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They’re Setting Us Back!!!
"Two steps forward & two steps... Hey! What are you doing back there?!
Bloggers blogged, twits and twats tweeted and fellow artists displayed looks of embarrassment or disdain after Kanye and Lil Mama bum-rushed the stage only to make themselves look like fools. Me? Oh, I was laughing. A lot. Kanye taking an innocent girl’s moment away like the Grinch That Stole Christmas wasn’t so funny, but the after effects definitely were. Watching folks go in on him and his Hennessey fueled honesty box like monologue was hilarious. And all the “#LilMamaIs…” tweets kept me from throwing my shoe at the office version of G.W. Bush yesterday. Everyone was laughing. Even Serena Williams had to be happy about Lil Mama’s and Kanye’s stunts at the VMAs. She definitely has a lot more open real estate on her Great Plains sized back now. Yes, it was all fun and games until the “serious” commentary came. The statements discussing how Kanye, Lil Mama and yes even Serena Williams set us back as a people.
I don’t have the patience for a witty segue today so I’m just going to be blunt -- We Need to Stop Making Everything Into a Race Issue. How does someone else acting out relate to me? Kanye West didn’t help me get my job and he sure as hell isn’t going to get me fired. I don’t see my boss saying, “Seattle, we’re afraid that you may jump up during someone else’s presentation and tell everyone that your colleague here has better Powerpoint skills. We know how you people like to imitate rappers, so we’re going to have to let you go.”
Kanye, Lil Mama and Serena all did something dumb, but each dumb thing wasn’t based in race. They have to be held accountable as people, not as Black people. You didn’t hear Serena say she’d shove that tennis ball up the line judge’s Asian ass did you? No, just down her human throat. A threat her ridiculously muscular self could make happen, but hey, at least it wasn’t a racial threat.
I mean if folks are going to make every Black person responsible for the whole Black race’s rep, there has to be some criteria. There’s got to be something racial that happened. Or at the very least, it has to be something really ignorant. For example, Soulja Boy bought a diamond encrusted Black Lamborghini chain that’s also a remote control car. You can skip to :25 to see what I’m talking about.
(video courtesy of Black Bruce Wayne)
Now that hurt my soul. That’s some real… I think you know where I’m going. Some may say he’s just being a kid. You could, but I think we all can agree that the purchase was just ignorant. Especially since he jumps up and down and defiantly says, “They should’ve never gave you niggas money” around 1:45.
Nonetheless, it’s not like Kanye went on stage with a bucket of Popeye’s, some drank, white gloves and tap shoes and did a full “Mantan” rendition while waving around a drumstick before he delivered his tactless message to the world. And Serena didn’t pull out her Vaseline, begin to tie up her hair, take off her press-ons and begin to pummel the line judge. I feel like we as a people delve too deep (sigh… pause) and are more critical of ourselves than other races are of us. As soon as we begin to run our own race, that’s when we’ll get ahead. We are setting ourselves back by always holding one Black person accountable for the whole.
You don’t see White people saying, “Damn, Britney Spears, Eliot Spitzer and the whole Fox News Channel are setting us back Bob.” They just shake their heads and say, “Damn, that’s messed up.” and go into why exactly that person messed up. White people don’t count you say? OK. Well, when’s the last time you heard an Asian woman complaining about how Tila Tequila set her people back? And you know that chick is annoying! Not all the cleavage in the world can make up for that mouth of hers. Wait…
All I’m saying is maybe we should look at every person’s mistakes as individual mess ups and not stumbling blocks for a whole people. Plus I don’t have the time to go around doing this to every person that does something stupid.
I say, let’s concentrate on the people that are doing the damn thing and let their actions speak for themselves. But hey, I’m just one man. What do you think? Am I off? Getting too progressive? Losing my touch with Black America? Or are you just as tired of folks always pulling the race card?
Seattle -- How Long Before Kanye Does a Song About This? -- Washington
83 Responses to “They’re Setting Us Back!!!”
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OMG. Where to start…where to start. I’ve been commenting on a lot of blogs on this topic after the West incident and it really saddens me. It saddens me that everyone is making this a “black thing” what about all the whites that are out here killing and raping innocent people and children, what about the blacks that are doing it. There is not one concrete thing that is black and white except the colors…not even our skin is truly black.
Now, I really believe the media is what’s driving our minds and our decisions, whether we wanna admit it or not. EVERY TIME a black person in the media has a blow up it’s front page news, everyone’s talking about it like they just can’t believe people have real emotions and thoughts. I don’t think just because you’re a celeb you can do and say what you want but these people have publicists that they listen to, they have ppl always telling them to act a certain way, Kanye is just a real person.
All of us have our days where we are not feeling something, where we blow up even over the smallest things, its just not front page news. The media exploits the bad that we do, forgetting ALL THE GOOD and I mean all of it. With whites they exploit the good and hide the bad under the rug…we have a long way to go, longer than most people realize and it’s really sad. Now Kanye was WRONG for taking that girls shine but at the same time these celebrities are spoiled. Some of them think they can treat people however they want b/c ppl let them get away with it, so I don’t think his career should be doused in flames b/c of this. PPl make mistakes, this is world full of fakes and phony’s and I appreciate when someone keep it real whether I like what they are saying or I don’t.
