And Precious It Is

Took my lazy ass out of the house for the first time in several weekends and saw "Precious". It was a must-see and I'm so glad I did. I read the book the film is based on, Push, back in the 90s. But I have to admit that I didn't really care for it and had forgotten almost all of the details. What I did take into the theatre was an awareness of the casting brought to my attention by one of my favorite bloggers Los Angelista. Her point on the casting of light skinned actors to play the inspiration roles was well taken. The caring teacher (and her lesbian lover), social worker and nurse are all played by mixed race actors (Paula Patton, Mariah Carey & Lenny Kravitz respectively). I would have been happier if the director had mixed up his cast a little more, but... well, hindsight is 20/20 right?

The film itself makes up for it. The performances (melanin issues notwithstanding) are excellent all around and I expect to see nominations for both Mo'Nique & Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe.

However, one can't tiptoe around the subject matter of the film. Yes, there's the incest, violence, language, not subjects that American audiences are eager to see in their films. But there's an even bigger turn off - pig's feet! Roomie & I decided to go the Landmark Theatres instead of down the street to Magic Johnson's Theaters. So, instead of screams of "yuck" during the scenes regarding the lesbians, we got gasps at the sight of pig's feet! Now, I've never eaten pig feet's and I'm not planning on it, but really, was that reaction necessary? Perhaps the audience was skewered Jewish, it was the Westside...

Anyhow, the movie one gets my vote, I mean, if I had one for the Academy Awards. It's nothing like Slumdog Millionaire. TV does play a big role in Precious, but trust me, not in quite the same way.

My Dad's Driving Rules

Traffic is crazy, especially in my hometown. We practically live in our cars, so it's no surprise that we also yell, scream and curse at some boneheaded drivers. We run into plenty of 'em and in LA, those encounters are plentiful. I think I'm a pretty good driver and it's because of my Dad's rules. The list is short and simple but covers almost every situation.

Driving is 10% skill, 90% nerve. Think about it, most maneuvers we make are those we think can and knowing this is the secret.

Don't make anyone else have to hit their brakes. Merge & turn properly, keep a safe distance - all simple things that if were followed consistently, would result in the avoidance of most traffic accidents.

Gauge your speed. Sometimes you should go faster, sometimes you should go slower. Don't drive in the pack.

Pass on the left. Does that really need explanation?

Add these four simple rules to the traffic rules of your state and you're set. You can drive and do it well.

Thanks Dad!

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Rainbows! For White People Who Have Considered Suicide

Now you know I just have to weigh on on all of the race talk - or as I think of it, lack of candor in the discussion on race that is barely taking place in the public sphere these days. Look, let's face it, as a country, we do a lousy job of talking, thinking or even acknowledging race as a major issue in our society. One of the reasons that BHO's "A More Perfect Union" speech last year is so admired, is because he dared to be fair and even handed in discussing one of the most, explosive, misunderstood and just plain frustrating facets of human, but especially US society.


I am black. I do not capitalize the term nor do I like to be called African-American. I'm a black woman in a now dominate, but fading, white culture. I see that the status quo is slowly changing and I think, "well good, that's what this country is all about - mixing and making it better!" Unfortunately, a great swath of that once, and still dominate white culture is not so happy. I suppose that if I were white, I might feel the same way. After all, it's hard to give up being the king, right? But being black, a person of color, and considered (albeit probably unconsciously) an outsider, I see things quite differently. And I understand that most white people can't see it the way I do, cause, well, alert the media, they're white.


About 15 years ago (oh, how I shutter to think that I can now say "15 years ago" and not be referring to elementary school), I got into a heated discussion with my sister and mother about how aware white people are about prejudice. I maintained that I thought most white people had no idea it was (and surprise, still is) an ever present reality for black, brown, red & yellow peoples. I thought, and well, still think, that most white people actually believe that there is a level playing field, that everyone has the same opportunities and is judged, hired, loved, schooled, sentenced & thought of more or less the same. It's a very logical position for people who don't think much. And let's be honest, most people do not think. We as humans, find it difficult to think in terms that are not wholly dictated by our own experience. It takes intelligence to put yourself in someone else's shoes without having directly experienced their circumstance. And if those teabaggers prove anything, it's that you can get a gaggle of assholes who don't think to think they can.


