tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15116592251220726552024-02-06T22:58:21.305-05:00Musings, Matters, MelodiesThoughts of an aspiring journalist, social activist, and opera singerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-39009988499432719272016-08-08T12:58:00.001-04:002016-08-08T22:00:10.126-04:00On Gabby Douglas and Black Hair Politics<p dir="ltr">Black hair is really complicated. And like so many other complicated things it's rooted in our history, in white supremacy, in white standards of beauty, in respectability politics - but also some positive things like black pride, black innovation, and black entrepreneurs. It's REALLY complicated. (And this isn't just an American issue - this is an issue throughout the African diaspora and even in Africa. All a result of white supremacy.)</p>
<p dir="ltr">In the US, looking presentable, looking your best, presenting yourself well, etc. has historically been so important for black acceptance and even SURVIVAL. Over the years with conks, curls, texturizers, and relaxers, black people (men included, but especially women) have done extreme damage to our hair - and to our self esteem, sense of self, and self knowledge - by attempting to get as far away from our own natural textures as possible, and achieve European looks and standards of beauty.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That's why the natural hair movement has been so big and so important. It's about much more than hair. There are women who never learned how to manage their own hair texture, who never knew what it was because they started getting chemicals treatments at such a young age. Think about that - people who have no idea what their own hair is like, much less how to manage it. Add to the chemicals damaging wigs and weaves.</p>
<p dir="ltr">You have two or three generations in which a lot of people believed that black hair simply couldn't grow, and those who DID grow long hair were admired more. Those who didn't were often ridiculed and picked on, especially as kids and teens. That's why it's so cool to see kids like Willow Smith who will chop their hair off without a thought. On the other hand, that's why so many people from our parents' and grandparents' generations took so long to accept natural hair, and why so many still haven't. There's historically been an obsession with long hair and with curly and straighter hair types ("good hair"). So this thing with Gabby is not new or specific to her, nor is it totally the community's fault. She hasn't been taught to properly care for her hair and the sight of that still makes us cringe.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Someone could easily help her [and Simone Biles] care for her hair, ideally in its natural state, or with neat weaves or extensions, as opposed to people just ridiculing them on the internet. There have been some times when she's not competing when it has looked very nice (as in the picture below). But I'm sure that in some of the areas where they travel to train and compete, and with their circles and schedules, black hairstylists might not be easy to find. But people need to realize that their hair doesn't add to or take away from their value as humans, role models, and athletes, regardless.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There's still a stereotype that black women can't or won't workout or do certain activities because of our hair. But many black women swim, workout, and play sports regularly. A few appointments with a black stylist or even watching Youtube videos can help those who just aren't good with hair and can't figure it out.</p>
<p dir="ltr">But even now black kids are being told they can't wear their natural hair in schools, black women are being told that they can't wear their natural hair at work, black women just had to fight the military to change their policies on hair. Even today - human beings are being told that their hair, as it grows, is not professional, not appropriate, not acceptable. So of course there's a complex.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What bothers me is that people can't seem to stop talking about it and they do so in such a harsh manner, even after Gabby faced this in such a terrible way a few years ago. It's hurtful and publicly it looks very shallow, even though it's quite deep. You don't have to say everything you think. And even when people do criticize her, they act as if they don't LIKE her, as if she's a bad person, as if she's not a CHAMPION, and most importantly as if she's not a human being with feelings. That's where my problem is. Particularly since black athletes already deal with such heavy criticism of their bodies and their skill, even when they dominate a sport like she has done.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I wrote about this in a [very informal] <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/brittani-mcneill/i-am-not-my-hairbut-i-do-like-it-to-look-good/10150935749866910">Facebook note</a> back in 2012 during the last Olympics. It's not shocking, but still sad, that we're still talking about this.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It's important to understand the politics of black hair when judging those judging her. That's really why I wrote this. But she has enough to deal with - overt and covert racism and sexism, and just the stress of the sport. People - ESPECIALLY black people - need to be in her corner.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY35lCHNFFQ5gBuU9EshsC2ivqkm6O0Kfz4I2aZhCMs5Dl0EzqRdJ11WvjF5moJ7Gte3uDFAEKzdDBqBqaTnW7vhcAufkDqeVyofrYfoGrAc1W-x6cDD95Zp6e0MCVc8tLSaw2CHH9Dk/s1600/PicsArt_08-08-12.59.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY35lCHNFFQ5gBuU9EshsC2ivqkm6O0Kfz4I2aZhCMs5Dl0EzqRdJ11WvjF5moJ7Gte3uDFAEKzdDBqBqaTnW7vhcAufkDqeVyofrYfoGrAc1W-x6cDD95Zp6e0MCVc8tLSaw2CHH9Dk/s640/PicsArt_08-08-12.59.05.jpg"> </a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-28776767724669581172016-06-14T11:34:00.001-04:002016-06-14T11:34:55.908-04:00On homosexuality and religion<p dir="ltr">Unfortunately, this is a difficult issue. [I realize that many people will read this and immediately think that it's NOT difficult, that it's simple. And all of those people will have different beliefs. THAT'S what makes it difficult.] There are a number of people who, in trying to be understanding and open-minded, probably come off as playing both sides. And when I think about that in relation to my own struggles as a black person and as a woman, I fully understand why those in the LGBTQ community just don't want to accept that anymore.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Many people have always believed - or want to believe - that all people have a right to their beliefs. And there is an attempt to offer that at face value - you have a right to believe homosexuality is wrong - nothing more, nothing less.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The problem with attempting to hold and share that view at face value is that those beliefs are so intricately tied to hate. [And even though that might not be true for every individual, it is absolutely true for the world at large.] Homosexuality is singled out and looked at differently than other behavior that is considered sinful. AND people often hate and show disdain and even DISGUST for gay PEOPLE. As problematic as the phrase "hate the sin not the sinner" is for many reasons, the biggest issue is that it's simply not truthful. People hate the sin AND the sinner.</p>
<p dir="ltr">All that being said - even if all of that was taken at face value, out of context of the real world, and we pretended that people viewed homosexuality as any other sin and didn't feel hate and disgust for LGBTQ people, I know a lot of the LGBTQ community and their supporters still wouldn't be ok with that view. Why? Because it is still labeling who they believe they are to their core as a lifestyle, and as a lifestyle that is wrong.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Some people sincerely believe being gay is a sin, sincerely believe in hell and sincerely believe people will be "lost" for eternity. Those people who are not religious - especially those who have never been religious - can't understand that. And to a degree I understand why. It's insulting when what you feel is normal and real and right and powerful and loving and beautiful is called wrong. Beyond that, from a religious standpoint, homosexuality is one of the only things that people disagree about actually being a sin. So in a sense there's a given separation because when we talk about things like adultery or murder or lying those are things that we all generally agree are wrong. So even when people are doing those things generally they're not arguing that it's okay, they're trying to hide it. And even if they do try to justify it, society at-large does not accept it.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It becomes much more difficult when we're dealing with something that not everybody thinks is wrong. Having conversations about hate wouldn't even be necessary if<br>
1.) We could take the "hate the sin not the sinner" claim at face value, or<br>
2.) We could all agree about whether homosexuality is right or wrong.<br>
Without those things being the case - and they aren't and likely never will be - I don't know where the resolution is. The reality is that even if we are able to accomplish number one, a lot of the LGBTQ community wouldn't accept that. A lot of people are simply refusing to accept that kindness or love exists without acceptance. And a major argument - even solution - from religious groups is that there can be kindness and love without acceptance. And that's a sincerely held belief.</p>
