“And the Winner is … ”

My 18 year old son somehow convinced me to watch the move “Predators” the other night. Although I found this science fiction movie to be action packed with some decent special effects, for my taste, there was way too much testosterone gone bad!  In any event, as Joseph and I continued to watch the story unfold, my son said to me “I bet you anything Mom that the African American dude gets killed first”   “No Way” I replied. I was astounded by this assumption because I think that Mahershalalhashbaz Ali as Mombasa, is not only awesome for the part, but he is damn good lookin’ to boot! Well I was right, it was an American Mexican who was killed first, Dan Trejo... so there!

Whoops, not more than a few minutes latter BAM, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali was skewed like a shish-kabob!

So here I thought I found out this hidden little industry secret. As soon as I went to work I tracked down an African American friend/mentor, (I’ll call her MW) whom I admire and anxiously told her of my new found revelation!  New…Hmmm, I don’t think so as she chuckled as she repeated to me that the Black actors who are not box office wonders, usually get killed first or soon there after.  Well thanks MW, there goes my new found theory! But in all seriousness, I am glad that I learned just one more fact that validates how racism is so embedded in our societal culture, that it has become second nature when refuting the possibility that this still occurs, and is a constant reminder of how much more work we need to actually do!!

If you are a Black actor but you are not a big headliner like Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Laurence Fishburne, Morgan Freeman, and Samuel L. Jackson to name a few, there are three elementary questions one should asked themselves before watching a movie, during and up until the movie credits.                                                                       

1. Does the Black actor die first?

2. If not, how soon does he/she die?

3. Can a Black person ever make it to the credits?

Oh yeah, I would like butter on my popcorn too please!

Why Isn't the U.S. Supporting The United Nations International Year for People of African Descent

Why must I always access Australia's news media to find out what is going on here in my own country, The United States of America? I stumbled on to the fact that in January 2011 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year beginning January 1st, 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent. Where was I when the memo came out!

In short this year was dedicated to the People of African Descent in promoting and protecting their Human Rights as well as their ability to participate in the full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights. What I found to be absolutely ludicrous is the fact that Australia was not directly involved as America was, in the forceful removal of people from Africa in the Trans - Atlantic slave trade. However because Australia has welcomed the people of African descent to make Australia their home, the Australian government has taken their responsibility to their countrymen seriously, they have joined the United Nations in protecting the rights and in the promotion of a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage of the People of African descent!

Has the United States joined the United Nations in this effort....I am afraid NOT! House Bill H.RES.41 was introduced on Jan. 19, 2011 coincidentally Martin Luther King’s Birthday and the last time there was any activity on the bill was in March 1, 2011 when the bill was  referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights. We as a country are suppose to be a leader around the world?

 We cannot even "Do the Right Thing" here, at home, for our own people. What a sad commentary that is for the supposed UNITED States of America.

Drug Sentencing Disparities...Why?

African Americans account for 80% of crack cocaine convictions …YES 80%!!  Article after article you read that "there are no quick fixes", "no easy answers" and "these issues are being addressed". Why aren't there any quick fixes? Address it now, fix it and be done with it. I'm sure if the issue involved a rich white man's son there would not be decades of "addressing the issues"! By remedying this situation I am sure this will cause a decrease in revenue for the Criminal Justice system and the drug and alcohol treatment facilities and whoever else profits from this racist process. What is it then? We all know that is boils down to the almighty dollar...but I want to know whose dollar is paying for racial and socioeconomic oppression?? Whose? We all know whose money is financing this practice but please do not continue to insult my intelligence, forget the politically correct jargon and just tell me to my face...I didn't think so!

Several months ago I was outraged when I found out about the different criminal sentence structures that were in place for powdered cocaine and crack cocaine. For example, if a person possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams of crack he or she faced a ten year mandatory minimum sentence. On the other hand, a person had to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms of powder to face the same ten year mandatory minimum sentence!! In 2010, President Obama signed a bill that will increase the possession amount of crack cocaine that will call for the mandatory sentence. Now a person must possess 280 grams of crack (instead of the 5 grams) to face the mandatory minimum sentence. However, there are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram of powder cocaine.

