White Privilege Wins: L'Oreal and Beyonce Continue to Give Black Women the Finger

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(H/T Ankhesen Mié)

Apparently Black/African American is not acceptable enough to L'Oreal and Beyonce.

L'Oreal and Beyonce continue their marketing affiliation by insulting Black women again with their racist advertising campaigns further solidifying their disdain for the Black female identity.  Their preferred clientele (read: white) apparently doesn't appreciate or purchase products that use people that don't look like them in the advertising.  When white people say that they are white there is NO ONE is expecting or requesting an ethnicity breakdown.  WTH.  Just another example why elementary and secondary education shouldn't have to suffer white fairy tales disguised as history.

White privilege derived racism is the primary factor that permits L'Oreal's blatant and racist disregard for Black women who spend between $7-$8 billion dollars on cosmetics annually.  They don't change because they haven't had to change in order to continue receiving our dollars.  We show them every time we purchase their products that they don't have to respect us or show reciprocity.  They take us for granted because we have allowed them to.

This is not the first time that L'Oreal has shown their predilection for racism within their company and through their marketing and advertising affiliation with Beyonce.  But I bet like me, a lot of you continued to purchase their products. (Dark and Lovely, Roots of Nature, Optimum Care, Garnier, Maybelline, Redken, Mizani) An insider tip that L'Oreal can take directly to their advertising departments; Black women purchase cosmetic products from more than just the one "ethnic" directed line that they now own.  Black women spend a lot of money in a variety of areas!  We control the majority of the expenditures in our households just like other women who are making the decisions about where that money goes.  We can choose to show them why they should pay very close attention to ALL of the women that purchase their products by being more discerning.

As L'Oreal continues to assault their Black female consumers by choosing to overtly reject Black female identity in their advertising, Beyonce cosigns making sure that her check has cleared.  WIBP (White Identified Black People) like Beyonce and her peoples propel the institution of whiteness forward every time they give it a pass in order to get paid. *cough*  Carol's Daughter and Steve Stoute???  Lord build a bridge for lost Black people to find their way back to common sense.

Putting a spotlight on the mindless consumerism within the Black community is something that I have been planning for a while.  We spend a trillion dollars each year and too much of that is done without any forethought and with little to no expectation of these companies showing respect and reciprocity in the way that they produce, market or affiliate themselves with us.  Enough. Of. That.

Respect Black is calling out L'Oreal and Beyonce by saying, "I would rather choose No Brand over Your Brand™".  L'Oreal and other companies just like them must choose to show the same respect, effort and consideration towards Black women as consumers or they should lose us forever.

I realize that opting out is not a small endeavor.  I am a product junkie veteran and I have (for close to two years) paid attention to everything that I consume and because of that effort I have been able to wean myself from my mindless product consumption.  Just go through your house and add up the value of everything that you have purchased in just the last couple of months (the items that you use as well as the ones that you don't).  If you are traumatized afterwards then take action.

It is hard to accept at times but as Black people (in a world preoccupied with whiteness) we have to be cautious and discerning in everything we support with our time, money and effort or we invite a larger disconnect and more blatant disrespect.  In a world that lauds whiteness as the ultimate and the norm there is no choice but to push back hard against the idea that we aren't important parts of this world. 

I am a woman who sees nothing wrong with my Black female identity and I continued to purchase products from L'Oreal and companies like them that don't care about Black women specifically as consumers.  I gave them an unlimited invitation to my wallet without reciprocity.  I no longer allow myself to consume without thinking and I definitely will not spend another dime with companies that disrespect my Black female identity and don't value me as a consumer. 

One step at a time.  "No Brand over Your Brand™".

Repect Black: Past, Present, Future (Part 2)

This is the last post in the series that began with me making the statement that Black History Month Should Not Be Enough and Respect Black: Past, Present, Future (Part 1) began my thoughts on why.

