Never have I ever heard The Black Tax explained as well as I did when Chris Rock broke down his community and who his neighbor was. It was so funny, real, and tragic all at the same time. It clearly illustrated just how disproportionately the divide is between Black people and white people. We have to practically be world re-known in a particular field in order to live next door to say a plumber in a nice area.
When I blogged how there was no "white privilege", that there was just privilege and mentioned that situation with the white cop arresting Henry Louis Gates Jr. for trying to get into his own house. The police were called by a neighbor of Gates' that saw two Black men struggling to get into a house this neighbor did not know belonged to one of those Black men, (his driver who was also Black was trying to help him get into his house). I mentioned how that one situation allowed a world famous Black historian and intellectual and a no name white cop to sit down and have a beer with the leader of the free world. Two world famous Black men and a no name white cop having a beer is the EPITOME of the Black Tax.
For those that are unaware of this Black Tax I will break it down as best I can. The Tax simply indicates how much better we have to be than white people to just draw even. Black people have to exceed ridiculous expectations, work at least twice as hard, earn at least twice as much, and reach the summits of their chosen professions just to be able to live next door to a dentist...
In Chris' words.
At the 3:05 mark Chris begins to break it down to the lowest common denominator. I love him for his honesty because I couldn't agree more.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
Three Fifths
Do you know what the title of this post represents? Do you know what it means, where it came from, who created it, and why? If you don't then you need to bone up on your history dudes and dudettes, for real. For it is inexcusable to not know about 3/5's and what that encompasses. See, to me "three fifths" is almost as evil and vile as the N word. Scratch that, it IS as evil and vile as the N word, those two terms aren't cousins, they're brothers. The only difference is the N word is the popular brother whereas "three fifths" walks in it's shadow.
Ask someone if they think the N word is funny or offensive to them and you'll get a myriad of answers from, "Hell yeah, that word is hellafunny", to "I don't find it funny, but it doesn't bother me", to "I find it offensive and if you say it again I'll break your nose". Ask someone if they know what "three fifths" means and if it's funny, more than likely depending on the person asked you'll get looked at like you've just grown another head. Ask someone of my grandfathers generation though and they will break it down for you and then let you know that no, it is not fucking funny.
3/5's was the distinction given to slaves letting them know they were "three fifths" a man, for counting purposes. This was taken from the African American Registry website...
"The issue of how to count slaves split the delegates into two groups. The northerners regarded slaves as property who should receive no representation. Southerners demanded that Blacks be counted with whites. The compromise clearly reflected the strength of the pro-slavery forces at the convention. The “Three-fifths Compromise” allowed a state to count three fifths of each Black person in determining political representation in the House. Rather than halting or slowing the importation of slaves in the south, slavery had been given a new life — a political life. Even when the law stopped the importing of new slaves in 1808, the south continued to increase its overall political status and electoral votes by adding and breeding slaves illegally. The Three-fifths Compromise would not be challenged again until the Dred Scott case in 1856."
So basically slaves were counted as three fifths a man, not a whole man. In order to get a whole man you would have to count a few slaves. So when I hear that some white boys thought that calling their African American roommate 3/5's and it's brother the N word would be funny or that it was just jokes it makes me want to first rip their heads off. Then I cool down and begin to wonder what these white kids parents are like and what kind of house these little wet behind the ears, don't know a thing racists grew up in. If you don't know what I'm talking about, take a look...
For shits and giggles...in cuffs
Maybe this will be a teachable moment for these white boys. Maybe they will learn their lessons and realize crap like this isn't funny, that it never has been, and it never will be. Maybe they will emerge on the other side of this as better men. Who the hell am I kidding, those fucktards won't learn a damn thing for this is America, still the land of the white and the home of the slave.
