Save your “no-duh” comment, but I am from Africa. I have been in the states for years and with the exception of my juvenile years, I have always identified myself as an African American. I have the utmost respect for my fellow African Americans who excel in every aspect of life. I have always been grateful for the sacrifices they have made for me so that I and many others like me will pick ourselves from the dust of the Sahara desert and claim our identity.I have been following up the Imus controversy intently since the beginning last Friday.
He said, perhaps the most deplorable things to our fine African American ladies. It is irreprehensible that broadcasting giants like Imus use such demeaning phrases to show their hypocrisy. However, it is also important that we, as Black people in America, ought to see things in perspective. By some accounts, Don Imus probably does more good than just one slip of a tongue! His charitable work in the past, especially with the African American kids, has been simply remarkable.
His public support of African American candidates for the highest offices of the land has been commendable. At the end, he is indeed a good man who said a ‘stupid’ thing. But my beef is not really with Don Imus but with the self-appointed, self-serving ‘reverends’ amongst us; specifically, Rev. Alfred Charles “Al” Sharpton Jr. (aka Al Sharpton.) Quite frankly I am disgusted by Al Sharpton. His public outcry for the ousting of Imus has been nothing short of a shame—a black spot on his resume. After all, who made Al Sharpton the black protector? Who appointed Al Sharpton to talk on behalf of us? Who is he to represent us? We never voted for him.
Personally, I never felt he even stand for the good intentions of our community. His, non-less than inconceivable knee jerk action, made us look even weaker! He made us look that we are a bunch that are trigger happy group that would snipe at everyone who made a mistake. He is the same bigot who questions Barack Obama’s “blackness.” The same guy who was found saying how he wants to “tear Obama apart.”
Plus, where were his record of public outcry and call for boycott when the true slaves of our times (at least for Benjamin!), the 50 cents of our world, degrade our own women? Where was the outcry on him when he called an innocent victim a rapist?
Was it not the great Doctor Reverend Martin Luther King who thought us about TOLERANCE? Was it not the great Malcom X who accepted the important of TOLERANCE after he visited Mecca? Where are you Rev. Lowrey? Where are those leaders? It is an infamy that the “reverends” amongst us have failed us!
I guess, after all, there is also a reason why he perms his hair. Perhaps, he wanted to hide his “nappy hair” too.
I will keep mine nappy and I am damn proud of it!
Comments? please do.
In addition to my comments, here is one person that is worth listening. He makes the case of Al Sharpton’s irrelevance in a much compelling way
Published by April 14th, 2007 in Current Issues.
good one mikeisha
well writen .mike.
I never actually thought about that. But you got a good point though.
Nice article .mike
Ahhh the infamous Al Sharpton I don’t have much to say about him because I really dislike him. I’ve learned to tune him out now.
Btw I think this country has become way too sensitive with the “racial comment” issues. No one seems to have the freedom to say anything without a group of people bringing out the rope for a mob lynching. Whatever happened to fining someone for “not doing the right thing”?
I think that black people are becoming the most sensitive group out there. What if a black radio host said something about white people or for example Charles Barkley? I think Don Imus should have been fired, but they fired him because of the public outcry, lose of advertisers, not because he they disagreed with what he said. they didn’t know he said that or care, but we did, so eventually they fired him. I believe that when it comes to and to obtain free speech, nobody can be sensitive, and everything has to be on limits.
Mike,
Totally! no question that we, blacks from other continent, indirectly, have benefited from the sufferings & sacrifices that American Blacks have made and continue to make.
Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson are perhaps one of the biggest hypocrates that Dr. King left behind, imo. All that heroism and dynamism by Dr. King & Malcolm X at that young age have been for sure exploited by those who are so ambitious in making just a name for themsleves. and AL & Jesse are one.
Onething is certain, we migrants may not acknowledge it, but now that we are physically here, whatever is happening to blacks affect us directly as well here.
Good or bad, whether protected or exposed, we are in it, together.
However, whatever injustice or racism, or exploitation that is happening to our folks across Africa means nothing or overlooked here by African americans regardless of their influnce. In fact, many are part of the exploitative policies. Africa is now, scarily, becoming a dumpster for excess electronics gadgets. i mean what is not dumped: from old clothes, to wastes.
poor us!
How can one say injustice to blacks in America is justice to blacks in Africa? Don’t our people deserve the slightest human dignity, a sigh of relief and peace, at the least? don’t they?
when seeing all these, it is hard to delve into the mainstream and label oneself as one type of group when that group sees justice, at its best, in only oneway or a justification is used. Bless to those who do good, like Oprah, at least.
Oh, btw, If any of you have not tasted the racism of Europe, you are fortunate. To really know what it means to be an African, one must pass thru Europe, even thru Egypt believe it or not, and that will really knock the bell of your conscious.
Those of you who have directly come to the state, you are in deed fortunate. Hard to grasp racism’s depth and its brute shape & form, unless it happens to you in a more crude form.
All the overreacted of race issue, politically correct words, over analyzed race issue here, sound less important to us since we Africans seen it all that we cut eachother’s throat due to resources, tribalism, what not …. So, when there is no skin-color difference, there is somethingelse we, humans, find to kill eachother for. And it will stay on.
MOC: “Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson are perhaps one of the biggest hypocrates that Dr. King left behind, imo. All that heroism and dynamism by Dr. King & Malcolm X at that young age have been for sure exploited by those who are so ambitious in making just a name for themsleves. and AL & Jesse are one.”
I so love your comments and I couldn’t have said it any better.
“Oh, btw, If any of you have not tasted the racism of Europe, you are fortunate. To really know what it means to be an African, one must pass thru Europe, even thru Egypt believe it or not, and that will really knock the bell of your conscious.”
As far as racism in Europe I lived there, with my family, for many years before coming to the US and to be honest I didn’t know what it was like to be black in a white world until I arrived in the good ole US of A. So I disagree with that.
I disagree with the hatred, you people have for AL sharpton, he is still a voice, and it shows we have clout, unity and ability to make things happen.
Celeb,
you must have been one of the fortunate and am so glad, you didn’t have to go thru, what I and many refugees had to.
Should I also dare say, you must have been the needle in a stack of hayes.
I shoud have been more specific & careful on that part too. Because, the severity, and experience of coming face-to-face to racism differed from country to country. Even from town-to-town in a country. so, you must have been either in a metro city or very fortunate.
I came to Germany at the end of ’86 & lived there until June of ’89 and thanks God came to the state afterwards. what a journey! so, being in big metro cities, such as West Berlin, frankfurt where American bases used to be racist physical attack was not visible. In these areas, we simply had to deal with the unspoken codes which were more fatal to the mind.
unfortuanetly, many of us, refugees, were forced & dispersed to be in smaller towns where people had never seen a black person, physically. Literally stunning.
and that is where we came to its ugly face.
Personally, I had many painful and funny experiences. But, I leave that to another time.
Onething that I admire about us, Africans, is that, we, in general, handle inexplainable pains with grace, and nothing breaks our spirit down due to our rigid stoicism. And this inner strength doesn’t cease to amaze me.
I must share ONE AMAZING thing!
When we used to see a black person across the street, we run towards eachother and make connection, even i remember A Morroco beautiful girl (who was 8 when coming to Germany) 19 when we met completely became attached to my buddy and myself and she later on joined our bigger circle. It was that just amazing in identifying as who is yours at times of needing one another.
In looks, she was more closer to an Italian with her height, black hair, grace, beauty and Liguastically at a higher level too, but all that meant nothing to her. Deep inside her she knew she was indentified by others and herself as An African, she was a realist!
