LITTLE DEBBIE VERSUS JIM CROW: WHO’S THE BIGGER BOOGIEMAN?
Lotta of controversy these days about weight, obesity, health, race and all that jazz. First Lady Michelle Obama claims that the problem for African-Americans these days is not Jim Crow, but Little Debbie (damn). While her stance on racism in this country gives me great cause to pause and makes me wonder if she really “has a clue,” I kinda have to agree. Her comments cros
sed my mind recently, as I drove through College Park. I am surprised at how many people, mainly folks of a darker hue, were walking. I observe their demeanor—and what, if anything, affected their disposition. With or without heavy groceries, crying children, etc., it was easy to see that most did not want to be walking. Furthermore, most were likely traveling to or from a bus stop. See, when your choice to travel is limited to mass transit (i.e. using public transportation to save money versus because you have to), it can weigh heavily mentally, especially when the scenery and the path en route to said train or bus is an ugly backdrop of where you spend most of your free time. Those driving in and around College Park did not look much happier, either.
Moreover, with few lucrative jobs in the ‘hood, traveling is a must to make money. So the place we probably hate going—work, is usually located in a neighborhood we cannot afford to live in. Hence we are stuck abiding in an area of town that more often than not, is quite, “unpretty.” Adding insult to injury, one is either forced to drive in abusive traffic (that’s if they can afford an automobile) or wrestle past piles of trash, walking treacherously narrow shoulders to the train or bus.
No denying this scenario is depressing, regardless of race. Still, is it our fault and should we do something about it? It’s sorta our fault, and you damn skippy we need to get busy changing our reality.
Black folk have always been creative. Why, pray tell, haven’t we figured out how to re-invent commutes into a genuine workout and keep people from opening greasy, artery clogging eateries in our ‘hoods? Guess the bottom line, as always, is money. When I look at areas like Dunwoody, Chamblee and certain parts of Decatur, there are plenty of sidewalks and jogging trails. Residents living there can afford to pimp their house with a gym or acquire a gym membership, plus they can still “go outside and play,” or exercise, as it were. In contrast, citizens of the SWATs, Bankhead Highway, East Point, Candler Park, etc., trudge over overgrown roadside weeds, never searching because they know they’ll never find any real recreation except maybe a movie theater. Those in the more affluent parts of Atlanta speed walk in their neighborhoods, they have parks nearby and can stop at a Smoothie King, Starbucks or Panera Bread. Meanwhile, other areas of town lack manicured landscapes, the footpaths are just that—paths created by foot traffic, and are limited to “the corner sto,’” Church’s chicken, or McDonalds. The latter, by the way, is not your kinda place, calorie-wise. The damage to your body is far worse than the “French fries between your toes, hamburgers up your nose,” etc.
But I digress.
Perhaps Little Debbie is gaining on Jim Crow. Shit, maybe they’re in cahoots together. I dunno. But I give the First Lady this: part of the problem is on us. We must find ways to better our community—force local grocery stores to stop carrying shit that’s bad for us and quit patronizing places like, “This Is It,” or, “Popeyes.” Stop sitting and waiting for solutions to be handed to us; stop looking for folk to wave a magic wand and end generational issues of poverty, obesity and mis-education. No sir. In Michelle Obama’s words, we have to, “Get Up and Move.” We gotta do it ourselves. Walk our families to the library monthly and have everyone including yourself borrow at least two books. Push back from the table. Read the ingredients BEFORE tossing items into the cart (my kids and my nephews, especially, “Esai the Apple Cider Alcoholic” constantly remind me of that). Have a “poor folk” dinner night at least once a week; something inexpensive that will fill you up, yet low in calories. Suggestions: soup & sandwich, chili with whole wheat toast or cornbread or tuna fish with a green salad. And for Pookie’s sake—stop drinking Kool-Aid and extra cheap soda loaded with dyes (that’s a whole other blog on genocide right there).
Demand better and accept nothing less. Write your congressman, councilmen, etc. and tell them that you want a Whole Foods, or (decent) Publix in your neighborhood. Tell them the library just does not stay open late enough. Tell them that you want a park within 4 miles of where you live. Above all, be a registered voter and let them know that you do in fact vote. Yes, I believe there is still some Jim Crow crap going down, but we gotta battle it with all our might. Shoot, during the fight we may lose a couple of pounds or three…
Axe.