Ask someone if they think the N word is funny or offensive to them and you'll get a myriad of answers from, "Hell yeah, that word is hellafunny", to "I don't find it funny, but it doesn't bother me", to "I find it offensive and if you say it again I'll break your nose". Ask someone if they know what "three fifths" means and if it's funny, more than likely depending on the person asked you'll get looked at like you've just grown another head. Ask someone of my grandfathers generation though and they will break it down for you and then let you know that no, it is not fucking funny.
3/5's was the distinction given to slaves letting them know they were "three fifths" a man, for counting purposes. This was taken from the African American Registry website...
"The issue of how to count slaves split the delegates into two groups. The northerners regarded slaves as property who should receive no representation. Southerners demanded that Blacks be counted with whites. The compromise clearly reflected the strength of the pro-slavery forces at the convention. The “Three-fifths Compromise” allowed a state to count three fifths of each Black person in determining political representation in the House. Rather than halting or slowing the importation of slaves in the south, slavery had been given a new life — a political life. Even when the law stopped the importing of new slaves in 1808, the south continued to increase its overall political status and electoral votes by adding and breeding slaves illegally. The Three-fifths Compromise would not be challenged again until the Dred Scott case in 1856."
So basically slaves were counted as three fifths a man, not a whole man. In order to get a whole man you would have to count a few slaves. So when I hear that some white boys thought that calling their African American roommate 3/5's and it's brother the N word would be funny or that it was just jokes it makes me want to first rip their heads off. Then I cool down and begin to wonder what these white kids parents are like and what kind of house these little wet behind the ears, don't know a thing racists grew up in. If you don't know what I'm talking about, take a look...
For shits and giggles...in cuffs
Maybe this will be a teachable moment for these white boys. Maybe they will learn their lessons and realize crap like this isn't funny, that it never has been, and it never will be. Maybe they will emerge on the other side of this as better men. Who the hell am I kidding, those fucktards won't learn a damn thing for this is America, still the land of the white and the home of the slave.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
The Most Disgusting Thing Ever!
This is without a doubt, the most disturbing and by far the most disgusting thing I have seen in a very long time. It's so nasty and vile that I can barely wrap my head around it. People walk around and talk about how the holidays are a time for sharing and giving and I actually agree with them. I have always believed this time of year is when you give more than you've given at any other time of the year. Because giving at this time could actually save a life. The holidays can be rough on people who don't have. Maybe they don't have a place to call their own, maybe they don't have the opportunity to get a hot meal, and maybe that don't have anyone to share the holidays with.
I have been aware of this since I can remember, giving to those that don't have is how I was raised to be. Admittedly I have slacked off in my giving to others because my family has needed me to give more to them than I ever have before, but I am still giving. Me, someone with nothing asked to give more and I do so, happily. So when I came across this story my head exploded and rage filled me because it is the most vile thing ever. Let me explain...
Wal-Mart, that multi-billion dollar a year company who is against raising their "associates" pay or offer them health care has a store somewhere in Ohio that has come up with a wonderful way of admitting that they know they aren't paying their people enough money to live on. I don't think they meant for that message to ever be revealed in the first place, but especially not like this.
Wal-Mart's All New Low
Stephen Colbert's Comments on Wal-Mart
That's right, Wal-Mart, that multi-billion dollar a year earning corporation has one of its stores openly admitting that they know their "associates" aren't being paid enough so they are asking people to help feed their less fortunate workers. Basically they want the poor to help the poor while the rich sit on their hands and do nothing. It's almost cannibalistic in a way, those that don't have need to share what they don't have with those that have even less. I am not a religious man, gave no thought on heaven or hell and didn't really care if one or both existed, now I do. Now I hope beyond hope that there IS a hell and in that hell I hope their is a spot reserved for the heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune. For they need to burn forever and a day because this, THIS is without a doubt the most disgusting thing ever.
I have been aware of this since I can remember, giving to those that don't have is how I was raised to be. Admittedly I have slacked off in my giving to others because my family has needed me to give more to them than I ever have before, but I am still giving. Me, someone with nothing asked to give more and I do so, happily. So when I came across this story my head exploded and rage filled me because it is the most vile thing ever. Let me explain...