<p dir="ltr">People aren't having this conversation honestly. We have to consider all of these things to do that. We have to acknowledge that we are at a point where the biggest solutions from each side are in direct opposition to each other. We have to address the fact that for many people there is no happy compromise. In order to address all of this we have to be honest. And too often, people simply aren't.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEscweSZJiPaSPzViueBTpyfxFNT49DZD_2Ro6F6-DAhiHp22nqN5k9qGv2p4JR0wIOHom-pkCh-AebKK6KsGUbMoTI49dPyfCxNV8e6akFwj1hvCTTDWGCrZWZ834mGZVnTF5qc7E6s/s1600/cross-rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEscweSZJiPaSPzViueBTpyfxFNT49DZD_2Ro6F6-DAhiHp22nqN5k9qGv2p4JR0wIOHom-pkCh-AebKK6KsGUbMoTI49dPyfCxNV8e6akFwj1hvCTTDWGCrZWZ834mGZVnTF5qc7E6s/s640/cross-rainbow.jpg"> </a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-14726395963376593872016-05-27T14:12:00.000-04:002016-05-27T14:12:33.371-04:00The Italian and Chinese Laundry Commercials are RACIST and WRONG! Why? CONTEXT!<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Recently a Chinese laundry ad went viral, making it's rounds on social media as viral videos do. Of course it's no normal laundry ad - in the ad, an Asian woman puts a laundry detergent pod into a black man's mouth and throws him in a washing machine. After screaming for a few seconds, he comes out Asian [almost white actually, but we'll get into that later]. The insinuation, of course, is that he was cleaned or made better by the laundry detergent. The ad angered many people - and likely humored many as well - and as it spread many people referenced a similar video from Italy in which a white man was turned into a black man.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Chinese ad is for Qiaobi-brand laundry detergent and the Italian ad is for Coloreria Italiana. They are</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> more similar than you'd think, but probably not for the reasons you think. And NEITHER is funny.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's start here and l</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">et's be CLEAR ... both the Italian and Chinese commercials are RACIST and WRONG. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Y'all have to stop using the Italian commercial to justify the Chinese one. CONTEXT and HISTORY make them different and we should ALL understand why by now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Certainly some people see the Italian one as ok while seeing the Chinese one as racist. While I think BOTH are horrible, excusing the Italian one and condemning the Chinese one - for the obvious reasons - is not a double standard. [Although, arguably, it is a double standard for other reasons, which I'll explain later]. It's NOT the same. Why?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Context.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anti-blackness is RAMPANT in Asia and among Asian Americans here in America. Consumption of American culture, which is filled with stereotypical and anti-black images, is heavy is in Asia. Consumption and appropriation of black culture is HEAVY in Asia and yet just like in America so is anti-blackness. People who are mixed with black in Asia face harsh judgment and criticism for not being "pure." Black people around the world still face harsh realities because of anti-blackness. So no - it's not ok.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Context.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The worst part is that the anti-blackness among Asians is often cultivated without full context, so explaining why it's wrong is even more difficult. That doesn't excuse them though. They consume the culture and history that they want to. The allusion to whiter skin being better and cleaner than black skin is clear. Whitewashing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Context.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Still, the Italian commercial is a problem. But for reasons people seem to be overlooking. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Italian commercial fetishizes and stereotypes black men. The abs, the white woman lusting over a black man. Think about all those stereotypes about black men and sexuality and aggression - mandingo, black men as rapists, SIZE - you can come up with the rest. REAL HISTORY, REAL CONSEQUENCES. Many people died because of these stereotypes. Much of this comes from America, but it has been disseminated worldwide. Keep in mind, racism and anti-blackness are STRONG in Italy. Did we forget about the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/28/world/europe/italy-politics-racism/" target="_blank">bananas thrown at Italy's first black minister Cecile Kyenge</a>?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then there's the rap music in the background. Come on. It's ridiculous.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Context.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They're BOTH stupid and wrong. Yes, black men obviously agreed to do the commercials. That doesn't make it ok. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's all rooted in white supremacy - Asians have issues with colorism, whitewashing of culture, etc. as well. Notice that the Asians in that commercial are very fair. Asians with more European features are considered more attractive by western standards, which many people - including Asians - have adopted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And b</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">efore somebody says it - the Italian commercial isn't anti-white and there is no racism against white people. White people have too much power for that commercial to affect them collective</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ly. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That is very important in distinguishing why in these commercials, </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"cleaning" a black man to a lighter color is NOT the same as changing a white man to a darker color. They simply don't hold the same weight. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While the Italian commercial is tasteless and tacky - it's not racist against white people. On the contrary, it actually perpetuates anti-black stereotypes, even in making the black man desireable.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why? You got it ...</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-90080508505287735722016-05-09T17:27:00.000-04:002016-05-09T18:34:34.966-04:00Does NAfME C.E.O. Michael Butera Need To Go?: Why the National Association for Music Education MUST engage in true dialogue about diversity, NOW.<span id="docs-internal-guid-f97dd9a1-96cd-ad01-f909-7cf113796afb"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-f97dd9a1-96cd-ad01-f909-7cf113796afb"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Michael Butera - NCfME C.E.O.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently at a meeting hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) C.E.O., Michael Butera, [allegedly] made some uneducated, distasteful, and frankly racist comments about diversity and minority musicians.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An account of the comments Mr. Butera made can be found <a href="https://alternateroots.org/why-we-must-have-inclusion-diversity-and-equity-in-the-arts-a-response-to-the-national-association-for-music-education/" target="_blank">here</a>, in a blog post written by Keryl McCord, the Operations Director of Alternate ROOTS, an organization founded in 1976 whose mission is "to support the creation and presentation of original art, in all its forms, which is rooted in a particular community or place, tradition or spirit."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few quotes from Ms. McCord's account of the incident:</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"...Each of the organizations at the table articulated how we were attempting to deal with issues of equity, inclusion, and diversity within our boards, staff, membership, and our fields.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Butera told us that his board was all white and that he couldn’t diversify his board because they aren’t appointed but, rather, they are elected by the membership. Further, his membership isn’t diverse because, ‘Blacks and Latinos lack the keyboard skills needed for this field.’ He also intimated that music theory is too difficult for them as an area of study..."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"...When another member of our table, who said that her organization is struggling with this issue but that they are working on it, pushed back to ask him, again, why he wouldn’t even entertain the idea of trying to diversify his board and membership, Mr. Butera got extremely defensive. So much so that he refused to engage any further and said, 'I don’t have to take this. Yes, my board is all white, and they are one of the most diverse boards of any organization – more than any arts organization at this table.' Then he stormed out of the room."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 20.24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Keryl McCord - Operations Director, Alternate ROOTS</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After some public outcry, the organization and then Mr. Butera responded.</span></div>
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The <a href="http://www.nafme.org/nafme-committed-diversity-inclusion/" target="_blank">statement from NAfME</a> as well as Mr. Butera's statement in response to the concerns of musicians across the country regarding Mr. Butera's encounter with Ms. McCord and other artists fall WOEFULLY short of addressing the problems with what he said, his lack of ability to constructively engage in these conversations, and the fact that these attitudes are pervasive in our field. How can you be trusted to deal with issues you aren't even comfortable discussing?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immediately, I found some of the comments on the organization's Facebook page and Mr. Butera's Facebook page to be dismissive and disconcerting. The attack on Ms. McCord and questioning of HER credibility in the wake of these kinds of comments is ridiculous, but very telling. When a person conveys their experiences, with clarity and with nothing to gain, comments only attempting to discredit that person or to absolve the organization of responsibility are at best naive, certainly tone deaf, and at worst self serving and ill-intentioned. Of course, these comments do not necessarily represent the leadership of NAfME. But they do illustrate the much larger problem at the root of all of this. I think these attitudes speak to much larger issues in our field, in our country, and in our world. And as musicians and music educators we can’t solve ALL of those problems, but we CAN be leaders and problem solvers in many ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">While Mr. Butera’s supporters may want to discard Ms. McCord’s account as hearsay, biased, unlike him, or simply untrue - the fact that he did not categorically deny these accusations, or provide an in depth response to them is also very telling. In this internet age, one has to be very careful about crafting these types of responses. Nuance in writing, particularly on social media, takes thought, time, and talent. But those people who are already well educated, well versed, and engaged in work involving diversity can articulate their thoughts, even on the spot, and certainly when given time to craft a response. Mr. Butera’s inability to do so makes him unqualified to be a leader in an organization dedicated to education.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is the reality, both the initial statements and responses show not only his inability to articulate a well crafted response to these widespread and important issues, but that he holds stereotypes and ignorant prejudices that the organization he represents should be fighting against. How can the organization claim to be committed to diversity when it is clear that the <b>C.E.O.</b> hasn't even considered these issues? It would be problematic if he only believed that diversity (in his board and in his field were not an issue), but his views are even more concerning - he believes that there is an inherent lack of ability in black and Hispanic students to grasp and execute certain concepts. It would take an entire post - maybe an entire book - to explain how problematic that is. But ALL music educators should understand that when you internalize these kinds of ideas [baises], it DOES affect how you teach, how you give out opportunities, how you interpret behavior and much more. Whether you realize it or not.