Now onto Soulja Boy and that whole thing. I’m sad about it too but I mean he’s gonna spend his money on what he wants. I think he should help the homeless && starving but he’s still young. All young people wanna have the flyest clothes and cars and are unable too. I think this will pass. Chains are overrated and always have been. I don’t know what he is thinking about but at the same time I can’t change it. However, I can sit here and say all day what all the Blacks should do, we should unite and not always be against each other, but I can’t do it alone. There are too many people out there happy with the way things are, or just feeling like there is nothing that they can do so they just sit there and let the world revolve around them.
We need someone like Barack to inspire these kids to invest and save their money so in the future they will have built an empire, not have a closet full of chains and clothes. Obama just has to get on the bandwagon && so do others. Until we learn to love each other nothing will change. Whites can work together with no problems, or they can resolve their problems, but Blacks…we have to stop being against each other and realize we are all family. I have a lot of growing to do as well…so I don’t wanna just seem like i’m perfect but it just takes time.
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Sry if there are errors but I was on a roll! LOl. More like a blog rant…
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I think the problem is that these people make too much got dang money and are thus too got dang privileged. If it was my job to do something I was good at, something I loved doing, and I made a million dollars every day that I did it…I’d walk around and do whatever the frick I wanted too! I’d tell an Asian lady I was gonna shove a wonton up her nose. I’d push a nine-year-old country singer down a flight of stairs while simultaneously yelling “YOU SUCK!” I’d also interrupt the President during a national address and call him a FIBBER while wearing an “EFF YOU” sign around my neck. WHY? Because I make hella money doing something that barely makes me sweat…because I CAN! The minute rich folk stop making money and fear getting laid off or having their home foreclosed or losing their 401k or some regular people ish…that will be the day famous people stop equal-opportunity-coonin on some other ish.
RIP Patrick Swayze.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Don’t ever give this woman any money.
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theVixen. Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Lol…for real though.
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MaPockets Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
LMAO!! I would do whatever I wanted while yelling “they shoulda neva gave me money!”
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ChokLitFactory Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
LOL too funny yet so true. Some of these ‘celebs’ are too far gone…
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Mr. Washington, I fully support this post.
I support Kanye West. He just made himself the most popular, if not infamous person of the month. I mean, truly… who cares about the VMAs? All the videos were from the past 2 months, which is what is going to happen when the Music Television Station cancels their own video countdown. If you aren’t up at 5 in the morning, you don’t know what a music video looks like anymore.
That bottle of Hennessy? I think it was liquid courage. This is why Amber
skanky assRose didn’t smack it out of his hand way before the incident. Kanye knew that he hasn’t done anything brilliant in about a year, and he needed to betwittered aboutrelevant again. So what do you do? Embarrass America’s sweetheart. Yes, he’s a jerk, but you have to admit, that those actions were a little fantastic.Serena Williams
If I went to the Olympics of my life and had somebody make a ridiculous call… I’d be a little bit sensitive too. If I had as much testosterone coursing through my veins as
SheManSerena, I’d probably blow up too. I blame the line coach for setting us back. Asians and Blacks should support each other in the struggle.These people where just doing them. Lil Mama is just a kid. So is Soulja Boy. Let em live cuz truly: Where the eff are their parents? In about 18 months, they’ll be irrelevant too.
I am not a rapper, dancer or super star tennis player. They don’t bring me down just as much as my decision to publicly eat Bojangles Chicken doesn’t affect them. Am I a little ashamed? Yes. Does it make the entire Civil Rights Movement a waste? Heck no.
As a Black American, I am super excited that there are Blacks on stage at the VMAs and playing their hearts out at Wimbledon. Nobody is perfect. And I hate these inflated statements. All of these useless people on youtube are setting us back. Stop being shiftless and go get a job!
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Seattle Washington Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I really thought Lil Mama was old(er). I had to look it up, didn’t realize she was only 18/19 years old. Wow. She looks very aged for a teenager.
Nonetheless, shorty should’ve known her place and not stepped on stage with those greats.
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ChokLitFactory Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Great comment, I co-sign!
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Where to start is right…
Well I know most of us have been in a public setting at some point, and see a little white kid acting up, and either yourself, a friend or a family member makes reference to how how “if that child was black/your child, they couldn’t get away with bad behavior in public. Even comedians joke about that one often. I don’t think its necessarily us making all issues a deep race issue, I think we just expect better behavior from black people sometimes, based on a assumption that “our mama raised us better than that”. Especially those that may not fit the stereo types in our minds. We all know Kanye West has his issues, so he may not completely fit my profile, but Serena is generally looked at differently, so she is held to that higher standard based on her reputation. After watching Serena’s footage, I understand why she lost her temper but the difference is that in corporate america I could never step to any manager of mine and threaten to shove my highlighter anywhere or I would be out the door in a matter of seconds.
I personally don’t think anything a black celebrity/rapper/athlete does could possible set me back in the real world either, but I see how it may setback their peers. Endorsement deals can bring in a lot of income to those individuals and once they begin to lose respect in the public eye, they are no longer desirable candidates for those endorsement deals. Just like Akon lost his Verizon backing after the scandal with that underage girl and Chris Brown lost Wriggles, those execs are not going to hand those deals over to the next Akon/Chris Brown, they’re going to go in a totally different direction. I think celebrities do have to keep in mind that there are walls in our paths as a people sometimes. They are their own “brand” and once you ruin your brand its damn near impossible to rebuild, look at Kobe Bryant, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson (RIP), we all still love them, but I don’t remember the last time any of them had a large endorsement deal. Once your brand is ruined, you kind of have to lay low and look-down. I don’t think that will be the case with Serena.
