Brown Sugar & Cinnamon

President Obama Delivering his Annual Back-to-School Speech

2011-09-28T22:20:00.001-04:00

President Obama at the Congressional Black Caucus

2011-09-26T06:33:00.001-04:00

Eureka: Dr. Allison Blake

2011-09-21T22:53:00.002-04:00

In the tradition of Ankh’s posts about POC characters in media, I’m offering up my own pick for a phenomenon that we see far too rarely on TV nowadays: the elusive black female. And here I have something even rarer to share with you: the black female lead.

Sci-fi Channel (or should I say Syfy Channel…ugh) TV show Eureka debuted in the summer of 2006 and I have to say, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Salli Richardson-Whitfield appear on my screen and promptly steal the scene from the show’s protagonist Colin Ferguson (Sheriff Jack Carter). I just wasn’t expecting to see a black female lead and proudly admit that her presence—along with the fact that the show is just fifty kinds of awesome—cemented my devout loyalty over the past four seasons.

According to Salli, her character was not originally written for a black woman. She has recounted the fact that she was the only WoC in a room full of white women when she auditioned, but she was cast because the creators felt that she had the best chemistry with Ferguson. Add that to the fact that Allison is smart as hell and one-half of the show’s OTP*, and I’m sure that there have been more than a few head explosions over the years.

Spoiler Alert!: This list may contain spoilers for those who have not yet seen season 3.0, 4.0 and/or season 4.5.

Character Pros

1. Allison is a genius and a doctor three times over (she has an MD and two Ph.Ds). In nearly every episode, her genius IQ is on full display as she actively helps avert disasters and save lives with her awesome smarts.

2. Allison has an active onscreen love/sex life. She has been hotly and vociferously pursued by all of her love interests to the point that there have been downright contentious rivalries for her affections. She was engaged in season three (he was killed on their wedding day before the "I do's"), and after four long seasons of "will-they/won't they", she is finally involved in a loving, supportive relationship with the show's protagonist (Jack Carter).

3. Allison has looked fierce every week since day one. Her hair, clothes and make-up are always on point.

4. You won’t find any stereotyping or caricaturing with this character. Allison is firm when she needs to be without any “angry black woman” vibes, is sexy without being sexualized, doesn’t put up with BS, is feminine yet vulnerable, and is treated with respect by everyone around her.

5. As Director of Global Dynamics, Allison is inarguably the most powerful person in Eureka. Everyone answers to her and respects her authority without question. (Season one - DoD* liaison; season two and three - Director of GD; season four - Medical Director/acting Director of GD...this change was due to a permanent alternate timeline plot, not a demotion.)

6. Allison is a loving mother (again shown onscreen) who would do anything for her children.

Character Cons

1. All of her love interests have been white. (Why do I have a feeling there's some fanboy fantasy-fulfilling here?) Anyway, as much as I adore this show, this trend is still disappointing. I know she was always meant to end up with Jack, but it would have been nice to see her pair up with a MoC for a change, even it was for just a little while.

2. As well as the show has treated it’s POC characters, it has still fallen into the trap of making race a complete non-entity (except for a notable exception where it would have been impossible not to). Co-creator Jamie Paglia had this to say about Eureka and race: "We've always been very sensitive to diversity in our casting, and made an effort to make Eureka a place where race isn't an issue. (source)" This is just a snippet of a larger quote, but I get what he's trying to say (and what he's trying to do). It sounds really nice and all...I just think it's a bit unrealistic. We’re not blind and nobody ignores blackness. Not even geniuses.

3. We haven’t been given too much of a background on Allison's character. Besides what's been mentioned in passing (her parents are scientists, her husband died before their son was born or shortly thereafter, she wrote a medical textbook in the alternate timeline, and she'd had a second marriage), we don't know much about her life before she came to Eureka. But given that the show has a pretty sizable main cast, that’s probably par for the course. There's only so much we know about any of the characters.

4. Although Allison is undeniably black, her features are European-looking enough to make some viewers feel less uncomfortable (whether consciously or unconsciously) about her lead role on the show, her high-ranking position, and her unmistakable irresistibility to her white love interests. This is certainly not a knock on Salli Richardson-Whitfield's casting (I can't imagine anyone else playing Allison), but it really, really rankles me that networks still feel the need to coddle racists. Even Salli has said that her appeareance probably makes it easier for her to get work on TV. So sad.

Final Verdict

Allison is a generally well-rounded and well-written character, who is likable, smart as a whip, sympathetic and keeps viewers happily tuning in each week. I never have to question why her coworkers and everyone else in the town respect and care for her as much as they do. I never have to wonder what the men in her life see in her that makes them so ga-ga over her or why they fall all over themselves to protect her at all costs, even to the point of risking their jobs, jail time or their lives to do it. I get it. (Unlike a certain heroine on a vampire-themed cable show I just started watching. *cough*True Blood's Sookie Stackhouse*cough*)

Unfortunately, the positive portrayal of black women is still something rarely seen on TV. I have to give Eureka's creators and writers a nod for having the testicular fortitude to 1) cast a black female lead; and 2) buck the particularly ugly trend that Hollywood has of throwing black women under the bus every chance it gets. After four highly successful seasons, it's obvious that having a black female lead--and more than one main black cast member--hasn't driven the show's viewers away. (Unfortunately, next summer's fifth season will be it's last, but it's certainly not because of bad ratings. It's because of high production costs. Damn you, Comcast/NBC Universal merger!).

It's become patently obvious that people are craving more diversity on TV, not less. There's no longer any excuse for the massive bout of whitewashing that's currently taking place in Hollywood. None.

*OTP = One True Pairing
*DoD = Department of Defense

Cross-posted at The Blasian Narrative

W...T...F?!

2011-09-07T22:43:00.001-04:00

Wow. Just...wow. When I first saw this commerical, I didn't know whether to laugh or run out of the room screaming. I do know this though: this is 31 seconds of my life I'll never get back. If you haven't already had the displeasure, please allow me to share the misery:

Okay, aside from the fact that the last thing any of us needs is more Auto-Tune in our lives, this was just a poorly crafted commercial. It looks like a skit on SNL or MADtv. Come to think of it, a skit on one of those shows probably would have looked more professional than this thing.

And did T-Pain really just "tap dance" onto the stage like he was in a minstrel show? Wow. I don't even know what to say to that.

***If you really want a good chuckle, check out the comments on YouTube. Hilarious.

Another Day, Another Remake

2011-08-24T22:10:00.003-04:00

So, next up on Hollywood's list of remakes is one of my favorite horror/comedy movies of all times, Fright Night. Yes, the original 1985 version looks a little campy now, but believe me, back in the day it was all kinds of scary. Well...sort of. It was more like scary fun, but you know what I mean. And judging by the trailer, the remake doesn't look half as fun and doesn't-take-itself-too-seriously as the original. Yes, the remake looks a lot slicker, more polished and the special effects are better, but there just seems to be something missing in translation. A glaring emptiness that gives me the finger before leaping off the screen to rudely smack me upside the head.

While I can take Colin Farrell or leave him (but mostly leave him), I'm a touch salty that he's taking on the mantle of vampire Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon...whom I loved in the original, btw). Though I do like Anton Yelchin and can totally see him as protagonist Charlie Brewster, I'm just not feeling Colin in this role. Can't say why exactly, but the trailers I've seen so far just aren't doing it for me. However, in an ironic turn of events, I would consider shelling out money for a ridiculously overpriced ticket to see David Tennant (the Tenth Doctor to the well-informed) step into Roddy McDowall's shoes as vampire expert Peter Vincent. Now, I'm pretty sure that's not what the studio execs intended, but hey, I find Tennant sexy. (Yup, I'm weird like that.)

Surprisingly, the critics seem to dig this movie, but...meh...I'll wait and catch it on DVD. David Tennant notwithstanding.

Old school version

2011 ~~Rehash~~ ~~Retread~~ Remake

Do As They Say, Not As They Do

2011-08-17T22:11:00.004-04:00

The Doctor's ride

Okay, I'm really starting to think that The Doctor has rounded us all up, shoved us into the TARDIS (its bigger on the inside!) and transported us back to the 1950's, 'cause this surely can't be the 21st-century we're living in.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AR) - A high school southeast of Little Rock would not let a black student be valedictorian though she had the highest grade-point average, and wouldn't let her mom speak to the school board about it until graduation had passed, the graduate claims in Federal Court.

Kymberly Wimberly, 18, got only a single B in her 4 years at McGehee Secondary School, and loaded up on Honors and Advanced Placement classes. She had the highest G.P.A. and says the school's refusal to let her be sole valedictorian was part of a pattern of discrimination against black students.

Wimberly says that despite earning the highest G.P.A. of the Class of 2011, and being informed of it by a school counselor, "school administrators and personnel treated two other white students as heir[s] apparent to the valedictorian and salutatorian spots."

Wimberly's mother is the school's "certified media specialist." She says in the federal discrimination complaint that after her daughter had been told she would be valedictorian, the mother heard "in the copy room that same day, other school personnel expressed concern that Wimberly's status as valedictorian might cause a 'big mess.'"

McGehee Secondary School is predominantly white, and 46 percent African-American, according to the complaint. Bratton says that the day after she heard the "big mess" comment, McGehee Principal Darrell Thompson, a defendant, told her "that he decided to name a white student as co-valedictorian," although the white student had a lower G.P.A.

Bratton says she tried to protest the decision to the school board, but defendant Superintendent Thomas Gathen would not let her speak, because she allegedly had "filled out the wrong form. Instead of 'public comments,' Gather [sic] said Bratton should have asked for 'public participation.'" The superintendent told her she could not appeal his decision until the June 28 school board meeting; graduation was May 13. (The superintendent's name is spelled Gathen in the heading of the complaint, but is spelled Gather throughout the body of it.)

The last African-American valedictorian in McGehee School District was in 1989. Wimberly says the school discourages black students from taking honors and advanced placement classes, "by telling them, among other things, that the work was too hard." (more: Courthouse News Service)

What the ever-lovin' fuck?