Now, in the USA, forget morrocoan, even when Abesha sees another Abesha, Abesha runs away… wey Gude ..
.. Abebe Bikila honen eko wedaje!
The USA water has something in it that makes us run away from eachother and inflating our mind w/ s.th. where it finds no reason and realism. How sad!
“[quote comment="35486"]I disagree with the hatred, you people have for AL sharpton, he is still a voice, and it shows we have clout, unity and ability to make things happen.[/quote]”
Mek: sorry you had to see it as “hatred”. But, the problem is when someone speak on behalf of all of us but the substance says otherwise. Who gives him the right to character assassin barack Obama? who does give him to question his blackness? Could that be that AL sees himself more American than Barack, b/c he is the first generation?
so, you can’t have the cake and eat it too.
Voce is a voice. If it doesn’t serve its intention, a voice can just be just a voice. it aint go nowhere. it stays as static as our African higher institutions.
They say: An empty vessel makes a noise. something to that effect.
AL is no GOOD, imo,homey! Mike has hit it well in all corners. You can’t condemn Imus and be mute on 50 cents deregatorism.
Perhaps, Can Al justify, by saying 50 cents is a blackman and he is justified because of his blackness and also that is his expression of art? That type of Art in whose definition?
hmmm ..ain’t buy that!
Everything has to be on limits, why can’t someone question Barack Obama, he might be president. Why is it that his support comes from white people, why is it that he is perceived as white, why do some blacks think he isn’t black enough. Where there is wood there might be fire. Personally I like him and disagree with the connotations of the words black and white, but somehow he might not be able to articulate the problems of black people because he didn’t grow up as such (obama can’t relate) and thats how some (sharpton) feel. i might disagree with Sharpton sometimes, but any voice is better than no voice. Is it okay for a white political figure to question another white political figure? if it is then why can’t it be okay for black political figures to question each other without backlash. There is a fine line between race relations, the problem is nobody knows where the line is, and everyone is overly sensitive about who crosses the line.
I actually think that black people need to start showing some love and r-e-s-p-c-t to their sisters. If the term is considered so demeaning, why is it justified to use it in gangsta rap? I don’t get that. Or, as Snoop Dogg put it, “[Rappers] are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We’re talking about ho’s that’s in the ‘hood that ain’t doing sh–,… ” Actually, I consider Imus’s remark as a nursery rhyme when compared to the rappers’ lyrics. But, he still should have looked up the term in a dictionary
Al & Jessie are the first ones to object Imus’s remarks, but neither has actually called to boycott the companies that produce gangsta rap.
[quote comment="35488"]Celeb,
you must have been one of the fortunate and am so glad, you didn’t have to go thru, what I and many refugees had to.
Should I also dare say, you must have been the needle in a stack of hayes.
I shoud have been more specific & careful on that part too. Because, the severity, and experience of coming face-to-face to racism differed from country to country. Even from town-to-town in a country. so, you must have been either in a metro city or very fortunate.
Personally, I had many painful and funny experiences. But, I leave that to another time.[/quote]
I also lived in Frankfurt, Germany in Morfelden/Waldorf to be exact. I didn’t mean to say racism doesn’t exit in Europe it’s just that it’s not as harsh or “in your face” as it is in the US. It’s all a matter of experience and no one place/experience is better/worse then the other. I just wanted to state that my experience is exactly the opposite of yours. Don’t wanna digress so I’ll leave it at that.
I know I’ve said this before but I like your comments a lot.
Mike,
Great article but it seems your dislike for the person has caused you to be biased. The truth is first one does not have to be elected to speak against injustice. Second just because the media selected to show us the Rev. Al Sharpton as the spokes person for “African Americans” does not make it his fault. Third lets get real Mr Imus was only fired for what he has said even himself admitted to be terribly wrong and because he was not generating ad money he once was after the incident. Forth for the record Rev. Al Sharpton did repeatedly speak against the music industry. A quick google search will prove the fact.
This is a good example of separating the messenger from the message.
Cheers
You know Mike, I could write a whole article about the title of your post, “the reverends amongst us”, but that’s a whole new topic. I mean, I would mention hypocrites like T D Jakes Creflo Dollar or even venture into our own ‘reverends’ in the Orthodox church, but that’s, like I said, another topic.
You’re totally buying into the talking points of the mainstream media. There is nothing more disappointing to me than a black man or woman buying into this crap by mainstream figures who try and find an equivalent in the minority community every time a white man or woman sticks their foot in their mouths by making a racist remark or does something reprehensible to minorities.
Forget for a minute what is spewed by the mainstream media, which is basically the extension of the institution that is bent on dividing the minority community. What kind of support do you think Sharpton or Jesse Jackson have in the community they represent? Do you think they are resented by the majority of the people? I don’t think so. In fact, I know so. If not them, then who? You Mike? The reality is if it weren’t for the Joseph
Lowrey’s, the Al Sharptons and the Jesse Jacksons, our Ethiopian asses would have been somewhere in Gitmo like camp in that Sahara Desert you mentioned. Yeah, in case you are not aware, as we speak, they are rounding up ‘illegal aliens’ around the country and putting them in jail, separating them from their families. What is to stop them from doing the same to black people? Yes, you best be proud of that nappy hair since it gives you good cover as an true African American. I’d be interested to know, aside from the obvious ones everyone throws out these days, like Dr King and Malcom X, who you consider to be a good representative to the AA community. And please, do not give me Oprah, like what’s the name, MindOuttoLunch or something mentioned. lol There is nothing hypocritical about what Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are doing. In fact, in my opinion, it is part of a bigger and brilliant strategy to save our asses from a total domination of the air waves by these right wing racists who have made it acceptable and in fact fashionable to bash on any minority by giving voice to the racists in this country. If you did follow the issue as closely as you said you did, you would have recognized that. Sharpton, with all his faults, does more for the black community before breakfast, than any of the other African American preachers do in their life time.
What’s interesting is that you are OK with giving Imus, BTW is a repeat offender of minorities, a pass and saying he made a mistake and said a ‘stupid’ thing. Frankly, I thought it was a bit stronger than just ‘stupid’ but that’s just me. lol Does the fact that he has a charitable organization for blacks give him the license to say what he said? How do we know this organization is not a cover? And one thing I have not heard yet from people like you who say the same thing that you are about his charitable work is, what do you think those kids, some of whom are African American females with hopes of playing basketball in the future, say about this comment by their charitable father figure?
It’s interesting, you keep saying ‘we’ and condemn Sahrpton for his ‘un-elected’ role in what he does. Who appointed you to speak for anyone? Man, you are out of touch Mike! No disrespect, but it seems to me that, as far as your ethnic identity, you may still be in your juvenile years. Rev Sharpton may or may not be the most qualified person to represent the AA community, but declaring that you identify yourself as an African
American does not qualify YOU to render judgment on who should represent the AA community. As for the lack of outcry against 50 cent or any other rap artist, if you have trouble differentiating between artistic expression, (whether you like it or not) and reality, then I can’t help you. With your logic people should be outraged by gangster movies or shows like the Sapranos for making stereotypical portrayal of the Italian
American community or Latino comedians for making jokes about Mexicans.
It’s amazing to read the comments so far too. My God the delusion! It is this kind of out of touch comments by us Ethiopians about African American culture that has earned us less than flattering praise from the African American community. We are sopping up the propaganda the mainstream media are feeding us like a nice plate of doro wot. We need to look at the bigger picture.
I’ll address Chereka first.
Chereka, thanks for the detailed response. I take issue with some of the things you said, including your misquoting me.
