Disqus - Latest Comments for B_Serious

Re: House of Representatives Passes Healthcare Reform Bill

B_Serious — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:10:26 -0000

Happy belated B-Day, rikyrah. May you have many more.

Re: Black Women—get an education, give up the chance for marriage and family?

B_Serious — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:42:01 -0000

another fyi . . .

Here's one of the sources for the "never married" stat (apparently a separate category from the percentage of men/women who were married at the taking of the Census). It's the same source used by Flash1 above.

http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/c2kbr-30.pdf

pages 3-4 are of interest.

Re: Black Women—get an education, give up the chance for marriage and family?

B_Serious — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:14:51 -0000

Interesting article, rikyrah.

I touched upon this issue in the post I did just before CNN's "Black in America 2":

What we’re really talking about is the blessing (or curse) blacks feel to be a spokesperson for the entire race. At the heart of many a controversy isn’t necessarily the issue being discussed, but rather HOW that issue is presented to the rest of America. Admittedly, this concern speaks more of white perceptions (or, better put, blacks’ anticipation of white perception) than the merits of the argument itself.

This often happens when discussing black relationships. Discussions get bogged down in statistics. . . X% of black men are unemployed . . . Y% of black women have never been married. If we’re not careful, both conversations can feed stereotypes of black men and women (i.e. the lonely bitter black woman can’t find a man because there’s no such thing as a good black man - I’m sure you’ve heard it before). The media must be careful to check its facts and present them in the proper context. It’s not enough to regurgitate statistics and draw blind conclusions. There are lies, damn lies and statistics. And people have gone out of their way to disprove commonly held assumptions about black men and women when it comes to relationships. Their voices aren’t always heard.

http://reachblack.blogspot.com/2009/07/black-in...

I have a problem with a lot of "relationship" discussions because I don't believe that most problems can be attributed to social trends, demographic studies, etc. Relationships are personal in nature. Most people coming into these conversations do so from their personal experiences. Personal experiences . . . not necessarily facts. And I don't automatically blame men for the failure of a relationship. Some people (male or female) are experts on failed relationships precisely because they have led a history of bad decisions and/or behavior. When a person starts listing six or seven bad relationships they've been in, it might help to examine the common denominator.

Now, compound that with race and you've got a whole new set of circumstances. I will say this . . .

I think it would be in our best interest to study the manner in which stereotypes of black men feed stereotypes of black women (and vise versa).

And as an FYI . . .

For what it's worth, the statistics show that black men are also much less likely to have ever been married. The Census showed that roughly 42-43% of black men have never been married vs. 40-41% of black women (raw stats, I don't have the stats based on education, etc.).

Some of these studies do more to divide black people than help.

I've seen it far too many times. Add societal standards of "beauty" and "masculinity" and you've really got a mess on your hands. Black men and women tear each other down and get so caught up in disrespecting each other that some even begin to praise white men and women as the golden standards of beauty and masculinity and promote the "white is right" argument as a solution to all of their troubles (btw, I'm not against interracial marriage, etc., I just think some - perhaps an extremely vocal minority - do it for the wrong reasons - i.e., status, etc.).

The difference between the numbers as they apply to white men and women as opposed to black is that most discussions involving our white counterparts don't devolve into disrespectful gender wars about "bitter black women" and "trifling black men."

Re: Black In America 2 Open Thread

B_Serious — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:47:06 -0000

I wrote a piece about Tyler Perry a few months ago that touched on some of the same subjects:

Black comedy and why Madea matters

Re: Afternoon Open Thread

B_Serious — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:12:09 -0000

Great article. Comparing movements often leads to competitive victimology and oppression olympics. . . which gets us nowhere (at least that's how I see it). And though some say blacks don't own the issue of "civil rights" it certainly can't be argued that we don't own our history and struggle as a people.

Each struggle has it's own history and should be respected as such. Of course there may be similarities. But each struggle also presents it's own set of obstacles.

Don't presume to know my struggle and I won't presume to know yours. I have no problem with those who want to learn from what blacks have gone through. What pisses me off is when people think they can LECTURE us about our own struggle and history (as in that whole "you should know better, go sit at the back of the bus" type of argument I see on a lot of websites).

I didn't appreciate it when Tina Fey proclaimed "B*tch is the new black" back when Hillary was getting beat in the primaries. I don't appreciate the "gay is the new black" slogan now. Especially when some of the same people shouting that will get upset when others use "gay" as a pejorative (e.g., "that shirt is so gay" etc.).

Re: Michael Jackson has had a heart attack

B_Serious — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:17:42 -0000

I'm an 80s baby, so I grew up on a lot of Michael Jackson. As someone just said on tv, he's one of those figures that really defines an era and it's hard to believe he might be gone.

Very sad news. My prayer are with him and his family. Hope the rumors aren't true.

Internet and radio say he's gone. TV is now saying he's in a coma.

They're playing his songs on the radio. .. .very chilling effect.

Re: Remarks by the President at the Signing of a Presidential Memorandum Regarding Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination

B_Serious — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:50:55 -0000

President Obama should be afforded the same blessing and/or curse that every President faces each election cycle. When a president runs for reelection he's judged by one clear standard . . .

"Are you better off today than you were four years ago?"

That seems fair to me. I know people don't want to hear things like, "he's only been in office for ___ months." Too bad it carries the burden of being true. If we elect a man for 4 years, it's with the understanding that he should act upon his promises at SOME point during that four year period. It's a lot of work . . . that's why we give him four years four years to do it. Presidents have triumphs and setbacks . . . that's why we give them four years. Constituents can be in full support one day and royally pissed the next . . . that's why we give the president four years. He will have ample time to make mistakes and make up for said mistakes . . . that's why he get's four years.