Okay, now that I've gotten that out of my system, notice that nowhere in the article did it say that the white student or his parents turned down the undeserved valedictorian spot? POC hear all day every day about how they are constantly taking things they don't deserve from the world at large (jobs, welfare, Medicaid, air), but when white people get things they clearly don't desrve, it's all good. You know...things like legacies, VP nominations and $700 billion dollars in taxpayer money.

No conservative (or anyone else for that matter) that ever spouts the whole "personal responsibility, pull yourself up by your boot straps" tripe should ever be taken seriously again (not that they should have in the first place, mind). It's become patently obvious by now that they really don't mean it and never have. They will only ever stand by this fallacy if POC stay in their places, otherwise, it's really just a non sequitur. These people long for the good old days in a way that borders on obsession. They daydream of a time when there wasn’t a black president, a black First Lady or a Latina on the Supreme Court. They would love to not have to think about their undeserved privilege or worry about any challenges to the status quo.

Personally, I think they realize that they're not living up to their own hype--and that the world is finally catching on. They've sensed a disturbance in the Force and have fanned out in full Sith-mode to squash the Rebel Alliance with a desperation that's almost frightening. Or pathetic. Or both.

They're so afraid of their self-anointed superiority being questioned, they're willing to go to any shameful lengths to stay at the top of the heap. Even if it means taking out a few million of their own to do it.

Hollywood Has Got to Do Better (But It Won't)

2011-08-15T23:07:00.001-04:00

Tulane University professor Melissa Harris-Perry wants hazard pay for having to sit through the new DreamWorks movie The Help, and from everything I've seen and heard (at least from the people who matter), I can't blame her.

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Only in America

2011-08-09T22:40:00.002-04:00

This has to be about the most ridiculous thing I've seen in a while, and I've seen a lot of stupid things in the last three plus years. These people are actually cheering the S&P’s downgrade of America's credit like they live in some magical "Whites Only" bubble that will keep them safe and financially sound while POC suffer for the crimes of...well...rich white folks.

They’re cheering for possible higher interest rates on everything from mortgage loans to credit cards because they can’t get over the fact that a black man resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. They're cheering to cut their noses off to spite their racist faces because they're convinced that POC are getting entitlements they don't deserve (all while tucking their Medicare, Medicaid and SSI cards back into their own well-deserving wallets because you know...they're white...and well-deserving).

Typical.

Lawrence O'Donnell setting this S&P debacle straight on The Last Word

2011-08-08T23:13:00.003-04:00

The S&P is a complete sham.

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Finally a victory for Women's health

2011-08-07T23:22:00.003-04:00

This is news to celebrate.

Victory for Women’s Health:
HHS Announces that Birth Control Will Be Covered with No Co-Pays
More from Planned Parenthood...

Hard to Believe it's 2011

2011-08-05T13:57:00.004-04:00

They're not even trying to hide it anymore, are they?

LIVONIA, Mich. (WJBK) - "I (said), 'Mommy, why did they do that?'" said six-year-old Saniya. "And then mommy said we got to pray for them."

Saniya had been having a great day. She just saw "The Smurfs" at the AMC 20 in Livonia at Seven Mile and Haggerty. She was with her parents and walking to their car around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday afternoon when some guys in a faded red pickup truck drove by.

"I was looking at them and then they (threw) it in my face," Saniya said.

"She (yelled), 'Mommy,' and I look at her and her face is like covered with drink or some kind of liquid, soft drink or something like that," said Nesia, Saniya's mother.

Nesia said it must have been pop. It was sticky and stung little Saniya's eyes.

Her parents didn't know what had happened at first and then they spotted the pickup truck and the two or three men inside.

"While they were driving off they yelled out, 'You monkeys, you baboons,'" Nesia told FOX 2's Amy Lange. "Started making like monkey noises and sounds and just kind of drove off."

"I could not believe that something had happened like that," said Larry, Saniya's father.

Larry and Nesia were too shocked to get a license plate or a good description of the guys, but the vehicle was a faded red F-150 pickup truck with a black cover on the bed. These guys need to be caught.

"I've never experienced anything like this before," said Nesia. "She's six. I mean, it's 2011. Why does she even have to know that any of this is still something that goes on."

"People in previous years ... they didn't sit down and let things like this happen, so why should we?" said Larry.

"It's not right, and I don't want it to happen to anybody else again," Nesia said.

They contacted Livonia Police, who are asking anyone who may have seen that truck in the parking lot to contact them. (source: myFoxdetroit.com)

Really, bigots? A six-year-old child? Hateful cowards, every single one of them.

Photo: (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)

Curiouser and Curiouser

2011-08-02T21:30:00.010-04:00

I find it awfully curious that some progressives are all up in arms because Al Sharpton took over the 6 pm timeslot on MSNBC. Everything was copacetic when he was simply filling in while Cenk Uyger was on vacation, but now that Uyger is out and Rev. Al looks to be in, it's suddenly become a problem:

It seems that during the time I was out of the country, The Powers That Be at MSNBC decided to replace "Young Turks" host Cenk Uygur with civil rights movement celebrity Al Sharpton as host of the 6 p.m. hour. This move was confusing at first -- I naturally assumed that what I was seeing on the teevee was a result of jet lag or drunkenness, or that my Virgin Atlantic flight had flown through a wormhole into a parallel dimension (Richard Branson features this option on a select number of international flights). But I've come to understand that this Al Sharpton-on-MSNBC stuff is actually a real thing happening in our lives.

And that's pretty interesting, seeing as there's no evidence whatsoever that Sharpton has any real talent for hosting a television show or covering the news of the day. Sharpton's well known, of course, for being a fiery and exciting orator with genuine rhetorical talent. Being stuck behind a desk and staring at a teleprompter, however, doesn't seem to suit him at all. In a more restrained space, his speech is halting and tentative, his focus seems scattered, and but for the adequate amplification technologies being deployed, you'd have to term the show "mumblecore."

And whether he feels reined in by the politesse of hosting, or is just generally at sea in his new format, there's nothing in Sharpton's performance that suggests he has command of the conversation. If I were in ideological opposition to Sharpton, I'd be only too eager to go on his show -- he seems uniquely incapable of getting the upper hand in an argument.

So, what, if anything, does Sharpton bring to the table? Well, as Wayne Barrett reports in The Daily Beast, Sharpton's appeal may stem from the fact that he's already been such a fine company man to NBC, having played an important role in facilitating the network's merger with Comcast: (more: Huffington Post)

Wow. Marginalize much?

So let me get this straight. One of the reasons some on the left are upset is because Rev. Al is not a "real journalist." Ummm...isn't the whole line-up from 5 pm on littered with opinion shows? I don't remember hearing any complaints about Ed Schultz when he was given his own show a couple of years ago. Couple that with the fact that Cenk spent a boat-load of his time beating up on the president (good for him if that's how he felt) and Rev. Al doesn't (to the utter chagrin of some progressives), and...well...there you go.

Here's another good one: a quid pro quo got him the job. According to some, Rev. Al is getting a big, TV-show sized payback for helping "facilitate" (their words, not mine) the NBC/Comcast merger. Yeah...like that never happens in corporate America (if it's even true). I find it funny that when black people are the (alleged) benefactors of deals that are done all day every day in the business world by old, rich white men, the naysayers come out of the woodwork to declare how horrible and illegitimate it is.

Now let's talk about baggage. It's okay for Eliot "I Love Hookers" Spitzer and Joe "Dead Staffer" Scarborough to have their own shows on CNN and MSNBC respectively ('cause you know...neither of them have any baggage whatsoever), but the Rev. can't have a piece of the TV pie because he has too much baggage? What a bullshit double standard.

Oh, and in case you weren't aware, it's President Obama's fault too. It can't possibly have anything to do with the fact that the Rev's ratings are better than Uyger's...nope...it's the black man in the White House. But hey, why not? The president gets blamed for everything else.

For the past few weeks, I've been watching the Rev's show, and I have to say that I like what I'm seeing. It wouldn't hurt for him to dial his voice down a notch and make sure he knows how to correctly pronouce his guest's names, but honestly, that's just nitpicking. The important thing is that he keeps those mofo Republicans honest, challenging their BS and not letting them get away with the crap they usually get away with on other shows. Not only is it refreshing, but it feels wonderful to see someone that looks like me actually hosting a show for a change (sorry...contributors don't count).

Despite the ridiculous freakout and all the unnecessary naysaying, he deserves to sit in that chair just as much as Lawrence, Chris, Ed, Rachel, or the recently departed Cenk.

A whole bunch of lefties are getting the side-eye from me on this one. One of the most important lessons I've learned over the last four years (which includes the democratic primary) is that Republicans don't have the market cornered on protecting the status quo.

***And yes, I know some people will try to write this nonsense off by saying, "But black journalists are upset too!" I know that game and I'm not playing. Yes, some black journalists might be upset that MSNBC didn't hire a "real" journalist for that spot, and they're certainly entitled to their opinions, but I say again...who in that whole line-up is a journalist and not a pundit giving their opinion on their opinion-based show?

Next.

Major Film Adaptation of the Tuskegee Airmen

2011-08-01T22:45:00.005-04:00

HBO did a movie on this years ago. Can't wait to see this version on the big screen.

If It Ain't Broke...

2011-07-31T23:34:00.003-04:00

So. Hollywood is remaking The Bodyguard.

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros is rebooting its 1992 hit The Bodyguard, the film that paired Kevin Costner with Whitney Houston and became for its time one of the biggest global hits in studio history with a $411 million worldwide gross.

The film will be scripted by Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer, whose action comedy script Family Getaway made the 2010 Black List and is a priority project at Warner Bros. Dan Lin will produce through his Lin Pictures banner, and Mark Bauch is co-producer.

Scripted by Lawrence Kasdan and directed by Mick Jackson, the original was a fairly straight ahead tale of a Secret Service agent (Costner in a Steve McQueen homage, down to his hairstyle) drafted to protect a singing diva whose life has been threatened by a stalker, then falling for her in a way he fears is a distraction from his job. The new version is similar, including the love story, but here the bodyguard will be a former Iraq war veteran who gets the job protecting the star as his first gig after leaving the Army. He discovers that the world of Twitter, Google Maps and TMZ has made access to celebrities easier than ever, making the job more difficult than ever. The goal is to take a young female singer with global appeal and give her the platform that The Bodyguard did Houston. (more: Deadline)

Nooooooo!!!!!!

