a horrible slice backhand. Blake needs a better one handed slice backhand if he wants to become a grand slam champion.

The second reason why I believe Blake is not a champion is because he internalizes his self hatred. Blake is very careful on the tennis court to not be proud of his talent and in the press. Blake tries too hard to be the “House Negro” of the ATP Tour. Blake also attempts to exclude and distance himself from blackness. Blake’s fans will say that because Blake went to Harvard and was raised in the suburbs of Connecticut that he’s a product of his environment. So because Blake was raised in the suburbs and went to Harvard he doesn’t know any blacks? Give me a break. Black people go to Harvard and black people live in the suburbs. I don’t believe that for a second. I personally believe that James Blake has a disgust and a self hatred for black people. Why the need for the all white J block? I find it weird when I turn on the TV and I see a black male tennis player in a white sport such as tennis and the only black supporter he has is his older brother. I think James Blake seeks out whiteness and it is destroying his career. I feel that Blake is hiding from his true soul he has racial confusion.

James Blake doesn’t play tennis he doesn’t play the ball he worries too much about being the “good” black man stereotype. And I was not surprised at all that Blake lost the match in five sets. Blake has no heart and no guts. In fact, I expected that result. The USA media hypes Blake to the max but the truth is he’s not a winner like Malivai Washington and the late great Arthur Ashe. Malivai Washington reached the Wimbledon finals eleven years ago and he was never as popular as James Blake. However, I think Washington was a better player even though he was smaller then Blake he had more heart. Malivai would never capitulate a match the way James Blake does.

The third reason Blake will not become a tennis champion is because he let the hype get to his head. Hype is just hype without the results. James Blake believes the hype but he hasn’t produced and I don’t believe he’s worked hard enough off the court. I believe too much is going on with the book promotion for his best selling memoir. What about the tennis? And why does Blake have a memoir in the first place? What has Blake accomplished to even deserve one? Does anyone care that Blake wins minor events like Stockholm, or Bangkok or New Haven? At the end of the tennis career all fans care about is whether the player was a champion or not. Blake played five hardcourt events prior to the US OPEN and I believe he over extended himself.

I just think Blake was too tired at Flushing Meadows he won’t admit that but I definitely believe he was. Players have to peak at the right time and Blake peaked too early there was no need for Blake to play New Haven. Tennis fans need to know tennis stars like James Blake are paid an appearance fee to appear at smaller events. Right now it appears to me that money is the most important thing to James Blake now and being a media darling and not playing the ball and being a tennis champion. Is it too late for Blake to win a grand slam? Actually the real question is this the best Blake will ever be? Maybe Blake is just too lazy and just not good enough? Only time will tell but things don’t look very good for him with all these younger players coming up.

Michael Jackson is a product of Society

I finally got around to listening to Michael Jackson’s 2001 album “Invincible.”   Invincible sold 2 million copies in the USA. It isn’t surprising  that the  mainstream USA media declared that “Invincible” was a flop.  I thought Invincible was a solid album. I have to point out Michael Jackson still sells very strongly internationally and Invincible sold over 10  million copies outside of the USA.

One thing I don’t understand is why is R Kelly so respected by society, yet Michael Jackson is not?  Gary Glitter the white British pop singer was convicted of owning child porn and he also sexually abused a fourteen year old girl. Shouldn’t Glitter be scorned? I wonder why does the UK press go hard after Jackson yet not after Glitter?  R Kelly has been accused of having sexual relations with under aged girls.  Michael Jackson was also accused of sexually abusing young boys, but Jackson has been acquitted of the child molestation charges. So since Jackson has been acquitted why is he still scorned?

I don’t believe Michael Jackson is a pedophile, but I do believe he is a naive person. I also believe the issue of gender needs to be discussed since nobody wants to talk about it. The fact remains society is cynical of a grown man that may have genuine interest in helping children.  We live in a society that has very specific gender roles for men and women. Feminists state women are discriminated in society and yet some of them act as though men aren’t? Its like give me a break. I find the mainstream culture to be very misandrist at times. The Michael Jackson case is a perfect example of this misandry and society’s hatred for black men.

