220: Super Christian

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Topics: Ferguson and the fallout

Twitter: @DoctorAbrACEive @LonzoHarrisJr @PricelessKitty7 @4evasnapn

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I AM Suspicious

Sitting in my car listening to a podcast yesterday, I did not know that there was a chance that I could have been pegged as some sort of shady individual. I learned that's just what happened when I returned from my break. It was said that one of the employees returning from lunch noticed a suspicious looking Black man sitting in a car listening to loud music. She was then advised to inform security. Facing the accuser, I had to make the decision to give her the "not all Black people are suspicious" talk or let it go. I chose the latter for no other reason that it wouldn't meant shit to her. She's white, has plans to become a doctor, is young, and most of all is white. Not only that, I was at work, and there's really no reason to raise the racial tension more than its normal high level.

Today, less than 24 hours later, I can't help but feel angry. Dancing around in my head are the words of Don Lemon, Bill O'Reilly, Geraldo, and other experts on what Black people need to do to better themselves. The facts are that I was sitting in the parking lot of my employer on my lunch break in my car listening to one of my favorite podcasters to unwind from a job that causes me all types of mental stress. The podcast, by the way, contained no music. So what was suspicious? What was I doing that would cause a threat to people? Would I be as suspicious if I was white? So Mr. Lemon and friends, I ask what should I have done to avoid the wary eye of a young white woman? My car is Toyota Camry with no bells and whistles. My company's dress code requires me to wear a shirt and tie at the minimum; a sports coat is suggested. No hoodies, no rims, no loud bumping music, no littering. Still suspicious though.

*pause Cee Lo is speaking on Fighting* 

Any way, I'm about to be 33, and I've lived over half my life conscious of the fact that how I carry myself is more important than my white peers. Which is funny, when I hear people try to down play Trayvon Martin's awareness of racial implications in the events that  led to his death on the grounds that he was 17. My classmates and I can say with little doubt that we have been aware of race relations since the age of 12 or so. Many other Blacks can attest to the same. With that knowledge, imagine if some authority was to approach me while sitting in my car. Would I be wrong to come off as agitated given these factors? Does this agitation lead to me being detained? Arrested even? Does my car get searched? All this for living while Black.

I'm not mad at the young lady that made this observation. I find it funny that she felt relieved at the thought that it was not me, something that I have not addressed. The Black employees found the whole situation amusingly disturbing. I know they are fully in tuned to the undertone. That undertone is what angers me. The fact that suspicion doesn't have any associated action but consistently has a skin color, a race. I am upset that society has painted people like me as less than people in situations that they seem to be out of place. What the fuck did we do? I guess the simple answer is to stop being Black and cease to exist. I wish her no ill will because for the rest of her life "those niggas" will just be suspicious folk to report to someone. Society has deemed that to be the fact.

Black people don't need to do shit. You privileged muthafuckas need to accept people that don't look like you. Until you can accept that, we don't want to hear your Black Improvement agenda. The same goes for the righteous Blacks that give out "tough love". Take that shit and shove it up your tight ass. 

D'Jango Unchained: Nigger, Do What You Feel

D'Jango Unchained has to be one of the most divisive films in recent memory. For every negative comment pertaining to the script, content, and premise there's an opposite or indifferent point of view. No matter the stance, it seems a constant to look down upon those that do not agree with the writer's opinion.

It seems that whenever there's an issue to be addressed concerning the nature of Black America, the elite Blacks come out with their dictionaries to explain why everyone should pay homage to the plight of the Black man in America. Multi-syllable words are use to educate the educated on the complexities of the Black American experience. It would seem as if these experts in Blackness are convinced that the race lacks diversity of thought and are motivated by one goal only.

Since the beginning of Black history, we have always sought out different means to an end just as with this D'Jango issue. Look at the "Black leaders" of throughout history. Marcus Garvey was convinced that the aim of the Blacks was to move back to Africa. Malcolm X felt that the Black man should demand respect and equality "by any means necessary." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. felt that the best approach to equality would be achieved through nonviolent persistence. These are only 3 views during post-slavery America; all had a following. Logically, one can deduce that Blacks were torn on a "best practice" to gaining respect and equal treatment. Why should today be any different?