In the 21st century there are people that are trying to legislate the revision of history in textbooks in an effort to remove white people's culpability in atrocities that have been inflicted on non-white people here and around the world.   They also intend to lessen or completely remove information and entire programs that provide information about non-white people and their contributions.  That means that your children will continue learning that white people matter and that they don't in a legally required formal education facility also known as America's elementary and secondary school system.  White supremacy wants to extinguish anyone or any event that doesn't fit their white superiority model.  If they succeed.  A Black History Month isn't going to do squat to make that better.  The only way to combat this level of arrogance and duplicity is to engage our children and ourselves in the importance of a great education.

We live in a time where people would rather embrace a deplorable whitewashed fairy tale rather than the truth that comes from a rich history of people from all backgrounds who endured and sacrificed a great deal to make sure that the future moves forward and not backwards.  Education is imperative.  There are great inspirational stories about people that have done great things but those stories have been relegated to the sidelines when it comes to impacting the lives of Black people in a positive way on a grand scale.  Black History Month has become more about memorizing and reciting and less about engaging and doing.  Our kids will continue to suffer if the right values are not encouraged and supported.

Conscious living and a solid education as a foundation is what all Black people should be encouraged to pursue because it the best way to ensure a life of success and purpose.  If you show a child ALL that is possible through knowledge and an education then you plant the seed.  Black History Month can't possibly encompass that which should be the concerted effort of all of us towards emboldening the lives for those that come after us.  Everything that we do should be with the specific goal of bettering our lives and the lives of Black children.  We have to ensure that our children can navigate this world knowing that they are important.  What good is all of that history if it doesn't propel us forward in showing that we have a responsibility and the possibility to do great things.

Education is the best path for success in life for our children.  Parents are an integral factor in a Black child choosing a better life for themselves than the one that can be offered from a life lived in limbo without aspirations, priorities and goals.  We are 13% of the American population and yet we have the highest percentage of the incarcerated, unemployed and poor in society.  The chance of a Black child having a successful life in this world without an education is significantly less than the odds of winning the lottery.

My point?  Education, Education, Education and did I say Education.  Parents are their children's best advocate in the pursuit of their best lives.  An education is a very important part of that.  If we do not speak up and do right by them then we fail them terribly as their protectors and guardians.  Black people can have a hard time in this world that is full of choices and obstacles that no other race of people have to be concerned with and yes it is unfair.  But that unfairness doesn't negate the fact that an education expands our options and offers the potential to create our best life despite the obstacles.  Black children deserve to have great lives and that begins with their parents making better choices and great decisions on their behalf.  

Education will always be THE equalizer and accelerator in society that will allow Black people to lead successful lives.  Making education a priority in your household is what our children deserve.  The futures of Black children depend on it. 

How Much Is Too Much to Give...When is Enough, Enough?

I didn't understand why I had been unable to shake the sadness I felt after hearing about Whitney Houston's death.  I have now realized that it was tied to a connection I felt because we both have daughters (we love without measure) that are our only children and also there was the despair I felt seeing that yet another Black woman's life is gone, seemingly after living a life that didn't make herself a priority. 

The title of this post asks a question that I see as a rally call to Black women. We are and have been the ones in society that are expected to give without reason until there is nothing left.  We are the ones that are expected to be available to everyone else but ourselves.  We are the ones that are expected and requested to accept less than what we desire and deserve for various reasons but none of them have anything to do with what is best for us. It is always about someone or something else.  We are the ones that have to save ourselves.

How much more?  How much are we willing to continue to give to anyone or anything that is not about our success and advancement in the pursuit of our best lives. The price requested/demanded is way too high and offers little to no chance of return on investment.  So why participate in any endeavor that does not have your best interest at heart.

We love to tell ourselves that we are doing what is best for the good of us all when we knowingly and willingly give the best of ourselves (expending energy, time and/or effort) to people or groups that have no intention or desire to encourage or support us in return.  Whether it is family, friends or community; making the decision to not make ourselves a priority is an effort riddled failure.

Failure to thrive (FTT) is terminology that is used in the medical world to describe those that have been denied the necessary requirements that would encourage emotional, mental and physical growth.  This term can be used to describe Black women collectively in the way that we are treated and regarded within the Black community and in society at large.  No one wants to admit that they have been malnourished by people that are supposed to care about you and that are supposed to want the best for you.  The malnourished don't usually realize the extent of the deprivation until it is too late.

