Sunday, January 25, 2009

For whom the "bell" tolls - she tolls for thee

***WARNING: POST DEFINITELY FOR GROWN FOLKS***

As I continue to think about the presidential seal the Changeling has stamped on the ethnic cleansing of Blacks in this country, I kept hearing bell hooks in my head, so I thought I'd go look for her to help keep things in perspective. Her take on the media's motivated representations of feminism could definitely be applied to the selection of Barack Obama, the White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy's "ushering in of a new, old version of the desirable" - Black man...

...and a recent conversation with "ea" about Hip-Hop and this article, "Is Obama's presidency the change hip-hop needs?" by Glen Gamboa at Newsday, sent me looking for some more bell to offer a much better perspective on the "change hip-hop needs"...

Nothing like a good dose of plain, old truth to shake the cobwebs loose.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

In your opinion, what was the difference in reception by people of colour between Obama and McKinney as presidential candidates? Was it male vs. female? Was is Democrat vs. Green, even though McKinney had a longer record in Congress as a Dem? Was it the celebrity factor and the obscene amount of money poured into the Obama campaign? Was it ... acceptability? The "white" people will accept Obama, but they will never accept McKinney?

ps: Please visit and comment at Green Party Central.

DebC said...

ea...IMHO, it was male vs female (patriarchy in full effect), Democrat vs Green (most Blacks have been Democrats since they voted for FDR in the 1930's because of the economic promise of his "New Deal" even though it, nor the white Democrats showed any concern for the issues of Black folks. Before that, Blacks were of the party of Lincoln alright, the Republican Party!)

And no, as is often the case with women in general and Black women in particular, her experience meant nothing compared to that "new, old version of the desirable" Black man.

It was the (approved)celebrity factor vs the unapproved, performin' celebrity factor - I know you remember this - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12167411/.

And yes, it was the googobs of money from all those white donors (gifts he's slowly but surely trying to pay back - Caroline will have to wait for hers!). Our government has been for sale to the highest bidder for some time. As it stands today, everybody has to be able to pay-to-play.

And finally, yes - it was acceptability. Neither whites, nor the Black elite will e-e-e-v-er "accept" McKinney - too Black (in color and in consciousness) and too ghetto for their taste. She's too much of a reminder there's no post-racial nothin' going on no matter how smart and tuned into Dr. King's dream she may be. Just my 2 cents.

I linked to the site when you told me awhile back. I just registered and am ready to comment - and will do so soon!

Anonymous said...

Oh that whole badge episode made me furious! Completely ignored by the corporate media was the fact that, though she had been in Congress nearly 12 friggin' years, she was still putting up with the same profiling crap as when she was a newbie. Not that anyone should have to put up with it at all.

DebC said...

ea...And what's worse is the condescending game-playing, the acting like that was the furthest thing from their minds - Hastert said, "It’s about making this place safer.” Please! What was she, a suicide bomber from a Capitol sleeper cell??

Like I said, too Black. But of course, none of them will openly admit it. And that's my problem. Nobody will tell the truth about anything. And us? We keep wearing the mask in exchange for - "material success?" What a trade-off.

Even at the end of those materially successful days, our immediately-discernible-as-"other" skin is still the first thing that marks us for "other"-than-equal treatment (unlike the LGBT community).

Here's an example, (not that celebrity should have anything to do with it), but take a look at this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsoeJhtYpDk

...and then tell me it's all in my damn head. Yet...we continue, most of us, to wear the mask - even though we're supposed to be free. The President-select included.

Anonymous said...

I better not get started on police brutality. I have to go eat dinner.

kid said...

If you are so much of a feminist why do you side with anti-feminist ? Klannity, Oreilly, Palin,Limbaugh,Greta,Sugar-n-Spice,and other bigots.You do know that Sugar is homophobic, anti-Islamic,and anti-feminist among other things. If the Palin/McPain ticket was in office women would have LESS rights right now.

DebC said...

Hey kid. Didn't I used to see you on Field's blog?

You said, "...why do you side with anti-feminist ? Klannity, Oreilly, Palin,Limbaugh,Greta,Sugar-n-Spice,and other bigots."

What are you talking about??? Please clarify. And no, I don't know that Sugar is homophobic, anti-Islamic and anti-feminist among other things. What I do kow is that she has her own opinions and a right to express them, no matter who disagrees with her.

And no matter what ticket is in office, women STILL would have less rights because of the nature of the patriarchy that's run this country ever since its birth.

When you want to have a substantive discussion about facts, come on back.

DebC said...

kid...kow=know

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