The NAACP "buries" the "N" Word.
The NAACP is holding actual burial ceremonies to finally put the "N" word to rest eternally. I could not be happier and in more agreement. This word has done nothing but divide us as a nation. Think about it...when a white person uses the word, it is a tremendous insult to the recipient (remember Michael Richards' rant?). If a black person uses the word, some argue that it isn't offensive. That could possibly be the case, but its use creates further division among groups and many people have used this as a crutch to continue using it.
I applaud the NAACP and individuals such as Master P (who has vowed to no longer use the word in any of his future rap lyrics) and Paul Mooney (the comedian...who will no longer use the word in any of his acts) who are strong enough to stand up and say "enough is enough" and "this word is no longer acceptable."
I would suggest that there are many other words that should follow suit. Please understand that I, in no way, believe all of these words are created equally...some may offend more than others. My point is that these words whittle someone down to a simple adjective. Again, let's go back to Don Imus...he described the ladies on the basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" when they were scholars, sisters, friends, leaders, and role models. Here are a few words to start with...consider making a pledge to never use them again and let's see if society can change...
Ugly
Stupid
Fatty
Chink
Mic
Kike
Spic
Ho (unless you are Santa)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- XM Satellite Radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony apologized Friday for airing a homeless man's crude comments that he'd like to have sex with Condoleezza Rice, Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth.
The remarks were made on their show Wednesday by a guest the duo call Homeless Charlie. As the name of each woman came up, the guest said he would like to have sex with her — using language not fit for print.
Opie and Anthony laughed as they imagined Rice's "horror" while describing a violent sexual encounter in which Rice is punched in the face.
Washington-based XM condemned the remarks.
This article disturbed me even more than what Don Imus had done. Please...do not think I am condoning anything Don Imus did, however, to laugh while describing a violent sexual encounter in which a woman (and in this case, the Secretary of State!) is punched in the face, is deplorable and has no place on radio.
Do the DJs think about all of the teenage boys that listen to their station and now think it is OK to have violent sex with a woman in such a manner?
I have not heard about the aftermath of this situation just yet, but I want the public to realize that the more we hide behind "comedy" to perpetuate the degradation of women and the stereotyping of people of color, we can never progress as a society in a positive way.
WASHINGTON -- XM Satellite Radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony apologized Friday for airing a homeless man's crude comments that he'd like to have sex with Condoleezza Rice, Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth.
The remarks were made on their show Wednesday by a guest the duo call Homeless Charlie. As the name of each woman came up, the guest said he would like to have sex with her — using language not fit for print.
Opie and Anthony laughed as they imagined Rice's "horror" while describing a violent sexual encounter in which Rice is punched in the face.
Washington-based XM condemned the remarks.
This article disturbed me even more than what Don Imus had done. Please...do not think I am condoning anything Don Imus did, however, to laugh while describing a violent sexual encounter in which a woman (and in this case, the Secretary of State!) is punched in the face, is deplorable and has no place on radio.
Do the DJs think about all of the teenage boys that listen to their station and now think it is OK to have violent sex with a woman in such a manner?
I have not heard about the aftermath of this situation just yet, but I want the public to realize that the more we hide behind "comedy" to perpetuate the degradation of women and the stereotyping of people of color, we can never progress as a society in a positive way.
Russell Simmons vs. Wynton Marsalis
I was watching the Today Show yesterday morning and saw an interview with both Russell Simmons and Wynton Marsalis. The interview was to follow up from the Don Imus controversy. Russell Simmons had come out after this happened to call for the hip-hop community to rethink their lyrics as many are degrading to women. I applauded Russell's actions because he is quite influential in many circles, not just the hip-hop community.
Unfortunately, in this interview, Russell went back on his stance and told Al Roker that he feels that these words are "poetry" and that the artists should be allowed to say whatever they want. Wynton Marsalis decided to jump into the fray and completely disagree (yeah Wynton!). We cannot continue to have a double standard in this world. Though the "n" word may mean something very different to an African American when said by another African American as opposed to a caucasian, the truth is that 70% of all rap is purchased by young white males. We are perpetuating the use of these words as common language and trust me..."ho" should not be used to describe anything but a garden implement.