Take a look at the life that you are currently leading.  Ask yourself if the life that you are living is the one that you want?  If not.  Change it.  Changing it does not mean that you abandon responsibilities and things that you are accountable to/for.  Change does mean that you should choose to make yourself a priority by taking the necessary steps to bring happiness and balance to the forefront and not allowing negative people or influences to play a role.

Life will be limited for those that choose to limit themselves.  Don't have anyone or anything stop you from making choices that align with what you desire for your life.  Help yourself by making yourself a priority.

No. I Will Not Be "Nice" About It.

Righteous indignation from a white person that feels offended because I've confronted them on their racist comments, behaviors or inappropriately ridiculous questions is something that I will never accept.  There is no excuse for an adult to be allowed to get away with that and there is no excuse for a child not to learn from it and choose to not do it again.  This is the 21st century and white people walking around as if they are the only people that exist in this world is beyond idiotic.

When I've said no (don't touch my hair) or look at them (A-D-U-L-T-S) like they have two heads when they ask some of the most amazingly asinine questions like "when I bathe does my brown skin tone lessen" or "Do Black people ever believe in working to get what they want in life," I can't take them seriously and I will ALWAYS assume that you want to be called out on it.  I. can. not. take them seriously because to be offensive (unintentional or not) and then have the nerve to expect for me to be gracious about being offended is an ill perceived entitlement that exists only in fairy tales.

I am not interested in making white people feel comfortable (in their ignorance).  I am not even the slightest bit interested in making Black people feel comfortable when it comes to discussing race/racism.  Comfort breeds complacency, complacency breeds apathy and apathy ends in death-- emotional, mental and physical death.

I would rather that white people acknowledge the fact that their white privilege affords them the damaging opportunity to walk around like dumb asses clueless about the world that they live in.  They get to pass it off as good intentioned inquisitiveness asking racist tinged questions of non-whites without people (in this white supremacist country) thinking less of them for it.  If you do it then own it and don't try to walk it back by saying that you didn't realize or you didn't know any better.  Real adults don't operate under that thought process.

Acknowledge the mistake and then take the initiative to educate yourself.  YouTube is full of videos with people that are willing to explain why what you said or did was wrong and inform you on certain cultural elements that you might be interested in all in the privacy of your own home.  We are in the 21st century, it's time out for the passive aggressive behaviors that expect the offended to care about your feelings when you offend.  The internet, books and engaging in the world around you is your friend in that cause.  I. AM. NOT.  Once you have helped yourself, only then can we have a conversation.

Non-white people in this society don't get to behave in this way and not have it be seen as a faulty/inferior/unrefined characteristic attributed to the entire race.  Black people that walk around uninformed about the world that they live in because they may lack access due to socioeconomic issues are seen as inferior by society.  But white people are excused as being unaware due to being sheltered and get a pass?  No.

If your parents did not do for you what they should have done in making you aware of the world that you live in then it becomes the responsibility of the adult person to enlighten themselves.  If you choose to stay only in your idealistic (read: white supremacist) bubble then do that but don't expect non-white people not to burst that bubble when you decide to step outside of it.

*Pic courtesy of Google

Whitney

R.I.P. Whitney Houston (1963-2012)

Whitney Houston has died.  My sincere condolences go out to Whitney Houston's family. 

Her music has been a way that many of us have been able to remember certain moments in time.  We see the music and therefore the person as markers to that history because we can readily pinpoint a specific time in our lives because of a particular song.  She will forever be seen as a musical legend because she was exceptional at her craft.

We attach so much to celebrities in our society that we tend to forget that they are human.  I am extremely saddened by this tragic news. 

Another White Privileged Group Misappropriates Black American History

Unfortunately there are so many instances in today's society that really make me question the sanity and intellect of some people.  When they choose to hijack struggles that relate to horrible atrocities inflicted on human beings in order to buoy their supposed altruistic intentions it is deplorable.

