JUST (DON’T) DO IT
Was reading an comment online for a co-worker’s recent column on Democrats. In a nutshell, the column details that the Democrats ain’t got it and probably will never have it again. In case you are wondering what “it” is, check out the article because I do not want to give poor summarization of my colleague’s writings: Hello, any Democrats out there? However, the comments regarding the column gave me serious cause to pause. The commentator states that they do not like any of the candidates for the Georgia Gubernatorial race. So, they will put the late Coretta Scott King as a write-in. Hmm…
“What an idiot,” I thought, laughing. Yet, I, too, have to admit that I am not at all happy with any of the candidates. Proudly, Unaffiliated, I am (since 1995). Also, very unsure of who to vote for this time around. There has been a minimal amount of mud-slinging and some serious backtracking on previous “firm beliefs.” And although every voter will never truly be 100% pleased with whom they pick on Election Day, I am still hurt by the results of the last major election in November 2004.
I was literally sick for at least two days afterwards. It was like my heart had been broken by an infinite amount of betrayal or deceit, and consequently caused immeasurable pain that I could feel, but could not see or actually touch. This hurt was not caused by love for anybody or anything. My hopes and dreams had been placed in a system—democracy—and I was more disappointed than I had ever been in my life. It was worse than finding out that there is no Santa Claus. I was not the only one, either; as I talked to fellow voters, there were others who expressed that they, too, felt cheated, or a lack of validation and as if they vote did not count.
As I pondered over my emotional and spiritual ill state of being in November 2004, the thought of writing in Mrs. King’s name in the spot next to Governor became ever so tempting. Tempting; interesting word. It is another word for attractive, or alluring. Fascinating; exciting. Not boring.
But after more time to reflect, and watching a few African-American icons on television this weekend, a word comes to mind that stops me cold: responsible. My ancestors paid for my right to vote with their blood, sweat, and some even their lives. I now have, “it.” And the “it” here simply means the right to vote. Although America’s leaders are shady and downright scandalous, that does not excuse me from doing the right thing. I must act responsibly with my vote, even if afterwards, I feel it did not count. Maybe one day I will feel that it did. Until then, I must exercise my right, but not do so recklessly or carelessly. I will treat my vote as if it were a piece of inheritance that I will hand down to my children, and that they will give to their children and so on. Axe (*pronounced Ah-shay).
07 July 2006
01 July 2006
COCK-A-DOODLE DOO?
At this point, I, along with a lot of other sane people, have grown tired of the whole Star Jones-Reynolds v. ABC & Barbara Walters thing. Still, the situation gives me cause to pause.
Let's re-view. Star, super accomplished attorney, joined daytime talk show, The View, in 1996. Had heard a thing or two about her; wasn't crazy about her opinions on O.J., Mike Tyson, or the fact that she successfully had a 13-year-old convicted of murder as an adult. The show is the brain-child of news guru and celebrity in her own right, Barbara Walters. Star was the only African-American co-host and a bit overweight at the time. Nevertheless, she was articulate, did an outstanding job, and always for the most part remained true to her people.
As her career blossomed (guest roles on television and gracing red carpets across the nation), Star began to gain more weight. Soon, she was obese. People poked fun at her (comedian and radio co-host J. Anthony Brown was the leader of the pack); she was having health issues. Star decided to do something about it. What that something was, she will not tell.
Simultaneous with her serious weight loss, the 40-something North Carolina native found love with Al Reynolds, an investment banker; Star was ecstatic. And who could blame her for being so damn happy? The stats for black women finding available black men, especially ones of her status—money, education, job, are extremely bleak. Hell, even Halle Berry has a hard time keeping a man, having married and divorced twice.
As Star continued to peel off the pounds, the love between she and Al blow-up-chu-waited; a deaf person could hear the potential nuptial bells ringing. During half-time at the 2004 NBA All-Star game, Sir Reynolds pops the question in front of millions of people. A November date was quickly set and the preparation began. It was a wedding fit for a queen; and that is what some folks were calling her: a queen bitch. Bridezilla. She was getting freebies, endorsements, “corporate sponsors,” etc., by the truckload and loving it. She blew the off the complaints about “using what she had, to get what she wanted,” and continued to brag about her fairy tale wedding.