I can’t even comment on Soulja Boy, its just too ridiculous, the sad thing is he thinks he’s “rich” but in reality he “has money” not wealth, lets see how long that last, smdh.
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Peyso Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:31 am
“Just like Akon lost his Verizon backing after the scandal with that underage girl and Chris Brown lost Wriggles, those execs are not going to hand those deals over to the next Akon/Chris Brown,” I disagree with this line for one reason…. cuz money talks
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Renee Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Money talks and maybe the times also has something to do with it, but who did Chris Brown’s Wriggles endorsement go to? There probably not going to give another deal to a young black musician for yearrrrrrsss. As for concert endorsements musicians may get off a little easier because they tour in packs. I remember before the scandal Kobe Bryant was everywhere endorsing everything, no other black athlete has gotten that type of treatment since, with the exception of Maybe Tiger Woods.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Money does talk, which is exactly why once another Black star that crosses race and class divisions comes along, Wrigley’s & everyone else that has the guap will do their best to snag them for an endorsement. Companies know what they’re getting themselves into when they acquire a celeb to do a promotion. The reason they let people go is because they don’t want to be associated with a falling star. It will mess up their revenue.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if the celeb’s skin is black, brown, yellow or white as long as the company’s green is still long as a result.
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Renee Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Well there has to be an explanation because I don’t know any black male musician/athlete who has “Great” endorsements anymore again except for Tiger, and I think there are a few who are loved by both black and whites. I think the fact that they’ve been running around shooting themselves and skinning dogs has a lot to do with it. If it was simple money talk, then Lil Wayne and Lebron would be endorsing everything similar to Rihanna and Beyonce (Armani, Loreal, Covergirl). I mean most black female R&B/Pop Stars avoid the foolishness and thats why they have the good endorsements. Its not just about being the next big thing. Companies are going to be strategic (which would include looking at past performance), money talks but at the end of the day you have to spend your money wisely and these celebs are definitely being judged based on their peer’s behavior. They are basically planting a seed. Why wait for a “great” black athlete with a “great” reputation and cross over appeal when you can probably give the deal to a “good enough” white athlete who will still meet your target audience (conservative whites). I’m not talking about the simple stuff like sneakers, I’m talking about products that have mass appeal like Gatorade, Cars, Fruit of the looms and even fast food.
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Oh boy loves! Haha. What a weekend.
I felt awful for Taylor Smith, lookin like Carrie at her senior Prom minus the fires of hell burning in her eyes before she set fire to the whole school – po baby, but Kanye’s absurd outburst was so reckless that after picking my jaw up off the floor, I had to laugh at it. Serena was pissed – I played sports for most of my life so I know what it’s like dealin with eff’ed officials. She overreacted, but it’s not like that was the first time an athlete has gone off. Li’l Mama? Maybe she was just feelin that track & felt such a certain way that it compelled her to run up on stage. Haha, it was funny. However, Kanye & Serena, at least, have felt the consequences of their actions, have apologize for being poor role models, & have conveyed that they will strive to do better as ppl. Race doesn’t even need to enter the equation – but on the other hand, do the likes of Kanye & Serena transcend race? Is that why we aren’t trying to hold them accountable? Is it because they didn’t do anything blatantly stereotypical?
I def feel u Seattle. I’m just wondering why it makes so much sense? To play devil’s advocate right quick, weren’t we discussing not too long ago about how BET is failing us? or how Weezy & Drake embarrassed us by draggin chilren on stage during Every Girl at the BET awards? These aren’t the best examples (there are much better ones out there), but quite often public images of our ppl do hold us back – or rather prevent us from moving fwd in any truly progressive way.
I’m hella tired, & will have to revisit this post after some sleep, but before I lay it down I just wanna say a lil more starting with this: black ppl will ALWAYS have to do better, be better, play better, perform better, say it better, write it better, etc. to be given a fair shake in this world. We can’t give the “others” any excuse to believe we don’t deserve one. Don’t lie to yourselves loves, ppl out there revel in moments just like these – they’re probably swanging from their chandeliers right now. They want to see the best of us fail so that they can attribute yet something else to this contrived ideal we’ve come to know as race.
Most of us understand that the foolishness, poor sportsmanship & bad decisions of our peers, celebrities or athletes don’t define who we are, but there are plenty of folk out there who do so don’t lose sight of that.
As for the ignant YouTubers & Twits? They are holding this COUNTRY back. Racism isn’t going newhere – especially in these newfound realms of anonymity. Black folk just need to ignore it & get focused…we have moves to make.
I’m glad we can look at Kanye, Serena & even Lil Mama as ppl, as opposed to “black” ppl. But on the other hand, I want to be proud to call successful ppl “successful BLACK ppl” as well.
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Rox just wylded out Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 3:23 am
It’s 3:28. I have class in a few. I’m on timeout for staying up writing this comment.
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 8:21 am
**hand claps for its clarity despite it being 3:23am** I am inspired.
“Black ppl will ALWAYS have to do better, be better, play better, perform better, say it better, write it better, etc. to be given a fair shake in this world. We can’t give the “others” any excuse to believe we don’t deserve one.”
“Racism isn’t going newhere – especially in these newfound realms of anonymity. Black folk just need to ignore it & get focused…we have moves to make.”
Word.