1. I did not say that what Imus said was OKAY! It is incredibly stupid that he said what he said and the market system was suppose to take care of that. All I said is that one has to see things in perspective instead of a simply reaction.
2. I said explicitly that I am forever grateful for the contributions of the Civil Rights movement, which I was directly a benefactor! So, please retract your rhetoric about me being ungrateful.
3. In my humble opinion, you are the one who is falling into trap with the status quo. Pardon me, but what the Al Sharptons and Jesse Jackson’s of the world do is make look people “victims” and profit off them! Like Jason said, what they did was use the opportunity to grab another headline rather than coming out of solution. If you take Rev. Lowrey for instance, (btw, should I add that he despise Sharpton), always focused on the things that bond us rather than what differentiate us. These people have never been the Civil Rights movement. Actually, there has been a huge degradation of African American communities since the civil rights era in the 60′s which some can be attributed to their failure to be the so called ‘leaders.’
4. As far as suggesting for good representative for African American community; Senator Obama, Rep. Harold Ford, etc are my ideal leaders. People who broke the walls between races and bridge gap.
By the way, should I dare to remind you that Dr. King said “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.”
If so, then it’s time for Al Sharpton to go! He should share the same fate.
[quote comment="35501"]Mike,
Great article but it seems your dislike for the person has caused you to be biased. The truth is first one does not have to be elected to speak against injustice.
Second just because the media selected to show us the Rev. Al Sharpton as the spokes person for “African Americans” does not make it his fault. Third lets get real Mr Imus was only fired for what he has said even himself admitted to be terribly wrong and because he was not generating ad money he once was after the incident.
Forth for the record Rev. Al Sharpton did repeatedly speak against the music industry. A quick google search will prove the fact.
This is a good example of separating the messenger from the message.
Cheers[/quote]
kilumamo,
I agree with you that people need to speak against injustice. It’s the responsibility of any civil society. However, it is important to talk about all ‘injustices’ and not only hand picked ones.
Take this point for instance, according to some accounts, Imus only had 2 million listeners. I would bet that his radio listener demography is white and older people. Now, Compare that to Jay Z’s latest album that solid 2 million CD’s in the first two months and tell me which avenue will reach the African American community more. As a reasonable person, I would imagine that you say the latter.
So, the word “ho” is offensive only when it comes out of a person of different color? I question that!
About Al Sharpton’s stance against the Music industry; his photo op do not count. He should how much of a TV darling he can be with this situation. Where was he then?
[quote comment="35495"]Everything has to be on limits, why can’t someone question Barack Obama, he might be president. Why is it that his support comes from white people, why is it that he is perceived as white, why do some blacks think he isn’t black enough.
Mek,
That’s exactly we ought to fight, “a black person with a book is white,” mentality. Obama should be questioned about his candidacy not about his “blackness.” What the F does that mean?
[quote comment="35495"]Where there is wood there might be fire. Personally I like him and disagree with the connotations of the words black and white, but somehow he might not be able to articulate the problems of black people because he didn’t grow up as such (obama can’t relate) and thats how some (sharpton) feel.[/quote]
that’s laughable! how dare Sharpton question’s Obama’s ability to relate? lol. I think his ineffectiveness is eating him alive.
[quote comment="35495"]i might disagree with Sharpton sometimes, but any voice is better than no voice. Is it okay for a white political figure to question another white political figure? if it is then why can’t it be okay for black political figures to question each other without backlash. There is a fine line between race relations, the problem is nobody knows where the line is, and everyone is overly sensitive about who crosses the line.[/quote]
I agree and Al Sharpton’s job was suppose to be was telling these ladies that they are not victims and Imus’ comment was irrelevant. Instead, he fan the fire sitting in between.
I really suggest that you check out the video. Jason has articulated it in a tasteful manner!
In addition, everyone, please note that the team who were suppose to be the “victims” have forgiven Imus where the Al Sharpton’s did not give him a chance.
That says volume about the change of times.
Celeb,
). So… it was, as you said, not very visible.
I agree! before the Berlin wall ended to exist, Germans behaved well towards foreigners since they, themselves, were under the protection of the trio (US, Brits, and France) from the Eastern blocs (The Breshvicks
Also thanks for the compliment! Hoffentlich, du sprichst noch Deutsch! Ich war doch einen sehr gut Deutsch gesprochen.
Mek:
I was not saying, there should not be a fine line or A check-and-balance scale. I am a believer in check-and-balance system. However, African-Americans have shaped a mind-set from the slavery (house/field negro, interracial experience) era in classifying one another as to who is real black. No surprise. We have had our share too.
if you engage in a heated debate with them, the honest ones will tell you the division amongst them based on skin color (dark vs light), resource, education, and etc;.
so, they (us by extension too) have not yet waken up in understanding that unity is power. All other races unite to protect and advance their interest, yet us, the black, still continue living in a world of bravado and magnification of –oh, the Blackman is the most imitated one, is good and the most sought after in sex, sports- and blah blah … yet we are still the most ridiculed and looked down race on earth.
Who and why do you think, the liquidation of such the dynamic ones, the malcolms, the Dr. King and many have happened?. These type of creatures are dangerous to the status quo, they challenge, fight, and nurture unity and empower their people and if that happens and if the oppressed is empowered, God knows the limit. So, I believe, in empowering your own while systematically, constructively checking the balance.
For me AL & Jesse are a bully out there, that they feel that they are the one, the marchers, the pioneers of the struggle and they pop up only to criticize when they feel the white man crosses the fine line. How about self-check?
Remember, awhile back, when Cosby came out in full force swinging at the irresponsible black parents and the youth. Few months later, here is, a 60+ years old man, a model figure, admitted having an affair with a 30 years old young woman. The bottom line: Walk the walk so others follow. So, we, the outsiders, (at least I) don’t even understand the blacks mind-set. It is as complicated as the white man’s mind-set. Their difference, skin-color.
-may your Monday be a merciful one!
.Mike, thanks for the great topic! I am loving the debate.
All, please remember the color of ones skin does not give one the right to represent that race. The case that Sharpton was trying to make against Obama is that he does not have the black ‘EXPERIENCE’ to speak about the issues that black people face in America. And although I don’t agree with him on most of his views, I agree with him on this point.
[quote comment="35516"].Mike, thanks for the great topic! I am loving the debate.
All, please remember the color of ones skin does not give one the right to represent that race. The case that Sharpton was trying to make against Obama is that he does not have the black ‘EXPERIENCE’ to speak about the issues that black people face in America. And although I don’t agree with him on most of his views, I agree with him on this point.[/quote]
Walk on the streets of Illinois, they will tell you his “BLACK EXPERIENCE”
I suggest you watch the CBS 60 minute piece on Obama.
.Mike,
You are absolutely correct denigration of our sisters whoever the offender may be, is simply wrong. My argument to you is that the Rev. Al Sharpton did take a stand on the issue with the music industry at least for the past two years before this incident. The fact that it was not publicised as much and that you as the author of the article were not aware of it only goes to show that this topic was not important enough for the media to cover. However if you really want to seek the truth and do a little research you can find it was much more than a photo opportunity.
The Rev. Al Sharpton has his fare share of trouble and shortcomings. He by no means is perfect or great. Equating his shortcomings to discount the stand he took on Mr. Imus is fallacy ad hominem.
“An Ad Hominem is a general category of fallacies in which a claim or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the person presenting the claim or argument. Typically, this fallacy involves two steps. First, an attack against the character of person making the claim, his circumstances, or his actions is made (or the character, circumstances, or actions of the person reporting the claim). Second, this attack is taken to be evidence against the claim or argument the person in question is making”
Cheers
Chereka,
lol “mindouttalunch”? that was funny…sorry MindwithoutC.