Fast forward to June 27, 2006. Star announces that she is leaving the show in mid-July because she is about to be fired. Barbara Walters is unmistakably pissed. The next day, The View airs with Star visibly missing from the opening credits and she does not enter, stage left, with the other co-hosts. Walters stated that Star blindsided her and the other hosts the day before. Stupposedly, the plan, accorinding to Walters, was for Star to find another another job, and then announce her depature so that Star could "leave with dignity.” Translation: so we (ABC) would not look like the bad guys; oops, too late. Walters ended with, “Regrettably, Star will no longer be on this program.”
According to Walters and ABC, research showed that people were turned off by Star’s glitzy wedding. What people? Did they ask me? Or my cousin Maurice and them? Let’s be real, it was white people who were upset that this sister was living the life that some of them will never be able to afford.
Valuable lessons for folks here:
1. Never, ever, ever brag about what you have. Ever. If Star had kept her mouth shut, there would have been nothing to “turn people off.”
2. Never quit. If fired, you can collect unemployment. Besides, there is no shame in being fired. At an NABJ Short Course once, one of the media professionals advised that if you are good at what you do, you can still be fired. That is no reflection on you personally, or your abilities; just poor judgment on the part of your employer.
3. Keep your private life private. It does not matter how much other folk share; what goes on in your house stays in your house (with the exception of a few close relatives).
4. ABC giving Star the boot proves that black folk have got to get it together and keep their own shop (BET does not count; their programming is ghetto and ignorant. Plus they did Tavis the same way).
Question regarding the Bottom Line: Can Mrs. Jones-Reynolds' termination be likened to a case of “chickens coming home to roost”?
Still, I wish her the best and have no doubt she will land on her feet.
Axe.
Currently Listening To: David Sandborn, TimeAgain
Mood: Pleasantly Pleased
At this point, I, along with a lot of other sane people, have grown tired of the whole Star Jones-Reynolds v. ABC & Barbara Walters thing. Still, the situation gives me cause to pause.
Let's re-view. Star, super accomplished attorney, joined daytime talk show, The View, in 1996. Had heard a thing or two about her; wasn't crazy about her opinions on O.J., Mike Tyson, or the fact that she successfully had a 13-year-old convicted of murder as an adult. The show is the brain-child of news guru and celebrity in her own right, Barbara Walters. Star was the only African-American co-host and a bit overweight at the time. Nevertheless, she was articulate, did an outstanding job, and always for the most part remained true to her people.
As her career blossomed (guest roles on television and gracing red carpets across the nation), Star began to gain more weight. Soon, she was obese. People poked fun at her (comedian and radio co-host J. Anthony Brown was the leader of the pack); she was having health issues. Star decided to do something about it. What that something was, she will not tell.
Simultaneous with her serious weight loss, the 40-something North Carolina native found love with Al Reynolds, an investment banker; Star was ecstatic. And who could blame her for being so damn happy? The stats for black women finding available black men, especially ones of her status—money, education, job, are extremely bleak. Hell, even Halle Berry has a hard time keeping a man, having married and divorced twice.
As Star continued to peel off the pounds, the love between she and Al blow-up-chu-waited; a deaf person could hear the potential nuptial bells ringing. During half-time at the 2004 NBA All-Star game, Sir Reynolds pops the question in front of millions of people. A November date was quickly set and the preparation began. It was a wedding fit for a queen; and that is what some folks were calling her: a queen bitch. Bridezilla. She was getting freebies, endorsements, “corporate sponsors,” etc., by the truckload and loving it. She blew the off the complaints about “using what she had, to get what she wanted,” and continued to brag about her fairy tale wedding.
Fast forward to June 27, 2006. Star announces that she is leaving the show in mid-July because she is about to be fired. Barbara Walters is unmistakably pissed. The next day, The View airs with Star visibly missing from the opening credits and she does not enter, stage left, with the other co-hosts. Walters stated that Star blindsided her and the other hosts the day before. Stupposedly, the plan, accorinding to Walters, was for Star to find another another job, and then announce her depature so that Star could "leave with dignity.” Translation: so we (ABC) would not look like the bad guys; oops, too late. Walters ended with, “Regrettably, Star will no longer be on this program.”