</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is NO way Mr. Butera's comments can be separated from the organization he leads. And they should not be. We would be in denial and irresponsible to allow them to be. In order to be honest and to be professionals, we MUST acknowledge that Mr. Butera's comments represent a larger issue within the classical music community, within the field of education, and at the point where those areas meet. And we must use this as a catalyst for a larger conversation. </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a graduate of and deeply involved with the Peabody Conservatory, an institution that is confronting challenging and complicated issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, inequality, access and many other issues that must be addressed in order for our art forms to survive and in order for us to be artists who not only enrich the world, but who lead in areas of humanity. None of this would be possible without an intelligent, open, fearless, leader who is willing to have conversations, confront issues, invest in people and create a sense of community both within and outside of our doors.</span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Dean Fred Bronstein - Peabody Conservatory, Johns Hopkins University</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like other institutions, Peabody faces hefty challenges in dealing with diversity and inclusion and doesn't have a great history of adequately addressing these issues. (Ask me how I know.) Since his arrival, Dean Fred Bronstein has worked tirelessly to create connections with and among the varied communities within and outside of our gates, to understand the experiences and world views of other people, to seek the counsel and input of a diverse group of people in all areas of growth at Peabody, to create an environment in which ALL people can be comfortable, and - when necessary [in order to make progress and to change the status quo] - to make people uncomfortable. Peabody has a LONG way to go, but Dean Bronstein is proof that this this kind of leadership can, and should, exist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Butera's words, attitude, and actions make it clear that he is not ready to be this kind of leader - not at the National Association for Music Education or any other organization. He should seek counsel and training to widen and challenge his worldview, but not as C.E.O of NAfME. Simultaneously, educators, educational institutions, and all organizations involved in this work, nationwide, must be willing to engage in the same practices. </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what now?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We must be involved in demanding that NAfME do more to seriously address what is much deeper than a few flustered statements. It seems that they are just trying to make this go away. Beyond a regurgitation of their mission statement from the organization and a general accusation that his comments were inaccurately portrayed from Mr. Butera - NOT a denial - there doesn’t seem to be any more attention (or intention) surrounding this. That is a PROBLEM!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Butera_nafme">@Butera_nafme</a> So is the comment false? All I have seen are deceptive cadences.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">— Audrey Peterbark (@audreee2) <a href="https://twitter.com/audreee2/status/729079008583925760">May 7, 2016</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Butera's words, actions, and defensiveness represent what many of us already know to be a huge problem in our field. The fact that he was not even well VERSED enough on the subject to give an intelligent response makes it clear that he is not ready to lead an organization that should be at the forefront of these important conversations with intelligent conversations and ideas. How can a man who doesn't seem to understand the meaning of the word diversity (based on his purported comments about his board) head an organization that is responsible for leading music educators across the nation? When questioned by a [presumably white] colleague dealing with the same issues, he refused to acknowledge her concerns. How can you engage WITH people of diverse backgrounds if you're unable and unwilling to even engage ABOUT people from diverse backgrounds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As noted by a friend and fellow musician and educator, "there's literally no way the organization can claim to be all for diversity when the C.E.O. clearly hasn't even considered the concept. His only actual response was to insult the musicianship of two groups, and blame them for their lack of representation."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Butera's comments perpetuate false stereotypes that ignore very real issues such as racial and economic inequality, lack of access, prejudice, and the fact that there ARE many Black and Latino students who are thriving in music. It also diminishes the MANY contributions that Black and Latino artists have made to all genres of music.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is the responsibility of ALL musicians and educators to speak up about this. One encouraging aspect of this situation is the number of people of all backgrounds demanding that NAfME address this further and committing to canceling their membership if this is not addressed with more clarity and/or a change in leadership. Members should demand conversation and action, not only about this incident, but about the original questions surrounding a lack of diversity in the organization's administration. Non members can begin to engage in these conversation in their own institutions and organizations, while simultaneously keeping the conversation around this incident going and using social media and other platforms to keep the pressure on NAfME to further address this.</span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="728" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D10100190932896228%26set%3Da.630478324708.2083426.48701092%26type%3D3&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></span><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is very much worth noting that Mr. Butera's comments are also an indictment of the NAfME leadership and the entire membership. Essentially he is saying that the body of members has voted for the leadership that they want - meaning that they are responsible for, and possibly even desiring of, the lack of diversity. [Whether or not that is accurate is subjective, but it is the insinuation and simply another way to dodge responsibility for the organization’s current lack of diversity and his inability to explain it.] What he doesn't seem to realize is that as a leader it was and is his responsibility to not only represent the body, but to LEAD them towards growth and progress in the field. To open their eyes to things that are wrong, intentional or unintentional, and to things they may not have considered. He is obviously unable AND unwilling to do so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NAfME's own website inadvertently displays the organizations failure in understanding and addressing diversity. Alyssa San Pedro, a graduate student majoring in music education at Boston University, wrote in a Facebook post, "s</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">ystemic racism exists in music education, regardless of whether or not Mr. Butera actually made those statements. The lack of diversity among NAfME's membership is a symptom of that racism. The fact that NAfME's page on 'Inclusivity in Music Education' says it is working to provide support for music educators to 'deal with' diversity reveals the role NAfME plays as an institution...</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a Latina graduating with a Master of Music in Music Education and on Monday I will be at work teaching music. I am not part of a problem to be 'dealt with' and neither are my students. I am a member of NAfME and I refuse to remain silent."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="281" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Falyssa.s.sanpedro%2Fposts%2F10204876215585237&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A swift apology to silence the conversation and return to business as usual is only beneficial to those who do not seek to grow and make this field better. Mr. Butera's words and actions were uninformed, dismissive, and defensive, but we must acknowledge that they represent the viewpoints of many people, and open the door for a necessary conversation that leads to necessary action. And this charge doesn't end with the end of Mr. Butera's term, whether he resigns or completes it. Any incoming leadership, at every level, needs to be challenged to consider these issues as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most healthy and promising response from Mr. Butera would have been to consider Ms. McCord’s statements and the numerous comments and questions that have been presented since it came to light. To show a real commitment to diversity he would have connected with leaders in this field who have thrived in this area and asked for their advice on actions and words, not simply to smooth over this incident, but to address the real shortcomings and lack of understanding demonstrated by himself through his words, and by his organization through past decisions. He would have offered a sincere apology, even if he believed the encounter to be a misunderstanding, not a denial and defense. He has shown not only through his initial statements, but through his response, that he truly does not understand the gravity and intricacies surrounding diversity, inclusion, access, stereotypes, prejudices and similar concepts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even this blog is not enough - because it isn’t specific. It doesn’t begin to address the specific words and actions that are prevalent and problematic in the field. It doesn’t give resources and direction to action - ACTION - that changes these realities we fight. And obviously, for the sake of length that’s not possible in this post. BUT - it is my hope that it does help people to understand why these comments are so problematic coming from a leader of what COULD be an organization that really leads in this area. And that is not to diminish the work already being done by music educators who are a part of this organization. But this has shown us that both leadership and members might have taken the understanding of and commitment to diversity by colleagues for granted, and this is an area in which improvements are both needed and very possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of this has highlighted an ongoing conversation surrounding racism, diversity, access, and prejudice in the arts. And I want to add a term to the conversation: Unconscious bias. The </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">arguments</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by those supporting Mr. Butera are based not on his behavior in this situation, but instead are based on who people perceive him to be. His reputation. But I often say, even the most progressive people can have strong prejudices and lack understanding of people and things that are different than them. Having a general belief in diversity and having an understanding of what prejudices are and how they actually affect people are