Lotta of controversy these days about weight, obesity, health, race and all that jazz. First Lady Michelle Obama claims that the problem for African-Americans these days is not Jim Crow, but Little Debbie (damn). While her stance on racism in this country gives me great cause to pause and makes me wonder if she really “has a clue,” I kinda have to agree. Her comments cros
sed my mind recently, as I drove through College Park. I am surprised at how many people, mainly folks of a darker hue, were walking. I observe their demeanor—and what, if anything, affected their disposition. With or without heavy groceries, crying children, etc., it was easy to see that most did not want to be walking. Furthermore, most were likely traveling to or from a bus stop. See, when your choice to travel is limited to mass transit (i.e. using public transportation to save money versus because you have to), it can weigh heavily mentally, especially when the scenery and the path en route to said train or bus is an ugly backdrop of where you spend most of your free time. Those driving in and around College Park did not look much happier, either.Moreover, with few lucrative jobs in the ‘hood, traveling is a must to make money. So the place we probably hate going—work, is usually located in a neighborhood we cannot afford to live in. Hence we are stuck abiding in an area of town that more often than not, is quite, “unpretty.” Adding insult to injury, one is either forced to drive in abusive traffic (that’s if they can afford an automobile) or wrestle past piles of trash, walking treacherously narrow shoulders to the train or bus.
No denying this scenario is depressing, regardless of race. Still, is it our fault and should we do something about it? It’s sorta our fault, and you damn skippy we need to get busy changing our reality.
Black folk have always been creative. Why, pray tell, haven’t we figured out how to re-invent commutes into a genuine workout and keep people from opening greasy, artery clogging eateries in our ‘hoods? Guess the bottom line, as always, is money. When I look at areas like Dunwoody, Chamblee and certain parts of Decatur, there are plenty of sidewalks and jogging trails. Residents living there can afford to pimp their house with a gym or acquire a gym membership, plus they can still “go outside and play,” or exercise, as it were. In contrast, citizens of the SWATs, Bankhead Highway, East Point, Candler Park, etc., trudge over overgrown roadside weeds, never searching because they know they’ll never find any real recreation except maybe a movie theater. Those in the more affluent parts of Atlanta speed walk in their neighborhoods, they have parks nearby and can stop at a Smoothie King, Starbucks or Panera Bread. Meanwhile, other areas of town lack manicured landscapes, the footpaths are just that—paths created by foot traffic, and are limited to “the corner sto,’” Church’s chicken, or McDonalds. The latter, by the way, is not your kinda place, calorie-wise. The damage to your body is far worse than the “French fries between your toes, hamburgers up your nose,” etc.
But I digress.
Perhaps Little Debbie is gaining on Jim Crow. Shit, maybe they’re in cahoots together. I dunno. But I give the First Lady this: part of the problem is on us. We must find ways to better our community—force local grocery stores to stop carrying shit that’s bad for us and quit patronizing places like, “This Is It,” or, “Popeyes.” Stop sitting and waiting for solutions to be handed to us; stop looking for folk to wave a magic wand and end generational issues of poverty, obesity and mis-education. No sir. In Michelle Obama’s words, we have to, “Get Up and Move.” We gotta do it ourselves. Walk our families to the library monthly and have everyone including yourself borrow at least two books. Push back from the table. Read the ingredients BEFORE tossing items into the cart (my kids and my nephews, especially, “Esai the Apple Cider Alcoholic” constantly remind me of that). Have a “poor folk” dinner night at least once a week; something inexpensive that will fill you up, yet low in calories. Suggestions: soup & sandwich, chili with whole wheat toast or cornbread or tuna fish with a green salad. And for Pookie’s sake—stop drinking Kool-Aid and extra cheap soda loaded with dyes (that’s a whole other blog on genocide right there).
Demand better and accept nothing less. Write your congressman, councilmen, etc. and tell them that you want a Whole Foods, or (decent) Publix in your neighborhood. Tell them the library just does not stay open late enough. Tell them that you want a park within 4 miles of where you live. Above all, be a registered voter and let them know that you do in fact vote. Yes, I believe there is still some Jim Crow crap going down, but we gotta battle it with all our might. Shoot, during the fight we may lose a couple of pounds or three…
Axe.
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