The premise of what PETA is supposed to stand for is something that I don't have a problem with but it is what they do in order to represent their beliefs that is an issue.  PETA,  three marine-mammal experts, and two former orca trainers decided to sue Sea World on the behalf of five orca whales using the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  Yes.  You read correctly.  PETA actually went into court with their attorney Jeffrey Kerr to defend the rights of whales using the 13th Amendment.

"Slavery is slavery, and it does not depend on the species of the slave any more than it depends on gender, race, or religion,"

Well I am sure that the Black Americans enslaved under the laws of this land for almost three centuries would appreciate that PETA and Mr. Kerr feel so entitled to equate their lives and suffering to be the same as that of orca whales.  I mean after all Black people were considered things and property.  So it is entirely the same.  Right?  The ethical PETA's insults toward a tragic part of Black American history don't end there.

Our understanding of animals grows every day. Animals are no longer regarded as "things" to dominate, but as breathing, feeling beings with families, dialects, intellect, and emotions. Just as we look back with shame at a time when we enslaved OTHER HUMANS and viewed some people as property less deserving of protection and consideration, we will look back on our treatment of these animals with shame. The 13^th Amendment exists to abolish slavery in all its forms—and this lawsuit is the next step. (bold and capitalization emphasis mine)

I know.  It makes you want to rinse your brain hoping that you didn't read that correctly.  But you did.  I told you that I question the sanity and intellect of people especially when they completely obliterate logic and reason.  In these two sentences they have reduced the pain, torture and struggle of Black people in America during slavery to little more than the necessary means to their selfish, entitled and inconsiderate end.  "No ethics towards people just animals" should be their new slogan.

Alas, there will be no national outrage against their debasement of our history.  And although the lawsuit has been dismissed it is another example of how white privilege continually provides an opportunity for PETA and other organizations like it to have cover when they misuse and misappropriate Black American history regardless of the pain and suffering that they might inflict.  I am sure that PETA didn't mean any intentional disrespect towards Black Americans because white people never do and white privilege's subterfuge allows for them to be ignorant and inconsiderate of our history.  A history that included the ethical mistreatment of human beings which of course is not PETA's concern.

Educator Fail: Black teacher makes inappropriate comment to student

It has been reported that Leslie Ranier made debasing comments to a Black student in her classroom.  The comments are offensive but not surprising given the type of world that we live in today.  Yes, I say not surprising because we live in a society in which too many Black people feel that it is acceptable and warranted to degrade each other.

“looks [like a] little chocolate boy,” a “chocolate that nobody wanted.”

There are so many negatives in this world that Black children have to deal with and it is completely sad that one of those things has to be sabotage inflicted on them by someone that is in a position of power to help them succeed.  It is especially troubling when that person is someone that comes from their own community. 

Ms. Ranier and one too many like her make it difficult to propel Black excellence to the forefront where it should be.  Her paycheck should not be earned by giving her access to even one child who would be at risk of being deterred in pursuing their best.  There are expectations that all children should have and a safe school environment is one of them.  This woman has failed in her position of educator and protector.

I speak a lot about the importance of protecting and educating our children because all of our children deserve healthy environments that include supportive and inspiring people surrounding them.  Leslie Ranier is one less person to be included in that effort.

Respect Black 365: Past, Present and Future

Without an education our options were severely limited

 
Black History Month Should Not Be Enough  is the previous post that began this series.

In the post (that started this unexpected series) I proceeded to support my belief that Black History Month should not be enough.  It was created to inspire Black Americans with the honors as well as the struggles that our history holds to ensure that we always remember what came before so that we strive to have better lives with the same rights to live our lives with justice and equality--  and we all need to make sure that we do.

I am an observer.  I spend large amounts of time taking in my surroundings (which includes people, places and things) and then processing that information to get a better understanding of the world around me.  I am a multi-tasker which means that I am usually very good at organizing my life in a way so that nothing that matters to me suffers.  Back to my observations... they are not always crowd pleasing but I believe them to be fair in the sense that I always try to look at anything that I am observing with more than one point of view.   Sometimes, there is only one way to see certain things and I go with that.