Although progress has been made, is this enough? The issues are that crack cocaine's weight is obviously heavier than the powder and most importantly crack is sold and used in predominantly lower socioeconomically disadvantage neighborhoods which equates to poverty and minority oppression!

Why not lower the weight of the powder cocaine minimum? Do we need it to be 1 kilo? Why not 1/2 a kilo??  Okkk, great the disparity gap is closing in but what about the remaining sentencing disparities that still exist for the young African American men? African-Americans make up around 12 percent of the U.S. population, account for 33.6 percent of drug arrests and 37 percent of state prison inmates serving time for drug offenses. Yet there are no differences in drug use between whites and blacks! The US incarceration rate is five times as high as the rest of the world!

What the hell is going on & why do we ignore this injustice?

 

Ann Coulter's Racist Venom

For several years now, I have detested the vile verbiage which Ann Coulter spews. From her personal attack of a disabled veteran, homosexuals, minorities, economically disadvantaged and anyone that does not support delusional rhetoric appears to go far beyond one's personal political beliefs and moves directly into the sphere of progressive mental deterioration of a narcissist!   Ann Coulter's behavior presents on the surface as if to be inflexible, maladaptive, and antisocial, which reveals a person of non interest to both liberals and conservatives alike. Coulter's perception of reality and how she fits into the world is distorted at best!

Coulter has the audacity to criticize the historical events surrounding the Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King, by discrediting a cultural history and the racial experiences that are not hers! She also uses the words of Thurgood Marshall in an effort to back up her theory on Rev. King. Without belaboring the issues, simple put, Coulter needs to be educated on the use of symbolism.

Along with the other thousands of illogical remarks Coulter has spewed, Coulter's character assassination geared towards Barack Obama and his book Dreams From My Father is summed up by Coulter as a "Dimestore Mein Kampf".  The uncompassionate and ill willed comments about Japan’s disaster that "radiation is actually good for you", once again  illustrates Coulter's prejudice attacks which she wages against any person or group who does not fit her definition of "WASPS". Obviously from remarks such as these and others, there is a lack of cultural intelligence but even more importantly, among other identifiers her deficiency of any empathy at all, suggests that Coulter harbors narcissistic tendencies rather than Princess Diana whom Coulter labeled as such.

Coulter editorialized parts of President Obama’s book and as always, turns a person’s statement around to fit a personal agenda, no matter what the cost and to whom. The following is Coulter’s rebuttal to Obama's personal observation; "He says the reason black people keep to themselves is that it's 'easier than spending all your time mad or trying to guess whatever it was that white folks were thinking about you.' Here's a little inside scoop about white people: We're not thinking about you. Especially WASPs. We think everybody is inferior, and we are perfectly charming about it."   Ahhhh, charming...NO Coulter, charming is not a word that best describes a person who is attempting to covertly chip away at our fundamental values under the Constitution of the United States. Maybe Coulter did not receive the memo that indeed states that all men are created equal.

As I sit here chuckling at the absurdity that you display, here's a little inside scoop for you Coulter, do not include me or numerous other white Americans into the DSM IV delusional world of hatred! Your behavior communicates nothing more than pathetic bitterness. You demonstrate the actions of a domineering woman with delusions of grandeur, who emasculates all of the men ever involved with and engaged to, like a female praying mantis biting off her males head!

In all seriousness, let's call Coulter's remarks what they are...racist! The bigger question remains; When is enough, enough? How long do we enable and promote these vile racist messages of hatred by interviewing and broadcasting her personal bias to the community at large? We are allowing a person to single handedly turn back the hands of time. Coulter should be arrested, charged and held over for trial for terroristic treason and racial intimidation against the United States of America. Ok, I admit, this idea might be going a little over board. The point being, cultural sensitivity and intelligence also needs to extend into the political and journalism arenas as part of American life.

The bottom line is that Coulter’s reality is not mainstream American reality therefore, endorsing what appears to be radical, racist ill will, has a similar correlation to selling a gun to a mentally disturbed person who sees America in a defensive war like stance and eventually walks into a crowd of innocent people, open fires and takes away the life and liberties of many American citizens who actually earn their right to be an American!

Has anybody seen the snake bite kit?

Mia Michaels