On January 20, 2009 a new leader of the free world will take office. Are people banking too much on this new leader and the post baby-boomer generation? Is he so inspiring that he will move millions to repair decades of bad behavior? I suppose only time will tell. The country is made up of so many factions... but as a kid having grown up in the 90's, I can't help but be a bit impressed that only 15 years after the release of George Clinton's acclaimed rap anthem "Paint the White House Black", in which he enlisted the lyrical stylings of Ice Cube, Chuck D, and Flava Flav to draw attention to the racial divide in our country... there will actually be a non-white president. I'd like to think this is proof that there is hope for us all.
Last night's most interesting Golden Globe acceptance speech went to black cast member Tracy Morgan from the show 30 Rock on NBC. The Golden Globes are awarded by the Hollywood FOREIGN press. In his speech he exclaimed, "Tina Fey and I had an agreement that if Barack Obama won, I would speak for the show from now on. Welcome to post-racial America! I am the face of post-racial America. Deal with it Cate Blanchett!"
Is Cate Blanchett a racist? Hmmm.... I only had the show on for background noise as I folded laundry in the basement last night. When I heard that speech, I stopped and watched.
He added, "A black man can't get no love at the Emmys. I love you Europe!" I thought it was hilarious, and true...but the President of NBC, Jeff Zucker, looked pained and uncomfortable when the camera panned to him as Tracy remembered to thank him after he thanked the craft service workers. The video can be viewed here.
The history of race relations in our country is as disturbing to me as the ridiculous way we celebrate the wrong people and the wrong things in most of pop-culture. I know people are banking a whole lotta hope on this new president, but are respectable people really spending money on Barack Obama commemorative plates (these infomercials are in such heavy rotation, it is embarrassing,) when one in eight residents in America is on food stamps? If you MUST buy some junk to mark the historic occasion, how about buying something original and handmade by an ETSY artisan? This one-of-a-kind tote gives props to the historical benchmark and serves as an uber couture shopping tote and plastic bag alternative. Trendy, green, and not endorsed by the Franklin Mint. BETTER YET....save your money for your child's education or buy groceries for your local food pantry.
How can we have so much, so many opportunities and resources at our collective fingertips and yet not have ENOUGH; still want, need more. How could we have made such a mess of everything? The lives of those actors on that show last night are so different than most Americans, they mind as well live on MARS....(and by the looks of Mickey Rourke, he does,) but that is what we celebrate? Where can all of this vanity and misaligned morality lead us to? Do we really think one politician can "save" us? If Obama's brain doesn't explode from the pressure within the first 100 days, I will be impressed.
I liked this article and kept it "in the file" from New Years Eve 1998..written about the upcoming year by Otis Pike, a guy who shook up the status quo back in his day. If you don't know who he is, you should. Pike is one of the supporting players in history that no one knows much about, but he's one of those people who stood up and spoke up to try to make things better his whole life.
I think his op-ed message from this yellowed, tattered, old article I clipped is just as relevant today, as I felt is was then. (Click here to read the article.)
I am continually freaked out by all the backwards values and priorities going on around me. All I want to know is how to feed and shelter my family without going broke or losing it all. I don't give a shit about the best mascara, latest handbag Hillary Duff is carrying or which car I SHOULD be driving. It's enough for me to maintain my sanity as it is.
Posted by: Brooke Rochon | January 12, 2009 at 06:05 PM
15 years later Ice Cube makes family movies (Burn, Hollywood, Burn) and Flav is a Reality TV buffoon. Chuck D, however, does not have a price.
Posted by: mfs | January 14, 2009 at 10:03 AM