*sigh*

Given Hollywood's complete lack of originality, I can't say I'm surprised at the redo. Personally, I think they should leave well enough alone (can't you tell?). But since they seem patently uncapable of doing that, I won't waste a good rant on the fact that they're remaking a movie that's all of twenty years old (The Bodyguard was originally released in 1992).

Nope. Instead, I'm wondering if bad ol' Hollywood is going to do the right thing and cast the female lead as the black woman she was meant to be (the film's original proposal way back in the 70s also called for a black lead), or recast her with a white woman? Sorry, there are plenty of white leads in Hollywood; I want to see a black character stay a black character, thankyouverymuch.

I don't know about you, but given their recent fails of late, I don't have too much confidence in Tinseltown's ability to distinguish the difference between right and "oh, hell no!" I hope they prove me wrong, but I certainly won't be holding my breath.

Common at the White House.... And the problem would be?

2011-07-28T13:51:00.001-04:00

Oooohhh... he looks really dangerous and especially gangster in this Electric Company episode. This faux outrage is ridiculous.

Who's sorry now...

2011-07-27T22:04:00.003-04:00

Well well well... Look who is sorry now.

I agree with you this time John McCain, but you are partly to blame for letting the crazy in.

Woman hypnotized by natural hair...

2011-07-26T22:20:00.005-04:00

As Sistahs need to stop hating ourselves for what grows naturally out of our heads and embrace it. Apparently some people can't keep their hands off of it.

Link to the article here.

And now a little tune..

President Obama on the - can't take yes for an answer - republicans

2011-07-25T23:58:00.006-04:00

President Obama tonight

Later, Speaker Boehner offered a rebuttal - I suppose. Just a little confused... Since when does the speaker of the house get a prime time national speech after the President!?

Note to Congresmen: Do not send pictures of your peeps to your Twitter followers.

2011-06-06T22:52:00.007-04:00

I know this is not the Anthony Weiner we are talking about today, but I prefer this one as opposed to the misfit seen today at the podium.

Sigh… Here we go again… Another freak show from a power-trippin' politician. I tire of this... There are so many examples of how NOT to handle these, yet Rep Anthony Weiner, who is so much smarter than this, decided to add fuel to the fire by initially lying about the obvious. Dems are just not as good at lying as the Republicans. When we eff up, it is best to admit the wrong doing early and keep it moving.

Should he resign? My two cents say no. The Republicans have one diaper wearing senator - that’s definitely a 10 on the creepy meter - and another that may have helped bribe his colleagues, mistress’ husband (get all that?). Rep Weiner never said he was perfect or claimed the holier-than-thou. He is just a loud-mouth democrat with the guts to speak loud and tough for progressive issues. He silenced the strength of his voice with this stupid behavior.

Let the side show begin.

Love yourselves ladies....

2011-06-02T18:47:00.004-04:00

I love this uplifting tribute to the beauty that is us.

Preview of the movie Dark Girls

2011-05-30T21:44:00.005-04:00

The documentary movie Dark Girls is set to be released fall/winter 2011. This movie explores the attitudes and complexities of skin color in the black community.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Show support and "Like" It on Facebook to learn more info.

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Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo.

The President at Booker T. Washington Highschool In Memphis, TN

2011-05-16T22:42:00.005-04:00

The surprise.

The commencement address.

SNL's version of The Little Mermaid

2011-05-09T23:06:00.004-04:00

Not sure what it says about my humor, but I found it funny.

President Obama Was Not Playing!

2011-05-02T23:57:00.005-04:00

Look at how intense he is in this photo.

That's determination.

Tavis Smiley: What did birthers give us? Ignorance

2011-05-01T23:00:00.004-04:00

From: CBS Sunday Morning

I must admit I do not always agree with Tavis, but I give him props when its due... Like now.

Say it Tavis!

The Colbert Report: Obama's Tax Return & Road to the Trump House

2011-04-27T20:29:00.002-04:00

What he said.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Obama's Tax Return & Road to the Trump House

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

Video Archive

Blast from the Past: Kid 'n Play

2011-04-17T22:33:00.014-04:00

Kid 'n Play (l to r)

Wow, does this song bring back memories. Gettin' Funky may be well over twenty years old, but it has aged incredibly well, thank you very much. I wonder if, twenty years from now, the same will be said about a lot of the crapola we're being subjected to today?

Somehow, I sincerely doubt it.

And let's not forget House Party (1990). Good times. There are days when I wish we could go back to this time. Everything seemed so much simpler back then. *nostalgic sigh*

**Updated to add the rap battle. This is one of my favorite scenes in the movie.

Now That's What I'm Talkin' 'Bout!!!

2011-04-15T23:29:00.003-04:00

Squeeee!!! A multi-cultural Thor? Who would've thunk it? Lawd, with this much fine running around on the the screen, Thor himself will definitely be an afterthought.

At least he will for me. Sorry, Chris Hemsworth.

Idris Elba as Heimdall

Tadanobu Asano as Hogun

More later. I just had to have a mini geek-out over this latest discovery.

A Clear Difference: The President's Budget Plan vs. Paul Ryan's Slash and Burn Plan

2011-04-14T23:12:00.006-04:00

The choice couldn't be more clear between the Democrats and the Republicans. It really couldn't.

Read full transcript here

Pres Obama - Medal of Freedom Ceremony

2011-02-16T22:48:00.003-05:00

Say It Ain't So Keith..... Sniff.

2011-01-22T11:14:00.004-05:00

We will miss you.

"Good night and Good luck"

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Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr

2011-01-17T05:58:00.004-05:00

Celebrate the life.

Honor the dream.

His words are as relevant today as they were more than 40 years ago.

Maybe one day we will truly get there.

Keith Olbermann's "Special" Special Comment

2011-01-10T21:35:00.004-05:00

Keith's Special Comment on the tragic shooting that took place in Arizona this past Saturday.

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Transcript:
Finally tonight, as promised, a Special Comment on the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. We need to put the guns down. Just as importantly we need to put the gun metaphors away and permanently.

Left, right, middle - politicians and citizens - sane and insane. This morning in Arizona, this age in which this country would accept "targeting" of political opponents and putting bullseyes over their faces and of the dangerous blurring between political rallies and gun shows, ended.

This morning in Arizona, this time of the ever-escalating, borderline-ecstatic invocation of violence in fact or in fantasy in our political discourse, closed. It is essential tonight not to demand revenge, but to demand justice; to insist not upon payback against those politicians and commentators who have so irresponsibly brought us to this time of domestic terrorism, but to work to change the minds of them and their supporters - or if those minds tonight are too closed, or if those minds tonight are too unmoved, or if those minds tonight are too triumphant, to make sure by peaceful means that those politicians and commentators and supporters have no further place in our system of government.
If Sarah Palin, whose website put and today scrubbed bullseye targets on 20 Representatives including Gabby Giffords, does not repudiate her own part in amplifying violence and violent imagery in politics, she must be dismissed from politics - she must be repudiated by the members of her own party, and if they fail to do so, each one of them must be judged to have silently defended this tactic that today proved so awfully foretelling, and they must in turn be dismissed by the responsible members of their own party.

If Jesse Kelly, whose campaign against Congresswoman Giffords included an event in which he encouraged his supporters to join him firing machine guns, does not repudiate this, and does not admit that even if it was solely indirectly, or solely coincidentally, it contributed to the black cloud of violence that has envellopped our politics, he must be repudiated by Arizona's Republican Party.

If Congressman Allen West, who during his successful campaign told his supporters that they should make his opponent afraid to come out of his home, does not repudiate those remarks and all other suggestions of violence and forced fear, he should be repudiated by his constituents and the Republican Congressional Caucus.

If Sharron Angle, who spoke of "Second Amendment solutions," does not repudiate that remark and urge her supporters to think anew of the terrible reality of what her words implied, she must be repudiated by her supporters in Nevada.

If the Tea Party leaders who took out of context a Jefferson quote about blood and tyranny and the tree of liberty do not understand - do not understand tonight, now what that really means, and these leaders do not tell their followers to abhor violence and all threat of violence, then those Tea Party leaders must be repudiated by the Republican Party.

If Glenn Beck, who obsesses nearly as strangely as Mr. Loughner did about gold and debt and who wistfully joked about killing Michael Moore, and Bill O'Reilly, who blithely repeated "Tiller the Killer" until the phrase was burned into the minds of his viewers, do not begin their next broadcasts with solemn apologies for ever turning to the death-fantasies and the dreams of bloodlust, for ever having provided just the oxygen to those deep in madness to whom violence is an acceptable solution, then those commentators and the others must be repudiated by their viewers, and by all politicians, and by sponsors, and by the networks that employ them.

And if those of us considered to be "on the left" do not re-dedicate ourselves to our vigilance to eliminate all our own suggestions of violence - how ever inadvertent they might have been then we too deserve the repudiation of the more sober and peaceful of our politicians and our viewers and our networks. [full transcript here]

The Late Great Teena Marie

2010-12-27T18:39:00.005-05:00

Rest in Peace Teena Marie, aka Lady T, aka Ivory Queen of Soul.

Her voice was the truth!

Recent Interview

Video of President Obama Signing the Repeal of DADT

2010-12-22T21:35:00.001-05:00

Foreign press: Sarah Palin “shows the tact of a boorish drunkard bawling obscenities at a funeral.”

2010-12-01T22:02:00.003-05:00

Oooooh.... Good post from The Political Carnival.

We have John McCain to thank for this silly woman.
The American news media has completely lost all credibility and now we are
forced to know her facebook posts. I have tens of people I already ignore by choice on facebook. Now I am forced to hear her quips too while I am trying to find out tomorrow's weather!

Give me a break.

Check the link to the post and article.

Foreign press: Sarah Palin “shows the tact of a boorish drunkard bawling obscenities at a funeral.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T12:40:00.000-05:00

Have a safe and happy holiday!

What to do if you're feeling lonely...