Anyway, I tend to agree with Chereka as far as the personalities are concerned. But I also think focusing who said what should be less of a big deal considering the state of Black life in America. It is easy to get caught-up in these issues because they make people emotional. But the frustrations that fuel these emotions are mainly economic (access to better life, education, jobs, medicine etc…) There is little discussion on these important topics. This is another case where the media drums up a petty issue (in the grand scheme of things), ignoring significantly more important issues.
.mike,
There is a lot of stereotypic views broadcast on American public airwaves. Some body has to put an end to this mess in American media.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/04/15/18398808.php
Anybody would say any thing and then apologizes – that should no more work. There must be a price to pay!
A lot has to be done. Just because they have not done enough to stop the way black rappers are going astray in America does not at all mean they have to keep quiet here too.
FYI,there is a reason why Al Sharpton has a unique hair style. It was James Brown who asked him to have the same hair style when they went to the White House to meet the President Reagen back in the old days.
http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-jamesbrown-gallery,0,153258.photogallery?index=65
since then it became their style (perhaps sign of their brotherhood) and Al Sharpton kept that style since then!
http://www.maxwigs.com/james-brownal-sharpton-by-lacey-costume-wigs-p745.html
Your reference to his hair is really annoying and – with all due respect, may I ask if you take it off! That was a filthy personal attack and tarnishes the whole argument you made above it!
thanks,(please take no offence!)
Like Mek said before, in order for there to be free speech, everything has to be on limits. We are being overly sensitive. Also, whether you like it or not, just as eritreans feel different than ethiopians, so do African AMericans, and AFricans. If you are an immigrant AFrican in America, your mentality is different although you might be treated like a black man, your self esteem and pride about yourself is more intact. Whereas the descendants of slaves have been in subservient roles for generations, which was similar to the eritreans. I think everything that people think is valid and should be held as just that, someone’s perceived thought or feeling. So if black people of the lower economic bracket, question Obama, including Sharpton, it is their right. Sharpton might question that Obama, didn’t go through the same struggles, Obama grew up in a wealthy white family, Obama didn’t face the same persecution. And that is his right, and it also my right to support Obama and disagree that he is out of touch, because I think he is the most centrist of candidates. Maybe Imus should not have been fired, and if he was fired, why did they wait until the funding stop backing him to do so.
The bottom line is, I might of said the Rutgers team are nappy headed ho’s and they might be, but its only my opinion and it doesn’t make it so.
I saw the video, and you are right, Don Imus’ comments should have been insignificant. It doesn’t define, make or break African Americans. However I feel that Sharpton is a good representative, and I agree he might overuse these racial instances to propel himself and his ideas, but only to spread the overall message, that racism and sexism is wrong.
In the video it also talked about how Sharpton used this incident, to fight other speech battles against rappers. He said MSNBC and NBC is under the same ownership and management as Universal Records. Sharpton said they used the Imus incident to be in meetings with them, they pressured them into firing him and addressing other issues.
Go SHarpton! Mike i saw the video like you suggested, why didn’t you watch the end or any other followups?
Also…[quote comment="35568"]Like Mek said before, in order for there to be free speech, everything has to be on limits. [/quote]
This is for MindwithoutC and for those who dislike Sharpton, I came across it while looking for political cartoons between Sharpton and Imus. Personally I like him, but the article made sense. Here is a link, with the article Why apologize to Sharpton? Here is another link with Imus record of racism: http://mediamatters.org/items/200704090001
Temari,
Don’t worry about Chereka’s muddying my cyber name. I am a hardened soul. I can handle more than an emotional outrage. I am a kid from Menelik II high, if you know what i mean.
After all, how we present ourselves on even the cyber paper reflects who and how we are, doesn’t it? let us debate with grace. no need for character assasination. if one can’t handle debate respectfully and is wrapped up with the towel of emotions, s/he is not doing a good service to each of us in the -learning from eachother- process. Maybe a self-timeout is, at best, a good practice.
So, let us move on to the issue at hand.
Mike did a good job in his analysis for the most part. everyone has a different view on things, so it is natural to see it from a different angle. but, to be wrapped up by emotions and being just a .. is no good.
Chereqa: I have acknowledged their sacrifices as well. I won’t bore readers with back-and-forth. enough said. in fact i had posted a long response lastnite, i guess it just went to the black hole.
Shortly, if you were one of the millions deprived Africans who went thru hell ..not even having a loaf of bread, a pencil and paper, have to be responsible adults way before their time arrive.. in their own land, then you may have been able to see … what Oprah’s contribution mean to those who receive it. To feel it deep to your bone, and know first hand, you have to be at the receiving end. that is all i can say.
To talk as a politican in a political platform is easy.
Just b/c Obama wasn’t poor, Does that mean he has no conscious and a heart? Does that mean all these cruel that are in power oppressing the poor came from wealthy family and knows best what is good for the poor and deliver it? Give me a break!
If that is the case, mengistu Hailemariam was poor and the rest was history.
those Ethiopians in Ethiopia who happen to be resource rich and have authority and power have no conscious? We from the working class are the only ones who can understand and feel the pain of the poor?
Not so! the coin has two faces my friend!
I have no taste for politicians. they are all the same. they are Foxes in sheep skin.
I didn’t say that OBama is not conscious, or is not a good representative of blacks because he grew up well off, I said that because he didn’t grow up in a black household, he might have a different perspective than that of a black male in america. Thats my opinion, and like i said earlier I like him as a centrist candidate, but I understand where others can question him. NObody is as good as they seem, and nobody is as bad as they seem. That goes for politicians as well.
“I take issue with some of the things you said, including your misquoting me.”
Misquote you? I didn’t even quote you! lol
“I did not say that what Imus said was OKAY! It is incredibly stupid that he said what he said and the market system was suppose to take care of that. All I said is that one has to see things in perspective instead of a simply reaction.”
Mike, what I said was that you dismissed what Imus said by saying it was just ‘stupid’. Stupid? Let me ask you Mike, what would you have said if one of those girls was your daughter? Would you have dismissed it as a ‘stupid’ statement? Uuuuh, and from what we saw, the ‘market system’ took care of it when all the advertisers started pulling out their sponsorship from his show. Isn’t capitalism just wonderful? It’s funny how people’s angers and outrages are misdirected.
“I said explicitly that I am forever grateful for the contributions of the Civil Rights movement, which I was directly a benefactor! So, please retract your rhetoric about me being ungrateful”
Mike, you are making huge leaps here. I am not sure what you are talking about. Where in my response did I even suggest that you were ungrateful? Nothing to retract here my brother.
“In my humble opinion, you are the one who is falling into trap with the status quo. Pardon me, but what the Al Sharptons and Jesse Jackson’s of the world do is make look people “victims” and profit off them! Like Jason said, what they did was use the opportunity to grab another headline rather than coming out of solution. If you take Rev. Lowrey for instance, (btw, should I add that he despise Sharpton), always focused on the things that bond us rather than what differentiate us. These people have never been the Civil Rights movement. Actually, there has been a huge degradation of African American communities since the civil rights era in the 60’s which some can be attributed to their failure to be the so-called ‘leaders.”
What is the status quo my friend? And how do Sharpton and Jackson make victims out of victims? And what do you mean about the people not being the Civil Rights movement? Can you clarify? Of course, the people on top in the power position feed you that falsehood about the failure of the civil rights movement partly because of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and you go ahead and take it. I am not even sure how to respond to that. I can’t just imagine where the movement would have been, if these people weren’t around to raise important issues like racial, gender and other equalities.