The manner and order by which campaign promises are kept (or ultimately foresaken) depends on political strategy, personal ambition and style of leadership.

That's the gamble we take . . .

We, the voters, gamble that the president will keep his/her word. . .

The president, in turn, gambles on the strategy he or she takes to get from points A to B.

Sometimes we misjudge our president. Other times, the president misjudges his strategy. Still, sometimes we get it right. More often than not, we find a happy medium (dissapointed on some things, pleased with others).

But, whatever the case, we come together every four years and ask the same question . . . "Are we better off today than we were four years ago?"

If the answer's "yes" . . . hello second term.

If the answer's "no" we ask the follow up question . . . "Is the other person any better?"

I know it's not cool to say it, but (GASP) I still like Obama. Far from perfect, but better than most. Disagree with him on some things; but am satisfied on others. I know . . . I know . . . the talking heads would have you believe he's an anti-semetic, homophobic, self-hating, uppity negro mysoginist. Damn! Gays don't like him. Jews don't trust him. Conservatives hate him. Liberals cry betrayal. Bill Maher on one side, Rush Limbaugh on the other.

"He's doing too much."

"He's doing too little."

"He's a socialist"

"He's a corporate shill."

WHATEVER!

Here's a hint . . . there will NEVER be a time when everyone agrees. So why waste your time, energy and (dare I say) sanity listening to the talking heads (whether they be tv pundits, bloggers, radio hosts or columnists). THINK FOR YOURSELF!

Personally, I can't say the President has "betrayed" anyone, "thrown (insert group) under the bus" or engage in any other form of hyperbolic (yet all too familiar) rhetoric. Some say he hasn't done his job? Others (myself included) say he hasn't finished the job. The former declares the situation hopeless while the latter acknowledges the fact that, win or lose, there's still time to make good on the promise.

It's a matter of perspective, but my vote back in November came with an understanding that Obama would get four years (at least 2 years given the midterm elections) to make good on his promises. It came with the understanding that he would succeed and fail over the course of this time period. And it came with the hope that we'd be better off four years from now than we are today. Four years . . . not four months.

Re: Evening Open Thread: NBA Finals, Game 5

B_Serious — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:48:51 -0000

Thanks rikyrah.

How sweet it is!

Re: Evening Open Thread: NBA Finals, Game 5

B_Serious — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:41:49 -0000

LAKERS = CHAMPIONS!

Re: Cornel West Would Rather Be In “A Crack House Than the White House.”- Kneegrow, Please

B_Serious — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:40:23 -0000

Re: Sunday Open Thread

B_Serious — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:07:06 -0000

Evening Thread is up.

Re: Afternoon Open Thread

B_Serious — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:06:22 -0000

Evening Thread is up.

Re: Evening Open Thread: NBA Finals, Game 4

B_Serious — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:21:49 -0000

LAKERS WIN!!

3 down 1 . . . .

I said just 1 . . .

Uno mas!

1 More to Go!

GO LAKERS!

Re: Did President Obama Insult Israel?

B_Serious — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:05:52 -0000

Evening thread is up.

Re: Afternoon Open Thread

B_Serious — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:04:52 -0000

Evening thread is up.

Re: Remembering Stephen Tyrone Johns

B_Serious — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:04:25 -0000

Evening thread is up.

Re: “Senator” Roland Burris (D-Blago) and Pay-to-Play Placement

B_Serious — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:12:53 -0000

Evening thread is up.

Re: Tell Steele to Back It On Up re: Sotomayor

B_Serious — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:11:20 -0000

Evening thread is up.

Re: The Supreme Court Punted, Mr. President. It’s up to YOU to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

B_Serious — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:10:23 -0000

Evening thread is up.

Re: Afternoon Open Thread

B_Serious — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:09:06 -0000

Evening thread is up.

Re: Evening Open Thread: NBA Finals, Game 2

B_Serious — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:40:44 -0000

Tie ballgame. . . 9.1 seconds left . . .

Oh the suspense is killin' a brotha right now. lol.

Lakers need to make sure they don't leave any time on the clock when they shoot.

Re: Evening Open Thread: NBA Finals, Game 2

B_Serious — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:19:17 -0000

Miranda,

I saw Zrin's article. Maybe that's why Obama picked the Lakers in six. lol.

Do we have a few Laker converts? Hey, there's always room when it comes to the purple and gold. Welcome.

Myth - I hope you're right about that sweep.

Re: Evening Open Thread: NBA Finals, Game 2

B_Serious — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:15:47 -0000

Halftime . . .

Rashard Lewis is earning his paycheck tonight. There's NO excuse for giving that brotha as many open three pointers as he got in the first half.

Let a team stick around long enough and they'll find a way to figure you out. Stay home on the three point shooters. Don't let Orlando catch their rythm on offense. Lakers need to do a better job on the offensive glass. Bynum's gotta give his team more than he has so far.

I'd like to see L.A. drive the paint more. Force the issue and get to the freethrow line. Too many jumpshots for my taste.

It's an ugly game so far, but sometimes you gotta win "ugly" to get the prize.

Let's go LAKERS!

Re: Sunday Open Thread

B_Serious — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:24:26 -0000

Evening thread is up.

Re: Happy Birthday, Sasha Obama!

B_Serious — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:22:35 -0000

Evening thread is up.