According to Walters and ABC, research showed that people were turned off by Star’s glitzy wedding. What people? Did they ask me? Or my cousin Maurice and them? Let’s be real, it was white people who were upset that this sister was living the life that some of them will never be able to afford.
Valuable lessons for folks here:
1. Never, ever, ever brag about what you have. Ever. If Star had kept her mouth shut, there would have been nothing to “turn people off.”
2. Never quit. If fired, you can collect unemployment. Besides, there is no shame in being fired. At an NABJ Short Course once, one of the media professionals advised that if you are good at what you do, you can still be fired. That is no reflection on you personally, or your abilities; just poor judgment on the part of your employer.
3. Keep your private life private. It does not matter how much other folk share; what goes on in your house stays in your house (with the exception of a few close relatives).
4. ABC giving Star the boot proves that black folk have got to get it together and keep their own shop (BET does not count; their programming is ghetto and ignorant. Plus they did Tavis the same way).
Question regarding the Bottom Line: Can Mrs. Jones-Reynolds' termination be likened to a case of “chickens coming home to roost”?
Still, I wish her the best and have no doubt she will land on her feet.
Axe.
Currently Listening To: David Sandborn, TimeAgain
Mood: Pleasantly Pleased
TALE OF TWO STATES
Often heard it said that there are two Georgias: Atlanta and the rest of Georgia. Never really gave this much credence. Still the recent political climate and the fact that I am surrounded by political talk on a daily basis gave me cause to pause, figuratively, not literally, during a trip from Atlanta to Savannah.
On the three hour drive down Interstate 16, I noticed how bleak and desolate some places looked. There were a few places that looked as if there had once been corn or wheat fields, but they were now barren; pretty much they looked abandoned. It was creepy.
Once in Savannah, there were quite a few campaign posters and billboards. Darryl Hicks, black, and Hecht, white, were well represented in the poorer neighborhoods, near the beach and along Liberty St. Where were the signs for the others? Are these two candidates the only ones who care about the working class people struggling "to make a dollar out of fifteen cents?" One might say that I was in looking in all the wrong places; hell, I was in vacation, I wasn’t really looking anyway.
I continued to look for signs of proof that Georgia is "one state 'under a groove' and walked around downtown Savannah for a while, almost four hours. The small shops, cafes and boutiques were quite appealing; I kept thinking I would love to live there.
Still, I did not see what is so common in Atlanta: white-collar Blacks. Almost every brown person I came in contact with had on a uniform of some sort. No suit & tie, or neat Donna Karen outfit. Mostly all were domesticates or in some type of civil service position that is clearly non-management or requires physical labor.
I cannot confirm or deny if there are “two Georgias.” However, I do know what I saw. And it was very separate and not equal.
Often heard it said that there are two Georgias: Atlanta and the rest of Georgia. Never really gave this much credence. Still the recent political climate and the fact that I am surrounded by political talk on a daily basis gave me cause to pause, figuratively, not literally, during a trip from Atlanta to Savannah.
On the three hour drive down Interstate 16, I noticed how bleak and desolate some places looked. There were a few places that looked as if there had once been corn or wheat fields, but they were now barren; pretty much they looked abandoned. It was creepy.
Once in Savannah, there were quite a few campaign posters and billboards. Darryl Hicks, black, and Hecht, white, were well represented in the poorer neighborhoods, near the beach and along Liberty St. Where were the signs for the others? Are these two candidates the only ones who care about the working class people struggling "to make a dollar out of fifteen cents?" One might say that I was in looking in all the wrong places; hell, I was in vacation, I wasn’t really looking anyway.
I continued to look for signs of proof that Georgia is "one state 'under a groove' and walked around downtown Savannah for a while, almost four hours. The small shops, cafes and boutiques were quite appealing; I kept thinking I would love to live there.
Still, I did not see what is so common in Atlanta: white-collar Blacks. Almost every brown person I came in contact with had on a uniform of some sort. No suit & tie, or neat Donna Karen outfit. Mostly all were domesticates or in some type of civil service position that is clearly non-management or requires physical labor.
I cannot confirm or deny if there are “two Georgias.” However, I do know what I saw. And it was very separate and not equal.
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