FROM AFROS TO SHELLTOES BLOG » Jesse Jackson

Ask Ed & Sugar: Obama Backlash Employers Shun Inauguration

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:42:53 +0000

One of the greatest days of my life was interrupted by my boss refusing to let me watch the inauguration in the staff breakroom during my lunch hour. Then my homegirl tells me her company threatened to punish employees who took off work or went to DC to see Obama’s inauguration. Sounds unbelievable, right? Why are some people so angry about this new America?

Janine, Sacramento, California

(Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Sugar’sTake

Dear Janine,

If you work in a corporate setting, they are ill concerned with anything that does not help their bottom line (meaning the money). Corporations don’t want you taking a long lunch because it compromises efficiency. You think they want you taking days off to celebrate the accomplishments of a Black family? Now don’t get me wrong, all of our white brothers and sisters are not seeking to degrade other cultures, but most people with power and prestige are not looking to hold hands in human solidarity…there’s too much money to be made. Chances are your company is figuring out how to better it’s image and build capital for the executives. They could care less about you and your Black president. Plus, negroes aren’t popular until they can pimp us for some change…and I don’t mean the Obama kind.

Ed’s Take

Peace Sista Janine,

The Obama backlash is real. We have not seen the last displays of bitterness. While the inauguration marked a freedom morning of historic implications for change loyalists, many folks are heartbroken at the unfathomable; a black President. A nation built on the backs of slaves– and the sweat of people of color– now has a “power to common people” commander-in-chief vowing to end the days of business corruption, blind patriotism, and race baiting. The anger you see for the” New America” is really based on fear. Fear that a more open society will somehow jeopardize individuals’ ability to pimp the system for self interest and cash. America has always been “all about the benjamins baby.”

Fo’ real fo’ real, folks are more comfortable with black folks being in subservient positions. Racism is still in the discrimination business. Some are not ready for blacks and folks from the bottom to have access to “real” power. Because that’s what it is all about …POWER!! We are not talking Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton “march happy” pad my pockets at others expense kind of change, but the kind of all access change that moves from the streets to the suites.

Lastly, Obama’s victory puts a ton of so called “race spokesmen” and antiquated leaders out of business. As a result, there are jealous haters all around. Leadership has undergone a much needed remix as a person outside of the civil rights generation, who is down with young people and hip hop, has made it to the mountaintop. And many can’t handle this truth.

[end_columns]

Got a question; email us askedandsugar@afrostoshelltoes.com!!!

Between catching the uptown train to conduct “we luv the kids” writing workshops to dancing rumba on the lower eastside, Sugar Johnson flaunts his creative freedom in various mediums. The actor, vocalist, and educator have not only shared the stage with prolific artists such as The Last Poets, M-1 of Dead Prez, Jessica Care Moore, and Spike Lee, but he also labors to cultivate the forgotten souls of Rikers Island. Johnson made his film debut in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. The ASCAP member holds a B.A. in Mathematics from DePauw University and will release the poetry collection Food Clothes and Shelter on his imprint Home Grown Publishing, LLC in 2008.

Award winning writer, educator, counselor, and activist Edward M. Garnes, Jr. is the founder of From Afros to Shelltoes: Art, Action, and Conversation, a nationally acclaimed series of cultural productions confronting the social divide between elders and hip hop heads, and holds a B.A. in English Writing from DePauw University and a M.A. in Counseling from Michigan State University . His seminal essay, ” Sweet Tea Ethics: Black Luv, Healthcare, and Cultural Mistrust,” currently appears in Not In My Family: AIDS in the African American Community, a 2007 NAACP Image Award nominated collection edited by Gil Robertson. (www.afrostoshelltoes.com).

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Ask Ed & Sugar:Black Leaders Who Pimp Sistas

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:48:16 +0000

Lately, I’ve been experiencing men, who do great work in the community,but use a generic script from some pimp book (only instead of calling me “bitch” and “ho,” it’s “my sister” and “beautiful queen”) and get offended when I call them out on it. I have two questions: who are these women who fall for it and make them believe every woman will accept that behavior? And, what can we do to help some of these men, who have reformed themselves into leaders in their communities, but haven’t changed the way they view and
interact women?