So I give white people a pass on this for the most part. Ya'll are ignorant and don't know it. Okay. The problem comes when someone points out either statistics, anecdotes, articles, people or whatever, that support the actual truth that something is out there and it ain't Mulder & Scully. It's the ugly cancer of racism and you just might be infected. That problem gets bigger when WP cannot see at all how their behavior is informed by their own privilege and anger ensues. The enemy isn't the things that keep us apart, it becomes people who point out the truth. To combat this malady, I highly recommend Tim Wise, a white guy, who, according to my philosophy, is highly intelligent because he is able to see beyond his experience and articulate it beautifully. He brings up shit I never thought of to explain why the black experience in the US is fucked up on so many levels.


Yeah, it's hard to face up to the fact that your (that's you white people) actions, thoughts and lives are shaped by race. And, on the face of it, that is admirable. You want the field to be level. You want to think that your success and that of your family is based purely on talent, hard work and perseverance. But it isn't. Never was. We all got a hand helping us or one swatting us down. Your hand? It was a helper. Don't be ashamed of that fact, own it. And once owned, it will be much easier for you to see those around you who did not have those same advantages and perhaps, just perhaps, you can understand that the playing field is not level and never was and will never be unless you do some leveling yourself. I know that's is a difficult thing to do, because it's easy to think initially, you will be handicapping yourself. But really, you won't be, you'll be lifting up the generations that come after you. And isn't that a legacy to be proud of?


Legacies to not be so proud of? Well, I got a few those.


Case #1 - Addison Graves. I, like many citizens, watched BHO, POTUS that is, give his health care reform address to Congress. I watched many on the right side of the aisle behave like high school kids in an assembly right before summer break. They were rude (Eric Cantor, put down your fucking Blackberry!!) and boo-hooed many of the President's statements. Alas, I literally did a double take when I heard either, "liar" or "you lie" come from somewhere on the floor. Like others, I was sure it was some loser in the gallery and not a member of Congress. Imagine my surprise (and yours too, admit it) when I heard that it was a Congressman, one from South Carolina. Side note: what is up with pols from the SC? Is it something in the water down there?

Back to Addison. Okay, I'm not one to think that free speech oughta be stifled, but I was bothered by the lack of decorum and, let's face it, downright rudeness. I did not like George W Bush or many, if any of his policies. I think he pissed on the Constitution almost every day he held office. I think he made one of the worst foreign policy blunders in the history of the world. I think he lied on numerous occasions to the Public and thousands of people have died as a result. And in spite of all of those things, and that's just the tip of the iceberg folks, I think that he deserved respect, at the very least, when he was in front of the House of Congress. They can talk bad about him all they want on the House floor, but when he was addressing them, they should give him the courtesy of saying his peace. And really, he deserved a bit of respect from the People as long as we were unable or unwilling to call him out. That might be a bit too much deference - he's the President so we can't prosecute/impeach/throw out, arrest, disown, denounce him! But that is our problem, not his. As long as he held office, he gets a bit of respect.


Guess Republicans can't say the same, can they? I am fine with a little laughing, booing or other such broad display of disagreement with statements in an address to Congress. What I could and cannot get over, is the very specific words of "you lie!" It's really impossible not to conclude that this outburst was racism and xenophobia wrapped up in one rude comment. Don't think so? Lemme tell you why. Two things - actual words interrupting POTUS tell you that the interrupter does not have respect for the interruptee. Why would that be the case? BHO has been president for about 9 months. He really hasn't done more less than, I think anyone else would have done in his position. You can not like his policies, but there is really no reason to not have respect for him and allow him to say his peace. I gotta conclude that Rep. Graves really has a problem with POTUS that doesn't have a lot to do with he does or doesn't do, it is about him personally. And since we all know he's a cool dude, it's probably because he's a cool black dude.


Next point, what was POTUS talking about when interrupted? Brown people. Graves claims, his emotions got the best of him; he was swept up in anger and just blurted it out. Uh huh. His outburst and display of anger was because that he thinks illegal immigrants (read: brown people or "mexicans" - not that these guys choose to make distinctions between Canadians, Mexicans, Central Americans, South Americans, Irish, Africans, Islanders...) might get health insurance. Not that thousands of people die in the this country every year for lack of health insurance and therefore, lack of health care. Not because we lose talented minds to drugs and prison. Not because we have an epidemic of sexual diseases in this country. Not because we don't have a cure for cancer yet. No, he got angry because people might stay well or get healed when sick? He got so mad that his anger boiled over thinking about the possibility of some brown people getting basic human care? Is he insane? Get mad over people dying, losing their homes for no good reason, having their dignity shat upon aimlessly, but getting that angry over a theoretical possibility that Kaiser Permanente might do a prostate test for Jose? Are you fucking kidding me?


