Words Kill Two Youth

As political pundits peered into the president’s 100-day performance window, the clouds of disbelief, hovering over the recent suicides of two 11-year old male youths, have yet to dissipate. Though one resided in Springfield, Ma and the other in DeKalb, Ga., the commonalities are startling: both six-grade victims were taunted unmercifully about being gay at their respective schools. Carl Walker-Hoover hung himself at home with an electric cord on April 6th and two weeks later, Jaheem Herrera fashioned a belt similarly to end his earthly despair.

It matters not whether one at a tender age has a firm grip on his or her sexuality, but the callousness demonstrated by their classmates, reportedly, is especially disturbing. Sure, sticks and stones break bones but the provocation lends proof that malicious words not only hurt, they kill.

What’s more, I’m afraid the slanderous rants likely originated in homes, sensitive only to societal norms. Parents must be more consumed with thoughts in the heads of their children rather than the materialism their money can buy for their backs. Granted, teachers, overworked and underpaid, have their hands full with crowded classrooms and limited resources. Despite those things they may individually reject, it is incumbent on parents and teachers in partnership to impart stronger messages of tolerance and respect.

Ex House Doc in the Wrong House

Earlier this month, the naming of actor Kal Penn to a White House liaison post designed to forge relationships with the art world and Asian and Pacific Islander audiences caught many by surprise. Penn, whose claims to Hollywood fame are the Harold and Kumar films and TV series “House,” dedicated his political energies exhaustively to the Obama campaign according to The Daily Beast.

If you recall former actor Ronald Reagan’s era, it’s not unusual for a president to incorporate Hollywood into his strategic platform. Nevertheless, I question whether the move mandates necessity or political payback. I’d rather see a commoner’s council to keep the president abreast of what’s happening in American hoods. Obama must not forget a minority constituency challenged daily by the lack of judicial and economic parity.

California Dreamin: A Recession Blues Cure

At times, the economic gun holding us hostage seems inescapable. Earlier this month, a report revealed that 61% of Americans bear burdens of enormous stress. For whatever’s ailing, however, there’s almost always a cure.

With a 24-hour poolside butler to fetch watermelon Mojitos following a fab food spread prepared for you and your crew, this spot might be the ultimate rejuvenation getaway. Don’t book the Gulfstream jet yet, honey, if you don’t have Bernie Madoff's stash. The former Calabasas, CA love shack of Eddie and Nicole Murphy won’t be yours year-round without $8.5 mil.

Recession or not, cast your California dreams and check out the rest of the Spanish-styled crib at http://www.luxist.com/2009/04/25/nicole-murphy-in-calabasas-estate-of-the-day/.

Lux Disgust

One of the best things to emanate from the economic collapse is the colossal transformation in American values. Penny pinching consumers, fearful of joining the unemployment ranks, are dining out less frequently and shunning price-slashed flat screen TVs. Many may be heeding frugality’s convention, but Jill Zarin, one of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York, is proof that the trend hasn’t trickled down.

Tongues, laced with disgust or twisted with envy, are in a non-stop wag about major-moolahed Jill’s latest accessory. Despite the vulgarity of indulgence at recession’s height, the “keep it real lux” queen unzipped her pocketbook of $16,000 for a custom Bea Amblard handbag – New York magazine says it rivals red cardboard.

Unlike Louis Vuitton, Amblard’s name doesn’t exactly register bag world-big so here’s her design skinny: After a Hermes apprenticeship where she stamped the Kelly Bag with her signature, Amblard launched her own line. In fact, according to the April in Paris Web site, the major fashion player of French descent “is the only Hermes artisan designing under her own label, as well as owning her own boutique, in the United States.” See http://www.aprilinparis.us/beatrice.

If that’s not lux-disgust enough for you, this one will definitely leave you in stitches. Alexander Amosu, hailed as one of Britain’s most influential black men, recently unveiled the world’s most expensive suit at $103.000 a pop. A million-dollar man at 25, the entrepreneur was also the first to launch urban ringtones in Europe.

Undaunted by a raveled economy, Amosu’s design direction dictates nine eighteen carat-gold and pave-diamond button bling into the vicuna, qiviuk and pashmina fabric-blended ensemble. Considering its armored Range Rover transport to the London unveiling last week, this suit probably won’t find favor with Wall Street financiers.

Enough of the Obama Lust

Monkey see, monkey do. For lack of originality, the Washingtonian magazine's latest cover deserves a failing grade. Conjuring up images of the New York Post's offensive cartoon was not my intent, yet, the reference to imitation drives the cover's animalistic inference home. Although throngs of white women satiated with Barack Obama's Mandingo mystique have gotten extensive news play, the unabashed sexual obsession with the president should succumb to a natural death like serious journalism. Sex may be the sales belt's oldest tool but what a stereotypical shame!

Med Mouth Loose

A reader, in distress over an ingrown toenail, recently hopped to a podiatrist’s office only to encounter additional irritation. The doctor’s conversation, concentrated in references to the brazen Somali pirates, rubbed her the wrong way like a bulging bunion would one with a foot fetish. Although the medical treatment relieved her ailing foot, she is still scratching her head and pondering whether the mention was coincidental or intentional due to the commonality of color.