2010-11-22T10:36:00.004-05:00

Hilarious.

Gotta laugh to keep from crying...

2010-11-01T23:26:00.002-04:00

This was wrong on so many levels, but...bwahahahahahaha!!!! *wipes streaming eyes* I really needed that laugh before facing the craziness that tomorrow is sure to bring.

Now I'm off to bed so that I can get up early tomorrow morning to vote.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T08:49:00.002-04:00

Ninja Assassin trailer in Lego

2010-10-10T21:22:00.001-04:00

Just because it's cool...

This Week in Blackness - "Obama: The Last Airbender" & other silly ideas

2010-10-09T21:09:00.012-04:00

It's like Elon James read my mind. It still amazes me that this country is this close to possibly voting the Republicans back into office. *holds index finger and thumb a scant millimeter apart* Really, America? After eight years of Bush (yes, I'm invoking his name again) and the hell that the GOP put us through (and to some extent is still putting us through), you really want to put them back in charge? These are the same group of intolerant jerks that are so good at telling us what they hate (the president being at the top of the list, of course), but can never quite get around to telling us what they're actually for (besides tax cuts for the rich, the inexplicable need to police people's bedrooms and wombs, and a burning desire to see President Obama's birth certificate).

Are Americans actually considering putting the crazy likes of Christine O'Donnell and Sharron Angle anywhere within sniffing distance of the Senate? Are we suffering from collective amnesia? Are we really that idiotic? Unfortunately, the answer may very well be, "Why yes...yes we are."

Good god...it boggles the mind! The absolute absurdity that has become American politics confounds, angers and completely creeps me the hell out all at the same time. If Americans vote the Republicans back into power, they will definitely get what they vote for...and not in the feel good, puppies and kittens kind of way either.

The problem is, they'll be taking me with them. And I don't want to go.

Fired Up... Ready To Go!!!

2010-10-05T23:02:00.002-04:00

South Carolina Republicans Have Fun Slavery Dress-Up Party

2010-09-15T20:44:00.003-04:00

WTF!?

Oh ok, so this is how the G.O.P parties in SC? They fantasize about those grand slavery days. How wonderful...for them. I guess now that we have an African American President it makes them yearn even more for those days when blacks and women had no voice.

This is why we need to vote people. Vote = your voice! I remember in 2004 P. Diddy had a campaign "Vote or Die". For real, if you don't vote, you're no better than a rock. Useless.

I hope people see this and get motivated. This pic is what the Grand Old Party is all about, old time plantation values that only benefited the white ruling class.

Link to the article here...
South Carolina Republicans Have Fun Slavery Dress-Up Party#more-421607

Michael Eric Dyson on Keith Olbermann

2010-09-10T07:15:00.003-04:00

Not always a fan of M. E. D., but he is breaking it down in this segment on the right-wing hate merchants...

Jon Stewart: The Parent Company Trap

2010-09-06T09:18:00.004-04:00

Finally! Someone spills the beans on Fox News. It's about time...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

The Parent Company Trap

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

It's official. Real journalism is dead. The MSM has packed up and bounced. They're gone. 'Cause if they weren't, they'd be on this story like white on rice...you know, kind of like how they went on and on about Rev. Wright for damn near a month way back in the day. But the media has become a joke. They follow Fox News' lead on "stories" like lemmings off a cliff even though it's been proven time and time again that Fox lies, obfuscates and just plain makes stuff up whenever the hell they feel like it.

It's a damn shame we have to rely on a comedy show to give us the news. But right about now, I'll take what I can get.

Reality TV hits Ktown

2010-09-05T15:09:00.001-04:00

Cross-posted at The Blasian Narrative:

The cast of K-Town*

According to Tyrese (the show's producer), K-Town is supposed to be an Asian American version of Jersey Shore.

Rnbphilly.com:

Asked what Gibson wanted out of the show, he answered, “I want sexy, wild, personality, I want hot tubs, sex scenes… at the same time, I want people to know the many different layers and characteristics… I want people to know that Asians have layers… we’ve got insecurities… heartaches… challenges… I want to capture all of that on camera for all the world to see…”

Of course, you can’t squeeze water out of rock. So casting is important. This may be an Asian American reality show but no wallflowers or bookworms need apply.

Photos of the cast were released on Facebook. “And you can already tell who’s supposed to be who,” said Elizabeth at Koream magazine. “There’s the bleach blonde, the bi-sexual pornstar nude model, the aspiring actress, two meatheads, and even a Korean Snooki.”

We’re clueless about the “Snooki” [never watched Jersey Shore] but Peter Le (Vietnamese) appears to be the bisexual pornstar/nude model. And Scarlet Chan (Chinese) is evidently a hooker, or was, according to her site. The self-dubbed “Eurasian” Jennifer Field (Korean, English, Irish and German descent) is the beauty queen/aspiring actress, we presume (actually, they’re all probably aspiring actors). And the meatheads? We’re not sure which two fit that bill.

And more:

The motivation

“I don’t wanna make it too heavy, my reasons, my motivations,” Tyrese conveyed, explaining his motivation for the show.

“When it comes to Asian Americans and Asians in general, everyone’s still fighting to get their faces and images in mainstream media… but Asian deserve to be on TV like everybody else… for me, that’s the motivation,” he said, nobly.

“This ain’t for me about making no money, but this is really allowing the people to see Asians, Koreans, showing your character, your personalities, allowing the world to embrace you as they’ve embraced everybody else… African Americans dealt with it forever, we still deal with it on certain levels, but we’ve been able to push through through music and through film… but you know I think it’s about that time for Asians to get their same shot and here we are…”

I'll just say that in general, I don't like reality shows. I think they deliberately set out to make people look as foolish as possible, but on the other hand, these are all adults and no one is forcing them to do anything. Why shouldn't they get their fifteen minutes of fame just like everyone else? And since I'm not Asian, my opinion about this issue may very well be irrelevant. I've seen remarks ranging from this:

Trashy and shallow! It's not just for white people!

to this:

This. Looks. AWESOME! I totally dig this because it's the opposite of the model minority stereotype (which I most definitely do not fit into).

Yes, white people make themselves look like fools on reality TV too, but turn the channel and you'll see them in starring roles on critically-acclaimed TV dramas. POC don't have that. We get a "choice" between Flavor of Love, House of Payne or playing that one Asian guy on a remake of a '70s TV show. The only thing that makes me feel a little better about the state of TV today is that the networks are starting to lose viewership (á la Heroes and FlashFoward) because they are so damn determined to hold onto the status quo..and folks ain't havin' it.

I understand what Tyrese is saying, and I get his motiviations. But I really, really hate that POC are always forced to "back into" the mainstream instead of just being allowed to be.

*According to this website, the show has yet to be picked up by a network.

Stephen Colbert at his best

2010-08-25T07:44:00.002-04:00

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Terror Bunker 5200

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

Fox News

Ktown Cowboys

2010-08-24T14:16:00.002-04:00

If you're looking for some good viewing, feast your eyeballs on Ktown Cowboys, a webseries about a group of Asian American men and their wild, men's-night-out in Los Angeles' Koreatown. I just finished watching all eight episodes, and let me tell you...I'm a very happy fangirl. It was funny, clever and entertaining. In other words, it was a thousand times better than a lot of the crap we're subjected to on TV nowadays.

It was also nice to see Asian men being portrayed as plain-old, everyday, normal...men. Unlike the typical Hollywood norm, they weren't portrayed as asexual geeks, computer wizards, or English-challenged foreigners. They were sexy, attractive, and confident, and I say, it's about damn time. Of course, since the series came from the hearts and minds of Asian men, it's par for the course that the story and characters were done proper justice. Cause we all know what happens when other folks stick their noses in it...it doesn't turn out too well for us POC. (Does FlashFoward and that Asian, über-stereotype, Long Duk Dong ring a bell? *shudder*)

I, for one, would love to see this (or something like it) as a weekly network or cable show, but since POC aren't running things in Hollywood, I won't be holding my breath. However, it's still gratifying to see that POC aren't sitting around, holding out unrealistic hopes that studio execs will finally come to their senses and do the right thing. We're doing it on our own, doing it well and giving a great big middle finger to the suits in power while we're at it.

Ktown Cowboys - Episode 1 (You can watch all eight episodes on YouTube, which I strongly suggest. This is some good stuff.)

Love the cupcakes.... Hate the shows

2010-08-23T19:34:00.000-04:00

dreamviews.com

I am annoyed by all of these cupcake reality shows.
I love cupcakes of every variety - except coconut. Yuck.
I dislike -I hesitate to us the word hate- cupcake reality shows.
I don't care how designer cup cakes are made.
I just want to eat some when I get the urge.
For some strange reason I sat through 2 horrible episodes of DC Cupcakes.
Why? I don't know! I think my TV was stuck on that channel because I could not find the remote. I was to much of a lazy bum to get up and turn the channel.
I learned that two of the most boring sisters on TV quit their day jobs to make
delicious cupcakes for a living. I would love to try them the next time I am in DC, but that show was painful to watch.

I have not watched the other shows, Cupcake Sisters
Cupcake Wars
but just the fact that they are cupcake reality, I am predisposed not to like them.

Oh, now don't get me started on those cake decorating shows!

Blast from the past: Dwayne Wayne gets his woman...

2010-08-08T18:23:00.003-04:00

That's some damn good TV right there.

This was my absolute favorite episode of A Different World ever. I still love me some Diahann Carroll ("Die! Just die!" Hee!), and Joe Morton looks like he a baby, he was so young. Ride-or-die Ron definitely had his boy's back, and man...when Dwayne starts begging, it still gives me shivers. ("Baby, please! Please!" *fangirl shivers*) And with my young girl, late-twentieth century eyes, I thought Whitley's dress was absolutely gorgeous, but now in 2010...not so much.

*happy sigh*

Good times...goood times...

While I was able to keep myself off the floor this time, I couldn't resist throwing my hands in the air and cheering out loud on the same delicious parts. (Come on...it's just us...I won't tell anybody. You did the same thing too...didn't you?)

"President Obama Explains Healthcare.gov"

2010-08-03T22:54:00.002-04:00

The black man gets another victory...