Wal-Mart, that multi-billion dollar a year company who is against raising their "associates" pay or offer them health care has a store somewhere in Ohio that has come up with a wonderful way of admitting that they know they aren't paying their people enough money to live on. I don't think they meant for that message to ever be revealed in the first place, but especially not like this.
Wal-Mart's All New Low
Stephen Colbert's Comments on Wal-Mart
That's right, Wal-Mart, that multi-billion dollar a year earning corporation has one of its stores openly admitting that they know their "associates" aren't being paid enough so they are asking people to help feed their less fortunate workers. Basically they want the poor to help the poor while the rich sit on their hands and do nothing. It's almost cannibalistic in a way, those that don't have need to share what they don't have with those that have even less. I am not a religious man, gave no thought on heaven or hell and didn't really care if one or both existed, now I do. Now I hope beyond hope that there IS a hell and in that hell I hope their is a spot reserved for the heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune. For they need to burn forever and a day because this, THIS is without a doubt the most disgusting thing ever.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
The Jingle of Keys
How often do we take for granted the jingle of keys in our pockets or pocketbooks? How often do we misplace those keys, thinking we put them here when they are actually over there? I know I've done it. I've even gone so far as to leave my keys in the front door lock, hey it happens. It's funny but when you've had keys all your life you can almost forget their worth, their value. Yes they open up doors to where you house and store your belongings, they unlock your car, and they give you access to a myriad of other places depending on just how man keys you have on your key chain. I think sometimes though that keys can be taken for granted, that is until you lose them. Then you realize just how valuable, just how important those keys are.
Keys denote ownership, even if just for a few days. They say to you that you have a place in this world that you can call your own. That you have a place to escape the elements, a place to rest your head, to cook and eat a meal, or to just get away from it all. What strikes me about keys though is how many of us, Americans don't have any keys. The number of homeless people in this nation is large and it's growing. These are people who don't have any keys to any place that they can call theirs. They are dependent on shelters to rest their heads, to escape the elements, to try and relax. America is the wealthiest nation in the world and the fact that we have a growing number of homeless people should shame us all. Especially when the majority of them would kill to hear the jingle of keys in their pockets.
Keys denote ownership, even if just for a few days. They say to you that you have a place in this world that you can call your own. That you have a place to escape the elements, a place to rest your head, to cook and eat a meal, or to just get away from it all. What strikes me about keys though is how many of us, Americans don't have any keys. The number of homeless people in this nation is large and it's growing. These are people who don't have any keys to any place that they can call theirs. They are dependent on shelters to rest their heads, to escape the elements, to try and relax. America is the wealthiest nation in the world and the fact that we have a growing number of homeless people should shame us all. Especially when the majority of them would kill to hear the jingle of keys in their pockets.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
War On Racism!
One is needed. An all out "I DECLARE WAR ON RACISM" is needed on every level in this country. Think about it, we have wars on everything from drugs to hunger to obesity in this country. We have a war on poverty and a war on women's rights. We also have a war on voters rights and gun rights. Now while I think all those battles are worthy of attention they are getting from people and the media, the most important war this country needs to wage is a war on racism.
There needs to be a Congressional committee and a sub committee, an investigative committee, and a Racism Czar appointed to get to the bottom of the racial divide in this country. I mean honestly, we all know what the cause is, but it seems that far too many people have chosen to bury their heads in the sand about it. But it's the burying of the heads that has lead to far too many young, unarmed Black men and women being murdered in this country. Their should be a day of outrage, of protests, and demands for a war on racism. Is there any war more important?
And I'm not just talking about racism between whites and Blacks mind you, I'm also talking about the racism that exists between light skinned Blacks and dark skinned Blacks. The racism that exists between light skinned Latinos and dark skinned Latinos. I'm talking about it ALL! Why, because it all needs to be dealt with.
