Let’s Show Some Love To BET

By: Sam Curtis 

Has anyone noticed that BET has changed it’s format?  BET is moving towards being family friendly, by airing old episodes of Thea, Different Strokes, Steve Harvey and A Different World.

Hey Allen, looks like home girl heard your appeal. The demonstration in front of her home may have also helped.  A big shout out to E Fay for showing that non violent demonstration still works.  Let’s also give Debra Lee and Reginald Hudlin a big thank you as we think out loud.

SAM CURTIS: THE SAME OLE SCHICKADY

Shame On You Barbara and Hillary

On May 6, 2008, Barack Obama cleaned Hillary Clinton’s clock in the North Carolina primary, and held her projected win in Indiana to two percentage points despite the Reverend Wright and bitter controversy. 

Even though her campaign is in serious debt amounting to over more than 10 million dollars (a figure which does not include the 12 million dollars she has loaned to her campaign) Hillary vows to continue on until perhaps the convention floor with her new battle cry to vote white.

Wisely, Barack Obama has moved passed this desperate woman who has set women’s rights way back.  Of course she is not alone.  On the same day Hillary lost North Carolina, Barbara Walters was on Oprah, dogging Star Jones, and revealing her jungle fever romance with Edward Brookes, the first African American elected to the U. S Senator by popular vote.  Of course Brookes was married during this affair that took place in the latter part of the turbulent 60′s and early 70′s.  Walters herself was climbing the corporate ladder of the broadcasting industry where she had been elevated to co-anchor of the ABC Evening News earning 1 million dollars in salary.

Former daytime soap star Mark Consuelos revealed on the Oprah show, broadcasted the next day that he feels that there are some things you should take to your grave, the Edward Brookes affair being one of them.

However no one says it better than Star Jones herself in a response given to Us Magazine of Walters’ allegations that they lied on The View about her weight loss methods. 

It is a sad day when an icon like Barbara Walters, in the sunset of her life, is reduced to publicly branding herself as an adulterer, humiliating an innocent family with accounts of her illicit affair and speaking negatively against me all for the sake of selling a book,” Jones told Us. “It speaks to her true character.

Some may classify this as a catfight. It is not, nor should it be reduced to such trivia.  I have met Star Jones, and I know first hand that she is a class act. Lots of young African American girls look up to Star for good reasons.  In her up bringing, Star’s parents instilled within her good family values. This is very obvious in her mannerism and work ethic.  Star does not do anything half-way. Ms. Jones will give you more than 100% working to perfection.  Nothing is wrong with this attribute, which is needed from more people today.  Barbara Walters’ allegation misconstrues this attribute as a negative tearing away a fabric that young black women need today.  The same is true for your revelations about you and Senator Brookes.  Not only are you causing great pain to his family, which includes his children, grand children etc., but you are also tarnishing his legacy to Black History.  Once again you tear away a fabric.  Only young black men whose fate seems to be an early death or prison need this fabric.

Finally, lots of young girls/women look up to both you and Hillary.  Your revelation of adultery tells young girls/women that it is okay to indulge in bad behavior.  This is the same bad behavior you denounce on The View.  You are now on the same level as Paris Hilton and all these young girls who thinks it is cool to engage in bad behavior.

 

As for Hillary, your message is that it is okay to be racist.  You at best are now the poster child for white supremacy.  As an elected official who is sworn to represent and protect the rights of all citizens, much more is expected of you.

I wonder in closing is this the legacy Barbara and Hillary really want to leave behind all for the sake of selling a book and winning the nomination for the Presidency of the United States? 

On the weekend of Mother’s Day I’m sad to report that it’s the same ole schickardy, just different butt holes, which were once respected and well thought of female icons.

 

SAM CURTIS: THE SAME OLE SCHICKADY: A Divided House/Party

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln said, “a house divided cannot stand”.   Neither can a political party.  We are now approaching the end of the Presidential primaries, and the Democratic Party is divided amongst racial lines.  It appears that the super delegates will decide the Democratic nominee, barring any cider house rules that may be enacted to give the Clintons their way on the Michigan, and Florida votes.

The focus continues to be on Jeremiah Wright who went on a press junket last weekend delivering what has been described as his version of the modern day Bert Williams minstrel show causing Barack Obama to denounce him.    I did not see Reverend Wright so I can’t say whether his actions were worthy of being considered minstrel.  I do know that Reverend Wright is a citizen of this country, and as such, he is entitled to his opinions and delivery thereof to the press in any fashion within the law, regardless of whether you and I agree with them or the timing of them.  I would also like to say, that I have no problems with minstrel shows.  They have their respectful place in history in a post World War I society that saw it as clean and decent comedic entertainment.

Speaking of entertainment, our former poet laureate Maya Angelou said that when a person shows you who they are, you should believe them. 

Hillary Clinton has lied about her visit to Bosnia.  Now using Reverend Wright out of context sermons, she is playing on the fears of many white Americans in her racially motivated mudslinging.  We must also add the photo of Senator Obama in African garb her campaign circulated to infer that Senator Obama may be Muslim.  She is now snuggling with the usual suspects trying to portray herself as fair and balanced.  Clinton’s appeal to racist white folks who consider themselves as only being worthy of being called Americans has set civil rights back beyond the Brown decision.  Her scary actions are an affront to African Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans, and the Jewish faith.  During the Holocaust many Jewish people and their supporters lost their lives because German citizens who were experiencing difficult economic times supported Hitler who pointed the finger at Jews for the poor economic conditions and appealed to the citizens fear in gaining power.  In this very country, Japanese Americans were placed in Interment camps.

We are now experiencing harsh economic times here in the US.   People are loosing their homes, and gasoline is at an all time ridiculous high.  Many Americans are without health insurance, therefore foregoing medical exams, which could detect and prevent serious health problems.  Far too many Americans have to decide whether to buy food, gasoline or medicine. 

Barack Obama was successfully addressing these issues, which is why he is ahead in the votes and delegates.  Obama is not using fear tactics.  Knowing the malicious consequences, which were demonstrated during WWII, he is trying to unite the country as one to make the necessary changes that will put this country back on a course of prosperity, peace and safety.  Now because of the Clintons do and say anything bid for the White House, he is faced with having to address questions about Reverend Wright’s sermons.  These sermons demonstrate Reverend Wright’s views, not Senator Obama.

I would like to say to the super delegates and DMC chairman Howard Dean, Reverend Wright is not running for President.  Hillary Clinton is the candidate who has demonstrated that she will stop at nothing to get this nomination including dividing the party.  Democrats need the black vote to beat John McCain in November.   Hillary Clinton will not get this black vote if she is given the nomination without being ahead in the votes and delegates.   She will not get this black vote if John Dean changes the rules about Michigan and Florida.   She will not get this black vote because of her malicious race baiting campaigning.  Nor should she get the vote from Jews, Latino Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and the rest of the African Americans in this country.

Hillary says she is for change, but her action shows that she is for the same ole schickardy.  Take Maya Angelou advice and believe what she is showing you.