2010-07-26T20:24:00.012-04:00

Oops, did I say that out loud?

President Obama signs Wall Street Reform into law:

See...what had happened was...

2010-07-24T23:43:00.000-04:00

Once it was discovered that Shirley Sherrod is not indeed a racist (no thanks to the joke that is the MSM) and that Andrew Brietbart is an idiot, Fox "News" is reacting predictably. (That's code for without any shame whatsoever.)

Damn, privilege must feel good.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Punked. Again.

2010-07-22T21:25:00.039-04:00

Can someone please tell me when folks are going to stop falling for the Fox "News" okey doke?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Remember the old bait-and-switch routine that Sean Hannity used on his show to try to ~~trick~~ convince his audience that there were far more protesters at a tea party rally than there actually were? Or what about Glenn Beck's faux frog boiling stunt? Or how about Fox promoting the tea party "protests" that they swore they weren't promoting, but really were? And how could we forget the hyping of the heavily edited fake-ass pimp and ho video footage that they gleefully played day in and day out to give the now-defunct ACORN a black eye?

Staying true to form, Fox happily grabbed the pigskin from Andrew Brietbart after he posted edited footage on his website of Shirley Sherrod supposedly saying something racist and ran with it (read: wouldn't shut up about it). And of course, everyone magically believed that the story was true...although they have done absolutely nothing in the past to warrant anyone's trust in their "journalistic" abilities. (Oxymoron alert!)

Poor Shirley Sherrod is out of a job over something she didn't even say (although she has been offered a new one and received a personal apology from President Obama), the White House has egg on it's face (fairly or unfairly), and as usual, Fox gets the last laugh.

What. The. Hell.

Everyone knows Fox is a joke. Sure, it's a long, unfunny, still-waiting-for-the-punchline joke, but a joke nonetheless. Yet people are still giving them the same credence that they would give a legitimate news outlet.

This is just further proof that the post-racial utopia that some white folks are happily deluding themselves exist since the election of President Obama isn't real. It never was and probably won't be for a very, very long time. Rachel is right...this is all about race, folks. A sorry, transparent attempt by the big boys at Fox to frighten white Americans into believing that the scary black people are coming to get them. There's no shame in their game, and they're going to continue to play the game because let's face it...they keep winning.

It's time to stop denying what has become so abundantly clear: Fox "News" has put away the dog whistles and pulled out the vuvuzelas.

It's time to wake the hell up, people.

Oh.....You like what you see!?

2010-07-21T22:48:00.005-04:00

Michelle Obama at Camden Yards.

Interesting photo. The First Lady looks gorgeous as usual and it appears the visiting team is appreciating that.

Idris Elba oldie but goodie

2010-07-20T23:23:00.003-04:00

Yummmmm!!!!

Can I have seconds?

Tiger JK vs. Cyber Racism

2010-07-20T19:37:00.011-04:00

Cross-posted on The Blasian Narrative:

Tiger JK of the Korean/American hip-hop group Drunken Tiger, had a few choice words to say when racist comments surfaced on the 'Net after he brought his 21-month-old son Jordan (whose mother, rapper Yoon Mi Rae, is half-black) on stage with him during a performance on Yu Huiyeol’s Sketchbook on 1/2/2010.

As any father would in this situation, he absolutely went off.

Tiger JK's Twitter page:

“can’t be liked by everybody i know, there’s an article about Jordan, and some of them relpys make me sick,,,,talkin about race,”

“talki bout his hair being nappy and he looks black, they prolly like 12, prolly yong kidz but hopefully they learn”

“Comments are always like that but there are actually kids who say things like half black half black. Racism won’t disappear forever.”

“racism, im sure they dont know no better,it’s ma fault for xposing ma son like that tho when they call ma son up to the stage i had a feelin”

“cant believe the are going as far as using the N word, they need to get the ass whooped by they pops, ignorant ass younginz”

“I know that half of the comments are written by kids who want attention but people still use the expression black.”

“ha im used to bein hated / called all kinds of name it comes wit territory / but in the states i was called a chink ,N now the N word here”

“they could hate all they could, im here for that im used to bein hated, chewed on, jk wack this and that, but can dey just C wat dey C,Love”

“callin ma wife and me kid, nappy headed N***R , i wish they would see me in the street”

“^^ I’m a father so I went crazy over hate comments. I’m sorry.”

“peops are so lonely like me da would say anytihing behind the walls of matrix to say things that would get em attention,i pray for they soul”

This may have happened over six months ago, but it's still startling. Like I said before, there are some some sick, sick folks out there. It's bad enough to say racist crap about an adult, but a baby? A baby? Really?

This family is absolutely beautiful. Screw those racist jackholes.

*As an aside, I'm loving his Twitter page pic. Very diverse.

LMAO!!!

2010-07-19T13:27:00.011-04:00

Am I incredibly wrong for thinking that it's uproariously, hilariously, gut-bustingly funny that as of this past weekend, the whitewashed mess that is The Last Airbender has only made $134,833,000 worldwide ($114,833,000 domestically) and has already fallen to number seven in the top ten after only three weeks of release?

Sure, $134,833,000 may sound like a lot of money (and really...in my sorry little existence, it is), but you have to remember that relatively speaking, in the alternate universe known as Hollywood, it's really not all that much. The movie cost $150 million to make and $130 million to market. That's $280 million bucks. It'll have to make a hell of a lot more moolah to claim that it's even a moderate hit, and it doesn't have that long to do it. A film's theatrical run only lasts so long and based on the horrendous word-of-mouth and the steady decline in ticket sales from week to week, I'll truly be surprised if it makes it.

Of course, I'm sure they'll be banking on DVD sales to give the bottom line a boast, but really, after all the horrible reviews and negative hoopla surrounding the casting of the movie, will people really buy the DVD in enough quantities to save it? *keeps fingers crossed that the answer is no and there will be no sequel. pretty please?*

Can't say that I'm sorry to see it happen, either. Maybe Hollywood will finally get the message that the public is getting tired of having the same crap sandwich served up to them over and over again and being told it's filet mignon.

Karma's a bitch, ain't it?

Blast from the past: Somebody's watching Rockwell...

2010-07-17T22:34:00.005-04:00

Remember this song? I was pretty young, so it actually used to scare me a little bit (I know...I'm weird), but I loved it just the same.

And, of course, the fact that Michael Jackson was in it sealed the deal.

RIP MJ

I really enjoyed Ninja Assassin, but...

2010-07-16T00:02:00.163-04:00

Yes, yes, I know... Once again, this fangirl is all late and after the fact. I admit it and feel suitably ashamed... *hangs head in fangirl shame*

But fangirl shame notwithstanding, I just saw Ninja Assassin for the first time about a month or so ago, and I have to say, I quite enjoyed it. It certainly wasn't perfect and had its issues, but Rain was kick-ass (hence his "Biggest Badass Star" Award win at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards), and Naomie Harris did a lot with not nearly enough, so I was more or less content. The fight scenes were fifty kinds of awesome (although bloody as hell), and I'm definitely a fangirl who just loves me a good (ninja) fight. So it was all good.

Mostly.

See, this is where the irritated black woman in me comes out. (Y'all had to know it was coming...)

I can't understand how anyone who watched Ninja Assassin didn't see any chemistry between Mika Coretti and Raizo at all. Judging by the movie stills, they were putting off sparks when they probably weren't even trying to. Those who refuse to see what is so patently obvious are having a difficult time seeing past their stereotypes of both black women and Asian men and/or their crazy Rain fangirlism. Sorry, people, but Raizo and Mika were smokin' hot. Get over it already.

And whoever made the bone-headed decision not to further explore their relationship--á la Romeo Must Die infamy--really missed out on something that had the potential to be very special and completely different. This film could have really stood out for doing something that no other movie of its kind ever does: Let the Asian hero actually get the girl. And the fact that said "getting the girl" would have ended with a rarely seen AM/BW pairing would have probably garnered this movie a much larger fanbase. But they opted to punk out instead, falling back on old tropes and tired clichés.

*sigh*

Does anyone in Hollywood have any balls?

These last two are just because Raizo/Rain is fine and the fineness deserves to be appreciated. Enjoy!

*Cross-posted on The Blasian Narrative (More or less. It's a tad bit different over there, but not by all that much.)

The Asian Man Won't Stay in His Place

2010-07-13T14:18:00.010-04:00

Remember Rain? Well, if you don't shame on you. If you do, you're already one step ahead of the game. I was recently asked by Ankhesen Mié to write a piece on how some white Americans have reacted to the South Korean R&B superstar and his supposed "otherness", and I gladly took on the challenge. Let's just say that it was a pretty eye-opening (although in no way suprising) experience...

Cross-posted on The Blasian Narrative:

For the better part of a week, I've been consuming many tasty cookies*--some tastier than others--and let me tell you, there are some crazy ass people out there in the world.

During this time, I laughed, I drooled (in a good way), and I even threw up in my mouth a little bit at some of the swill that I was forced to sit through. But I made it through the fire and in the process learned two very important things: 1) the American mainstream media is a joke, and 2) for many "real" Americans, Rain is a riddle wrapped in mystery inside an enigma, and I don't think they can handle him.

At least not yet.

Yes, they can handle Rain's music (they've come to quite enjoy "black" music I've been told), they can handle his off-the-hook dancing (Justin Timberlake makes it okay), and they can most certainly handle his good looks and drool-worthy body (they're ignorant, not stupid). But judging by the foolishness that was on display when he was here promoting his movie Ninja Assassin, I'm not sure that white America is ready for an Asian man that doesn't apologize for being...well...Asian. And not only Asian, but Asian and foreign. (Dun dun dunnn!)

For their part, interviewers don't seem to know quite how to take him nor how to act around him. They ask him stupid questions, talk to him like a five-year-old, or make inane comparisons that have absolutely nothing to do with anything relevant. (Why, for instance, ask about Justin Timberlake during a Ninja Assassin interview?)

But Rain don't play that. He doesn't seem the least bit fazed by their bullshit and even manages to take it a step further by blatantly not giving two damns about them or their privilege and oh so subtly letting them know it. (And if you really pay attention, you'll notice that his English can get a tad bit spotty sometimes. Hmmm...wonder why that is?)

