I'm curious as to if there is any truth to the story that one year during
the MLK Jr. assembly he said something like there would be no equality in
the US until the White House was renamed the "Black House." Sound's like
something he'd say, but I'm curious what the exact quotation was.
Anyway, that guy was nuts-o. I had Library work service Junior year and
the man scared the hell out of me. I'd be in the back of the library
putting magnetic strips in books and would often hear him at his desk
behind me leave a message on someone's phone, real polite-like, and then
slam the phone down and start cursing and grunting/groweling. I'd turn
around and he'd look like nothing happened! Scared the hell out of me.
If you asked anything of him, he'd make you feel like you were causing him
the biggest hardship of his whole life and he couldn't manage to get
through helping you without sighing/grunting 10 or 11 times. He acted
like the whole world was out to get him; he was such a _victim_.
Blah, there's my rant. I needed to vent my RusRob frustrations before
they caused me nightmares in my old age.
Have a good week, everyone! Watch out for hurricanes.... :-D
--Phipps
c/o '02
Monday, April 10, 2006
Contiued Miseducation of the American Negro
Stop blaming victims
http://www.heraldsun.com/images/tanline.gif
The horrific murder that took place at Northgate Mall on Dec. 27th is beyond words and my belated sympathies go to all families involved for their losses. And after reading the Brian McGhee's letter of Jan. 4th, I am completely vexed by this cycle of blaming the victim. I feel another onset of WPFS (White People Fatigue Syndrome).
This crime scene had two victims; the obvious, Lazarren McClean, the valiant young brother who laid down his life for his sister, and the latent, Lamar Bass, the nihilistic, self-destructive young brother accused of doing the shooting.
To fault parents (in this case, Bass') merely perpetuates a cycle of blame thereby continuing a crisis of overdue discourse that urgently needs to take place.
What drives so many young men to commit murder? And how do they get handguns in the first place? Where was security to prevent the shooting at Northgate from happening?
These questions have at least three intuitional answers. Granted, parental/guardianship culpability is a must; at the same time, this issue and others like it lack the luxury of being viewed through the convenient myopic lens.
This emergent problem requires public accountability to where we stop criminalizing and demonizing the folk "in da hood" and start jailing politicians and public officials who allow these pre-existing, criminal social-conditions to proliferate further in our collective city.
W. RUSSELL ROBINSON
Durham
January 8, 2006
http://www.heraldsun.com/images/tanline.gif
The horrific murder that took place at Northgate Mall on Dec. 27th is beyond words and my belated sympathies go to all families involved for their losses. And after reading the Brian McGhee's letter of Jan. 4th, I am completely vexed by this cycle of blaming the victim. I feel another onset of WPFS (White People Fatigue Syndrome).
This crime scene had two victims; the obvious, Lazarren McClean, the valiant young brother who laid down his life for his sister, and the latent, Lamar Bass, the nihilistic, self-destructive young brother accused of doing the shooting.
To fault parents (in this case, Bass') merely perpetuates a cycle of blame thereby continuing a crisis of overdue discourse that urgently needs to take place.
What drives so many young men to commit murder? And how do they get handguns in the first place? Where was security to prevent the shooting at Northgate from happening?
These questions have at least three intuitional answers. Granted, parental/guardianship culpability is a must; at the same time, this issue and others like it lack the luxury of being viewed through the convenient myopic lens.
This emergent problem requires public accountability to where we stop criminalizing and demonizing the folk "in da hood" and start jailing politicians and public officials who allow these pre-existing, criminal social-conditions to proliferate further in our collective city.
W. RUSSELL ROBINSON
Durham
January 8, 2006
Family Business and the N Word
Family business
The word "nigger," used by the wrong people, in the wrong context, will reap serious consequences, repercussions, lacerations and possible concussions ["The N-word," March 6]. If this book is a prelude to the next level of African-American scholarship, then there is more to the phrase "Higher Learning." Forget phonics, this academician is hooked on crack.
"Nigger" may never be erased from our lexicon. However, more worthy of debate is the nonverbal systemic employ of this pejorative. Let's start with the obvious, Randall Kennedy. Is it apropos for an African-American professor to profit by sharing despicable "family business," under the guise of intellectualism? At the risk of offending readers, it looks more like intellectual masturbation and a cheap way to make a buck.
Switching gears, let's revisit this year's Grammy ceremony. Why is it that Alicia Keys wins five awards while India.Arie wins none? Both sisters are talented as Keys has tapped the mainstream white audience while Arie has a more Afrocentric fan base. Could it be that money is the common denominator and the fair-skinned Keys, backed by the Clive Davis music factory, is less threatening than brown-skinned Arie?
