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  Posted By:
  Ms.Martin at 04/16/2008 4:03:05 AM
  Comment:
  "His response wasn't exactly a Tyler Perry review, but it was close: There was a time and a place for Rev. Wright's comments and I'd like to explain those times and places to you. I don't live in either anymore, but I also won't completely trash them, because they're a part of who I am and at various points they have given me comfort."
  
  Only something we could understand.
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  Posted By:
  problemwithcaring at 04/08/2008 6:54:39 PM
  Comment:
  i love all the hedging on Obama's Presidency. ah! to esape the Big Black Maybe!
  
  lol. pitch perfect.
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  Posted By:
  merzydoats at 03/31/2008 8:41:21 AM
  Comment:
  I didn't find the chitlin' circuit until my Junior year at HU. I both hated and loved it, and finally settled into liking it intensely. part of the allure, I admit, is that it is just for us. Madea was created for an audience that recognizes 'her' instantly; either you have a Madea or you have a friend with one or you're heard of one in detail. She is ours, along with the drug addicts who get saved, and the prostitute who dies after finding and reconciling with her children, or the rich boy who steps out on his wife and gets what he deserves or 80/20. I still need something that is generally positive and NSFW; I would hate to see that go away.
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  Posted By:
  thatblxguy at 03/31/2008 1:37:03 AM
  Comment:
  Change brings fear and to quote a wise old Jedi fear is the path that will lead you to the dark side. Now, Rev. Wright is a pastor of a church and the last time I checked nobody listens to there pastor anyway, if we did we'd all have our own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and stand up and act like Christians. Look, Sen. Obama is a politician and when an opportunity presents itself at an opportune time, why not take advantage? Coincidence that Wright's comments surfaced when they did most likely, A setup, dude must be a mastermind, an genius is something we could definitely use in the White House. It's better that this talk about race came up now then having the elephant bring it up on the way into the white house. Hopefully I made some valid points and stayed somewhat on topic.
  
  -ThatBlackGuy
  got a little carried away
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  Posted By:
  thatblxguy at 03/31/2008 1:34:11 AM
  Comment:
  We are all human, nobodiesfool, human meaning the same flaws you see in yourself when you look in the mirror are the same flaws that all of us as human being have, e.g. politicians, presidents, actors, gov???s, etc. Now, as Black people we make up roughly 14% of the American population now, not half not a even a quarter of the whole so for us to be able to have a national quote unquote Chitlin Circuit is a testimony of our collective strength. So a Tyler Perry really does not bother me. Holding on to a traditional Christian Cosbique (made that up) image of the black experience as God loving, determined, driven, sensible people is all to the good. Lord know we have enough of the hoodstar images out there which is cool to, only there's really know middle ground, here.
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  Posted By:
  Genna at 03/29/2008 11:32:40 AM
  Comment:
  I'd hate to think we'd lose the chitlin circuit or black entertainers. I'd also hate to think we'd have to keep their talent "just to ourselves." Richard Pryor spoke openly about all his issues (ie. blackness, domestic violence, drug abuse, everything) in a way that opened up the medium to other people. Comedians are about the only free people in public life. They can say something offensive because it is what they really think and get away with being funny. Politicians, professional people, and other thinkers/entertainers get in trouble for saying what they really think. Why not open up Wright and other people to what really happens with us? Surely we are going to get a backlash. It is going to subject us to deeper scrutiny. There could even be hate crimes connected with us talking about us (like Hispanics when it comes to talking about Immigration), but I'm sick of where we are. The future could be more uncertain than where we are right now, but I want something different for my children. Integration changed our ability to do more professionally and to go places we couldn't go before even though it also brought on other problems. We can't stay in this integrated place where we aren't honest with each other forever. Nor should we.
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  Posted By:
  motherschild at 03/28/2008 1:00:04 PM
  Comment:
  The comments made by "nobodies fool" resonate with you are "somebodies fool." Have you ever heard that if a human being has 3/5 of black blood, then he/she is black? This rule is still in play in today's society. When white people look at Obama they do not see his lineage; they see that he is a black man. He is a black man, which he realized early in life after society's life lessons, who has accepted the challenge of bringing this country closer to a King's reality because right now we are far from it. And as far as Rev. Wright's comments are concerned, you should visit Rolan Martin's blog. Rev. Wright speaks the truth as said by a white man, but that is not what is heard in the media. I will sign off as a black woman born of a black man and woman.
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  Posted By:
  nobodiesfool at 03/28/2008 1:12:28 AM
  Comment:
  I don't need a white woman son to tell me about being black. Obama is a white man who became black because of convience. The patronizing crap speech about racism serve his purpose "the white house". Rev Wright serve his purpose the black vote in chicago. This no ethic, ambious, lying white man should be held accountable for his action. Obama is evil and a lier. How dare him speak to black and white about racism after being question about his preacher suddenly appears. This arrogance should be enough for another candidate to win. Obama grandfather did not want to dirty his legacy with him and his father saw fit to disown him mightly. Now Obama wants to shove Rev. Wriight down everyone throat because if doesn't only God knows what Rev. Wright say about dear old Obama. Get rid of the great bleached hope and let's get somebody capable of being president before the american people. Not this weak chump.
  Written by a black female american raise by black parents and grandparents
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    Posted By:
    Ms.Martin at 04/16/2008 4:05:59 AM
    Comment:
    Written by an ignorant black female
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  Posted By:
  nobodiesfool at 03/28/2008 1:03:02 AM
  Comment:
  Let stop the pie in the sky thinking and talking. Obama is an opportunist and lacks ethic and integerity. Ambious and arrogant best describes the mix raced man. OJ lost his race card and Obama was denied his race card by his grandfather and father at birth and via the visa his father held. The evil is in his willingness the lie without blinking and while supposely educating blacks and white about racial issues he recently acquire via Rev. Wright.
  Fool somebody else ****I am a female African American not raise by whites.
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  Posted By:
  blessinggirl at 03/27/2008 8:58:00 PM
  Comment:
  I may be dim, but I just don't get the connection between Senator Obama's quest for the White House and a diminution of bug-eyed comedy. I think HBO will still put on "Def Comedy Jam" and Mr. Perry will continue to make his movies. His movies are aimed intellectually at those ages 9 through 22. Where's the beef?
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  Posted By:
  ebogjonson at 03/27/2008 8:32:36 PM
  Comment:
  >Isn't there room in the movieplex for comedies like "Meet the Browns" as well as "the noble dramas of August Wilson"?
  
