Officially Obama!!

If you have followed this blog, or happen to know me personally, you know I am a life-long Democrat. The party is not perfect and I don't follow anything blindly (ask my husband!) However, I am a PERMANENT Democrat. The parties would have to do a 180 for me to change that.

As you can imagine, the last seven years have been rough! Between the 2000 election debacle and the never-ending Iraq war, I was *this* close to giving up on politics. When your country is headed in the WRONG direction, what do you do? I'll tell ya. You feel like a prisoner in your own home and become completely disengaged. I have bounced between both feelings...and yes, I do take it that seriously!

After years of anger and outrage, I realized action was my only choice. Martin Luther King, Jr. once quoted Marti Jose with, "I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees." That sums up my beliefs on everything in life. I have never been one to shut up, only to get "done" in the end. Again, my husband can vouch for me on that one!

When the media started covering the 2008 election (back in 2006!) I knew it was time. I have spent my entire life watching from the sidelines and there was no time like the present to change that. While I enjoy offering commentary, words without action mean nothing. As the cliche goes, "You are either part of the problem or part of the solution."

Mention the Jena Six, Imus/Hip-Hop, Genarlow Wilson or NCLB and you're sure to boil my blood. This country is topsy-turvy if you ask me. The rich get richer (check out this satirical Onion piece) and the poor get killed after unlawful break-ins by COPS.

We need a resolution...and I am convinced Senator Barack Obama is the answer.

I did not make this decision lightly. I started off as a STRONG Clinton supporter. I know what we'd get with Hillary...I mean she's just Bill minus the charisma right? Despite what the conservatives say, I thought she was the one. Then I read Audacity of Hope! If you saw my posts, you know this book really touched me. I think it should be required reading for the voting public. Barack is not a politician, he's a motivator and one of the best sociologist I've read. He knows what he's talking about and has gone to great leangths to analyze our issues and provide reasonable solutions to them. He is not defined or limited by his labels (e.g., Black, newcomer, Democrat, liberal.) This man is the truth and for that reason, I am officially Obama now!

I attended a volunteer meeting this past Saturday. It was not surprising to see dozens of supporters in the Atlanta area (due to a large population of Democrats and minorities.) However, it was surprising to see so much diversity in the room of supporters. The crowd was a mix of generations, colors and even sexual orientation, and we were all there to support our first Black president.

As I walked to my seat, I was greeted by a young Black male. When I first saw him, I assumed his parent forced him to come. I couldn't have been more wrong! This HIGH SCHOOL student was one of our leaders and an official Camp Obama graduate! After local politicians shafted his school--and failed to make promised repairs--this young man took action. After seeing Obama on TV, he was intrigued to learn more and read everything he could find on the senator. He then signed up to help out because, as he said, Barack is the only truth-speaker/seeker out there...and I totally agree!!!

So, for those that aren't too sure about Barack I suggest you watch the videos below and then cop The Audacity of Hope. I promise it will move you...hopefully it will move you to vote for Barack!!

www.barackobama.com

Surprise, Surprise...Ope hates rap!

So Ope is in the middle of her two-part "After Imus" show. From what I can tell, she decided to focus on hip-hop music.

While I can agree we should look at all media and use this as a chance to open dialogue, I am disturbed by the quick turn to bashing hip-hop. I grew up listening to this music and will make no excuses for listening! I understand the complaints surrounding the music but am saddened by how all of us have shifted the blame. This is a GROWN man who made these comments. Not some impressionable teen. He knew full well what he was saying. Additionally his choice of words ("jiggaboo" and "nappy-headed") are not common in the hip-hop community.

I'm sick of people dabbling in the African-American world and thinking they know all about us AND what all of OUR problems are. EARTH has a problem with how we treat women. It's been a problem since the beginning of time. Yet, we're placing blame on a 30-year old music genre? Give me a break!

I know Oprah has a well noted bias against hip-hop, but even she should know better. The media loves to place blame but this time they have it all wrong. The blame lies with Imus. Yes, we should examine every part of our culture and discuss accordingly. But let's not start or stop with hip-hop. It's much deeper than that. Women and Blacks were NOT equal, to white men, 30 years ago. Hip-hop did not ruin some magical land of equality. Oprah you do a disservice to all by running with this "hip-hop is to blame" concept.

You can't negate hate....

LOL. The title is my Jesse Jackson ode ;) I got tired of reading the garbage comments on CNN. So here's what I posted....

I find it appalling for anyone to negate this Imus situation or to pass the blame. Imus clearly has a problem with stereotypes and bias towards minorities. He has called a respected journalist “the cleaning lady” and his producer has likened the Williams sisters to animals. Now he calls a triumphant group of women “nappy-headed hos.” There is no righting this wrong.

Over the past few days, I have read about this so called double standard. Apparently, “urban” DJs and rappers use this term all the time. Well I grew up on hip-hop and listen to “urban” radio daily. I have yet to hear “nappy-headed ho.” I would love for someone to provide details on where this term is used. I am not excusing hip-hop; it definitely has its moments of misogyny. But, doesn’t the world? Have we not limited women since forever? Again, I am not excusing the use of words like “ho.” But, I see it from a different perspective. The music represents the culture we (or maybe “they”) live in. It is not always right nor is always wrong. We cannot blame a music genre for the obvious racism and sexism displayed by Imus and his producer. These are grown men who should know better.

In closing, I would like to point out how some trivialize the involvement of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. If people would read beyond sound bites and mishaps, they would see the truth about both men. They have long histories of civil rights activism and involvement with the “little people” in our country. Think what you will about their mistakes or what appears to be a love of fame. But, no one can negate their contributions.