VERY different things. You don't have to be a blatant racist to hold onto prejudices that affect how you view the world or how you make decisions. For instance, you can be a proponent of diversity but not recognize why it's a problem that the board for the National Association of Music Education is all white. See how that works? :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s a short video giving a little more insight to Unconscious Bias, used in training by Caroline Laguerre-Brown, Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer in the Office of Institutional Equity at Johns Hopkins University. Incentive to watch: It’s hosted by Alan Alda! A HUGE takeaway from this - it might not actually be very difficult to CHANGE our implicit biases. BUT...one has to be WILLING to confront them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Butera and his supporters should understand that these conversations aren’t some attempt to tarnish a man’s reputation. Nobody wins in this situation. But many people lose when attitudes and ideas like those Mr. Butera expressed are not challenged and redirected. And we can do something about that. Mr. Butera should categorically deny all of these comments and explain what he said in full context OR he should apologize, explain that he still has a lot of learning to do, but wasn't intentionally dismissive or prejudiced, and resign. And not as a PR move or to quiet criticism or assuage members. But as a genuine demonstration that he understands his wrongs, the problems with his comments, and how much he needs to learn. And to show that he is committed to doing that work. That is what a REAL leader would do. Being a good leader means acknowledging not only your strengths, but also your weaknesses and knowing when it appropriate to step back and seek counsel.</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This incident highlights the need for us to to ensure that people elected or hired into leadership positions in our educational and professional institutions and organizations have a genuine and overwhelming understanding of these conversations that includes a grasp of the issues and the language. They must be willing and able to understand and engage. And moving forward - again, no matter who the NAfME C.E.O. is - this incident needs to be used to continue a MUCH needed conversation focused on the attitudes and ideas of classically trained musicians and music educators about minorities, diversity, and access in this field.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UPDATE: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_598876831"></span>HERE<span id="goog_598876832"></span></a> is the link to an update from Ms. McCord [that was published during the time that I was writing/publishing this post] that I read after writing this post, in which she explains in more detail what transpired that day. It should be noted that Ms. McCord was the only person of color at her table and she wrote, "it wasn’t his interaction with me that was the flashpoint for his departure. I wasn’t the one he stood and yelled at before leaving. That came about because another member of our group basically asked him to not just accept that his organization couldn’t change to become more diverse or inclusive."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So again I ask, h</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">ow can you engage WITH people of diverse backgrounds if you're unable and unwilling to even engage ABOUT people from diverse backgrounds?</span></div>
</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-3891208048400537572016-04-22T14:14:00.000-04:002016-04-22T14:14:22.685-04:00The Artist, The Teacher: What Prince taught us about sexiness and [black] masculinity.<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prince did something special for all people. But especially for black people. Something I think we fully acknowledge, through our love and admiration for him just as he was -- indeed, BECAUSE of who he was -- but something we also simultaneously ignore, or at least often overlook. Prince SUCCESSFULLY challenged all stereotypical ideas of manhood and masculinity.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He was a beautiful man. I read a piece written just a few months ago that called him <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/12/prince-interview-paisley-park-studios-minneapolis?CMP=share_btn_fb" target="_blank">"almost unnecessarily handsome."</a> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was no question that he was sexy. Whether he was wearing platform shoes or flared sleeves or skin tight pants. When he whispered in that deep voice or sang in that falsetto, EVERYBODY, gender and sexuality aside, was mesmerized. The most hypermasculine men loved him. And of course, women loved him. Even women who preferred hypermasculine men loved him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hypermasculinity describes the exaggeration of male stereotypical behavior, such as an emphasis on physical strength, aggression, and sexuality.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok...so that last part...and Prince...ok yeah...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="22 Incredibly Sexy Prince GIFs For All Your Sexual Situations" src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-12/4/12/tmp/webdr05/anigif_mobile_ca9bdd5c29523884d52f9bd823c1ee91-23.gif" /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, hypermasculinity permeates every aspect of American culture, and is a problem worldwide. But as with every societal ill, it affects the oppressed and impoverished in more harsh, dangerous, and damaging ways. Black people had hypermasculinity forced on us. It's now been with us for a long time. It arrived with us on this continent. But it didn't necessarily come from our ancestors. It came from white supremacy. It was ingrained through slavery, through poverty, through the street, gang, and drug cultures [that were a result of oppression, segregation, and poverty]. It was a result of always needing to be the biggest, the strongest, a result of stereotypes as old as this nation, a result of the fear and conditioning of white people. And it forced us into thinking that toughness and hardness = manliness. That anything else was gay and that, of course, gay was bad.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were other pop stars who refused to be defined by gender and racial norms or stereotypes and who broke barriers. But nobody was like Prince. And he did it as a straight man. He was admired by men and desired by women [and vice versa of course].</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="22 Incredibly Sexy Prince GIFs For All Your Sexual Situations" src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-12/4/12/enhanced/webdr03/anigif_enhanced-7968-1417712654-13.gif" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not only did he always have a woman - but he always had a baaaaddd [read: good] woman. He always had a fly girl. Multiple women claim him as their one true love. He was somehow still a <u><b>stereotypical</b></u> man's man. Yet his style, his music, his persona, even his words challenged society's ideas about what that meant.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We know that. We see that. We feel that. Yet simultaneously we forget that. We ignore that. We refuse that.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prince made space for black boys and men to challenge the confining roles placed upon them by society -- particularly the negative ones. And not just LGBTQ black boys and men. What Prince did was just as, if not more important, for men who like him, are heterosexual.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He showed and taught so many something we need to remember. There's not one way to be a man. Even a straight man. There's not one way to be sexy. Men can be creative, wild, even flamboyant. Men can be sensitive, thoughtful, and introspective. Men can be artsy, loving, and happy. Men - especially BLACK boys and men - can be <b>FREE</b>. And black girls and women can respect those men, love those men, and at an appropriate age desire those men. <span style="text-align: center;">Prince taught us that. And that lesson was - and IS - as important as every bit of the amazing music he left us.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUpaFQx9sRGrAhSzLcOMumoDLV69knd7DwX60REmks6dclMYHAmxH4Qfr4ZkSzrLNcqDgVLDxec5B9SWSPslkiep0_I8eRZWGMUKrnoSFkSnHfYYGH5GQitjVKWFX-qACNQS-1lcbmW4/s1600/13010608_1201800013193324_8110494303306867490_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUpaFQx9sRGrAhSzLcOMumoDLV69knd7DwX60REmks6dclMYHAmxH4Qfr4ZkSzrLNcqDgVLDxec5B9SWSPslkiep0_I8eRZWGMUKrnoSFkSnHfYYGH5GQitjVKWFX-qACNQS-1lcbmW4/s320/13010608_1201800013193324_8110494303306867490_n.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Prince with his protege - who for a time was also his girlfriend - Vanity (AKA Denise Matthews).</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc4DmnpymZvW_BPfPUHlRBYQ_9b5BjUcXu5JmmWbAJ86BA01rV9idGD-0512t2hXqtDWgm_Mjr7qabuR29piTeoUJYG3OWFuJF8nYaPbeq35hiDUgWrcE8h0fUWJxQYq9rJCVVmVZV4E/s200/sep2013-086_lg.jpeg" width="185" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocIZOs0xV2YUyiFzZsrOg_4MFBFjCjtg89Yy1BFPQcupZhNh6oVEmHqWgUnL0RSbvJ2v1RuYASb-agcC7_n852WA1SdPu4qGr0KJAKqUQhOR4AEr48ilwzLrAOHeVItVTGBKZOxzle8A/s1600/10665956_10101987689960403_1053998383616146927_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocIZOs0xV2YUyiFzZsrOg_4MFBFjCjtg89Yy1BFPQcupZhNh6oVEmHqWgUnL0RSbvJ2v1RuYASb-agcC7_n852WA1SdPu4qGr0KJAKqUQhOR4AEr48ilwzLrAOHeVItVTGBKZOxzle8A/s400/10665956_10101987689960403_1053998383616146927_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">May we acknowledge that. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">May we teach our sons and our daughters.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">May we never forget.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to The Artist who was also The Teacher.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We will never forget you Prince. Rest in Power.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-74661007459391172772015-12-30T20:01:00.000-05:002015-12-30T20:01:56.064-05:00Bill Cosby isn't the [only] problem! Here's the CRAZY that's making your arguments about Bill Cosby sound foolish!<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have tried so hard to stay away from this Bill Cosby stuff. But the ignorance I see today in the wake of the charges filed against him...it's too much. So here goes...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I get all the chatter. For those that are Bill Cosby fans (especially black fans), who have an emotional connection to his work and his legacy, it's HARD to see him like this. Personally, his many years of respectability politics soured me on him a bit as a person. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">BUT, I was still fiercely defensive of his contributions and legacy (if you know me, you know how I feel about <i>A Different World) </i>and I was hoping against all hope that we would find out that he was at most an adulterer that dabbled in recreational drugs--I mean, most of the celebrities we love fit that description, after all, so we could handle that--and that it would all go away. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unfortunately-for all involved personally and those of us watching from afar-it didn't end there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOICAzo7zOBzWpxPZuyVl7IlarbHwx8llutaMMnwShvWjDifDvpdd2RSPElyiPjw6yGCFaTbPw1ki6qqp3I8mkcBkhz0fc2k1XkzIJGFYbg6wJP5MnwXiBS4udeFNXRvLj_WTP5M8OXwI/s1600/bill-cosby-800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOICAzo7zOBzWpxPZuyVl7IlarbHwx8llutaMMnwShvWjDifDvpdd2RSPElyiPjw6yGCFaTbPw1ki6qqp3I8mkcBkhz0fc2k1XkzIJGFYbg6wJP5MnwXiBS4udeFNXRvLj_WTP5M8OXwI/s320/bill-cosby-800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I said <a href="https://www.facebook.com/brittani.mcneill/posts/10102148314976583" target="_blank">on Facebook</a> a while ago, </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"My view on the Bill Cosby situation: It's sad that people are so quick to believe these women's accusations with no real evidence. It's sad that people are so quick to dismiss these women's accusations with no real investigation."</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was my only commentary on the situation <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/12/bill-cosby-beverly-johnson-story?mbid=social_twitter" target="_blank">(outside of sharing the article written by Beverly Johnson)</a>, and I was referring to the public's knowledge when this first blew up, not to what had been presented in a courtroom. And for the most part, I still feel that way.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I go HARD for black people. HAARRDDD! EVERY DAY. Anybody who knows me knows that. And </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have no problem with people who want due process for Bill Cosby or who are suspicious of the system. We all are suspicious of the system if we have sense.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BUT, I have a HUGE problem with the arguments I'm seeing-especially from black men-about why he shouldn't be charged. That's not arguing that he should have due process. That's arguing that there should be no process.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's also a large number of white people-mostly conservatives-defending him. Their logic is ridiculous as well. Most centering around really nasty, sexist comments. and arguments about political correctness. (Basically what they say about everything.) And if you're agreeing with them that should automatically make you question your judgment.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So here's a quick run down of all the CRAZY that's making your arguments about Bill Cosby sound foolish:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">--Yes, there is history here. The justice system isn't fair when it comes to black men. But it ain't fair when it comes to black women either. Do y'all understand that black women are very likely to be the victims of an unreported rape? Did you know that a</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">pproximately 1 in 5 Black women in the U.S. experience rape at some point in their lives?</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> When you make misogynistic comments about rape and rape victims, WE LOSE. Because those attitudes go far beyond Bill Cosby.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">B</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">lack men lose too. Hyper-masculinity is stealing our boys' innocence AND their lives. Whether it's losing lives to gang violence or stereotypes and fear causing police to shoot unarmed men down in the streets. And think about all the black boys who are victims of sexual predators, who hide their abuse for years or don't speak up at all because they are afraid of being labeled as gay. Y'all, NOBODY wins when we protect predators, except predators. You're not protecting black people by protecting black predators-whether it's Bill Cosby or your Uncle Bill.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But then again...how can we expect some of y'all to question Bill Cosby when Uncle Bill was sitting at Christmas dinner? ..........</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54JxTZEYJDK1O6bmco6tWXEBRGK3rq9a_I5Vyrq1SbIEGfni4-C0uHhwYWuswDTTAhI-4erXtehs_BJ_AtcIzvjSZGNGI1OpRTrk6BGlDbvqxcWMr-knbW-FcRbM7Cq-2ekjpIv6gpDE/s1600/bill-cosby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54JxTZEYJDK1O6bmco6tWXEBRGK3rq9a_I5Vyrq1SbIEGfni4-C0uHhwYWuswDTTAhI-4erXtehs_BJ_AtcIzvjSZGNGI1OpRTrk6BGlDbvqxcWMr-knbW-FcRbM7Cq-2ekjpIv6gpDE/s320/bill-cosby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">DEAL WITH IT.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">--Yes, Woody Allen should be in jail. So should R. Kelly (though if you're wholeheartedly defending Bill, you might be defending Robert too). So should the cops that killed Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, John Crawford, and many others. So should half the folks in politics and on wall street. So should your cousin that ain't up to no good. That doesn't mean Bill Cosby shouldn't.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">--Charlie Sheen is irrelevant. Period.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">--This ain't a distraction. And when you keep arguing that about everything, you're saying we're not intelligent enough to deal with more than one issue, which simply isn't true. It might be for you. But I ain't distracted. I've been posting and reading about Tamir and many other things all day. Why can't you multitask? You don't have a problem keeping up with all the housewives and sports wives and everything that's happening in ShondaLand and on Empire at the same damn time. You can handle two conversations about real life matters.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">--Don't assume that because a lot of time has passed that these women are lying. And don't assume that the time lapse means they never spoke up. Some rape victims are dissuaded from pursuing their case, some pursued cases that were dropped, some may have been afraid to speak up. We all know that rape victims are abused all over again in the court system. Don't be a part of that. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDsLe9yjuMuC6CjI6z3E4I6I-I8hXynrDuaNWBEvS5GEZGnXVylsXcg5GpdSUsdFCYKiO9-2rSoFNRArfHNzt9YVMujLsSKrw0ujzvoAGRyrmY2ay6qS1uxWjO11T6kDShBhbJVFqEJs/s1600/holtzclaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDsLe9yjuMuC6CjI6z3E4I6I-I8hXynrDuaNWBEvS5GEZGnXVylsXcg5GpdSUsdFCYKiO9-2rSoFNRArfHNzt9YVMujLsSKrw0ujzvoAGRyrmY2ay6qS1uxWjO11T6kDShBhbJVFqEJs/s320/holtzclaw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We were just celebrating </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/10/us/oklahoma-daniel-holtzclaw-trial/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">the conviction of Daniel Hotlzclaw</a><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do you know why those women didn't come forward sooner-they didn't think anyone would believe them. There was an imbalance of POWER. That's important y'all. And once one went public, others felt more confident and safe. How can we champion women in one case and be so quick to disparage them in another? And remember, there were a LOT of people who championed Holtzclaw, and a lot of people who DIDN'T believe those women. Some of you are treating Cosby's accusers the same way.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">--Bill Cosby did not start preaching respectability because his son was killed. He started preaching respectability because that's what [many] people of his generation do. That's what they were taught. That's what they felt was necessary. And you know what-when you come from a generation in which the perception of your behavior could easily turn into a life or death situation, preaching about behavior comes partially from an attempt at self preservation. It also comes from a lack of understanding of systemic racism and oppression. But it didn't come from a hit on his son to keep him from standing up for us. He believed the stuff he said. And he's not the only one. And there are plenty of people that preach respectability and still believe they are fighting for us. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stop believing every meme you read.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">--Understand that Bill Cosby is not Cliff Huxtable. Bill Cosby wasn't the lovable TV dad we all wished lived in our homes. That's not him. GET THAT. These women aren't the only people who made accusations about his arrogance. That doesn't make him guilty. But folks, we have to see him outside of his most famous TV persona. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">--Nothing erases the good he's done. His work is brilliant. His contributions to American culture-especially black culture-is invaluable. They can take his name off of endowments or cut ties at universities or take honorary degrees or whatever. Millions have benefited from his work and contributions-both on television and in the real world. Thousands, maybe millions of black students have gone to college because of his work and financial contributions. He is a comedy legend. His television shows changed lives. That doesn't mean he is innocent. He is Bill y'all. Not Cliff. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_rZ0X8n6YL5ZLWleHaXUvLGpAnSWOBqQioUejO45XmH2H0noMw20MNS7fspxuklcONK8FTsDQ8uG9jkATev_3eHIh-X7Mt4JRdXio4_wxBGJO07tXyJJs5mJKUtx29d6NdU-YfA0Zss/s1600/clarieandcliff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_rZ0X8n6YL5ZLWleHaXUvLGpAnSWOBqQioUejO45XmH2H0noMw20MNS7fspxuklcONK8FTsDQ8uG9jkATev_3eHIh-X7Mt4JRdXio4_wxBGJO07tXyJJs5mJKUtx29d6NdU-YfA0Zss/s320/clarieandcliff.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We have celebrated the art of Nazi sympathizers and racists and other horrible people. <b>IF</b> he is guilty, we can recognize his greatness and entertain the idea that there is another part of him that is horrible. Because he's human. And humans are complex. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But these ignorant comments completely absolving him and condemning these women-so many women-has to STOP. We have too much to lose.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of y'all need to understand how patriarchy is intertwined with white supremacy. It's nothing to perpetrate or celebrate. I truly hope Bill gets due process. Even though I don't trust the process. But I can't just sit here and say he shouldn't have to deal with this. And you shouldn't either. It's HARD to watch. I would get no pleasure from watching him die in jail. But for those of you who are angry and blaming these women and spouting conspiracy theories...what if he did do it? To even ONE person? What if he did? Does time mean that goes away? Does a settlement mean they just wanted money (or does it mean he paid for silence)? Are you so blinded by the fantasy of what happened in that Brooklyn Heights brownstone that real world pain doesn't matter?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Listen, I'm not saying you have to hate Bill Cosby or even that you HAVE to believe all the accusations against him. This is a</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">n image that nobody who loved Heathcliff Huxtable EVER wanted to see! But again, the man in this picture is Bill. Not Cliff.