With this über-confident attitude, he manages to confound them, easily flipping the script on their “we’re #1!” mentality as easily as Obi Wan Kenobi punked the Imperial Stormtroopers in Star Wars. POC may not know it, but the Force is strong in us. We have an uncanny ability to flawlessly play “the game” to our advantage, and we’ve become virtual Jedi Masters at making white people believe that we care what they think when we really, really don’t. The POC version of the Jedi mind trick if you will.

But I digress.

During my research*, it became glaringly apparent that some white folks have absolutely no idea how to quantify an Asian man who has massive amounts of swagger and sings and talks with such a deep, soulful voice that a woman’s clothes melt clean off her body. "But how can that be?" they ask themselves in amazement. "He's Asian! And foreign!" (Dun dun dunnn!) Or in other words, he's not the geeky, brainy, asexual, effeminate, fill-in-the-blank Asian stereotype that they've been told he should be.

In all of their high-minded privilege, these people seem to forget that this particular Asian man didn’t grow up in a country that treats him like a second-class citizen. They brush aside the fact that in Korea, he’s the majority, and therefore, doesn’t see white as an automatic default. To their neverending chagrin, this Asian man ain't bowing and scraping, shuckin’ and jivin’, skinnin’ and grinnin', or all around coonin' like a proper POC is supposed to do.

So what to do with him then? Read up on Korea to learn what his culture is all about? Understand that there are cultural differences that will inevitably pop up every now and again and react accordingly? Acknowledge that English is one of the hardest languages on the planet to learn, yet he's done an excellent job of it so far? And all while maintaining an extremely successful music and acting career?

Nah.

Instead of opening their minds and, you know, actually trying to learn something new, their quick and easy answer is to play “cut and paste” with his personality in order to make themselves feel more comfortable. They throw around tired code words like “cocky” and “arrogant” (read: that uppity Asian man) to mask their racism and gleefully mock his accented English in blatant, unashamed displays of xenophobia. ("Fresh Ramen" instead of "Fresh Woman." Hardy har har...)

The real problem for these folks is that an Asian man isn't supposed to be confident enough to unapologetically proclaim himself sexy. He’s not supposed to be self-aware enough to know that he doesn’t need white acceptance to validate his existence. And he’s certainly not supposed to be so comfortable in his own skin that he knows he’s talented enough to go where most non-blacks fear to tread and is damn good while doing it.

See, I've come to the conclusion that Rain doesn’t just want to take America by storm...he wants to conquer this shit. And they know it. He might not say it out loud, but come on...you know that’s what he wants to do.

And you also know that the white establishment ain’t trying to have that. So instead of Rain, we get the two Justins.

Whoop-de-freakin'-do.

*cookies, research - please see The Addictionary over at the Narrative for the Addicts' definition.

The Boondocks on Tyler Perry

2010-07-12T23:14:00.008-04:00

The Boondocks takes on Tyler Perry.

I have really good friends that really like Tyler Perry movies. Talking about his movies with those friends is like talking about politics with people at work. By the time the conversation is over both sides look like they have been sucking on lemons.

On one hand, you have to appreciate the accomplishments. He has his own sh*t. So he should, ideally, be able to make whatever he wants on film, but we still get this rehash of the same old formula. Like 3 day old leftovers, it's getting tired. So while I laughed and gasped when I saw this bashing from The Boondocks, I still root for Tyler Perry. I recognize what he has accomplished.

Truth be told, his projects employ many actors of color. While the vehicle may not be the most impressive, I am sure those that they benefited from it appreciated the opportunity. I hope his future endeavors will live up to a higher standard. Please Tyler, put the damn dress away! ... Not that there is anything wrong with it, but Madea as a character has had her day.

Here is The Boondocks on Tyler Perry:

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Prince Wages War On The Internet And Shuts His Website Down

2010-07-06T21:57:00.008-04:00

Prince Wages War On The Internet And Shuts His Website Down

I have been a Prince fan since the 70's. I was jammin' to his music before I understood what his verses were really saying. My cousin had the poster of him, naked, on that white horse. I wanted that poster soooooo bad! His hair was long and feathered like Farrah Fawcett. It was awesome!

I remember watching MTV all day waiting for them to play the 1999 and Little Red Corvette videos. He was and still is a beautiful man. I wanted his hair. He had these soft, bouncy, curls and his eyeliner... Uh! Forget about it! I burnt cheap mascara trying to make my eyes look mysterious and dark like his... Was that weird?

Purple is my favorite color because I thought it was his favorite color. After Purple Rain came out, I asked my mother to buy me everything purple for Christmas and she did. My mother is so awesome. I heard the BET Awards recent tribute to Prince was terrible, so I refused to watch it.

I confess, I should be doing loftier things during my brief time on the 'net, like refining my job search technique and taking those webinar courses I need for this certification I am trying to obtain, but instead, I ventured off to gossip sites and saw this article on Prince. He shut down his website and wants to take his music offline. Look, I am old school and prefer to have tangible music. Since I can't have albums anymore, I like cd's. I like to look at the dedications, the pictures, and the credits. If Prince does not want to sell downloads of his music, I can dig it, but shuttering his website seems a little grumpy grandpa.

Come on Prince, come back to us.

No matter what, I will always be a fan of Prince and Adore will always be my favorite song - it is beautiful and truly poetic. International Lover taught me a thing or two about a thing or two...I had an "aha moment" after my young self got all the innuendos in that song.

Oh, America, America, America...we're really being deprived...

2010-07-05T15:21:00.006-04:00

Meet Brown Eyed Soul. Yet another amazing South Korean R&B act with incredible talent that the U.S. knows nothing about. We are truly missing out on some outstanding talent, folks.

"End of the Road"

"My Everything"

Chris Matthews vs. GOPer Rick Barber

2010-06-30T23:35:00.002-04:00

Wow. I haven't seen Chris Matthews this worked up since he got a thrill up his leg during the 2008 presidential campaign (his words, not mine people).

I've got to give it to him. He laid the smack down on Alabama GOP House hopeful Rick Barber today. He called Barber out on the incendiary language that was used in his campaign commercial ("Gather your armies." *sigh*) and for his disingenuous double-speak.

For his part, Barber reminded me of the worst stereotypes you can think of for a used car salesman: oily, slick, and just plain creepy. The first thing I did after I watched this was head for the shower. Ugh.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Fondly remembering the pretty that was Zoey and Demetri...

2010-06-29T18:42:00.011-04:00

I know, I know. I'm all late and after the fact. But better late than never, right?

FlashForward started out with so much promise: A multi-cultural cast, an interesting hook, a hell of a premiere episode and loads of talent. And then...well...things didn't go so well. (Sounds a lot like Heroes, doesn't it?) But that wasn't my main issue with the show.

Now I'm certainly not going to say anything here that hasn't been said before (and said better), but I will say that seeing the pairing of an Asian man and a black woman on a major network television show was not only refreshing, but I'd even go so far as to say that it was borderline groundbreaking. You just don't see that pairing on TV.

Ever.

According to Gabrielle Union, it was a deliberate decision to pair Demetri's character with a black woman, and it was kind of a big deal at the time. Zoey Andata was beautiful, talented and loving, and Demetri Noh (John Cho) was gorgeous, a BAMF FBI agent and very into his woman. Everything was cool...right up until Zoey started acting like the stereotypical "angry black woman" and Dem offered to impregnate the show's only gay character so that she could have her FlashForward baby. What the hell was that?

Sounds ridiculous, right? Well, that's because it was. Of course I didn't expect everything to be all snuggly and kissy-kissy forever, but...really? That's all the writer's could come up with? Falling back on tired stereotypes of black women and trying to make the lesbian character go straight with a good sexing from a man? Really?

FlashForward went from a serious, sci fi-ish TV drama to a nighttime soap opera in the blink of an eye. The show's creative "genuises" stopped respecting their characters, and it showed. (Dem, Zoey, Janis, Al's memory...need I go on?) Once the show got back from hiatus, it didn't take long for both viewers and critics alike to realize that something wasn't quite right. And little by little we stopped watching. And the studio big shots finally got the picture that we weren't coming back and gave the show the old heave-ho.

In my opinion, they got what they deserved. But who knows? Maybe it'll be a lesson learned for the next show of this type that comes along.

Ummm...

Nope. I highly doubt it.

(LR photo: Wikipedia)

Geek Break! - Burn Notice: Season 4

2010-06-27T18:38:00.011-04:00

Yes, I admit it. I've been a very bad fangirl. The USA Network's hit show began its fourth season on June 3rd, and I'm just now realizing it. (Bad, fangirl! Bad!)

This is absolutely one of my favorite summer shows. Michael, Fiona and Sam. BAMFs all. Hell, even Michael's mother Maddie is a BAMF in her own chain-smoking, gravelly-voiced way. Sharon Gless is great. I constantly get the feeling that Maddie is always about two seconds away from cursing somebody out. And she doesn't discriminate either. Maddie will tell anybody off: Michael, Sam, the cops, government agents. If you get the hell on her nerves, she's going to tell your ass off. Period.

After the show's original hook drew everyone in, I was wondering how they were going to keep up with the "burned spy" theme, but they've done a pretty good job so far. They've kept it interesting, and I'm still curious to see what the show's endgame is going to be. As long as it doesn't get ridiculous, I'll be along for the ride.

Fortunately for me, my handy-dandy DVR is set to record all new episodes, so I'm off to grab a yogurt and have a Burn Notice mini-marathon.

It's been way too long since I've had my weekly date with a certain sexy, burned ex-spy.

More sexy Korean soul...

2010-06-26T10:58:00.028-04:00

This is Se7en, ladies. Another internationally known, South Korean R&B superstar that has gone virtually unnoticed here in America. We're so busy watching reality shows and wondering what Lindsey Lohan's newest addiction is that we can't see actual talent even when it slaps us right in the face.

There is absolutely no reason that either Se7en's or Rain's music shouldn't be blasting from every black radio station in the country. None. Especially since they've each done collaborations with popular black artists. (And yes, they both speak English... Next excuse?)