“As far as suggesting for good representative for African American community; Senator Obama, Rep. Harold Ford, etc are my ideal leaders. People who broke the walls between races and bridge gap.”
Hmm, interesting that you picked 2 interracial AA’s who you think would be good representatives to the AA community, not that there’s anything wrong with that. But incidentally, both of those gentlemen were on Imus’ show to promote their books or their political careers and did not say a peep about Imus’ past offensive racial remarks. Infact, it was days later after everyone was outraged, both came out and made statements, like good politicians do and condemned his words.
No need to remind me of Dr King’s quote, as I really do not see the relevance in this topic. You may need to clarify that too, in that what is the context you are re-quoting him.
Oh my, oh my. Sweet discussion, y’all!
Chereka, my sister, where shall I start
[quote comment="35588"]Misquote you? I didn’t even quote you! lol[/quote]
Pardon me, I meant to say misread me.
[quote comment="35588"]Mike, what I said was that you dismissed what Imus said by saying it was just ‘stupid’. Stupid? Let me ask you Mike, what would you have said if one of those girls was your daughter? Would you have dismissed it as a ‘stupid’ statement?[/quote]
Unlike Sharpton and Co, I would tell my daughter that Imus is irrelevant! NO WHITE MAN CAN TELL THE DESTINY OF ANY BLACK MAN, abo! wtf mate? I bet none of the ladies DO NOT even know who Imus was before the media funfair over it! NONE! It is only after they were prepped to be victims that they recognized. I hate to quote Jason again, but he said, it does not even matter George Bush came out and said what Imus, it should not still matter!
How can an old white man with a microphone took away someone’s joy? That’s ridiculous. I really suggest that you watch the video that’s posted up there…. and if you can, goto youtube and search for Jason’s videos.
Some perspective here is in order.
[quote comment="35588"]Uuuuh, and from what we saw, the ‘market system’ took care of it when all the advertisers started pulling out their sponsorship from his show. Isn’t capitalism just wonderful? It’s funny how people’s angers and outrages are misdirected.[/quote]
Indeed, the market has responded gracefully with the scrutiny.
[quote comment="35588"]Mike, you are making huge leaps here. I am not sure what you are talking about. Where in my response did I even suggest that you were ungrateful? Nothing to retract here my brother.
[/quote]
My apologies, but the implication of this comment led me to say that.
“The reality is if it weren’t for the Joseph
Lowrey’s, the Al Sharptons and the Jesse Jacksons, our Ethiopian asses would have been somewhere in Gitmo like camp in that Sahara Desert you mentioned.”
“In my humble opinion
[quote comment="35588"]What is the status quo my friend? And how do Sharpton and Jackson make victims out of victims? And what do you mean about the people not being the Civil Rights movement? Can you clarify?
Of course, the people on top in the power position feed you that falsehood about the failure of the civil rights movement partly because of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and you go ahead and take it. I am not even sure how to respond to that. I can’t just imagine where the movement would have been, if these people weren’t around to raise important issues like racial, gender and other equalities.[/quote]
The status quo is that African Americans are always Victims! That’s the kind of non-sense the media wants us to buy into–that we do not have any control over the things we do. We can NOT always be victims, Chereka! That’s a very dangerous territory. Actions are ought to be taken when they are due. This idea of a white man is responsible for every little garbage our community does, is insincere.
Of course, nobody denies that there are problems that are still require a serious discussion between the two races.
[quote comment="35588"]Hmm, interesting that you picked 2 interracial AA’s who you think would be good representatives to the AA community, not that there’s anything wrong with that. But incidentally, both of those gentlemen were on Imus’ show to promote their books or their political careers and did not say a peep about Imus’ past offensive racial remarks. Infact, it was days later after everyone was outraged, both came out and made statements, like good politicians do and condemned his words.[/quote]
I think you are wrong. Even if I strongly disagree with Obama about calling his ousting, he was among the first to do so. Harold Ford did that later on. But to your surprise, Imus was one of the few white radio personalities who was 100% in support to Harold Ford when he ran for the Senate seat in the 2006 mid-election. Where was Al Sharpton then to support a fellow African American candidate from the Tennessee. It would’ve had a historic proportional had he won!
[quote comment="35588"]No need to remind me of Dr King’s quote, as I really do not see the relevance in this topic. You may need to clarify that too, in that what is the context you are re-quoting him.[/quote]
The context was to allure you to think about the three white guys at the Duke rape case. Now, both Al and Jesse were down there saying that this girl was victimized, which was proven not to be the case. Should they go down there and beg for forgiveness from these kids? I think they should, but I would not hold my breath. “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere” indeed.
[quote comment="35538"].mike,
There is a lot of stereotypic views broadcast on American public airwaves. Some body has to put an end to this mess in American media.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/04/15/18398808.php
Anybody would say any thing and then apologizes – that should no more work. There must be a price to pay!
A lot has to be done. Just because they have not done enough to stop the way black rappers are going astray in America does not at all mean they have to keep quiet here too.
FYI,there is a reason why Al Sharpton has a unique hair style. It was James Brown who asked him to have the same hair style when they went to the White House to meet the President Reagen back in the old days.
http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-jamesbrown-gallery,0,153258.photogallery?index=65
since then it became their style (perhaps sign of their brotherhood) and Al Sharpton kept that style since then!
http://www.maxwigs.com/james-brownal-sharpton-by-lacey-costume-wigs-p745.html
Your reference to his hair is really annoying and – with all due respect, may I ask if you take it off! That was a filthy personal attack and tarnishes the whole argument you made above it!
thanks,(please take no offence!)[/quote]
That was an iffy comment meant to raise a few eye brows. Nothing pointy just sarcastic
MindWithoutC, I just emerged from my self-imposed ‘self-timeout’. Hey I was just having fun with your name. If you are offended, then I deeply apologize and if you are as thick skin as you claim to be, then I hope you see the humor in it.
As for the issue at hand, I did not even suggest that what Oprah does is not worth praise. Yes, Oprah puts her money where her mouth is in terms of helping the underprivileged around the world, but I don’t see her as a politically effective leader. I’m sorry, I just don’t. In fact, one can argue that she could do more to advance some crucial issues in the AA community using her stature, but she has failed miserably in some ways. Let’s face it, she is afraid to speak out for economical reasons. And I respect those who speak out for justice despite the consequences. I may not feel the generosity if Oprah deep in my bones, but that does not mean that I can’t have an opinion about her. Interestingly though, do you see the irony in these 2 statements of yours?
“ Shortly, if you were one of the millions deprived Africans who went thru hell ..not even having a loaf of bread, a pencil and paper, have to be responsible adults way before their time arrive.. in their own land, then you may have been able to see … what Oprah’s contribution mean to those who receive it. To feel it deep to your bone, and know first hand, you have to be at the receiving end. that is all i can say.”
and
“Just b/c Obama wasn’t poor, Does that mean he has no conscious and a heart? Does that mean all these cruel that are in power oppressing the poor came from wealthy family and knows best what is good for the poor and deliver it? Give me a break!”
I will let you ponder on that for a while.
As for the current stock of possible leaders mentioned in this discussion, I’m sorry, Obama, Harold Ford and Oprah strike me as milquetoast black leaders who are afraid of ruffling feathers out there. You can say all you want about ‘reconciliation’ and give them all the excuse you want, but I don’t. Is Obama qualified to be president? I don’t know. I am not about to give him a pass, as I am sure you would not, just because he is half black. To me, he has not yet articulated his stand an many issues, like race relations, gender, and sexual freedom in this country, Iraq, or nuclear energy etc.. effectively in many issues. He is walking that tightrope trying to please everyone. Is it a strategy? Who knows? Is it working for him? So far it seems like it working. But sooner or later, he is gonna have to expose himself and we will find out what he is really made of.
