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Divided We Stand: The tale of Ella and May as seen from the 32nd floor

Posted By The Editors | March 23rd, 2009 | Category: Hot Topics | 18 comments Print This Post Print This Post

By John Shearer

Ella and May grew up worlds apart. Ella, 60 and single, spent her early years in Greenwich Connecticut and was a runner up in the Miss Black America beauty pageant. Ella, after graduation, went to AIG and worked her way up to executive Vice President of financial products. Her 32nd floor office has a commanding view of the city. She is a master of the universe and makes seven figures with a bonus to match.

Ell and May

Ella and May

May, 40, started life on Chicago’s South Side. Ella went to Smith College. May was a gang-banger who somehow managed to get by. May has five children from four different men and is missing a front tooth. Her year – old, four- day- a week cleaning job starts each morning at 4:30 and is the best job she has ever had.

The last office on her route is Ella’s.

“Well, Miss Ella, you lookin’ a little blue this fine, Monday morning.”

“You have no idea.”

“Miss Ella, you should be happy. I hear you got all that big money in your mail box Saturday morning.”

“Yes, but no sooner did I get it when I got a call from Mr. Liddy telling me to give it all back. That man has some nerve. I earned every cent of that bonus money.”

“But, Miss Ella, I thought a bonus was for doing a good job.”

“It is and I did a fine job, we all did.”

“But Miss Ella, I don’t understand how losing two trillion dollars is doing a good job.”

“I know it’s hard for you to understand and if it weren’t for that busy body in the White House none of this would have ever come up.”

“Miss Ella, the president there is a man that should get a bonus. He’s on the side of the little man.”

“May, you just don’t get it, do you? If people like me pay more in taxes, people like you will have less work.”

“Now Miss Ella, what do your taxes have to do with my working?”

“We create jobs, we start businesses, and we buy things. That’s what keeps the economy going.”

“I didn’t know you started a business.”

“I haven’t but I spend money and that’s good for the economy.”

“What do you spend your money on, Miss Ella?”

“Why just last week I brought two cars. Now that’s good for the economy!”

“Oh, maybe you’re right. What kind of cars did you get?”

“I brought two Mercedes 600’s, a black and a silver one.”

“Oh!”

“I drive the black one during the week and the silver on the weekend.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that they made those cars in America.”

“They don’t but it’s still spending. Good spending.”

“I see, one day I’m going to get myself a car, but it has to be American.”

“They’re not as good.”

“Did you ever have one?”

“No, but that’s what they say. Anyway now that I have to give my bonus back I will have to cancel my order on the cars and the two new fur coats.”

“You brought two fur coats?”

“Yes, when I was in France last month.”

“Oh, I can really see that you’re working hard to help the economy create new jobs.”

“I am, I brought ten new apartments on the Lower East Side. I figured if I fixed them up I could make a bundle. Again that was before that White House busybody started nosing around.”

“Well, I think he’s doing a great job. My taxes are going down my kids will be able to go to the doctor and they will have smaller classes in school, with heat in the classrooms. You know girlfriend, if you need money I can lend you this,” May said, pulling a coffee can full of quarters from her cleaning cart. “Pay me back in two months and I will only charge you 29%.”

“Thanks May, but 29% seems high. Where did you ever come up with a figure like that? ”

“From you last week. Remember you told me that’s what the bank will charge if I am a few days late paying my credit card.”

John Shearer is a photographer, head of his own media consulting firm, and a Contributing Editor for The DefendersOnline.com

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18 comments
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  1. Daron March 23rd, 2009 8:16 pm :

    I don’t get it. Mr. Shearer what is the point of your story? Is it fiction or truth? Ella and May come from different worlds but I’m still trying to figure out what I’m supposed to take away from this.

  2. K Quinn March 23rd, 2009 10:14 pm :

    I really like thedefendersonline and look forward to its well-written stories, but I do not understand this post. I find it really offensive. What kind of conversation is this? Ella and May are both such stereotypical caricatures of Black women. The clueless bourgeois and the gangbanger with kids by multiple men-give me a break. Was this supposed to be a witty commentary on the current economic crisis? It failed. Was it supposed to tell us something about class divisions in our community? Failed.Heat in the classrooms? What? The Legal Defense Fund has such a great history and I’m not sure that this story does it “justice.” I like controversial stories, and it looks like this one was trying to get there…but it didn’t.

  3. JW March 24th, 2009 9:15 am :

    How did this article get through? It does not match the quality of work that I’m accustomed to reading on this site. I did not understand the point, nor did I like the tone.