Recently there have been news stories about sick and perverted female teachers that sexually abuse young boys yet everyone just seems to ignore that. I wonder why? Child abuse isn’t just specific to one gender yet when women exploit kids no one seems to care. Where are the feminists on female child abusers? Or do feminists just turn a blind eye when women sexually abuse children? Where are the feminist groups when female teachers sexually exploit kids? Why are feminists silent when women abuse? Why are there these double standards? And look at the double standards its abhorrent! I mean look at Mary Kay Letourneau she’s now famous.

Now  Mary Kay Letourneau is  profiting off of her own child abuse scandal. In a bizarre twist Letourneau is now married to the young man she  sexually assaulted.  If Letourneau was overweight and looked like Rosie O Donnell do you really think the USA media would still care? Letourneau is a “thin” white woman that America considers “beautiful”. Once again the USA media loves the classic “pretty” white female victim stereotype. Yet Letourneau is no victim she is a predator and a pedophile. Entertainment Tonight covered her wedding she was even on Larry King Live and she was also interviewed by Barbara Walters.  The media have treated Letourneau’s wedding as though it was a “love story” and that’s disgusting. Letourneau is a pedophile and that’s a fact.

I doubt if Letourneau was male the media would be as enthusiastic to interview her. The American public actually has sympathy for Letourneau just because she’s a woman. So when a woman sexually abuses a young boy and has two kids with him she can become a celebrity? America is indeed a strange and twisted place. And what about the young female teacher in Florida? The female teacher is clearly a pedophile and yet the media didn’t take the case seriously because she was a woman.

I think the negative perception of men as caregivers is one of the reasons why less men become teachers and why less men do the kind of charity work that Michael Jackson does. Jackson has raised millions of dollars to help young kids yet he is treated like some kind of a monster when he is the victim.

The truth is people still believe it is weird for grown men to want to help children. If Michael Jackson was a woman  I doubt the child abuse case would even come up at all.  I doubt the media and public would think of his charity work as sinister or weird.  I think there are double standards in relation to how society treats men and women in relation to helping kids.  Jackson seems a bit too trusting of people and I think people exploit his generosity.  In the recent case it was proven that the mother of the accused has a history as a con woman and she simply wanted to exploit Jackson out of his money.

Yet R Kelly still sells out concert theatres and he always goes multi platinum. Even the so called “mainstream media” have given a shrug of the shoulders with the R Kelly child molestation case. Could it be because the alleged victims are young girls and not boys that people don’t care as much? Is it possible the mainstream media is apathetic  about the R Kelly case because the alleged victims are young black girls and not white girls?

Let’s face it the American media have a fascination with young white females that are victims of violence. CNN, Fox News, NBC, CBS,CNBC, and various other American TV and news media networks love stories about white females that are vulnerable and in danger. Its the classic white female victimization stories that sells and provides huge ratings. People seem to love stories about white girls in danger.  I actually believe because R Kelly’s alleged victims are young black girls the mainstream media and the black American media just don’t give a damn.  The white media doesn’t care because the victims are black girls and lets face it the media cares about sensationalism.

And it would be considered much more scandalous if R Kelly had been accused of sexually molesting young white girls because it would feed into white America’s own racist perceptions and beliefs about interracial sex and about black males. Yet since the alleged victims are black its just not a story the mainstream media believes they can sell to white America so they ignore the R Kelly case.

The black media also doesn’t care because R Kelly is a black male and he’s considered a hero.   I also believe since Kelly’s alleged victims are black some black people want to “protect” Kelly and try to blame the young black girls even though they are not responsible and R Kelly is.  Is it possible that people regardless of race consider it palatable for a grown man to have sex with fourteen and fifteen year old girls? I mean Kelly was married Aalyiah when she was only fifteen years old! When Aalyiah’s family found out she was sexually molested by R Kelly they had the marriage annulled.  But why didn’t Aalyiah’s family do more? Why didn’t they go after R Kelly? Kelly clearly has a pattern of behavior of a pedophile.

