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New York, 6:53 AM
Mon Dec 7
15 posts in the last 24 hours
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07/08/09
be black. I don't even think he is qualified to tell white people how to be white,
unless you want him to be Don't Let This Happen To You.
07/08/09
But that's super responsible to take the point of view of a small portion of the black population and then portray it as the dominant thought!
Michael Jackson is important as a pop culture idea, as a black man who become insanely famous in the eyes of the world no matter what the color. I know, it's hard to imagine this now, but there was a time when the radio and music in Domino's Pizza commercials wasn't dominated by hip-hop. Black music used to be edgy! It took MTV 2 years to play a video by a black artist. And who was that artist? Michael Jackson.
I don't care for Michael Jackson all that much. The first thing I thought when I heard he died was, "Hey, at least Prince is still alive." That being said, I think it goes without saying that moments of real happiness and peace in his life were probably few and far between. Kicking him while he's dead and pondering they ways he's "betrayed his race" or whatever is just tacky. It also shows a jaw-dropping ignorance of the man and his life, specifically on the perils of fame and the point where person no longer belongs to themselves, but instead to the world. Then again, the media and popular culture have never been big on learning from their mistakes, so I don't even know who I'm talking to.
Bah. Coffee.
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07/08/09
I mean, can't we all - black, white, whatever - just be mourning the loss of a fantastic singer, dancer or entertainer? Or be looking back at the life of a divisive, public figure? Will the media proclaim that the world is mourning the loss of a 'black icon' when Dr. Ben Carter dies? Or Colin Powell? Isn't that also grating to some?
I hate TV.
07/08/09
The irony is that the only thing that encourages me to at least listen to the opinions of people like Al Sharpton (who I think is sometimes valuable as a social advocate, but in no way view as some kind of 'great black leader'), is the passionate insistence- usually by white people- that I am somehow getting special cues from Sharpton as to what to believe and think about everything. And the intense loathing people seem to feel for an activist that I'm honestly inclined to disregard on most topics. I kind of want to love Sharpton out of naughtiness.
Bill O'Reilly's entire point is based on a (flawed) belief that black people sit around waiting to be told how to feel, what to believe, what to support, who to love, presumably because we think with one ill-equipped mind. And that when Sharpton and Jackson or whomever show up, it's somehow equivalent to a community-wide vote of- this is a black thing.
I've long felt that it was in the interest of people with political and social power to declare the Al Sharpton's of the world to be "black leaders" over the Colin Powell's of the world. Either way, though, it's hard not to resent the idea overall.
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Why isn't this a valid point? I think it is.
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JANET: Gee, you know, I have to say that I think this entire service was a bit over the top. Given the tragedy of Michael's death--and, indeed, much of his life--I'd hate to think that we might come across as a bunch of self-serving, shallow, flaky assholes.
JOE: Don't you worry your head about it, sweetie. Bill O'Rielly is going to talk about the funeral on his show tonight. We'll look real classy by comparison.
JANET: Oh! Why didn't you say so sooner? (sigh of relief)
07/08/09
JANET: Also, Dad? You spelled Bill's name wrong. By the way, you really ARE a self-serving, shallow, flaky asshole.
JOE: Just you fetch your daddy another gin and tonic, sugar. Launching this new record label makes a media genius thirsty.
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