Where's the love for our fellow POC who are out there representing and doing it right? (But we just love us some Justin, don't we?)

And why yes, that is Lil' Kim you see in Se7en's video. Thanks for asking.

And because too much sexy can never be a bad thing (at least in this instance), I have more goodies for you:

"Love Song" - Rain (Engligh version-audio only). Now tell me again that people wouldn't be blasting either of these songs if they were to be played on American radio and was promoted correctly?

"Love Song" - Rain (Korean version)

"Hip Song" - Rain (music from The Karate Kid, but once again, it was only released in Asian countries.)

(edited version of original post)

Let's pause for a little Rainism, shall we?

2010-06-22T07:16:00.025-04:00

My, my, my. Internationally known, South Korean R&B superstar Rain (the Ninja Assassin himself) is at his absolute finest in this video. I said it and I'll say it again...damn, can that man can move! Don't let his innocent looks fool you, girls--this man definitely knows how to work it.

And no, he's not the "Korean Justin Timberlake" aka the "Justin Timberlake of Asia."

He's Rain.

You better recognize.

(edited version of original post)

Geek Break! - HawthoRNe: Season 2

2010-06-21T06:47:00.015-04:00

New episodes of TNT's hit show HawthoRNe return on June 22 at 9:00 EST, and according to interviews, Christina Hawthorne (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Dr. Tom Wakefield (Michael Vartan) are about to make all of the Christina/Tom shippers very, very happy. According to both Vartan and Pinkett-Smith, the sizzling unresolved sexual tension (UST) that will be carried over from the first season is about to be taken to the next level. This is an unusual move, since TV shows are known for barely skimming the surface of an implied romance and then dragging out the tension through several seasons before they satisfy our fangirly, shipper hearts. (Eureka, I'm looking at you!) But HawthoRNe has obviously opted to go a different route. Well, I say, good for them!

According to Michael Vartan:

Q: Has being recently engaged affected your acting, in any way, especially with the romantic storyline between Tom and Christina?

Michael: It hasn’t, at all. It’s never fun doing those love scenes. I can’t imagine it being fun for your significant other, but it is television. Luckily, in TV, there’s only so much you can do and there’s only so far you can go. We try to make the love scene as steamy, passionate and sensual for the audience as possible, but at the end of the day, you can still only show and do so much. So, it does remain on the tame side. And, we’re all adults here, so everyone understands what’s happening. It hasn’t been an issue, which is great, but it could be.

Hmmm... Did he say steamy, passionate love scene? Squee! But, alas, it's not going to be all wine and roses. Of course it's not. It's TV, remember?

Q: Will what happened at the end of the third episode affect Tom and Christina’s relationship, in a negative way?

Michael: What happens at the end of Episode 3 is basically the driving force for this entire season. As you can imagine, it opens up a whole box of all kinds of good and bad stuff. A relationship in the workplace, on the best of days, can only be complicated, I would imagine. Given these two, their history, the intense level of passion and the feelings they have for one another, and it’s going to create a lot of problems for them. As actors, it also gave us to chance this year to really have a lot of fun because conflict is always more interesting than flat seas. No one wants to see happy people having fun. We want to see people overcoming obstacles and drama. So, it’s really changed their relationship, for sure, and there’s going to be a lot of conflict. It’s just very hard, very messy and very complicated. It’s been a lot of fun.

Of course, they'll probably find some way to drive them apart somehow by the end of the season to keep the UST going strong for Season 3, but such is the way of TV dramas.

I know some people have a problem with this show for various and sundry personal reasons, and that's fine. But I'm so damn happy to see a black woman in a lead role that it would have to be the baddest of the bad for me not to watch it and in my humble opinion, this show isn't even close. (Please take a look at the Fall 2009 line-up of new and returning shows and get back to me on the number of black female leads on either network or cable TV. Unless I'm missing a couple of shows, I can count them on one hand.)

I can name a few of those bad, cliched shows and they don't have black, female leads. But some of those shows are still on TV. And they're popular. Go figure.

(photo: TNT)

The Rachel Maddow Show: Tony Hayward Senate hearing montage

2010-06-20T16:36:00.005-04:00

Let's not let Rep. Joe Barton have all the fun. Yes, he stole the "I-should-be-so-embarrassed-for-this-performance-that-I-want-the-ground-to-open-up-and-swallow-me" thunder from Tony Hayward, but shucks, it wouldn't be fair to let him keep the spotlight all to himself, now would it?

Texas Rep. Joe Barton apologizes to BP...and then apologizes for his apology. Huh?!

2010-06-19T08:08:00.009-04:00

Okay...wait. Isn't the GOP the party of "personal responsibility?" BP is responsible for one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history, so why should one of our duly elected representatives be apologizing to them? For any reason? Oh, I get it. When "regular" people (read: minorities or the poor) need help by way of unemployment benefits or decent, affordable health care...that's a problem for the GOP. But when the president secured $20 billion dollars for the victims of the Gulf oil spill tragedy and $100 million dollars for out-of-work oil rig workers, a member of the GOP immediately felt the need to apologize to his corporate masters for the horrible "shakedown" that they had to endure at the hands of the U.S. government. Really?

Of course, Barton later apologized for his apology (probably after having a few nice "chats" with some of his fellow GOPers after the firestorm of negative press rained down on them), but the damage had already been done. The thinking on this one was very clear: "regular" people must pull themselves up by their bootstraps, but corporations can do whatever the hell they want, whenever the hell they want and aren't responsible for any of the horrible results caused by any bad decisions that they make. (Wall Street, anyone?) It would seem that according to the GOP, personal responsibity is only for the little people. Corporations--or in other words, wealthy folks--are exempt.

But, of course, at the end of the day we'd supposedly only "miscontructed" his apology. No, Mr. Barton, we understood you perfectly the first time. No apology for the apology was necessary.

Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs

2010-06-17T23:11:00.008-04:00

Goofy Sharron Angle. Way to go Nevada.

Kooky Rand Paul. Thanks Kentucky.

Whoa... See what happens when you flirt with the crazy! Like that weird guy you say hello to because your mama taught you to always be polite. He, of course, takes it the wrong way and thinks that you like him…Not! Saying hello really is just a hello; not a flirt. The GOP did more than say hello to the fanatics, they flirted, took them out on dates during the health care reform deliberations, and finally went all the way.

No longer relegated to the deep dark corners of the Republican Party, theses mobs now referred to as tea-baggers are ready for their day in the spotlight. The GOP took a chance when they danced with the devil. Now they have to contend with Rand Paul and Sharron Angle - among others. That's a lot of crazy! Rand Paul compares him self to Late, Great, Martin Luther King Jr. Sharron, is threatening to take Harry Reid out; not on a date.

It is going to be a long, hot, crazy, summer.

The Ed Show: Obama meeting with BP a "victory"

2010-06-17T22:48:00.004-04:00

Some liberals out there are acting like they're just as disappointed as the Republicans at this development. I feel like I'm living in Bizarro world.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sorry Senate Apologizes for Slavery with an oh So Slick twist

2010-06-16T23:33:00.004-04:00

So the U. S. Senate aplogizes for Slavery and Jim Crow Laws and for Segregation Laws; all the institutionalized shit that blacks endured for centuries just for being black.

And of course being the Senate, they had to throw some contingencies in there just in case Negroes got any ideas about qualifying or quantifyin' any reparations. Cause for us Negroes, sorry should do it.

Can a simple sorry atone for 400 years of slavery? I can't speak for all blacks, only myself. We do not want special treatment or exemptions, we only want what is fair and right and what has already been set by precedent. Holocaust survivors have, rightly so, demanded and received some form of reparations for the atrocities their people experienced. Japanese Americans who were interned during WWII received compensation for that. I find that just and reasonable, so why is it that blacks get nothing?

Its not monetary! Really it isn't! It is the symbolism. It is the symbolism that matters so when you fake an apology, and put no meaning behind it, it means less. It has no significance, no value or merit. It is just words. For an apology for slavery to have to be bartered and dealed with and back-doored and negotiated and haggled over, does not give it any legitimacy. So, sorry, I do not accept. Actions speak louder than words and the fact that it took your side a year to come to some kind of resolution on this speaks volumes.

Geek Break! - Eureka: Season 4

2010-06-16T23:21:00.007-04:00

I've been waiting since last year for new episodes of this show. I know that a lot of people really liked Tess Fontana, but I can't say that I'm sorry that she took that job in Australia. I've been watching Eureka since the first season, so I'm still hoping for a Jack/Allison hook up, which based on the below interview with Salli and Colin, is going to happen eventually. (Yay!)

I'd also like to see more Henry, more Fargo, and more Taggart. And whatever happened to LoJack the dog? Come on, July 9th!

I have a confession to make...

2010-06-15T23:06:00.013-04:00

Yep, I admit it. I fell for the okey doke. I let myself become mired in the ooey, gooey, sticky-sweet absurdity that is the mainstream media (MSM) and followed the-president-is-not-showing-enough-emotion meme around like it owed me money. Yes, I’m embarrassed to admit that I let the MSM snap a leash around my neck and lead me around like a prize poodle at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

In the weeks following the Gulf oil spill disaster, I found myself getting upset with the president because…well…just because. He wasn’t being tough enough, sad enough, angry enough, empathetic enough, sympathetic enough, or enough enough. But I'm proud to say that I've since recovered the common sense that had unfortunately decided to take a short vacation from my brain. (Oh, common sense, how I’ve missed you!)

Now, of course, there are legitimate criticisms of the Administration, but the press seems to have latched onto this Emo!President meme because they’ve opted for being shallow and lazy rather than practicing real journalism. I personally think that Sec. of the Interior Ken Salazar should be standing in the unemployment line along with millions of other Americans, that President Obama should have met with BP a long time ago and that the government erroneously put its trust in BP for way too long and got punked in the process. But that’s just my two cents. I’m just a woman with an opinion, and agree or disagree, at least my concerns are coherent and aren't based soley on feelings.