Vibe magazine was the first black publication that broke the story back in the 1994. I couldn’t believe it when I heard about it back then because I found it so shocking and so disgusting. And yet the rest of the black media was silent about R Kelly. There was no follow up story to the Aalyiah and R Kelly case it just vanished. It was like the black media just wanted that story to go away and it only resurfaced due to Kelly’s recent child molestation case.  R Kelly is finally going to court for the child molestation charges and the black media again are silent. Why? I think its sick that Kelly was even able to marry Aalyiah.  Different States in America have different age of consent for marriage. America is truly a very bizarre place. Why didn’t Aalyiah’s family have R Kelly charged? Why did they let R Kelly get away with molesting their daughter?  Kelly has a serious problem he is clearly a pedophile.

Now Michael Jackson has lived in exile for the past two years in Europe and the Middle East. Jackson is planning to comeback with a new album but will it sell in America?  I think with Invincible Michael finally attempted to “embrace” his black audience with this album by trying to get a more “urban” sound with Invincible. Some black people we are cynical about Michael Jackson I do like that Michael branched out and tried to change his sound. And I hope the new album Michael comes out with is a huge success. I really liked the album and there were strong songs such as butterflies, heaven can wait, you rock my world,. I was impressed with Michael changing his sound from a dance/pop sound to more a urban R&B hip hop sound. Michael Jackson is still one of the strongest R&B male singers he can hit the high notes I love his work. I really don’t care for what the mainstream USA media has to say about Michael Jackson he is a legend.

However, the one thing I find strange about Jackson isn’t that he had the monkey Bubbles, or that Neverland Ranch, it’s the confusion he had about his race I find most disturbing. Now people make jokes about Michael Jackson and call him all kinds of scatalogical names.

However, no one seems to question why does Michael want to have a more Eurocentric look and image? Why did Michael have so many nose jobs to make his nose so thin like a white person’s nose? Everybody forgets about Michael’s lips. Remember black people we tend to have more thicker lips. And now you see white actresses in Hollywood getting collegen implants in their lips because their lips are so thin.

Look at Michael Jackson’s lips they are also thin like a white person’s lips. And why is Michael’s nose so thin? I swear the Jackson family is so obsessed with whiteness to conform to Eurocentric standards of beauty. It makes sense though North America culture is over-saturated with the image of whiteness as the “only” image of beauty. All the Jackson kids including Janet have had nose jobs to make their noses appear more “thin” like white people. Why is Michael’s skin so white when he used to have dark skin?

I believe Michael Jackson is a perfect example of how racism can destroy a black person’s self esteem and sense of self worth.  Black people and white people laugh at Michael Jackson in private and call him “weirdo” or whatever. However, when I think about Michael Jackson I have  feelings  of sadness because it’s obvious racism has so polluted his mind its destroyed him in some ways.

Just Look at Jackson! Michael Jackson he used to be a very attractive black man even with the “first” nose job back in 1982.  Even with “Thriller” I thought Michael was cute. Next, when “Bad” was released in 1987 I remember I was dancing at a friends house to that CD. Michael was still black but his skin did look lighter and then by “Dangerous” in 1991 he had gone a few shades more to appear more “white”. And now well Michael doesn’t even have white skin he looks like Casper the friendly ghost.

Michael is perplexing at times because at one moment he claims he’s  proud to be black and then next moment he tries so hard to be white. It’s obvious in North America and maybe even the world that whiteness is valued and anything else is considered the “other.” I think its kind of sad though the internal confusion Michael Jackson has had for all these years about his blackness.

Pop culture is very racially stratified still. Sure young black rappers like 50 CENT are popular but 50 CENT is just a minstrel and another damaging stereotype of the black buck.  The thing I don’t understand about Michael is his ambivalence about his black roots.