This brings me to today's debate. Spike Lee's stance is somewhat respectable considering that he is a film maker who is tasked with putting ass into seats. He may not want to compromise his view of cinematic quality (although that is highly unlikely) to sell movie tickets. It is the nature of business to shun the success of competitors to increase profitability. In true Negro Highlander fashion, key Blacks took sides in order to fire shots at one another. This trickled down through the masses of individuals throughout the race. Some debates can be considered of intellectual value while others are just as this post, menial and insufficient. Either way, no one wins, and many lose.

The movie is offensive to our ancestors. Oh really? We have constantly been lead to believe that our ancestors are these strong willed individuals that stood for right and good; they were wrongfully oppressed; true, but that does not automatically make each one of them this figure of virtue. In our own families, we have relatives that have no interest in carrying the torch for the Black man in the ongoing struggle for fair treatment. There are those in our society today that could give two fucks about how their actions impact the way their race is viewed. It's no secret that there were those that lacked the will to pursue independence after the chains of slavery were lifted. They clung to the old system because they were conditioned that way. Even though this is an effect of the divisive destruction of the institution of slavery, it permeates down into our culture today. These weakened people did not die off; their legacy has been passed on; therefore, they are our ancestors also. How offended can one be of an institution that he/she was afraid to leave?

The term "nigger/nigga/niggar" is too much in the movie. First, I find it hard pressed to tell any tale of slavery where the word is not used. Beyond that, it seems that Blacks own the right to the slur. Racism exists in more ways than a word; why are pro-Blacks so hell bent on taking this obvious proof of the hypocrisy of American tradition? A country that was founded upon the principles of freedom for all men as long as that man is of European background and of the lighter shade is known for spewing such a word at men, women, and children who have the same anatomical features but with darker skin tones. The same country that fought to be free from a "tyrant" decided to consider these people as property. A country that sought to be the great by expanding from one ocean to another but could not accept the fact that 60% of slaves were considered as part of the population for representation purposes even though they had no civil rights. This country that prides itself on being the greatest on the face of God's green Earth cannot even come together to accept the fact that half-Black half-White man, who won a seat to the executive office by the means drawn up in the Constitution, is capable of doing his job sole based on the color of his skin. This great land that is known for Truth, Justice, and the American Way is also the home to the word "NIGGER." Am I the only one that sees the beauty in that?

As for the people that are proponents for the film, please allow those that have an opposing view have their opinions. For wrong, right, or ridiculous, it just an opinion. There's no need to convince someone to see a movie that they have prejudice against; I contend that there will be nothing said or viewed that will change their minds. There are also people that have no stance on the topic; they may or may not venture into a theater to see for themselves. Enjoy the damn movie, and quit seeking out people to debate over the historical inaccuracies, script writing, and so on and so forth. Everything is not made to be consumed by everyone. Outside of basic scientific needs, everything is extra credit.

As I rush to my close, I can't say that this movie offended my ancestors. I'm quite sure they were enslaved, but I cannot say that beyond a reasonable doubt. It's likely that my bloodline was never in bondage although slightly likely. I love how all these niggas are certified genealogist just because they put together a family tree that goes back more than two generations. For all you know, your great-great-great-great grandpappy was a masta blowin', dirty mackin', backstabbin' nigga hater or like Stephen.

I digress. Carry on with the useless banter that fuels my life. 


Hey Spike, didn't you have Samuel calling a group of college kids a bunch of muthafuckas at a chicken joint in School Daze? He didn't call them nigga so I guess it's cool.

Where was all this back and forth following "Stinkmeaner Strikes Back" episode of Boondocks? Is it because Aaron McGruder is Black? I guess that's why Red Tails got a pass too.

Speaking of Boondooks, isn't D'Jango Unchained a spaghetti western take on the Catcher Freeman story with a twist?