Uncategorized
-
Good for the Goose…
I applaud the new management at The Source Magazine, who have announced that they are no longer running “booty ads” in thier publication—-but I wonder when Jet Magazine will stop running the “Booty of The Week” page. Oops, I’m sorry. It’s “beauty,” not booty. My bad. “It’s time the hip-hop industry stop advertising junk and…
-
Malia and Sasha and the Dolls in their Honor
The makers of the Beanie Baby Dolls have unveiled their latest: Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia. A couple of bronze-skinned dolls who the company insists are not inspired by Barack and Michelle’s daughters, in name or resemblance. However, every Sarah, Kendra and Bobby, too, will be directing their parents through wind, sand and rain to…
-
What is clean coal?
Politics is full of rich oxymorons: peacekeeping missiles, business ethics and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, just to name a few. Add to those one that is being used ever more frequently these days: clean coal. In America’s industrial history, coal has been both dirty and deadly, but it has been anything but clean. The use of…
-
Managing The Bidens
The Bidens have a reputation for speaking out of turn, so mark my words: Jill Biden’s slip up on Oprah Winfrey’s couch—essentially sharing pillow talk with the enitre nation—is just the beginning of what will end of being four years of goofs and gaffs that will have President Obama scrambling to manage the Biden’s mouths.…
-
Oscar Nominations – Who Will Win
This is a sweet day for me. I know a few of the Oscar nominees, personally. I mean, I know them know them. Like we break bread, shared the same shower [not at the same time – hehe] and I literally spoke to one yesterday afternoon [I’m lying about that, but it felt good saying…
-
Obama's Special Guests
“Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions—who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.” —President Barack…
-
Is Class the New Black?
Over at Mother Jones, Debra Dickerson has a powerful and insightful essay on why the age of President Barack Obama means that “Class is the New Black.” Her thesis seems to rest on the idea that the heretofore invisible black middle class—which comprises some 40 percent of the US African-American population—has had mainstream exposure for the…
-
Congratulations Are In Order
Ever since last summer, when Barack Obama became the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, black friends have told me myriad stories about non-black people smilingly congratulating them. “He could become president!” they enthused. Could and did. But he didn’t become president of black America: He became president of the United States of America—all of…
-
Our First 40 Days
Sometimes new politics means more than just new voters, new leaders and new policies. There are times when it serves as the spark for something more. Now is that time for African Americans. There is a call out there for a ”Festive 40-Day Fast for the Future.” The idea is to establish and achieve a…
-
Who Didn't See This Coming?
In the hate-to-say-we-told-you-so category, Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn has vowed to hold up Eric Holder’s nomination to be attorney general because he’s scared Holder will prosecute Bush functionaries for torturing people. Holder, who would be the first black AG, refused in his nomination hearings last week to say he wouldn’t pursue prosecutions. After days…