–Distraught and Running Out of Patience, Teaneck, New Jersey

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Sugar’s Take

Distraught,

You have just touched on what I call the ‘Sun Ra Sun’ crew. These are the brothers and sisters that have read a little Egyptology, some Supreme Mathematics, know somebody whose cousin is a Yoruba priestess, Great Aunt was an Eastern Star, rocks a Kabbala bracelet and thinks they are Badu’s long lost sibling. We all have our own way of living the spiritual knowledge we attain, but it is horrible to use your ‘aura’ and ‘energy’ (damn people say this word too damn much) to pimp or take advantage of people’s respect for you. Common has a skit on one of his albums where he’s spittin’ all this knowledge and starts to slap a hoe shortly after that…look it up…I’m tellin’ the truth. He’s making fun of those ‘deep brothas’. I’m not really sure why sisters fall for that stuff other than their natural attraction to men in positions of power. Even head janitors have groupies. I think the ‘Sun Ra Sun’ crew should read all those books they have in its ENTIRETY before claiming to be the royal offspring of Kemet. And for all my scholars who know hotep also means content, may all our lives be sound testament to the melding of arts and sciences that govern the universe.

{/column1}

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Ed’s Take

Peace Sista Distraught,

Pimps don’t always congregate on corners. They often reside in pulpits, NAACP Conferences, corporate board rooms, and university classrooms. Being a leader comes with perks, and sadly, some men of power and influence feel entitled to pimp the trust and adoration of women to their sleazy self interest. So to answer your question, first, any woman (a PH.D in Counseling, teacher, stay at home mom, feminist, lawyer, or administrative assistant) can fall victim to charismatic misogynists posing as down for the people, “community” leaders. Why, because women have always been the backbone of social movements from Harriet Tubman and Fannie Lou Hamer to Angela Davis and Michelle Obama. Men know this and instead of kickin lines like “baby you so fine” or buying drinks at the club, they give you a copy of Pearl Cleage’s What Seems Like Crazy On Ordinary Day, tickets to the Democratic National Convention, and invite you to their hotel room to discuss the revolution…all with the intent of a romp in the sheets. Jesse Jackson Sr., who in 2001 admitted to fathering a child out of his marriage, and Bill Cosby, a “moral authority” who stepped out on his wife and settled a civil case alleging sexual assualt, are very key examples.

Secondly, leadership at all levels is often a sexist affair. And in order for things to change, brothers have to hold other brothers accountable for their cave men view/treatment of women and manhood. Brothers must also support and form coalitions with sisters to challenge the sordid behavior of folks betraying public loyalty. {/column2}

Related Links

Mother Wants Jesse Jackson To Be Father To His Illegitimate Child

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/08/16/jackson.mistress/

Bill Cosby Accused of Sexual Assault

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,149804,00.html

Got a question; email us askedandsugar@afrostoshelltoes.com!!!

About Sugar Between catching the uptown train to conduct “we luv the kids” writing workshops to dancing rumba on the lower eastside, Sugar Johnson flaunts his creative freedom in various mediums. The actor, vocalist, and educator have not only shared the stage with prolific artists such as The Last Poets, M-1 of Dead Prez, Jessica Care Moore, and Spike Lee, but he also labors to cultivate the forgotten souls of Rikers Island. Johnson made his film debut in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. The ASCAP member holds a B.A. in Mathematics from DePauw University and will release the poetry collection Food Clothes and Shelter on his imprint Home Grown Publishing, LLC in 2008.

About Ed Award winning writer, educator, counselor, and activist Edward M. Garnes, Jr. is the founder of From Afros to Shelltoes: Art, Action, and Conversation, a nationally acclaimed series of cultural productions confronting the social divide between elders and hip hop heads, and holds a B.A. in English Writing from DePauw University and a M.A. in Counseling from Michigan State University . His seminal essay, ” Sweet Tea Ethics: Black Luv, Healthcare, and Cultural Mistrust,” currently appears in Not In My Family: AIDS in the African American Community, a 2007 NAACP Image Award nominated collection edited by Gil Robertson. (www.afrostoshelltoes.com).