I loved how ex New York City Mayor Bloomberg waged wars of the big gulp when this city had so much more larger more pressing issues to deal with. Bloomberg chose to wage war on something he thought contributed to obesity. Forget the racial incidents within the city, he chose to focus on giant soft drinks. I find that both hilarious and sad at the same time. It appears racial harmony isn't something anyone needs to focus on. The whole, "you stay with yours and I'll stay with mine" attitude seems to work for people.
Except when I'm on an elevator alone because the white woman chose not to ride in it with me for some odd reason, I'm guessing it because we aren't of the same racial makeup. Or when I'm sitting on crowded bus or subway and the white people would rather stand than sit next to me, I can only guess it's due to my complexion and not because I didn't shower, because I do. I know this stuff doesn't just happen to me just like I'm sure it just doesn't happen here. I know this kind of crap happens all over this country, which is why war needs to be waged.
WHO'S WITH ME?
There needs to be a Congressional committee and a sub committee, an investigative committee, and a Racism Czar appointed to get to the bottom of the racial divide in this country. I mean honestly, we all know what the cause is, but it seems that far too many people have chosen to bury their heads in the sand about it. But it's the burying of the heads that has lead to far too many young, unarmed Black men and women being murdered in this country. Their should be a day of outrage, of protests, and demands for a war on racism. Is there any war more important?
And I'm not just talking about racism between whites and Blacks mind you, I'm also talking about the racism that exists between light skinned Blacks and dark skinned Blacks. The racism that exists between light skinned Latinos and dark skinned Latinos. I'm talking about it ALL! Why, because it all needs to be dealt with.
I loved how ex New York City Mayor Bloomberg waged wars of the big gulp when this city had so much more larger more pressing issues to deal with. Bloomberg chose to wage war on something he thought contributed to obesity. Forget the racial incidents within the city, he chose to focus on giant soft drinks. I find that both hilarious and sad at the same time. It appears racial harmony isn't something anyone needs to focus on. The whole, "you stay with yours and I'll stay with mine" attitude seems to work for people.
Except when I'm on an elevator alone because the white woman chose not to ride in it with me for some odd reason, I'm guessing it because we aren't of the same racial makeup. Or when I'm sitting on crowded bus or subway and the white people would rather stand than sit next to me, I can only guess it's due to my complexion and not because I didn't shower, because I do. I know this stuff doesn't just happen to me just like I'm sure it just doesn't happen here. I know this kind of crap happens all over this country, which is why war needs to be waged.
WHO'S WITH ME?
Renisha McBride, Another Name Added. Updated!!!
I don't know where to even begin with this one, which is probably why it took me so long to get around to blogging about it. I still can't wrap my head around it because it makes no sense and it's just mindless, senseless violence perpetrated on a Black person by a white person. A white person who has yet to even be arrested thanks to the ridiculous "stand your ground" law.
Renisha McBride is yet another name added to the list of what seems to be the new white craze. Shoot a Black person and then scream "stand your ground". It happens so much lately it's almost like a video game or something. This unarmed Black women was in a car accident, she was more likely disoriented, sought help from a white man who then shot her in the face with a shotgun and killed her. Sadly her killer is still walking the streets of Detroit. Her family is demanding justice and answers and neither are forthcoming. Her murder is reminiscent of Johnathan Ferrell, the Black football player from Florida A&M who was shot by a police officer after he was in an accident and also seeking help. It seems the moral of this story is if you are Black, whatever you do, do NOT seek help from a white person because history tells us that there is a greater chance of being killed if you do.
She was just 19 years old, barely started truly living, and because she was on the porch of a house after crashing her car and seeking help, the owner of that house felt he had the right to shoot her dead instead of asking if she needed help. Her murderer has not been arrested nor has his name even been released and the family can only surmise the reason she was killed was because she was Black. She is sadly just another young Black person whose name is added to the list of those murdered for doing nothing other than being Black.
May you rest in peace Renisha, and I hope your killer is brought to justice in whatever manner possible.