Dear Reader,
I’d like to think that the colorless man meant no harm by mentioning a major news subject on the minds of many. In fact, he may have been acknowledging you as an educated woman in tuned with the news. Frankly, there's no way to check if the foot doc practices dually as a racist; however, I suspect you see the world through reality’s black and white lens so perception overrides intent. Unless you’re prepared to overlook this social fungus scenario, stepping to another expert that won’t inflict mental duress is my suggestion.

ATBG

Bravo's A-List Awards Recap

Did you catch Bravo's A-List Awards show last week? If not, Real Housewives of Atlanta's NeNe Leaks nabbed Reality's Guiltiest Pleasure distinction. Sistahgurl, wrong for that ghetto-tight metallic dress, should've taken home the Hot Mess award instead. I wonder where home is these days since she and hubby Greg received the boot earlier this year for mortgage default, reportedly. Check out the pumps on the non-Real Housewife of Atlanta to the far right. He's tipping more than Ben Franklins, honey.

Always over-the-top comedian Kathy Griffin shocked few when she called Aubrey O'Day (member or ex-member of Danity Kane, Diddy's latest group of non-singing girls) to the stage for a tongue exchange. While most men drool over girl-on-girl action, NeNe's other half looked on in pernicious disgust. Baby, please, these Hollywood wannabes are killing me with their crass classlessness.

O Obsession

Since the election of America’s first black president, practically everything associated with Barack Obama has been examined within racial context except for the new White House dog, Bo. Barack is president, but First Lady Michelle’s speed on the popularity track is akin to a Carl Lewis blaze.

Following the G20 Summit, The Daily Beast Editor Tina Brown reported that the First Lady has overtaken Oprah Winfrey as the “inspirational It Girl and iconic female African-American role model.” Some say the comparison to the media magnate is racist but I think not. White America’s reference bank of Ivy-League educated African-American women who are polished, primped and poised remains abysmally insufficient.

The comparison stems from lack of exposure since it was only recently that whites became privy to the black elite’s existence. Colored faces of career heavy hitters are simply not piped into white audiences’ family rooms daily like O’s: White House Social Secretary Desiree Rodgers, former chief of the Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, Faye Wattleton, Center for the Advancement of Women President, and Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Bennett College’s 15th President, to name an executive few.

Of all the global stagnation, we’re implored to focus on things more important like the staggering numbers in black unemployment or diminished economic opportunity in our communities. Oprah may reign as the moneyed media queen in the U.S., but Michelle, hands down, is the globe’s royal rock.

Easter Egg Roll Applause

We won’t unanimously agree with every step he takes but President Barack Obama continues to demonstrate relentless commitment to diversity. For the first time in White House history, the president made tickets to the traditional Easter Egg Roll available to the children of gay and lesbian parents. Previous presidents should be shamed for penalizing children in the past for their parents’ sexual orientation. Even if this brand of family is not tied in a socially acceptable bow, at least these youngsters, unlike orphans, have the benefit and beauty of love.

Intervention Inequity at Wall and Main Streets

Word of GM’s recently kicked to the curb CEO Rick Wagoner is still vigorously spinning public opinion wheels. Unlike Wall Street, bolstered with bailout funds despite evidence of aggrandized greed, the Obama administration will sustain Main Street’s GM and Chrysler with temporary life support. Unimpressed with the companies’ respective restructuring plans, the U.S. government commandeered the driver’s seat, forcing Chrysler’s hand in marriage to Fiat and ousting GM’s ineffective chief.

The money manipulative fat cats in the financial industry have skirted the stringent accountability to which GM and Chrysler have been held. When AIG doled out the latest round of hefty bonuses, President Obama expressed consternation but no heads were chopped although deservedly so. In fact, it wouldn’t bother me one bit if Secretary Treasurer Timothy Geithner stepped up to the guillotine first for his breach in governmental transparency. Reportedly, Geithner co-signed AIG’s bonus plans before distribution of the checks ignited public fire.

Though many argue that the financial and automotive industries are dramatically different in market dynamics, others note presidential loyalties gelled in colossal campaign contributions: “Wall Street owns Obama like Big Oil owned Bush.” You can't very well oust the folks that gave you 40% of the money raised for your campaign (at least that's what I've read).” See Wall Street Watch’s “Sold Out: How Wall Street and Washington Betrayed America” at www.wallstreetwatch.org for substantiation. Once again, instead of the pre-election change carrot that was dangled, “Big Brother” in cahoots with big business looks like status quo.

If anyone needs a bailout, it’s the American public. Outsourcing wielded the first knife in the American worker’s back and now due to economic necessity, employers are slashing jobs rather than creating them. But where are the stimulus funds for retraining since education as a high-cost reinvention tool remains massively inaccessible? Whatever it takes, bankruptcy for U.S. auto manufacturers must be averted because the non-executive hands of men and women that have produced GM and Chrysler’s hermetically challenged vehicles, whether black, white, yellow or brown, are the ones truly worthy of being saved.