Again, I apologize if I offended you in any way by trying to make light of your cyber name. No hard feelings here.
“Oh my, oh my. Sweet discussion, y’all! Chereka, my sister, where shall I start”
Damn Mike, finally! lol What took you so long to roll up your sleeves? lol I like a good ideological tussle too, so here we go. But first, may I ask you to work on your assumptions and start with the gender identity of yours truly? lol Yes, I am of the male persuasion, not the female, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
“Unlike Sharpton and Co, I would tell my daughter that Imus is irrelevant! NO WHITE MAN CAN TELL THE DESTINY OF ANY BLACK MAN, abo! wtf mate? I bet none of the ladies DO NOT even know who Imus was before the media funfair over it! NONE! It is only after they were prepped to be victims that they recognized. I hate to quote Jason again, but he said, it does not even matter George Bush came out and said what Imus, it should not still matter!
How can an old white man with a microphone took away someone’s joy? That’s ridiculous. I really suggest that you watch the video that’s posted up there…. and if you can, goto youtube and search for Jason’s videos.”
Mike! Of course it is unlikely that the ladies probably never heard of Imus, like many others as well. But that’s not the point! THIS IS NOT ABOUT IMUS!!! It is, again, about the big picture which is using the public airwave to promote ugly stereotype or perhaps even racist ideology. So, you suggest that everything was swept under the rug and moved on? BTW, you have not answered any of the more important questions I asked you in my earlier post. Can you do that please, like the one what the AA kids he is supporting through his charity feel about his comment. And yes, I have watched Jason’s video and you couldn’t have picked a more delusional person to defend your point. He basically is saying that there was nothing here. No harm done. Shame on him! What about the kids, one whom said this will stay with her for the rest of her life? She does not count? Why? See, the problem is that you are looking at the people. I could care less about G W Bush, whisch I truly don’t BTW, nor do I about Imus. I really don’t care for them. It’s the platform they have and what they represent are able to influence. Let me ask you this. So, if Bush made a remark like this, it would not worry you about what he can do with the power he has?
“The status quo is that African Americans are always Victims! That’s the kind of non-sense the media wants us to buy into–that we do not have any control over the things we do. We can NOT always be victims, Chereka! That’s a very dangerous territory. Actions are ought to be taken when they are due. This idea of a white man is responsible for every little garbage our community does, is insincere.”
See, that’s why I am saying that you are totally buying into the media crap. Frankly, what you say sounds like a Bill O’Reilly talking point memo, or any other rightwing propagandist for that matter. lol Yes, we can not always be victims, but being a victim even occasionally sucks! It’s easy to repeat that old line about taking responsibility for your action, but THAT’s what’s dangerous as it gives cover for racism. Remember, “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.” Not to match quoting wits with the great Dr King, but let me take it a step further, and say once injustice is one too many.
“I think you are wrong. Even if I strongly disagree with Obama about calling his ousting, he was among the first to do so. Harold Ford did that later on. But to your surprise, Imus was one of the few white radio personalities who was 100% in support to Harold Ford when he ran for the Senate seat in the 2006 mid-election. Where was Al Sharpton then to support a fellow African American candidate from the Tennessee. It would’ve had a historic proportional had he won!”
Uuuh, yeah he was probably the first one. The first black politician who has appeared on his show. lol Sorry to disappoint you, but I am not really surprised that Imus endorsed Harold For Jr for Senate. I am not crazy about Ford either, in that he was one of those Dixie-crats, even if he is half black. I didn’t agree with his grandstanding as a good old Southern boy with his anti-abortion stand or his ‘faith based’ pandering to the right. Of course he is better thank Cocker or any other Republican, but he is not what you call a liberal.
“The context was to allure you to think about the three white guys at the Duke rape case. Now, both Al and Jesse were down there saying that this girl was victimized, which was proven not to be the case. Should they go down there and beg for forgiveness from these kids? I think they should, but I would not hold my breath. “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere” indeed.”
Mike Mike Mike, is there any other proof than you bringing up the Duke rape case to try and equate it to this Imus situation. Now let me ask you yourself, what in the hell has the Duke situation has to do with what Imus said. Seriously Mike, help me understand. I don’t mean this in any kind or snide way. Seriously, help me understand it.
First of all, I applaud Sharpton and Jackson for going and demanding an investigation in this case, which BTW to me is not closed yet. Listen buddy, that’s the south. So, I am not closing the book on them yet. But as far as I can tell, the legal system determined that there was a crime committed, this is the same legal system, which now said there was no harm and is blaming it on a rouge DA. So, I will leave it up to you to make the judgment.
no harsh feeling on my end.
I still see no irony on my comments. I will elaborate.
But, i think, i do feel, that you only took thoughts here and there and build up your argument on those. I doubt if you re-read it. because, i didnt see much sinXcosY complexity that needed clarity. Mike did well, overall.
Mike and myself have absolutely acknowledged the sacrifice that allowed all of us migrants to be as free as we now are. On my part, to be sure, others don’t misinterpret.
But, the issue that you saw was from only one angle that is a complete political standpoint of Sharpton. It was like the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
For me the way i saw it was from both political standpoint, cultural standpoint, human rights standpoint.
Oprah has to balance it all. She is pinched like a sandwich. She made it in a corp that is led by who? ..so how do you expect her to use her potential and resources more than that she has so far. I don’t see it better than this. If you have a better vision and execution, you may want to throw it her way. i am sure she would love to hear it. I, for one, am very happy when anyone, be it Oprah or Obama do something, just something to help our African peoiple. I care less about politics.
It is not a field that i have a passion. It has consumed us left and right. enough for me.
So, i am not contradicting myself at all. Obama has not had a chance as Sharpton did, and give him a chance and then judge him afterwards.
unless, you are not aware of it, Ethiopia (Africa) is engulfed by BET, MTV. just imagine where our people, our young, our institutions are, and then adding salt to injury, provide them these by justifying it is an art.
is 50 cents music really an art? by whose definition? does it, for instance, reflect ours and help us take our artistic form to the next level? does it?
We, humans, are sucseptible enough to decay good things and when you bring this type of corruptive entertainment to the youth that is at the verge of desperation, then you just killing a whole lot generation.
I don’t know about you, but, my fears have been realized when seeing our beautiful culture hit bottom rock due to this type of cultural corruption & decayance.
but they say one man’s treasure is another man’s trash. Maybe, we treasure things at a different platform!
-for now!
Great article and well said on all your responses .Mike!!
Chereka and Mek, please open your eyes and mind and look around the double standard that Al and Jesse are fanning all over black America. Black American community has a bigger problem needs to be addressed than some radio personal making a stupid comment. They should have picketted long time ago when Imus and people like him said worse racist remarks than “nappy head hos.” they should dedicate their fight and time for health benifits, better education, poverty, drugs, and so much more than wasting their and our time on this.
Yiqerta gin, Mek seems like he knows what he is talking about!
What Imus did can be questioned (i think not a big deal) in the same manner what sharpton did can be questioned… (somewhat a big deal) it seems… the guy in the youtube is questioning sharptons actions… can we question him?
don’t you guys see the irony…
enday
Chereka. you gotta be kidding me. My gender intuition is broken belegna 
I think you and we need to take this off line and talk over it over the phone. seriously! if you’re in DC area, let’s do it face-to-face. i’ll treat you for coffee — even lunch
i would love to debate you about this.
you raised excellent points, tho!
DOT.MIKE
If this makes you happy go here :~) )~: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdRYdtENKTw
“i would love to debate you about this.”