The strange thing about Michael Jackson is that he tries so hard to attain white America’s acceptance and yet they are the ones that hate him the most.  Actually I take that back the UK media  are no fans of Michael Jackson either. The UK media also have an axe to grind with Jackson yet even the British respect Jackson for his talent. Michael Jackson transformed the music industry. Another thing people forget about is Jackson’s talent as a songwriter Michael is very smart he writes his own songs. A singer that is also a songwriter will be a very rich person. The money is in the songwriting. If a song is a hit the songwriter gets a lot of royalty cheques and not the singer.

I think the international community respects Michael Jackson so much more then the USA media. Despite the doom and gloom the USA media is lying to American music fans because Michael’s albums still sell millions of copies overseas. Michael Jackson does not need America to sell over 10 million records or even more he can sell that amount without the USA. Yet it wouldn’t be in the USA press  “interest” to even “admit” the truth that Jackson is viewed and respected as a  musical legend across the globe.

The white North American media have no respect for Jackson at all as a legend. Yet since Justin Timberlake is white he is celebrated by many white American  media outlets some are even calling Justin the new “king of pop”.  Justin is the “king of cultural appropriation” but he is not as talented as Michael Jackson.  Justin is just another white singer that has appropriated black culture and has profited off of it.  Whites want to see other white people “incorporate” aspects of black music its the whole Elvis Presley syndrome. White singers  are able to cross musical genres and  get rich  off of  black culture but the opposite is not true.  Look at Justin Timberlake that white boy’s vocals sounds similar to Michael Jackson’s.  He has also copied Michael’s  mannerisms, dance  moves, yet Justin Timberlake is a “big star”. Why don’t the white media go after him? Oops I forgot its perfectly acceptable for Justin Timberlake to rip off Michael Jackson’s image and music because he’s white.  Just look at the hypocrisy and racism its like give me a break.

Notice the white American media never criticize Justin for copying Michael Jackson. I can understand being “influenced” by Jackson since Usher and Chris Brown have admitted they are influenced by Jackson. However, Justin is clearly copying Michael’s voice when he sings its so obvious.

The USA tabloid industry have made millions of dollars in the early 1990s off of Michael Jackson and a few years ago about the alleged child abuse claims. Notice the USA tabloids don’t write much about Jackson these days because he’s not in the United States. Its really racist and disgusting the way the USA white tabloids have totally attempted to destroy Jackson’s reputation as a legend. Michael was acquitted of the charges two years ago and he hasn’t returned to America since. I can’t blame Michael for not wanting to return to the USA. I just wish Michael would admit or get help for whatever problems he may be having. I also wonder why he hates being black  so much?  Michael may have vitilgo it does indeed cause the skin to turn white in patches. But why is his skin so white it looks like it is bleached? I mean what does Michael expect? Michael used to be a very handsome dark skinned black man and now he looks like a ghost. Michael has to be cognizant that of course people are going to be curious about why he made the drastic changes to his body to appear more European.

A few years ago Vibe magazine had an interview with Michael but they didn’t ask Michael the tough questions. I have to admit one of the problems I have with the major glossy black mainstream magazines such as Ebony, Vibe, or Essence, is the fact they do not ask black celebrities the “tough” questions.

Its a very boring read I personally think. I understand in order for black magazines to “get” the celebrity to agree to the “interview” the publicists for the star have to sometimes “see” the questions prior to the interview. However, I have stopped buying a lot of these black magazines because there is nothing “new” or “interesting” I am going to find out about my favourite black stars.

I think if Michael Jackson wants his next album to be a big success he’s going to need the support of the black media. The black media has been more “balanced” with the articles published about Jackson. Yes the black media have criticized Jackson but they also realize they cannot alienate the black audience either. Plenty of black music fans still have a lot of love for Michael Jackson.

In the African Diaspora we just question why he refuses to answer the questions about why be decided to bleach his skin and try so hard to be white? Its kind of sad that this living legend has been humiliated so much by the USA white media.   The black press has actually been more respectful to Jackson.  I hope Michael can comeback with a hit album.