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ASmith Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Slow clap…
And that’s all, cause otherwise, I’ma just copy and paste and write “co-sign” after everything.
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BLaCk Bruce WaYnE Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:38 am
BBW co-signs!
I really didn’t want to write much on this but I knew someone would share similar sentiments.
Serena reacted no different from John McEnroe back in the day. In addition, Roger Federer had a similar situation during his U.S. Open Final and he was going in on the court judge! As he said “Don’t tell me to be fuckin’ quiet!”…LOL
Roxy you said it best! Matter of fact, you said it as good as my pops would say it! We have no choice. Us being average is not an option! It’s the exact reason why, I’m already in the office by 7:45am before my co-workers and out of the joint by 7pm or later! We just have to work harder & better in everything in order to avoid the stereotypes.
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PJ Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Exactly, why is Serena getting attacked? She lost her cool… and? John McEnroe became famous for his antics. People are acting like athletes don’t spazz out.
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Totally agree with this post. Unfortunately, fat chance of that happening. Black people are more inclined to turn things into a race issue than even the media. To be honest, I’ve only heard Black people refer to Serena’s blowup as a race issue. The media compared it to McEnroe.
Btw, speaking of Serena, buff as she may be, she can still get it twice a day and once on Sundays (its football season).
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Slim Jackson Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 6:56 am
I like women with muscles.
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CHeeKZ Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 8:49 am
CO-Sign.
Tennis stars are constantly yelling at the line judges. McEnroe has cashed in on his trantrums and has turned them into hirlarious commercials. Serena is getting an unfair shake. Believe me Baseball Managers say alot worse to Umps when they get tossed out a game. Only problem with Serena is that she already had haters due to her attitude.
And I think Serena has a little too much muscle… her booty is stron my freind. Strong. Plus Lavar Arrington said she likes to take it up the butt. Chocolate, rich sister.. our love child probably could play linebacker off her genes alone (that could be my 401k right there).
Common seems happy being bossed around by her… I’d wife her up.
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N.I.A. naturally Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 9:54 am
I don’t know any dudes who watch The Game, so forgive me for this question if you’re one of them. Did you (or any commenters) see the episode where she was dating Malik and running his life? She almost got in a fight with Tasha Mack at a Sunbeams meeting.
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olivya23 Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Yea, I saw that episode. I feared for Tasha’s life.
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N.I.A. naturally Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:28 am
lol. so did she…
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Cheekie Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Oh yeah!! HAHA. I love how she tried to run up on her as she’s walking away and Serena turns back around like, “WTF you say?!” and Tasha (and the other Sunbeams) turned around all hunched over like she was hiding. Hilarious.
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ChokLitFactory Reply:
September 16th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
lol I know a lot of guys who watch The Game…
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Peyso Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I dont think Serena is getting an unfair shake. The way you treat the ref or ump is relative to your sport. Just like you can fight in hockey and not anywhere else. Just like its ok to kick dirt on umps in baseball, thats how it goes. Ppl are acting that since John McEnroe did the same thing 20 YEARS AGO, what Serena did is ok. Based on that logic, whatever rules or laws or generally understood standards that have developed over the past 20 years are null.
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and1grad Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 11:14 am
I dont think people are comparing it to McEnroe in order to make what she did seem ok. Its just a point of reference.
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Cheekie Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Yeah, the comparison isn’t to prove that Serena was right. It’s to prove how the reaction is discriminatory and unfair. She DID go against the rules, but all this extra ish regarding her identity as an “angry black woman” is unecessary and totally uncalled for. There is a whole ‘nother layer to her outburst that wasn’t there with McEnroe and it’s bullsh*t.
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Kanye is an ass for doing what he did. I could see why Serena was pissed, but she went too far. But yeah, I agree. I am tired of people making the stupid acts of a few represent the whole race. No one is saying, “Omg, look at how great of a man Pres. Obama [or some other great Black person] is. Black people must be great too.” Unfortunately, I know better than to expect something so simple from people: to treat Black people as individuals whether someone does something good or bad. White folks have been lumping us together for years…and ::gasp:: we have been lumping ourselves together too.
And I hope someone steals Soulja Boy’s chain just on the strength of its stupidity. He gets no pass for being young.
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All I have to say is AMEN!!!!!
Seattle, fabulous post.
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I’ve read a few “Kanye and Lil’ Mama didn’t set us back…” posts and I agree, but…
I think people who say that Kanye set us back come from the old school of thought where we realize that some white people truly only get to know black people through tv (ok, ya’ll think I’m kidding, but I went to school with people like this… I wish I was exaggerating) and think everything they see on tv is the Gospel truth as to how black folks act. Just like many of us claim Barack’s victory as our own, point to him to show how far black people have come when craziness like Kanye (less Lil’ Mama) shows up, some of us are inclined to think white people cock their heads and go “uh-huh… look at the n*ggas.”
I don’t think it’s unfounded and necessarily ridiculous. I think that even in 2009 it’s a thought worth having and exploring.
There’s a reason your white co-workers want you to teach them the stanky leg, and it ain’t cause they’ve seen you do it.
Meanwhile, I’m going to stop calling people d-bags and just start calling them Kanye. Or take a line from Jay-Z and let folks know when they’re Kanye-ing too much.