Ask Ed & Sugar: John Edwards’ Adultery

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:40:57 +0000

If a clean cut guy like Sen. John Edwards can cheat, do politics and adultery go hand in hand?

–Josh McNown Raleigh, NC

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Sugar’s Take

I looked up the word adultery and found it to be of Middle English origins dating back to about 1325. Middle English was the chopped up language used until the 17th century. I say all that to say that folks have been getting’ down for the get down for hundreds if not thousands of years. The watchful eye seems to be pointed at politicians as of late. Ever since Bill Clinton was wildin’ on Capitol Hill, folks have been taking a very close look at politician’s “movements” (as they say in the Caribbean). Then Eliot Spitzer’s situation resurrected an even bigger “side chick” task force. I don’t think people are cheatin’ any more or less than they were in times past. It’s just a rather scrutinous climate for politicians and their affairs. It’s kinda like wearing a turban on a plane after 9/11…not a good time. {/column1}

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Ed’s Take

When news of Sen. Edwards broke, I immediately thought of my Aunt Bobby’s juke joint in Vicksburg, MS and hearing blues and soul cats like ZZ. Hill, whose hit “Cheatin In The Next Room” (click here to here the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_fEoQQjNo8) articulated the trials of untrue lovers, break down affairs of the heart. Edwards’ fall from grace has less to with politics and more to do with POWER. Power is seductive and often taints our sense of right and wrong. If anything, an overwhelming sense of entitlement and invisibility created the perfect platform for Edwards’ adultery. Plus, it’s no secret that women are attracted to powerful men and often have their sense of morality tested when encountering smooth talking gentlemen with influence and cash to boot. What is hard to fathom, personally, is why in this era of relentless media inquest, do men like Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick, President Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, and others keep getting caught with their pants down? Yes, I do believe that politicians and public figures are unfairly targeted at times. But, if you aint’ doing wrong…then you can’t get caught up. Instead of placing politicians on a pedestal, we should accept the fact that seemingly clean cut guys like Sen. Edwards are human …and susceptible to temptation and the trappings of fame.

{/column2}

To Read John Edward’s statement of his affair click here:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/08/edwards.statement/index.html

Got a question; email us at askedandsugar@afrostoshelltoes.com.

Ask Ed & Sugar: Jealous Jesse Jackson

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:11:54 +0000

I was a little confused when I heard Jesse Jackson’s remarks about Barack Obama, why do you think he said those things?

Matt, Madison, WI

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SUGAR’S TAKE

Dear Matt,

I wrote a poem (circa 2000) called ‘F— Jesse’ in response to his comments about the movie ‘Barbershop’. The way I remember it he took a joke from the movie completely out of context. So I called his ass out in the great city of East Lansing (Ed and BPS produced one hell of an event) and my sentiments for him have not changed. Mr. Keep Hope Alive suffers from the sense of entitlement plaguing our civil rights leaders. Walking with Dr. King is not an automatic appointment for Black leadership. No dis to what Jesse has done, but the days of sit ins and marches are over. While we’re being disobedient civilians our white brethren are in Washington meeting with lawmakers. Our ancestors have done their work, Dr. King and many others did their work, it is time for us to do ours. Jesse Jackson is out of touch and is reluctant to pass the baton…maybe he’s more concerned with his pockets.{/column1}

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ED’S TAKE

Peace Brother Matt,

Jesse Jackson is an extended metaphor for the adversarial relationship between civil rights heads and younger generations; including hip hop heads. If anything, Jackson’s comments are anchored in jealously. Why, because being the HNIC often yields fat checks/payoffs. Plus, without a platform and face time in the media, self appointed black spokesmen have a hard time shaking down corporations with claims of discrimination and commanding outlandish fees on the speaking circuit.Senator Barack Obama’s rise has marked the death of old school leaders whose inflated sense of self, attention seeking antics, and out of touch “march happy” politics have isolated them from contemporary Black America. While Jackson’s historic contributions cannot be ignored, and I am grateful for anyone who put their life on the line for the struggle, he really needs to sit on the sidelines, sip some sweet tea, and accept the fact new blood is upon us.{/column2}

Got a question; email us at askedandsugar@afrostoshelltoes.com.