What of the "niggarocity" that plagues our school systems? When discussing the achievement gap and the digital divide, black and brown children represent a disproportionate number of the disenfranchised. Money plus position and influence equals accessibility to training, resources and opportunity. What used to be Jim Crow, we now refer to as redistricting.
Lastly, what of the anti N-word machine aka the court system? In the prophetic words of Redd Foxx, "There are enough N-words in here to make a Tarzan movie."
In short, words say nothing; actions say all. This book is like putting out a fire with gasoline. Shall we light a match and pray?
--RUSSELL ROBINSON, DURHAM
The word "nigger," used by the wrong people, in the wrong context, will reap serious consequences, repercussions, lacerations and possible concussions ["The N-word," March 6]. If this book is a prelude to the next level of African-American scholarship, then there is more to the phrase "Higher Learning." Forget phonics, this academician is hooked on crack.
"Nigger" may never be erased from our lexicon. However, more worthy of debate is the nonverbal systemic employ of this pejorative. Let's start with the obvious, Randall Kennedy. Is it apropos for an African-American professor to profit by sharing despicable "family business," under the guise of intellectualism? At the risk of offending readers, it looks more like intellectual masturbation and a cheap way to make a buck.
Switching gears, let's revisit this year's Grammy ceremony. Why is it that Alicia Keys wins five awards while India.Arie wins none? Both sisters are talented as Keys has tapped the mainstream white audience while Arie has a more Afrocentric fan base. Could it be that money is the common denominator and the fair-skinned Keys, backed by the Clive Davis music factory, is less threatening than brown-skinned Arie?
What of the "niggarocity" that plagues our school systems? When discussing the achievement gap and the digital divide, black and brown children represent a disproportionate number of the disenfranchised. Money plus position and influence equals accessibility to training, resources and opportunity. What used to be Jim Crow, we now refer to as redistricting.
Lastly, what of the anti N-word machine aka the court system? In the prophetic words of Redd Foxx, "There are enough N-words in here to make a Tarzan movie."
In short, words say nothing; actions say all. This book is like putting out a fire with gasoline. Shall we light a match and pray?
--RUSSELL ROBINSON, DURHAM
On White News Media
Black stereotypes on TV
http://www.heraldsun.com/images/tanline.gif
Why is it that after a TV news story discussing panhandling aired March 13, the visual image of the panhandler must be an African-American male? Is it an edict from the "David Duke School of Journalism?" Panhandlers come in a wide assortment of colors.
That said, I am baffled by an African-American Triangle broadcaster's journalistic decision to select an African-American male to represent panhandling. Fact: A cornerstone of the National Association of Black Journalists is to "monitor the national media for discrimination and other injustices to people in the African Diaspora in their coverage and employment practices." Fact: reporters filter news content. Fact: This reporter had an opportunity to present this story in a racially balanced manner and chose not to do so. I ask why.
This type of capricious news judgment contributes greatly to the egregious racial insensitivity embedded in news. That said, what is the purpose of news? Is it an agent of political agenda or is it a tool for discourse and social justice? I think the latter.
As opposed to objectifying the indigent and destitute already rendered moot by the larger society, why not challenge the political and societal constructs, i.e. "Why do panhandlers have to get registered with the city?"
As a student of mass communication and media studies I am disappointed.
However, as an African-American man, to see this capitulation by the "Dubosian 10 percent," it simply embarrasses me.
W. RUSSELL ROBINSON
Durham
March 16, 2006
http://www.heraldsun.com/images/tanline.gif
Why is it that after a TV news story discussing panhandling aired March 13, the visual image of the panhandler must be an African-American male? Is it an edict from the "David Duke School of Journalism?" Panhandlers come in a wide assortment of colors.
That said, I am baffled by an African-American Triangle broadcaster's journalistic decision to select an African-American male to represent panhandling. Fact: A cornerstone of the National Association of Black Journalists is to "monitor the national media for discrimination and other injustices to people in the African Diaspora in their coverage and employment practices." Fact: reporters filter news content. Fact: This reporter had an opportunity to present this story in a racially balanced manner and chose not to do so. I ask why.
This type of capricious news judgment contributes greatly to the egregious racial insensitivity embedded in news. That said, what is the purpose of news? Is it an agent of political agenda or is it a tool for discourse and social justice? I think the latter.
As opposed to objectifying the indigent and destitute already rendered moot by the larger society, why not challenge the political and societal constructs, i.e. "Why do panhandlers have to get registered with the city?"
As a student of mass communication and media studies I am disappointed.
However, as an African-American man, to see this capitulation by the "Dubosian 10 percent," it simply embarrasses me.
