Black Mystery Month

In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson started Black History Week, which evolved into Black History Month- in title. Though many celebrate the month, few celebrate the history.







The problem lies in the celebration. The goal of Black History Week wasn't just to celebrate black history, but to focus on educating about black history- a history vastly ignored through traditional education. When Woodson initiated the event, he was forty years before the Civil Rights movement. Even with only the slightest understanding of American race relations during that time, one can see how society's attitude toward blacks would be reflected in education about blacks.


But what has really changed since the original event's inception? To this day, blacks are still only footnotes in American History textbooks. With the rarest exceptions like George Washington Carver and Dr. Martin Luther the King, blacks are only referred in their lowest social status- slaves. "Black history is American history" has become somewhat of a mantra, but watch closely as to what is celebrated this month. The so-called "history" will hardly dip beyond the surface of entertainment and stereotypes. Americans of all creeds and colors, even blacks, still don't seem to know much about black peoples place in history beyond slavery. If February first was your introduction to black Americans, what will you have learned by the twenty eighth? At best, you have a shallow understanding of how the Civil Rights Movement "ended" racism. At worst, you would leave with the prejudice black people are just chicken eating former slaves turned entertainers. In my lifetime, this month has only served as a collective reaffirmation of the stereotypes of yesteryear.

WatchJ: "In 1967 while at a scary movie an ANGRY Keyona Taylor
became the 1st nigga to ever talk to the movie screen"

ChocChunkDoll: "In 1966 Tyrone Williams was the 1st nigga to run & jump on top of a car to get away from a big ass dog."

['BlackFirsts' topic courtesy of Twitter]

Both the quotes provided and the NBC menu selection came from black Americans. That is what we were taught about ourselves. According to what's being taught this month, that is black history- at least according to what has always repeated itself. When black history really is American history, there will no longer be a need for a month. Until then, I'll take a two piece and a biscuit in honor of those who came before me, and long for the day we celebrate Make History Month.

"I almost forgot he wasn't white."

President Obama never mentioned race during his State of the Union address, but race was once again the hot topic on the lips of this union's citizens following his speech. Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's Hardball, attempted to compliment Obama's unilateral leadership appeal by stating "I almost forgot he was black for an hour."

The problem is, Obama is black. Matthews' statement only mirrors the white supremacist mentality that has become America's legacy. That legacy is highlighted in the question: "What does it mean to remember he is black?"
Matthews 'compliment' was that, for a moment, Obama was seen for his leadership qualities. In Matthews words, the astounding moment was in realizing "this was an African American in front a bunch of other white people, and here he is President of the United States and we've completely forgot about that." Yes Chris, it is amazing that a bunch of white people are listening to the black man they elected president. Amazing because there are people like you out there who, only on the rarest occasion, see Obama as a man, and not a just a black man.
Let's imagine a white POTUS gave the same speech. The amazement might be that a Democratic president would work so hard to covet Republican support, his crassness in rebuffing judicial decisions, or his inclusive leadership approach. Imagine the entire country responding to the common issues he addressed last night, instead of more dialogue on his being black. That's generally when imagination fails- trying to envision the day a man is judged not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character -for such is what dreams are made of.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
-Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr.

