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Instant CongressUpcoming eventsWords to live byThe truth is that as a woman, a woman of color, and specifically an African American woman, the insults come so fast and furious that there’s always the danger of becoming overwhelmed and de-sensitized. Sad to say, but I’m used to hearing black and brown women being call “bitch†“ho†“skank†“skeazer†“gold digger†or some variation of all of the above in popular songs and music videos. “Norbit,†Eddie Murphy’s current movie, may be the most recent example of a black man putting on a dress and playing the fat, ignorant, loud, brown-skinned black woman as an object of ridicule and revulsion, you can bet it won’t be the last. And check out “Flavor of Love,†VH1’s hit show in which women demean themselves in an effort to get Flava Flav - brought beneath low since his high as a member of the seriously political rap group Public Enemy - to choose them. What these three have in common is that they demean black women, earn handsome profits for their corporate sponsors, and for the most part exist devoid of criticism. Subscribe Buttons                    | ||
Fakey, flakey politicos
When I was still enamored with the study of the three branches of government, I thought I wanted to go for a law degree. When someone told me about how many hours was spent on study of torts, I decided there must be another way of influencing legislation. It was hard to give up on the notion that "there ought to be a law" was a citizen's main responsibiltiy. With a little maturity, it occurred to me that most laws were made to satisfy public opinion (at least an influential part of it) and that elected officials were interested in giving the voters what they wanted (or thought they wanted.)
Was an educated electorate the answer? If so, who would decide on the type of education? Then I learned that the Black Panthers, in organizing their priorities did not have a Dept of Education, just a Propaganda Division. In time I thought about that idea after NCLB was crafted. My Senator, Alexander from TN, campaigned against a Dept of Educ. before he became its Secretary. Go figure.
Maybe it is not unrealistic to think that public opinion, freely expressed in person and in the media, is the glue which directs the direction of society.
For what it's worth, blogdom is a part of some new direction. Let's hope is has more light than heat.