Debate me about my gender? I’m pretty sure about that, at least last time I checked. j/k
So, you wanna have coffee or dinner? Your treat? Are you hitting on me Mike? j/k I really appreciate your kind offer but I happen to be here in the left coast (LA). But I really appreciate your nice offer, seriously. I’d love to debate you face to face as well. Maybe when I visit the DC area next time or if and when you venture on this side of the coast.
I definitely don’t think that at the end of the day when I’m thinking about people I want to represent me as a black woman in this country, that Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson are the two people I want to come to mind.
However, I do think more often than not they seek to represent African-Americans the best way they know how(and I’m not saying that I agree with the ways in which they do it or that they do it at all), however misguided.
There are so few high-profile African-Americans willing to stand up and be “the voice” that we gt Jesse and Al at every big brouhaha. And let’s be clear, mainstream media is just as much to blame as The Reverends themselves because when there’s a storm brewing, they’re not calling anyone but those two.
“I still see no irony on my comments. I will elaborate.
But, i think, i do feel, that you only took thoughts here and there and build up your argument on those. I doubt if you re-read it. because, i didnt see much sinXcosY complexity that needed clarity. Mike did well, overall.”
Hmm, what else would I be taking to make my argument, but thoughts? Anyway, Calculus aside, I was referring to the point where you said on one hand that unless I was a poor underprivileged, it would be difficult for me to understand Oprah’s generosity, and in the same breath, you said that just because Obama wasn’t poor, he does not mean that he has no conscious. To me, those 2 statements are a bit contradictory, but I won’t dwell on it.
“Mike and myself have absolutely acknowledged the sacrifice that allowed all of us migrants to be as free as we now are. On my part, to be sure, others don’t misinterpret. But the issue that you saw was from only one angle that is a complete political standpoint of Sharpton. It was like the enemy of my enemy is my friend..”
You lost me here. The issue is much more complex than just political. It touches many issues. And I don’t think I zeroed in in the political. But the political angle is very important, since that’s where it will lead whether you like it or not. I did talk about the cultural and also alluded to the moral & human rights issues. Maybe you missed it.
“Oprah has to balance it all. She is pinched like a sandwich. She made it in a corp that is led by who? ..so how do you expect her to use her potential and resources more than that she has so far. I don’t see it better than this. If you have a better vision and execution, you may want to throw it her way. i am sure she would love to hear it. I, for one, am very happy when anyone, be it Oprah or Obama do something, just something to help our African peoiple. I care less about politics. “
Yes. Oprah has to do balancing act and good for her, if that’s her gig. I just said I do not have the respect others like you have fore her because to me, throwing money around especially when you have that much is very easy. All I’m saying is that she could definitely do better. I mean she has enough money now to come back for 10 more lifetimes. When is enough? When will she say that it is time to take a stand, a serious political stand and come out of the closet. I am not saying she has no conscious, I’m just saying step up to the plate! I am sure she sees the injustice in the world that is being done out there, but she is always just a few steps short from saying what needs to be said. And I can’t respect that as much as I respect others who speak out despite the consequences. I am sorry. Oh BTW, I would not consider myself a politician, but I like getting involved in the day to day events that has effect on my life. TO me politics is my life experience, nit a hobby.
“but they say one man’s treasure is another man’s trash”
Exactly! So, that’s one of the reasons you have no right to criticize anyone’s art. Especially, if you do not understand it. That is the core of the race issue in this country. Because white people do not understand the black culture, everything is perceived in a negative way. This has been the case from the days of slavery. When black people tried to preserve their African culture and started to practice some of the rituals, they were seen as ‘savages’. I am not claiming that I understand the black culture any more or any less than you do, but you are not in a position to judge what they can put out or not. People (conservative people) said the same thing about Rock and Roll, Jazz, Soul Music, and now Hip Hop and Rap. If they had their way, we al would have been listening country western and Mozart everywhere, not that there’s anything wrong with that. lol But I like a little variety and like people who push the envelope. I’m not really crazy about the bling bling culture either, but that doesn’t mean it has to be taken off the list.
Listen, I feel a bit disturbed about the slow erosion of our culture back home with the western influence too, and I wish there was a limit to it as well. But who are we to say that they don’t need MTV, BET etc…? The key is making sure that we, the adults (well, so to speak J ) give them an alternative and making sure that that there is a positive side to everything. 50 cent may not be an art to you and me, but to poor people in the urban areas relate to it. That simple and there is a market for it as well. As for our culture decaying, one can make the argument that it started along time ago when we allowed the western culture to permeate into our society. Is it wrong? I don’t know. But I know our fathers and forefathers and even us have not done enough to make sure that we teach our kids the importance of self-identity.
.mike–thanks for the post.
I have no love for Al Sharpton. In fact, I hate it most of the time he opens his damn mouth. This incident is no different. But, I’ll have to say that what happened to Imus is definitely deserved.Listen, at the end of the day its not the racial epitaph he spewed that got him fired, its the almighty dollar. Both CBS radio and MSNBC saw defections from their sponsors and thus resulted in Imus’ fate. My beef with Imus began before the incident with the Rutger’s ladies. Imus once said that the New York Times is sending a cleaning lady to cover the White House. He was refering to Gwen Ifill, an accomplished African American reporter. He is a shock jock radio personality. Howard Stern will tell you that that breed doesn’t exist on the regular radio waives. Don Imus will soon ink a deal with satellite radio and he can continue spewing his hate there. As long as he was on the ECC regulated radio waves, I and others who were displeased had every right to protest and ask for the ultimate decision. In the end it was not Sharpton that made it possible for Imus’ canning.
Good point…i think al sharp is just a voice crying out of attention…i do not think they guy is intelegent to know what to fight and not for…he just sit around and wait till somone calls out names…as for me they are all kinky hairs, so am I
i believe these AA ppl are way off over this thing when they can pick up a lot subjects to fight for…i think they guy should have kept his job…he did not insult the black women as far as i am concered….they were insulted and degreded by their own race and pps….so called “music”….they are so nume/dead to sense any insult…but it is always easy to bark at the dead tree!
Chereka:
I wish i could get deep into it but not only the time but also the debate will take us nowhere, with the way i see it.
Onething is for sure, we all reject any kind or form of racism, to anyone.
In your comments, i see you get intersected with mine and then break it off and then ..coming back. So, it appears to me, we may have the same reference point, but we are running from different paths, just to come to the same point, against racism.
I WAS not saying, i personally judged 50 cents art for AA and Americans public. the initial point was as to why Sharptopn and his likes don’t go after the deregatory in their own house. that was my point.
But, of course, BET and MTV, as a concerned citizen concerns me about our youth back home. Not that, i change society’s course. If I had the means, the chance, and a viable environ, then, even then, all I can do is educate and elucidate, my part.
No one can change the path that society choose to head. That much I know. That much, I know how i was feeling when i was in highschool, during the M. Jackson thriller era. remember that, if you are the Dark derg era generation? when you are young, even, the most ugly scene appears to you ART. I wonder if that age one knows the difference between art and entertainment. And in Africa!? in that continent, that outside and inside power who keeps dynamism in darkness!.
Unless, you forget, or were not in there, we had to check out books for 1HR or even less period to study at AAU. It is this much resource that empowers, you, as a TEREKABI ZEGA. Now, one can boldly argue from here, that the youth, our disoriented, futureless youth, can differentiate between ART & entertainment. Good for that positiveness.! I say!
Forget the youth, even adults, and our higher institution are not in a position to make a sensible judgement of it. Higher institution, Hmmm!