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some of these comments are tl;dr. ok…first off: I used to love that Paula Abdul video, I even had that single on cassette. Remember when folks used to buy singles from Sam Goody?
either way…I agree entirely. nobody set anybody back. I wish black folks would stop saying that. of all the incidents Lil Mama’s was BY FAR the funniest and the trending topic as well as the twitpics made my Monday. I saw a couple Kanye pics that made me weak as well. Kanye’s a jerk/asshole/bully whatever you want to cal him…but as on THIS day, I’m over him and his antics. Of course I’m not boycotting his music or anything foolish like that though…I mean I already own it. what sense would that make?
I DO feel like folks (media) are OD’ing on Serena though; and it is because she is a woman, more importantly a black woman.
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Nyela Goodness Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 9:25 am
“I DO feel like folks (media) are OD’ing on Serena though; and it is because she is a woman, more importantly a black woman.”
Co-sign. That’s exactly what I was thinking.
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N.I.A. naturally Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I DO feel like folks (media) are OD’ing on Serena though; and it is because she is a woman, more importantly a black woman.
Definitely. The tennis/sports media has never really liked Serena or Venus. They have been waiting for a moment like this.
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Nicki Sunshine Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I agree with what you said about Kanye!!!! Me too. Plus I just watched the clip of his interview with Jay Leno and I just feel bad for him.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Homie, I’ve got that damn song “Opposites Attract” in my head since this morning. I’m about to blast some “Blueprint 3″ just so I can hear something else rattling around in my mind.
And yes, I do remember going to Sam Goody to get a cassette. I still have my Kris Kross “Jump” single and Nas’ “It Was Written” along with a stack of others somewhere in my parents crib.
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Reecie Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I upgraded and got the Kris Kross on CD! pow! LOL. I dont think I ever had It Was Written on tape….I remember my last cassette purchased was that Bone Thugz double tape.
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Cheekie Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
“I DO feel like folks (media) are OD’ing on Serena though; and it is because she is a woman, more importantly a black woman.”
And in tennis no less. She don’t fit the cutesy blonde tennis girl that America truly wants to picture as their tennis queen. Sorry, America, two SWOLE sistas from Compton is dominating the hell outta ya’ll and grunting while serving you, sucka!
For real, though, The Williams Grunt made me fall in love with tennis.
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I applaud you, Mr. Washington, for writing this post.
Kanye was wrong, on 2 counts. 1.) disrepecting Taylor and her fans, & 2.) saying Beyonce had the best video of all time. seriously, all time…after we had just watched a montage of Michael Jackson videos. At least Serena had reason to be upset.
But neither Kanye or Serena is setting us back. However, white people look at black celebrities and politicians as representatives of the whole. The same way they see the black “welfare mother” on your local news as representative of the welfare system in this country. When Joe “you lie” Wilson made his outburst, my FB status was “why must South Carolina continue to embarass me?” Unfortunately, Joe and several SC politicians are holding back the people and holding back progress in that state.
As for Kanye and Serena, their outbursts play into long held stereotypes about black people (especially Serena’s outburst and the lies white men have convinced many to believe about black women as a whole). And it has become the cool thing in our community to uphold certain stereotypes as truth, as seen in the Soulja Boy video.
So, no, I don’t think Serena, Kanye, etc. are setting us back. But they are helping keep all the lies and all the negative stereotypes alive and well in A-merry-ca.
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I do think what Kanye did was a little much. Simply because this time he wasn’t insulting BET or the President but some child (which Taylor is compared to him) and if it had been Eminem I would’ve felt the same way. On a basic human level it was wrong.
Now based on him and this man he’s dating plus the bottle of Hennessey w/ shirt ace-deuce seriously something is obviously wrong. He does things for shock value.
And Seattle is absolutely right…Kanye isn’t giving black people jobs or taking them away. He’s not God either…he’s just a regular black man.
so basically I concur with a lot of what’s already been said…we do expect our own to do better, but really we can’t take it personal when they don’t because really we’ve never walked a mile in their shoes…
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Time out…Jay Leno’s line up was predetermined…
Was this perhaps a publicity stunt…see yeah…
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Seattle Washington Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:12 am
The line up was predetermined, but him wilding out on national TV wasn’t. He could’ve pulled out last minute (yep) and not done it at all. He’s a dick, but he didn’t deserve to be asked what his deceased mother would think about what he did. Leno was pulling a Barbara Walters and going for those tears!
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CHeeKZ Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Naw Seattle.
I completely disagree with you. HE SHOULD HAVE HIS MOTHER’S PICTURE PLACED IN FRONT ON HIS FACE WHILE SOMEONE SPANKS HIS NAKED BEHIND LIKE A INSECURE COLLEGE STUDENT TRYING TO BE PART OF A CULTURAL ACCEPTABLE GANG!
pause.
After his mother died , he said himself that he would stop pulling these award show stunts b/c his mother didn’t approve and the award shows meant nothing to him. If you are going to pull that card out when you are promoting your album, Leno had every right to call you on your own words. He disrespected his momma. Don’t say “on my mothers grave” than get mad when I say your momma is burning in hell b/c of what you did.
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N.I.A. naturally Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I agree. I think it was a fair and honest question. Maybe if he had been thinking about his mother, he wouldn’t have jumped on stage in the first place. He needs a WWMS(what would mama say?) bracelet.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Dude, really? Well, call up the Candy Cane soldiers (term courtesy of Slim Jackson) to handle it. He wanted to be down and he’s their type of cat (no Que).