America Needs Dialogue on Dialogue

America does not need a dialogue on race.
In it's short history, America has done nothing but talk about race. Yesterday in the airport, two men, a white South African and a black Nigerian, are overheard discussing their views on America- views decided, naturally, by how one regards the 'American blacks'. Racist readers will be happy to know there are at least two less immigrants threatening to 'take yer jobs'.
America is known, nationally and internationally, for race. Other nations have elected minority and women leaders, but 'AMERICA elects first BLACK president' dropped the world's jaw. Doomsdayers were barely recovering the Prophet Chris Rock's analysis: “You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy..."
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was our dialogue on race. We discussed it through the language of the unheard, violence [MLK]. Through riots, assassinations, Emmett Tills, Jim Crows, and Voting Rights Acts, we discussed it among people and government loud enough for the world to hear. The era may just as well be a national embarrassment to some today.
Yet we are still waiting for a 'national dialogue on race'. How many comedians launched careers off "white people do this/black people do this" jokes? The president mediated a racial dispute between a white cop and a black man- how much more symbolic of a gesture could there be? Beer Summit was such a gaudy gesture that if it were a movie, it would have went straight to DVD. Yet every time a public figure says something racist, there are calls for a 'racial dialogue'. Who exactly needs to talk for America to have it's dialogue on race?
America needs a dialogue on dialogue. Then we can stop having the same tired racial dialogue every time different colors are acknowledged. There was racial dialogue in the slave times, through the runaways and revolts, or posted on billboards- "Niggers For Sale". There was racial dialogue amid legislators- they said Jim Crow, Voting Rights Act, 13th Amendment, and 'don't teach them how to read'. There was racial dialogue in the streets of Watts and Los Angeles. We had racial dialogue after Rodney King, Sean Bell, Don Imus, Michael Richards, and Skip Gates, Rush Limbaugh, "Real Americans", and Lou Dobbs daily. We write about it- every black author has to write about being a black author. If there is any dialogue America has, it's race. What America needs is a dialogue on nationalism. The KKK and Black Panther Party are not going to sign a peace treaty, but our uncanny inactivity has developed a society tolerant not only of races, but racism. Instead of trying to be post-racial, America should just go for racial. That way the question won't be "was that racist?", but instead "what are we going to do to get around the racist?" Whether you are using the system to oppress others or are oppressed by it, there is a system. Extremist, feeling the effects of a changing system earliest, adjusted- white sheets became obsolete, so blue uniforms & black robes were garbed. Politicians were right behind them, adopting political correctness to ride the winds of change. The beauty of this system is in its ugliness. White supremacist & black supremacist both decry assimilation, while living and working in close proximity to one another. No matter how much dialogue we have on race and racism, it just won't seem to go away. Instead of a dialogue on race, lets just try a dialogue- with race. Call me if you need a negro dialectician.

Church & Hate

The Catholic Church has given Washington D.C. an ultimatum. The letter, sent by the Archdiocese, is a threat to stop helping the 1/3rd of Washington D.C.'s homeless currently receiving social services if they pass same-sex marriage legislation. Morally questionable or not, this move is good for us all.

The line separating church and state is long overdue for redrawing. The Vatican, which operates as it's own independent nation, should not be writing US policy- at least not without Americans referring to the Pope as Supreme Leader or Ayatollah. In this Democracy, citizen elected leaders are meant to create the policy.

That's where the line separating church and state gets blurred.

Shouldn't the Catholic Church be allowed to spend their money wherever they please? Correct, however using money to influence government policy is called lobbying, and Lobbyist have [albeit weak] rules very different from the tax benefits and freedoms granted to religious institutions. Between the Catholic Church and 1/2 the policymakers claiming to be on the 'religious right', separation of Church and State is practically obsolete. To say religion has no influence over US policy is a joke. As these institutions continue to flex their economic muscle, we need to even up the playing field. If you want to play the bribery- I'm sorry- lobbyist game, you need to play by the lobbyist rules. Religious institutions need to be under the same category as other non-profit organizations.

There is no separation of Non-Profit and State. In fact, the opposite is true- we expect them to advocate for policy change beneficial to their cause (Republican National Committee, The Young Turks, etc). Churches, on the other hand, are operating the same way under the illusion of neutrality- an illusion which grants them unprecedented access to policymakers. Nobody would blink twice to hear Politician X meeting with or even quoting Minister X. If, however, Minister X was instead just Mr. X, leader of Non-Profit X (ie, Acorn), the rest of the political alphabet would be up in arms. They would demand every email, text message, or note passed among the two, and scrutinize any policy which appeared beneficial to Non-Profit X. They would demand the revocation of Non-Profit X's status, and attack the credibility of Non-Profit X (assuming Non-Profit X supported their rivals).