I don’t want to trivilize the life-journey of our general populace, Africans, in general. It is a life of survival of the beast. With that tieing you down and even punching you while down, i have no single word to sound hypocrite, as to why this and why that. I have lived it thru. The impossible burden is carried graceful, thanks to our stoicism, our only survival kit!
As for oprha, you take that way, I take it the other way. it is rested. For me, considering who we are, her reachout regardless of the size, is something I appreciate.
us, our entire continent, generation-after-generation failed us, so the ball is in us. Let us call the spade a spade!
I conclude my comment on this topic!
never to come back to it. Politics HUH 
it reminds every litle bit of that pain we have bogged down and we have gone thru. If you enjoy it and be entertained by it, good for you. wish you the best!
Onething, I didn’t see in you response, and want to make sure!
I have never believed being -resource rich- causes one to lack CONSCIOUS or VsVs. So, please,by this token, don’t put words in my cyber mouth, that -poor vs. rich- argument. I ain’t believe that. what I believe in is this:
If one has dead conscious at the age of 10, then one will enhance it, at a later time, regardless of -The resource or family status-! I believe the great Ethiopian Derasi BeAlu Girma is a good example. Regardless of his family staus, he, as individual, had everything going for him. But, he chose to go against something that finally erase him from the face of the earth. That is conscious, and righteousness, regardless of the resource he possessed.
so i use no excuse -rich vs. poor-. Richness is in the conscious!
while at it: I forgot on 50cts “art”.
which was not my initial take, personally to his music, or “ART”. My take was on why Sharpton & his likes are not going after their own mess. Let it be known, that was it.
But, if Sharpton & Jesse believes that is an artistic dynamism of AA, and it has no impact on how it nurtures the youth of America, and the world by extension, then, I am on a head-to-head clash with that. I care less about others but my continent. B/C none gives a damn about my continent as well.
In case, if you don’t know, Africa has now become a newer dumpster, a renewed one to the already existing dumps: all sorts of Wastes, salvaged clothes (which was already there – rememeber SELBAJ Tera in Merkato loooong B4, perhaps many of us were born).
Now, with globalization and easy crossing of Atlantic and pacific oceans: Electronics gadgets, BET, and MTV are overwhelming Africa. I mean at least the donations of computers, even as old as outdated(win95/98 OS) may help the ambitious few learn something and catchup. But, when china’s batteries that last barely 1HR playtime overwhelmed the market, when our old clothes given to salvation army, are again heading to the market to be sold to our people? OH!
/..God forbid where will we ..be…
while i dont judge 50cnts, from the eyes of an AA point-of-view, but since I am not one, if I were to be realistic, I definitely don’t see his music as an ART. Many reasons. One is,
-the cultural grace that I grew up and that I am attached to, the one that quenchs my innersoul and that captivates the hell outta me and force me to get immeresed by its beautification and grace, and the one that makes me whole, the one that mends the void in me, that is the one that I call Art. DARN it! … you see you are bringing the animal outta me now.
while I beleive in progressiveness and dynamism and am always open for learning, i have a capacitor in me that dielectricatd 50 cents type of artistic form. so, i call that garbage, disgraceful and tasteless. Bring me some one like Bob Marley and then i give it my Heart + mind + conscious. But 50 cents!?
What most ethiopians, foreigners, and even african americans do not understand is that its not the rappers fault for saying what they do. They gotta get paid, just like the rest of us. The record companies dictate what kind of rap is put out there, if you don’t have the right image or this and that, they do not push or back you as an artist.
It is much bigger than 50 cents saying get rich or die trying, or nigga this, or bitch that. Most of the rappers are educated, have literary and poetry backgrounds, but the record companies do not want to hear conscious rap about uplifting the people. There have been enough conscious rappers, but do we hear conscious rap on the radio, on bet or mtv, no we don;t. What you guys need to understand is, we are living in a world where the elite have all the money and power, we are just abiding our time in their world.
I believe that African Americans should be held somewhat accountable for their faults, but from Ethiopians I see a lot of judgement towards African Americans. They are a product of the system placed in America. As foreigners we have a different sense of life in America, because we have not been systematically degraded and we still have our pride intact. It is what it is, but we have to understand all sides, before you open your mouth and judge.
Can you blame 50 cents, if you had been rapping for years and years, and didn’t make it…and one day you hook up with a big record company, and they tell you what to rap about….so you will be a millionaire….WOuld you do it?
MindWithoutC, you certainly said a screen full (as in mouthful).
I can feel you passion in both of the last posts and that’s good. I don’t know why you said that was your last post. From your posts, I can see that you really care about the well being of society as I do. It’s just taht we have different ways or approaches of going about it. That’s why we are engaged in this exchange. You said ‘politics HUH’, but I say Life, interesting. It really amazes me when people say they hate discussing politics or politics is not their interest. I really don’t get it. Politics is not a hobby, it’s your day to day life. Whether you like it or not, you are involved in politics the minute you get out of bed, especially in this day and age, wherever you are. And here in the US? What is not or does not involve politics? Tell me. It’s not because I see it as a hobby that I involve myself in what happens everyday in my life. It’s because I owe it to myself, to my children, and to my fellow human beings, whether they are Ethiopians, other Africans, African Americans, Europeans, Asians or animals. Whether you think of me as a dreamer or as an idealist or dogmatist, that’s how I am wired.
Now, that said, before I respond to your last 2 posts in which you said a lot taht deserve a response, I will extend you the courtesy of whether you are willing to continue the exchange. Remember, the goal is not to one up you or for you to one up me. I think it is to learn from one another and hopefully have others get involved and have a free exchange of idea. I don’t think less of you because you have a different view of things than me. So, the ball is in your court.
Mek, well said about some of our Ethiopian brothers and sisters and their view of the AA community. Like I said in my earlier post, I am not saying I have a better understanding of the AA community, but at least I am willing to look at both sides, regardless of my ‘conservative’ habesha upbringing.
Mek: with all due respect, I disagree in your “…they don’t understand..” .
Those who pay attention and gauge things in a very fair, scaleable mode, surely understand as to why things are being run the way they are, not only here in the music business but in every aspect of life around the globe. However, they (including me) selectively prioritize their topic and express, their frustration, disagreement, dissatisfaction, anger and move on with life. We can run from the realities we day-to-day face, but we can’t hide for sure, that much i know.
I think this also addresses Chereka’s in general. hey buddy, i am as you are willing to learn… but on this …we aint go nowhere… so i let it go.
If you ever show up to the bay area, I can treat you Hiking -uphill & downhill no kidding there- then you can challenge me both in hiking and this topic at the same time. There, i renewed Mike’s offer.
all the best!
MindWithoutC, I will have to honor your decision to let the topic go. As for the offer to join you hiking up north, I am afraid my knees are not where they used to be in my younger days and will leave it to young lads like yourself.
Besides, what if the discussion heats up and you ‘accidentally’ push me down the hill? j/k
Thanks for the nice offer though. I just might look you up when I visit SF next time. But I urge you to re-consider your stance on deciding to close any subject believing that it does not solve anything. You will be surprised what you will learn.
Bernos defiantly attracts a higher caliber group of people of any other discussion groups (Ethiopian/ habesha) I’ve had a chance to look into.
Mike- while your observation on self serving black leaders is note worthy, what makes these people popular, in my opinion, is the fact that their approach to things are polarizing. The media, for the most part, likes to feed on opposing or extreme views.
The people that make the most impact on the average black person are not usually national figures but local ones. Depending where you live and what your socio-economical status is, they might not even be black. Their stories are not told often enough, whether good or bad.
[quote comment="37993"]Bernos defiantly meant to say definitely
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