I forgot about that and it’s a valid point. Kanye did use his mom as a reason why he needed to calm down, so Leno did have a right to bring it up. He went against his mom’s wishes posthumously. Still, Leno was going for the tears when he said that. He almost had em too. Ye looked like he was watching “Bamby” for the first time.
Geez man, “your momma is burning in hell b/c of what you did.” Really? You won the Raw Award already. Are you trying to solidify your position (pause) for next year? You’ve got time fam! Oh and I thought atheists didn’t believe in Heaven or Hell…
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Cheekie Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Man, I cringed like a mofo when Jay pulled the Mama card.
I mean, Kanye DOES need to think about it seriously (didn’t he promise his Mama in her honor that he wouldn’t behave this way no mo’?), but I’m not sure I woulda went there on national TV. I mean, it does make him appear more sympathetic to those who hate him, but at what emotional cost?
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i agree with you. we should stop saying that these “individuals” are setting back the race. i really dislike when black people try to turn everything into a racial issue.
its kind of hard not to though when you have white people like @amber_berry on twitter saying things like “Kanye West is a backwoods nigger and he needs to get lynched by the KKK” (her profile is now set to private, coward).
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Seattle Washington Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Yeah, that is true. But that girl, and racist folks like her, would’ve probably called him a “nigger” regardless. His haircut and red carpet Henny drinking alone would’ve garnered him that. Shoot if Beyonce beat out Taylor Swift she might’ve been called one too. Maybe not on Twitter, but definitely in the homes of racist Americans.
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Tunde Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
exactly why i don’t understand why i get the sideeye when i say that i think most 2520′s think racist thoughts all day. who says racism is dead? smh.
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Are Kanye and Serena really setting us back? Of course not! But I would be lying if I said I didn’t think that all weekend…
As most have said in these previous posts, racism is alive and well in this country, and White people view us as all as one person. The cliche “you know all Black people look alike” didn’t come from thin air lol…
As successful Black people, we have to be cognizant of our actions, moreso than any other race. That’s just how it is. Actions like this give others more ammunition to talk badly about us. I don’t mind being self critical, and critical of our people, but I’m sorry, when I see “other” folks really getting on them, and seeing some of the racial tweets calling Kanye ni**er, it makes me upset.
I think Renee made a great point in regards to endorsement deals. Our actions affect perceptions of others. So no, I probably won’t lose my job because of Kanye’s foolery, lol, but let that be the other Black person in the office where we are 3% and see how that flies for the rest of us.
I didn’t even watch the Soulja Boy clip, lol!
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The Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele, Blunt like my favorite pastime Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 11:08 am
‘Sup hoop!
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#1 – Kanye is an d-bag. However, i like him b/c he’s a d-bag so I want him to continue to be one. He made my evening w/ his stunt. Sucks to be the grown woman, T. Swift, who was receiving the award but she got bread she’ll get over it. Stop treating her like she’s a damn baby lol. It was wrong but wrong things make me laugh from time to time. Sue me.
#2 – I have no problem w/ Jay Leno’s line of questioning. I dont think it was done out of spite and I think it was a legit question. I actually think it helped Kanye comes across as more endearing and more human.
#3 – These actions taken by black folk this week/end aint converting open minded enlightened wht folks into cold blooded racists. The ppl who are sayin ignorant things were going to say ignorant things anyway
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Let’s break this down to basic logic (I’m a mathlete).
The reason most other races don’t talk about ppl setting us back is because they haven’t progressed in the first place. Blacks came into this country as slaves, progressed to… Okay yall know the story… To now a black President. So we have truly come a long way. The expression “setting us back” implies that at some point, we were somewhere behind where we are now, and have at present moved forward.
But it all goes back to this idea of black ppl representing their entire race. I don’t think this is just a black thing, but because most of us don’t know our country of origin, we claim all black ppl as part of our own. You gave an example of tila tequila, I haven’t heard asians say she’s setting them back, but I have heard filipinos say “she makes us look bad.” Same with most other ppl from specific ethnic origins. Even white ppl, like irish, italian, etc, and even gay ppl (never heard, “he gives gay ppl a bad name”?)
I just think we ought not take these silly expressions to heart. Yes, some ppl do believe them to be true, but like you said if I’m not getting fired for this person’s ignorance, they haven’t set me back any.
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ASmith Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Your comment actually made me think…
Are we considering the difference between setting Black people back and setting the individual back?
I keep reading “Kanye didn’t set me back…” but no one is saying that. People are saying he set a group back…
Ftr: I completely agree with Joey, people who see what Kanye did as reflective of all black people are ignorant and think ridiculous things like that all the time Kanye or no Kanye.
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Tunde Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
this post makes a lot of sense.
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AMEN! Hallelujah! I cosign 100%
“Seattle, we’re afraid that you may jump up during someone else’s presentation and tell everyone that your colleague here has better Powerpoint skills.
This murdered me brutally. lmaoo
I think WE don’t make it a race issue, but OTHERS do… just peep the amount of Kanyes a nigger posts that twitter had after that. Even if his actions could be labelled niggerish, to see that made me realize that a post racial america is a myth.
Someone sd “you dont have to be black to be a nigga” which is true but our race was”branded’ with that phrase. Thats like saying “you dont have to be white to be a cracker” I wonder wht their reaction would be?
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Oh, and by filipino, I meant vietnamese. All my asian friends look alike lol.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
That was sarcasm… I hope…
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Good post, Mr. Washington, and I do agree.
