Comments for The Defenders Online | A Civil Rights Blog

Comment on The Abdication of Desirée Rogers by bigred

bigred — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:15:33 +0000

Doggone it. In my comment, I meant awful not aweful. I even reread it twice. I hate when that happens.

Comment on The Abdication of Desirée Rogers by bigred

bigred — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:08:31 +0000

Maybe I missed it, but how many Secret Service people stepped down? It seems to me the reporters attempted to give the best protection from these two. How many events did Desiree Rogers make happen and watch over during her tenure? I think I remember reading it was over 300. What an aweful way to live; knowing there are people crouched and ready to pounce at the slightest hint humanness. Not all of these peoiple are on the other side of the aisle. Some of them are right in the White House. Did Ms. Rogers have culpability? Yes. Did she deserve to take this heavy of a fall? Absolutely not. Does this say something about the Obamas that they would let this happen? I don’t know. I do know this obviously very gifted woman was terribly wronged.

Comment on International Women’s Day: Crossing Bridges for Women Around the World by Joanne Williams

Joanne Williams — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:40:00 +0000

Lest we forget….we, the women of these United States, need to remember that unless all of our global sisters have the freedoms and protections we oftentimes take for granted, none of us should stop marching and advocating. Glad you wrote the story. And mo’ glad that you marched!

Comment on Has Fear of a Black President Driven Some White People Crazy? by Chris

Chris — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:13:14 +0000

Alright first I am Native American, not a white man. I am confused at the distortion of facts to meet this claim. Firearms and sales surged not because we have an African American President, but a President while as a Senator voted to limit second amendment rights every time that he voted on the subject. He tried to ban handguns in Illinois, as well as assault weapons possession, manufacture and sales of firearms. I am actually surprised that individuals who are writing about the source, would not look up information and completely speculate about the reasons that individuals are watching out for their constitutionally given rights. If it was a ban on televisions, we would probably take more of a stance. There is currently no amendment in the constitution that covers televisions though. Since this is a right and not a privilege, why it is up for debate is incomprehensible. A person who chooses to go against the governing documents of this nation has people worried, not the fact that he is an African American.

Comment on LDF Defends Chicago Black Firefighters by FedUP

FedUP — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:36:27 +0000

Honestly, if you go anywhere else, the highest scores are offered the jobs first. If you don’t score high enough, that’s just your problem. As for the race issue, will there ever be an end to it. My word, there are so many government programs out there for minorities and now they want more. As for these men, you should have done what everyone had done when they found out they weren’t gong to be offered employment with the city of chicago fire department. Gone and applied somewhere else or found another line of work. Oh, then they would have had to have scored high in order to get hired. Oh yeah, and most suburban dept’s require college education and fire/ems training before you can even apply. STOP THE RACISM CRAP. All it is is a ply to obtain money and a job that you truly will not be welcome at now (due to this b.s. lawsuite).

Comment on Mission Critical: Succeeding at Black America’s Last Chance by Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:52:58 +0000

Well said and helpful!

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:50:38 +0000

Stacey, as always you are on point, sharp as a razor blade, fully awake, and alive!

Comment on Black History Month is Over. But Should it be? by Karen May

Karen May — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:20:47 +0000

For those disillusioned folks, join The Association for The Study of African American Life and History, founded by Carter G. Woodson, the Father of Black History Week, now Month. Become an ‘active’ member and encourage other individuals and organizations to join also. ASALH was founded in 1915. We are the foot soldiers of Black History 365 days a year.

The website http://www.asalh.org will keep you up-to-date with our efforts of promoting your sentiments and that of their mission and the legacy o Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

Karen May
Publications and Exhibits Coordinator
The Association or the Study of African American Life and History

Comment on Poll# 18 by Angelique

Angelique — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:30:43 +0000

This is the Hollywood Vanity Fair wants. Absent of diversity. We have encountered this ignorance for 100 years in the media. Its a shame that the women in the photo agreed with Vanity’s vision.