Unfortunately, it appears as if the president is suffering from a massive PR problem that harkens back to the Health Care Reform "debate" last summer. That particular train wreck went so far off the rails that ridiculously misinformed people--who obviously believed everything that Fox News told them--actually thought that a government Death Squad was going to storm Grandma's house in the middle of the night and cart her off to be euthenized like a stray dog. To this image-conscious society, it’s the perception of the president's supposed inaction in the Gulf that's driving the narrative, not what the goverment has actually been doing (of course, whether you agree with the level of response is always debatable). And--surprise, surprise--the MSM is all too happy to do its part.

President Obama doesn’t have to verbalize that he “wants to know whose ass to kick” for me to know he’s angry, but the fact that he said it doesn’t bother me either. What does bother me however, is that the same people who where criticizing him for being too Zen for their tastes, all of a sudden have a problem with him using the word “ass” in his interview with Matt Lauer last week. And now of course, he’s being “street” and “un-presidential.”

Now see, as a black woman, I know that a double-standard exists. I know that a black person can’t show negative emotions without being seen as an “angry black man" or an "angry black woman.” I know that showing annoyance in your own home when you've done absolutely nothing wrong can get you a trip to the police station at best and your own personal coffin at worst. Even justified anger will be held against you. I know, because I’ve experienced this double-standard firsthand many times...along with every single black person that I know. (If you want to deny that, please go and read a history book--just make sure it’s not one from Texas.)

Sorry, people, but President Obama does not have the luxury of showing his anger or telegraphing irritation or displeasure the same way that a white president would. Or a white senator. Or a white lawyer. Or a white political strategist. Or a white newspaper columnist. Or a white talk show host.

And that’s why I should have known better in the first place. Needless to say, I won’t be falling into that trap again.

Once was more than enough.

(photo: AP)

Note to Hollywood: It's time to join the 21st-century

2010-06-13T23:04:00.031-04:00

I saw The Karate Kid this past Saturday and greatly enjoyed it. I laughed, I cheered, I even shed a tear or two (or three...yes, I can be a real sap sometimes). There were blacks, whites, young and old who clapped during the tournament scenes as if they were there themselves, and after clapping giddily at the end of the movie, left the theater with smiles on their faces.

Judging by its $56 million dollar haul over the weekend, the movie is an inarguable hit, surpassing even the studio's expectations. All of the major roles in this movie were played by people of color and--gasp!--people still turned out to see it. Maybe I'm being a wide-eyed Pollyanna, but I firmly believe that the viewing public is not a monolithic entity and will in fact turn out in droves to see a mainstream movie that doesn’t star a white actor and/or actress and doesn’t have black people (or other people of color) acting in stereotypically offensive ways.

Yes, I know. The film had superstar Will Smith (along with wife Jada Pinkett-Smith) behind the scenes doing the heavy lifting, but that just proves my point. A movie doesn’t have to get pigeonholed as “a black movie” that only people of color will want to see if the studio invests as much time and money promoting and backing it as they do for films that have majority white or all white casts (and a good script and good actors certainly help). And based on the diversity that I saw in the theater this weekend (along with The Princess and the Frog last December), the public looks like its ready for something different. (Hear that Prince of Persia and The Last Airbender? Something different.)

Of course, some will do well and some will flop, but that’s the chance a studio takes with any movie. All I ask is for some balance. Because too much of any one thing is never good.

Whatever it may happen to be.

Someone Married Slush Limbaugh....Again. Congratulations!?

2010-06-07T23:33:00.009-04:00

Say What!

2010-05-20T06:41:00.007-04:00

Meet the real Rand Paul everybody. Yikes!

2010-05-11T23:21:00.005-04:00

Hypocrite George Rekers's male escort speaks in this clip from CNN.

Thom Hartmann Interview with Mike Papantonio

2010-05-04T22:29:00.004-04:00

Go get'em!

Even more reasons to love Jon Stewart

2010-04-28T13:07:00.009-04:00

Gotta love him!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Law & Border

http://www.thedailyshow.com/

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

"Sh*tty Deal"

2010-04-27T22:40:00.008-04:00

I haven't heard sh*t used this much since my last family reunion.

Glad to see the Dems finally found some balls.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Brown is the new black

2010-04-26T22:46:00.017-04:00

As a black person--as a human being--I’m horrified at this horrendous new law in Arizona that essentially legalizes racial profiling. The law requires the police to stop anyone they suspect of not being a legal US citizen and requesting proof of citizenship. Hmmm...I wonder what they're going to base their initial "reasonable suspicion" on? Clothes? Shoes? Everything but the color of one's skin, right?

Wrong.

What the hell is happening to America? Damn it, I want my country back.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

More Reasons to Love Jon Stewart

2010-04-21T22:55:00.006-04:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Bernie Goldberg Fires Back

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

First Lady Michelle Obama visits Haiti

2010-04-14T07:08:00.011-04:00

The First Lady (accompanied by Dr. Jill Biden) makes an unannounced visit to Haiti yesterday on her first trip abroad sans the POTUS.

Cringe worthy Huckabee viewing

2010-04-13T21:41:00.031-04:00

Yet another old white man who longs for a return to a "simpler" time when black folks knew our place, women were barefoot and pregnant, and no one even dared to dream that a black man could become the American President.

It's kind of comical to watch the likes of Jon Voight, Pat Buchanan and Newt Gingrich flail around like the out of touch, intolerant, ignoramuses that they are. The world is changing around them, yet they stubbornly cling to an era that is long gone and is not coming back.

I almost feel sorry for these people, but it's hard to feel anything other than a healthy bit of disgust for those who willfully and happily chose to remain ignorant just because they're afraid of change.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Virginia is For ________? Fill in the blank

2010-04-11T22:15:00.008-04:00

Elections sure do matter. We are not just speaking of the presidential election cycle. Local and state elections need to have the same dedication as national.

Look what happened in Virginia. Low turn out and a not-so-great candidate played into Bob McDonnell's victory in VA. McDonnell was supposed to be a moderate, but now his true colors are showing

I am sure Sheila Johnson is having second thoughts.
She fell for the okey doke and supported Bob McDonnell, campaigned for him, and defended his views on women's rights.

This is the thanks Sheila and all the other African-Americans get for their support- Confederate History Month! BOOOOOOOOO!!

I see Bob wasted no time showing revealing his true color self.

Roland Martin's Take...

President Obama Throwing Out First Pitch For The Washington Nationals

2010-04-05T22:33:00.004-04:00

President Obama On Making Education More Affordable

2010-03-30T22:47:00.005-04:00

Part 2

Part 3

Blast from the past: Janeane Garafalo was right...

2010-03-25T14:27:00.012-04:00

Remember this gem? Janeane Garafalo called it correctly nearly a year ago and was absolutely lambasted for telling the truth about the tea party people. When others were making excuses for their bad behavior and nonsensical rantings, Janeane knew what she was seeing and had the courage to put it out there.

The tea partiers have finally taken the mask (or should I say the hood?) off the true reason for their discontent. They're a bunch of racists who used the health care reform debate as their excuse to spew hate and venom with like-minded racists.

Janeane was right damn it, and now everyone else seems to be getting it. Finally.

Because trust me, black folks got it a long time ago.

David Frum on ABC's Nightline

2010-03-24T07:14:00.007-04:00

Frum: "Republicans originally thought that Fox worked for us, and now we are discovering we work for Fox"
From the March 22 edition of ABC's Nightline

It's official!

2010-03-23T23:03:00.007-04:00

Sorry, Jim DeMint, his name is not Toby.

It's President Barack Hussein Obama.

You better recognize.

Checkmate

2010-03-22T21:58:00.002-04:00

It was just a matter of time...

2010-03-21T15:33:00.037-04:00

It didn't take clairvoyance to know that these teabaggers were going to cross the line sooner or later. The only thing that surprised me is that it took this long. These folks have been a powder keg just waiting for someone to come along and light their fuse. The health care vote is obviously their match.

Where protestors let their racist signs speak for them in the past, they're now loud and proud, spewing their bigotry without any shame whatsoever: spitting on members of Congress, calling a prominent member of Congress a "nigger" and calling an openly gay Congressman a "faggot."

From MSNBC:

Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., told a reporter that as he left the Cannon House Office Building with Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a leader of the civil rights era, some among the crowd chanted "the N-word, the N-word, 15 times." Both Carson and Lewis are black, and Lewis spokeswoman Brenda Jones also said that it occurred.

"It was like going into the time machine with John Lewis," said Carson, a large former police officer who said he wasn't frightened but worried about the 70-year-old Lewis, who is twice his age. "He said it reminded him of another time."

Kristie Greco, spokeswoman for Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said a protester spit on Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., who is black and said police escorted the lawmakers into the Capitol. Cleaver's office said he would decline to press charges, but Sgt. Kimberly Schneider of the U.S. Capitol Police said in an e-mail later: "We did not make any arrests today."

Clyburn, who led fellow black students in integrating South Carolina's public facilities a half century ago, called the behavior "absolutely shocking."

"I heard people saying things today that I have not heard since March 15, 1960, when I was marching to try to get off the back of the bus," Clyburn told reporters.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who is gay, said protesters shouted "abusive things" to him as he walked from the Longworth building to the Rayburn building. "It's a mob mentality that doesn't work politically," he said.

Post-racial? Please.

Kucinich to vote "yes" on the health care bill...

2010-03-18T13:51:00.006-04:00

...now it's time for everyone else to fall in line. This bill might not be the best, but it's something. It's certainly more than the Republicans did with this issue when they were in charge.

I'm just sayin'.

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SNL's take on Eric Massa

2010-03-14T21:38:00.002-04:00

Steele Responds to 'Evil' Cartoons

2010-03-04T21:51:00.005-05:00

When Michael Steele was chosen as RNC Chair, I secretly rooted for him to do a good job. We all knew what it was... The GOP was trying to play chess. They thought they could play matchy matchy with the color, but intellect and common sense matter too.

I live in Maryland so I knew he was goofy, but I hoped (to myself) that he would make the best out of this opportunity.

Michael is trying to be all "Mavericky" with the RNC. Now this latest stunt just deligitmizes himself and their organization even more... not that I am on their side. I am simply amazed at the kookery of these people.

Steele Responds to 'Evil' Cartoons

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