Kanye & Lil’ Mama embarrassed themselves, not me. Their actions had no effect on how I presented myself in my 2520 dominated corporate environment the next morning.
We are all familiar with the mentality that since we start out with a disadvantage (color of our skin), we have to make sure to be leagues better. That doesn’t excuse the fact that we are human and mistakes will be made, black sheep will be born.
I feel no sympathy for Kanye b/c he is an adult and should have better discipline. Still, asking about his mother was a bit out of line. If he would’ve snapped on Leno at the moment, I would’ve understood.
Lil’ Mama, I’m still embarrassed for her.
Serena’s aggression was understandable.
Soulja Boy…eh. I just shake my head, but he has his white counterpart, Latino counterpart, and so on.
Ignorant people have prevailing perceptions of us. They’ll disregard any actions that doesn’t support those perceptions but will exacerbate those actions, no matter how few & far between they may be, that reinforces their beliefs. Nothing is going to convince them otherwise so why live your life trying to do so? We know the difference b/w right & wrong, and you know how you want to present yourself. Just behave that way.
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and1grad Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 11:25 am
“We know the difference b/w right & wrong, and you know how you want to present yourself. Just behave that way.”
Q.E.D.
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“I don’t have the patience for a witty segue today so I’m just going to be blunt — We Need to Stop Making Everything Into a Race Issue. ”
I actually agree. I agree more so that 2520s (aka the media) need to stop making ONE person represent all of us. The sheer stupidity I read about White Twitterers telling their Black followers to unfollow them and N-Word this and N-Word that is astounding.
And lay the eff off Serena. I don’t see no one blastin’ McEnroe and all the melanin-challenged for his tantrums and his were WAY worse. But, today? He’s a tennis legend. Serena? Is now the angry Black chick chasing after the po’ little Asian girl. WTF. (I was cracking up when she was about the serve then thought about it and ran toward the line judge in a rage…then the line judge was UP).
I admit, after initial shock, anger, then laughter from commentary…I cringed inside when Kanye did what he did because I KNEW folks would make it racial. Because us Black folks got this magic power that allows us to represent the next Black folk standing next to us…or hell, standing 50,000 miles away from us. ‘Cuz we all the same. *major eye roll*
Aside: Why the eff did that teacher just slap the sh*t outta that brotha? LMFAO. I know one teacher that WON’T be getting an apple tomorrow. How rude.
*cracking up*
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Seattle Washington Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
John McEnroe was blasted by the tennis community for his outbursts back in the day. He was black balled. The conservative elitists that are true tennis fans weren’t fans of him and still aren’t. The only reason he’s in the mix now, with endorsements and all, is because we’re a different society.
Plus, put a few years on it and everything is funny. Like how your uncle went on a drunken tirade during the last family get together. A few years later and everyone will be laughing about it. You may not speak to him, but you’ll laugh about it.
Glad you enjoyed. That video makes me laugh every time I see it. It may singlehandedly get me thru this week.
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Cheekie Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
“Plus, put a few years on it and everything is funny. ”
True enough. I truly wish time will heal, but I always skeptical about how it will fare in a few years with Serena (and by extension, Venus). Because, comfortable with it or not, there is another layer when it comes to these two. They know how to dominate in the tennis world, but I always get this feeling they never truly “fit” in the tennis world. And I’m sure they feel it, too.
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Peyso Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I really think the issue w/ Serena (Venus doesnt get the heat that she gets) is that folk feel that she could be more dominant in the sport. No one say anything about Tiger or Venus, other dominant blk folk in primarily consisting of wht and international “athletes”. Ppl feel that Serena doesnt care. Of course race plays a factor but smalling then one would think. When ppl see Tiger and Venus they think “Yea, they black but they play hard and are nice”. When they see Serena its more of “This cocky black b*tch think she good” idk thats MHO
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Streetztalk Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I dont consider Tiger black because HE doesnt consider himself black. Isnt he cannibalasian?
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Reecie Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
not cannibalasian. LMAO.
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N.I.A. naturally Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
“cannibalasian?” so Tiger eats asian people?
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Streetztalk Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
ask that ni… canibal. I dont know. He said it though
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The Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele, Solid As A Rock Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Cablanasian – Caucasian, black and asian. I remember when he said it on Oprah back in the day cuz my mama was at the table gradin papers…she looked over her glasses and goes “He married to a white ‘oman and nuh tink he black? CHHHHHUUUPPPPSSS…put di tv pan Judge Judy”
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I blame MTV…
What kinda security do they have going on? If trolls can make their way onto the stage AFTER a security incident then I fear for all of the celeb’s safety. They want some ish like that to happen.
Kanye is an ass who can’t hold his liquor. I do think that Bust-It-Creole’s video was hotter but, he was way out of line. I was an Amber Rose supporter but she is no longer an asset to the team. If you can’t trip your boo and help him when he can’t help himself, you are now a part of the problem. She could have at least slithered out of her python skin and distracted the crowd long enough for them to get ‘Ye off the stage… something.
Taylor Swift learned an important lesson… when Kanye walks towards you on stage, you bop him on the head with the mic, not pass it to him. I’m glad Taylor Swift’s momma grabbed him back stage and gave him the disapproving momma look.
Lil Mama got caught up in the moment. I know plenty of Brooklynites and ya’ll take “reppin” to another level. You could be in a corporate finance executive meeting and come in and yell “where brooklyn at?” and you’d still feel the urge to jump out your seat and act a fool… you might even do it. Again.. where was security?
