Neighborly No-No...?

Reading an article by a friend recently that blew my mind. Won’t give away all the details, but you can check it out for your self (Walking While Black). Basically, a young man in Atlanta of African-American background was arrested for being in a known drug area. The young gentleman was walking from his house to a relative's house and stopped to give a light to someone sitting on the porch of an abandoned house that had been deemed a “known area where drug activity occurs.” Although he lives in the area, how in the hell was this young man supposed to know this? Additionally, was he supposed to know about this law?

Obviously, there are no signs out indicating what goes on here. And even if there were rumors or urban legend of what occurred in the house, is it a crime to give someone a light if they ask for it? What if instead of requesting a light, the guy on the porch passed out suddenly as the young man was walking by and needed medical attention? And, what about the mailman? Does he get a citation for delivering mail there? I know the house is abandoned, but work with me here...

I don’t smoke; but if I did, and someone asked me for a light, I would oblige. Moreover, I try to be neighborly in any way that I can. I try to speak when passing people on the street if we make eye contact, or greet those who may be standing in doorways, waiting at a bus stop, or such, as I stroll past. True, this is something that folks only did back in the day. But I go the extra mile when I can. It is not easy, either. Especially since there are no neighborhoods anymore; just subdivisions—this word truly makes my soul cringe because we have become a sub-divided nation, no longer trying to live as one.

No good deed goes unpunished. This young man honored the request of a fellow human and is now paying the price (the outcome is still pending). Still, it makes me think twice about being helpful, friendly or even the least bit human to my fellow man.

Axe.


Currently Listening To: Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler) by Marvin Gaye, Wade In The Water by Ramsey Lewis

HOW LONG…?

…Is too long to wait for someone? Have to admit up front that I am sort of hooked on the CW’s show, “The Game.” Not because it has suddenly become entertaining or enlightening; just less ghetto fabulous and the plots are slightly more interesting.

I was multi-tasking last night while watching when Tia Mowry’s character, Melanie, asks her live-in boyfriend Derwin to wait for her to finish medical school before they get married. Now, I am not sure, but I could have sworn she said, “Five years.” Damn, that’s a long time. Obviously, Derwin is pissed. Beyond the fact that he has proposed to her on television in front of millions of people, he is ready to settle down NOW. Of course, this is the world of make believe and these two will either find a way to compromise or go their separate ways.

But the fictional scenario raised a few questions that actually would apply to us in the real world. If you meet someone who you feel is your one true soul mate, but you don’t quite have it together, what is a reasonable amount of time to ask them to wait for you while you pursue your dreams? Is it even justifiable to ask, especially if the other person is very close to or has in fact achieved their goal?

Axe.

Currently Listening To: Love Will Conquer All by Lionel Richie

POTENTIAL, PERCEPTION, AND WHAT THE HELL…?

I was watching the television sitcom, “The Game” tonight. I am embarrassed that I even watch, or that I am admitting that I watch. From the start, I thought this new sitcom, which surprisingly was not cut when the WB bought UPN, based on the lives of a fictional football team and their families, was booty. And that’s booty as in stank, nasty and just wrong. The talents of Wendy Rachel Robinson (“The Steve Harvey Show,” “Ringmaster”) and Tia Mowry (“Sister, Sister”) are being wasted on poorly-written yet half way decent plots. The supporting cast isn't half bad, but still, these sisters deserve more. And so does the show itself. I especially find it deplorable that Robinson’s character is depicted as a ghetto mama, “taking care of her ‘little boy.’”

The perception here is that no matter how ignorant or silly we, particularly Black women, are, we will “get ‘er done,” when it comes to professional sports contracts because there is money (big-time money) involved. This show, and its perceptions makes us looks worse than buffoons.

I challenge the networks or powers-that-be in Hollywood to come up with an equivalent to Robinson’s character, but make her white. It’ll never happen. The last time this occurred was the television show, “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Now, I am not dogging the flair or knack that we have for accomplishing stuff when push comes to shove. But do we need to celebrate the fact that some of us have not yet evolved and still lacking tact? This is not hate—it is the truth. Some of us could use a few courses in manners, etiquette and when to keep our damn mouths shut.

“The Game” is clearly beneath Robinson’s and Mowry’s acting abilities. But I guess it beats being the real-life girlfriend and mother of street pharmacists…

Axe.

Currently Listening To: Yes We Can Can by The Pointer Sisters, (It's Bigger Than) Hip-Hop by Dead Prez