Black people's subjugation in America and around the world is a subject that really only allows for one way to see the global societal structure-- and it is one based on racism and classism.

An observant and/or well-traveled person should readily see that the problems that afflict Black people in America are the same ones that afflict Black people worldwide.  It is the responsibility for those that see it, to acknowledge it and address it.  Black people!  We really have to do better at connecting the dots and not making excuses for differences (while they may different, are not that different) in a way that we should fail to see the same actions of racism and classism towards ALL OF US.  Stop saying, "Black people born here or there are better/less than Black people born anywhere else."  People choking on quicksand don't die any different; they still die choking on quicksand.

Known Black History Fact

When Africans were kidnapped by Europeans from the continent of Africa and then forcibly imprisoned on other continents; the majority of those people were shipped (like non-human cargo) to South America and then smaller numbers (due to deaths from famine, murder and disease) were shipped to North America, Europe and other areas.

My reason for mentioning the above Black history fact?  Black people are everywhere!  There are too many of us (even those that came to America and other areas after slavery ended) operating with a European colonized mindset and we fail to see the beauty and worth in who we are because of what was done to us.  It has been intentionally affirmed through violence and propaganda that we are not to be valued.  No other race of people are made to feel that who they were born to be is unacceptable on a global scale like Black people.  Because of this too many will do anything to not be associated with that which is the most hated among those that subscribe to racism.  Unless their skin tone betrays them.

How awful to not live happily in a skin that you don't/can't/won't consider a blessing.  Are there exceptions to the rule regarding racism? Yes.  But this post is addressing the rule that the majority of society operates under. Start finding your blessings people.

Conscious Living
Intra-racial and Inter-racial relationships for Black people due to a racist society have been mixed (no pun intended) at best.  There is always this feeling that there is a need to justify and/or clarify reasoning for choosing to engage in relationships, environments and behaviors with Black or non-Black people if you are a Black person.  Plantation house rules that carried over from slavery and Jim Crow and are effectively utilized today to keep Black people subdued, controlled and unenlightened.  Ugh.  The wrong things carried forward hinder our ability to really live.

Black ancestors risked their lives to be educated and to have their children educated because they knew that education was an equalizer and it would allow them to participate in a society that insisted on trying to keep Black people in a position of servitude.  It wasn't hard for Black people to see the differences in how white people lived versus how Black people were made to live.  We worked in their homes.  The knowledge of the difference was painful and interpreted in different ways which translated to (1) Black people emulating "whiteness" to be seen as "acceptable" to whites and (2) Black people deciding to live great lives without assimilating and seeking "acceptance" from white people.  We have these two types of thinking among Black people alive and well today in the 21st century.  Oh how I wish we all embraced #2.

Education as an equalizer was the most powerful tool available to subvert the restrictive and oppressive times.

Better Lives Lived with Purpose
Despite the highly oppressive and violent state of society during many varied times in history, Black people still found a way to build families and raise their children.  There were Black owned businesses that were established and neighborhoods that were filled with Black people who created better lives for themselves by choosing to educate themselves either formally or own their own to ensure that they could provide better lives for themselves and their families.  Sure there were those that made excuses as to why they couldn't or shouldn't put themselves and their families first but they were in the minority.  Black people made sure that their history and values for better lives were passed to their later generations despite the actions of their white oppressors to do otherwise.

There was actually a time when the louder public voice among most Black people was the one that championed choosing solid families, educating our children and a united goal of personal and community excellence.

I Don't Hate White People

White privilege is everywhere!

I  hate white privilege.

I hate white privilege that is wielded as a weapon in society to subjugate non-white people.   I absolutely despise the white privileged apathetic actions and behaviors towards racism.  The disdain that I have towards white privilege and it's assault on the lives of Black people is at times extremely close to the surface because in society at large there seems to be no conscious separation between white people and their privilege. 

