It had to be said.

There has been a trend happening that a lot of people that should be happy about it, continue to show their level of ignorance by being unhappy about it. That of which I speak is the ever growing presence of prominent Blacks in the US coming forward and publicly speaking what everyone knows; Blacks in America are in trouble and a lot of it is their own damn fault.

It is not a popular view for obvious reasons. In one camp, Blacks believe that their dirty laundry should not be aired by the likes of Bill Cosby or Spike Lee (as portrayed in this link). The other camp actually believes that they and those that think like them are wrong. Well, after all these years of blaming "the man" for their woes, they fail to realize their own shortcomings. And yes I said they.

I may also be Black but things are very different for American Blacks. When I don't get a promotion or a bonus, I do not blame the man or the establishment or the 500 years of slavery. I either take responsibility for my shortcomings, or blame my asshole boss (which I have had). Have I experienced racism first hand? Ya damn skippy! I could not be Black and not have experienced it. It happened in school, in Cubs, in Scouts, in Cadets, in School and at work. That said, I have never been told I could not go into this bathroom or eat in that restaurant. And, I never got spit upon on the TTC like my parents did in the early years of living in Canada.

Years ago, my brother and I nearly lost our breakfast as we watched two Doctors, supposedly educated Blacks, defend and promote the use of Ebonics in schools in California. Of course, this would be the BEST way to show everyone that black people were not inferior. If the test is too hard, decrease its difficulty. If the language is too difficult to master, make up a new one. WTF?!?!?

It was such a sad sight and sound that we were crying and laughing at the same time; then we got angry. We were two middle-classed, right side of the tracks, legal-minded, proper speaking youths who could not believe that someone would suggest that we SHOULD be less than we are in order to succeed. The US Whites would have been impressed with our resolve. The Blacks would have labeled us (and may still) as "uppity niggers".

The very term is both a compliment and a condemnation all at once; that is a great part of the issue. When Snoop Dogg calls out all his "niggas and hos", it is a good thing; it is gansta rap, language of the streets and understood. If Tony Soprano, on the HBO hit series The Sopranos, says the same thing, it is derogatory and negative and inflammatory.

In high school, I was in a hallway and called out to my boys "y'all niggas are crazy". Mr. Chappelle, French teacher and dungeon master supreme (we met often) who happened to be White, was appalled that I would use such language. I argued that it was okay because it was me, a black boy, calling it out to other black boys. Hell, we "allowed" a couple of close white friends to toss the word about when we joked around without receiving a beat down. Mr. Chappelle pointed out that no matter who said it, it was a distasteful word. We had a discussion about it and many things after that. And that is what is always lacking in the US; intelligent discussion.

Chris Rock for years was threatened with boycotts and actions against him by blacks because he dear give to the whites what the blacks already knew; knowledge of two distinct societies within the black community. As Mr. Rock pointed out clearly in one of his routines, there are two types of people: black people and niggaz. And, to quote him, "Niggaz have got to go!" If you get a chance, buy the tape or watch the DVD. It is one of the funniest things ever said about this division. It is also one of the most controversial. He was told he should not have pointed it out because he was given the White man more ammunition to put the Black man down. Dumbasses.

The Black person does this enough themselves when they allow their kids to become ganstas, run around at night during the school week, not grow up with morals or respect and generally follow all that crap the rap artists be talking about. No, I do NOT believe that TV, Books and Movies are responsible for the ills that children do in today's society. In fact, I think that view is a crock of shit and parents have to stop coping that plea and start taking responsibility for what their kids do.

You stepped up when it was time to get jiggy with it and make the kid; step up and be responsible for the child now that things are a bit harder than choosing which cold, nasty mush you are sticking into their face tonight. You're a parent now, start acting like one.

And for the rest of you, I care not if you are black, white, red, purple, yellow or brown (you albinos are on your own). Be proud of who you are. Stand tall without having to do so on the backs of others. Recognize but for the grace of something, all of this could be different and that we are now all in it together. As Springer says, "Take care of yourself, and each other."

Peace!!


CANOE -- JAM! Television: Spike Lee promotes proper speech