When you claim to be a “love expert”, make sure to know all the lingo… especially the sexual-related ones.
Monthly Archive for January, 2009
NSFW footage. Actually, not suitable at all, unless your vision of a trophy wife have a huge… well, everything. The still is MORE than enough for you. If you press play, you’re punishing yourself.
I was once an Aaron McGruder Stan. Alright, alright, I’m still an Aaron McGruder Stan. So, I was taken by the fact that Bossip reported that Aaron said in a recent conference that President Barack Obama is not Black. There’s something wrong with this statement, especially when this brother studied in college and offers biting (with a hint of truth) commentary via his writings on The Boondocks. I thought it was a game of telephone (You know, stuff repeated between people until it gets distorted). I waited for a hot minute, knowing that eventually, the truth will reveal itself. My patience was rewarded when Necole Bitchie managed to get the record straight.
In a letter to Editor & Publisher, he said that the statement is “categorically false.”
Here’s what he was trying to express:
"I have seen an endless stream of Black pundits on TV pontificating about the significance of President Obama’s election - many of them making reference to the 3/5th’s clause in the constitution regarding slaves. The point I was making is that this is not an accurate comparison.
"Barack is the son of an immigrant, not the descendant of slaves. It’s like comparing a half-Japanese man to the oppressed Chinese who built the American railroads. Yes, they are both Asian, but it is not an honest or accurate comparison. We all share the common experiences of being Black in America today - we do not all share a common history. A history that in part makes us who we are - and in some cases (as with the psychological damage that still lingers from slavery) holds us back. These are not, I believe, insignificant distinctions.
In other words, in this example used, First Lady Michelle Obama is more of a Black American than Barack Obama, who’s heritage is more African-American. While he is a son of an immigrant, it doesn’t make him less black. Aaron’s just saying that he didn’t have the same history growing up as Michelle does. I’m “West Indian-American”, which means my outlook and experiences will be different from others. I grew up in both USA and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. So, I understand slightly where McGruder is coming from. My father nor mother (both foreigners when they met) taught my siblings and I values that are different from American Black families. While I still grow up knowing the struggles American Black people go through, I don’t and probably will never fully understand it.
Other than that, Aaron did said he was “cautiously pessimistic” about President Obama, but it’s typical Aaron McGruder material from there on. He’s just keeping his guard up, as usual.
And this is a living example of why I’m slow to “break news”. Sometimes, waiting is good. 
Today marks a few things. One, (Still) President Bush’s last full day in office. Two, “Obama Eve”, when tomorrow, we accept Barack Obama as our Lord and Savior (I’m being sarcastic. Please allow me this much.) But today is observing the life and times of Martin Luther King, Junior… and I’m personally am sick of it.
I am not “sick” of the day itself nor what it represents, but the way the media paints the day. While it’s a coincidence that Barack Obama will be taking office the very next day, it’s also very sad that the question of the is “Have Martin Luther King’s Dream been fulfilled". It’s almost as if electing a black President was one of those requirements that MLK said. It’s sadder that they play “I Have A Dream” speech as the ultimate MLK tribute. Well, I followed MLK’s work (outside of school, as an adult) and I will tell you that if you want to educate people, you have to show all sides of him, not just one. While I understand the media is going to play the “Dream” angle, the schooling system cops out by playing this clip and that’s that.
So, today, I focus on MLK, but not on his main speech. Down below is a collection of videos. With the exception of the first video (that would be illdoctrine.com’s Jay Smooth, who done this video last year and inspired this post), these are other famous quotes and speeches that MLK have said. I hope you enjoy these videos and remember… he was more than just “a dream”… he started the road to (and AFTER) Barack Obama.
Ten Other Things MLK Said (by Jay Smooth)
Martin Luther King On Technology
MLK on War
MLK’s Last Speech
For Black folks who Tweet
Preach – Cotton (& The Effects of Black Advertising)
It might be just me, but it seems like after Obama was elected President, a lot of changes happened. One in particular was the fact that there’s more black people in commercials. Maybe even before then, advertisers had increase the ratio of “African-Americans” a bit before Obama became a thought that manifested into a run for President. Then again, maybe it’s just me. But with ads targeted to the “urban youth” using “urban swagger” to promote their products as “urban friendly” made me reflect back to Preach on Def Poetry.
Preach in his piece “Cotton” talks about how we are still slaves to the system, but how the game changed. Instead of working in the fields, we are using our hard earned money to build up the white communities’ wealth. So, as I see another commercial plays, I wonder… will we always be cotton picking and never realize our true power?
Only time will tell…