Beyond the Fashion Calendar: When White is Wrong

Inasmuch as 2008 was a banner year for assigning blame to blacks for the subprime mortgage slide and Prop.8’s passing, Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva recently attributed fault for the U.S.’ financial fallout to the “white and blue-eyed.”

At a pre-G20 summit meeting to spur world trade, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown looked as if he’d been spooked by Casper when Lula said “This was a crisis that was fostered and boosted by the irrational behavior of people who were white and blue-eyed, who before the crisis they looked like they knew everything about economics, but now have demonstrated they know nothing about economics.” Lula’s public vindication’s drew the same “white ain’t always right” amens reserved for others who have been bold enough to publicly cite the obvious from blacks and browns.

Infrequently speechless NYT Columnist Maureen Dowd cited black cool's rebirth to the plethora of black faces promoting conspicuous consumption in “straw boaters and other prepster outfits in Ralph Lauren ads” in "Blue Eyed Greed." Dowd should be banished to fashionista timeout because Ralph Lauren's crowning of Tyson Beckford as the chocolate chiseled model king back in the 90s should be fairly common knowledge.

Although hopeful that the Obamas have opened doors for subsequent brown-eyed victories, Dowd summarily injected bias when she included study results that correlate eye color with ability: “A 2007 University of Louisville study concluded that people with blue eyes were better planners and strategic thinkers — superior at things like golf, cross-country running and preparing for exams — while people with brown eyes had better reflexes, making them good at hockey and football.”

We know all too well that color has historically represented a superficial barometer to spearhead racial oppression. Unfortunately, on the cool factor alone, the numbers of whites who emulate and siphon black culture far exceed those who are willing to recognize and assume the burden imposed by superiority's debilitating social caste.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/opinion/29dowd.html?em

Black Gurl Answers Reader's Rihanna Question

Q: One would think she had more confidence and self-esteem, more abuse-shame, and more sense than to publicly reconcile with a man who's beating of her has been made public. Black Gurl needs to think about this one. I'm worried about the message it sends to my niece who likes Rihanna.

A: “O” took it to Rihanna old school when she said “if a man hits you once, he will hit you again.” However, the public's expectation that the 21-year old pop princess be able to distinguish love from lust and legality from loyalty is vacuous. Why her family hasn't called in a high-powered intervention squad to turn up tough love is particularly puzzling because professional guidance is paramount. Mouths are mum but might amenability to abuse be a Barbadian cultural ill Rihanna has inherited?

When the co-dependence dust dissipates, perhaps Rihanna will reemerge with self-esteem intact. Although buzz alleging her raised hand or stiletto as a weapon in dysfunction's love nest on previous occasions has been building, the former beauty queen is not facing charges, Brown is. Reader, if you're taking an active role in your niece's development and popular culture is not the delivery vehicle for social education, I suspect she'll embrace the boundaries of love provided you approach the subject candidly and practice what you preach.

Is Steele Still a Good Negro?

Engaging Rush Limbaugh’s caustic comments and characterizing his RNC role as one to piss people off may strip Chairman Michael Steele of his “Good Negro” status. “Good Negroes” don’t get too big for their britches or mouth off in the media when challenged. Limbaugh said of Steele earlier this week, “You are head of the RNC, not the Republican Party. It’s time for you to go behind the scenes and start doing the work that you were elected to do instead of trying to be some talking-head media star...”

Guided by ambition more than ancestry, Steele accepted the figurehead hat when he assumed the RNC chair. African-Americans, however, are not easily bamboozled, having realized the strategy to drive diversity front and center was conceived in deceit that even Ray Charles could “peep” from the grave – thus far, the makeover, which has attracted the likes of a breakout Republican rapper named Hi-Caliber, has hit an inclusive skid.

Steele’s “My bad, Massa” to Limbaugh, who 11% of Republicans consider to be the party leader according to the Rasmussen Poll, cancelled the modest applause his initial dismissal of Limbaugh as entertainer generated earlier. A statement attributed in a Washington Post article to the former Maryland Lieutenant Governor, "You cannot win in this country a statewide or a national election without the black vote" also signals political naiveté on a grand scale.

The RNC Chairman would be well advised to watch his back because field privileges can easily replace those currently limited to the house. That’s exactly what will happen should Steele heed Dr. Ada Fisher’s recent resignation request. Fisher, a national RNC committee member, who is also black, has suggested the ill-gamed Steele take his pseudo hip hop swagger elsewhere.