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSu9wfZ2Cy01wojxbmyd3bux6if2MBMeUSHfnYwqgYxQ65YmVvAG3G2N68RsAwzpP3DW4UuXPm9tbgG2whA7yWlvmfWUSqQ2GeDnDwPVVVGgn8FRfiezSCIlRzQrq4zSY1iqrNgS1-2g/s1600/cosbymugshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSu9wfZ2Cy01wojxbmyd3bux6if2MBMeUSHfnYwqgYxQ65YmVvAG3G2N68RsAwzpP3DW4UuXPm9tbgG2whA7yWlvmfWUSqQ2GeDnDwPVVVGgn8FRfiezSCIlRzQrq4zSY1iqrNgS1-2g/s320/cosbymugshot.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And to be honest, I grieve for all that I loved about Bill AND Cliff. Looking at this picture brings heaviness to my heart. I stared at it for about 10 seconds and it brought tears to my eyes. And I don't even know this man. I'd be lying if I said that his legacy and his current physical frailness don't make this difficult. But this foolishness that's floating around has to stop. And we have to stop these conversation that deter victims from coming forward, particularly when they have to battle an abuser who has power. These women are old enough to be mothers and grandmothers. Many have not accepted money and are not asking for any. We at least owe it to them-to OURSELVES-to consider their stories.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whether it's Bill Cosby, or R. Kelly, or somebody you know--if there are predators among us, we can't protect them. No matter how much we love or admire them. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-13119261012840135282015-12-11T17:30:00.000-05:002015-12-11T18:03:26.545-05:00I love my people, but - about this misogyny ish...<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Black people I love y'all. I mean I LOVE y'all. I LOVE US. Unashamedly and without apology. I LOVE MY PEOPLE. So much so that the weight of that love almost feels physical. I have so much love for those who came before us, and those who live now, who fight, strive, create, contribute, shape, and conquer, in spite of very deliberate oppression.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>BUT...</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We HAVE to do better when it comes to dealing with patriarchy, misogyny and sexism--and all the hypocrisy, abuse and respectability that comes with these things--in our community.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Here are some VERY basic definitions:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Patriarchy</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>:</b> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Misogyny:</b> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Sexism:</b> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex</span></span></div>
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<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">We have to identify these things, call them out, and squash them. Black women are entirely too vulnerable and we need the protection of our community-men and women alike. We need to be afforded innocence as girls and support as women. We need to be given space to be free and grow and live and love--and even DRESS--as we see fit. We need to be cherished and understood and respected and LOVED.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">We are the BACKBONE of our people. We take up the slack that black men leave behind whether due to being incarcerated, disenfranchised, or killed due to systemic racism and white supremacy or simply due to selfishness, disrespect and immaturity. Whatever the case, we are always here. And we are THRIVING. We are pursuing degrees at a higher rate than ANY other group. But we're women, so of course we're not getting fair promotion or equal pay. Still, in spite of the individual and intertwined challenges we face as both black people and women, WE ARE HERE.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The way we as a people allow misogyny, patriarchy, and sexism to run rampant in our communities is akin to us hating our blackness and not seeing our worth as people. And giving in to those things to police our clothes, activities, friends, and our lives in general is not ok. When you unfairly criticize or disregard us because we don't fit a certain mold or type, you leave us vulnerable and open to a society that already stereotypes us and judges us harshly. (Not to mention, it's extremely hypocritical.) </span></span></div>
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<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">We don't have to be perfect people to deserve recognition and respect. We don't have to be perfect people to deserve to be seen outside of generalizations and stereotypes. We don't have to be perfect people to be allowed to make choices and live freely, and be respected even if those choices don't match up to some societal idea of what is good or right or classy or ladylike. We don't have to be perfect people to be worthy of treatment as human beings and respect as women. We have been taught to hate black women just as we have been taught to hate ourselves as black people. But we are not making progress in dealing with the former as we are making in dealing with the latter. And that has to CHANGE.</span></div>
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<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Challenge yourself black man, challenge yourself black women, to do better for and be better to US. We are all striving to be better as individuals. To grow and learn and build. But even NOW, in the absence of perfection, we deserve respect and protection. And black men-you are a huge part of that. Daddies and uncles and grandfathers and brothers and cousins--how girls and women see themselves in this male dominated society starts with YOU. Whether we view ourselves beyond the way our bodies are received is greatly influenced by whether YOU do. Whether we think we are strong, smart, and worthy is largely influenced by whether YOU do. DO BETTER. We deserve that.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-69359278798225133332015-11-09T16:00:00.000-05:002015-11-09T16:00:20.245-05:00It's a coffee cup...not the cup of salvation. (Starbucks doesn't hate Christmas.)<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't know if it's the Christian coffee houses and coffee hours or the churches with Starbucks inside, but for some reason, [some] Christians are feeling some kind of way about Starbucks having plain red cups for the holidays. The way folks are acting, you'd think Starbucks was handing out solo cups with communion wine. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Y'all do know that when Jesus said, "Ye shall drink indeed of my cup</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">," he wasn't talking about lattes right?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztSBuJTM3DkOnEZdExu7x2pparev6SzOywvL5SBF-KpZoQ2WEgaUfR1jaOW1Byt2ty2JjtWYlOC7GUcVfVRhzso3TmeD1j-PSgfyYMl-KBAQfoOcwxV2lXnUchd00wIgOwepHtE__pXY/s1600/Coffee+cups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztSBuJTM3DkOnEZdExu7x2pparev6SzOywvL5SBF-KpZoQ2WEgaUfR1jaOW1Byt2ty2JjtWYlOC7GUcVfVRhzso3TmeD1j-PSgfyYMl-KBAQfoOcwxV2lXnUchd00wIgOwepHtE__pXY/s320/Coffee+cups.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">People are actually upset because these cups don't have dogs sledding or snowmen or snowflakes. Cause apparently those things represent Jesus. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(And ain't nobody told me NOTHIN'! Me, black Santa, and black Jesus could have been rocking out a long time ago!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By the way...that's a real figurine... that you can get <a href="http://www.blackartdepot.com/products/african-american-santa-claus-worships-jesus-figurine?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_content=17089&utm_campaign=google-shopping&dfw_tracker=6830-578722209&gclid=CjwKEAiApYGyBRC-g_jIstuduV8SJABCEzhZ7yULHTg1ZJX9470Zfuox_RfYljy7qy7dkMHnEXrgmRoCinfw_wcB&variant=578722209" target="_blank">here</a>. You're welcome.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ok...so back to the UN-Christlike cups...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One woman said the absence of these designs </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/starbucks-red-cup-christmas-holiday-controversy_563f6e8fe4b0411d30715b15" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">"denies the hope of Jesus."</a><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Not the absence of love or compassion or common sense. The absence of snowmen denies the hope of Jesus. Think on these things...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No really...sit right here, in this <b>RED</b> chair, and think on these things...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;"><b>Philippians 4:8 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Y'all know Jesus wasn't born in the snow right?</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yes, this is real. We have two weeks before we reach THANKSGIVING and we're already arguing about Christmas. Christmas cups. Christmas cups that NEVER had "Christian" designs on them to begin with. (Aren't the holidays wonderful?)</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And this is being pushed by the same people who in a couple weeks will complain about generic winter displays (like dogs sledding and snowmen and snowflakes), try to start boycotts of Black Friday, and say that Christmas is too commercialized.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">...and forget that our traditions have pagan roots anyway... </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">**sips hot chocolate**</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">THOSE people are mad that their FIVE DOLLAR COFFEES aren't LESS simple... Should I bring the couch down here...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And simple was purposely what Starbucks was going for too. They said it was an attempt to embrace the "simplicity and quietness of the holiday season." You know... to remind us of what the season is about. Which if you're a Christian would mean...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMVrZVrc81h_48Wu_GjOoUynVVH-3LHQs9uNBTcwZ1v1HzRcZ-rNzpY8jMDymnbd8qFELWCTnlH86GQU3y5-R5jTAKUw-LaBkYEGHcO4rsOFeAqzL5z5FqZGW4fikKuJtUz9RXvxn6do/s1600/Jesusisthereasoncup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMVrZVrc81h_48Wu_GjOoUynVVH-3LHQs9uNBTcwZ1v1HzRcZ-rNzpY8jMDymnbd8qFELWCTnlH86GQU3y5-R5jTAKUw-LaBkYEGHcO4rsOFeAqzL5z5FqZGW4fikKuJtUz9RXvxn6do/s320/Jesusisthereasoncup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;"><b>(Not a Starbucks product)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You can buy that too. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">↑↑↑</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> And mugs. And anything else you want with JESUS on it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But those Christians said, "damn that. Give us our snowmen and snowflakes. THAT'S what the season is about."</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And you know why? Because this idea of Christian persecution is NECESSARY to keep the fear instilled in Conservative Christians. And the non-existent "war on Christmas" is a wonderful holiday tradition to keep that fear going. Can't let those warm, fuzzy, feelings that kick up when the weather gets chilly and the fires start to burn and the lights start twinkling make us think we should have peace on earth and goodwill to men. No no no...can't have that. We have to keep a battle going. Because it's a WAR!