Comment on Poll# 18 by AfricanAmericanShoppingNetwork.com

AfricanAmericanShoppingNetwork.com — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:22:30 +0000

I have not read the article; only viewed the picture but I find it unacceptable that no African-American actress was included in the group. Nothing against the while ladies shown but talent, looks and character are not the monopoly of a single race. Perhaps the agents/publicists/managers, etc. of each young lady had sufficient ‘pull’ to get them on the cover, which brings up another point–Where are the Black/African-American promoters for Black talent? Do they exist? Do they have power and influence? Do they have open doors for presenting their talent? Are they connected appropriately with presence in the ‘right’ circles?

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Synesthesia

Synesthesia — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:49:50 +0000

Hmmm. There is a movie to Bastard out of Carolina. It’s disturbing, but not as disturbing as the book. There’s also a movie I haven’t seen with, I think Dakota Fanning that hasn’t been released yet.
Then there’s some creepy movies I positively hate like Happiness that are nothing but some disturbed dysfunctional white folks.
Plus there’s also Lifetime which has a lot of movies like that… Kids, that movie is mostly white folks, and it’s also disturbing and completely depressing.

But, I haven’t seen Precious yet. I’m not going to get it from Netflix until tomorrow.

Is it just that they piled a ton of negativity in the movie on one character to the point that it’s overwhelming and it’s worse that she’s black because folks will see it as a perception of black folks that is exaggerated in its negativity?

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Editor/Stacey Patton

Editor/Stacey Patton — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:33:56 +0000

Synesthesia: I read Bastard Out of Carolina and saw the film some years ago. I wouldn’t agree that it is an equivalent to Precious. This young white girl was abused by her stepfather I believe. But she doesn’t have all those other forms of pathology slapped onto her. And if I remember correctly, there’s some redemptive value towards the end of the story, unlike Precious. I agree with all of your other points. And thanks for those other titles. I hadn’t heard of those books.

Gwen: You are right. The consequences for this kind of porn has far-reaching consequences and there will NEVER be a white equivalent to Precious. Look what happened when Dakota Fanning was cast to play a rape victim. That film never made it to the big screen. The Christian Right had a fit. Black people are always the poster children for these depictions.

Shaun: Sending you a GREAT BIG fiber optic smile!

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Gwen

Gwen — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:24:42 +0000

Stacey:
You articulated all of my feelings exactly. Anyone who says that “Precious” is an excellent film just doesn’t understand the implications of these images. If it is so great, where is the white equivalent of a film like “Precious, which depicts white people in the same light?

Comment on NO, IRSHAD, I DID NOT VOTE for OBAMA BECAUSE HE is BLACK, but BECAUSE HE is BLACK LIKE ME by Janet Singleton

Janet Singleton — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:14:25 +0000

I humbly congratulate the responder on his extraordinary ability to read my mind; otherwise he would not be knowledgeable of my “black imagination.” And he would not be able to arrogantly claim that my philosophical commonalities with President Obama were non-existent. Maybe he thinks all the other black people who feel a kinship with the President are delusional as well. It must be a fantastic feat to be such a great mind reader. And it must be especially outstanding given that you are apparently mindless.

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Shaun

Shaun — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:14:02 +0000

I have to agree with Holly, seems like the writer has some unsolved issues

Comment on James Waller by Stefanie

Stefanie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:33:12 +0000

I think that people dont even care about the lies that people tell although the boys might have thought it was you actions should have took place as soon as a rape kit was given and they should have took your dna and i really think that its ashame that you had to suffer all those years for a crime you didnt commit and all the time you spent awayfrom your family somy heart goes out to you and i wish you the best

Comment on Calvin Willis by Stefanie

Stefanie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:27:27 +0000

everytime your story comes on lifetime i watch it over & over because i dont understand how they left you in jail that long with out trying to do a dna test & i think that it was very unfair & im so rorry that you had to suffer for something you didnt do for all those years and being away from yuor children but god is god and im glad to no that you can finally enjoy your summer and wintery days home with the ones your love

Comment on Father of African-American Cinema Receives Stamp of Greatness by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:02:00 +0000

I believe everyone in America should know about this great man.