Update: It's finally happened, after all this time the man who shot Renisha McBride has been arrested and charged with murder. He is 54 year old Theodore P. Wafer and he initially told police that his weapon discharged accidentally. Then he changed his story and cited self defense but Wayne County Prosecutor didn't buy that. Read more here...
Theodore P. Wafer charged with murder.
Renisha McBride is yet another name added to the list of what seems to be the new white craze. Shoot a Black person and then scream "stand your ground". It happens so much lately it's almost like a video game or something. This unarmed Black women was in a car accident, she was more likely disoriented, sought help from a white man who then shot her in the face with a shotgun and killed her. Sadly her killer is still walking the streets of Detroit. Her family is demanding justice and answers and neither are forthcoming. Her murder is reminiscent of Johnathan Ferrell, the Black football player from Florida A&M who was shot by a police officer after he was in an accident and also seeking help. It seems the moral of this story is if you are Black, whatever you do, do NOT seek help from a white person because history tells us that there is a greater chance of being killed if you do.
She was just 19 years old, barely started truly living, and because she was on the porch of a house after crashing her car and seeking help, the owner of that house felt he had the right to shoot her dead instead of asking if she needed help. Her murderer has not been arrested nor has his name even been released and the family can only surmise the reason she was killed was because she was Black. She is sadly just another young Black person whose name is added to the list of those murdered for doing nothing other than being Black.
May you rest in peace Renisha, and I hope your killer is brought to justice in whatever manner possible.
Update: It's finally happened, after all this time the man who shot Renisha McBride has been arrested and charged with murder. He is 54 year old Theodore P. Wafer and he initially told police that his weapon discharged accidentally. Then he changed his story and cited self defense but Wayne County Prosecutor didn't buy that. Read more here...
Theodore P. Wafer charged with murder.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
12 Years A Slave and Spike
I hope all the people who thought Spike was wrong, out of line, and felt he shouldn't have judged a movie he hadn't yet seen take their asses to see 12 Years A Slave. Especially those two Negroes I mentioned earlier by name. If they could spend their money on that crap of a movie by Quentin, then they can surely scrape up enough funds to see a film that deals with slavery from a more realistic angle.
This movie, unlike Django is directed by a Black man. Brad Pitt's production company Plan B got the rights to the book and handed it off to acclaimed African American writer John Ridley and tasked him to turn book into screenplay. It was a job well done. For authenticity, director Steve McQueen turned to award winning writer and historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. to make sure they were getting things right. I wonder if Quentin went that route, probably not.
Yes, most of the cast is English but that's bound to happen when the director is from England. That's right, apparently no American born director wanted to direct this film so it took an Englishman to bring a film about America's ugly history to Americans. Isn't that ironic, or is it just sad? You tell me.
I think everyone should see this movie, like those people who think African Americans should "get over it already", something not ever said aloud to the Jews regarding their treatment at the hands of the Nazis. I especially want the African American youth of today to see it. You know the ones, those that invoke the names of Emmitt Till and Rosa Parks in hip hop songs that disrespect those individuals. Those that wear the confederate flag and see nothing wrong with it, and for those that continue to use the N word and think they can somehow foolishly reclaim the word. Pure ignorance. 12 Years A Slave is a must see for those people because they truly need it. And after they see it they should call a press conference and publicly apologize to Spike Lee. Ya dig? Sho nuff!
Monday, November 11, 2013
Appalling Stats, Beautiful Words, Proud Spirits
When I saw this, I was shocked at the numbers. Granted it's hard to stay on top of every offense that's made against Black people in this country so my ignorance was thrusted in my face when I saw this. I had no idea about the Black male enrollment and the stats of UCLA. To me, UCLA was always John Wooden, Lew Alcindor and the basketball program winning championships. It was Troy Aikman quarterbacking the Bruins football team to Rose Bowl wins. My eyes will no longer be blinded by those halcyon days of UCLA sports teams, now they will forever be more focused on the lack of resources and overt racism shown to it's Black male students who AREN'T bouncing a basketball or rushing for first downs.
