Are we singing the same old song?

We all know the black experience in America hasn't been the best experience historically. Now that we are in a better position in society, are we readdressing an issue that is over? Or have we really not advanced in our own community? There is still a great divide between black men and women, and it shows in our films and plays and books... so how do we get to a happier place in media? Does the term life immitating art or art immitating life apply to us? Why arent we happy?

IS MADEA OUR FRIEND OF FOE?

Alright, I remember I saw my first Tyler Perry play somewhere in the midwest 2004. I was a junior in college, and I loved the show. It was summer time. When I first saw the show, I was impressed by his talent. I was so able to relate to many of these characters in his play. I laughed and I also cried at the same time while eating some good you know what barbecue. Anyways, we have seen this successful man grow. This new growth has also widened his audience. So many of the jokes that were between us black folks is now open to the public. So does Mr. Tyler have to change his Madea now because it is in front of our cousins. Or was it bad from the start? Even more, are we not able to laugh at our own " cultural humor". When do we cross the line. In comparison to other black directors( Let's leave Spike Lee out with this comparison, he is in another plane when it comes to style and focus) , is Perry all that bad, or are we riding him a little to rough? At the same time, what does Madea mean to us? Is his success at the expense of the black woman?

SOUND OFF

I'm going to play the devils advocate

The debate on this is getting heated. I'm the first to back up my brothers when it comes to the boys in blue. But I'm thinking this may have been a case of the race card being licked and stuck to a person's forehead. When I get pulled over, and I get pulled over alot because I have a led foot, I have learned not to say one damn word to any officer, all I think is I'll see you in court, because 90% of those (I wanna use so many words I really don't like cops, no matter their race, but I digress)cops are one word away from pulling a trigger. They are overinflated and can't wait for a confrontation. So I think Mr. Gates calling the man a racist was indeed a mistake because all he did was give that man fuel. Let the stupid cop do what he do and know that you're a prominent Harvard professor and this man will indeed pay. I don't know, what do you think?

America's new Surgeon General is too fat?

So, our weight has been issue, I will not pretend, for many women of color this is a HUGE problem. However, we have to realize that we are not white women. We have different bodies. If American society is expecting us to be like Kate Moss, she can keep waiting ( notice I said she). Anyways, I do understand that many women of color also face different stresses, some us may also be more likely to be working twice as hard so we are unable to go to the gym every damn day. Bottom line, yes soul food will make you fat, and we need to walk more, but EVERYONE IN AMERICA needs to stay healthy. When looking at our new surgeon general, I see a regular size woman, yeah she is not slim and trim like a model, but I do not think she is OBESE! Notice how the author said " FAT BLACK WOMAN". Also, notice how the author looks himself. Anyone want to send some complaint letters? Furthermore, statements such as this should be condsidered slander. Even more, if we want to talk about ethics, a curvy black woman is not the problem. The real problem are all the damn doctors who do not want to serve people her shade! Thank you very much.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31928335/ns/health-health_care/

Black In America 2

Sigh, another viewing of Black in America. I'm not sure about you, but I felt the first one didn't really give a... how shall I say it... resolution. It was more like other races could gather around their television and watch the discovery channel on a race of people. I guess its because I don't like problems or issues being pointed out with no solution. Perhaps if they do an Asian in America, or an Indian in America I will be satisfied knowing someone is looking at ALL races and not just one. We'll never be able to look beyond the black white relationship with the media embedding it into our minds. I think as an American from other backgrounds I would be offended that Americans don't think I'm important enough to get a series on CNN. But I get it, in the first installment I walked away with, the black woman is doing well, dating outside her race, going to college and not holding on to the promise of having a black family, and the black male might as well be six feet under the ground. I don't know about you, but thats what I got watching the father in jail talk about the kids he know he has but doesn't support. Sigh, I'll watch in a few day and form another opinion on this circus CNN is creating, especially now that our president is black.

What do you think about her reports?

We are making progress....

http://alumniunit.com/2009/01/12/black-women-bridging-the-economic-gap/


Can anyone else find some articles on our progress, this is the only one I see, the media is really bad..........

Obama is in GHANA!

I think it is awesome to have our President visit a former slave holding. For a while, some African Americans were wondering if our President was black enough for us. Well, from the beginning, I think he has done a great job of supporting change. We can now fly to Cuba and troops are slowly leaving Iraq. Now, Washington is not perfect, there is so much that has to be done to fix our this recession. However, our President still makes time to take his daughters for some ice cream. He is a man of priorities! So tomorrow, I will be watching as a our President makes his tour to a place where my ancestors departed to come here as slaves. Yes, his dad is Kenyan, but to me, brown is brown everywhere, he is from the continent, like my ancestors are from the continent. I hope one day myseld I can make a visit to a country in Africa, if possible, with some good research maybe I can at least know the area where my ancestors came from. These thoughts ran throug my mind as I watched CNN, I loved how Anderson Cooper spoke about this significance. I think it is a great moment to see how far we have come as people. 500 years of free labor, and still today we face discrimination in areas still, BUT our PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES , a black man will be coming to the continent tomorrow, not to mention his beautiful smart wife, a descenent of slaves like myself. But, we are more than just descendents of slaves, so the trip is not just about the oppression, I think it is also a victory moment, a tribute to how strong we are as people, and most of all the strength of the black woman that made us survive all our time here in America..this reminds me why I am valuable.... I am so exited to see the girls too, especially when they came off the plane.... but most of all, we still have to really be inspired to do for ourselves, this President is only one man... I do hope these younger kids see how nice it is to have this image in our minds, and most of all it can inspire children of color to keep rising above ...

The Obama Effect

Of course we all know, our president is African American. His successful election has had an impact on the black community like no other. The sense of pride and the need for change has every race looking to better themselves. Women all across the world swoon at our leaders smile, wish Michelle would write a book on how to snag a man like this one, and swell up when we see how much he loves and adores his children.

What effect will the first family being African American have on us? Well, I don't know how much of a difference will come about, but my hopes are we take a more mature look at the relationships between the black male and female. See the importance of family planning, and keeping a family together, or being civil when that is not an option. I myself have grown up sans a father, or any fatherly figure in my life. I'm one of thousands, millions of men and women who have not had the positive influence of a man on their lives. Knowing that we lead by example, I've made the decision to do everything within my power to make sure my children have a father in their lives.

Of course we can't predict the future, but we can mold our lives by making good decisions and taking a step back to think before we react. We all make mistakes, but it's never too late to build a bridge. That is my hope for the Obama effect. Our village will build a bridge between male and female relationships. Raise our children with a sense of pride. I would love to see every black man who has a child with their picture in their wallet, showing it off with a smile. In a relationship we take the time to work together, understand eachother, cherish eachother and more importantly, don't sweat the small stuff. My hope for the Obama effect is to see our men rise, our women lift their voices, and our children follow in our footsteps with pride.