Don't tell me racism doesn't exist and then proceed to have secret (nudge, nudge, wink wink) agreements to exclude non-white people from participating, living or working in areas that you consider to be yours. White Supremacy and its drainage leaves a sewage stink on everyone that chooses to engage in it and on those that are affected by it. 

White people that readily engage in white privilege become ignorant and insensitive automatically.  It is why they genuinely feel that they are entitled to feel only honor for their ancestors great "accomplishments."  Leave out the not so good way they garnered said accomplishments because that is not as important especially if it makes them look or feel bad.  "Those were different times" is a favorite response which basically means that they could care less what their privilege has done to inflict harm on others as long as they don't have to see it or address it.  It's all good.

I hate white privilege because white privilege expects me to readily and gladly show respect without question to people that did not consider me to be human being.  There is no explanation that would make me want to honor Thomas Jefferson or any of the various other slave owning "forefathers"?  Showing respect to white people that saw people like me as inferior, as chattel is definitely not on my bucket list. Jefferson's Declaration of Independence did not include me.  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"  Yes.  Everyone that looked like him.

The Constitution?  The original mAmerican document didn't include people that looked like me either.

Originally, the Framers were very careful about avoiding the words "slave"and "slavery" in the text of the Constitution. Instead, they used phrases like"importation of Persons" at Article 1, Section9 for the slave trade, "other persons" at Article 1, Section 2, and "person held to serviceor labor" at Article 4, Section 2 for slaves.Not until the 13th Amendment was slaverymentioned specifically in the Constitution. There the term was used to ensure that there was to be no ambiguity as what exactly the words were eliminating.In the 14th Amendment, the euphemism "otherpersons" (and the three-fifths value given a slave) was eliminated.

My respect is reserved for the people that were responsible for the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments and for the people that were invaluable in the pursuit of Civil Rights legislation.

Real progress for all citizens of this country won't happen until white privilege is abolished.  We must always choose to speak out and fight against all actions that are meant to keep non-white people's voices and rights quelled.  If not we will deal with unjust and disrespectful behavior from people that would like nothing better than to see non-white people relegated to roles of servitude that don't allow us to have a voice in how America evolves.  White privilege should never be tolerated.


Racism thrives because white privilege lives.  They both need to die.



Photo Credit

Black History Month Should Not Be Enough.

I understand why Black History Month (originally Negro History Week) was created. We wanted a formal acknowledgement that our contributions to America were valued and respected and we also wanted to ensure that our children and other children would learn the truth about our struggles, successes and contributions gaining knowledge on all of the historical events that we are a major part of in the making of America.

We are now in the 21st century and my question would be this. Has Black History Month served the purpose for which it was created?

24/7 365

What is the endgame?
Is it readily noticeable to you that Black people in America are respected and that our lives and contributions are respected and valued?  The answer for that to me is a big fat NO.  And we participate in our own disrespect.

I think that we have concentrated so much on the aesthetic/formality that we forgot that there was something deeper to be garnered or expected.  Making something out of nothing is what we do because historically we have always had to and I believe those experiences over time cultivated an innate ability to transform anything that we want if we are willing to work hard at it.  I think that we have essentially gotten tired and lazy about getting the job done.  Other people are just now discovering exactly what it feels like to make ends meet with no ends when far too many black people have been doing exactly that for centuries in America.

I get it.  I mean who wants to have to fight or challenge every. damn. thing. every. damn. day. in order to live decent lives.  But is that it?  Do we really want to give up all of the years of hard work by those that had it a hell of a lot rougher than we could ever imagine?

Have we accepted our forced exclusion?
The more that we try to be "a part of" by assimilating into our currently distorted white centric society, the more it cripples our ability to stand against the horrendous economic, educational and social disparities in America affecting far too many of us-- effectively surrendering our right to be.  We live in a world that would like all people to believe that our value as people is limited and that our value should and can be controlled by others whenever they feel that we are of use and can serve a purpose to accomplish their goals.  Does "(________) is the new Black" sound familiar?  Or what about "Women are the new Nigger"?  We are tools for most of society to make a point or to reach their goals.  That could not have been what was envisioned for us by our ancestors.

