Archive for February 8th, 2008
Eighth day of Black History Month: The First Lady
You wanna feel the wrath of a black woman…do something to her son.
My earliest grasp of this concept was when some kid in St. Clair Village had the nerve to hit me with a pole and ran. I was out in the hall way playing with my Evel Knevel motorcycle. Needless to say, I was a bit stunned and bloody and sans Toy when she came upstairs from the laundry room. (mind you this was 1975, about the LAST time you could actually let your child out of your sight for more than 15 seconds)
My mother stalked that project for an hour, softball bat in hand, until she found the 8 year old who did the deed. promptly traced him down to a somewhat responsible adult figure and proceeded to give him exactly what for.
Of course, NOW Mama Ink is an Ordained Minister, but don’t think for a second she won’t STILL get with you should the situation call for it.
Was my mother perfect? No. But show me a mistake she made in raising me and I’ll show you a chipped brick in the Pyramids.
Is that to say that I am a perfect product? Psh….be serious. It just means I am a Black man who can’t look back to his childhood and point to a parenting deficienc y as the reason why this or that isn’t right.
I bring up mama today because she called at the crack of ass (her favorite time of day to do so) to check on son #1 post-surgery (Im doing pretty well, thanks.) and I was thinking of her as I saw for the fourth time today the Privilege test. Its a bit dated but it’s still telling.
When you were in college:
If your father went to college, take a step forward. (If he dropped out before he met my mother, does that count?
If your father finished college <–little late for that now.
If your mother went to college
If your mother finished college <–My mother and I are racing to finish now. she will probably beat me.
If you have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor.
If you were the same or higher class than your high school teachers <–nope I thought my teachers were RICH.
If you had a computer at home
If you had your own computer at home <–I didnt even have Nintendo.
If you had more than 50 books at home
If you had more than 500 books at home <—Library Card.
If were read children’s books by a parent <—-indeed indeed then I was reading to her.
If you ever had lessons of any kind
If you had more than two kinds of lessons
If the people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
If you had a credit card with your name on it <–when i was in College my MOTHER didnt have a credit card.
If you have less than $5000 in student loans
If you have no student loans
If you went to a private high school
If you went to summer camp
If you had a private tutor
If you have been to Europe
If your family vacations involved staying at hotels
If all of your clothing has been new and bought at the mall
If your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
If there was original art in your house <—There was barely unoriginal art in the house
If you had a phone in your room
If you lived in a single family house
If your parent own their own house or apartment
If you had your own room
If you participated in an SAT/ACT prep course <—It was free
If you had your own cell phone in High School <—I wouldnt have if they had been invented. I didnt even have my own phone in the house.
you had your own TV in your room in High School
If you opened a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College
If you have ever flown anywhere on a commercial airline
If you ever went on a cruise with your family
If your parents took you to museums and art galleries
If you were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family. <–I knew they were too much and that we spent the winter fully dressed (pajamaed and slippers and a robe at night) but how much the bills were only was known if you were paying them. and once I dropped out of school, I was.
After this, I realized that while my privilege was very limited what privilege I did enjoy was given to me at great sacrifice by my mother because she KNEW that me being gifted wasn’t going to be enough all by itself and that I needed to be exposed to a lot more stuff. And for that, I am eternally grateful and will pass that along to my sons.
Stop whining already.
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So, I stumbled upon McLibel, a documentary about McDonalds and Libel Laws in the United Kingdom
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In the movie, the following phrase was uttered as part of the McDonald’s marketing strategy:
Remember, children exert a phenomenal influence when it comes to restaurant selection. This means you should do everything you can to appeal to children’s love for Ronald and McDonald’s
What planet do these folk live on? Ain’t NOBODY under the age of 35 (my wife’s age mind you) running SHIT around here.
Mostly the movie was kinda whiny. Maybe I’m getting more and more capitalist in my old age, but they ain’t using Jedi Mind Tricks over there. If you don’t wanna participate in their getting McPaid, man up and eat at the house.
Blaming THEM for you not being able to control ya kids????
Seventh Day of Black History Month: Burn Hollywood Burn
If I have learned NOTHING else in the past 6 1/2 years of Blogging/Writing, it is this: Expertise ain’t what it used to be.
Or maybe it was never all that much in the first place and I am the one with the late pass.
Whatever the case, I stumbled upon the 25 most important movies on Race by way of Time Magazine.
Sounded like a challenge. As an intermittent Movie snob/buff/afficianado, I was curious how this would play out. Of course they decided to rank them chronologically rather than by sheer importance. I didn’t question who the author was until AFTER I saw the whole list. I will encourage you to reserve judgement until AFTER YOU see the whole list.
12. Sweet Sweetback’s Baad Aasssss Song
8. Richard Pryor Live in Concert
About the Author:
Richard Corliss – Master’s in Film Studies from Columbia, Time Magazine Movie Critic since 1980, self-proclaimed liberal despite working for National Review in the 70s.
Now, good readers…tell ya what IMA do. I’ve been nice enough to add all these goodies to my Netflix. You can be mah friend if you click here.
When I am about to get one, I will announce that it is on the way so IF you feel so inclined to watch along, you can join me.
I’ll post the review and cultural commentary comparing what Mr. Corliss said with what I say on here along with on Netflix. (VIVA CUT AND PASTE!!!)
I will say this though.
While I don’t question Mr. Corliss’ knowledge on music, I DO question what he knows about Black People, cause THIS list, without Hollywood Shuffle, Drop Squad, Shaft, and Claudine- at LEAST….is mad light in the ass.
PS, I am reaching out to anyone else who wants to get in on this, hit me on the inkognegro07izzatgeemaildotkizzom or in the comments and maybe we can get a little back and forth about this, or suggestions of other movies that may have been left out.
Shout out finally to all the other 32 Day folk
