CNN’s Black In America 2 Special Tonight Is Nothing Special
Soledad O’Brien returns with her series “Black In America” 2 on CNN tonight.
I find it interesting that CNN has a “mixed race woman” as the host.
Why is O”Brien the host anyway?
The CNN series is patronizing and racist it’s basically a race 101 seminar for white America.
CNN hired O’Brien because this half white woman is considered more palatable for their audience.
I prefer the host of a series about the black race to be a bit more “authentic”.
O’Brien doesn’t have the “racial experience” to understand what it means to be black anyway.
The quandary is, O’Brien is not “really” a part of “black America”, she’s on the outside “looking in”.
O’Brien is not a part of the private sphere of the black culture.
What the hell does this half white woman, know about “what” it means to be “black” anyway?
O’Brien is so pale she can almost pass for white.
I think it is interesting this “half white” woman O’Brien is the host for a program about
the black race in America.
Yes I am cognizant of the fact O”Brien’s mother is black, but she is also part white.
The CNN series treats African Americans as though there is something “pathologically” “wrong” with them.
My perspective is there is an “undertone” of “negativity” against black Americans in this CNN series.
Everyone knows there are problems in the African American community such as poverty, lower social status, crime, single parent families,
and drugs.
The documentary does focus on the “achievements” of blacks but tonight’s series could of been more cohesive.
However, what do people know about other communities in the United States?
Why doesn’t CNN report on other minority groups such as Native Americans, Muslim Americans, Asian Americans, or the white majority?
I am certain Asian Americans, white Americans, and Native Americans have their own problems within the private sphere of their
communities.
So why is CNN just focusing on blacks?
I would love to see a documentary on other communities on CNN.
The reason CNN documentary focused on “African Americans” is because blacks are considered the “ultimate other”.
Black Americans are viewed as “controversial” and “explosive”.
The documentary did highlight some important issues though, such as black youth achieving and the rising black upper class.
However, anyone that has bothered to study African American studies would know the “black elite” have existed for over a century.
The black elite are a paradox they say they “love” their ” blackness”, yet embrace “apartheid” based on class.
It’s the same tired aspect of human nature some people want to feel like they are better then someone else.
The section on “future” black leaders was the strongest and most exciting part of the program.
One young black woman Mia Jackson was very inspiring. Mia is from Atlanta, she is only 26, and she owns her own home and car.
Mia is a successful engineer, she makes over $70,000 a year but Mia wants more.
Mia got accepted to an eighteen month internship program for young minority leaders of the future.
Mia is very tenacious she wants a better future and I commend the sister for her perseverance.
It was nice to see young blacks, Hispanics, and Asians youth all striving to achieve and breakthrough the glass ceiling.
O’ Brien may be “part” black but I have a problem with CNN.
Whenever I turn on CNN there is a paucity of black journalists.
I have seen black male reporters such as TJ Holmes and Don Lemon.
Even Holmes and Lemon aren’t “dark” skinned.
However, there are only “three” “black” female reporters on CNN besides O’Brien there are Fredricka Whitfield and Suzanne Malveaux.
It is interesting that CNN is so “colour conscious” though yet claims to be “progressive”.
CNN has a predilection to hire mixed race female anchors to be on the air.
Again, where are the dark skinned black female reporters? CNN is hypocritical, they claim to be “race conscious”.
Why does CNN have a propensity to hire light skinned black female journalists?
The light skinned black women are not just hired for their “professional skills” they are hired because they have a “European appearance”.
Once again, the subliminal racist message is that in order to be palatable to the “masses” a black woman has to be “almost white” to be a TV anchorwoman.
woman. When CNN starts hiring “real” black women then they can be taken seriously. Right now CNN’s hiring standards are bullshit!!
Montreal Gay Arts Festival Denied $155,000 Grant From Conservative Government
Well this is no surprise Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s conservative government has denied the Montreal Divers/Cité gay and lesbian arts festival a grant for $155,000 dollars. Montreal is a tourist attraction the city is very cosmpolitan. I don’t understand why the Harper government denied the funding? The federal government can certainly afford $155,00 dollars and generate millions of dollars for the economy. The festival may be cancelled this year. I believe this is dirty politics by the homophobic Harper government. It’s such a shame because the festival is open to all people regardless of their sexual orientation.
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2009/07/22/montreal-diverscite-funding.html
Why Do So Many Feminists Hate Naomi Wolf?
Why is feminist scholar Naomi Wolf resented by so many feminists? I am serious, I have read so many negative things about Naomi Wolf.
One of the criticism I have read about Wolf is since she is a very attractive, heterosexual, feminist, she is considered a hypocrite and a stereotype.
The stereotype is that although Wolf is a” feminist” she conforms to compulsory heterosexuality.
However, Wolf is a straight woman and why can’t a feminist also be beautiful?
There is nothing wrong with the fact Wolf takes care of herself and wants to be presentable.
I think some feminists are just jealous because Wolf is not only beautiful but also an incredible writer and scholar.
Remember Naomi Wolf is a “Rhodes Scholar” the woman is a genius!
Why can’t a woman be attractive and also believe in feminism?
Wolf burst on to the writing scene in 1991 with her best selling debut breakthrough “The Beauty Myth”. I love “The Beauty Myth” because the book examines the pressures society places on women to conform to heterosexist beauty standards in order to be palatable.
Wolf examined five areas where women are under attack in relation to beauty: religion, sex, hunger, work, and violence. I was impressed with “The Beauty Myth”.
Wolf was criticized for her research in relation to how many young women die from anorexia. In “The Beauty Myth”, Wolf says 150,000 young women die every year from anorexia. Wolf admitted the statistic was too a bit too high though. At least, Wolf can admit when she is wrong.