I am all about free speech, but I am also all about being respectful of people and not labeling them or reducing them to a single adjective. We are complex people with many dimensions. Do not describe me as a "ho", a "bitch", or a "broad". I can only hope that more people see things the way Mr. Marsalis is seeing them...in a very respectful world!
Unfortunately, in this interview, Russell went back on his stance and told Al Roker that he feels that these words are "poetry" and that the artists should be allowed to say whatever they want. Wynton Marsalis decided to jump into the fray and completely disagree (yeah Wynton!). We cannot continue to have a double standard in this world. Though the "n" word may mean something very different to an African American when said by another African American as opposed to a caucasian, the truth is that 70% of all rap is purchased by young white males. We are perpetuating the use of these words as common language and trust me..."ho" should not be used to describe anything but a garden implement.
I am all about free speech, but I am also all about being respectful of people and not labeling them or reducing them to a single adjective. We are complex people with many dimensions. Do not describe me as a "ho", a "bitch", or a "broad". I can only hope that more people see things the way Mr. Marsalis is seeing them...in a very respectful world!
10 Years Ago, 'Ellen' Opened Doors but not Enough Closets
It was 10 years ago that Ellen DeGeneres's character on the show "Ellen" came out to the world as a lesbian. The Oxygen network just celebrated this episode's anniversary by airing a six-hour "Ellen" marathon, capped by the above referenced episode.
Now that we can look at where we are 10 years later, have we come that far? Sure..."Will and Grace" has come and gone; "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" is just another show now; we do have some prominent gay characters on TV; "The L Word" is in its fourth season.
But there still are a tremendous number of comedies out there that still try to get chuckles out of characters who fear they might be gay or perceived as gay, only to be relieved when, thank goodness, the heterosexual truth is confirmed. Why is it still socially acceptable to view homosexuality as this "horrible affliction" that one is just so relieved that they don't have?
Now that we can look at where we are 10 years later, have we come that far? Sure..."Will and Grace" has come and gone; "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" is just another show now; we do have some prominent gay characters on TV; "The L Word" is in its fourth season.
But there still are a tremendous number of comedies out there that still try to get chuckles out of characters who fear they might be gay or perceived as gay, only to be relieved when, thank goodness, the heterosexual truth is confirmed. Why is it still socially acceptable to view homosexuality as this "horrible affliction" that one is just so relieved that they don't have?
Shame on Delta Zeta Sorority
I was appalled when I read about Delta Zeta sorority at DePauw University in Indiana. For those of you not familiar, Delta Zeta is a sorority that was starting to have issues with a decline in membership. Folks from the national Delta Zeta organization visited on several occasions and discussed how the sorority could be more marketable and overcome an image that they perceived as "unfashionable and unpopular".
The first thing the national organization did was hold a two-day workshop for members on how to look on campus and how to present themselves. They emphasized that it was all about the chapter's image, not the individual's image, but members didn't feel that was the message at all. At the second visit, two alumni came in and gave members makeovers and showed them how to dress and wear makeup. They told members that there was no reason they should be out on campus without makeup! Michelle Stacey, one of the members, describes in her interview with Cosmopolitan that it was at this point when the girls subjected to this started to feel as if these sessions were personal and that this treatment started to eat away at their self-esteem.
On December 2, 2006, a letter went out to 23 sorority sisters--out of a total of 35 in the house--telling them they were out of the sorority. The official reason given was that the sisters hadn't helped enough with recruitement, but everyone could tell that the girls asked to leave had something in common, they didn't fit the "image" Delta Zeta had been trying to project.
This experience caused many girls to withdraw from classes. Michelle stated she was diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety. Others took incomplete grades in courses. One member had to postpone her graduation because she needed to take time off during her last semester to deal with the stress of this situation.