Both the Catholic Church and the politicians vying for their votes should consider this policy change. Threatening to 'reallocate funds' if disagreeable bills are passed is too blatant to be ignored. What we allow the Catholic Church to do today, we must allow the Muslim Church to do tomorrow. If Muslims had the same fiscal standing as the Vatican, would we be as willing to accept them using the same level of influence? If the GOP's response to Obama using Bush initiated policy is any indication, the answer is a resounding no.

Then again this is a church matter, and maybe non-catholics shouldn't be involved with church decisions. It's not like...never mind.

Partisan Rape

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Rape-Nuts
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

A clause protecting government contractors if employees rape each other has met strong partisan opposition in the senate. Republicans admittedly voted against the "Anti-Rape Bill" to protect Halliburton. No need to check the polarity of your moral compass, when your stance is against rape victims, you may need to rethink your position. Unfortunately this vote was not spotlighted on any major news outlet, offline or on.

Sell TD Jakes' House, Feed South Dallas

Sarah Silverman proposes selling the Vatican to feed the world. Maybe selling one of the many black churches in your neighborhood can feed the city? Chances are there is another one in walking distance.

War Over Peace Prize

President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.
If you want to promote Peace, you have to place yourself in the center of conflict. Whether each side throws words, punches, or bullets- you have to become the target. For the dissenters who ask "What has he done", that is your answer.

One of the oldest, most historical conflicts is the ancient fight between Israel and Palestine. This conflict is not just of principles and conversations- people are dying amid even conversations of this struggle. We cohabitate with war as if it were the most natural state, so nobody is breaking their neck to solve this problem. Only the victims are screaming. Now everyone is talking about Obama, and Obama is talking about something unheard of in politics- Peace. Critics scoff he has only given speeches, yet words are the only thing that will end this conflict. No US legislation, military action, or UN sanction will bring peace to Jerusalem, or to Israelites and Palestinians worldwide. In the era where every president has their war, Obama is opting to try and end the holy one.

Circumstances could not be more inclement as well. The market for peace is scarce these days. An American president won the Nobel Prize, and Americans are disturbed. Peace is disturbing. Peace forces the realization that there is opposition, and ask "What are you going to do about it?" Americans elected him, but Americans also pejoratively yelled "He's a Muslim!" The American president reached out to the Muslim world before the American public did. This unpopular, but right. This is leadership.

Israel and Palestine, Christian and Muslim, pro-choice and pro-life, gay and straight- one man has dedicated himself to resolving these conflicts and more. Most people say resolving these problems is a fantasy. They say the idea of a perfect world is cliche.

You may be incapable of imagining a world without these wars, but Obama isn't. The leader of the free world is acting like he has nothing to lose. Mr. America wants world peace. If he were anywhere other than the world stage, he would be receiving a crown and roses to thunderous applause.