  4. N Davis March 24th, 2009 9:28 am :

    I agree with K Quinn. I enjoy the pieces on this site. They are usually fun, controversial and insightful. They make me laugh and some of them I don’t always agree with but because they are so well written they make me think more deeply. But when I saw this story about Ella and May I didn’t know what to think. I got past the first two paragraphs and thought what is this #$%^? There are already too many stories in the media that degrade black women and to come to this site and read about some toothless gangbanger with five baby daddies cleaning offices just doesn’t do it for me. I expect more from LDF. It is a proud organization and garbage like this dishonors a very proud tradition.

    Neena Davis

  5. jgreen March 24th, 2009 10:33 am :

    I find this piece extremely insulting. I come from a rich heritage of industrious black women. My mother cleaned houses for many years until she recieved her degree from FIT and opened her own business. It is obvious to me that Mr. Shearer’s exposure to positive images toward black women is limited. I am appalled that an organization with a stellar history of advocacy for all americans especially black americans would publish such a horrendous piece; especially during women’s month. There should a piece that is celebratory of black women.

    A disappointed reader!!!

  6. The Whackness March 24th, 2009 6:25 pm :

    Hooked on phonics did not work for the person(s) above. This oozes in satire.

  7. hblue March 24th, 2009 7:53 pm :

    Well done, sir! At first I was confused then after rereading the story I had myself a good chuckle! Ella, 60 and single, spent her early years in Greenwich Connecticut and was a runner up in the Miss Black America beauty pageant. Precious! Mr. Liddy must be an also ran in the Mr. Universe pageant

  8. Janice March 24th, 2009 9:11 pm :

    This guy needs an editor.

  9. Louise Landry March 25th, 2009 7:50 am :

    I love this story and I would love to read more like it…. How can anyone not see that this was satire.. Keep it up.

  10. Justin March 25th, 2009 9:05 am :

    Have we all forgotten Jonathan Swift so soon. No, there really weren’t any Brobdingnagians or Lilliputians and Blefuscudians. There weren’t any Laputans, either. They were just constructs for the sake of political satire, as were May and Miss Ella. Perhaps you felt this piece was too broadly cast. Well, that’s literature for ya. Everyone’s style and taste is different. But if you don’t get it…no need to flaunt it in public. And the “me too” nature of the posts almost makes one feel they were written with the same pen! Is there no originality in outrage? Perhaps before posting it would be good to take a step back and see the whole picture, and then take Janice’s advice, and get an editor.

  11. Donald Bain March 25th, 2009 9:07 am :

    I don’t understand the negative reaction to John Shearer’s piece. I don’t believe it has anything to do with race or racial stereotypes. The two women could just as easily be white, Hispanic, or Asian. What came through is a deft poking of holes into how we, as Americans, have allowed greed to overshadow common sense when it comes to finances. I found the piece insightful and delivering the truth. In short, I liked it a lot.

  12. S.Cuddy March 25th, 2009 9:41 am :

    It is quite clear that the writer is being satirical. The ridiculousness of Miss Ella’s actions and comments can certainly be compared to the attitude and actions of many of her “current” Greenwich neighbors. The story should make you consider the “values” that many American’s deem appropriate which clearly are not.

  13. Val Tag March 25th, 2009 10:28 am :

    This is such a waste of space. Why not have a fictionalized conversation that makes a real point with more than stock, stereotypical figures using TV sitcom blurb like comments. Come on you are a far better venue than what this post suggests. Live up to your potential!

  14. Yvonne Johnson March 25th, 2009 11:21 am :

    Interesting story — a tongue in cheek reminder of how money and success can corrupt ones entire being, no matter what color you are –as well as a stark reminder that the enemy is not just the rich and unconcerned republican white. That busybody in the White House is working for the “forgotten” as well — this article points out to us how we too can be our own worst enemy. If you don’t get it — then perhaps you need to check your values.

    But then, of course, what can we expect, look at the flack Bill Cosby got when he spoke the God Given Truth.

  15. Michael Millius March 25th, 2009 4:55 pm :

    Spot on Mr. Shearer. A to the bone story of how, in reality, the much vaunted concept of the Trickle Down Economy turned out to be ‘Trickle Down this’. How could readers not get this simple tale? Curious, but I’d say the above criticisms actually seem suspect in their far reaching ardor

  16. Lillian Combs March 26th, 2009 12:04 pm :

    Maybe Justin, Donald, Cuddy, Yvonne, and Michael should have written the story!

  17. AAP March 26th, 2009 6:41 pm :

    Interesting article….Perfect example of figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another

  18. AAP March 26th, 2009 6:41 pm :

    Keep it coming Shearer…

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