</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I must say that this does not represent all Christians. Hopefully not even the majority. Because if you can't tell, I think it's all quite ridiculous. And I'm sure Starbucks does too. I mean, it's not like they intended, or could have even anticipated, this kind of ridiculousness. But...do these people even know what company they're dealing with. Why would they be shocked at inclusive holiday imagery? This ain't Chick-Fil-A.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">I feel like I should reiterate the fact that Starbucks didn't remove Christian images from their cups; they were never there. I mean, it seems like common sense. But if common sense was common, Christmas coffee cups wouldn't be making national headlines. DISPOSABLE cups at that. You don't even keep them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Anyway...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here's the real tea on the coffee...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The end.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you were wondering...yes...I typed this whole blog in red just to be </span><strike style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">petty</strike><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> symbolic</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Happy Holidays! (That includes Christmas.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">B</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-88216146899463484492014-11-25T14:47:00.000-05:002014-11-25T14:47:32.458-05:00Why is Ferguson about race? <h4>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>When I started this blog I worried that I wouldn't be able to update it often because of my schedule. I wanted to talk about MANY things (hence the blog name), but as I thought, LIFE got in the way of regularly updating and promoting.</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>When writing a blog post, I like to put a little more thought and organization into it than I put into the often interesting and long Facebook discussions that I have with friends, in which I just pour out my thoughts as they come. But somebody asked me today to help them understand how things would be any different if different races were involved [in the altercation between Michael Brown and Darren Wilson]. I'll be honest...I thought the statement was a bit disingenuous, and it frustrated and even angered me. But I wanted to respond honestly and calmly, because I want people to be open to discussion. I want people to be open to asking questions that come from a genuine place. And I didn't want my assumptions about intent or my frustration to hinder that. So...I just want to share my response.</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>DISCLAIMER...</i></span></span></span><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The wording is conversational, because it's from a Facebook conversation, not how I would write a blog or an article. </i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I didn't include statistics, references, articles, etc. My thoughts might be a bit jumbled, not concise, and certainly some important things were left out. But I think this is INFORMATIVE and IMPORTANT enough to share even in that state. So I'm about to information dump on y'all the way Bob McCulloch did on that grand jury. And i</span></span></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: normal;">f you haven't already seen it, check out my previous post</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> <a href="http://brittanimcneill.blogspot.com/2014/09/black-boys-dont-scare-me.html" target="_blank">Black Boys Don't Scare Me</a>.</span></i></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why is this about race?</span></b> Well I hope you read the [previous] blog post. But beyond that. Black people are killed in encounters with police more than any other race in this country, and at a MUCH higher rate. Stereotypes, prejudice, fear, ignorance lead to these incidents, as well as a general disregard for black life. Policies like stop and frisk make it worse. Police militarization is certainly an issue, but it goes beyond that. Police in our country are not well trained, increasingly violent, and increasingly fearful. Being a police officer has always been a blue collar job...it doesn't require extensive education beyond general policing tactics. It's local so it doesn't require getting out of your comfort zone. And often, officers these days don't live in, understand, or even LIKE the communities they police. Many of them believe racist and prejudiced stereotypes and they are inclined to act based on their ignorance and fear. The most basic encounters with police end up being deadly for too many African American men. This is justified with the argument that they are engaging in criminal activity. But there are many problems with that argument. First, it's OFTEN not true. Many times you will see black people have encounters with police that end with ONE charge-resisting arrest. Now...if there is no other charge, then what were these people being arrested for in the first place? Secondly, it is a police officer's JOB to deal with criminals and/or bad behavior. That's the whole point of police. And thirdly, petty crimes, or even serious ones, don't justify murder. Police officers are often judge, jury, and executioner and it's not ok. The smallest offense or even the FEAR of offense is used as an excuse to kill black men. And that's a huge problem. These aren't just opinions. This is backed up by research and by numbers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now...one of the underlying issues here is how black men/boys are viewed by society (and thus by police officers). The way black boys are described, the way they are targeted, the way they are viewed is very different from their white counterparts. Black boys (kids and teens) are not seen as boys. 12 year old Tamir Rice, a small boy with a baby face, was repeatedly described as a young man. They are not seen as innocent, they are not seen as kids, they are not seen as juvenile unless it's in combination with the word delinquent. A friend of mine who is biracial and has a white boyfriend often talks about how different people would respond to him if he were black. He's over 6 feet tall and built like a line backer. White boys/men who look like this are called teddy bears, corn fed, meat and potatoes men. etc. It is seen as endearing and even cute. Especially in southern areas. People look at them and see big guys, football players, gentle giants, etc. Black boys who are built that way (and even those that arent: see Trayvon Martin, see Jordan Davis, see 12 year old Tamir Rice) are seen as menacing, dangerous, threatening. WE-black people-KNOW that's not most often the case. But the majority-white people-often see them that way. This was very evident in the Micheal Brown case. A major problem is that Officer Wilson was not forced to make a statement immediately. He was able to wait until his lawyers had information about all witness statements and evidence presented, to make a statement that "fit the evidence" that police had months to skew in his favor. But what's more, and worse, is the way he described Brown (who had been described by family and friends as a gentle giant). He likened him to the Incredible Hulk. He was allowed to frame his grand jury testimony just as he wanted to. (Another problem: the prosecutor didn't present this case, the defense did.) And he talked about Micheal Brown as if Michael was some superhuman creature, which is OFTEN the case when the media and white witnesses talk about black men. Mind you, Darren Wilson is NOT a small man. And he also had a baton and a taser to use if he really thought he was in harms way. If indeed Micheal Brown "lunged" at him, which goes against witness statements, because his hands according to all witnesses were visible and he was clearly unarmed, the use of force was gross at best, completely irresponsible and murderous at worse. This kind of language-making black men out to be threatening and menacing-is ALWAYS used to blame black men and boys for their own murders. Even when there is proof that they were unarmed and not engaging in criminal activity. Remember, when Darren Wilson first approached Micheal Brown, he had NO knowledge of the incident that happened at the store. And also remember that the store owner's account of what happened was different than the initial police/media accounts. And remember the justice department chastised the Ferguson police department for even releasing that information.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Black people are also not given the same freedoms as white people. John Crawford was standing in Walmart, in Ohio-an OPEN CARRY STATE-talking on the phone, looking at a toy gun that was SOLD AT THE STORE. He was ambushed by police and killed with no warning. There is VIDEO. Tamir Rice was playing with a toy gun in a park. Also in Ohio. A place where white people walk around with REAL guns. But see...the NRA isn't interested in gun rights for ALL people. The person who called 911 in the Tamir Rice situation said multiple times that the gun was likely fake. A friend of mine who is white called the police in her Colorado neighborhood just recently and gave a description that she described as very similar as the one given about Tamir Rice, about a group of white boys walking around with guns (at night) in her neighborhood. She was basically laughed at and told not to worry about it. The young man that shot up the Colorado Movie Theater-who had a REAL gun and used it to actually kill people-was apprehended alive. These black boys and men are being killed in cold blood for walking down the street. Trayvon Martin was walking home from the store. Jordan Davis was sitting in his car listening to music. Renisha McBride and Jonathan Ferrell were involved in car accidents and went to ask for help. Eric Garner was standing on the sidewalk. And even though he was involved in petty crime-selling loose cigarettes-it didn't justify the constant harassment from police or the chokehold that ultimately killed him. (This goes back to police understanding and getting to know their communities). Just this week...Akai Gurley. Read his story. This man was literally walking in a stairwell. NOTHING ELSE. An officer pulled the trigger because he was scared. Not of anything Akai had done. But simply scared of his surroundings. THIS is why the dangerous rhetoric on the likes of FOX News is unacceptable. Because a son, father, partner, friend is being buried simply because an officer was afraid of black people. White men react violently to police often and are usually subdued and taken in, especially when they are unarmed. Black people are OFTEN killed by police and citizens alike simply for being black. I could go on. Anyone who doesn't get it or denies it doesn't want to get it. And I can't believe that anyone who denies it values my life or that of any black person. And Hispanics face some of these issues as well. I think that's worth mentioning. Although the incidence rate and the long history is not the same.