WATCH: Rachael Maddow breaks down Obama Peace efforts

The First Will Become Dash

Africa Matters.
We know because an African-American Leader (Jesse Jackson) and mainstream news source (Huffingtonpost) said so. When it comes to issues associated with blacks, you need both for authentication.
It shouldn't be news that Africa has a wealth of natural resources, of which China has deeply invested in. As the tide of Great Britain colonies abated, Chinese businessmen swooped in to capitalize on the industrial gap. Good timing, partially reflected by their booming economy.
Though China has already heavily invested in Africa , building roads, bridges, dams, and even hotels, the implication is that America should be benefiting from these natural resources.
Why?
America is too multi-cultural to maintain it's previous sense of entitlement. We're talking about Africa's resources, yet the tone is "China can't have them all, we want some too."
So China and America should split the resources of Africa, not the other 47 countries who inhabit the continent?
Please, forgive my heresy. I forget sometimes that the universe revolves around America.
The fact of the matter is, had it been Mars China was siphoning resources from, America still would have a sense of entitlement over every rock. The difference here is that America is inhabited by Martians. Aliens. African-Americans, they call us. If I was racing for space rocks, I'd sure like to have Martians on my side.
Centuries ago, America traveled to that strange planet of Africa. They deemed it's inhabitants savages (like today), and took human laborers as it's only resource. 400yrs of free labor, and we build USA Inc, the richest nation in the world.
Yet our biggest competitor has one-upped us. China is using the source of our start up wealth as a source of residual income, and America wants in.
Meanwhile, African-Americans, American Africans, Blacks, Negroes- the dark skinned descendants of the original employees -have come upon a golden opportunity.
For years the only African resource in America was the people it brought. Even now those people still live in a landless hiatus- Estranged from Africa, yet still not fully accepted in America: African-Americans. You could say we've spent more time as the dash than either or.
Which is exactly what America needs right now, a dash. A connection between Africa, and America. America is not entitled to African resources, of which China has a firm grip on anyway. Blacks in America can't all be CEObama. We should create a new position, embracing the link with both countries. African-American. The title is already there, now to create positional benefits.
African-Americans. Your Americanism bleeds from your pours to the nostrils of every foreigner. Yet in America, your "exotic" look has resulted in the same tumultuous relationship as any imperial colony versus native citizens. Black Americans live in this balance, with Africa on one extreme and America the other. Instead of pushing through your Americanism to embrace African cultures, or denouncing African roots as interpreted by American patriotism, embrace both. That position is exactly what you and America need right now, a link between Africa and America. Who better than it's estranged children and step-children, itching to return to the motherland they've never seen? Only instead of dark-skinned Americans occasionally wandering for a glimpse of lost origins, African-Americans can return as ambassadors between the mother land and what will be the newly dubbed "our land". For once, the plethora of American interests are aligned on one issue: desire for Africa. Some claim to love her, others just want to tap that... resource. Both require a relationship.
African-Americans looking for their place need to settle down where they are, on the dash between. That dash on paper should be a bridge in real life. All African-Americans interested in Africa should unite and create such an institution. With an education on African languages and cultures, it would be the bridge and gate keeper between Africa and America. The only bridge running deeper inland than the coast, connecting knowledge, commerce, and culture. Let African love unite Americans and African-Americans, and all will benefit. In the age of green being the new black, black is the new green.

"She Got That Good Hair"

The other day, Tyra Banks had a familiar yet always interesting topic on her talk show. With her hair in cornrows and a mostly black panel ready to give their insight and opinions, they all discussed what good hair actually means. Tyra, being the righteous sista that she is, tried to school the young black women on the beauty of natural hair. Ironic, since Tyra dons light, straight or wavy hair 99% percent of the time. Oh, but for this particular show she has cornrows? Whatever.

As a woman of mixed heritage, I've gotten the "good hair" label from black women all throughout my life. And it means absolutely nothing to me. I don't blush and say thank you, I usually stare at them with a look that says, "Have you not learned anything from Malcolm X?" I realize that the hair style one chooses to sport is not necessarily an indicator of our racial intelligence, but the fact that so many black women (and young girls) still subscribe to the myth of "good hair vs. bad hair" is alarming. Even Chris Rock, inspired by concerns from his daughter, filmed a documentary about the issue.

Let's be clear....THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS GOOD HAIR, LADIES! If you relax your hair because it's easier to manage and whatnot, fine. But if you relax your hair because you want that "good hair" and believe your natural, kinky hair is ugly, then you're still trapped in a slave mentality.

See, the term "good hair" was created back in the slavery era, when the slaves who had mixed blood (usually from the white slave owner) were given special treatment. Their "wavy" or "straight" hair was usually a sign of this special status. Slaves who had natural, kinky hair desired the hair they could get from white people, thinking it would grant them prestige and privileges. Now in 2009, there are still many black women out there afraid of going natural for fear of what others may think of their "nappy" hair. And black girls as young as 3 are believing that Mylie Cyrus' weave is ideal while the Angela Davis 'fro is the epitome of ugly.

It's a shame, really. Too many black women just don't know how beautiful they are. Whether straightened or rocking locs, we must remember that our hair does not define our beauty, nor does society. Only we, and we alone, can change our perception of beauty.

The Fall of Glenn

It has been a good run, but Glenn Beck's celebrity career is over.