UCLA, once believed to be a bastion of diversity, of tolerance, of understanding is anything but and the powers that be behind that institution should be ashamed of themselves. They have a brilliant marketing firm and they do their job excellently because they distract you from the real issue of what's really going on. This video lays the truth out there so vividly, so starkly, and so gracefully that it's hard to be blinded any longer. Their marketing firm is going to have to work harder now.
UCLA, once believed to be a bastion of diversity, of tolerance, of understanding is anything but and the powers that be behind that institution should be ashamed of themselves. They have a brilliant marketing firm and they do their job excellently because they distract you from the real issue of what's really going on. This video lays the truth out there so vividly, so starkly, and so gracefully that it's hard to be blinded any longer. Their marketing firm is going to have to work harder now.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Fuck Hyndman, PA
Where do I even fucking begin?
There are a lot of people in this country that are truly pissed off that there is a Black man in the white house. A "grassroots" political party sprang up (though it's hard to claim being a grassroots movement when backed by Billionaires like the Koch brothers), Fox News can't seem to get their facts straight about the President and will say any damn thing to scare the hell out of their conservative viewership, no matter how blatantly wrong it is, and the government was shut down by the conservatives. A failed effort to defund "Obamacare" yet again.
It seems that having a half Black, half white man in the white house who is NOT the butler but the leader of the free world has driven some white people completely out of their fucking minds. They argued to be able to use the N word, they started donning blackface (just for Halloween though, according to them), and now there is this.
Straight from the "good" people of Hyndman, PA
I didn't know what to say when I saw that picture and the comments some made on facebook, and I still don't except that the town of Hyndman needs to be drone bombed off the fucking map. I began to wonder if this was worse than the pic of the white kid in blackface pretending to be the fatally wounded Trayvon Martin, I decided they are about equal. The imagery in both pictures are as foul and as incendiary as any picture could possible get.
I am not a religious man, I have pointed that out on this blog before. However, if there is a heaven and a hell once we leave this mortal coil, the men in the pictures mentioned have their spots reserved in that special place in hell. And they are lucky they don't live down the block or around the corner from me, they are lucky they live a few states over in some backwards back woods, redneck area of Pennsylvania and are out of my reach. That is unless someone can give a brother a ride to Hyndman real quick. Anyone? Anyone?
There are a lot of people in this country that are truly pissed off that there is a Black man in the white house. A "grassroots" political party sprang up (though it's hard to claim being a grassroots movement when backed by Billionaires like the Koch brothers), Fox News can't seem to get their facts straight about the President and will say any damn thing to scare the hell out of their conservative viewership, no matter how blatantly wrong it is, and the government was shut down by the conservatives. A failed effort to defund "Obamacare" yet again.
It seems that having a half Black, half white man in the white house who is NOT the butler but the leader of the free world has driven some white people completely out of their fucking minds. They argued to be able to use the N word, they started donning blackface (just for Halloween though, according to them), and now there is this.
Straight from the "good" people of Hyndman, PA
I didn't know what to say when I saw that picture and the comments some made on facebook, and I still don't except that the town of Hyndman needs to be drone bombed off the fucking map. I began to wonder if this was worse than the pic of the white kid in blackface pretending to be the fatally wounded Trayvon Martin, I decided they are about equal. The imagery in both pictures are as foul and as incendiary as any picture could possible get.
I am not a religious man, I have pointed that out on this blog before. However, if there is a heaven and a hell once we leave this mortal coil, the men in the pictures mentioned have their spots reserved in that special place in hell. And they are lucky they don't live down the block or around the corner from me, they are lucky they live a few states over in some backwards back woods, redneck area of Pennsylvania and are out of my reach. That is unless someone can give a brother a ride to Hyndman real quick. Anyone? Anyone?
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