Wolf is gorgeous, she can’t help it that she is so beautiful. Naomi Wolf is also incredibly brilliant. Naomi has written seven books most of the books are on feminist issues. I have read four of Naomi’s books: “The Beauty Myth”, “Fire With Fire”, “Promiscuities”, and “Misconceptions”.
One of the complaints about Wolf is, since she is a heterosexual white woman of a higher social class she cannot relate to other women.
However, Naomi Wolf has never claimed that she writes about “all women’s issues”. Naomi Wolf writes books based on her own personal experiences in relation to feminism.
One of the wonderful aspects of feminist politics is that there are so many feminist writers such as bell hooks, Patricia Hill Collins, Camille Paglia, Dionne Brand, Adrienne Rich to choose from. I think there is room for every feminist to present a perspective to the world.
Harvard Scholar Henry Louis Gates Arrested At His Home. Is Gates Just Another Uppity Black Man?
According to the Associated Press, an African American Harvard scholar, Henry Louis Gates, was arrested at his residence!
Gates had just returned from a trip to China, he was unable to open his front door since it was jammed.
He proceeded to try to open the door with a friend. A woman saw two “black men” “forcing entry” to the house and contacted the police.
Even though Gates provided police with his identification, he was still arrested and handcuffed.
However, I also feel that Gates probably should of been less emotional.
I understand that Gates was probably very upset with the police because he felt the police violated his property.
Gates has to understand just because he is a famous intellectual doesn’t mean he is “above” the law.
Would this even be an international news story if Gates wasn’t a famous black intellectual?
If Gates was a regular black man would anyone give a damn?
I think this should be a reminder to the “uppity blacks” that despite their higher social status, they can still encounter racial discrimination.
I am not suggesting Gates did not experience racial discrimination.
I am suggesting sometimes I feel the black intellectuals think they are “above” other blacks.
Maybe now the black elites will wake up and realize despite their money, riches, and academic credentials they can still encounter racism.
I feel sometimes the black intellectuals are out of “touch” with the black masses.
Link to Associated Press article
:http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jNR4dcq5sivgbez2rttRVWtTMXoAD99ISLC00
My Favourite Jamaican Foods
Source for Jamaica beef patty picture from: http://www.sams247.com
My favouite Jamaican foods are ackee, salt fish & dumplings, ginger beer, patties, bun and cheese, and Ting.
The Strike Has To End!!!
For almost three weeks the city of Toronto’s city workers have been on strike.
Caribana is going to start soon and this means more havoc for the city of Toronto.
The tourism industry is suffering due to the strike.
For the past month swimming pools, day care centers,ferry rides to the Toronto Islands are closed.
The garbage continues to increase, people are becoming more angry, and the Toronto mayor David Miller is losing political support.
City workers want to “bank” on sick days but Mayor Miller claims the city of Toronto just doesn’t have the money.
The compromise is a 6% pay increase for city of Toronto workers over three years.
I just hope the strike ends soon.
Is James Blake Only Popular Due To Race?
An Honest Comment about the biggest flake in men’s tennis Mr. James Blake.
From The Yahoo Tennis Board:
82. Posted by Dick F Mon Jul 13 12:44am EDT
I am so tired of hearing about James Blake. The guy isn’t that good. The ONLY reason he gets any publicity is because he is black. Period. That is not a racist comment, it is a fact. If he was a white guy and had his track record, no one would even talk about the guy. He is just another run of the mill player who has a decent tournament once in a while. The fact that he is the 2nd best men’s tennis player in the US show how terrible men’s tennis is in the US right now. Thanks for showing up, James.
Why Is Violence Against Men Usually Ignored By Society?
The boxer Arturo Gatti and NFL superstar Steve McNair were both murdered by their female partners.
According to media reports both Gatti and McNair died in their sleep they were victims of domestic violence.
McNair was shot in the head by his mistress, Brazilian police believe Gatti’s wife strangled him with her purse.
So why is there this reticence to discussing violence against men?
I believe one of the reasons violence against men is ignored due to the assumptions about masculinity.
Most males we believe we are powerful, that we can defend ourselves all the time.
My perspective is men we are a part of the problem.
The legal system should take violence against men seriously.
However, where are the services for male victims of violence?
There are numerous domestic shelters, non profit centres for women in domestic violence situations yet male victims of violence are ignored.
The deaths of Gatti and McNair prove that men can indeed be victims of domestic violence and more needs to be done to assist men in violent
relationships.
Since Michael is dead, can Janet make a proper comeback?
I know this isn’t politically correct, but Michael Jackson has become more “lucrative” since his tragic death.
The old saying goes you got to strike the iron while it’s hot.
“Everything ,” relating to Michael Jackson”, is selling right now.
Janet is the “only” one that really understands the intense scrutiny Michael went through with the media.
I believe Janet loves Michael, she needs to do something special for her brother in terms of her next album or concert tour.
I am wondering, is it time for Janet to make a comeback?
Let’s face it, Jermaine and Joe Jackson want to “cash in” on Michael’s death they want Neverland Ranch to be his final resting place.
LaToya is already “making money” by conducting interviews with the European media.
I am not saying Janet doesn’t love Michael, but this is show business.
I think Janet’s next album should have a couple tribute songs to her brother perhaps?
Janet needs to have a “concept” album, something meaningful, something important that has substance.
Whenever I hear Janet sing, I think of Michael, they sound so much alike when they sing and talk.
I just pray that Janet’s new album is not some oversaturated sex crap. Janet’s last three albums have underperformed.
Janet has to realize she is forty three years old. Janet isn’t “old”, she is just more “mature”, and her music needs to reflect this fact.
I believe Janet can be “sexy”, she’s just got to stop being so ‘trashy” and trying to compete with Beyonce and Britney Spears.
Gayblackcanada 