  sure, but that assumes that there Noble Dramas at the multiplex.
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  Posted By:
  midi at 03/27/2008 11:25:14 AM
  Comment:
  I found it ironic to read the NYT review on the same page with an ad for "Drillbit Taylor". Where's the White reviewers' hand-wringing over that brain-dead farce?
  
  Isn't there room in the movieplex for comedies like "Meet the Browns" as well as "the noble dramas of August Wilson"?
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    Posted By:
    dmplc at 05/23/2008 10:27:20 AM
    Comment:
    I think when we get to the place where every segment of our Black society gets its own room in the house and nobody is a reflection of nobody else, when we can be educated and ignorant, ghetto and ivy league, bling bling and understated and everything in between at the same time, that is when King's dream will be realized. That is what Perry and Obama are about. White people don't get upset about ignorant, boisterous, criminal white people because they don't need to front, they are who they are. We need to finally arrive at the place where it doesn't matter what white people think. Worrying about how their viewing Perry's works will reflect upon us is a slave mentality. White opinions should get no more credence than our own. They are just people. Just like us. Black lawyer who loves everything Perry does and will never apologize for it.
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  Posted By:
  growth12 at 03/27/2008 10:48:37 AM
  Comment:
  I think you're forgetting that the majority of African Americans are not of the "Root" ilk. Obama's possible election (I say McCain takes the election, but who knows) notwithstanding, the majority of African Americans are in a worse state than we/they were before segregation. A glance at statistics regarding education, incarceration, impoverished single mothers, etc., proves this. I think Tyler Perry speaks to black folks who are far removed from white privilege, black privilege, and any sort of in-between--and their children's prospects are even more dire. If Obama is elected, the majority of black people will probably not benefit (he absolutely cannot create the sort of change America needs--if he values his career...and life). If anything, the elite black middle class will be thrown a few jobs and opportunities, just as they (we) were in the late 1960s and early 1970s (and have been since white slave owners started throwing their mixed-race offspring the occasional college education and small farm). Not to be cynical or anything, of course:).
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  Posted By:
  rebeccawalker at 03/27/2008 7:02:57 AM
  Comment:
  This is a really deep piece, Gary. Makes me think about so many things-- obviously black communities that were decimated as a result of integration, the way our (will we be able to say "our" anymore without white people saying, which "our" are you talking about?) strategies for coping with segregation were often unable to keep up with the challenges of integration. Also about our belief in "progress." What exactly is going forward? It is impossible to determine if we only acknowledge outcomes that validate our choices and keep us from seeing the rest. Take the McCain view of Iraq, for example. But also your take on this private, privileged space of blackness as being one of a peculiar kind of racial performance, one that may not be healthy for either the performer or audience member. That this political shift may force black people to generate a different private racial performance. If it is no longer is defined as counter to a privileged, erudite whiteness, what will the contours of this new private/populist performance be? Really great piece.