Take a moment to donate to Rob Miller, Graves' Democratic opponent in 2010. I know I will. Plus, he's kinda cute (you know I couldn't resist). Oh, and please don't call Addison Joe Wilson. Joe Wilson is a patriot. Joe Wilson was an ambassador. Joe Wilson's name is really Joseph Wilson. Graves' name is Addison Graves.


Case #2 - The Chatterati Class' unwillingness to admit race has a lot to do with the vehemence currently being outwardly displayed against POTUS is a bit startling. Take people showing up to Presidential events with weapons. This has never happened in modern history. Even when Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, people did not show up to his events with guns. Why is it happening now? Well, low and behold, some white people don't like the fact that an uppity nigra in the White House you know. Bringing those guns? That is showing him who is really boss. Blacks know this well, "don't get too big for your britches nigger, we'll shoot you right down!" Literally. This is racism/prejudice/race hatred all wrapped up in an assault riffle, just to remind BHO (and all of us other uppity negroes) that not all that long ago, Emmett Till has killed for whistling at a white woman. You know that saying, "never forget"? Well we don't. The Media does. But that just goes back to my initial premise; the Media is largely white. And alas, that means they don't know any better. But they are supposed to be intelligent. Actually, extremely intelligent, so I'm going to guess that part of their shocking lack of candor and powers of observation is because of two things. One, they have made the calculation that to speak truth would upset some imaginary apple cart. And two, their own whiteness gets in the way of seeing and interpreting racist actions for what they are: racist.

Advice to the Media? Grow a pair!


Case #3 - Serena Williams. I have not watched the rant on purpose. I think she was wrong. If she said half of what I have heard reported, poor child was madder than I can think of anyone being. But at least she was mad about something that involves her directly - her well being, her money, her life, her career. Not some ideology or philosophy that she was afraid is losing ground. I suppose I could work up quite the vulgar rant if my financial well-being was being directly threatened.

Where I think the race issue comes in, is how black women are largely perceived by the white world. If we display mad, sarcastic or some other behavior observed in white folk all the time, all of the sudden, we're "threatening". Hell, it sounds like Serena was threatening. However, I'm still most disappointed in her. Black women are burdened with the perception of being hard and mean and bitchy and threatening everyday in every way. Conventional wisdom is that we are meaner, louder, bullier, nastier, fouler, angrier than other women. We can't keep our mouths shut. We can't just be nice. We can't keep our voices down or our men out of trouble (that's another post). We are not loving, caring, soft or nurturing. That is what a lot of people think of black woman and Serena just confirmed it for a hell of a lot of them. Man, if there were white guys thinking of asking black women out, I think they're reconsidering now...

I know the call was hard one to take. I know there have been questionable ones in the past. I know that she's a fierce competitor. But I wish she hadn't gone quite so far. Not that I think she would have escaped criticism altogether if she had been less vulgar, but I wish that she could have remembered that the field is not level. And won't be for a while, not until we blend. Not until we have erased years of some of the most insidious treatment people have endured in history. I wish she would have had some class. I wish she hadn't done it.


Case #4 - ACORN. Details are not important here. Whether or not some staffers did unwise things are not at issue. What is at issue is that ACORN has become a boogie man for the right wing. ACORN has become a defacto code word for blacks & browns, you know, the poor people. I have no thoughts that the entire ACORN organization is the worst thing that ever happened to government grants. But I do wonder why these zealots spend their time trying to bury a mere $6 million a year group, that, as far as I can tell, never killed or raped people, humiliated groups or terrified regions, or did so at our behest of our government for the humble sum of $240 million a year.


But then again, Z (formerly Blackwater) is a white organization. And it doesn't help poor people. It helps white people. It helps some white people become rich, very rich. It doesn't seem to do much to help anyone outside its own sphere. It does seem to be about screwing the people for the benefit of a few. Yeah, I said it. Take that and put in your damned teabags. And while you're at, define socialism and fascism as well as communism and capitalism.


Didn't think so.