If you can share this article with your friends and family SerenityLife that would help

get the word out.

Best!`

Comment on We’re Not the Na’vis: The True Ecology of Avatar by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:22:37 +0000

This is such a great article! Especially for those who can think, feel , and see in nuanced ways.

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Synesthesia

Synesthesia — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:32:30 +0000

Hmm. I see your points. I’ve read the book. It’s sort of like a black version of Bastard out of Carolina.
A very agonizing book which is about a family of poor southern white folks. So i wonder… There does need to be more positive images of black folks, but, if this is the reality for not only black people but people in other countries, people who are apart of the dominant culture and have all of the money, but still have these kind of problems sort of the poverty and illiteracy, how can one tell these stories in a delicate way that isn’t stereotypical?
Maybe the problem is this isn’t the only reality for black people in places like Harlem and Hollywood doesn’t seem to be totally aware of that…
But still.

I haven’t seen the movie, but the book was painful, but good. It paralleled other books like Bastard out of Carolina, Born Blue by Han Nolan, the agonizing story of a girl who was white in foster care, but it mentioned Billie, Ella and Etta, which was cool. Also You don’t know me was a good book. Abuse isn’t just limited to urban poor folks or poor folks in general.

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Editor/Stacey Patton

Editor/Stacey Patton — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:36:46 +0000

Hello All,

Thanks for your comments and readership. A few things . . . .

1. Janice, indeed I have made noise about Tyler Perry’s disrespect of black women. Please see the following post that I wrote some time ago: http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/03/10/muh-deah-goes-to-jail-throw-away-the-key/

2. Chris, you’re absolutely right! We must not forget about the banner of films this year that played off of old tropes. I was sitting there thinking that Bullock was the lesser of the two evils to win for best actress.

3. Holly, I don’t like biting my tongue when I eat or speak. So I chew carefully and open wide enough to speak quite clearly. And I’m certainly capable of feeding myself and don’t allow others to put food or words in my mouth. So let me be clear, when I said “white dominated” I meant an industry that is run mostly by white actors/actresses/producers/writers and so on. They may be of Celtic, Irish, Jewish, Italian or some other European ancestry. The point is that neither blacks nor any other groups of color hold enough power in Hollywood to tell their stories in a more nuanced way. I have yet to come across a REAL LIFE Precious.

Thank you all for your input. Keep reading. Keep sharing your thoughts.
S. Patton

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Planet Ill

Planet Ill — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:28:33 +0000

[...] on topics such as what (if anything) does the Oscar win for Mo’Nique for the movie Precious means for balanced images in Hollywood of Black Americans in the mainstream, the latest updates on Guru of Gang Starr’s health situation (lots of updated information [...]

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Fusebox Radio Broadcast for the week of March 10, 2010 « The PRess Junkie

Fusebox Radio Broadcast for the week of March 10, 2010 « The PRess Junkie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:03:55 +0000

Comment on “Precious” and the Oscars by Chris Chambers

Chris Chambers — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:22:28 +0000

Amen, but let’s not forget Bullock’s Oscar for The Blind Side, which was cloying magic Negro trope, or the fact that Avatar was the frontrunner–and it was an old Tarzan movie. Right down to the black actors who played the bluefolk. Note Laz Alanzo & crew got credit, yet Cameron parades around the long haired female lead, Zoe Saldona. Equally uncomfortable, as you analyzed, was MoNique’s shout out to Hattie McDaniel, mother of the Mammie trope we all suffer under.

Comment on ‘Hollyhood’: Real-Life in La-La Land by Machelle S.

Machelle S. — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:51:28 +0000

CONGRATULATIONS, Valerie…thanxs for sharin!!! I can’t wait to read the “entire” book. I luv the cover. As you stated…it DEFINATELY sounds like a page-turner. I think it’s a GOOD TOPIC to write about, cause Hollywood can be FULL of a lot of DRAMA!