Oh and #lilmamais the car key gnome that hides ish so you can’t find it. I’m sure Hov got back to the Maybach and started feeling around in his pockets like wtf?
Serena… I get why she was mad, it was a bullshit call. I think she just said “fuck it”. She was clearly gonna loose the match, things were just not going her way, and then that call happens… she reached her limit and decided to just let go on the Mrs. Swann. Was it right, no and she knows that, but I understand. I was ready to go in on the commentators before it even happened. What is up with the hating?!?! The commentators both needed that slap w/ the running start.
In terms of race relations, white people have been on some racist shit lately and making lots of sideways comments. It starts from the top down. They start saying loose ish about my president and the world/media excuses it and acts like it’s acceptable and now they feel they can say whatever about the rest of us. I found myself watching tv the other day and yelling out “Effin Crackers!”… when I start talking like my 81yr old gramma, something had gone wrong in the world.
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Streetztalk Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
“I was an Amber Rose supporter but she is no longer an asset to the team. If you can’t trip your boo and help him when he can’t help himself, you are now a part of the problem. She could have at least slithered out of her python skin and distracted the crowd long enough for them to get ‘Ye off the stage… something.
THIS made me weak…LMAOOOOOOO WOw
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ASmith Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I was an Amber Rose supporter but she is no longer an asset to the team. If you can’t trip your boo and help him when he can’t help himself, you are now a part of the problem.
FTW
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Cheekie Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
“She could have at least slithered out of her python skin and distracted the crowd long enough for them to get ‘Ye off the stage… something.”
BWAHAHAHAHA! Perfect. That’s what her suit was. She was a Discovery Channel Documentary, personified. I expect to hear the generic drone of a narrator noting her every move in the wild…
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The reason why people feel like we’re being held back by likes of Kanye and others is because deep down we identify w/ these people and still have that sense of black pride and the whole “diaspora” and community bullsh*t.
Secondly, a lot of people subconsciously still have the chains of slavery warping their mind. In one sense, antics of black folks in popular media hold us back in the sense that people will still have their personal assesments of what it means to be black and what black folks are about by watching ‘ye cut up. But realistically, if you feel that we still have some catching up to do, then it’s on you as an individual to change the perception of the people you come in contact with on a daily basis OR stop giving a f*ck what other people think of you as a person and be productive in your field.
Let’s also keep in mind while things may still tend to get racial in this country, it’s really more of a class issue than a race issue. If I had a dollar for everytime I’ve heard a white co-worker refer to another white person as trailer park trash, I’d have a million dollars in my sock drawer. I love my people to death, but when I see some fool comin down the block in a hyundai w/ plastic spinning rims and a toddler in the back seat sans a child seat, I’ma kiss my teeth and cuss them out in my head. Let’s face it, some people just don’t have any class (or as my West Indian folk would say, no rassclaat broughtupcy).
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The Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele, Solid As A Rock Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
And let’s keep in mind, this wouldnt be half bad if Kanye didnt proclaim that GWB doesnt like black people. Sh*t, if you don’t know how to sit your ass down @ an awards show and be cool, I’d hate you too f*cker.
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Cheekie Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
“If I had a dollar for everytime I’ve heard a white co-worker refer to another white person as trailer park trash, I’d have a million dollars in my sock drawer. ”
I just heard this the other day, walking to work. One girl was talking to her friend — both flouncing around in their Coach bags — and she referred to some girl they both know as “poor white trash” all matter-of-factly and ish.
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At the end of the day, nobody sets me back but me. The sooner people realize that, the better. Yeah Kanye was a buffoon, Serena got an attitude and Lil Mama is just a hot mess overall. But they don’t make or break me. I think Kanye realized there is no such thing as bad press. It’s only bad when you’re not in the press.
As far as Leno’s question for Kanye, hey somebody’s got to ask the tough ones. I would have too. Inquiring mines want to know. When you’re a public figure, nothing is private. It’s the price you pay for celebrity status.
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I read this post first and thought how great it was! Well done Seattle. First off I have been watching the news like crazy but I don’t have twitter and I only read this blog so I haven’t heard much about the race issue tied to Kanye, Serena and Lil Mama. I never thought once of it being anything caused by race.
After reading the comments I’m amazed at how many generalizations I’ve read about white people or “2520′s”. I’m also amazed at how offensive people are on twitter apparently. I had NO idea people had the balls to throw out the n word or KKK in reference to Kanye. Wow…that’s terrible.
It’s frustrating and sad though to read things like “white people view us all as one person,” or “white ppl think racist thoughts all day.” Generalizations are unfair no matter if they are about a minority group or majority group.
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Sorry I’m late on this!!
I try to ignore the fact that Tila Nguyen is unfortunately a “Nguyen.” I in no way relate to her at all and she is an epitome of everything little girls should not grow up to be. Her skankiness oozes out of the computer monitors if you ever pop onto her myspace. I don’t know how this girl has become popular. I don’t feel like she sets Asians back because she’s her own person and we really just discard her.
However, when the Korean guy shot up the school, I felt ashamed about the situation and ashamed that he was Asian. It was because he did something so wrong that I just felt worried people will see all Asians like that.
Tila, on the other hand, no way will anyone think that all Asians are like that. There are too many of us nerdy and good in math (stereotypes blatantly put down) ones to be generalized with THAT.
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