W. RUSSELL ROBINSON
Durham
March 16, 2006
White People Fatigue Syndrome
Dear Editor:
In this season of giving, why is it that certain white folks continue to give black folks the same gift year after year, a hard time? This year, I have fallen victim to an acute attack of WPFS better known as White People Fatigue Syndrome. With serious consideration, the AMA could classify this as a legitimate medical disorder as research studies link racism to hypertension. In the midst of our holiday shopping, my wife and I contracted this disorder after coming in contact with this infectious white woman. At South Point Mall while looking at Christmas gifts, this contagious disease carrier, in her late 50s early 60s brushed by us as though we were not there, simply invisible. (It’s hard to believe that two Black people, one with locked hair could be invisible at a Banana Republic) Ten minutes later, a sales associate who was consciously helping this same woman ignored our presence to take a sweater we were both looking at, to promptly deliver to her. Discombobulated and overwrought, we firmly corrected this gross misstep resulting in our immediate visibility. Evidently, the assumption of visibility personifies being human which appears to be exclusive for white people, at least according to Peggy McIntosh, the authority on Whiteness studies. Investigating the social theories of “whiteness,” is nothing compared to the actual experience of its aloof normalizing effect. To be rendered visible and invisible within one second, on demand, in a proprietary manner, can force any person of color to a state of psychological trauma. Just once, could these “good intentioned” white folks give black folk something different for Christmas, some peace and genuine goodwill?
In this season of giving, why is it that certain white folks continue to give black folks the same gift year after year, a hard time? This year, I have fallen victim to an acute attack of WPFS better known as White People Fatigue Syndrome. With serious consideration, the AMA could classify this as a legitimate medical disorder as research studies link racism to hypertension. In the midst of our holiday shopping, my wife and I contracted this disorder after coming in contact with this infectious white woman. At South Point Mall while looking at Christmas gifts, this contagious disease carrier, in her late 50s early 60s brushed by us as though we were not there, simply invisible. (It’s hard to believe that two Black people, one with locked hair could be invisible at a Banana Republic) Ten minutes later, a sales associate who was consciously helping this same woman ignored our presence to take a sweater we were both looking at, to promptly deliver to her. Discombobulated and overwrought, we firmly corrected this gross misstep resulting in our immediate visibility. Evidently, the assumption of visibility personifies being human which appears to be exclusive for white people, at least according to Peggy McIntosh, the authority on Whiteness studies. Investigating the social theories of “whiteness,” is nothing compared to the actual experience of its aloof normalizing effect. To be rendered visible and invisible within one second, on demand, in a proprietary manner, can force any person of color to a state of psychological trauma. Just once, could these “good intentioned” white folks give black folk something different for Christmas, some peace and genuine goodwill?
The pedestal placed virtous white woman
Dear Editor:
Echoing the sentiments of Professor Huston Baker, his call for the dismantling of the Duke Lacrosse team represents not only common sense but equally falls within the purview of the university’s honor code. Laced with charges of underage drinking, public urination let alone disturbing the peace, I ask are these really emissaries of the Ivy League? Even white people get White People Fatigue Syndrome, demonstrated by this deluge of police complaints. No question, white privilege is working hand in hand with a perceived entitlement of masculinity. That said, I wish not to indict these scoundrels but simply describe what it is they have done; behaved dishonorably towards other people. Additionally, let’s look at the issues of class and race. The late great Ray Charles could see that if the victim was a white woman attending UNC, the defense attorneys would be slow to attack her credibility, regardless of her chosen profession. In fact, there are plenty of scholarships available that protect the pedestal placed virtuous white woman from the hazards associated with dancing on a pole to get a degree. So again, money is the buffer and these players have been coached rather well by their defense attorneys. Even if these DNA test come up 100% negative, no one in this incident is completely exonerated. It means three things: 1) a crime took place on Duke University property, 2) the perpetrators are still loose, and 3) someone associated with this incident knows who the perpetrators are.
Echoing the sentiments of Professor Huston Baker, his call for the dismantling of the Duke Lacrosse team represents not only common sense but equally falls within the purview of the university’s honor code. Laced with charges of underage drinking, public urination let alone disturbing the peace, I ask are these really emissaries of the Ivy League? Even white people get White People Fatigue Syndrome, demonstrated by this deluge of police complaints. No question, white privilege is working hand in hand with a perceived entitlement of masculinity. That said, I wish not to indict these scoundrels but simply describe what it is they have done; behaved dishonorably towards other people. Additionally, let’s look at the issues of class and race. The late great Ray Charles could see that if the victim was a white woman attending UNC, the defense attorneys would be slow to attack her credibility, regardless of her chosen profession. In fact, there are plenty of scholarships available that protect the pedestal placed virtuous white woman from the hazards associated with dancing on a pole to get a degree. So again, money is the buffer and these players have been coached rather well by their defense attorneys. Even if these DNA test come up 100% negative, no one in this incident is completely exonerated. It means three things: 1) a crime took place on Duke University property, 2) the perpetrators are still loose, and 3) someone associated with this incident knows who the perpetrators are.
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