As sponsor after sponsor has pulled away from him amidst public outcry over recent comments that Obama is a racist with a "deep seeded hatred for white people", his fellow right wingers have began to distance themselves as well. Traditionally, when a prominent representative of the Republican base (black Republicans, such as Colin Powell, are important but outside of the base demographic) is attacked, fellow party members rally in their defense. Glenn, however, stretched that privilege a little too far when he directly pitted Obama against the entire white race- something GOPers constantly infer, but never officially say. Fox and friends cannot retain the image of journalistic integrity- 'fair and balanced' they call it -and be so directly linked to racism accusations. The video montage of them accusing people of "playing the race card" John Stewart would create would be historically epic.

In lieu of the normal collective defense by the GOP, they have previously ignored and now are distancing themselves from Glenn, even going as far as preemptively minimizing his career, as poorly written by conservative columnist Kathy Shaidle. In her response to large sponsors abandoning Glenn (Wal-Mart, CVS, Best Buy), she wrote:

"They're just humoring boy cotters until they turn their attention to a new trendy cause."

The implication being his career is the old trending cause.

In fact, the entire article professes the death of Glenn Becks career more systematically than this post.

It begins by announcing the reason his career is over: sponsors have been "bullied" from his program in rapid succession- 5 one week, 20 the next. She politely list them by name, pointing out the most recent are large companies. Then she eloquently explains how "left wing busybodies" who "typically avoid shopping at Wal-Mart" have teamed up with their opposites, the Wal-Mart shoppers who are apparently "much more likely to be Glenn Beck fans. Period."

Shaidle makes the point my natural "leftwing incoherence" could never: enemies and supporters of Wal-Mart don't like this guy, and this is business. Wal-Mart didn't get big off of white only dollars, so they're not going to isolate 2/3 of their demographic.

As she points out, they have already shifted funds away from Glenn to other shows on Fox News. Of course, your tiny liberal brain probably doesn't realize that ad revenue plays a large role in the TV industry. Shows get cancelled for less. Wal-Mart isn't acting in the best interest of it's stockholders, it's "humoring the boy cotters until they turn their attention to a new trend."

Because of his financial toxicity, Glenn Beck is about to be out of the only job he is suited for. His credibility is burning so brightly, Kathy Shaidle's got caught in it's gravity. His career failure is like a supernova that, ironically, resulted in a black hole of failure: even it's coverage fails, by insisting leftist don't "get" it's irony, even though it was attempting sarcasm, not irony. Humor, insult, AND irony identification fail. Triple fail score.

The true irony is that in failure, Glenn Beck becomes what he previously failed to convince the USA he represented, a normal guy.

That, and the fact that the post defending his career as still alive provided both content and picture for this post.

3 Classic American Recipes

Ingredients:
1 False Alarm
1 Harvard Professor
1 Cop
2oz Anger

For Bullied Nerd: Marinate Cop and Anger over lifetime. Splash with False Alarm and Harvard Professor. Serve Fresh.

For Intelligent Insults: Mix Anger and Harvard Professor until slightly lumpy. Add False Alarm. When boiling, lower heat, add Cop. Let mix stew for best results.

For Beerfest: Use Black Harvard Professor/ White Cop. Heat 1oz Anger and Harvard Professor. Add Cop. Watch carefully, as it can easily boil over. After arrest, add 1oz anger and mix well. Let blend cool for three days. Serves 4, or 300 million Americans unwilling to actually deal with race issues.

1.

An Evening in Paris

Home of America's last official public lynching, Paris, TX brand Justice strikes again. After Brandon McClelland was run over and dragged to death, prosecutors dropped all charges after a truck driver came forward and said he "might have run him over".
This coming from the same prosecutors and judges [Chuck "Supervillian" Superville] who tried and convicted 14yr old Shaquanda Cotton as an adult for pushing a hall monitor.
With so many racially charged public issues, this is long overdue.