*************


No, racism is not gone. It is very much alive and on display. The days of white dominance are dying. It's a creeping feeling, confirmed everyday by the election of brown people to positions of power; by the hiring of minorities at companies; by the influence of hip hop, salsa and other ethnic forms of music into the mainstream. It's Oprah. It's Telemundo. It's Jet Li. It's a thousand and one things that white people feel are taking over their country. The problem is, they're right and they're wrong. Our culture is changing. But it's not their country; it's all of our country. The brains trusts are slowing migrating from WASP to many walks of life, schools of thought and prisms of experience. But it will be alright, I promise. As long as we hold this truth to be evident, all men & women are created equal, we will have a society that is vibrant and diverse. It doesn't have to be white to be good. It just has to be good.

Fione Man of the Moment

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)

It's a HPA - and no, that's not some new strain of STD. HPA stands for Hot Pol Alert. And boy is Anthony Weiner hot! He's all over the place as an eloquent voice for the public option in the healthcare debate, an accomplished politician and so young - at 45, he's one handsome man. While not married (yea!), he is engaged (boo!). Regardless, he can defend my health and healthcare anytime! Here's to a fione man with an even fioner mission! Thanks for caring Rep. Weiner!

In Defense of Doing Nothing

Since I’ve not found the energy to do much today, other than get up to get food, I suppose I should give some defense to the notion that there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing nothing. I heart doing nothing. Nothing makes me rest; nothing gives me stamina to do something. Nothing is quite wonderful and should be done more often. My only worry is that I’ve grown so accustomed to doing nothing that doing something seems almost a downright betrayal.

But on the other hand, it’s not like I’ve been a shut in; almost, but not quite a shut in. I have visited friends, gone to parties, museums, dinners… But bring me a lovely Sunday like today and I’m much more comfortable laying in my bed, the center of my universe, watching the Sunday shows, reading the political columns and playing mah jong on Facebook.

But then, I start thinking.

Now that’s not doing nothing, is it? I watch the political shows discussing 9/12, as if it weren’t some construct of Faux News & a few right wing lobbying firms (coupled with some seriously delusional everyday folk who should practice doing nothing). And I think to myself, “I should do something!” And then I roll over and think about how wrong they are and right I am, and that doing something would require actually talking to some of these freak jobs. How quickly does doing nothing appeal after head splitting exchanges with those who will not heed to logic or facts? I’ll give you three guesses...

I could write a check for other people to talk to the wackos for me, those with stronger wills and untapped reservoirs or patience, but I’m broke. Maybe I could write a diary on Daily Kos. But for that, I’d have to muster more energy than it takes me to write an entry for my own blog. No, just better for me to lay here, thinking about how stupid those people are, than actually doing something about it. I mean, what you can do about peoples’ willful ignorance anyway?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not in any way advocating ceding ground to the nut cases, but I already read the political columns and what do they tell me? They tell me that there are a lot of white people really mad that a black man is in charge. Who, by the way, deny that’s the real reason why they’re being so irrational on completely unrelated issues. I don’t think anything I could do could change those attitudes, other than living my life as I do. But, I do know that I can add my voice (the Web makes that so easy), but signing petitions and writing a letter or two to my elected officials stating that I support one position over another. I notice I tend to do these types of things Monday through Friday for some reason. Make no mistake, laziness can give the impression that the patients have taken over the asylum and that only their concerns need be met.

I think of all of this, while I luxuriate in nothingness. Some nothing that is, right? I wish that my house could be cleaned by all my ruminating, worrying and pontificating (to no one but the cats). But then, cleaning would be doing something. And we all know how I feel about that.

Two Months?

Has it really been that long? My, the time flies when you're lazy and broke, like me. August sucked anyways. Too many town halls with people with not a lot of brains. I think I must promise to write again once I am over this fever. Not another excuse.

Okay, another excuse, but a good one, nonetheless. More later. What to ruminate on? Politics? Food? Celebrity? Kids? Social media? The list is endless, which is why I should not have any excuse.

A blog post. Soon.

Shining, New City on the Hill - Bring It!

A few years back, I had a wonderful boss, which whom I am still very friendly. She is a tall Latina and since I am of, at least, better than median height for a woman, she would sometimes refer to the bland, boring bureaucrats that we sometimes dealt with as “weenie men”. And she would look down when she said it. She would also say, quite frequently, “step aside white men; the brown people are coming!”

So, I say to the Republicans on the US Senate Judiciary Committee, “step aside white men, we are here!”

The jig is up; your party is over; the fat lady (who is probably brown) has sung. Your ship has sailed; the chicken is out of the coop; you are so over. Or, in other, less polite terms, shut the fuck up.

