Black vs. African-American

This discussion has popped up a lot lately; I suspect it has something to do with the misguided idea that the American experience will be different from top to bottom with the election of a Black man. This article http://black vs. african american in particular was cause for dismay. I wonder if the author sees the irony of writing about a lack of connection to Africa, on a website entitled The Root.com. What does she think she's rooted to? [Sigh]

I like Black. I think there's something powerful in taking what was a derogatory term and making it a rebellious statement of us as a people i.e. Black Power, Black and Proud, Black Panther.

But, it is Africa that binds us, not the shared experience of slavery. It is the origin of the innate qualities we share. Slavery didn't make us a people able to survive in the harshest conditions. Slavery didn't create revolutionaries, thinkers, artists and mc's. Nor did slavery create such strong, intelligent, beautiful women.

Slavery tested what God blessed us with, as Africans.

Beating A Dead Horse

Okay, okay I don't intend to use this forum to talk about things that have been discussed ad nauseam in other venues. However I want to pose this question to those who are reading my random thoughts...Did you know Serena Williams won the Australian Open? This win gives Serena an undeniable place in history but for some reason the only sporting news we can get is that of the bong hit seen around the world. Venus and Serena have changed women's tennis forever, but Anna Kournikova still has more Sports Illustrated covers than either of them. Strange no? Why haven't we seen Venus or Serena in a Canon commercial? Isn't that the tennis equivalent of "I'm going to Disneyworld" at the Superbowl? Okay I'm offering more questions than answers but that's the reason I share my random thoughts. There are folks in my world who are much smarter than I am who only offer indulgent smiles when I ask these questions. This time I'd like an answer. Are ESPN and Sports Illustrated mad at the sisters because they wouldn't go along with the narrative they tried to create around them? Are TPTB in sports pissed that they couldn't ghetto-ize them as they mourned the death of their sister?

So a bong hit turns the national discussion to why marijuana should be legal--uh huh whatever. I want to know why sponsors aren't tripping over themselves to sign the most talented female athletes of our time.
Just sayin...

I Think MSNBC, FOX and CNN Think I'm Stupid

So anybody else feel like the MSM thinks your stupid? Anybody else get this weird, itchy feeling as you flip from station to station searching for a different narrative? Some insight? Something vaguely resembling truth? Don't get me wrong the MSM every once in a while has amazing moments like the night the '08 election Rachel Maddow said [paraphrasing] how amazing it was to have the White House which was built by slaves inhabited by an African American family. Those moments are few. The reaction of her fellow panelists ensure that they are.

Over the last two weeks you've been told that Rob Blagovetch is a crook and Tom Daschle didn't pay his taxes. Am I the only one wondering why every single anchorperson/pundit/contributor tells me the story with the same quotes, stats, gestures and inflections? I mean I used to love you Keith Olberman but now every time you're on my screen I can only think of this http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/countdown-with-keith-olbermann/805561/.

It is with these frustrated questions I watched this video http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02062009/watch.html.

A round table discussion with real journalists discussing exactly what you've been talking about at work, online, over dinner without ridiculous asides i.e. leg tingles, yelling and holograms.

The video is pretty long, but you've wondered where THE WORKERS' perspective on the "Economic Crisis" has been skip to around 17:00. The panel talks about the protests that are happening around the world and how American media has ignored it.

Lastly, Greenwald and Rosen allude to an unholy alliance between Washington and the Media to keep us only superficially informed and to keep money and power securely in the hands of a select few. Hmmm...what does that sound like?