Come On People!

The much publicized Democratic National Debate aired live a couple days ago, as I'm sure you know. (I sent text messages, I hope y'all got them) I'm not going to get into the specifics of the debate, because it has been beaten to death, but watching the debate and hearing some of the comments, especially from black people, has weighed heavily on my heart. This also made me think of Bill Cosby's very timely book, Come On People! On the Path From Victims to Victors, which came out last year. Whoever has not yet read this book, please do, it is extremely thought provoking and relevant to this presidential election season.



In his book, Cosby takes a desperately needed and blatantly truthful look into the state of Black people today. He tells the not-so-shocking truth about the real reason why we can't get ahead, our lack of a strong family unit. He comments on everything from how our poor eating habits result in diabetes and high blood pressure, to reasons why over exposure to the media can result in a much distorted sense of what is really important, to why the 'N' word can never be a positive word! Cosby challenges parents to take responsibility for raising their children to be respectful, law abiding citizens who go to school, church, and speak correct English without feeling ashamed. More importantly, he includes "Call Outs" throughout his book where he presents a positive image of a Black person who has "made it" and offers advice on how everyone can do the same. He makes the point that there is hope for Black people who are willing to work hard, quit holding on to the obstacles that tie them down and not be trapped by institutional racism. Finally, some truth that no one wants to hear.



Unfortunately a Black man speaking the truth will most likely get much more criticism than acclaim, or maybe even get him killed in extreme cases. (Let's not forget Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Mickey Leland, sadly the list goes on). Black people have been lashing out against Cosby for taking the position that we need to stop playing the victim role because it will not get us anywhere! He is right! Yes Black people have obstacles, and yes we have had a hard time overcoming those obstacles, but Come on People! If a small child in Indonesia can work his fingers to the bone to assemble my Michael Kors shoebooties (my made up word for the 'of the season' part shoe/part boot) and make 15 cents an hour, then Black people can at least graduate from high school, Black boys can at least wear a t-shirt that does not look like a dress, and Black girls can at least not "gap 'em open" for every clown that says he can "buy you a drank." I do not doubt that some guy out there has tried to impress some chick with that line.



I know that the problems we have as a people are deep-rooted and far-reaching, and it seems like such a daunting task to attempt to bring about change in an entire race of people. But, granted our history in this country, entrenched with erroneous assertions that we are inferior and undeserving of equal treatment, of love, and at the extreme, of the right to be recognized as a full human being, we have "overcome." We are arguably the most copied race of people in the world. "Urban" fashion lines like Baby Phat, Sean John, and G-Unit make millions of dollars overseas (foreigners must be buying the stuff because I don't know anyone waiting for G-Unit's spring line to debut). Still, we cannot manage to be proud of ourselves. Some of us are all too happy to tout the 1/16th of our lineage that is Irish, or better yet, some of us have decided that Creole is now a race. Right. Barack Obama is running for President of the United States and the best we can do is to berate him for not showing up in Jena, or for not being "black" enough, etc. He is the first VIABLE black candidate to run for president! You have to recognize that means something more than petty name-calling and slanderous attempts to poke holes in his campaign. Let's focus on the big picture, which is what really counts. Please do not believe that Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, or John Edwards will ever know what it is like to be a black person. And, even if you don't support Obama, keep it to yourself. When is the last time you heard about an Italian publicly berating another Italian, or an Asian putting another Asian on blast? Doesn't happen. We really just all need to stop because the civil rights leaders are rolling over in their graves right now and I think they would like some rest. Yes we need to Save Darfur, but we also need to Save Houston, Save St. Louis, Save Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and extra-racist Louisiana to name a few.



Black people in America are going through a "cultural genocide" and I encourage everyone to take just a moment to think about what you might do to help address and somehow improve this extreme situation. And it may be that the best thing that you can do for Black people is to be the best "you" that you can be, a positive example can be a very powerful thing! Be an example that amidst a culture where kids know the dance to "Crank that Soulja Boy" and couldn't tell you who is running for president, there are still Black people who are educated and well spoken; who do more than rap, sing and minstrel dance, I mean hip-hop dance; and who have respect for women and old people. (Dancing and singing is great, don't get me wrong, but depositing a paycheck is better, and writing someone else's paycheck is even better than that. I'm just saying that there are other ways to make a dollar.) Bill Cosby is right, a strong family is the key to success. Can we not resurrect the Black family? Can we not plan for children instead of just having them so kids can see their mother and father together. Can we not get married and actually try and stay married, instead of "gigolo-ing" until the wheels fall off? Can we not be role models for the children (there is hope for them (I think)). Can we make good choices about life and love. Can we respect each other, instead of Black men and women being against each other. Aren't we tired of fighting yet? I am.



If this whole "black people need to get it together" dialogue seems trite, that's because IT IS! This is definitely becoming all too cliché, but as we begin this new year I cannot help but wonder is this 2008 going on 1958?



Again, I strongly encourage everyone who has not read Come on People! already to do so, and actually think about what he's saying. And whether you like Obama or not, think he's great or not, recognize that history is being made, and soon we will see just how racist, or sexist, the United States of America still is. One will soon outshine the other. Oh, and if Obama can't at least win South Carolina that will be terrible, and in that case I no longer want to be recognized as a black person (it is a social construction anyway). Just think of me as a descendant of Africa, or a daughter of the African diaspora. (Hahaha)



RR