Making do with a month long remembrance of the same recycled Black heroes and events that have been accepted by white American comfort levels seems disrespectful to all of the many Black ancestors that gave so much to this country.  It is past time for us to make something more out of it. 

Conscious living is important.
I must admit that I have resented the need for a Black History Month since I was in High School.  Black Americans are people that live on a tight rope because we are always on the verge of being history (as in non-existent).  We walk gingerly in this world fearing that very thing because if we do too much or go too far for societal comfort by disclosing and expecting for the societal ills of America to be redressed then we risk being seen (by white privileged society) as not being real Americans.  The current state of affairs with the way President Obama has been treated proves that no matter what we do to better this country, there are those that will continue to see us as not being real Americans.  Always be aware of that.

Never stop.  Do not stop thinking, learning, teaching, feeling, believing and doing everything in your power to declare and preserve our right to have decent lives and to have all of our lives and contributions valued by everyone.  Questioning and challenging America's disservice and dishonesty towards all of it's citizens and their contributions is what all Americans should do.  The way that this racialized America continues is by withholding ALL of this country's history from the future leaders that should know it and right now Black History Month in its current form does very little to counter that possibility.

We all deserve the opportunity to live better and live with purpose.
A large majority of American children in elementary and secondary education are learning from antiquated models and the information that they are learning is heavily redacted biased and/or misleading.  For Black children and other non-white children who do not have parents that are able to counter and supplement their knowledge that means that they grow up believing that white people are superior to them especially if they are getting their cues from the media and popular culture.

What I am about to say may be hard for some to hear.  But we have not been doing a great job at ensuring that our children grow up with positive influences at their immediate disposal so that the negative influences in popular culture are not allowed to inform their minds and their decisions.  They are exposed way to early to situations that are not easy for an adult to discern or resist but yet we expect for children to do it.  Our children's greatest influence should be us and we should be worthy of that responsibility.

"Each One, Teach One", is an African proverb that should be ingrained in the mindset of every Black person.  It is important that every Black child knows and sees that is possible to do anything they want in life.  I love this moment in time for Black children who will never remember the time before a Black President.  It does make a difference for a Black child to see someone that looks like them doing extraordinary things in life.  To see our own reflection in this world is a very powerful affirmation for everyone and it is extremely important for a Black child.

I will end this post with another proverb, "If you want to go quickly you go alone. If you want to go far you go together".  It is vital for all Black people to remember this if we do not want to see our lives extinguished.


This subject matter was larger than expected so there will be more posts to follow.

Eddie Long, New Birth and Religious Idolatry

PSA:  New Birth Missionary Baptist Church needs to be checked for toxic fumes.

Idolatry: excessive or blind adoration, reverence, devotion, etc.

In my opinion it's no secret that there is something wrong with Eddie Long and the cult followers congregation of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.  This video is proof that sanity doesn't exist among the people that participated in this ridiculous spectacle.  It is horrifying to me that anyone could sit in those pews while Eddie Long and all of his minions proceeded to hold this mockery of epic proportions. 

Is it me or is Eddie Long eerily similar to not one but two other "religious leaders" whose followers met unfortunate ends.  There is no way that someone can tell me that the people at New Birth are not at risk.  They sat in those pews watching this despicable and ridiculous person have himself basted in adoration!  Where is God in this?  These people need to open their eyes and see that there is nothing right about what is taking place in that den of the foolish.

Religion has been used to control people and the ones that are controlled by the contemptible among them will suffer horrible consequences because they willingly allow themselves to be at the mercy of people that mean to do them harm.  I grew up in the church and I believe that the way that predatory and opportunistic people like Eddie Long and his minions are allowed to go on without reproach is reprehensible.  Faith does not mean that you follow man blindly and it is unfortunate that the congregation at New Birth believe that it does.   

Don Cornelius (1936-2012)

I was extremely saddened to hear about the death of Don Cornelius.  Soul Train coming onto the scene was a powerful contribution to all of us.  It reminds me of a time when we all seemed to care a little more about each other.  May we all remember to tell those that mean something to us that they matter while they are here to hear it.