Not only did this organization shatter the self-esteem of many of these girls, they negatively affected their college experiences, their careers, and their lives.
Let's go back to what Dr. King said all those years ago...should we not judge based on the content of one's character? Having been judged based on outward looks for so many years, I can speak to the self-esteem erosion, the negative effect on one's life, career, and overall life experience. We continue to place so much emphasis on superficial factors that have nothing to do with making society better. Couldn't Delta Zeta have looked at their falling recruiting numbers and said..."we will build a better image by being the sorority filled with the most intelligent, high-achieving women on campus" vs. trying to create some Barbie Doll image by teaching members how to dress and wear makeup?
Sororities should be there to help women progress in society...not push them back.
The first thing the national organization did was hold a two-day workshop for members on how to look on campus and how to present themselves. They emphasized that it was all about the chapter's image, not the individual's image, but members didn't feel that was the message at all. At the second visit, two alumni came in and gave members makeovers and showed them how to dress and wear makeup. They told members that there was no reason they should be out on campus without makeup! Michelle Stacey, one of the members, describes in her interview with Cosmopolitan that it was at this point when the girls subjected to this started to feel as if these sessions were personal and that this treatment started to eat away at their self-esteem.
On December 2, 2006, a letter went out to 23 sorority sisters--out of a total of 35 in the house--telling them they were out of the sorority. The official reason given was that the sisters hadn't helped enough with recruitement, but everyone could tell that the girls asked to leave had something in common, they didn't fit the "image" Delta Zeta had been trying to project.
This experience caused many girls to withdraw from classes. Michelle stated she was diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety. Others took incomplete grades in courses. One member had to postpone her graduation because she needed to take time off during her last semester to deal with the stress of this situation.
Not only did this organization shatter the self-esteem of many of these girls, they negatively affected their college experiences, their careers, and their lives.
Let's go back to what Dr. King said all those years ago...should we not judge based on the content of one's character? Having been judged based on outward looks for so many years, I can speak to the self-esteem erosion, the negative effect on one's life, career, and overall life experience. We continue to place so much emphasis on superficial factors that have nothing to do with making society better. Couldn't Delta Zeta have looked at their falling recruiting numbers and said..."we will build a better image by being the sorority filled with the most intelligent, high-achieving women on campus" vs. trying to create some Barbie Doll image by teaching members how to dress and wear makeup?
Sororities should be there to help women progress in society...not push them back.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Progress in the Acceptance of Gays?
In reviewing some local news, I came across this article...
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/trends/6714431.html
The article has revealed that 72% of heterosexual adults say that they would not change their opinions about their "favorite" athletes if they found out the athlete was gay. I am encouraged by this progress.
This sounds quite simple, but at the end of the day, we should base our decisions on the person's ability and athletic prowess, not his or her sexual orientation.
Though I am encouraged by this news...we still have some work to do.
Jackie
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/trends/6714431.html
The article has revealed that 72% of heterosexual adults say that they would not change their opinions about their "favorite" athletes if they found out the athlete was gay. I am encouraged by this progress.
This sounds quite simple, but at the end of the day, we should base our decisions on the person's ability and athletic prowess, not his or her sexual orientation.
Though I am encouraged by this news...we still have some work to do.
Jackie
Barack Obama
Why the controversy over Barack Obama? Again, I am amazed at the things being said about this man. He, of course, was in the center of controversy when Joe Biden called him a "mainstream" candidate who is articulate enough to get the Democratic nomination. Yet, on the flip side, he is called "not black enough" by the African-American community because Obama is biracial.
Why don't we just make our decision about whether or not we will vote for the man based on the issues and his positions? I urge you to go to his website http://www.BarackObama.com and jugde for yourself.
Jackie
Why don't we just make our decision about whether or not we will vote for the man based on the issues and his positions? I urge you to go to his website http://www.BarackObama.com and jugde for yourself.
Jackie
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