BOTTOM FIVE WAYS TO RESPOND TO RACIST NEWS
5. Question the Racism
Even after all the Rodney Kings, Sean Bells, and Sotomayors, racism must be proven beyond the shadow of a doubt before it is considered a plausible cause. Why? Don't be 'that guy'.

4. Blame the Victim
Your first sentence should never start with "He [victim] probably..." HE is the victim. His scars/lack of life should be enough evidence to justify investigation of wrongdoing.

3. Ignorantly Repeat Sound Bytes
Someone else may have read the entire story or, even worse, know the facts!

2. Beat the War Drum
Your first response should not be "See, THIS is what I'm talking about! F%#$ [insert racial slur here]" Before we hit the streets with Molotov cocktails, lets talk about THIS. Action, not reaction.

1. Call Al Sharpton
Eyes will roll. Let the Al Show begin.

1.

Wise White Men

The confirmation hearing of Judge Sotomayor has a racist elephant in the room. The root of her opposition lies in these key three words: Wise, Latina, and Woman.

If the supreme court was made up of ALL Latina women, what would her opposition be?

By opposing this nomination over Sotomayor's public claims being both latino and a woman affect her decisions, you admit being a white male affects your decisions. It is effecting this decision.
You don't need to claim that publicly for us to know it, nor does the public hold it against you. Just let the root of opposition be more statement than allusion.
"I oppose Sotomayor because she is a Latino Woman, and I represent White Males."

WATCH Pat Buchanan calls for more racial opposition.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Affirmative Action is wrong, but he wants the law changed to protect his race from discrimination?

Sotomayor is inevitable: as the Latino population has grown, so will the number of Latino elected officials... and, unfortunately, the temperature of racial politics.

1.

Dear Mr. President

Dear President Obama,
Although we don't understand it as well as you, most of us laymen recognize the fine line you must walk being the leader of such a multi-colored nation. Although I complain about you by name at times, please note that I am happy you have brought back at least a sense of humanity to the presidency- an aura that doesn't proudly proclaim 'the bottom line' to be only financial gain. If we claim any sort of compassion or empathy individually, our elected leaders should reflect such as well.
That being said, what is the significance of having a black president if the governments treatment of black Americans will remain unchanged? You have said time and time again that as you work to improve conditions for everybody, naturally those communities harder hit, such as the black communities, will see the benefits as well. How can you acknowledge the inequalities in the black communities, but only respond with a promise to return to the norm? Are blacks to be expected to always lead in unemployment, drop out, arrest, and incarceration rates?
You have ruffled quite a few feathers already going after such a huge problem as the health care system. I must congratulate you for this, and condemn opponents of change. Some may delight in the prospect of 1 out of every 5 dollars being spent on health care- sounds like a beautiful profit margin- but as human beings, we should not accept profit over saving lives, period. America will pay for the inflation of health care cost with the dollars of the rich or the lives of the poor.
The very same way you brought this debate to life, why can't you ask similarly difficult questions regarding the black community? Questions like, why do blacks have the highest arrest and incarceration rate? Why are blacks the most likely to be uneducated? Why are blacks the most likely to be poor? I am tired of these being unquestioned realities. Black skin does not make you mentally inferior, nor criminally inclined. If the blanket policies continue, the message will be clear that the government either has no interest in the advancement of colored people, or sees no benefit from the improvement of their conditions.
Also, how many of the Bush policies will you adopt? I was under the impression "change" meant a change in policies. Do not feel pressured to be like any other president- you are not any other president. You do not need to cater to any tradition, or pander to any crowd beyond that of the public will. People were previously afraid to even include words like "President" in conversations , for fear they would be recorded, arrested, and held indefinitely without charge. Is that the type of nation we call free? The era of supreme court election decisions and warrantless wiretappings needs to end, and the era of REAL transparency needs to begin.
Once again, I am glad that you are president and believe you are doing a very good job. However, in order to improve conditions better than before when things are already bad, you will need to be nothing less than extraordinary.

With Sincerity and Peace,

J Robinson
Advocate for a peaceful and fearless society

P.S
My regards to the wife and family.