Sonia Sotomayor is imminently qualified to be an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court. Who confirmed you ninnies? The voters? Half of can’t keep our noses clean (and I mean that literally). These questions are bordering on the ridiculous now. The bias shown to white maledom is astonishing. And I know you don’t understand, because frankly, you’re not that smart. Bright, learned, schooled and educated you might be. But smart? That’s a whole ‘nother level my friends. Let me see if I can try to break it down for you. Try to follow along.

Because white maledom’s views, thoughts and opinions have been the (imposed) standard for most of this country’s history, it is the de facto view, philosophy, outlook that the power structure naturally thinks how people should think, act and feel. That view started to change in the 60s with the basic acknowledgment of blacks, browns, Jews, reds, women Catholics and homosexuals. White folk (as I will call “regular” white people collectively) aren’t very keen on this, because they fear that they will lose standing (dominance). The white power structure (that’s you Senators) flames these fears in order, not so much to maintain this standing for the people you claim to represent, but mostly to retain personal power for yourselves.

Regardless of the motivations of the WPS, it has run headlong into something called demographics. The WPS, along with WF, are under the illusion that the United States of America can be like other countries with one dominant culture and group of people. But see, that’s not reality. See, cause BP procreate at a higher rate, as well as immigrate from other countries. Now, this is mostly because people in traditionally white countries (i.e., Europe), kinda like where they’re at (ya figure? universal health care?) and don’t immigrate here; except for those pesky Irish. Suppose now that their “miracle” economy is in the shitter, they’ll once again be gracing our shores in large numbers. However, they are the okay illegals, right? Nobody calls La Migra over the surname of O’Shaunessy.

Back to demographics – reality is that brown, black, red & yellow folk will out number SF within the next 30 years. That kind of shift means that the cultures of said folk becomes our culture. Yes, you read that correctly. I said that the “values” that you grew up with may not be the ascendant values in, say 10 years.

So I understand why you are so afraid of my sister, Sonia Sotomayor. Ya’ll played nice, with a little affirmative action that enabled her to gain entrance to Princeton. But she didn’t follow the program and simply do a’right, get a cushy public or private sector job and blend in. Nope, she stayed Latina. She stayed Puerto Rican. She kicked white boy butt and graduated summa cum laude. And went on to be exemplary in everything she did. So she is the magic Latina, in much the same way that Thurgood Marshall was the magic Negro. I’m not sure who the magic Native American or Asian is or will be, but trust me, they are coming.

She has met the tests and passed with flying colors. She is worthy. Yes, she means that your definition of mainstream will change; actually should change. However, she should not be feared – nor others like her, with ideas, thoughts, beliefs and philosophies different from your own. She should be hailed, as she represents all that is good with the American Way. She is smart, accomplished, educated and fair. What more must she be? I know that it will be difficult for you, but think of your future brown great grandchildren, laughing, eating tortillas, pasta & collard greens. It is nothing to be frightened of. All culture shifts, mutates, changes. It would not be culture if it didn’t; it would be history.

So, I know you’re all sitting up on the dais, but a new United States of America is birthing. It’s been a very long labor, but it’s almost here. Don’t stand in the way.

Love is All There Is?

Yeah, love is all there is. It's all there should be and probably all I want. Love from my son, family and friends. A measure of love from my colleagues. Love, in leave me alone those of you I don't know (and probably wouldn't care to). Love is all around us, isn't it?

I imagine that's all Michael Jackson wanted; he just thought that more of us would love him if he looked white, maybe was white. Such a shame. I'm sad for his children, whatever race they are. I hope that their mother is seeking them because she loves them and not the money that will come with them.

And what about that Mark Sanford? Oh, he's in love and it sounds like somebody loves him back. I think he should chuck it all, head down to Argentina and be with her. I'd respect that. I don't respect the disrespect of his wife. She should love him and let him go. Love is letting him go. I will not speculate on the love of their children. I'm sure they both love them deeply. More reason for them to part.

Oh, and Sarah Palin? I think it's clear that she loves herself more than anyone or anything. What I don't understand is why anyone would love her, especially a thinking voter. Love in this case, would be love of self - she can love herself and we can love ourselves by letting her go far, far away and never bother us again.

If love were that simple...

It all about love; walking to the corner or applying some makeup. Even flirting online. But I'm sure Prudent Gal will have something to say about that. Eventually.