For the record, both of their histories include fighting against misogyny in rap and violence. Additionally, Mr. Sharpton discusses various topics on his daily radio show. I am not an Imus fan but I do listen to Sharpton. I do not agree with everything he says. However, I am certain he discusses the issues your viewers directed him to. Sadly, pointing out the more important “Black problems” shows just what’s wrong here.

Update...Imus fired from MSNBC!

**UPDATE*** MSNBC is no longer a loser. They smartened up and fired Imus!!! Now let's see what WFAN does.

Also add these companies to the winners...General Motors, Sprint Nextel, GlaxoSmithKline, PetMed Express, and American Express. These companies have also pulled ads from Imus' show. Money talks!

Winners/Losers

It's only humpday but I already have some winners and losers....

Winners:

Rutger's womens basketball team and their coach - I hate to say this but…they made me proud sounding all articulate and what not ;) You know how some like to think articulate Black folk are uncommon (Biden/Obama). Loved how eloquent and respectful they were. If you still aren't offended, something is WRONG with YOU.

Proctor & Gamble, Staples and Bigelow Tea – Kudos for dumping Imus. Green matters more than any color these days (as the Rutger's coach pointed out) and I'm glad a few recognized the power of Black dollars.

Some NFL players – I hear a few players were concerned Adam and Chris were messing with their images. Well, they should be happy now!

Al Sharpton – I don't always agree, but I always respected Al's game. Dude is the best interviewer! I listen faithfully and already knew this. But he really did it to Imus yesterday. If only all journalists were that honest and real.

Losers:

NFL teams – So the new commish wants to hold teams/owners responsible for player misconduct. Wow. I know a lot of folks are worried. I fully expect the draft and future negotiations to focus on moral issues and off-field behavior.

Pacman and his college buddy Chris Henry – Damn. One year for 80k in ones! ;) Just kidding, I realize he was questioned in ten incidents. But, a year still seems like a lot. He's going to miss out on $1.2 million in pay. OUCH! I bet he stays away from Magic City and tries to hunt down those other strippers…he needs his money back! And I'm late because I just realized they played for the same college team. Birds of a feather….

Imus, MSNBC and WFAN – Do I even need to say why? Okay, what the hell is a two-week suspension? Screw y'all!

Hilary Clinton – She just lost my support. Why did I receive an email telling me to join her in sending words of "respect" to the Rutger's team? Um, Hilary, please stop trying to bait us Black folks. If you really want to do something, publicly denounce Imus and vow to NEVER go on his show. My baby-daddy (Barack) is in Atlanta on Saturday. Wanna guess where I'll be?

Bama:

Deion Sanders...that burgundy get-up bothered me. And yesterday he did an interview from his steps...indoors...with a sweater and fedora on...

Update: Imus on Sharpton

Al just wrapped up his interview with Imus. I'll be brief with my recap:

* Imus said he was having a conversation ("shooting the jive" as he said)and got carried away with the jokes. He admitted they were racist but says he was not being racist when he said them. *scratching chin*

* Imus says his work with sickle-cell and inner-city kids proves he is not a racist

* Imus says his friends know he's not a bad guy

* Imus has not thought of the appropriate punishment

* Al said the appropriate punishment is him resigning or being fired. Imus disagreed and said Al (and others calling for firing) are misinformed.

* Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick (and a brother from the NABJ) ripped Imus a new one! They mentioned their daughters and how Imus' comments could affect them. They mentioned how African-Americans already struggle with identity and meeting the White standard of beauty. They discussed how these Black girls were likely struggling at the mostly white Rutgers. At one point, Imus said "There's no pleasing you people." He tried to back-track and said he meant Al and Kilpatrick and NOT Blacks.

* A faithful Imus listener phoned in on his behalf. The listener said Imus led him to do work with inner-city kids and helped his foundation financially. Imus kept saying there are many more who will give like testimony. And the point is? How does this erase what he said?

* Imus tried to call Al out for not knowing what our federal government spends on sickle-cell. He implied that all Blacks should know these numbers and he was somehow more "in-tune" because he knew the numbers.

* Some guy (another Imus fan) called in and said the real problem is...drumroll please...HIP-HOP. What haven't we blamed on Hip-Hop? I am SICK of this nonsense. Back to the caller...he said "nappy-headed hos" is a hip-hop term and that's where Imus got it from. Ummm...NO it's not. Both "nappy-headed" and "ho" predate hip-hop you idiot! And even if it were a "hip-hop term", how do we blame a music genre for an OLD man's comments?

Nappyheaded hos? F*&# Imus!

WTF?! And people say racism doesn't exist....

So Imus and his producer Sid Rosenburg had a ball making fun of Black women the other day. The women of Rutgers' basketball team were called hardcore hos, nappyheaded hos and even jiggaboos....ON AIR....both TV and RADIO!!

This Rosenberg guy is a TRUE gem. He was fired two times before over offensive on-air comments. He basically called Serena and Venus Williams animals and hinted that they look like the Africans in National Geographic magazine. This time around, he added to Imus' racist nonsense. He described the game, a battle of pretty vs. "rough", as being like a Spike Lee film. He said it was "like the jiggaboos vs. the wannabees". How this was relevant I don't know! Why he said "Do the Right Thing" was the movie in question, I really don't know. It was School Daze butthole!

Catch Imus, and his apology, on Al Sharpton today. If your stations do not carry the syndicated show, you can check it out online. The website is sharptontalk.net and the show runs from 1-4pm. If he isn't fired, I say we boycott MSNBC!!