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These problems are rooted in the history of our country and the way things are framed now. Yes, black people kill each other. So do white people (at about the same rate). Yes there is crime in some minority and many poor communities. But what causes that? This idea that black people are just bad and bring this on ourselves is ignorant. And that's exactly what Rudy Giuliani pushed on the news just recently. That's even what some black people have been conditioned to believe. But people don't pay attention to the fact that there are folks working two jobs that still can barely make ends meet. People fight against a living wage but don't understand why people living in poverty resort to crime or why young people are attracted to crime. Cities/counties go out of their way to end busing policies that keep schools integrated-racially and economically-to ensure that preferential treatment isn't given to certain students, but blame poor people and minorities for the education gap. Schools are FAILING, arts programs cut, some of these parents went to failing schools and don't even know that they should or can fight for something different, but people blame poor people and minorities for their own plight. I could go on and on--corporate tax breaks, housing discrimination, education gap, low wages, flat out prejudice and racism, appropriation of culture and ideas. All the underlying issues that lead to the stereotypes that lead to the murders of innocent people. And people are still walking around saying it's not about race. It's most CERTAINLY about race.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Want to read more and see some numbers? Check out the article <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/08/police-shootings-michael-brown-ferguson-black-men" target="_blank">Exactly How Often Do Police Shoot Unarmed Black Men?</a> from <i>Mother Jones</i>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-24868657309923907562014-09-03T09:56:00.000-04:002014-09-03T09:56:56.888-04:00Black Boys Don't Scare Me<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>I saw two black teens outside my patio door.</b> Actually, my eight year old daughter Chloe saw them first. We were having a conversation and she stopped talking and started looking past me. I turned to look out while asking, "what do you see?" One of the boys was close enough that I believe he had a foot on the concrete patio. I turned around and when he noticed me he backed up. I think I startled him, as he didn't move i</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; display: inline; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">mmediately. But he started grinning as he backed away. They walked over to my neighbor's patio and did the same and then ran away laughing. This was in broad daylight. Not for one moment was I afraid. I think Chloe was startled, but not afraid. A smirk quickly appeared on her face as she realized what was happening.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 20px;">They didn't have weapons, they didn't try to get at the door, they didn't yell or scream, nor did they move in complete silence. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">I had never seen them before, but I recognized their faces. They were the same faces that were mischievous, immature, and fun loving when I was in middle and high school. The same faces I saw knock on doors and run, just for fun. (The same faces I joined in doing so once. I never knocked, I remained closer to the street, too afraid I wasn't fast enough to get away. <i><b>And while we were afraid that we'd get caught, we were NEVER afraid that we'd get shot.</b></i>)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">No, they weren't casing the neighborhood. There were still a couple days left before the start of the school year and they were out fooling around and being kids. I didn't think about finding a weapon or hiding or even calling the cops. I did throw on some shoes and go outside, but they were long gone.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">I wanted to give them a warning-not to leave my family alone, but to be careful. I wanted to tell them that black boys aren't allowed to play pranks, be childish, or even be NEAR other people's property. I wanted to tell them that in America, a person's perception of fear has more value than a black boy's life. That in America, a person's right to protect their property is more important than a black boy's right to live.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ben Sargent-Still Two Americas</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>"Don't Seem Scary..."</b></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">I can only hope that some other neighbor warns them before someone shoots at them. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">I can only hope that their parents didn't neglect to have a conversation with them that every black parent in America has to have with his or her sons. I can only hope that after making eye contact with Chloe they had enough adventure for the day and went home. Without walking in the street. Without reaching for a cell phone. Without looking at anybody for too long. Without lingering in any place for too long. And certainly without committing any petty crime. Without being human-which in America, combined with their brown skin, is what causes them to be deemed inherently threatening, and makes them at risk of being killed at any time and then blamed for their own murders.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">I'm keeping an eye out for them. Hoping they'll come back around. Somebody needs to warn them about this country they live in.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><b>I'm not afraid OF them. I'm afraid FOR them.</b></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511659225122072655.post-39060180208778500622014-08-26T16:15:00.000-04:002014-08-26T16:15:06.042-04:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY [AND HAPPY BLOGGING] TO ME!!!<h3>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">I'M HEEERRRREEE!!!!!</b></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So this blog has been a LONG time coming. I mean a
LOOONNGG time coming. I’ve been thinking about this for years</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">—</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and people have been suggesting it for years</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">—</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and it’s really been on my mind for the last few
months. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Recently, the biggest thing that was holding me back was finding a
good name and a focus. I know, the naming part seems like a lame reason, but I'm a big picture kind of girl. [That can be a hindrance</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">—</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">sometimes you just need to take the first step!] My mind got wrapped around things like theme and audience. I hadn't written one post or even decided if I wanted to commit to this seriously, and I was already thinking about branding. lol Then there's all the formatting stuff! Not my forte!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But finally, one night, I sat down and I Googled blog
names. I read a little advice, I Googled different types of blogs, I searched names I was thinking of, I wrote down words and combinations of words that described my interests and personality, I tried so hard
to think of something clever and pretty and cool and witty. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And I couldn’t.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So
I kept going. I made use of a thesaurus and a literary
technique</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">—</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">alliteration</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">—</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and this is what I came up: Musings, Matters, Melodies. I don't know if it's clever or pretty or cool or witty. But I think it describes me perfectly. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But EVEN THEN...I didn’t start
the blog! Lol </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This post has been written in three
or four different sittings over many months! When I told people I was thinking about it or I was trying...I really was! Well...sort of! </span><span style="background-color: #e9e9e9; color: #222222; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 23px; text-align: center;">☺</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My biggest fear was having a name
that was too specific or too general. I’m still a little worried about the
latter, but the more I read it the more I like it, and the more I think it
really sums up what I’ll be doing here. [But
no guarantees that it won’t change.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway, since I've been pouring out my thoughts to my Facebook friends for years, they've been pushing this. Recently my friend started a hashtag — #whereisthebook. All my friends started responding to everything I wrote with that hash tag. (Ol' bandwagon jumpers.) And yesterday, another friend, sent me this...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QoWEurdzCi9MArltnQ60JhOUuMD5utFUxALjo_0v_1MTa4uldWoDkagEICAYuwR-YfLsePRBPTX_dyTW9tsuuQBWziZMR4Pr357PgUUoFl9yGtPqwYnMz-FOcvnpLnogEau2Jtl5tRo/s1600/15211_10152405494463558_2678405255072084506_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QoWEurdzCi9MArltnQ60JhOUuMD5utFUxALjo_0v_1MTa4uldWoDkagEICAYuwR-YfLsePRBPTX_dyTW9tsuuQBWziZMR4Pr357PgUUoFl9yGtPqwYnMz-FOcvnpLnogEau2Jtl5tRo/s1600/15211_10152405494463558_2678405255072084506_n.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Well...I don't know about the book. But here I am, offering my first post! And it’s my
birthday! </span><b><span style="color: magenta;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">With all the symbolism that birthdays bring,
why not celebrate the beginning of this writing journey as well?! This is sort of a gift</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">—</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">to myself, and hopefully to the world. I hope that this space will foster great dialogue and education, like the
atmosphere on my Facebook page. So I want to say, EVERYBODY is welcome here…BUT…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>You can’t bring just anything.</b> Leave your hate, bigotry,
ignorance, foolishness, intolerance, arrogance, and general stupidity in some
other space. I’m not here for that. BRING your LOVE, perspective, insight, questions,
comments, and humor!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This post is long enough, and most of the people that
will read it in the near future probably already know me—so I’ll introduce
myself in depth in another post! I hope you guys will stay with me on this
journey. I hope you will share my thoughts, and share your thoughts. I won’t
always make it heavy, but I won’t shy away from serious issues either! We can
change the world.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11088665318933352916noreply@blogger.com0